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Author Archives: SE16.com
Javelin lands in Canada Water Plaza
In celebration of the Olympic Games starting this week, Canada Water Plaza (or is it Deal Porter Plaza?) has received a “gift from the gods” in the form of an Olympic Javelin. The 10m-long installation will be on show throughout the Olympic period for all to enjoy.
“This installation is spectacular and is really adding to the excitement of the Olympics in Southwark,” says Cllr Veronica Ward.
“We cannot wait to see the torch on Thursday as it travels across the borough”.
Free open-air swimming pools at Canada Water this Summer
Two heated swimming pools and a zorbing pool have been set up in the Decathlon Surrey Quays car park. Entry is free to Decathlon Card holders (and there’s no charge to sign up for a card).
More details below and on the Decathlon website.
Thames Water to remove 24,000 tonnes of spoil from Chambers Wharf
Thames Water has applied to Southwark Council for permission to remove the large heaps of material from the Chambers Wharf site.
When the Chambers Wharf buildings were demolished, 24,000 tonnes of hardcore was kept on the site for use in future development.
With the land now likely to be used for Thames Water’s ‘super sewer’ project, the utility company has decided to remove the material from the site.
Most of the spoil will be loaded onto barges using a specially constructed conveyor belt and taken to a recycling plant at Tilbury.
Because of the presence of Japanese knotweed some of the material will be removed by road.
Thames Water says planned hours of operation for the removal works will be Monday-Friday 7am-9pm and Saturday 7am-1pm.
“As a responsible landowner, Thames Water has decided to remove the spoil material from the site, for the sake of the local community,” says the company’s application to Southwark Council.
Lower Road, Plough Way and Rotherhithe New Road walking & cycling improvements
New consultation just launched:
Southwark Council is proposing road safety and public realm improvements in Lower Road, Plough Way and Rotherhithe New Road. The proposals include the introduction of measures to assist cyclists through the link between Oldfield Grove and Plough Way, and the introduction of suitable paving and street furniture to enhance the street scene.
Funding for the scheme comes from Transport for London. The measures are part of the Connect 2 project, supported by SUSTRANS, to create a cycling and walking route from Burgess Park, Camberwell to Durand’s Warf, Rotherhithe.
Lloyds TSB’s only SE16 branch to be sold to Co-operative Group
Lloyds TSB’s Bermondsey branch in Southwark Park Road is part of the package of 632 branches to be rebranded as TSB and transferred to the Co-operative Group in a deal announced this week.
Lloyds Banking Group, which was rescued by the Government at the height of the financial crisis, must sell part of its business to meet European rules on state aid and has now agreed non-binding heads of terms with Co-operative Group plc.
From next summer the Bermondsey branch will be rebranded as TSB before the transfer to the Co-op is completed in November 2013.
“Today’s agreement is an important step in meeting our obligations under the mandated sale of our branches,” said Lloyds Banking Group chief executive António Horta-Osório.
“We believe the Co-operative will be a good owner for our business, customers and colleagues, and the combined banking business will be a significant competitor on the high street with nearly 10 per cent of today’s UK branch network.
“In agreeing to move ahead with the Co-operative we provide greater certainty for our customers and for our shareholders. In addition to an upfront consideration, we will also get to share in the future financial performance of the combined banking business which will be an effective challenger with a strong customer focus.”
Peter Marks, chief executive of the Co-operative Group, described the proposed deal as “the biggest shake-up in high street banking in a generation”.
He added that the acquisition of the extra branches would “make the services of our member-owned, customer-led, ethically-driven, bank available to millions of people we’ve not been able to serve up until now”.
The bank will become part of a cluster of Co-op businesses at The Blue, along with The Co-operative Food and Co-operative Funeralcare.
SE16’s young entrepreneurs become Borough Market traders for the day
On Thursday Borough Market welcomed the next generation of budding entrepreneurs to try their hand at market trading for the day.
Students from Bacon’s College and St Michael’s College joined t the market to sell their wares as part of a project to develop young people’s business and enterprise skills by supporting them to initiate and develop sustainable business ideas.
The initiative, run by Southwark Education Business Alliance, has seen local youngsters working in teams to produce unique business ideas which were then presented to a panel of judges drawn from the local business community.
“Borough Market is proud to welcome some of Southwark’s budding entrepreneurs to the market for the day to try their hand at trading,” says market MD Keith Davis.
“The market is home to over 100 traders who provide a wealth of artisan skills and specialist expertise and are only too keen to share some of their passion and knowledge. I can think of no better place for youngsters to learn about business and trading.”
Lulzim Osmani from SEBA added: “We are delighted that Borough Market is offering Southwark’s young people such a wonderful opportunity to improve their entrepreneurial skills by selling in London’s most famous market.
“We hope that this experience will help young people engage more with their local area and appreciate it more.”
Rotherhithe Police Station to be sold off
The sale of the Rotherhithe Police Station building in Lower Road has been agreed in principle, Mayor of London Boris Johnson confirmed this week.
“Further approval will be sought before the property is marketed for disposal,” said the Mayor.
Mr Johnson has gone back on his earlier promise not to close any police station front counters until a replacement facility was provided in the same area.
All the Mayor will now say is that “every borough will have at least one 24 hour counter”.
A police inspector recently told Borough, Bankside and Walworth Community Council that Southwark’s 24-hour police station is likely to be Peckham.
TfL to review bus services on Salter Road and Redriff Road
Question to the Mayor from Val Shawcross AM:
I have received complaints about poor reliability in bus services in this area, currently served by the C10 and 381 buses. It has been suggested that an easy means of improving this service may be to consider extending route 199 to loop round Salter Road and Lower Road or run the 47 or 188 via Redriff/Salter Road instead of Lower Road. Please could bus routes in this area be reviewed?
Response from Boris Johnson, Mayor of London:
TfL will review this issue and contact you with the results.
Could you be the next chair of Time and Talents?
Chair of Trustees
Time & Talents, a 125-year-old multi-tpurpose charitable organisation based in Rotherhithe, is seeking to recruit a Chair of Trustees.
The Board is particularly interested in hearing from people with :
- Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills
- Inspirational leadership skills
- Trustee and committee experience
- Ability to think strategically and exercise objective judgement
- Commitment to the vision and values of the organisation
The Board estimates the role will require a minimum of 1 day per month.
If you feel you have a contribution to make, please email
Elaine Ray, Vice Chair [email protected] for an application pack
Closing date for applications: 27th July 2012