Ward, Lucy
From: Mayers, Mishka on behalf of reviews Sent: Tuesday, 05 April, 2016 10:44 AM To: Ward, Lucy Subject: FW: Lib Dem group submission for LB Southwark draft wards consultation Attachments: Detail of proposed changes to draft wards LBS.pdf; Draft comments LBS review.pdf; New wards 1 to 7.pdf; OPTION 1 Nunhead and Queens Rd.pdf; OPTION 2 Nunhead n and nunhead s.pdf; Supporting Notes.pdf
Follow Up Flag: Follow up Flag Status: Flagged
From: Roger Giess Sent: 04 April 2016 01:15 To: reviews
Dear Sirs,
Please find attached the response from the Southwark Council Lib Dem group to the consultation on the draft warding arrangements for the London Borough of Southwark.
The submission includes an explanation of the amendments to the draft we would make together with our calculations of new projected electorates. We would be pleased to provide further details of the calculations if that would assist.
We also include some sketched maps to illustrate the changes we are proposing. These show the ward as we intend tinted yellow with those areas we propose removing edged red and those new areas to be brought in edged green.
I would be grateful if you would acknowledge receipt.
Kind regards
Roger Giess on Behalf of Southwark Borough Council Liberal Democrat group.
1 Southwark Council Lib Dem Group comments on draft ward boundary review
Ward Comments
1 Camberwell Green We support this ward except for a small amendment. We would move the border with St Giles to the west to run along D'Eynsford Rd and Camberwell Green to Camberwell Church St. This ensures that all the D'Eynsford Estate is put together, is a clearer boundary on the ground and provides (with other changes to the proposed Rye Lane ward) for more equal electorates in these wards by 2021.
2 Nunhead The LGBCE was right to conclude that Nunhead Cemetery was closely identified with Nunhead and should be in a Nunhead-based ward. The same can be said of the neighbouring reservoir site. Also we agree there is no acceptable place to split Ivydale Rd. However, we believe this proposed ward still needs significant changes to best meet the statutory criteria.
The LGBCE's proposed new Nunhead ward excludes residents of streets on three sides of the cemetery who closely identify with Nunhead - in the process creating an awkward "finger" for the proposed Peckham Rye ward. It also excludes the Nunhead Reservoir site next to the cemetery from the Nunhead ward. It excludes Southwark Council's Nunhead Estate (on Nunhead Close off Peckham Rye). It excludes large parts of the Nunhead Green Conservation Area, which runs from Nunhead Green south to Garden Rd/Forester Rd and north to Dr Harold Moody Park between Sturdy Rd and Ellery St. Indeed the brand new housing development at Nunhead Green itself will be outside the proposed ward. Historically Nunhead is said to have grown up around St Antholin's parish church, whose site is now occupied by what is now known as The Lighthouse Cathedral on Nunhead Lane - but outside the LGBCE's proposed Nunhead ward. Despite these parts of Nunhead being excluded, the proposed Nunhead ward does include residents living well to the north off Queen's Rd, an area that we suggest identifies as Peckham.
Helpfully, in recent years Nunhead community groups have organised "Nunhead Beats the Bounds" - a group walk around the edges of the Nunhead area. They have gone to the borough boundary at Brenchley Gardens, the eastern edge of Peckham Rye and then north as far as Queen's Rd. This area is a little too big for the three member ward but we think it does broadly reflect the community that identifies as Nunhead and should be the basis for a Nunhead ward or wards.
We make two proposals below to accommodate 5 councillors for this area. One uses the strongest boundary lines practicable whereas the other has electorates tighter to the projected average by 2021. We would favour either over the current proposals. 3 Old Kent Road We support this ward. We remain sceptical it is can be said now that there is a community united by Old Kent Road. However we accept that this is the direction of development with the planned regeneration of the Old Kent Road corridor so that during its lifetime this ward will gain coherence.
4 Peckham This proposed ward is projected to have the smallest electorate of any 3-member ward, and be 5% below average. We can see no reason to have such an outlier where it is possible to include electors with strong ties to Peckham and so deliver better equality of electorates . We suggest including electors living west of Carlton Grove currently proposed to be in Nunhead ward by extending the eastern boundary of Peckham ward all the way south to Queen's Road. This includes in the Peckham ward residents of the Acorn Estate and those who will live in the development site to the south facing Queen's Road. These electors live a short walk from Peckham town centre but have little connection to Nunhead. Moving them to Peckham ward would bring Peckham ward far closer to the average electorate by 2021.
