The campaign to honour two of Bermondsey’s leading socialists has received a boost from an unlikely quarter … the Duke of Westminster’s property firm Grosvenor.
Category Archives: Politics
New leisure centre at Canada Water: council in ‘early discussions’
Southwark Council says that it is in early discussions with the owners of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre and Harmsworth Quays over plans for a new leisure centre at Canada Water.
In the meantime the council says it will carry out ‘essential repairs and maintenance’ at the existing Seven Islands Leisure Centre.
“I’m delighted that we are in early discussions with British Land about providing a new leisure offer as part of their emerging plans for the area,” said Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for public health, parks and leisure.
“It is also fantastic to be able to announce these improvement works for the existing centre. I’m sure it will all be an exciting prospect for residents in the area, especially as we look to introduce free gym and swim access for local people.”
Councillors first publicly mooted the possibility of a new leisure centre linked to the redevelopment of Harmsworth Quays last November.
Sainsbury’s Local has local staff
Sainsbury’s Local in Jamaica Road is employing local people.
The supermarket has announced that out of 29 people working shifts at the shop all but six live within one mile.
This result follows a recruitment day held in conjunction with the Four Square Estate TRA last July.
Representatives of the TRA were present when the supermarket was officially opened on Monday 15 September.
Sainsbury’s claims that it wishes to continue supporting the local Bermondsey community and is working closely with the Salmon Youth Centre.
The new Sainsbury’s Local is next to the launderette at 192-196 Jamaica Road where it replaces Castello pizza restaurant .
Mayor declines to re-zone Bermondsey Station
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has rejected the suggestion that Bermondsey Station should be in zone 1 as well as zone 2.
London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon had asked the Mayor to consider, in the light of a re-zoning at Stratford, making Bermondsey Station a zone 1/2 station.
In a written answer, the Mayor said: “While we recognise re-zoning Bermondsey could give a positive boost to the regeneration of the area, it would similarly result in significant costs.” He said that the Stratford change is expected to cost £7m a year in lost revenue.
Cabinet ministers approve Thames ‘super sewer’
Thames Water has won planning consent for the proposed 15-mile ‘super sewer’ tunnel beneath London.
The announcement that Chambers Wharf will be a major site for work was made just hours before Parliament rose for a month’s recess.
The go-ahead for major works is the result of a joint decision made by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Environment Secretary Liz Truss.
Southwark Council Leader Peter John immediately condemned the decision to use Chambers Wharf as a drive site when inspectors had deemed it to have “serious deficiencies”.
“I challenge Eric Pickles & Liz Truss to come to Southwark to explain their decision to residents near Chambers Wharf,” said Cllr John shortly after the decision was announced on Friday morning.
“Education and lives will be destroyed by government’s terrible decision to build the ‘super sewer’ from Chambers Wharf,” he said in reference to the nearby Riverside Primary School and housing.
Cllr John says that the decision will be challenged.
Save Your Riverside action group, set up when Thames Water purchased Chambers Wharf, has also condemned the decision.
“It does the credibility of the major infrastructure planning regime no good in the eyes of the public for proposals that were shown to be flawed in preparation, and then shown to be half-baked when tested at the Examination, to nonetheless be given consent by ministers with minimal regard for the impact on Londoners.”
Liberal Democrat councillor for Riverside ward Hamish McCallum said: “As local Lib Dem councillors for the Chambers Wharf site, we are outraged by this decision. We are shocked that after Planning Inspectors had agreed with the Save Your Riverside Group, local councillors and the local MP that the tunnelling direction be reversed, two Conservative Ministers then ignored their recommendation and approved the original plans.
“To us, this makes a complete mockery of the planning process and appears to leave the justification for using Chamber Wharf as a drive site in question. We are exploring if any other options are available at this stage and are simply appalled.”
Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, said: “I know that my constituents who live, work and go to school along the riverside in Bermondsey will be very disappointed by the details of the planning decision for the construction of Thames Tideway Tunnel. Despite positive changes which will benefit Chambers Wharf, the wider community will of course be frustrated that the plans for a drilling site in Bermondsey have not been reconsidered.
“I will of course continue to work with local residents, businesses and others in the community to win maximum environmental protection and minimum disturbance in Bermondsey and the rest of our borough.”
Council’s Cleaner Greener Safer funding launched at Surrey Docks Farm
Each year, Southwark’s five community councils award thousands of pounds in funding to local environmental improvement projects. This scheme is known as Cleaner Greener Safer and in the next year £1.8 million is available across the borough.
Projects can be put forward by individuals or community groups with innovative ideas to improve their areas to make their communities cleaner, greener or safer.
To mark the launch of the 2015/16 funding round, Surrey Docks Farm hosted a special event on Saturday.
Surrey Docks Farm has been awarded almost £150,000 towards improvements since the CGS programme first began in 2003. Visitors to the farm saw work in progress on the latest project, awarded this year, to install solar panels on two of the farm buildings. The solar panels will become a renewable energy source for the farm and ensure the site is more environmentally responsible through green energy production.
Cllr Darren Merrill, cabinet member for environment, recycling, community safety and volunteering, said: “I’m delighted to be launching the Cleaner Greener Safer capital programme for 2015/16. Since 2003, a total of £30,393,000 has been awarded to 1,966 projects in Southwark with 1,585 now completed. It’s great that so many people care for their communities and want to make the areas they live and work in the best they can be. I am pleased we can continue to help them achieve this through this initiative.”
