OBVNF Meeting 19 July: NSP53

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 Forum Meeting6.30pm Wednesday 19 July

 Globe House | Corner of Bermondsey Street & Crucifix Lane  

High-rise -v- Heritage
in Bermondsey St/St Thomas St

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For the past few weeks at our information point in Globe House we have informed and consulted widely on the Council’s plans for St Thomas St/Bermondsey St.  Unsurprisingly, their high-rise plans are no more popular now than they were when Sellar came up with his original version – the three Shard satellites – in 2010.

Following the consultation the Forum now needs to consider our next steps towards protecting this area from insensitive development.  We have invited the Council to send a representative to the meeting who can explain with some greater accuracy than the hopelessly vague NSP 53 wording, what they are seeking to promote.  Presently they can’t even explain how they worked out the ‘site’ area,  particularly whether it includes demolition of the Vinegar Yard warehouse to make way for high-rise and whether it includes wiping Vinegar Yard itself and the eastern end of Snowsfields off the map as public roads. Network Rail, who own the former St Thomas St car park, and James Sellar, who owns the vinegar warehouse and 40-44 Bermondsey St, have also been invited to attend.

Important on the agenda will be the launch of our planned local list of buildings to be protected and the broader concept of places that go beyond individual buildings and which should be extended a more generalised form of protection.  The ‘placemarks’ initiative, led by BSAP, is currently underway and our subscribers are invited to go to the website and nominate any places of their own for inclusion: www.bermondseyplaces.uk.
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A provisional list of local buildings of significance to the area’s character will be presented at the meeting, specifically in the St Thomas St/ Snowsfields/north Bermondsey St area.  Further nominations will be welcome and we will be aiming to extend the area of coverage in the coming weeks to the whole of the OBF area – and the original area from which the Council excluded the Forum.

At the meeting we will be considering the preservation of the Vinegar Yard warehouse in the context both of local listing and potentially its designation as an Asset of Community Value [‘ACV’] (a designation established under the Localism Act).  We have written to Simon Bevan, Head of Planning, asking him if he knows of any reason why it cannot be designated as an ACV.  One of the implications of such a designation is that there would arise a community right to buy the building in the event that it is sold by the present owner. If Sellar’s high-rise ambitions do not come to fruition such a sale is likely.

All welcome.

Meeting with proposed Developers of 74-84 Long Lane: Thursday 15 June

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Meeting with proposed Developers of 74-84 Long Lane
Thursday 15 June, 7:30pm at
The Boot and Flogger pub 10-20 Redcross Way, SE1 1TAOne of the few remaining buildings of character on Long Lane has been the subject of a ‘consultation’ in relation to a proposal for a ‘co-living’ tower.

At a public exhibition on their proposals at the end of January the developers (or rather their PR team) were less than transparent about their plans.  It was far from clear what treatment they were proposing for the existing Rug Co. building (pictured below).
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We don’t know whether this is the same prospective developers or whether they will be any more forthcoming but anyone concerned to keep anything of the history of Long Lane intact may be interested in attending.

The notice below was spotted in a local Tesco.

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Fire Safety in Southwark Blocks

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Dear resident,

As the terrible news has emerged overnight from West London, our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by the fire at Grenfell House. It is particularly raw for us in Southwark, bringing back dreadful memories of the Lakanal fire in 2009 in which 6 people tragically lost their lives.

I understand that many residents living in high-rise blocks in Southwark will be concerned, and I wanted to write to you straight away to reassure you that Southwark has carried out a huge programme of works in recent years to improve the safety of our tower blocks.

  • Following the fire the council began an ongoing programme to ensure all its properties received a regular full fire risk assessment, beginning with those deemed to be high risk.
  • Since 2009 the council has spent £62 million on its fire risk assessment programme and associated fire safety works for all its council housing in the borough.
  • We continue to invest as necessary as part of the ongoing major works programme.
  • The council works closely with London Fire Brigade (LFB) and meets regularly with them, both on an operational and fire safety level, informing them of progress on the risk profile of the borough and other issues.
  • LFB assists the council in advising residents on fire safety and fitting smoke alarms inside their homes.
  • In February 2015, all fire risk works to all high rise and lower/more complex housing were complete.
  • Since then the council has completed a programme to fit state of the art smoke detection systems to the dwellings in these blocks, and has a rolling programme underway to introduce a similar system in all remaining blocks.