Peckham town centre is now and will continue to be divided between this ward and the ward immediately to the south (currently The Lane, but to become Rye Lane). Most of the town centre shopping district and Peckham Rye railway station (the central Peckham station) is in this ward to the south. We would therefore rename this ward Peckham North and the new ward to its south containing the bulk of the current The Lane ward as Peckham South.
5 Peckham Rye We think this ward has been badly drawn. Despite the presumed intention, it continues to be a ward that straddles Peckham Rye and includes electors who look both to Dulwich and to Nunhead. If the intention had been for a ward based on communities around Peckham Rye then it ought to have included streets on the eastern parts of the proposed Goose Green and Dulwich Hill wards too (as with the present Peckham Rye ward).
We suggest two ways of reorganising this area so that the electors to the east of the park are in a Nunhead based ward while those to the west (in streets off Colyton Rd and Homestall Road, and those on Honor Oak Rise) are included in an version of the proposed Dulwich Hill ward. There would therefore not be a ward straddling Peckham Rye.
6 Rye Lane This ward is the southern part of Peckham. We are happy to accept the strong northern border at Peckham Rd. However, in our view, the other borders are poor.
To the east it stretches too far towards Nunhead by including the Nunhead Estate and residents in the Nunhead Green Conservation Area and even residents living on Nunhead Green itself. These electors should be in a Nunhead based ward. The most natural eastern boundary here is the main road of Peckham Rye/Copeland Road, which at this point has little commercial or town centre activity. The proposed southern boundary is entirely unconvincing and without any clear demarcation and, from the submission on which the proposal is based, appears to be drawn with no evidence of community ties but simply to make up the numbers for a ward based on Lordship Lane. The most natural southern boundary for the Rye Lane ward is the main road, East Dulwich Road. This road and Goose Green is a clear dividing point and are the current northern boundary of East Dulwich ward.
Finally the western boundary excludes electors looking strongly to Peckham, placing them in the Camberwell based St Giles ward. The residents being transferred from the current The Lane ward into St Giles have a Peckham post code. It would transfer those living next to the Harris Academy, which has strong associations with Peckham having received substantial support from Lord Harris of Peckham. This area's Peckham identity is further reflected in business names along Peckham Rd here, not least Peckham Fire Station. It has also resulted in a rather large St Giles ward, which is projected to be 5% over average size. It is therefore easy to accommodate this boundary moving further west in order to reduce the oversized proposed St Giles. In doing so it facilitates those parts of the D'Eynesford Estate in Camberwell Green ward being included with the rest of that estate in the proposed St Giles ward.
7 St Giles See comments on Rye Lane. It is unfortunate that the proposal does not take the opportunity for a realignment of the western boundary with Camberwell Green ward to include the remainder of the D'Eynesford Estate (ie including all the homes on Kimpton Rd and Don Phelan Close). Clearly this would make the proposed St Giles ward even larger, however we suggest that it can be accommodated by moving the boundary with Rye Lane ward to the west as we have proposed.
8 North Bermondsey We support this ward.
9 Rotherhithe We support this ward. However we can see a case for excluding the approximately 250 electors of the Osprey Estate between Lower Rd and Greenland Dock, and instead placing them in Surrey Docks ward. This would give a tidier boundary with easier access for the ward on the west of Greenland Dock. The estate is currently in Surrey Docks ward and the proposed boundary line here is not very distinct. We do accept that there would be some worsening of electoral equality in doing this.
10 South Bermondsey We support this ward save for a small readjustment to the border with the proposed Bridges ward. The more natural dividing point between the wards which is more clearly marked on the ground is Spa Road/Bermondsey Spa Gardens rather than splitting the wards through the Grange Yard area. This would ensure that all the existing and planned residential developments on Grange Yard are kept together.
11 Surrey Docks We support this ward, with the caveat noted for Rotherhithe ward.
12 Bankside and We support this ward with one very small modification. In the south Borough western corner the proposal splits one of the three blocks of Quentin House from the other two. This is where the current polling district boundary runs. It would be very unfortunate to place residents of flats 37-53 Quentin House in a different ward from those in flats 1-36 Quentin House. The three blocks are associated with Webber Row in the same Tenants & Residents Association, so we would want to run the border to place this block with them in St George ward. This can be done without involving any electors outside Quentin House.
13 Bridges Our comments on South Bermondsey ward provide a suggested improvement to the boundary between the two wards. We suggest two further small alterations with the boundary with Chaucer ward below. Subject to those three suggestions we support this ward, and in particular we think the inclusion of the Arnold Estate in this ward is a very acceptable way to equalise electorates of the Bermondsey wards.
