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.

Police are appealing for assistance in tracing a 12-year-old girl who has not been seen since Monday 26 August.

Lily Hubbard was last seen in Ryder Drive.

She is a white female of average height and medium build with dyed auburn hair. She was wearing a blue denim skirt, a union flag top and blue and white Nike Air trainers.

Anyone with information is asked to call Walworth CID on 020 7232 6188, the police non-emergency line on 101 or Missing People on 116 000.

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.

 

YOUTH THEATRE

Mondays, 6.30-8.30pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Monday 16 September

Suitable for anyone aged 14 and over who would like to develop their performance skills and confidence.
This term the youth theatre will work towards a performance in December.

ADULT DRAMA CLASSES

Wednesdays, 7-9pm
5 Elephant Lane, SE16 4JD

New term starts Wednesday 18 September

Come and play?  London Bubble’s classes are suitable for people with no experience of theatre making and for old hands alike.  Sometimes they work with scripts, sometimes they create work from our imaginations.  The classes are designed to help you develop your confidence and a range of performance skills. This term the adult group will work towards a performance in December. Why not come for a taster class to give it a try?

For more information and class fees  visit www.londonbubble.org.uk

Call 020 7237 4434 or email [email protected]

 

 

Val Shawcross, London Assembly member for Lambeth & Southwark, has officially opened the revamped farmyard at Surrey Docks Farm.

“I was delighted to be invited to open the new-look farmyard at Surrey Docks Farm,” said Val.

“The farm is a fantastic local charity and a real jewel in Rotherhithe’s crown. It’s fascinating fun to come and watch all the animals, and this morning as usual there were a number of children having a great time making friends with the goats. T

“he new surface in the yard will make cleaning and drainage easier and makes it very clear that visitors need to wash their hands after being in the animals’ area.

“Gary Jones the farm manager and his team have done a fantastic job – this project has been a real team effort, with input from staff, volunteers and farm committee members. Everyone has shown a great deal of perseverance which has paid off today.

“If you’ve not visited the farm before I highly recommend it – it’s a great day out for anyone of any age.’

The farmyard refurbishment project was funded by the Biffa Award scheme, the Worshipful Company of Farmers and British Land/Surrey Quays Shopping Centre who donated the proceeds of their 2012 Christmas Appeal.

 

A new sculpture and bench in memory of cycling campaigner (and Surrey Docks Farm manager) Barry Mason has been unveiled alongside Greenland Dock.

Barry is represented by a sculptural depiction of his  bicycle and a cormorant, a reference to his twin passions for cycling and birdwatching.

The adjacent bench features representations of Rotherhithe-born actor Michael Caine and A-Z map creator Phyllis Pearsall who has links with Dulwich.

The artwork has been installed by the Sustrans charity as part of the South Bermondsey Connect2 project to create a new walking and cycling route between Greenland Dock and Burgess Park.

‘Portrait benches’ featuring people with a local connection are a trademark of Sustrans’ Lottery-funded Connect2 projects around the country.

The most visible element of the local Connect2 scheme is the new bridge over Rotherhithe New Road which was opened earlier this year.

Barry Mason had campaigned tirelessly to ensure that the bridge came to fruition even when it seemed that the project would be written off as too difficult.

Barry Mason IF

Transport for London  has appointed Cleshar as the contractor to lengthen some of the station platforms on the London Overground rail route in preparation for the introduction of longer trains.

Canada Water and Surrey Quays will both see their platforms extended.

At Rotherhithe there is no room for longer platforms so the lengthened trains will use selective door opening when calling at that station.

TfL’s director of rail Jonathan Fox said: “Although not yet six years old, London Overground must continue to grow its capacity. It’s hugely popular, with passenger numbers increasing by 87 million in its first four years of existence.

“While that rate will slow, we must still be ready to provide for the 810,000 new residents who will come to London by 2021.”

“We are pleased to be working with Cleshar on this crucial project and these upgrade works will be completed with the absolute minimum of disruption to services.”

The Compass School in Drummond Road has been given the final go- ahead by government for September opening.

The secondary ‘free school’, which will be on the site of the old LeSoCo (Southwark College) Bermondsey campus, will open its doors to its first group of  more than 50 year 7 pupils on Wednesday 4 September.

“This final green light is what we’ve been working for and waiting for,” said Doug Lewis, chair of Compass School Trust.

“It’s very good news. We are so pleased for all our pupils and their families. They are a fantastic year 7 group and we look forward to welcoming them as the first pupils at the Compass School, Southwark. It’s the start of an exciting journey for them.

We are determined to bring high standards and lasting values to all that we do at Compass.”

Chair of governors Dale Bassett said: “This means that we can start to offer what we’ve promised all along- a powerful ethos of education, standards and aspiration.

“Our model of strong literacy and numeracy combined with a strong sense of self for every pupil is a route to each of them being the very best that they can be.”

Alison Clayburn has sent in details of her autumn classes:

Writing for Self Discovery at Time&Talents (Autumn Gold) starts Thursday September 26th, booking deadline September 12th. Cost £95.00

http://www.timeandtalents.org.uk/page152/Writing-for-Self-Discovery.html

Creative writing at Brunel Museum (Focus on Fiction) starts Monday September 23rd, booking deadline September 16th. Cost £95.00

http://www.brunel-museum.org.uk/events/130-2/

See also Creative Writing in Rotherhithe on Facebook