The future of Bermondsey Community Council January 2011 – regeneration theme

Workshop 1 Notes

Development and Section 106 • Railway Arches – investment to save. Turn them into business places. Council to take responsibility (St James Road; Enid Street; Dockley Road; Ravel Road; Mill Street) • Invest in community cohesion – bring rich and poor together e.g. St Georges Day • New developments seem bleak and impersonal when you walk down the streets. Need enlivening e.g. Trees on Chambers Street (public realm tariff) • Invest in greening of school playgrounds by planting trees and creating allotments (education tariff) • All projects could be developed to give added value e.g. Intergenerational and community enhancement • Improve provision of disabled access to all shops • Improve condition of pavements including dropped kerbs etc. • Churchyards could become oases of calm and pleasant social spaces but they also act as magnets for anti-social behaviour, so this needs to be borne in mind • retail area would benefit from improvement. Could liaise with TfL and private sector to help with a shop fronts/businesses working party • Tenants Halls – these should be making money, being hired out for functions etc. DDA compliance requires them to have disabled access and toilets (St Saviours and Purbrook Wade halls) • Lighting provision needs enhancements – under railway arches, in graveyards, roads leading to the river from Bermondsey tube station and other secluded roads and alleyways • Public toilets are much needed but the money could only be used to install and they have unfortunate revenue implications for maintenance etc. • Must make sure section 106 money is spent LOCALLY – as well as negotiations with other agencies e.g. schools, transport and health • Pressure off TfL for buses • Incubator Units for small business start ups • Secure cycle parking, cycle training and safe cycling routes

Workshop 2 Notes

Development and Section 106

• An effective and coherent plan for the area between Borough High Street and Tower Bridge Road, and down to Long Lane • Anti rat-running measures north of Jamaica Road • Making better use of railway arches • Creating more employment opportunities • Improved cycle parking provision • Greening Raymouth Road • Development of river walkway strategy • Project “banks” available on website • A space for artists (revolving fund) • A walkway to railway station • Bermondsey Village Hall improvement and create better facilities for teenagers • Public Art Strategy – commission work by local artists (revolving as well as fixed) • More pocket Plazas to attract independent shops • Tree planting strategy

Workshop 3 Notes

Opportunities for Training and Apprenticeships as outcomes from regeneration of Bermondsey

What is good or bad about existing schemes? • Learning and earning at the same time - good • Any employer can make use of NAS (National Apprenticeship Scheme) – good • Funding is both direct and indirect • A lot of schemes, especially for parenting skills have vital crèche provision, but many of these courses are being cut in March.... negating all work done up to that point • There is a lack of clarity about which courses will still be funded post cuts, and closure of children’s centres and crèches (Sure Start programme) will reduce options for single parents • Council could become sub-contractor, working with Southwark Works, helping to keep SW in funds and continuing their programmes which have been achieving great results to date • Southwark needs to attract employers – training should be geared to employers needs e.g. electronics, or construction trades • Southwark redevelopment potential means that there will be large construction projects offering employment potential for many years to come. Specialist skills such as green energy and urban drainage systems will be much sought after • There is little evidence that the pre school leaver cohort really understands the social and economic implications of the recession or realises the benefits of employment, especially when third or fourth generation unemployed - maybe there should be a programme to encourage an interest in work/instil work ethic • Anything that encourages entrepreneurial activities should be facilitated • Apprenticeship schemes are oversubscribed many times over – apprenticeships are attractive because there is a qualification at the end of it. • So, how can the community encourage local businesses to offer apprenticeships? Incentives?, CSR? • Use money from developers – proposed project involves collaboration between Southwark Works, Southwark College, and Shard – permanent shop front offering apprenticeship and training possibilities • Southwark Volunteering Centre also offers training, and volunteering can often lead to permanent employment • Studying for the engineering and construction qualifications offers the best route to high quality employment for Southwark youngsters • Lack of qualifications can prevent people from progressing past the “glass ceiling” and realising their full potential. Bring experts into schools to evidence where studying can lead

Workshop 4 Notes

Transport

Prioritising of parking between residents or local businesses – This must be balanced, as local businesses are already having problems, and local transport policy should be supportive to help keep them in business. Given current financial pressures, should Council continue to provide free cycle training ? Yes, focusing on those most likely to cycle, and spending resources on improving cycling infrastructure Should we be prioritising improvements to town centres or residential areas ? Town Centres Do you support streetscapes where there is no kerb between carriageway and footway ? Yes. – Each scheme must be looked at individually Should Southwark be a 20mph borough ? Yes, but also with improved signage Should Southwark support mobility scooters on pavements ? Yes, but with proper accessibility to buses or shopping areas Is the condition of the streets of significant importance ? Yes Would you support night time deliveries to help reduce congestion ? No because of the disturbance in residential areas Would you support prioritising of buses over other traffic ? Yes. Speed managed If we installed electric vehicle charging points, would you consider buying an electric vehicle ? Yes