At this week’s Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council, Cllr Lisa Rajan (Lib Dem, Surrey Docks ward) announced that she is running the London Marathon on Sunday 13 April in aid of the local Time & Talents charity.
So far she has raised nearly £2,000 in sponsorship.
There’s been a lot of political argy-bargy between Labour and the Lib Dems about future plans for Southwark Park’s athletics track in recent months.
This week the (Labour) cabinet approved the borough’s updated capital programme which includes £2.63 million for works at the track.
Here’s what the report to cabinet says:
Investment is requested for the refurbishment of the existing building at Southwark Park Sports Complex to provide suitable changing and ancillary facilities to support athletics development and the needs of Southwark Park users. The facility is currently in poor condition both internally and externally, and does not deliver in terms of what would be expected of a community sports facility.
Usage figures of this facility are dropping. In the first quarter of 2013 only 95 attendances were recorded.
External funding has been secured for the refurbishment of the athletics facilities (track and field), and the building refurbishment will compliment this by providing quality supporting facilities. The site, following investment, will focus on grass- roots athletics and the development of a Southwark athletics club. Sports development activities will be led by Southwark’s Athletics Activator. There is also an aspiration for the facility to deliver a disability sports programme. Overall £3m will be required of which £370k has already been allocated as part of the OLF programme.
Funding will enable the delivery of a refurbished pavilion including changing facilities for athletics and for sport in the park, specialist athletics coaching facilities and a small gym focusing on support athletics training.
This week Southwark’s cabinet confirmed the permanent expansion of Albion Primary School to two forms of entry from September 2015.
The cabinet also received a report about the future planned demand for school places in the borough.
The report shows that there will be a shortfall of 7.5 to 9 forms of entry in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe (in other words up to 270 reception places) by September 2016.
Strong hints were dropped that we will see plans for a new primary school in SE16 emerge this summer, after the hiatus caused by the local elections.
Listen to audio of the two cabinet items relating to school places:
Southwark Council’s Richard Livingstone answered a public question about Harmsworth Quays from local resident Jerry Hewitt at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.
Listen to the question and answer:
Meanwhile British Land’s consultation events start this week – details on the SE16 Print Works website
A beer brewed by a fledgling south London brewery has won the title of “Roux brew” and will be served at the Michelin-starred restaurants of chef Michel Roux Jr.
Full story: Michel Roux Jr. crowns ‘Roux brew’ winner.
Conservative Party London Assembly member Andrew Boff tabled this question to the Mayor:
What would be the main benefits to local residents of the new Opportunity Area that is proposed for Canada Water in the London Plan?
Boris Johnson replied:
Canada Water was previously an Intensification Area. Its redesignation as an Opportunity Area is to reflect the significant amount of development that has taken place there in recent years and to plan strategically for its continued growth. As well as new residential and retail development, there is also the potential to develop a new science cluster by King’s College.
A few weeks ago we reported on plans to refurbish Blue Anchor Library.
What the council didn’t say back then was that a seven-week shutdown would be necessary for the work to be completed.
Blue Anchor Library – Southwark Council.
Blue Anchor Library is going to be refurbished during March/April 2014 to install self service technology and to improve the layout and facilities in the library.
The library will be closed for these essential building works from 7pm on Tuesday 11 March to Sunday 27 April inclusive.
Blue Anchor Library will reopen at 9am on Monday 28 April.
The nearest library to Blue Anchor is Canada Water.
You can use your Southwark Council library card at any Southwark library and items on loan can be renewed online or by calling 020 7525 2000. You can return items to any other Southwark library or by taking them to the My Southwark Customer Service Point at 11 Market Place SE16, where there will be a returns box.
Thank you for your support and sorry for any inconvenience caused during the refurbishment. We look forward to bringing you your new and improved library in April.
Canada Water librarian Mike Allport has been named ‘Librarian of the Year 2013’ by the Publishers Publicity Circle.
“Southwark’s Libraries are an important hub for their local communities and this award reflects the high quality standard of service our libraries provide to all our residents,” said Councillor Veronica Ward, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Volunteering.
“We are very proud of Mike’s achievement and all our libraries staff in Southwark.
This award presented by the Publishers Publicity Circle is also in recognition of the commitment that the council has given to its libraries, and especially the extensive programme of author events and literary festivals that are on offer for all ages across the borough.”
Dozens of Rotherhithe residents enjoyed a rare opportunity to look round the former Daily Mail / Evening Standard / Metro print works at Harmsworth Quays on Saturday, courtesy of the site’s new owners British Land.
Southwark-based architects Allies & Morrison have been appointed to design redevelopment proposals.
Preliminary consultation events start later this month – see www.se16printworks.com for details of the first pop-up exhibitions.
The 24-hour Costcutter store in Southwark Park Road is facing a review of its premises licence after officers from Southwark Council’s trading standards department and HM Revenue & Customs seized 210 bottles of alcohol.
During the inspection on 31 January officers found dozens of bottles where no duty had been paid and/or the product was counterfeit:
Read more about the irregularities found during the inspection on the council’s licensing register.