Updates July 2005
A diary piece in the South London Press reminds me that I haven't blogged for a bit. So what's new in the world of Nunhead?
1. Nunhead & East Peckham Renewal Area
When I last wrote the council had formally declared the area as a renewal area and decided to spend £14.5m over the next 5 years. That was a couple of months ago, so when I attended a briefing last week was disappointed to hear that they were still very much in the planning stage. We're promised a draft consultation and delivery plan within the next two months - I was hoping for something more tangible, for instance some real progress the £900k they have promised to spend this financial year on street lighting or at least some clear info on how local residents can get involved (I keep getting emails from people asking me about this and I don't have any answers for them yet). I appreciate that proper planning is needed to make sure that the most is made of the money, but having waited so long I really want to see some action now.
On a more positive note I went down to visit St Thomas the Apostle School. The school is on Hollydale Road in the heart of the renewal area. Some of the boys had done consultation with boys, parents, visitors to the school and local residents on what their priorities are. We were all really impressed with the work they'd done to make sure their questionnaire was relevant and with the number of responses. The council sent a photographer so hopefully I'll have some pictures to post soon as well as some analysis of the responses.
2. Brayards Regeneration - An opportunity missed?
Another disappointment unfortunately. After helping with the appointment of Wandle Housing Association I'd left the housing department, Wandle and the T&RA working together on plans for the estate. The idea was to generate money for environmental improvements by building on a couple of run-down plots of land around the estate. We'd suggested that the plans should include some sort of community facility, like a children's centre or new GP surgery, but this was totally ignored and the plans came back with just housing. Initially I was told that this was the only thing that was financially realistic, but it turned out that the plans would generate excess money for the council and that the local health authority and the Early Years team hadn't even been approached.
This just isn't good enough. There are loads of housing developments going up in Nunhead and identified shortages of childcare and GP places. One of the difficulties with expanding the services is the shortage of sites as most of the land in private ownership. I don't think we can afford to let this council owned site go without even exploring the wider possibilities. The area is in great need of more affordable housing, but we can't just keep on having more and more housing and no expansion in local services.
The good news is that following objections from myself and the tenants association the decision on this has been deferred till October and the Leader of the Council has offered to meet with me to see what we can do.
I may not post again for a bit. This is the last week of "term" and then I'm off on holiday for a fortnight.
posted by Fiona on Monday, July 25, 2005
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1 Comments:
Oh just fantastic news .... it just seems that the council are signing off on lots of cheap housing all around Nunhead and Peckham. Why not put a few blocks up around Dulwich village, Herne Hill etc.... let's see if they get approval.
The delay in finishing Peckham Rye is a disgrace, let alone the lack of any new facilities - cafe anyone ?
In the end there is not enough pressure to shame the council into doing something it is truly pathetic....will Nunhead Lane ever get regenerated.....will the East London line ever arrive....will South London ever get a decent underground System...?
While you were in your meeting with Tony did he mention the fact that until someone manages to build swathes of cheap housing somewhere East of london that it is probably not a good idea to rush to much spending through south of the River, just in case the houseprices start rising.
Infact better still do nothing and leave that sticky problem to the nxt government.
It's amazing how quickly new government buildings, mayor of london council chambers can get built (Just 3 years) - yet when it comes to things that effect us it takes the council over 4 years to half lay an ashfelt path and clean out a small lake in Peckham rye.
The junior school buildings in Nunhead are a disgrace - the mayor and the rest of councillors should be working in portacabins on disussed marsh land over in stratford and the 400+ million it cost to build all the offices should have been used on schooling for these 5 - 9 year old children.
Ruth Kelly's at least figured it out - these Kids get one shot at en education if it fails fix it and fast.
Some of the scenes coming out of New Orleans are unforgivable. 5 poorly educated children under 16 stuck in terrible housing conditions while there mother lies dead in bedroom through lack of basic medical supplies for 5 days.
This is what happens if you are happy to sit back and build a 3 or 4 tier society.
Nothing personal.
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