Minutes:
Safer Neigbourhoods Teams
PC Calman from South Bermondsey ward addressed the meeting and fed back on Rotherhithe police station, which would remain in use for the foreseeable future, until a new permanent base could be found. However, the police station would have limited or no front counter service, due to officer numbers. Councillor Richard Livingstone explained that front counter provision was to move, possibly to Canada Water Library with a 3-hour-a-week counter service, and that the police were still planning to sell Rotherhithe police station. The council was working with the police to find a permanent base for them in the area. In response to questions, PC Calman responded that the police were aware of the sheds on the Avondale Square estate having been broken into.
Network Rail
Mark Summers, Project Director at Network Rail, informed the meeting that works would be happening in the London Bridge area and to the station. This would enable 16 Thameslink trains an hour to go through the station. In terms of the infrastructure works proposed in Bermondsey, these would consist of constructing a fly-over and a dive-under for trains. Remodelling the track and signalling would be undertaken in stages from New Cross to Bermondsey and to London Bridge and beyond. There would be some disruption and noise, but the majority of the works would take place on bank holiday weekends, with some work taking place on weeknights and weekends. The first closure of London Bridge Station would be in August 2014, when the terminus part of the station would be closed for 9 days, followed by a closure of 16 days at Christmas 2014. The Borough viaduct and the two additional tracks would be brought into use in December 2015. Drop-in sessions were being arranged to engage with the community and to inform them about the impact of the works. In addition, there would also be regular updates in the form of bulletins and newsletters. As part of the Section 106 agreement, employment for local people would be provided, and 16 apprentices would also be trained.
Concerns were raised about how the works would affect Tooley Street and about adequate notice being given regarding renewed disruption. The meeting heard that Network Rail, Transport for London, and the utility companies should work together to minimise disruption. Southwark’s Highways Management Team would work with the organisations to ensure this.
Councillors said that it would be helpful to have maps showing the area and the anticipated additional traffic flows of construction lorries and other traffic. Mark Summers said he would take these comments back. The meeting heard that the community forums which were taking place every three months were useful. Councillor Anood Al-Samerai said that the forums and the community council had asked for a traffic management survey to be conducted, and asked for this to be brought back to a future meeting.
Responding to questions from the floor, Mark Summers explained that wheelchair access to South Bermondsey Station was not part of the works under discussion. There would be no closures of the underground station at London Bridge. London Overground services would also continue running, as the works that were required would be conducted at night. The meeting heard that there was a problem with Rotherhithe New Road currently being single lane due to road works, even in rush hour. This created large problems for people reliant on dial-a-ride. Bill Legassick said he would feed this back to the officers responsible.
The meeting heard that a wall at South Bermondsey station was at risk of crumbling and sliding onto the travellers’ site. Mark Summer invited the resident to get in touch with him after the meeting. The meeting also heard that residents in Abbey Street had not been consulted or informed about the works to the archways. There were now lorries, which were connected to the works, using Enid Street, Thurland Road, Spa Road, Dockley Road, St James’s Road and the Neckinger estate itself. Bus stops had also been moved with no prior warning. Mark Summers said he would feed this back.
ACTION: Traffic management reports to be brought back to a future meeting.
Time and Talents
Alison Moray from Time and Talents explained that they were exploring the possibility of setting up a civic society or urban parish council for Rotherhithe. An initial questionnaire had been circulated. Alison encouraged people to submit their details. An open meeting would be held at Time and Talents on Thursday 30 May at 7pm, at which the results of the survey would be presented and next steps discussed. In addition to this there would be a fundraising quiz on Friday 14 June, also at Time and Talents. For further information, go to: http://www.timeandtalents.org.uk .
Poppy Appeal
Gary Magold announced that this year’s poppy appeal had raised £7,596.80 so far, which was an increase of £2,000 on the previous year. He thanked everybody who had contributed.
Bowls match
Gary Magold announced that a rematch of a 1913 bowls match between Southwark Park and Finsbury Park would take place on Saturday 4 May 2013 at 2:30pm in Southwark Park, and asked people to come and support the local team.
London Fire Service
Simon Chapman, from the London Fire Service, informed the meeting that under new plans by the Mayor of London, cuts were proposed to the London Fire Service. A total of 12 stations were to close and 18 fire engines to be cut. The public consultation about this would run until 17 June 2013, and was accessible via the Mayor of London’s and London Fire Brigade’s websites. For Southwark, these proposed cuts meant the closure of Southwark fire station, and cutting one fire engine from Peckham fire station. The closure of New Cross fire station, which while not technically in Southwark, covered a large part of the borough, was also proposed. There would be a public consultation meeting at City Hall on 14 May 2013, which Simon encouraged people to attend. Another meeting about this topic had been organised on 1 May 2013 at City Hall. Responding to questions from the floor Simon Chapman explained that the number of pumping appliances in the borough would fall from six to four. Because of refurbishment works to some of the remaining stations there would only be two engines stationed in the borough for an 18 months period. However the refurbishment of the Dockhead and Old Kent Road fire stations would not be happening at the same time. The cuts would affect the ability of the fire service to conduct home safety visits and prevention work. Answering further questions from the floor, Simon Chapman said that an incident at the Shard would automatically have six engines assigned to it; a normal high rise building three. In terms of helping people stuck in lifts, there would still be the fire service resources to do this, but they would be deployed from Peckham.
The meeting heard that the recent fire at Walworth Town Hall underlined the need for adequate fire service provision in the borough. The chair said that fire safety was a potential agenda item for a future meeting, and that he would write a letter to the Mayor of London expressing the view of the community council, which was opposed the proposed cuts, as they put the safety of the community at risk.