Last week, local Councillors held a meeting to hear from traders on Deptford High Street about the issues that matter to them.
The meeting was organised by Councillors from New Cross and Evelyn wards, with Councillor Brenda Dadres, Councillor Joe Dromey and Councillor David Michael hearing from local traders about the challenges they face.
It was standing room only with over 50 traders turning up to share their views. Traders got the chance to raise issues with their local Councillors and question officers from the safer neighbourhood team and markets team.
The number one issue for local traders was the parking restrictions on and around Deptford High Street. Councillors have subsequently organised a walk-about for the cabinet member responsible for parking and council officers to see the problem for themselves. They also invited a market trader to come and present her petition on the issue to the upcoming council meeting.
Traders also raised how we might better promote the high street and the market to encourage people to come and spend money at local businesses. Councillors promised to raise this issue with officers and to push for the market and high street to be promoted in Lewisham Life and on Twitter. One trader suggested bringing a farmers market to the area Councillors also discussed arranging for a Christmas tree.
Councillor Joe Dromey said 'it was great to hear from local traders about the issues they face, and to discuss how we might be able to help out. The high street and the market are really important for our area, and we're determined to do all we can to help them prosper. We want to make these meetings a regular occurrence and we'll be organising another in a few months time.'
If you weren't able to make it or if you have any thoughts on how we could better support Deptford High Street, please get in touch.
Lewisham Labour have today launched a campaign to extend the Bakerloo Line to Lewisham. Local people can support the campaign by signing the petition at www.bakerlooextension.com. South-east London suffers from much weaker transport links than the rest of the city. The Bakerloo Line extension would be good for Lewisham. It would improve links for local residents traveling into central London. By helping people access the wider jobs market available in central London, it will help tackle poverty and unemployment locally. It will also support local economic development, bring jobs, investment and opportunities. Extending the Bakerloo Line via Lewisham would also be good for London. Improving the transport links to Lewisham would act as a catalyst to realise the potential of the area. Tha Mayor of Lewisham, Steve Bullock said “south east London has been overlooked for too long. We successfully campaigned for the DLR and the Overground extension, but we desperately need better transport infrastructure. I’m calling on the Mayor to pull his finger out and make this happen.” Councillor Joe Dromey of New Cross said "extending the Bakerloo Line is the right thing for Lewisham and the right thing for London. It would be great news for our area and we'll be pushing for it to happen as soon as possible. We're encouraging local people to get behind the campaign and put New Cross and Lewisham on the tube map!" You can show your support by signing the petition here. We are committed to keeping in touch with local people. You should be getting our latest leaflet through your door in the next few days. You can see a copy below - do let us know if you don't get one! The leaflet is to say a massive thank you to you all for your support in May, to set out some of the things we're focusing on, and to introduce our parliamentary candidate Vicky Foxcroft. Vicky who was a Councillor in Brockley until May, is standing for Parliament in 2015 when Joan Ruddock MP will be standing down. You'll be hearing more from Vicky over the next few months... We've also just been at the first New Cross Assembly following the election. The next one is due to take place at the Party in the Park on September 13th. You can find out about New Cross Assebly meetings here. They're a great way to find out what's going on locally and get involved. We'll also be out knocking on doors every month of the year. Do get in touch if you want to join us or if you have any issues you want to raise. Thanks again for your support. We just wanted to write a quick note to say a huge THANK YOU to the people of New Cross for electing us as your local Labour Councillors.
The results were a huge vote of confidence in Labour locally. It was both an endorsement of our record and a strong mandate to deliver on our manifesto. We were truly humbled by the result and we are honoured to have been elected as your councillors. Apologies for the delay in posting this – we’ve had a busy few weeks getting going in the new roles! The last four years have been tough. The Coalition has slashed our funding by 30%. These are politically motivated cuts that hit the poorest areas hardest. We’ve worked with the community to protect the services that matter most to local people. But the next four years will be harder still. As our funding is cut further, the Council will have to make another £95m of savings – equivalent to roughly £1 in every £3 we spend. This will mean some difficult decisions. But even in these tough times, we can still make a real difference for local people. Over the next four years we will tackle the housing crisis by delivering 2,000 affordable homes – including 500 council homes – and cracking down on rogue landlords and rip-off letting agents. We will help young people achieve their full potential by guaranteeing a place at a good local primary school, improving secondary school results by 10% and increasing the number of apprenticeships. We will ensure local people benefit from regeneration by supporting the creation of thousands of new jobs. And we will do all this while freezing your council tax for a further two years, helping to tackle the cost of living crisis. We will continue to work hard locally and stay in touch with the community. We’ll be out knocking on doors at least once a month, you can also come and speak to us in our surgeries or get in touch over the phone or by email. Our surgery times and contact details are here. And if you want to get involved locally, you can join the Labour party here. So thank you once again for the trust you’ve placed with us. Thanks to everyone who campaigned with us, supported us, and voted for us. We are hugely grateful for your support. We will work really hard over the next four years for New Cross, for our community and for you. Councillor Brenda Dacres Councillor Joe Dromey Councillor Paul Maslin Today, Ed Miliband will make a major announcement on Labour's plans to tackle the housing crisis. The Coalition have presided over a housing crisis. Last year, fewer houses were built than at any time since the 1920s! Rents have rocketed, adding to the cost of living crisis. House prices - particularly in London - are becoming increasingly unaffordable. The next Labour government would tackle the housing crisis. Today, Ed Miliband will promise to introduce secure three year tenancies to give tenants extra security. We will also place an upper ceiling on rent increases to prevent exploitative landlords from jacking up rents. Labour will also ban letting agents fees, saving tenants up to £500 on moving in. We've already promised to deliver 200,000 new homes a year and to scrap the government's vicious Bedroom Tax. But we're not waiting until the general election - Lewisham Labour are taking action to improve housing locally. Over the last four years, we've delivered over 2,000 affordable homes, more than any other London borough last year. We've also started building the first new council homes in a generation. Over the next four years, we promise to:
You can find out more about our plans in housing and in other areas here. At the local elections on 22nd May, you'll get the chance to vote for a council that will tackle the housing crisis. Make sure your voice is heard. If you haven't already registered to vote, you can do so here. Our latest leaflet is on its way out to every household in the ward. It includes the latest promises from our manifesto, including improving local schools, a massive house-building programme and a 2 year council tax freeze. It should be through your letterbox soon. But if you can't wait until then, check it out below: With local elections coming up on May 22nd, we're delighted to be able to launch our manifesto - Lewisham Together. Despite facing massive cuts from the Coalition over the last four years, we've achieved a great deal. Labour has frozen council tax for three years and introduced the Living Wage. We've delivered over 2,000 affordable homes and improved our schools. Over the next four years the Council will face further cuts in the funding from central government. There will be some tough choices. But there is still much we can do. If we are elected, we will:-
You can see the full manifesto below. And you can find out more on Mayor Steve Bullock's new website. Let us know what you think on twitter - @NewCrossLabour #LewishamTogether. You may be aware of plans for a large development up at Convoys Wharf in the north of Lewisham. Until recently, Lewisham Council had been dealing with the planning application. Labour had been pushing to get the most for local people, particularly in terms of affordable housing and community facilities. But in October, under pressure from the developers, the Mayor of London called in the development. Dame Joan Ruddock MP is continuing to push Boris Johnson for the best deal for local people. You can find out more about her campaigning here. We want to increase the provision of affordable housing. The area has immense historical significance and we support schemes such as 'Build the Lennox' that will commemorate this and bring jobs, apprenticeships and leisure opportunities. The Mayor's consultation is ongoing. Joan Ruddock's consultation can be seen below. If you want to have your say, come and join us at the public hearing at City Hall on 31st March. More details here. Convoys Wharf Consultation Response from Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock MP Convoys Wharf should become a destination that both honours the past and creates a vision of the future that embraces the vibrant and dynamic community that is Deptford. Two projects would fulfil that ambition and demand incorporation at this stage of the planning process. I am pleased that planning officers have engaged with the Sayes Court Garden and Lenox projects. Both the developers and the project leaders have been willing to negotiate, however I am concerned that we may ‘fall at the final hurdle’ in securing for these projects the support and space they need to reflect the historic significance of the area and its potential to offer more than riverfront housing. Revisions Point 1 The Sayes Court Garden project developed by Roo Angell and Bob Bagley and their architect David Kohn seeks to create a new garden and centre for Urban Horticulture. In their own words “The remarkable history of Sayes court is filled with bold ideas which understood that contact with nature is an essential part of healthy urban life. Sayes Court Garden is a project inspired by this history of innovation. Combining stimulating design with a programme which brings together all stages of education, from primary schools and practical training to the latest research, Sayes Court is a garden for the 21st century.” The archaeology dating to John Evelyn’s tenure has been added to over time, making its setting crucial to how its significance is read and understood, and is used to inform and inspire. The developer’s proposal to expose the archaeology of the Manor House and to incorporate the primary school from plot 17 into plot 16 is welcome. However the proposal to 'capture' the Sayes Court Project within that large block bears no relationship to its historic setting and orientation. This design would divorce the archaeology from the open space which gives it meaning. In order to succeed, this project needs, at this stage, a minor revision to minimum parameters of the block over Sayes Court which would give the opportunity to improve the setting of the archaeology, and provide the critical mass which would enable the project to deliver a vigorous future. This would make such a future possible, without detriment to either the developer’s aims or the timescale for determination of outline planning consent. Revisions Points 2 and 3. These are positive and welcome. Revisions Point 4 While welcome this revision does not meet the aspirations or need of local people for much more social housing, giving the thousands on the council waiting list and the hundreds of homeless families in Lewisham. A further revision is required to produce more accommodation at social rents. Additional Variation Being Sought to Revised Application The second project led by Julian Kingston proposes to build a replica of the great 17th century wooden war ship, the Lenox. The Lenox would be built using modern techniques and would enable apprentices to be trained in modern transferable skills. The project also intends to encompass research and training in heritage crafts. It has a unique potential to create a tangible link to Deptford’s history. The applicant has proposed limited-term accommodation for the ship on the protected wharf. Critical factors to enable the project to thrive are proximity to the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, easy access for visitors, a future legacy for the site that perpetuates its heritage, and a permanent home for the ship and the dockyard museum. The project team propose building the replica ship on the site of one of the two ancient slipways in the listed Olympia building. Opening the basin in front of the Olympia would re-establish the historic link to the Thames. I believe such a configuration would provide a real magnet for visitors to a redeveloped Convoys Wharf. An independent feasibility study is needed to establish the most viable location for the project, giving appropriate weight to its significant contribution to the heritage of the site and acknowledging the importance of creating the best conditions for its success. With appropriate planning conditions and a commitment to the project from the applicant, this could be achieved without significantly impacting the existing masterplan. In light on the unique heritage of Convoys Wharf, I believe the Mayor must give full consideration to the two project-based further variations proposed above. Rt Hon Dame Joan Ruddock MP We've just finished our March newsletter. It includes the latest news on our efforts to tackle the housing crisis, the council tax freeze and our Living Wage campaign. Every property in New Cross will be getting a copy in the next few weeks. Get in touch if you can help deliver some. But if you can't wait that long, check out the copy below! You may have seen stories in the press recently about the Surrey Canal Triangle development and Millwall Football Club. There has been a lot of misinformation on the issue. Lewisham Council has set out the following information:
Millwall FC are unhappy with the decision as they had planned their own commercial development on the land. However, it is the Council’s duty to ensure the maximum possible benefit for the whole of the community from the regeneration of the area. The development will bring homes, jobs, and facilities for local people – massively improving the area – while protecting both Millwall FC and the Millwall Community Scheme. Lewisham Council believes the development will in no way jeopardise the future of the club. Far from it. Millwall will be able to expand the Den should they need to, they will benefit from improvements in the local neighbourhood and a new overground station providing better access to the ground. The council and the developers will keep them informed throughout the process. New Cross Labour remains committed to engaging with Millwall. Millwall FC is an asset to the community. They’ve done great work locally including supporting us on the successful Save Lewisham Hospital campaign. We will not support any scheme that puts their future at risk. Having met with Millwall’s Chief Executive in December, we are due to do so again shortly. We will work with Millwall to ensure both that they get the best out of the development and that they have a sustainable future. The club is a vital part of our community and we want them to remain so. We at New Cross Labour will continue to monitor the situation, and continue to advocate for those who may be affected. |
AuthorsBrenda Dacres - @brepositive Archives
February 2015
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