Author Archives: SE16.com

Council agrees to honour Bermondsey’s remarkable Grace Jones

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This week Southwark councillors of all parties unanimously backed a motion calling on the council to name a new public building after Bermondsey resident Grace Jones who died last year at the age of 113.

“Grace Jones led a long and remarkable life, which should be noted with a fitting tribute by Southwark Council, said Cllr Eliza Mann (Lib Dem, Riverside ward).

 

“Naming a public building after her would be a mark of respect for somebody who lived through the whole of the 20th century and beyond, and was one of the best-known residents of our borough.”

Albion Street regeneration update

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Cllr Norma Gibbes asked this question at council assembly this week:

What progress is the council making with plans for the regeneration of Albion Street?

Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration and corporate strategy, replied:

We have been working in partnership with the local community, in particular the Albion Street Steering Group to significantly progress the regeneration of Albion Street.

To date a number of public realm work packages have been completed at various sites along the street. Also, power points have been installed along the western section of the street that will be used for street markets.

A number of larger scale initiatives are also in train:

  • The procurement of architects to build the replacement of the Albion Street Primary School has commenced. The new building is programmed to be in place by September 2016.
  • We are coming towards the end of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) process in relation to the former public toilets that have been an eyesore and potential health and safety risk for several years.
  • Once the public toilets have been acquired, they will be incorporated into a new pocket park that will be built in front of the Norwegian Church. Officers are in detailed discussions with the church to include their land in the new facility and for the church to make a contribution towards the cost of this new piece of public realm.
  • Work to create a popup shop is nearing completion and the property will soon be let. The shop will be available on a short term basis to community groups, cultural organisations and business start-ups.
  • The former Rotherhithe Library has been included in phase 2 of the Housing Direct Delivery programme and the design proposal will include community or commercial space on the ground floor.
  • Discussions are ongoing with the Albion Street Surgery to assist them to find a new home and move out of their current, not-fit-for-purpose facility. The preferred option at the moment is to relocate the surgery into the ground floor of the redeveloped Rotherhithe Library site.
  • Court action is underway to complete the purchase of three dilapidated and unsightly houses, 71, 73 and 75 Albion Street. Once we have control of the houses the site will be brought back into beneficial use.

New plans for Rotherhithe roundabout ‘this autumn’

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Cllr Eliza Mann (Lib Dem) tabled the following question at this week’s council assembly:

What meetings has the cabinet member had with Transport for London (TfL) about reconfiguring Rotherhithe roundabout to help ease traffic congestion around Jamaica Road?

Cllr Barrie Hargrove (Labour), cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling, replied:

Can I thank the member for raising with me. I am aware of that concern with congestion problems related to the Rotherhithe roundabout and Jamaica Road are longstanding, going back very many years.

Officers have been in dialogue with Transport for London (TfL) for some time in relation to congestion and access issues at the Rotherhithe roundabout. Topics under discussion range from improvements to traffic management at the tunnel entrance to reduce delays, provision for Cycle Superhighway Route 4 (CS4) and measures to better separate local and through traffic.

A number of meetings have been held over the last 12 months and TfL have presented a number of initial options for comment. It is expected that proposals will be brought forward for public consultation as part of the wider consultation on CS4 which is currently scheduled for autumn 2014.

Albion Street council housing development could include new GP surgery

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The following question was tabled for this week’s council assembly by Cllr Lisa Rajan (Lib Dem)

Does he believe it was appropriate for the consultation on the demolition of Albion Street Library and Civic Centre to take place over the Christmas period after official notice of the proposed work was given on 19 December 2013? What account has it taken of the 622 petition signatures already submitted to the council opposing the plans?

Council leader Peter John (Labour) replied:

The proposal to demolish Albion Street Library is a long standing one with considerable time for public engagement.

The property was declared surplus to requirements in April 2011. In December 2012 the cabinet approved a project mandate that seeks to bring forward a programme of strategically important projects along Albion Street. One of these is the redevelopment of the redundant council owned public library building. It is proposed to demolish the building and provide a housing development as part of the council’s commitment to deliver 11,000 new council homes in the next 25 years. To give effect to this, the site was included in the Direct Delivery Housing Phase 2 report which was agreed by cabinet on 22 October 2013. The council is also seeking to provide improved GP premises at the site which would replace the existing facility in Albion Street.

The proposals for the library site have been the subject of extensive consultation with local residents and the Albion Street Steering Group. The proposals from Sublime Arts Group were considered by cabinet in December [sic] as part of a deputation on the matter, however it was concluded that while they have some interesting ideas the organisation did not have a funded business plan which would justify omitting this site from the direct delivery programme which will deliver new affordable homes for rent to meet a well established local need. The security of the building continues to be a significant cost to the council and its early demolition is considered necessary to reduce these ongoing liabilities and risks. 

Rotherhithe’s slow internet problem remains on council agenda

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The long-running problem with slow broadband connections in the Rotherhithe area was raised once more at this week’s Southwark council assembly meeting.

Cllr David Hubber (Lib Dem) tabled a question to find out what recent contact the borough’s Labour administration had had with BT over the problem.

Cllr Peter John replied:

I want to see the most modern broadband technologies across the whole of the borough but know that broadband in Rotherhithe remains poor. I share the frustration of residents and businesses about the historic lack of investment in the broadband infrastructure.

The infrastructure is the responsibility of private sector communication companies including, but not exclusively, BT. Even so, we are trying to find solutions to this issue. In December Councillor Colley, cabinet member for regeneration and corporate strategy, attended a meeting with Lambeth and Southwark Assembly Member Val Shawcross, local stakeholders and a representative from the Greater London Authority (GLA) to discuss the broadband issue. The meeting identified key issues and a work programme, and it was agreed to establish an informal group, the Rotherhithe Broadband Project, to oversee the matter.

Councillor Colley made a commitment that the council will support the group and that officers from regeneration will undertake a number of specific tasks.

As part of this commitment the director of regeneration is in the process of setting up a meeting with BT.

I will also be meeting with BT tomorrow and will again raise this issue with them.

Cllr Hubber also asked a supplementary question – you can hear his exchange with the council leader here:

listen to ‘Cllr David Hubber & Cllr Peter John on Rotherhithe (lack of) broadband’ on Audioboo

Bringing Barclays Cycle Hire to SE16: council pledges cash to make it happen

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Audio from Wednesday’s council assembly meeting

listen to ‘Cllr Peter John says Southwark will put cash into expansion of cycle hire scheme’ on Audioboo

listen to ‘Extending Barclays Cycle Hire in Southwark: Cllr Barrie Hargrove’ on Audioboo

Support Time & Talents charity when you shop at Asda

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Asda

Rotherhithe-based Time & Talents is one of the charities taking part in the ‘Chosen By You, Given By Us’ scheme at Asda’s Old Kent Road store during January and February.

If you are given a green token at the checkout, make sure you put it in one of the chutes near the store exit.

If Time & Talents receives the highest number of votes by the end of February, the charity will receive £200 from Asda.