“Medium-high” risk of unexploded WWII bombs at Canada Water

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There is a “medium-high” risk from unexploded World War II  bombs in the redevelopment of the Mulberry Business Centre at Canada Water, according to a threat assessment submitted to Southwark Council.

King’s College London will next week hold a public exhibition of its plans to build new student accommodation, offices and housing on the site opposite Alfred Salter Primary School.

An Explosive Ordnance Threat Assessment carried out last year by BACTEC International has been submitted to Southwark Council.

The report notes that the site – which was alongside the now-infilled Quebec Dock – was bombed several times during World War II as part of wider Luftwaffe attacks on the Surrey Commercial Docks. During the war the site was occupied by a series of timber sheds which had all been demolished by 1946.

According to the assessment, a 500kg bomb would have had a maximum bomb penetration depth of up to 10 metres below WWII ground level.

BACTEC recommends that all workers carrying out excavations on the site should be briefed on the possibility of finding unexploded ordinance. It also recommends that a bomb disposal engineer should be on-site to supervise all open excavations.


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Free wifi at Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays stations

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Free wireless internet access is now available at Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays stations, London Overground has announced.

“We are always looking for ways to make the London Overground even more convenient than it already is and believe the introduction of free wifi can only improve and enhance our passenger journeys,” said Peter Austin, managing director of London Overground Rail Operations.

“It complements the modern commuting railway service we already offer and is also fitting for what is one of the best performing railways in the UK.”

The Cloud offers 60 minutes of free access per day to its hotspots at Overground stations.

Canada Water Station a paid-for Virgin Media wifi service.

Dr Salter’s Daydream 2013: first images

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Diane Gorvin, the artist behind the original Dr Salter’s Daydream sculptures, has produced ideas for a new commission which will not only replace the stolen statue of Dr Alfred Salter but also include a new sculpture of his wife Ada.

The complete work will include the sculptures of their daughter Joyce and her cat which were placed in storage after the theft of the Dr Salter statue from the Thames Path in November 2011.

The Salter Statues Campaign has raised more than £10,000 so far. Treasurer Catherine Dale said: “It was devastating when the statue of Dr Salter was stolen but we are making the most of a bad situation by aiming to raise enough money to commemorate Ada Salter as well.”

Cllr Veronica Ward,  Southwark’s cabinet member for culture, said: “We were very much saddened when Dr Alfred Salter’s statue was stolen in 2011.

“Our artworks are celebrated by our residents and play an important part in the lives of our local community. It is because of this that we have supported the Salter Statues group and have pledged to match the funding they raise to take steps to permanently replace the statues plus necessary security works.”

Artist Diane Gorvin said of her drawings: “Dr Salter’s Daydream 2013 will be expanded by the welcome addition of Ada, a remarkable woman who deserves recognition for her many good works to benefit the people of Bermondsey.

“Alfred and Ada Salter worked so hard that they did not have much time to relax, but after the birth of Joyce they made a garden at their home, a ‘green parlour’ where their ‘sunshine’ could play. This is the memory I wish to evoke for Dr Salter.”

Diane welcomes additional photographs of Alfred and Ada Salter to ensure their likenesses are as accurate as possible.   Any photos or contributions should be sent to [email protected]

Surrey Docks “superhero” cops visit Redriff Primary School

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Redriff Children at Redriff Primary School have been visited by police officers and PCSOs from Surrey Docks safer neighbourhoods team  as part of the pupils’ ‘super heroes in the community’ project.

The local SNT members talked to the reception classes about what the police do, how they help members of the public and important crime prevention advice such as how to stay safe.

The team brought a police van to the school so the children could sit inside, hear the sirens and be shown all the equipment used by officers to help them arrive at a scene quickly.

“We are happy to have the opportunity to share important crime prevention advice and to be a part of their ‘super heroes in the community’ project,” said PCSO Amy Kempson.

“The whole team enjoyed meeting all the children and must have made an impression as a few days after the school visit, the children sent pictures they drew for the team of their special day!”

TfL confirms longer trains for Overground

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Transport for London has confirmed plans to lengthen all trains on the London Overground from four carriages to five.

The £320m programme includes the construction of longer platforms at some stations and the delivery of an extra 57 carriages by the end of 2015.

The heavily constricted Rotherhithe and Canada Water stations are unlikely to be expanded so trains will used selective door opening (SDO) at these stations.

This means passengers in the rear coach of a five-car train are likely to have to walk through to the next coach in order to alight.

At Surrey Quays there is more space for potential platform extensions.

“Passenger numbers on our London Overground services have been going through the roof, but this important programme of investment will enable us to provide the extra carriages required for Londoners to take advantage of what has become the most popular suburban railway in the country,” said Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.

Transport for London’s Howard Smith said: “Demand for London Overground – the UK’s most punctual rail service – is growing at an incredible pace.  By the end of 2012, London Overground carried 120 million passengers – nearly four times the number carried when we launched in 2007.

“To enable this positive trend to continue and maintain our high levels for safe, reliable and frequent travel, we need to deliver more capacity by adding more carriages”.

 

Join an intergenerational performance project with London Bubble

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London Bubble – temporarily based at the Swedish Seamen’s Church in Lower Road – is inviting locals of all ages (9+) to join its latest intergenerational performance project: From Docks to Desktops.

Sessions start this Thursday 7 February (6.30pm-9pm) and are led by Jonathan Petherbridge.

Over the last few months London Bubble has invited people to share their stories and help to research the history of work in Bermondsey, Rotherhithe and Deptford.

Now the company is inviting people to join weekly classes and come together to help create a new show to be performed in summer 2013.  No auditions.

There is no set fee for this group but London Bubble hopes that you might show your support for the project and the work of London Bubble by making a donation.

To find out more or register call 020 7237 4434, email  [email protected] or sign up at www.londonbubble.org.uk

Bid to designate Rotherhithe Police Station as ‘asset of community value’ fails

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Under the Localism Act people can petition a council to designate a building as an asset of community value (ACV).

Buildings that are successfully listed cannot be sold without first giving community groups the right to bid for them in order to use them for community benefit.

Someone has applied to have Rotherhithe Police Station – which is intended for closure and sale – designated as such an asset.

The council has said ‘no’.

It’s only the second time the ACV procedure has been used in Southwark. Last autumn the Ivy House pub in Nunhead was granted ACV status by the council.

Last week Southwark borough commander John Sutherland told Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council that the Met is “actively seeking” a suitable location for a contact point (or ‘front counter’) in SE16 but that there are “no guarantees” that such a facility will be provided.