Category Archives: Politics

South Dock Marina: council to spend £676k

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Southwark Council has announced plans to invest £676,000 into the refurbishment of the South Dock Marina. The funding will go towards structural improvements to the 203 year old dock which is home to 130 residential boats.

Locally, the marina helps to generate revenue to maintain the surrounding water channels and waterways.

The refurbishment programme includes:

  • The replacement of all walkway decking in the marina with anti-slip panels. It is expected that the new decks will reduce maintenance such as gritting during the winter months.
  • New male, female and disabled floating toilet and shower facilities along with a utility room.
  • The installation of a new electrical distribution and service network with a state of the art control and monitoring system to enable customers to monitor their usage and pay their accounts online.

Cllr Barrie Hargrove, cabinet member for transport, environment and recycling, said: “We are glad to be able to deliver this essential programme of improvements to the South Dock Marina. The new developments mean that users and residents in the area will rightly be able to enjoy an enhanced and safer experience at London’s largest marina.”

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

Barry Duckett BEM

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Congratulations to Barry Duckett – chair of the Canada Estate TRA, chair of the Rotherhithe Area Housing Forum and organiser of the Rotherhithe Festival – who received the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year’s Honours list.

Fire at Ann & Lac Chinese takeaway

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https://twitter.com/mundaylaura/status/413993545872465921

Fire at the Blue on Friday morning. From the London Fire Brigade:

Fire crews tackled a fire affecting a takeaway restaurant and the flat above it on Southwark Park Road in Bermondsey. Part of the restauarant was damaged and most of the flat above was damaged by the fire.

A man jumped out of the window of the flat and was taken to hospital to be treated for injuries to his legs. Another man escaped before crews arrived and was treated on the scene by London Ambulance Service for smoke inhalation and shock.

Four fire engines from Dockhead, Deptford, Peckham, and Old Kent Road fire stations were at the scene with 21 firefighters and officers. The Brigade was called at 1022 and the fire was out at 1139.

 

Mayor approves 19-storey tower in Rotherhithe New Road

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Appendix Image

 Mayor of London Boris Johnson has approved a planning application for a 19-storey tower in Rotherhithe New Road despite his “concerns” about the scheme’s design.

The development – designed by HLM Architects – includes 158 homes, space for the Southwark Free School (a 450-place primary school), a new sixth-form centre for the City of London Academy as well as facilities for the Bede House charity.

The applicant is SCCD Developments which describes itself a family-run local business owned by Tom and Donna Pratt, proprietors of Southwark Metals.

The site is at the southern end of Rotherhithe New Road, close to Old Kent Road and St James’s Road.

Southwark Council’s planning committee turned down the application in June for a range of reasons including overdevelopment, inadequate affordable housing and poor architecture.

 In July Mayor of London Boris Johnson announced he was to to ‘take over’ the application. On Thursday this week he held a hearing to receive representations for and against the proposal.

Introducing the scheme, Greater London Authority planner Lucy Bird said that the tower would provide a ‘distinctive landmark’ for the area.

However, Southwark Council planning officer Bridin O’Connor told the Mayor that “this is the wrong development in the wrong place”, highlighting concerns about loss of industrial space,  the “wholly incongruous” tall building, the very high density of the proposals, road safety and other transport impacts.

Catherine Stevens, governor of Southwark Free School, explained that the school currently operates from the Ledbury Estate tenants’ and residents’ hall and currently only has eight pupils in its reception class due to lack of space.

The hearing was also addressed by Richard Bannister, principal of the City of London Academy, who said that by moving his sixth form centre to Rotherhithe New Road he would be able to expand capacity in years 7 to 11 at the school’s existing Lynton Road campus.

Sean Tickle, the developer’s agent, claimed that the scheme represents an “innovative approach to mixed-use development” and noted that this had been recognised with a commendation in this year’s New London Awards.

Announcing that he was minded to approve the scheme, the Mayor noted that this was a “very difficult case” but “on balance” he would accept his officers’ recommendation to back the development.