Neil Coyle warns of police cuts and highlights drugs crisis in Rotherhithe

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Neil Coyle MP has told Parliament that Southwark Police were  “unable or under-resourced” to tackle a problem with drug dealing and heroin use on an estate in Rotherhithe.

Speaking in a Commons debate on policing on Wednesday evening, he said that his constituents are “very concerned about the prospect of a 25 to 40 per cent further cut to resources”.

He went on to describe “the rise of the visible use and sale of class A drugs” in central London.

“In Rotherhithe in particular – at Tissington Court – residents felt that the police were either unable or under-resourced to be able to tackle regular heroin use and sale within a block,” said Mr Coyle.

“Families felt unable to send their children up and down the stairwell because of the use of heroin in that stairwell and the impact of use – including the avoiding of barrels on the stairs during the day.

“It took an incredible amount of time get that issue resolved, and a concerted effort on my part with the Rotherhithe councillors who took the issue to the police with the local tenants’ association.”

More on the future location of Canada Water’s leisure centre

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Last week the vexed question of where a new leisure centre to replace Seven Islands should be located was the topic of a further lengthy session at Southwark’s overview & scrutiny committee.

Cllr Mark Williams (cabinet member for regeneration and new homes) and Jon Abbott (head of regeneration north) gave a presentation on the various options, including refurbishment or rebuilding on the Seven Islands site.

Watch it in full here:

19-year-old missing from Surrey Quays – police appeal

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Police are appealing for help to find a man missing from his home near Surrey Quays Shopping Centre.

Charlie Murray, 19, was last seen at 8.15pm on Wednesday 14 October at his home on Hothfield Place off Lower Road.

Charlie is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build with short dark brown hair. He has a tattoo on his right arm with the words ‘NEVER GIVE UP HOPE’.

When last seen, he was wearing a plain light blue tracksuit top and plain grey tracksuit trousers.

His family are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare as his disappearance is out of character.

Anyone who has seen Charlie is asked to contact Southwark Police by calling 101.

75th anniversary of Jamaica Road bombing

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Today is the 75th anniversary of the World War II bombing of Millstream House in Jamaica Road.

By looking at the brickwork, you can see where the building has been patched up.

Curiously, when the building was restored in 1947, a gargoyle recovered from the debris of air raid damage at the Palace of Westminster was included in the works.

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1982 – Peter Tatchell occupies Corbett’s Wharf at Bermondsey Wall East

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Earlier this week Corbett’s Wharf on Bermondsey Wall East was declared to be part of a conservation area.

By coincidence, the owners of the Thames News (ITV regional news) archive have just published this report from November 1982 of a protest at Corbett’s Wharf by Peter Tatchell – then Bermondsey Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate – against the London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC).

Well worth a watch.

Bermondsey Wall East: councillors approve extension to conservation area

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Southwark’s planning committee has given the green light to plans to extend the Edward III’s Rotherhithe Conservation Area to include all of Bermondsey Wall East.

The council consulted local residents on the proposed extension two and a half years ago but nothing further happened until this summer when Labour and Liberal Democrat members of Bermondsey & Rotherhithe Community Council  unanimously passed a motion calling on the planning department to take action.

Key buildings such as the former Old Justice pub (now known as the Winnicott), Angel Wharf and Corbetts Wharf will be brought into the scope of the existing conservation area which covers the area around the Edward III manor house.

Listen to audio of Southwark’s design and conservation manager Michael Tsoukaris addressing planning committee: