On 14th September Boris Johnson confirmed that fares on London public transport will rise by 2% above the RPI (Retail Price Index) next year. The Conservative Mayor has raised fares repeatedly since 2008.

This has led to Lewisham residents paying hundreds of pounds a year more to use public transport.

On Thursday 8th September I pledged my support to Breast Cancer Campaign's 'Wear It Pink' day.

On Friday 28th October 2011 supporters in schools, colleges and businesses are encouraged to wear something pink in support of the charity and to donate £2 each to fund innovative, world-class breast cancer research.

Every year in the UK, around 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women.  Although it is rare, men can also suffer from breast cancer, with around 340 diagnosed each year.  Sadly many people have lost friends and family to the disease, and I would like to encourage everyone in Lewisham Deptford to support 'Wear It Pink'.

The Tory-led government has forced the Boundary Commission to produce plans for new boundaries that take no account of community loyalties, history or geography.

My constituency boundaries were changed only last year, adding Lewisham Central ward with 10,000 electors.  Now they want to remove it and Crofton Park (to the newly-proposed constituencies of Lewisham & Catford and Dulwich & Sydenham respectively) and add 2 wards from Greenwich.  I’m sure people in Greenwich will have the strongest objections to the way in which their historic area has been split up by the Boundary Commission.

On 11th September I attended the Lewisham Shivan Temple's Chariot Festival, along with Heidi Alexander MP (Lewisham East) and Councillor Stella Jeffrey (Lewisham Central).

It was a wonderfully sunny morning and we felt privileged to take part in such a vibrant and uplifting parade.  The newly-reconstructed temple itself, situated on Clarendon Rise, is a truly fantastic building to have in Lewisham.

5 weeks on from the riots and everyone is beginning to take stock.  The Government's knee-jerk reaction has not been helpful.  We still have little idea of the underlying causes, which are likely to be numerous and complex.

I have met with the Borough Commander and the Mayor of Lewisham to discuss what is known and what might be done to prevent any future occurence.  I have already received comments and ideas from constituents which will be shared and I'm keen to hear from more people.

An Urgent Care Centre (UCC), providing improved facilities for urgent care at University Hospital Lewisham, opened its doors to the public on Friday 9th September.  The UCC has been developed as part of a £12 million investment programme in the hospital.

Located next to the Emergency Department, the UCC is part of an integrated emergency service to provide care for patients with illnesses and injuries that do not need to be treated in the main Emergency Department, but whose care needs are nonetheless urgent.

A group of volunteers has been given a six-week licence by Lewisham Council to prove that they can successfully run New Cross People's Library on New Cross Road.  

I visited the library today and was very impressed by the results of all their hard work.

The original New Cross Library was closed by the council as part its programme to cut costs, but now the group, backed by the Bold Vision charity and a pool of around 50 volunteers, has reopened it until at least September 21st 2011.  They then hope to secure a nine-month tenancy.
  

Today Tidemill Primary School in Deptford officially became an Academy.  The school is now run by the Tidemill Academy Trust. 

The concept of Academy schools was first introduced by Labour and was intended to help struggling schools combat persistently low levels of academic achievement.  Academies are funded directly by central government and, although they must continue to meet certain requirements, are essentially self-governing: they manage their own budget, set pay and working conditions and run the curriculum.