Transport for London  has appointed Cleshar as the contractor to lengthen some of the station platforms on the London Overground rail route in preparation for the introduction of longer trains.

Canada Water and Surrey Quays will both see their platforms extended.

At Rotherhithe there is no room for longer platforms so the lengthened trains will use selective door opening when calling at that station.

TfL’s director of rail Jonathan Fox said: “Although not yet six years old, London Overground must continue to grow its capacity. It’s hugely popular, with passenger numbers increasing by 87 million in its first four years of existence.

“While that rate will slow, we must still be ready to provide for the 810,000 new residents who will come to London by 2021.”

“We are pleased to be working with Cleshar on this crucial project and these upgrade works will be completed with the absolute minimum of disruption to services.”

The Compass School in Drummond Road has been given the final go- ahead by government for September opening.

The secondary ‘free school’, which will be on the site of the old LeSoCo (Southwark College) Bermondsey campus, will open its doors to its first group of  more than 50 year 7 pupils on Wednesday 4 September.

“This final green light is what we’ve been working for and waiting for,” said Doug Lewis, chair of Compass School Trust.

“It’s very good news. We are so pleased for all our pupils and their families. They are a fantastic year 7 group and we look forward to welcoming them as the first pupils at the Compass School, Southwark. It’s the start of an exciting journey for them.

We are determined to bring high standards and lasting values to all that we do at Compass.”

Chair of governors Dale Bassett said: “This means that we can start to offer what we’ve promised all along- a powerful ethos of education, standards and aspiration.

“Our model of strong literacy and numeracy combined with a strong sense of self for every pupil is a route to each of them being the very best that they can be.”

Alison Clayburn has sent in details of her autumn classes:

Writing for Self Discovery at Time&Talents (Autumn Gold) starts Thursday September 26th, booking deadline September 12th. Cost £95.00

http://www.timeandtalents.org.uk/page152/Writing-for-Self-Discovery.html

Creative writing at Brunel Museum (Focus on Fiction) starts Monday September 23rd, booking deadline September 16th. Cost £95.00

http://www.brunel-museum.org.uk/events/130-2/

See also Creative Writing in Rotherhithe on Facebook

Rotherhithe New Road consultation document - Downloads - Southwark Council

Southwark Council is holding a consultation to receive residents and key stakeholder’s comments regarding proposals to improve road safety and pedestrian accessibility at the Rotherhithe New Road / Hawkstone Road roundabout.

Background

This scheme was identified due to the high number of recorded collisions at the roundabout, many of which were attributed to excessive vehicle speeds and involved pedestrians and pedal cyclists. A large amount of correspondence was also received from residents and local schools expressing concerns at the poor pedestrian environment and accessibility issues for pedestrians. The overall objectives of this scheme are to improve road safety, reduce vehicle speeds and to enhance conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Download the Rotherhithe New Road consultation document

Closing date for responses: 11 September.

Simon Hughes MP and local anti-supersewer campaigners have criticised Thames Water’s application to Ofwat to increase customers’ bills.

The net impact would result in a single, one-off additional cost of about £29 per household in 2014/15.

However, the company is is recommending to Ofwat that the additional cost is spread over more than one year.

Stuart Siddall, Chief Financial Officer of Thames Water said: “Ofwat resets price limits for each water company every five years, most recently in 2009, based on the best information available at the time.  Then, during the five year period, almost all changes to costs and revenues, whether upwards or downwards, are up to us to manage. These include the costs of dealing with severe weather, changes to financing, employment, energy and chemical costs, business rates and tax.

“However, at the beginning of a five year period there are always a small number of potentially significant costs and revenues that can be clearly identified but not quantified.  These are set out at the time of the price review and either the company or Ofwat can seek an adjustment, upwards or downwards, once the actual costs and revenues are known.  That is what we are doing now.”

Mr Siddall added: “These significant costs could not be quantified at the beginning of the current pricing period, and their scale is unique to Thames Water’s operations, project commitments and catchment area. Increasing prices is never good news, which is why the company and its shareholders are encouraging Ofwat to adapt its regulatory mechanism to allow the impact of the price increase to be spread over more than one year to avoid a spike in bills for our customers.”

