Constituency Campaigns
I am directly involved in several campaigns to regenerate the constituency and improve the lives of local residents.
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New Cross Road Roundtable
I brought together Goldsmith’s College, Lewisham Council officers, local police, railway operators, Sainsbury’s and local community representatives to look at the regeneration potential for New Cross Gate retail park and for the stations that serve the New Cross Road. Progress has been slow and has often resulted in firefighting more than any real developments. The changes made to the gyratory system have generally been met with great approval, but the major redevelopment planned for the Sainsbury’s site has gone into abeyance because of the recession. I plan to reactivate the group when a new start becomes possible.
I brought together Goldsmith’s College, Lewisham Council officers, local police, railway operators, Sainsbury’s and local community representatives to look at the regeneration potential for New Cross Gate retail park and for the stations that serve the New Cross Road. Progress has been slow and has often resulted in firefighting more than any real developments. The changes made to the gyratory system have generally been met with great approval, but the major redevelopment planned for the Sainsbury’s site has gone into abeyance because of the recession. I plan to reactivate the group when a new start becomes possible.
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Deptford Station
After constant complaints about Deptford Station I brought together train and railway companies, Lewisham Council officials, the High Street Traders Association, the Railway Heritage Trust, local developers and local businesses to look at what could be done to tackle the appalling decay and antisocial behaviour in and around it. The council is in an agreement with Network Rail to completely renew the station and with Cathedral Group to deliver a new residential development adjacent to the station. This project will completely regenerate the station area and add impetus to improvements in the High Street.
After constant complaints about Deptford Station I brought together train and railway companies, Lewisham Council officials, the High Street Traders Association, the Railway Heritage Trust, local developers and local businesses to look at what could be done to tackle the appalling decay and antisocial behaviour in and around it. The council is in an agreement with Network Rail to completely renew the station and with Cathedral Group to deliver a new residential development adjacent to the station. This project will completely regenerate the station area and add impetus to improvements in the High Street.
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Brockley Common
In 2005 the Brockley Cross Action Group (BXAG) asked for my support for their proposals to develop the disused land around Brockley station into a public space and to create a new disabled access ramp from the Coulgate Street station entrance.
We’ve made good progress due to the cooperation of stakeholders such as Lewisham Council, Network Rail and Southern Trains. The station frontage has been transformed by the ramp and steps, as well as the planting carried out by local volunteers. The group completed its work in 2010, but BXAG still pursues other issues and continues to involve volunteers in maintaining the planted areas.
In 2005 the Brockley Cross Action Group (BXAG) asked for my support for their proposals to develop the disused land around Brockley station into a public space and to create a new disabled access ramp from the Coulgate Street station entrance.
We’ve made good progress due to the cooperation of stakeholders such as Lewisham Council, Network Rail and Southern Trains. The station frontage has been transformed by the ramp and steps, as well as the planting carried out by local volunteers. The group completed its work in 2010, but BXAG still pursues other issues and continues to involve volunteers in maintaining the planted areas.
Local Transport Provision
I have campaigned tirelessly for improvements to local services and stations and have met, on a number of occasions, with representatives of South Eastern and Southern Trains. I continue to take up issues raised by constituents. I continue to take up issues raised by constituents. Lewisham has one of the highest percentages of people using public transport in any English local authority area.
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Convoys Wharf
A process is currently underway to develop 40 acres of land fronting the river in Deptford, previously occupied by Convoys. This is an extraordinary opportunity and I have been anxious to ensure the widest possible input of ideas.
I met with News International, the previous owners of the Convoys Wharf site, on a number of occasions to make a series of demands on behalf of local people. Many of our suggestions were incorporated into the original application. After changes in ownership, long delays and new owners (Hutchison Whampoa), a new planning process was begun. However, early drafts have fallen far short of what I and local stakeholders want for the site. I have made the strongest possible representations and impressed upon the company the need for a very significant change in approach, particularly in respect of the amazing heritage of this former Royal (Henry VIII) Shipyard.
A process is currently underway to develop 40 acres of land fronting the river in Deptford, previously occupied by Convoys. This is an extraordinary opportunity and I have been anxious to ensure the widest possible input of ideas.
I met with News International, the previous owners of the Convoys Wharf site, on a number of occasions to make a series of demands on behalf of local people. Many of our suggestions were incorporated into the original application. After changes in ownership, long delays and new owners (Hutchison Whampoa), a new planning process was begun. However, early drafts have fallen far short of what I and local stakeholders want for the site. I have made the strongest possible representations and impressed upon the company the need for a very significant change in approach, particularly in respect of the amazing heritage of this former Royal (Henry VIII) Shipyard.
