Category Archives: Politics

Southwark children pass Olympic flag to Rio representatives

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The event – held at Canada Water Library – was devised by torchbearer Kevin Steward and past Mayor of Southwark Cllr Althea Smith (who served as the borough’s first citizen during London 2012).

Dignitaries including Deputy Mayor of Southwark Sunil Chopra welcomed representatives from the Brazilian embassy, British Olympic Association, British Paralympic Association and legendary paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson to help congratulate Southwark’s young people and look to Rio 2016.

Certificates were then presented to London Youth Games medallists and young 2012 volunteers who have continued their work in Southwark since the games.

Councillor Veronica Ward, cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Sport, Volunteering and Olympic Legacy said: “We are really pleased to be able to celebrate the achievements of all our young people and their contribution to Southwark since the Olympics. Whether it has been through volunteering for events, giving young people a voice or taking part in the sports themselves, all have become an inspiration to their peers – something we would like to thank and congratulate them for. It was also wonderful to see the signed flags given to Rio as a sign of friendship to children in Brazil from Southwark.”

Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle, Cabinet Member for children’s servicesm said:”Our children and young people in Southwark have made a tremendous contribution to the local community and our visitors. This event was about recognising those young people who not only took part during 2012 but that have continued to volunteer in their community since.”

Kevin Steward, a London 2012 Olympic torch bearer for Southwark, added: “This event is for the children of Southwark and is something which has never been done before in Olympic legacy history. We hope that these flags will serve as a symbolic reminder of how everyone, especially the children, in the host city is involved in the magic of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Mixed messages from Boris over SE16 slow broadband

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This month our local London Assembly member Val Shawcross (Labour, Southwark & Lambeth) tabled the following question to Mayor of London Boris Johnson:

Are you prepared to take steps as Mayor of London, working with BT and other relevant agencies, to progress the roll out of improved broadband speeds in the Rotherhithe area?

The mayor’s reply has just been published:

Officers at the GLA are working very closely with all the relevant agencies to deliver a step-change in the London connectivity to drive economic growth and jobs.

My office will be happy to help facilitate any discussions between the Rotherhithe communities and Broadband providers to ensure their views are taken into account.

The Super Connected Cities Plan (SCCP) is largely focussed on a demand led voucher scheme to encourage the take up of ultrafast broadband amongst high growth SMEs across all London boroughs including SME’s in Rotherhithe area.

However the Mayor’s reply to a similar question tabled by the Green Party’s Darren Johnson AM offered some hope for local businesses but was less helpful so far as residents are concerned:

The Super Connected Cities Plan (SCCP) is now largely focussed on a demand led voucher scheme to encourage the take up of ultrafast broadband amongst high growth SMEs across all London boroughs including SME’s in Rotherhithe area. It will be ensured that SSCP scheme is promoted in Rotherhithe area so that all eligible SME’s can participate.

While I understand the frustration that some Rotherhithe constituents experience over the speed of their internet access, currently we are unable to intervene directly in matters relating to residential broadband connectivity.

The GLA will next year be looking to publish a document looking at Long Term Infrastructure in London, which will include a section on broadband and I know my team drafting that section will be looking at the situation in Rotherhithe closely.

Albion Street library: housing vs ‘sustainability centre’ controversy mounts

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Sublime Magazine Center for Sustainability

Local controversy is mounting over the future of the former Rotherhithe Library and civic centre in Albion Street.

This week Southwark’s cabinet approved in principle plans to develop new council homes on the site – a move supported by the Rotherhithe Area Housing Forum whose chairman Barry Duckett addressed the meeting in support of the plans.

listen to ‘Albion Street controversy: Barry Duckett addresses cabinet’ on Audioboo


However there is a rival proposal from Sublime Magazine to turn the building into a ‘centre for sustainability and social enterprise.

Sublime claims that the centre will lead  research into renewable energy, environmental design and the delivery of education on sustainable practices. It will promote local skills and manufacture, support social enterprise and media-training activities for local young people.

Sublime’s proposal has been branded as “awful” by Cllr Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for resources, who tweeted:

An e-petition calling on the council to consider the sustainability centre plan has so far attracted 236 signatures. It must reach 500 to force the cabinet to consider their request.

Canada Water Area Action Plan discussed by Southwark cabinet

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This week Southwark’s cabinet approved the latest version of the planning policy document for Canada Water, revised to take into account the pending redevelopment of Harmsworth Quays.

listen to ‘Canada Water Area Action Plan – Southwark cabinet’ on Audioboo

Once approved by council assembly the document will be subject to an examination in public before it is formally adopted.<

“The principal reason for the revisions to the Area Action Plan is the relocation of the Daily Mail Group print works from Harmsworth Quays, making a very substantial area of land available for redevelopment,” said Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet member for regeneration.

“Our vision is to prioritise non-residential uses on the site, in particular education uses including the opportunity for a new campus for King’s College London. This vision was strongly supported in the consultation on the proposals.

“Southwark Council owns the freehold of the Harmsworth Quays site and so, alongside the changes to the AAP, officers in the regeneration team are working closely with King’s College and British Land (who have acquired the Daily Mail Group’s lease on the site).

