Tuesday evenings, 8-9.45pm, at Time & Talents, Rotherhithe
-phone 07961148806-
See this ad on the SE1 website for details. Closing date is Wednesday, so hurry!
Last month Southwark Council’s cabinet agreed to the next stage of work towards the rejuvenation of Albion Street.
The council says it will work with local residents on the Albion Street Regeneration Framework which will have four main strands.
The next stages include proposals to expand Albion Primary School, further consultation with residents on the Albion Estate to see how they can benefit from wider regeneration, ensuring that the redevelopment of the former Rotherhithe Library on Albion Street supports the hopes of local people and enhancing public spaces in the area.
Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration and corporate strategy said: “Albion Street was once a lively and successful area – home to a popular street market and at the heart of the Rotherhithe community.
“Despite the tremendous changes we have seen in the Rotherhithe and Canada Water area, Albion Street area has not really felt the benefits.
“We are fortunate that there is a lot of enthusiasm and many great ideas coming forward from local tenants, residents, councillors, businesses and groups such as the Scandinavian churches. We want to make sure that there is a role for all local representatives to get involved in improving the area.”
Three mature plane trees on Rotherhithe New Road are likely to be felled, says Southwark Council.
The trees, which the council says are encroaching on the pedestrian space on the public highway, could be felled after adjacent landowners refused to sell the council a small plot of land to enable the pavement to be widened.
“I am extremely disappointed that the only course of action available to the council is to remove these trees from the local community,” said Cllr Peter John, leader of the council.
“Not only are they great for the environment but they add a unique vibrancy. We would not normally fell healthy trees of this age but in this case we have no option. Sadly the landowners have refused to cooperate in helping us to resolve the situation so our hands are tied.”
Whilst the council has pointed the finger at the Residential Management Group, the firm has responded on Twitter:
@twatterer @lb_southwark we manage the site on our clients behalf. They have no wish to sell the land and that is their perogative.
— RMG Ltd (@RMGltd) January 7, 2013
Three replacement new trees will be planted in a nearby location.
Lib Dem councillor Graham Neale said: “I have suggested that the pavement is built out into the road to make room for the trees rather than removing the wall, which could save the trees from the chop and improve the road at the same time.
“The pavement opposite is more than wide enough to provide a ‘chicane’ traffic calming system. This is a chance to start managing roads in a way that puts pedestrians and cyclists at the front of road management in our borough.
“Instead of listening to alternatives, Labour have decided to chainsaw the trees which date back to Dr Salter. After all the warm words and phoney consultation we’re back to Plan A, which is to take the easy option and get rid of the trees. How many times must we listen to hollow promises?
“Residents and campaigners have spent a lot of time and effort trying to save these trees. It’s a waste of our time, and a waste of a great opportunity, but I’m afraid that’s the way Labour are running Southwark.”
The new ‘My Southwark’ office has opened in the Market Place at the Blue, replacing the former Bermondsey One Stop Shop in Spa Road.
“It is our mission statement as a council to treat every resident as if they were a member of our own family, and that starts with the council’s customer service, which has needed improving,” said council leader Cllr Peter John.
“The new customer service point at The Blue is great because it is right in the heart of Bermondsey and provides a focal point for local residents to come and carry out a whole range of services – from paying council tax to dealing with rent account queries.
“It will give people the freedom to choose when they access a particular service and will let them choose between talking to an advisor and accessing their own online account.
“I want this to be the blue print for the delivery of much improved customer services from the council across the whole of Southwark.”
For further information visit: www.southwark.gov.uk/servicepoints
Simon Hughes MP has written to the Mayor of London to raise residents’ concerns about slow broadband speeds in Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks.
The Mayor of London is responsible for distributing the government’s £25 million Urban Broadband Fund.
Following several complaints from residents in Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks, earlier this year Simon Hughes MP raised the issue with BT, internet service providers and the culture secretary Maria Miller MP.
Despite Ofcom’s recent report that the average broadband speed in the UK is 9Mbps, with some internet service providers advertising considerably higher speeds, Rotherhithe residents have reported speeds which struggle to reach 2Mbps.
“I am very concerned that people in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe are experiencing unacceptably low broadband speeds,” said Simon Hughes.
“Not only is this incredibly frustrating for people using internet in their homes, it is also harmful for businesses in the area. It is unbelievable that people living and working in between the major hubs of London Bridge and Docklands have such poor download speeds.
“Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of passing the buck on this issue between BT, internet service providers and the government. I am urging the Mayor of London to use the extra government funding to improve broadband connections for residents and businesses in Rotherhithe and I will continue to do all I can to make sure my constituents enjoy broadband speeds which you would expect from a global city in the 21st century.”
However, according to a recent written answer to Lib Dem London Assembly member Stephen Knight, there is little hope of the £25 million allocated by the Mayor being used to help SE16 residents and businesses.
Boris Johnson says that the cash will be spent on four projects including fibre broadband in ‘Tech City’, wireless provision along the Docklands Light Railway, gigabit internet for the Royal Docks area and ultrafast broadband for high-density social housing estates.
The Judith Kerr Primary School, which plans to open a primary school which will teach pupils in both English and German, is asking parents of prospective parents to comment on two potential sites.
One site is at the Dulwich Hospital complex whilst the other is on the former St Olave’s Hospital site near Southwark Park.
To celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of Canada Water Library, Southwark Council has launched a photographic competition.
The council is looking for the most unusual and creative images of the Piers Gough-designed building (inside and out).
The winner will be given the opportunity to feature in an exhibition in the New Year. The deadline for entries is 1 Februrary 2013. Entry forms are available at the library reception desk and further details can be found at www.southwark.gov.uk/cwlphotography
Nearly half a million visits have been made to the library in its first year of operation.
“The resounding success of Canada Water Library as proven by our visitor numbers shows that libraries are as important to local communities as they have ever been,” said Cllr Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport.
“This past year has been amazing: we’ve worked with hundreds of young people as part of the Summer Reading Challenge, welcomed the Sketchbook Project exhibition over from the USA in its only UK tour stop and the library won a RIBA Regional Award.
“Not to mention the international acclaim we’ve received from various librarians, media houses and architects around the world.
We’ve also brought our residents closer to some of their favourite authors with our regular literature evenings with top authors such as Ben Fogle, Pauline Black and Deborah Moggach to name a few.”
Riverside Primary School in Bermondsey has released a Christmas single to raise money for the charity Music as Therapy International.