The contract to run the Canada Water Culture Space – currently held by the Albany Deptford – is up for grabs.
Man found critically injured by Rotherhithe Tunnel
Police in Southwark are appealing for information and witnesses after a man was found with serious head injuries at the southern approach to the Rotherhithe Tunnel.
Officers were flagged down at 4.19am on Friday 26 June after a man was found collapsed.
They attended to the man who was unresponsive and suffering from a serious head injury.
London Ambulance Service arrived soon after and took the man, believed to be 19 years old, to a central London hospital. His condition is critical.
Officers believe they know the identity of the injured man and his next-of-kin have been informed.
No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.
Nelson Dock hotel relaunches as ‘DoubleTree by Hilton’
The former Hilton hotel at Nelson Dock is now trading under its less-than-catchy new name: ‘DoubleTree by Hilton London Docklands Riverside’.
John Greenleaf, global head of DoubleTree by Hilton, said, “The DoubleTree by Hilton London Docklands Riverside is just a two minute ferry ride across the River Thames to Canary Wharf, one of the world’s major global business districts, and near to international exhibition and event centres such as the O2 Arena and ExCel London. We are delighted to warmly welcome both business and leisure guests to this thriving London neighbourhood.”
The hotel’s general manager Howard Lewis added: “With views of the River Thames from the hotel’s restaurant and bar and a majority of guestrooms, the DoubleTree by Hilton London Docklands Riverside offers a sanctuary for both business and leisure guests in London. The hotel is ideal to unwind after a long day and soak in the ambience created by Canary Wharf’s lights sparkling across the river. We are extremely excited to welcome guests to the newly refurbished hotel.”
There are 10 DoubleTree hotels already in London and each guest is given a warm chocolate chip cookie when they check in.
The hotel is on Twitter @DoubleTreeDock and its associated restaurant is @ColumbiaRest
C10 bus route petition delivered to City Hall
Rotherhithe councillors have delivered a 300-signature petition to City Hall highlighting local concern about the performance of the C10 bus route.
Councillors Stephanie Cryan, Kath Whittam and Bill Williams launched the petition back in January after official figures showed that many journeys had been curtailed early or missed out the Rotherhithe peninsula altogether, meaning extended waits for passengers. Some 6 per cent of journeys do not reach the peninsula.
‘The C10 is an important neighbourhood bus service which people rely on, and far too often, the Rotherhithe peninsula is missed out by drivers who may be delayed and need to make up time,” said Val Shawcross AM, who will now pass the petition on to Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
“TfL have told me that various road works are putting pressure on the route, and while I appreciate that this can cause temporary issues, the regularity with which buses are bypassing Rotherhithe has become a big problem.
“I congratulate Rotherhithe’s representatives for putting this petition together; I hope it will persuade TfL to take proper action now.’
Cllr Stephanie Cryan said: “Rotherhithe residents feel let down by TfL. The fact that a significant number of journeys are curtailed before they get to the peninsula causes regular inconvenience and disruption to people’s daily routine.
“With the population growing there will be increased demand on these services and TfL need to bring this bus route up to scratch.”
£200k boost for ‘Brunel Bridge’ plans
Transport charity Sustrans is carrying out a detailed feasibility study into its plan to build a bridge for walkers and cyclists across the River Thames between Canary Wharf and Rotherhithe.
Transport for London has granted funding of £170,000, supplemented with £30,000 from businesses in the area, for Sustrans to investigate the potential of the new bridge, and the detailed study is due to be completed in August.
Current plans envisage a new 400-metre long bridge spanning the river between Rotherhithe and the Isle of Dogs with an opening section in the middle to allow ships to pass.
Sustains claims the bridge could be open as soon as 2020.
“Sustrans is delighted to have received this funding from TfL and other partners to be able to move forward with the feasibility work on this crossing,” said Malcolm Shepherd, Chief Executive of Sustrans.
