Agenda item

A public question form is included at page 7.

This is an opportunity for public questions to be addressed to the chair.

Residents or persons working in the borough may ask questions on any

matter in relation to which the council has powers or duties.

Responses may be supplied in writing following the meeting.

The following public questions were asked at the meeting:

1.  Does Southwark’s trading standards team conduct weight enforcement checks. If so how often and where? This question related to signage at the end of Marlborough Grove and 7.5 tonne lorries having access to Rolls Road. The resident said much larger lorries regularly travel along Marlborough Grove despite the signage.

Cllr Situ said he would take details of the questioner and provide an answer within a few days.

2.  On Rotherhithe New Road there are lots of speed bumps that are giving rise to noise at 4am in the morning when large trucks travel down there.

A resident added that the resurfacing of the road carried out six months ago had made the situation much worse. The chair asked for an officer response to be provided to the next meeting.

3.  A resident on the Hawkstone estate asked that something be done about the caged football pitch in the area which she said had caused misery – including property damage and bad language - to local residents for years. Councillor Stephanie Cryan said she was looking at arranging a local meeting to find a solution.

4.  A resident from Wilson Grove said the one-way system in place was a nightmare. The cars go the wrong way at speed.

Councillor Al-Samerai said part of the problem was traffic on Jamaica Road and local councillors had discussed that with Transport for London (TfL) at City Hall. In the meantime, rat-running in the area had caused problems for a long time. A speed limit was introduced and some one-way changes on Pottery Street had been made but problems remained. A review of all the various aspects of the issue has been promised by the council. Councillor Al-Samerai said she would follow up on the review.

   A resident added that, as on several past occasions, a car had gone through the park railings on Jamaica Road and someone would get injured unless something was done. TfL should to do something about it.

5.  A resident suggested a public toilet in Spa Gardens to complement the new park gym installed in the area. Councillors said they would follow up on that.

6.  A resident asked for traffic measures to be installed in the area near the Rotherhithe Old Road roundabout / Crystal Bridge to prevent drivers doing U-turns.

The chair said he would look into the issue.

7.  A resident asked for the trees near Devon Mansions to be trimmed.

The chair said he would look into the issue.

8.  A resident asked about people living on the streets and what was being done to care for them and find them hostels / accommodation.

Councillor Livingstone said there was no duty on the council to check on all rough sleepers. However, the council worked with the police and social care to pick up issues. Work was being done to reduce homelessness in the borough and ensure there were proper places and hostels for people in that situation.

9.  A resident asked about action being taken against beggars pestering customers near supermarkets often related to the trolleys being returned.

Councillor Michael Situ said he would follow that up with community safety officers to work on addressing the problem.

10.  A resident asked about users of Southwark Park being upset by an increasing numbers of cyclists going through the park as a cut through and there were no byelaws available. Councillor Livingstone suggested a question to council assembly.

11.  A resident asked about potential tolls policy on Rotherhithe tunnel. The chair said that Transport for London (TfL) would be invited to a future meeting to discuss that.

12.  A resident asked if something could be done about cyclists going through red lights on Rotherhithe Road – near Surrey Quays tube station. Several residents had nearly been run over when the signals were ignored by cyclists. The chair suggested that the police needed to take enforcement action and that issue would be forwarded to the police to look into.

Councillor Anood Al-Samerai asked about the London Cycling Campaign’s proposals for each ward in the community council area and if those could be looked at as part of the transport themed meeting later in the year. The chair agreed to the request.