Save the Livesey Children's Museum Update

The campaign to save the Livesey Children's Museum is picking up pace. On Tuesday I joined local parents, children, Val Shawcross AM and some of my fellow councillors at the Museum.

The online petition now has over 350 signatures and our two local papers, the Southwark News and the South London Press are also helping to publicise the campaign.

Unfortunately it seems we need to redouble our efforts as this email from my colleague Cllr Andrew Pakes explains.

Thank you for signing the online 'Save the Livesey Children's Museum' petition, there has been a great response from all parts of the community and from supporters across the world.

Despite the overwhelming response and positive coverage in the South London Press and Southwark News, this morning the Council tabled its recommendation that the Museum should close at the end of March. The announcement was contained in just one sentence in a 14-page report. Overall, closing the Museum will 'save' Southwark Council £140,000 - a lot of money but a small sum compared to budget as a whole. It is also considerably less than what the council proposes to spend on publicity, consultants, agency workers or a range of other items.

The recommendation will be discussed next Tuesday by the Executive - these are the Lib Dem and Tory councillors who have proposed these cuts. So, we still have a lot to do in fighting this devastating cut.

Please forward this email onto anyone else who has not yet signed the petition and ask them to do so: http://www.gopetition.com/online/16681.html For more information on the Museum visit: http://www.liveseymuseum.org.uk/. The more support we can get the better. This is a fantastic Museum and a great resource for children, parents and the local community.

Shame on the Leadership of Southwark Council for putting self-interest and political spin before the needs of our local community in in Peckham and the children who benefit from the Museum.

Please do email me at this address if you have any ideas about how else we might highlight this issues or fight the cuts.

Kind regards

Andrew

Cllr Andrew Pakes
Member for Livesey Ward

Nunhead Grove "Age Concern" building

Residents may have noticed the "SOLD" sign on the old Age Concern building on Nunhead Grove. The building actually belonged to the council and has been empty or squatted since Age Concern moved out a few years back.

The building has some structural problems (primarily with the roof) which is why Age Concern had to move out so I was worried that the new owners would be planning to demolish this historic chapel and put up a block of flats, but fortunately not.

I don't have much information, but according to council officers in the property department.

"The purchaser is a New Cross based “orthodox doctor”, who also deals with various therapies, and intends to turn the building into an alternative practice and ‘community’-focused space - healing, meditation, yoga - along with some performance, music, poetry, etc. He has links to www.festivaloflife.net"

I've asked the officers to put me in touch with him and I hope to find out more about his proposals.