SRUG (Southwark Rail Users Group) News

Southwark Rail Users Group (SRUG) LATEST NEWS

FIRST PUBLIC MEETING
SRUG held a lively and informative public meeting on 17th November 2008, about a range of issues facing local rail users. These included the imminent closure of the East Croydon-London Bridge service, the planned closure of the South London Line in 2012, the delays to the planning for the East London Line Extension through Peckham Rye to Clapham Junction, and the state of local stations. Over 70 people were present along with a representative from each of 6 railway companies, and two passenger watchdog organisations. It was a very fruitful discussion which has provided the basis for effective future dialogue. See here for minutes and web links including diagrams and meeting presentations. http://www.peckhamvision.org/brg/srug-meeting-notes-17-november-08. If you have any difficulty in accessing this, email SRUG@bellenden.net

The following are brief reports on news since the meeting, on some of the current issues in our local rail services. Detailed background to these and other issues can be found in the November 08 meeting minutes. There is also some information on the developing SRUG webpages at www.peckhamvision.org/brg/srug

EAST CROYDON - LONDON BRIDGE SERVICE via Peckham Rye
The off peak 2tph (trains per hour) service was stopped by the train operator Southern Rail in mid-December. A few trains still run during peak hours. There was an outcry as there was not adequate information and consultation and few users of the service knew about it until the last moment. Tessa Jowell MP carried out a user survey and we are promised the results soon. The franchise for Southern's services is up for renewing this year, and she has written to the potential franchisees saying she will support any bid that reinstates the East Croydon link and looks at the uneven distribution of trains in the peak. Southern Rail are due to conduct a review of the new timetable in February. If you used this service, as a link through beyond to Gatwick, Brighton etc, as well as to Croydon itself, please email Tessa Jowell to give your views.

SOUTH LONDON LINE (SLL) Victoria - London Bridge via Peckham Rye
The rail industry still plan to stop the all day and evening 2tph service on the SLL, in 2012. It would cut the direct link between Denmark Hill and London Bridge, the direct link between Queens Rd and Victoria, and reduce the trains to London Bridge from Peckham Rye by two an hour. A major reason given for cutting the SLL is that there will not be enough terminating platforms space at London Bridge station after the rebuilding which is due to start in 2012. We discovered that it is in fact possible to increase the platform space to accommodate the SLL trains, and had this confirmed by Network Rail at the SRUG meeting. Assembly member Valerie Shawcross who was there, says she has now taken it up with Network Rail, TfL Rail and Dept of Transport, and it will also be included in the London Assembly Transport Committee's recommendations on Rail Overcrowding. This report will be available at www.london.gov.uk/assembly/transport/index.jsp the week before the Assembly Transport Committee meeting on 12 February. The continuing strong feeling of local rail users is that due regard has not been given to the important roles the SLL plays in inner south London travel, and it needs to be kept and not stopped. If you want to support the campaign to keep this service make sure you see the Transport Committee's report and email your views to valerie.shawcross@london.gov.uk

EAST LONDON LINE EXTENSION phase 2 (ELLX2):
This service would bring TfL-run overground trains from Canada Water (interchange with Jubilee Line) to Clapham Junction via Queens Rd, Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill. There has been continuous wrangling between Mayor Boris Johnson and the Department of Transport on the last £30m of the £100m funding. These wrangles continue now with the Dept of Transport saying they will not pay their share unless TfL finds more money to build a new station at Surrey Canal Road in South Bermondsey. Decisions have to be made very soon if the extension can be built in time for 2012 the planned date. The ELLX2 continues to be used to justify the stopping of the SLL in 2012 even though it provides no services into central London stations, and can never therefore be a substitute for the crucial rail links into central London to London Bridge and Victoria. But the new service is welcome as it would fill the gap in the Orbital railway, and open up east and west routes from this part of London. Emails to the decision makers in this wrangle might help to get the wrangling stopped and the decision made in time email Geoff.Hoon@dft.gsi.gov.uk, AND mayor@london.gov.uk

PECKHAM RYE STATION
Southern Rail have in the last few months started some repair and improvement works, and the station has at last been included in the Government's NSIP (National Station Improvement Work) for more substantial improvements. We have managed to make contact with the rail company managers of the programme to try to influence the quality of the work so it enhances its historic architecture rather than ruins it, and to create the beginning of a channel to the decision makers for users' views on what changes are needed for station users.

SOUTH CENTRAL FRANCHISE
The Government decides which Train Operating Companies (TOCs) will operate the franchise for services in particular parts of the country, and has selected 4 TOCs to bid for the new South Central Franchise which will run from 2009 to 2015. These are Ned Railways, National Express, Stagecoach Rail, and Govia - the owner of Southern Rail, the current operator. The services are all those which run through Peckham Rye to London Bridge. This is the time to try to influence what these companies put in their bids to try to get the franchise. They are all keen to hear from local rail users about their travel needs and their views on the services. This is an opportunity not to miss if you are a rail user. Go online to get more info and give your views asap (18 Feb deadline).
Govia/Southern Railway http://www.yoursouthcentral.com
National Express http://www.nationalexpress.com/why_choose/nxl/yoursouthcentral
Ned Railways http://www.nedrailwayssouthcentral.co.uk/
Stagecoach Rail http://www.stagecoach.com/scg/about/bids/south_central/
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To join the SRUG email list, please email SRUG@bellenden.net
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Southwark Rail Users Group
For further information email SRUG@bellenden.net
www.peckhamvision.org/brg/srug

Future of NHS Southwark

Below is an email from Southwark Primary Care Trust about the future of primary health and social care facilities in the borough.

The consultation document, and on-line survey are at www.southwarkpct.nhs.uk Pages 23 & 24 give the proposals for our area in Dulwich and Peckham, including the future of the Dulwich Hospital site. Paper copies are available from keri.lewis@southwarkpct.nhs.uk

They will be taking comments until 17 April. This gives enough time for local residents to get the document, alert their local groups and/or neighbours to discuss it, and develop some views to get into the consultation.

For further information contact the Patient & Public Involvement Team
phone: 020 3299 6444
email: keri.lewis@southwarkpct.nhs.uk.
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EMAIL FROM SOUTHWARK PRIMARY CARE TRUST

NHS Southwark is just now embarking on a consultation process, up to April 2009, for our primary and community care strategy, which includes the model for the Dulwich Health and Social Care Centre. As this involves a proposal to develop the new centre on the Dulwich Hospital site, we are particularly keen to hear from local residents.

PDF copies of the Consultation document and the accompanying survey can also be found on www.southwarkpct.nhs.uk The attachments are too large to email, but if anyone would like copies emailed or posted to them please get in touch (details at end). We want to involve a wide range of local people to give us their views and experiences, so if you are able to support us by passing these details onto your friends, neighbours, colleagues or service users, we would very much appreciate it. Paper copies are being delivered from Wednesday, and if you work within a local
organisation and would like extra copies, please let me know.

How can people give feedback?
By POST: The survey can be printed out and when completed posted (no stamp required) to Transforming Southwark's NHS, FREEPOST, Milton Hall, 244 Deansgate, Manchester, M3 4BQ
ONLINE: An on-line survey can be found at www.southwarkpct.nhs.uk

Other methods of consultation
This consultation is being delivered by a consultancy called Vision TwentyOne, who can be contacted on 0845 230 0139. As well as the attached written survey, they will be conducting one-to-one interviews, telephone surveys and focus groups locally, and are particularly keen to get in touch with groups that are seldom heard. If you have any ideas how they may be able to speak with groups of people from different ethnic communities, disabled residents, people with mental health concerns or anyone else who may have difficulty giving their views then please do contact Vision TwentyOne.

If you would like to be on our direct mailing list - or if you have any other queries - please get in touch with our Patient & Public Involvement Team on 020 3299 6444 or email keri.lewis@southwarkpct.nhs.uk.

Many thanks,
Keri Lewis
Patient & Public Involvement Facilitator
Southwark Primary Care Trust
Dulwich Community Hospital
East Dulwich Grove
London SE22 8PT
Tel 020 3299 6444
keri.lewis@southwarkpct.nhs.uk

Friends of Goose Green Newsletter - January 2009

Dear friend of Goose Green
Greetings for the New Year! Friends of Goose Green have had a busy 2008, and expect a similarly busy 2009. Here is a brief report on what has been happening, and some of what is to come.
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SATURDAY 7th MARCH 11am-2pm at the FoGG Gazebo on Goose Green. Come and talk to us,
get information, tell us what ever you want to about Goose Green.