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Education
I have close links with many schools and have worked energetically to promote equal opportunities.
I was the first person to raise the lack of local choice for parents on secondary transfer from schools in the north of the borough. Over 5 years I pressed Lewisham Council on this issue and made many representations on behalf of local people. Lewisham Council eventually agreed to a new secondary school, but failed to secure a site in the north of the borough. This much-delayed project resulted in the opening of Prendergast Vale College, which caters for children from nursery age to 16. The school opened in September 2011 and is due to move into its permanent home on Elmira Street in September 2012.
I campaigned for an increase in numbers at Addey and Stanhope, and Deptford Green and for changes in admissions policy at Prendergast and Haberdashers’ Aske’s to increase access for local children. These changes, together with improvements in other Lewisham schools, have resulted in a reduction in the numbers of disappointed children and parents in the north of the borough. Nonetheless, the situation remains far from ideal and has been overtaken by the crisis in primary school places.
The Labour Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme resulted in the rebuilding/improvement of many local schools (see the Constituency page for further information). The Tory/Lib Dem Coalition has now ended the programme, the final stages in Lewisham Deptford being the opening of Gordonbrock (scheduled to be completed in April 2012) and Deptford Green (scheduled for September 2012).
I have forged close links with Lewisham College and have raised several issues in Parliament on behalf of the staff and pupils, including the impact that the Government’s decision to abolish the Education Maintenance Allowance will have on future students. It has recently been proposed that the college should merge with Southwark College, a move which I support as it will offer more opportunities to students of both boroughs.
I was also involved in discussions concerning Tidemill Primary School in Deptford and its application to become an Academy. When the proposal was first mooted in 2010, I was contacted by several concerned parents who felt that they were not being properly consulted. I subsequently chaired a meeting in the hope of ensuring that both the positive and negative sides of the debate could be heard by all interested parties. Having considered the proposal from all angles, I came to the conclusion that I could not personally support the application as I could not see that it would benefit the children of the school or indeed the wider community.
At the beginning of May 2011 the governors voted to apply for Academy status, and the school officially became Tidemill Academy on 1st September 2011. Sadly the school now occupies part of the Deptford Lounge on an independent basis rather than as part of the single project envisaged when the Council designed this state-of-the-art building.
I have close links with many schools and have worked energetically to promote equal opportunities.
I was the first person to raise the lack of local choice for parents on secondary transfer from schools in the north of the borough. Over 5 years I pressed Lewisham Council on this issue and made many representations on behalf of local people. Lewisham Council eventually agreed to a new secondary school, but failed to secure a site in the north of the borough. This much-delayed project resulted in the opening of Prendergast Vale College, which caters for children from nursery age to 16. The school opened in September 2011 and is due to move into its permanent home on Elmira Street in September 2012.
I campaigned for an increase in numbers at Addey and Stanhope, and Deptford Green and for changes in admissions policy at Prendergast and Haberdashers’ Aske’s to increase access for local children. These changes, together with improvements in other Lewisham schools, have resulted in a reduction in the numbers of disappointed children and parents in the north of the borough. Nonetheless, the situation remains far from ideal and has been overtaken by the crisis in primary school places.
The Labour Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme resulted in the rebuilding/improvement of many local schools (see the Constituency page for further information). The Tory/Lib Dem Coalition has now ended the programme, the final stages in Lewisham Deptford being the opening of Gordonbrock (scheduled to be completed in April 2012) and Deptford Green (scheduled for September 2012).
I have forged close links with Lewisham College and have raised several issues in Parliament on behalf of the staff and pupils, including the impact that the Government’s decision to abolish the Education Maintenance Allowance will have on future students. It has recently been proposed that the college should merge with Southwark College, a move which I support as it will offer more opportunities to students of both boroughs.
I was also involved in discussions concerning Tidemill Primary School in Deptford and its application to become an Academy. When the proposal was first mooted in 2010, I was contacted by several concerned parents who felt that they were not being properly consulted. I subsequently chaired a meeting in the hope of ensuring that both the positive and negative sides of the debate could be heard by all interested parties. Having considered the proposal from all angles, I came to the conclusion that I could not personally support the application as I could not see that it would benefit the children of the school or indeed the wider community.
At the beginning of May 2011 the governors voted to apply for Academy status, and the school officially became Tidemill Academy on 1st September 2011. Sadly the school now occupies part of the Deptford Lounge on an independent basis rather than as part of the single project envisaged when the Council designed this state-of-the-art building.