“It could enable millions of sustainable cross-river journeys and make it far easier for people to choose a healthier travel option.
“With high-quality links to destinations either side, it will make walking and cycling a real choice for hundreds of thousands of residents, workers and visitors”.
Richard de Cani, TfL’s managing director for planning, said: “As London’s population grows towards 10 million people, we need a number of new river crossings to improve connectivity and reduce congestion on existing road and rail services.
“A new pedestrian and cycle crossing between the Isle of Dogs and Rotherhithe and Canada Water would encourage more people to walk and cycle to Canary Wharf, improving access to amenities and jobs and providing an alternative to the Jubilee line for shorter trips.
“TfL is working with Sustrans and the private sector on developing this proposal by pledging funding towards the first phase of feasibility work.”
Isabel Dedring, Deputy Mayor for Transport said: “More than a third of London’s expected population growth is expected to happen in East London and we urgently need more crossings – for all types of transport users. So we are delighted to be able to offer this funding to help progress Sustrans’ proposed cycling and walking bridge.”
Liberal Democrat London Assembly member Caroline Pidgeon added: “Unlike the Garden Bridge this is a bridge that is desperately needed and where public money should be spent.
“A pedestrian and cycling bridge linking Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf would help reduce congestion by making it so much easier to get between Rotherhithe and Canary Wharf by foot or bike. It would link two parts of London and help ease overcrowding on the Jubilee Line.
“I have long backed cyclists who have been campaigning for this new crossing and it is real credit to them and of course to Simon Hughes that this first step is now being taken in making this bridge a reality.”
1988: Swan Estate residents protest against LDDC
From the Thames News archive:
Council to ban bookies, amusements and payday lenders from its shopping parades
Southwark Council is preparing to approve a definitive policy statement that makes clear it will no longer rent retail premises in its own buildings to bookmakers, payday lenders or amusement arcades.
Details of the proposal are available on the council website:
The council owns a portfolio of approximately 490 retail units, distributed across the borough with particular concentrations in SE16 (Jamaica Road / Albion Street) and SE17 (Walworth Road / East Street). Elsewhere there are a number of smaller local neighbourhood parades, including those with relatively distinct catchments as part of individual housing estates.
Rent from these shops currently generates £5.2 million a year for the council.
There are 18 businesses – mostly bookmakers – which would be affected by the proposed policy change and would not have their leases renewed.
The 18 shops generate £330,000 a year in rent.
27 families use ‘Help to Buy’ schemes in Bermondsey & Old Southwark
In response to a parliamentary question from Neil Coyle MP, the Government revealed that just 27 families in Bermondsey & Old Southwark have made use of the ‘Help to Buy’ scheme to buy a home.
Read the question and answer here. Further analysis suggests than most or all of those families are in the SE16 part of the constituency.
We asked Neil Coyle for his reaction to the statistics:
Neil Coyle raises Rotherhithe broadband problem in Parliament
In one of his first written parliamentary questions, new local MP Neil Coyle has asked the Government about what it plans to do to help boost slow broadband in former dockyard areas like Rotherhithe.
See the question and answer here.
We caught up with Neil Coyle and asked for his reaction to the minister’s answer to his question:
Barry Albin-Dyer RIP
Barry Albin-Dyer – Bermondsey funeral director and well-known local personality – has died after a long illness. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2013.
Barry worked long-established family firm of FA Albin & Sons for 45 years and been its proprietor since 1985.
He had also served as a magistrate and a deputy lieutenant of Greater London.
His sons Simon and Jon posted this message on the company website on Saturday:
It is with much sadness that we have to inform you that Dad passed away today.He fought to the end.We are so proud of him and we offer our sincere thanks for all the many prayers and messages of support that we have received.You will appreciate that this is a very difficult time for our family and all the staff at Albins.We will issue a further update in the coming days.Love to you all
Simon & Jon
His autobiography Don’t Drop the Coffin was turned into an ITV series.
* Read Barry’s 2006 interview with The Observer.