Simon Hughes MP said: “Thames Water’s request to increase water prices to pay for the Thames Tideway Tunnel is totally unacceptable and I implore Ofwat to reject this request on behalf of all Thames Water customers.

“Thames Water customers should not be expected to pay a huge amount towards the tunnel, given that in the years immediately before making this request, it had assets of billions of pounds which they have paid in dividends to their shareholders.

“I am continuing to call on the government to review the cost benefit of the tunnel currently being proposed and to see if it is the best and best value solution for London’s waste. I will be presenting the case for a different solution and different financing at the inquiry which begins next month.”

In a statement, the Save Your Riverside campaign group which is fighting the proposal to use Chambers Wharf for the superseder, said: “And so it starts – the flow of money down the drain that is the super-sewer, it is interesting to note that they haven’t gone for the full £80 they claim is needed for the £4 billion sewer, so there are bound to be further attempts by Thames Water to hike their bills still higher. What is really infuriating is that this crazy waste of money will not even do the job intended as a Defra minister admitted in the Lords on July 24 that the tunnel on its own is not enough and we will also need sustainable drainage systems, which themselves will require financing no doubt mostly from consumers.

“It is good that the water regulator Ofwat is reported as being ready to challenge this proposed increase and to demand it be justified. Ofwat must use its power to stop this waste of money pushing the vulnerable in society into water poverty, while Thames Water’s investors reap the benefits. The credibility of the regulator itself is now on the line – can Ofwat prove it is an independent watchdog prepared to use its teeth on behalf of water consumers, or is it the pampered poodle on a Thames Water lead that many people suspect?

“There is no longer time pressure either to rush through this little thought out solution, as the EU recently said that they wouldn’t hold us to the fines for not cleaning the river Thames by 2020 – as long as we can show effective solutions are being looked at. Also this is no longer simply a water rate payer issue, given the super sewer is now deemed a national infrastructure project.

“Although the government is trying to attract private investment, the fact that after many months of discussions there is still no announcement of a funding package for the tunnel, indicates how difficult it is finding it to attract private capital for the tunnel. Not only are Thames Water’s customers facing an initial £29 increase in their water bills to pay for the tunnel, there is every risk that all taxpayers will end up footing a massive bill for this ill-conceived project.”

photoOn Wednesday 30 July officers from the Riverside Safer Neighbourhoods Team searched a flat on the Southwark Park Estate.
Hydroponic equipment was discovered and a number of mature cannabis plants were found growing.  A 46 year old man  was arrested  and received a caution for cultivation of cannabis.

DSCF4113

Bookmakers Ladbrokes have donated £5,000 towards the campaign to create new statues of Alfred and Ada Salter to replace the statue of Dr Salter stolen from the riverside in 2011.

“We were delighted to receive such a generous donation of £5,000 from Ladbrokes community fund,” said Gary Glover, chair of the Salter Statues appeal.

“Along with donations from other local charities and from the many people moved by the terrible theft of Dr Salter, we are now well over half way towards our target of £50,000.

Catherine Dale, treasurer of the Salter Statues campaign, said: “We have fund-raised £29,400 which is being match-funded by Southwark Council, meaning we need to raise another £20,600 to reach our target and see new statues of Alfred and Ada reunited with Joyce and the cat on the Bermondsey riverside.”

You can donate online at salterstatues.co.uk.

Richard Royal of Ladbrokes added: “We believe in supporting local communities in the neighbourhoods that we are represented within.

“Our Community Fund supports specific localised causes that have a strong community link, and the restoration of the Salter Statues which are symbolic of the history of this area, is a prime example of this.”

Join London Bubble for a summer of theatre making.

29th July – 2nd August
For 5-8 year olds        10.30am – 1pm
For 9-12 year olds       2pm – 4.30pm

and on Friday both groups will come together for the full day and to share their work for friends and family in the afternoon.
5 day summer school costs £30 for Members of Bubble or £40 for non members. (concession prices also available)

To find out more about London Bubble’s summer schools for children, or to book a place:
call 020 7237 4434
email [email protected]
book online at www.londonbubble.org.uk