“We hope to come back to cabinet within the next few months to agree a process for developing a masterplan for the area which meets the vision as set out in the AAP revisions.”

£250,000 to create new police base at Seven Islands

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Southwark Council is to spend £250,000 on works at Seven Islands Leisure Centre to create a new base for police officers formerly based at Rotherhithe Police Station.

The cash comes from saving the council has made on its rent bill by buying the freehold of its Tooley Street headquarters.

From a newly published council report:

Rotherhithe Police Station is scheduled for closure and disposal. The council has offered part of Seven Islands Leisure Centre as a neighbourhood policing team base for the North East cluster. The MPS have confirmed that this is operationally useful and their property team have carried out a site visit and are working with officers to the most feasible use of the site. Whilst this is still in the early stage, the estimated cost to the council of the work needed to bring this into use as a police base is in the region of £250,000.
Architects have been commissioned to undertake a feasibility survey at the leisure centre site that considers the MPS operational requirements. This will be completed by early October 2013 and will establish estimated costs and options for the site. The cost of the feasibility survey is £8,000 and is included in the £250,000 estimated project costs for the police station.
The same report reveals that the council plans to spend £40,000 on closed circuit television at Greenland Quay:
Close [sic] Circuit Television (CCTV) at Greenland Quay – As part of the CCTV refresh programme two redeployable cameras were due to be sited at this location. This area has experienced high volumes of robbery and snatch incidents over the last 12 months. The funding will enable us to provide three fixed zoom public space surveillance cameras and operational connection to the councils CCTV operational control room. Re-deployable cameras are not a suitable option here due to the lighting columns. A design specification will be

Peter Andre visits Rotherhithe Primary School

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Peter Andre talks to Rotherhithe Primary pupils

Pop singer and reality TV star Peter Andre called into Rotherhithe Primary School this week to take part in a special assembly on keeping safe and recognising abuse, neglect and bullying.

Peter is a keen ambassador for the NSPCC and works with them to highlight protection and safeguarding for and of young children. He took part in the assembly for pupils in years 5 and 6 and the event was also filmed by a TV crew for his ITV2 reality TV series.

Headteacher Galiema Amien-Cloete said: “It was a fantastic experience for the pupils and Peter was great. He really got through to them the importance of keeping themselves and their friends safe.

“He even agreed to become an ambassador for Rotherhithe Primary School and promised to return for our international cultural event next summer!”

Councillor Dora Dixon Fyle, cabinet member for children’s services, was also at the event.

She said: “We can’t overstate how important these messages are and it is wonderful that schools like Rotherhithe Primary take the initiative to work in innovative ways with partners like the NSPCC to get these messages across to children through exciting events like this.”

Rotherhithe has ‘wrong type of cabling’ for fast broadband

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Some interesting tweets from our local member of the London Assembly:

“Woefully slow” SE16 broadband raised in House of Commons

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Simon Hughes MP has raised the issue of slow internet connections on the Rotherhithe Peninsula in the House of Commons.

“May I remind the minister that literally four miles from here, in Rotherhithe and Surrey Docks, in the capital city, there are still areas that are have woefully slow broadband, to the disadvantage of a very dynamic community?

“Will he look again to see whether we can speed up both BT and the programme so that the capital city, like the rest of the country, can have the broadband it needs to be the most efficient and effective that it can be?”

Culture, communications and creative industries minister Ed Vaizey  replied: “I will happily work to ensure that for the capital. There will always be pockets of slow broadband.

“I was interested to read recently about a couple from Cornwall who went to visit Google in silicon valley and found that the superfast broadband speed in the hotel was slower than it was in Cornwall, which is the result of our programme.”

Broadband: 5 Sep 2013: House of Commons debates – TheyWorkForYou.

Tideway Sailability charity ‘not paid’ by City Hall for 2012 sport activities

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Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon has tabled the following question to Boris Johnson for next week’s Mayor’s Question Time.

I have been contacted by Tideway Sailability in Southwark who still have not been paid by the GLA for the FreeSport activities they delivered in 2012. Can you please ensure that this, small volunteer run, organisation are paid their grant?

Mr Johnson’s answer will be published later this month.

Where should the Surrey Quays dolphins go?

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Family of dolphinsThe  sculpture which once stood within the Surrey Quays Shopping Centre now needs a new home and Southwark Council wants your ideas.

The Family of Dolphins  by David Backhouse is a 2.74-metre sculpture which was given to Southwark Council. Through a public consultation process the council would like to find it a new home within the Canada Water area.

Due to previous thefts in the area security is a key consideration in deciding upon the location. The council is looking for suggestions that naturally provide a secure environment; for example heavy footfall areas which have a high natural surveillance or a water based location.

“This is a great opportunity for the local community to have a say in the location of this stunning sculpture and hopefully it will become an important focal point for residents,” said Cllr Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and volunteering.

“I look forward to hearing the location ideas that come out of the consultation process and getting this sculpture re-homed as soon as we can.”

The public consultation process will have three stages. Stage one will call for location ideas, stage two will assess feasibility of the locations and stage three will report the most viable options to the community, and give a final opportunity for residents to add comments to enable officers to make a final decision. To find out more and give the council your ideas please visit www.southwark.gov.uk/art and click on the public art tab.