We do not think all the electors here will readily identify as Bermondsey, particularly those west of Tower Bridge Road. New residential development around London Bridge ought to be recognised in the ward name. The rest of the ward is on and around Tower Bridge Road. On balance we think the proposed name is acceptable for identifying the area covered by the ward.
14 Chaucer We propose two alterations to this ward which will help improve the border line on the ground and provide for more equalised electorates between this, Bridges and South Bermondsey ward.
The first proposal is to include in Chaucer ward the area west and south of Weston St, Guy St and Kipling St to Snowsfields. We think this marks a better dividing line on the ground between residents who gravitate to Borough High Street and those looking to Tower Bridge Rd shops and into Bermondsey. While the proposed boundary along Crosby St would divide residents living on either side of the road, our alternative line marks a point where residential development ends with the other side of the road being open green space, the large multi-story car park and commercial buildings.
Secondly we propose that the boundary between Chaucer and Bridges continue south along Bermondsey Street to Tower Bridge Rd rather than running along Long Lane. Both roads are substantial highways that could provide a strong boundary. However we think this would include in Bridges ward the largest possible number of electors who look to Tower Bridge Road for local shops and amenities.
15 Newington We support this ward.
16 North Walworth We support this ward.
17 South Walworth We support this ward.
18 St George We support this ward subject to the very minor amendment at Quentin House.
We would very much prefer the name St George's. It is St George's Circus, St George's Rd, St George's Cathedral Catholic Primary School and indeed St George's cathedral. 19 Champion Hill We support this ward. We do not consider it would be right to combine this ward with the proposed Half Moon ward, which has a different and strong focus on Herne Hill. We would not object to the modest realignment of the boundary here as outlined under Half Moon ward.
20 Dulwich Hill We submit that this proposed ward needs to be significantly changed. A ward bringing together the suburban Dulwich residential streets west of Peckham Rye and off both sides of the arterial road of Forest Hill Road would constitute a strong ward. All this area has a Dulwich identity with a SE22 postcode (unlike streets on the other side of Peckham Rye in SE15). Forest Hill Road acts as a local town centre with a post office, shops including a local supermarket and a GP practice near Colyton Rd. The road is a major bus route serving residents off Forest Hill Road, which is important to this area as residents here are comparatively far from a railway station . The draft proposals would split this community between Dulwich Hill and Peckham Rye wards.
We propose including electors in streets west of Peckham Rye Park in this ward. As we explain below this also enables the boundary between this ward and Goose Green to be brought south to make much more use of the major arterial route of the B219 Barry Road.
In any case we do not think Dulwich Hill is clear enough a name and suggest East Dulwich Hill will be more identifiable to this area.
21 Dulwich Wood We support this ward.
22 Dulwich Village We support this ward. We consider Dulwich Village to have a separate identity from Herne Hill and can see no need to combine the two areas.
23 Goose Green As stated in relation to Dulwich Hill, we think this proposed ward needs some adjustment. We consider the strong northern boundary of the current East Dulwich ward at East Dulwich Rd/Grove Vale should be kept. The proposed boundary line is extremely indistinct on the ground and arbitrary and likely to confuse local residents. We also consider that all the streets looking to the local amenities on Forest Hill Rd ought to be kept together in a reworked Dulwich Hill ward (and as they are now in the present Peckham Rye ward) rather than split as proposed.
The natural dividing line in the East Dulwich area is the B219 Barry Road. This is a wide B-road and the major route from Lordship Lane to Peckham Rye Park. It is a bus route and carries heavy traffic. It is the only road onto Lordship Lane from the east that is significant enough to require traffic lights. We submit that the dividing line between the two East Dulwich wards ought to run along this road as far as possible. Our submission is that the boundary run along almost the full length of this road from Peckham Rye south west to St Anthony RC Primary School, which is a break point in residential development. The boundary can then pass through this school site to Friern Rd and then to Lordship Lane. This is a far more natural dividing line that the current proposal. It also leaves the whole of the southern parts of the East Dulwich commercial town centre around the junction with Barry Rd within the same ward as the main parts to the north. In our view the area covered by this revised Goose Green ward is the area that residents across the borough would identify as East Dulwich ie the area off Lordship Lane. We therefore propose that this ward should be called East Dulwich as the present ward here is. East Dulwich Lordship would also be acceptable to us.
24 Half Moon We support this ward subject to the proviso below.
We consider Herne Hill to have a clear separate identity from both Dulwich Village and the southern Camberwell areas around Dog Kennel Hill/Champion Hill/Camberwell Grove. It has a Herne Hill post code and a focus on the town centre at Herne Hill, much of which is within the proposed ward and the rest in Lambeth. We submit that the fact that there is both one submission wanting to put this Herne Hill area into a Dulwich Village ward and another into a Camberwell ward is evidence in itself that the area has a separate identity.
The proposed northern boundary (largely) replicates the current ward boundary between Village and South Camberwell wards, running along Sunray Ave. We consider this to be clear and well defined and an acceptable ward boundary. However we do see the case for also including in this ward those parts of the Sunray Estate north and east of Sunray Ave so as to unite the estate in one ward. This can be done by running the boundary along the eastern edge of the Sunray Estate Conservation Area. This would include in Half Moon ward the remaining Sunray Ave addresses and Nairne Grove addresses south west of Bessemer Grange Primary School. This is also the northern and eastern edge of the Council's Sunray Estate. It also very largely matches the SE24 Herne Hill post code boundary. This would increase Half Moon by around 150 electors at the expense of Champion Hill, leaving Half Moon at about 6% over average and Champion Hill 1% under. We think this could be accepted in return for the gain in respecting community ties.
While we note the Commission's comment about the Lambeth Herne Hill ward we do not share this concern. On the contrary, we think that the naming of both wards as Herne Hill reflects the local identity on both sides of the borough boundary. There are several ward names used for neighbouring wards in two boroughs in London eg Kilburn in Brent and Camden, Graveney in Merton and Wandsworth. We have no doubt residents of the proposed Half Moon ward would identify with the name Herne Hill and submit that this is the name that should be adopted. Nevertheless, if the Commission cannot be persuaded of this we would not object to Half Moon as the best alternative.
Nunhead and Peckham Rye - OPTION 1
3-member Nunhead ward based on proposed Peckham Rye ward
Exclude that part west of Peckham Rye and transfer into Dulwich Hill. They have an East Dulwich post code and good ties to roads off Forest Hill Road and the shops on that road.
Include that part of the proposed Rye Lane ward to the east of Peckham Rye/Copeland Rd. This area includes housing around Nunhead Green, including the whole of the Nunhead Green Conservation Area and the Nunhead Estate.
Include that part of proposed Nunhead ward south of a line from the Peckham Rye-Nunhead railway line east along Brayards Rd and then east along Dundas Rd then south down St Mary's Road then east along Evelina Road. This includes Nunhead Green, the railway station and town centre and roads identifying as Nunhead in this ward.
2-member Queens Road ward based on proposed Nunhead ward
Exclude that part south a line from the Peckham Rye-Nunhead railway line east along Brayards Rd and then east along Dundas Rd then south down St Mary's Road then east along Evelina Road. This ensures that those areas that most closely identify as Nunhead are included in a three member Nunhead ward. The remaining northern parts have strong ties to Peckham and are based around Queens Road and Queens Road Peckham station. We would call this ward Queens Road or Peckham East.
Exclude that part west of Consort Rd and north of Queens Road. This area looks to Peckham town centre and for reasons of electoral equality should be included in Peckham ward.
Nunhead and Peckham Rye - OPTION 2
2-member Nunhead South ward based on proposed Peckham Rye ward
Exclude that part west of Peckham Rye and transfer into Dulwich Hill. They have a Dulwich post code and good ties to roads off Forest Hill Road and the shops on that road.
Include that part of proposed Nunhead ward south of A2214 Nunhead Lane/Evelina Rd and south of the railway line through Nunhead station. This creates a compact 2-member ward with a strong identity as the southern parts of Nunhead around Nunhead Cemetary and the reservoir site. It has a strong northern boundary at the A2214, a strong western boundary at Peckham Rye Park (also the post-code boundary) and elsewhere the borough boundary.
3-member Nunhead North ward based on proposed Nunhead ward
Exclude that part south of A2214 Nunhead Lane/Evelina Rd and south of the railway line through Nunhead station.
Exclude that part west of Consort Rd and north of Queens Road. This area looks to Peckham town centre and for reasons of electoral equality should be included in Peckham ward.
Include that part of the proposed Rye Lane ward to the east of Peckham Rye/Copeland Rd. This area includes housing around Nunhead Green, including the whole of the Nunhead Green Conservation Area and the Nunhead Estate.
This creates a good three-member ward with the northern parts of Nunhead town centre and associated residential areas. It has robust boundaries. Detail of proposed changes to draft wards
New Ward Remove Add name 2021 2021 at 2021 electors electors electors Variation Variation Projected Projected electorate electorate Number of of Number of Number Councillors
1 Bridges Area south of Snowsfields and west 896 Part of Chaucer south of Long Lane 202 11,419 3 -1% of Weston St moved to Chaucer and east of Bermondsey St
Part of South Bermondsey north of 176 3 Spa Road and west of Neckinger
2 Chaucer Chaucer Area south of Long Lane and east of 202 Part of Bridges south of Snowsfields 896 11,996 3 4% Bermondsey St and west of Weston St
3 South South Area north of Spa Road and west of 176 11,949 3 3% Bermondsey Bermondsey Neckinger
4 St Giles St Giles Area east of a line from Peckham 713 That part of Camberwell Green east 464 11,831 3 2% Road heading south down Talfourd and south of a line from Camberwell Rd, east along Talfourd Place and Church St north along Camberwell along the southern boundary of the Green and east along D'Eynesford Pelican Estate to Lyndhurst Way. Rd.
5 Camberwell Camberwell Area east and south of a line from 464 11,748 1% Green Green Camberwell Church St north along Camberwell Green and east along D'Eynesford Rd.
5 Peckham Peckham Nunhead ward north of Queen's Rd 632 11,674 3 1% North and west of Carlton Grove
6 Rye Lane Peckham Area to the east of Peckham 2214 Part of St Giles east of a line from 713 11,417 3 -1% South Rye/Copeland Rd Peckham Road heading south down Talfourd Rd, east along Talfourd Place and along the southern boundary of the Pelican Estate to Lyndhurst Way.
Part of Goose Green north of East 1190 Dulwich Road/Grove Vale
7 Goose East Area north of East Dulwich 1190 Part of proposed Dulwich Hill west 1254 11258 3 -3% Green Dulwich or Road/Grove Vale of a line down Barry Road to St Anthony's Primary School then along East the southern boundary of the school Dulwich and schoolkeepers house to Friern Lordship Rd and south to Lordship Lane
8 Dulwich East Area west of a line down Barry 1254 Part of Peckham Rye west of 1657 7790 2 1% Hill Dulwich Hill Road to St Anthony's Primary Peckham Rye Park / water works School then along the southern site / Camberwell New Cemetery boundary of the school and schoolkeepers house to Friern Rd then south to Lordship Lane
Alternatives for Nunhead and Peckham Rye wards
OPTION 1
9 Peckham Nunhead Area west of Peckham Rye Park / 1657 Part of proposed Nunhead south of 3341 11567 3 0% Rye water works site / Camberwell a line from the Peckham Rye- New Cemetery Nunhead railway line east along Brayards Rd and then Dundas Rd then south down St Mary's Road then east along Evelina Road
Part of Rye Lane ward to the east of 2214 Peckham Rye/Copeland Rd
10 Nunhead Queen's Area south of a line from the 3341 7480 2 -3% Road or Peckham Rye-Nunhead railway line east along Brayards Rd and then Peckham Dundas Rd then south down St East Mary's Road then east along Evelina Road
Area north of Queen's Rd and west 632 of Carlton Grove
Alternatives for Nunhead and Peckham Rye wards
OPTION 2
9 Peckham Nunhead Area west of Peckham Rye Park / Part of proposed Nunhead south of 1988 8000 2 4% Rye South water works site / Camberwell a line along Nunhead Lane from New Cemetery Nunhead Green east to the railway and then south east along the railway line to the borough boundary
10 Nunhead Nunhead Area south of a line along Nunhead 1988 Part of Rye Lane ward to the east of 2214 11047 3 -5% North Lane from Nunhead Green east to Peckham Rye/Copeland Rd the railway and then south east along the railway line to the borough boundary
Area north of Queen's Rd and west 632 of Carlton Grove
1. Bridges 2. Chaucer 3. South Bermondsey
To Chaucer
T To Bridges o Bridges
Transfer from South Bermondsey to Bridges
Transfer from Chaucer to Bridges
Transfer from Bridges to Chaucer 4. St Giles
Transfer in
Transfer out 5. Peckham (New Name: Peckham North
Transfer in 6. Rye Lane New Name: Peckham South
Transfer in
Transfer out
Transfer in 7. Camberwell Green
Transfer out Option 1 Peckham Rye (New name Nunhead)
Transfer in
Transfer In
Transfer Out Option 1 Nunhead (New name Queens Road)
Transfer out
Transfer out Option 2 Peckham Rye (renamed Nunhead South
Transfer in
ransfer In T
Transfer Out Option 2 Nunhead New name Nunhead North
Transfer out
Transfer in
Transfer Out Supporting Notes:
1. Map of Sunray Estate Conservation Area from LBS Area Appraisal
2. Flyer for "Nunhead Beats the Bounds" Event