WEDNESDAY 11th MARCH 7pm Goose Green Centre. Advance Notice of AGM see more below.
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GOOSE GREEN PLAYGROUND
On the 17th December we celebrated the completion of phase one of the improvement & renewal of the playground, which is for the younger users. We had many excited children and parents attend as it was a lovely winter's day. Pictures can be seen on our website's gallery www.friendsofgoosegreen.org.uk Southwark's Parks Department supplied balloons and a member of FoGG, Steve Storr, designed a colouring sheet for the children to take home. The funding for phase one came mainly from Nunhead & Peckham Rye Community Council Cleaner Greener Safer funds and 'section 106' moneys from the developer of the East Dulwich Road flats opposite. FoGG will continue to work with Green Dreams, a landscape design company, to raise funds and agree layouts and plans for phases 2 & 3which are aimed at the older children using the playground. Plans for the next phase will be displayed soon in the Goose Green noticeboards.

GOOSE GREEN MURAL
The bottom half of the William Blake Mural on the house wall overlooking the Playground, was over-painted without warning by the Council to cover up some graffiti. After protests by FoGG and local residents, Stan Peskett the original artist, now living in the US also protested. The Council said it was a mistake, and apologised to him, and everyone else for taking action without consultation. They asked Stan Peskett for advice, and he proposed a new mural on the same William Blake theme. Like the original one in 1993, this will be done as a project with local children, funded by the Council. The work is expected to be launched at the Goose Green Fair in the Dulwich Festival this year in May.

GOOSE GREEN BOG
Last year you may have noticed a boggy area that appeared in the Green near the Adys Road end, and some construction works at the Lordship Lane end. Surprisingly these were connected!  After numerous investigations of the growing bog, the Council and Water Company discovered that there was a leak in a water pipe under Goose Green. To repair this and ensure ease of access in future, they decided to install a 'Sahara Chamber' at the Lordship Lane end of the Green. This is said to give adequate access to the pipes. We are told it will be covered by a barely visible man-hole cover.
Hopefully no more growing bogs.

NOTICE BOARDS
There are now two Notice Boards for Goose Green: one at either end of the diagonal path across the Green. Pictures can be seen on our website's gallery These were funded by the Council on a FoGG proposal. The boards were chosen by FoGG Management Committee from a selection proposed by the Council, and the Council Parks Department carried out the work to acquire them and install them. They are for the display of information about Goose Green. If you have something to display please email: info@friendsofgoosegreen.org.uk or phone Ursula Allison in the Parks Dept - 020 7525 0707

GOOSE GREEN FENCE
After much local concern was expressed about the installation, without consultation, of the fence across Goose Green, the Council decided at the end of 2007 to remove it to reuse it elsewhere in the borough, and to rethink what to do about a fence for a dog free area on Goose Green. The fence is to be removed by the Council Department (Bellenden Renewal Team) that installed it. This was going to happen all last year, but now we are told it should be sometime in the next few months. There will then be six months without a fence and the Parks Department will consult Goose Green users and the local public on whether to reinstate a fence and if so where it should go. Any fence would be similar to the current external fence. A fence installed to create a dog free area would need to be preceded by a Dog Control Order to create a dog free area so that it could be enforced.
A major problem with the current arrangement is that the Council has no powers to enforce a dog free area. The FoGG Management Committee members, just like other Goose Green users and supporters, have divided views about the fence. Some want a dog free area, some want to preserve the Open Space nature of the Green and do not wish to have any fence, some would prefer no fence but are willing to contemplate one to provide a dog free area, provided it is properly designed and located. But we look forward to the current fence being removed so the Council can get on to the next phase of deciding what the feasible options are and consulting the local public. We will do our best to ensure that this is a good process. If you want to help make that happen, get in touch with us. See below.

WORKING WITH THE COUNCIL
Since local residents started meeting in 2007 about Goose Green, we have had valuable support from Ursula Allison, the Council's Parks officer responsible for parks and open spaces in this area. She helped us set up FoGG, and now continues support in our various dealings with different parts of the Council. Local ward councillors have been very supportive from both The Lane and South Camberwell. We have made a lot of progress in developing good working relations with the Community Wardens, Events and Parks Departments, and are grateful for their co-operation and
support. One notable success has been that, after FoGG asked, Goose Green was included in the responsibilities of the Dulwich Community Wardens. This makes huge sense as their office overlooks Goose Green, but as it is just over the boundary inside the Camberwell Community Council area it wasn't theirs. There is still some way to get the message across to all Departments that keeping FoGG informed is an effective way! to manage the Green - the Mural incident was an example of what happens when they don't. But the Council did apologise about this all the way up
to the Chief Executive of the Council, and they are generally very encouraging and supportive of Friends groups like FoGG.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
This is advance notice of the AGM on Wednesday 11th March 7pm at the Goose Green Centre. This will be a good chance to find out how you can help preserve and nurture Goose Green for its supporters and users. If you want to be more involved, you can volunteer for the Management Committee. We meet about every two months, and do a lot of work by email. We have some spare places and would be very glad to welcome new members. But you don't need to commit yourself to that straightaway - you can volunteer in other ways as well, or just attend the Management Committee meetings if you want to get a feel for what it is all about.

GETTING INVOLVED
Do please contact us if you are interested in getting involved in any way. If you would like to speak on the phone or meet us, let us know and we will be in touch. email: info@friendsofgoosegreen.org.uk or phone Ursula Allison in the Parks Dept - 020 7525 0707

PLEASE CONTACT US
We hope to hear from some of you, and to see you at Goose Green on 7th March or the AGM on 11th March.

best wishes
Management Committee
Friends of Goose Green (FoGG)
www.friendsofgoosegreen.org.uk

license application for Blue Bar 14 Peckham High St

This will be of interest to anyone who lives in the vicinity of Peckham High Street, or uses Peckham High Street as a bus passenger, shopper, or is a visitor for any reason to that part of the town centre. It is a further bar licensing application for premises which have caused severe trouble before.
Local residents who live near the premises have compiled a list of reasons for objecting to the license application (see below) and hope that others who live near or who use Peckham High Street will support them in their opposition. Objections have to be submitted by 4th February. See all details below.

For further information, and a cc of your objection, please email:
- local residents: specialskool@hotmail.co.uk and
- Cllr Gordon Nardell: gordon.nardell@southwark.gov.uk
For Council information: click here
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This is the format for an objection:
send by email to: licensing@southwark.gov.uk

Licence number: 828963
Dear Sir/Madam,
I object to the proposed premises licence of 'Blue Bar' at 14 Peckham High
Street SE15 5DT for the following reasons:
• The proposed licensed premises are within a Saturation Zone. As part of Southwark's Saturation Policy, in such areas it is for the applicant to demonstrate reasons why a licence should be awarded. The application does not do this.
• The prevention of public nuisance: There are many residential units in close proximity to 14 Peckham High Street. If a licence were granted, noise from patrons entering and exiting the premises, and from music would adversely affect the quality of life of residents in the area to an unacceptable extent.
• The prevention of crime and disorder: There is insufficient information in the application on how the applicant plans to overcome the significant crime and disorder issues which have historically been associated with the premises.
• Public safety: There is insufficient information in the application on how the applicant plans to overcome public safety concerns which have historically been associated with the premises (discharging of firearms inside and outside the premises)
• The licence sought is for the premises and can therefore be leased on. I am very concerned about mismanagement and abuses of any potential licence, as has been the case in the past when the premises was licensed and sub-let/leased. Without detailed information about the credentials of who the premises may be leased or sub-let to, I object to this application.
Yours faithfully,
name
address
date
___________________________________________________
Representations can be sent to the following by 4th February 2009 -
MUST include name, address, date:
By email: licensing@southwark.gov.uk
By post (signature needed if sent by post or fax) :
Southwark Council
Licensing Unit
Chaplin Centre
Thurlow Street, London  SE17 2DG
By fax transmission: 020 7525 5705

14th January Friends of Warwick Gardens

Best wishes for the New Year!
from the Bellenden Residents' Group
& the Friends of Warwick Gardens
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Message from Friends of Warwick Gardens:
next meeting of the Friends Of Warwick Gardens is
WEDNESDAY 14TH JANUARY 2009
VENUE; South London Tabernacle Baptist Church
Welton Hall
Bushey Hill Road
SE5 8QF
(opposite no. 52 Bushey Hill Road)
TIME 7pm.
 
Among other things we will be discussing our successful application for Grassroots Grant and deciding how best to organise the two events we have planned for this year- one of which will be a large scale LOCAL CREATIVE FAIR.
Please come. We need your help to make them both into something the whole community will join in with and enjoy.

From Friends of Warwick Gardens

free parking in Peckham car parks in December

Peckham residents will be glad to know that charges are being (temporarily) lifted for specific times in Peckham's Council owned car parks in December - see details below. These revert us to the position before the extensive new charges were imposed with inadequate information and consultation earlier this year.
Nunhead & Peckham Community Council had already asked that the Council suspend the new charges until a thorough review and consultation is carried out because of the bad effects they are having. The Community Council in January will be asked to pursue this vigorously.
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MESSAGE FROM THE COUNCIL:
There will be free car parking in all four Council owned car parks; (the Blue is free)
1.Stead Street (Walworth area)
2.Chourmert Road (Peckham)
3.Copeland Road (Peckham)
4.Cerise Road (Peckham)  
The concession will commence from Saturday 12th December and will include Sunday 13th December it will also allow for free parking after 6.30pm Monday to Friday (allowing for late night shopping) and the following week will be identical Saturday 20th December including Sunday 21st December Monday to Friday free parking after 6.30pm. The following week will include Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th December up to
Thursday 1st January 2009.
Please be aware that there will be charges throughout the weekdays from 8.00am up to 6.30pm.
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Http://www.southwark.gov.uk/Public/NewsArticle.aspx?articleId=33780
Southwark traders get boost from free weekend parking
Published on: 09/12/2008
With small businesses feeling the bite of the credit crunch, one London borough has decided to drop car parking charges in all council-run car parks over Christmas to boost support for local traders.
The Southwark Council car parks in Stead Street (Walworth), Choumert Grove, Copeland Road and Cerise Road (all in Peckham) will be free on the following weekends - 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28 December.
Car parks will also be free every night from Friday 12 December, right up to 3 January 2009.

Councillor Jeff Hook, Executive member for Environment, said:
“This is a tough festive season for many, with residents tightening their belts and local businesses doing everything they can to get shoppers to come in and buy.
“By making council car parks free on these dates, we hope that this will be all the incentive residents need to use their local shops for Christmas presents and New Year supplies.”
“Local shops are often locally owned and run by people living in Southwark, so we have to do what we can to help them at this time.”

Tues 9th Dec neighbourhood Planning & the PAAP

Has your neighbourhood been affected by planning applications or planning enforcements? Would you like to change things so they take more account of the local neighbourhood character and of residents' views? If so, you may be interested in a meeting organised by the Bellenden Residents' Group next week, details below. If you would like to come, please email to let us know.
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Rye Lane West Neighbourhood
* future developments & planning applications
* local residents meeting with the Council's Planners & Lane Ward Councillor
* start developing our local neighbourhood description
* a first look at the PAAP and how it affects us.
Tuesday 9th December 6.30-8.30pm
in the Bussey building, 133 Rye Lane, SE15
entrance through the passage way, opposite Blenheim Grove.
refreshments & exhibition from 6pm
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In the neighbourhood to the west of Rye Lane, in Peckham, over the years we have had numerous planning applications (and enforcement issues) which have resulted in many objections. After much effort, some of these have been changed. We have often thought that if developers knew before they started what local people think is acceptable, in the form of a 'neighbourhood profile', we might just possibly be able to avoid a lot of upset, effort and time.

NEIGHBOURHOOD PROFILE
We are meeting with the Planners to see if we can produce such a profile for our neighbourhood to the west of Rye Lane, in the forthcoming discussions about the Peckham Area Action Plan (PAAP). This is supported by The Lane ward Councillor Gordon Nardell who will also be at the meeting.

Such a process might be of interest to residents in other neighbourhoods, especially those affected by the PAAP. So if you would like to think about arranging such a meeting for your neighbourhood, you will be welcome to come and learn from this meeting about what might be involved in creating a 'neighbourhood profile', what might flow from that, and from our first look at the PAAP and how it affects us in our neighbourhood. Some of this might have relevance in your own neighbourhood.

FURTHER INFORMATION
The PAAP (Peckham Area Action Plan) is a very important Planning development which will establish the new future planning policy for Peckham. For information about the PAAP, please see:www.southwark.gov.uk/futurepeckham

Further information on some issues raised for the future of Peckham town centre, a core part of the PAAP, see www.peckhamvision.org

Further information on this meeting, please email BRG@nutbrook.demon.co.uk