As a council, we are doing all that we can to keep our residents safe from the devastating consequences of a major fire, but you can help too by following this advice:

  • Make sure you have a working smoke alarm in your home
  • Keep balconies free from clutter
  • Please don’t leave rubbish or bikes in communal areas or obstruct escape routes
  • Make sure you know where your nearest fire exit is
  • If you are a smoker please do not smoke in common areas of the block
  • Always fully extinguish cigarettes smoked in your home and dispose of them carefully and safely

We have been in contact with Kensington and Chelsea council to offer any help and assistance we can at this difficult time.

Thank you and best wishes,
Stephanie
Councillor Stephanie Cryan
Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing

 www.southwark.gov.uk

Unearthing Elephant, screening, Tate Modern 9th June 2017, Elephant&Castle 8th June

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Eva Sajovic

www.evasajovic.co.uk

+44 (0)7830 093428

People’s Bureau – in collaboration with LAWRS, supported by Tate Modern, Delancey and Arts Council England.

Hidden Presence – commission by Ffotogallery and Chepstow museum. Website launched now.

Silva+Sajovic Studio launched. We are based at Photography Archive Research Centre at LCC.

Age of Plenty – contamination between artists and citizens, 3-7 June, Gorizia (It), as part of #InvisiblecitiesFestival.

The Big Half – community launch event, 10.00am on Wednesday 17th May 2017

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Dear All,

In March 2018, something big is coming to the streets of Greenwich, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Lewisham. London Marathon Events is delighted to announce the launch of The Big Half – an exciting new event and festival that will feel and be like no other!

Imagine a major mass participation event that celebrates London’s multi-cultural diversity, brings local communities together to inspire social change, and welcomes all ages and abilities. The Big Half will be truly global, uniquely local – but for this, we need you!

Sported is thrilled to be teaming up with London Marathon Events to give you, your group and your local community an amazing opportunity to be a big part of the festivities.

Together, we would like to extend a warm invitation to attend a special Big Half community launch event at 10:00 on Wednesday 17 May 2017 at Rainmaking Loft, 1 International House, St Katharine’s Way, London E1W 1UN where you will get the chance to:

  • Find out all about The Big Half, The Big Relay, The Little Half and The Big Festival.
  • Get involved and become one of the first community groups to sign up. Get the chance to say “We were there at the start!”
  • Learn how you can use The Big Half to promote and fundraise for your group.
  • Have your say and help us deliver a uniquely local event.
  • Network with other community groups in your local Borough.

To be part of the launch of this landmark global event and help us make it uniquely local, please register for your free ticket HERE.

We look forward to seeing you at the launch!

WWW.THEBIGHALF.CO.UK

 

Jessica Leech

Community Engagement Manager

Southwark Council

Housing and Modernisation Department

Community Engagement Division

PO Box 64529

London, SE1 5LX

Tel – 020 7525 5853

Mob – 07985 113786

www.southwark.gov.uk

Independent Review of Engagement in Southwark

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Dear all

If you have not seen or completed this could I remind you about it?

Apologies for any cross posting.

The council is currently conducting an independent review of the way we engage with residents. An online questionnaire went live yesterday and we are seeking your assistance in circulating it as widely as possible so that everyone can have their voice heard. This is the link:

www.southwark.gov.uk/gettinginvolved

Southwark is an exciting place to live, and we want everyone who lives here to have a say in their home borough, in how it evolves, and how the council invests its time, energy and resources. We already have a number of ways for local people to get involved in our conversations and decisions, but in the fast-paced world we live in, we want to make sure that the opportunities to get involved are open to as many people as possible.  We want to improve how we involve council tenants, council homeowners and leaseholders in Southwark in decisions about their homes and neighbourhood, and we would like more people to be involved in making their estates even better places to live.

We already work closely with residents through Tenants and Residents Associations and there are a number of borough-wide and local opportunities for us to meet with representatives of tenants and homeowners to discuss both what is happening in your area as well as policies and concerns that affect all of Southwark. However, we know not everyone has a say, and we would like to make sure everyone can make their voices heard.

We want to know what you think about what we do now, what works well, what could be improved and what you think we can do to make it easier for you to take part.

By completing our survey you will help us to develop ideas about how we can we can do better. This survey will be just one of many ways we will gather information about what you think about the opportunities to get involved. We will also be holding focus groups, speaking to people face to face and researching what happens in other places.

Your voice will help shape the future of resident involvement.

Thank you for taking the time to get involved.

Kind regards

Eva Gomez

Resident Involvement Manager| Communities Directorate | Housing and Modernisation Department

Southwark Council | 160 Tooley Street | London | SE1 2QH

Tel: 0207 525 7246

Mob: 07932379590