Gary Jones, Surrey Docks Farm manager said, “Surrey Docks Farm has benefitted enormously from grants awarded by Southwark’s Cleaner Greener Safer programme. Through the programme we have been able to open up Riverside Walk to create a direct link to the farm and a pleasurable place for residents and visitors to stroll along. CGS funding has also benefitted our Bloomin’ Southwark project, which enables us to take our horticultural expertise into the local community encouraging people to make use of their outdoor spaces for growing and greening.”
From new play opportunities and sports facilities, to community gardens and food growing projects, the programme has supported healthier lifestyles and helped revitalise communities. Fencing and lighting projects have created safer environments and problem spaces prone to anti-social behaviour have been transformed with imaginative designs to enhance the areas.
Anyone can apply for a Cleaner Greener Safer grant either as an individual or a group, but you must live or work in the community council area where you are proposing the scheme. Ideas for the CGS capital programme must demonstrate that they will make an area cleaner, greener or safer with a permanent, physical improvement and all projects are subject to permissions being granted, e.g. planning, listed building, Highway Authority etc.
The closing date for entries is Friday 7 November 2014 and successful applications will be announced at community council meetings in January and February 2015.
To find out more information or to apply online, visit www.southwark.gov.uk/cleanergreenersafer
London Bubble explores politics and apathy in run-up to 2015 general election
Do you believe in our democratic system? Or do you share Russell Brand’s view? Either way, London Bubble wants to hear from you.
In 1950, 84 per cent of the UK population voted in the general election. In 2010 only 65 per cent bothered. At the last election less than 30 per cent of 18-25s exercised their right to vote.
We pride ourselves on ‘our democratic system’ but do we believe in it. Or is the system just too big to change?
London Bubble Theatre Company is looking for volunteers to help it take a snapshot of people’s feelings about the electoral system.
Between now and the next election the company will be recording conversations between people on different sides of the debate and creating a play to be performed by a community cast.
The project is called Hopelessly De-Voted and young people from Southwark and Lewisham have already set about interviewing a range of people. 18-22 year olds have interviewed Baroness Jones of the Green Party; Ipsos MORI pollster Ben Page; and new Grange ward councillor Damian O’Brien who won his Southwark Council seat by just six votes.
Now young Bubble members are widening their search and are interested in interviewing members of the general public who either strongly believe in the system, or who steadfastly refuse to vote.
They are interested in talking to a range of ages so if you have something to say, please get in touch. (Or perhaps you come from Belgium or Australia where voting is compulsory, or from Estonia where not only can you vote by phone, but you can change that vote at any time leading up to Election Day!)
The research stage of the project is being supported by the Arts Council of England and Bubble will be working with campaigning group Bite the Ballot, to turn the words of voters, politicians, cynics and sceptics into a script reflecting Londoners love-hate relationship with our political system.
If all goes to plan the piece will be performed by a inter-generational community cast in the Spring 2015, during the run up to the election in May. And who knows, it might even increase the turn out.
Those interested in contributing to Hopelessly De-Voted should contact Claire Sexton at London Bubble on 020 7237 4434, [email protected]
800 DVD box sets seized in SE16
From the latest Southwark trading standards bulletin:
Following a complaint about inferior DVD box sets being sold via eBay a warrant was obtained for a flat in SE16.
Approximately 800 box sets of various types were found at the address.
These were seized as it was believed they were counterfeit and an investigation is ongoing.
Six year old girl borrows one millionth item from ‘amazing’ Canada Water Library
This weekend Canada Water Library celebrated its one millionth loan since the library opened in November 2011.
The library awarded a prize to the member taking out the millionth loan – six year old Chinedum Odunze, when she borrowed Heart Magazine: A dream come true by Cindy Jefferies on Friday 27 July– one of five books she borrowed that day. She was presented with a £100 boo
k token, free DVD and CD rentals for a year, two tickets for a Canada Water Culture Space event and lots more.
Chinedum Odunze said: “I think Canada Water Library is an amazing place. When I’m there, I usually leave with 8-10 books. When I read, every page of a book makes me feel like I am floating away to the place in the story. Sometimes…I like to write my own stories. I just love reading books especially when there’s an adventure!”
Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, cabinet member for adult care, arts and culture, said: “Canada Water Library’s one millionth loan is another great milestone for us that shows how well the library is used by the community and has been supporting literacy since opening in 2011.
“I am delighted that the one millionth loan was by one of our youngest residents and I hope her obvious love of books and reading will continue to grow as she uses the service.”
Salter statues could be unveiled this year as appeal reaches £50k target
Exciting news from the Salter Statues Campaign
This month we can announce great news for all those who have spent the last three years campaigning to restore the memory of Ada and Alfred.
The Salter Statues Campaign has at last achieved its target of £50,000. The statues of Ada, Alfred and their daughter, Joyce, can now go ahead and be installed.
There may even be an unveiling before the end of this year of the beautiful ensemble designed by artist, Diane Gorvin. Not only has justice been done to Alfred Salter, whose statue was stolen by metal-thieves in 2011, but the addition of Ada is historic for all of London, where currently there are only 14 public statues of women compared to hundreds of men.
Amazingly, Ada’s statue will be the first public statue of a woman environmentalist, the first of a woman peace campaigner, the first of a woman trade unionist, the first of a woman politician and the first of a Quaker woman.
Congratulations to all who campaigned, and all who donated.