Delighted to join those attending the cycling event at the Royal Arsenal yesterday. I joined in a leisurely cycle along the Thames Path to Thamesmead and back. Cycling is a great way to stay healthy and I was especially pleased to see so many young people learning cycle skills. Need to see more events like this happening in the future.
My interest in education as Chair of Cardwell Primary and Trustee of Corelli Academy in Kidbrooke drew me to the Acadamies Show at ExCel. I thought about taking the cable car but instead opted for the good old DLR. I was amazed to see such a large number of people wanting to pick up as much information as they could. The seminars were delivering the Gove mantra and the DFE sales people were available to help smooth the path to Academy status. Failed to understand the complexity of the new funding regime.
I caught up with staff from the Education Funding Agency to find out why, on the one hand, they were ploughing funding to free schools while failing to invest in existing schools. Corelli was not totally successful in raising the necessary funding to fund the New Sports Hall and Arts Centre. Very helpful discussion promised to look to a visit to see the issues for themselves. Some progress. Quick run round the large number of Trade Stalls, argued the case for Fairtrade School uniforms and ended the morning with my very good friend John Rolfe from the British Council. Very interesting funding streams for the Connecting Classrooms programme.
Fifty Eltham Labour Party members joined Shadow Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, local MP, Clive Efford, and local London Assembly member, Len Duvall, at an event this week. Good company and excellent food at the Yak & Yeti on Eltham High Street made for an enjoyable evening.
Andy Burnham used his address to the gathering to challenge the direction of the NHS under the coalition government, who are more concerned about the marketplace rather than providing quality care for patients. He committed the next Labour Government to repealing the Health & Social Care Act. Health and Social Care would come together with the local Health & Wellbeing Board as the accountable body for delivering a quality service.
I was delighted to meet up with Julia on the occasion of the launch of the new Cornerstone Cafe in Major Draper Streer.
I joined other guests to see for ourselves the care and attention given to this new venture in the Arsenal. It should prove very popular for all Woolwich residents looking for peace and tranquility while enjoying the pleasant surroundings with an exciting menu on offer.
I would like to take the opportunity to wish good luck to all those taking part in the London Marathon tomorrow.
Local teacher, Christel Warn, from Mulgrave Primary is one of the brave competitors tackling the 26 mile run.
She says:
I am running the London Marathon this year for Mulgrave particularly to raise money for our school trip fund. I am taking 22 Yr 6 children for a 4 day residential trip to France in June where we will visit a french school. The children are really excited but we need money to help them fund the trip.
My sponsorship form has been sent to all our families and staff. So if you can help me spread the word, that would be great.
Good luck Christel and well done with your inspirational fundraising efforts on behalf of the pupils. If anyone would like to donate, please contact Christel at Mulgrave Primary school.
Woolwich Community Hub
I am supporting the important development of a Community Hub in Woolwich. The Partnership includes the Charlton Trust, Greenwich Cooperative Development Agency, London & Quadrant Housing and Mulgrave Primary School. Other partners will be joining the partnership shortly.
Developing such a project in the most deprived area of the Borough will help to improve access to Public Health, NHS Services and training and employment opportunities . In addition there will be a community cafe helping to drive down food poverty and obesity. The building will also see an extension of the Mulgrave Children’s Centre helping to reduce the demand on current places and reduce waiting lists.
A feasibility study is underway,funding opportunities are being investigated. The Council is being asked to lease the building. The Hub concept operates across a number of London Councils and evidence suggest that such facilities helps to improve the quality of life for local residents of all ages.
Cardwell Primary Garden Project
Support is required to realise the dream of pupils to grow their own vegetables. Some work in uprooting trees and removing spoil is among the chores outstanding before planting begins. Offers of help please contact the school: asullivan@cardwellgreenwich.sch.uk
The Royal Greenwich Planning Board will be considering the future development of the Royal Arsenal on Thursday next week, having ploughed through one hundred and thirty two pages which contains all the information necessary. While I will be going along to offer a view in the hope that Members will reconsider the proposals I am not holding my breath. Planning Board colleagues have a specific and defined role operating in a quasi-judicial role. However I do believe that simply looking at a proposed development without considering the wider benefits to Woolwich and the Borough as a whole is wrong. Until planning decisions are left to local councils to determine without looking over their shoulders the needs and aspirations of local people will not be addressed.
I was recently impressed by a powerful piece by Darryl on the 853 Blog highlighting the issues in the Greenwich Peninsula. Sadly in both cases the interests of shareholders override any regard for the housing needs of the community or the local environment. When the developer acquired the Arsenal sit,e the negotiating opportunity was limited. Indeed the Kidbrooke development has seen 14% of homes purchased by investors. Each home sold to an investor is a home lost to the community nor will it help to relieve the local housing crisis.
This fact recognises the reality of the bedroom tax which has seen an addition £12b housing benefit going to the private sector. I was contacted last week by a Hong Kong investor who wanted me to engage in a piece of casework on behalf of his tenant in the Arsenal. None of these issues can be considered by the Planning Board next week.
The development of Crossrail clearly provides an incentive by the developer to maximise density on the site. What we now have, it seems, is not high density but super density. It is interesting to note that, as a consequence of the extension of the Jubilee Line, land values increased across the area by £12b. I suspect this will be exactly the case when Crossrail is completed and in operation.
The issue that the Planning Board can consider is the height of the Tower Blocks on the Waterfront . The proposals include buildings 13 to 21 storeys high, likely to block off the view of the Riverfront. They can consider the views of Sports England in respect of sports facilities for young people. Building on the Park which includes the skateboarding site is a disgrace if there is not a proposal for an alternative site. The needs of young people are of paramount importance. Providing some limited space across the site particularly for young children should not be accepted. Private communal and amenity space includes the Roof Terraces and Balconies.
Taking all these issues into consideration I feel a sense of regret that as one of the local Councillors my influence is limited. Residents in the Arsenal who bought their properties in good faith and those in social housing feel a sense of despair and are helpless to change or influence the decisions being taken. However the struggle to build a strong community motivated by the desire to improve the quality of the environment for their children will continue until those in power put residents at the heart of planning decisions.
Glorious sunshine brought hundreds of people to Woodlands Farm on Sunday. Lambing Day always promises to be a popular event, this year was no exception. The most popular attraction was the lambing shed where there were large queues to share in the moment.
I caught up with Councillors Jim and Janet Gillman and Deputy mayor of Greenwich,Councillor Cornforth, at the Fairtrade stand which proved very popular, particularly for the children sampling the Fairtrade Chocolate.
