SE16 and SE8 off-licences face alcohol sales bans

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Two Southwark off licences have had their right to sell alcohol suspended after they were caught selling to an underage customer during a pre-Christmas operation.

Both Payless on Jamaica Road SE16 and Costless Express on Lower Road (just across the SE8 border) have had their licences reviewed after being caught out during a crackdown by Southwark Council’s trading standards officers on 8 December last year.

A 16-year-old volunteer for trading standards went into both shops and was sold alcohol and cigarettes without being questioned or asked for proof of age. The council’s test purchasing was part of Operation Condor – the Metropolitan Police’s partnership working initiative where licensing and regulatory issues are targeted on the same day in a London Wide blitz.

As a result the stores have had their licences reviewed by a Southwark licensing sub-committee. Councillors agreed that Costless Express would have its premises alcohol licence suspended for 8 weeks with immediate effect while Payless has had its licence revoked.

Councillor Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety, said: “This needs to serve as a warning to all the licensed premises in Southwark that this council takes its responsibilities seriously and we will come down hard on anyone serving alcohol illegally to our younger residents.  They must make it their habit to check for proof of age when selling to young people.

“As well as being against the law there are serious health consequences to drinking too much alcohol at such an early age and we know that under-age drinking is often linked to anti-social behaviour on our streets and estates.”

Payless has 21 days to appeal to a magistrates’ court and in the meantime can continue to sell alcohol.

 

 

 

Choral society begins summer rehearsals

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Rotherhithe & Bermondsey Choral Society began its summer series of rehearsals on Tuesday 16 April.
The society meets on 8pm-9.45pm at Time & Talents,  The Old Mortuary, St Marychurch Street. All singers welcome; no auditions.
This term’s repertoire includes a History of Bermondsey in Song and a selection from  ‘Merrie England’ by Edward German.
Find out more at www.rbcs-choir.org.uk

New term, new theatre-making groups at London Bubble

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EVENING DRAMA GROUPS FOR ALL AGES AT LONDON BUBBLE THEATRE

Summer term:  w/c 15 April 2013

London Bubble runs a weekly theatre making groups and we’d love you to join us!

Our theatre groups are friendly, fun and creative, and include games and exercises which will help to develop confidence and a range of performance skills.
No previous experience necessary, just come with enthusiasm!

Find out more at www.londonbubble.org.uk

CLASSES FOR CHILDREN:
6-8 year olds:                     Tuesdays 5-6.30pm                         Starts 16 April
Saturdays 10-11.30am                    Starts 20 April

9-11 years:                          Tuesdays 6.30-8pm                         Starts 16 April

Youth Theatre:                 Mondays 6.30 – 8.30pm                 Starts 15 April

CLASSES FOR ADULTS:
Wednesdays                     7-9pm                                                  Starts 17 April

Venue:                 London Bubble, 120 Lower Road, London SE16 2UB

Class Fees:
Youth Groups:   £60 (£30 concessions) per term plus £15 (£10) annual registration fee
Adult Groups:    £80 (£40 concessions) per term plus £15 (£10) annual registration fee

HOW TO BOOK

To find out more or register for a class:
call:                                       020 7237 4434
email:                                    [email protected]
Sign up online:                  www.londonbubble.org.uk

News from the Albion Street Steering Group

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Watch this space for regular reports from the Albion Street Steering Group. Here’s the first:

A meeting of the Albion Street Steering Group took place on Wednesday 10 April 2013.

The ASSG is a group consisting of local representatives that was created by Southwark Council in April 2011 with a remit to influence the development of Albion Street in a way that reflects the needs and aspirations of the local community.

Any queries should be directed to the secretary to the group at [email protected].

Time & Talents seeks new Director

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From Time & Talents:

We are looking to recruit a permanent, full-time Director to ensure Time and Talents continues to thrive despite the current funding challenges facing all multi-purpose community organisations.

Key tasks for the new Director will include identifying new sources of income, developing contracts and services, and exploring how best to work with and alongside other local organisations.

For more information and how to apply please visit our Charity Jobs page

British Land promises more and bigger stores as it takes full control of Surrey Quays Shopping Centre

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British Land has announced the purchase of its joint venture partner Tesco’s 50 per centholding in the 300,000 sq ft Surrey Quays Shopping Centre for £48 million.

As part of the deal Tesco has taken out a a new long-term lease on its store and the petrol station.

British Land says it intends to progress plans in 2014 (subject to planning) for a £38 million upgrade of the shopping centre which will include a 100,000 sq ft extension, the extensive refurbishment of the existing centre along with improvements to public spaces and connections to Surrey Quays and Canada Water tube and bus stations.

Charles Maudsley, head of retail at British Land said: “We intend to create a modern retail environment to attract the growing, affluent local catchment.  We are aiming to take the scheme beyond its current functional shop by broadening the tenant mix and introducing larger retail units alongside a more attractive food offer.  All this should increase overall spend.”

British Land has also recently bought  the Harmsworth Quays site from Daily Mail & General Trust.

David Dutton of DMGT said: “After many successful years at Harmsworth Quays, DMGT is delighted to be transferring its interests in the site over to British Land.  The redevelopment of our printing plant provides an exciting opportunity for the area and we are confident British Land is ideally placed to deliver what the area needs.” Cllr Fiona Colley, cabinet Member for regeneration at Southwark Council, said:

“Rotherhithe has seen some great improvements over the last few years including the new Canada Water library and better transport links thanks to the new London Overground service. We want to keep the momentum going by ensuring that land is put to really good use.

“In addition to new homes, the redevelopment of Harmsworth Quays has the potential to deliver the town centre and jobs that Rotherhithe really needs. I’m delighted that British Land have also agreed to work with the Council to explore whether we can build a new campus for Kings College London on the site, which is something I know would be welcomed locally.”

Slow SE16 broadband raised at Southwark Council meeting

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At this week’s Southwark council assembly the problem of poor broadband speeds on the Rotherhithe peninsula was raised by Cllr David Hubber. Hear his supplementary question and the response from Cllr Peter John, leader of the council:

listen to ‘Slow SE16 broadband raised by Cllr David Hubber’ on Audioboo

Simon Hughes: we must find super sewer alternatives that are “greener, more sustainable and more cost-effective”

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“It is not too late to have an alternative to a super-sewer down the middle of the Thames,” Simon Hughes MP told Parliament this week.

The current solution is to pour millions of tonnes of concrete into building a super-sewer through the Thames to intercept the outflows from the sewerage system. That will be very expensive, costing an average of £80 a year for all of Thames Water’s household customers, and it will be hugely disruptive. In my constituency, for example, one site might be worked on for up to seven years. In addition, this solution deals with only one problem. It will efficiently keep sewage out of the Thames, but it will do nothing else.

Other countries across the world are doing things differently now. Places such as Detroit and Philadelphia and places in Europe started to think about building tunnels but have realised that greener alternatives may be better. Instead of building a big tunnel, Philadelphia now has small interventions: much more porous surfaces on roads, drives and car parks; and smaller sewage collection tanks across the city, rather than in a central place. People in those places believe that what they call a blue-green solution is a better solution and it allows parks to flourish, with the transformation of the city into a wholly greener environment. Such a solution also produces many more jobs at the lower skill levels more quickly than one big tunnel project does. Philadelphia and London may not be the same, but Greater Philadelphia has a huge population, just as London does.

Read the speech in full.