This month's meeting
promises to be a cracker with visits from London South East
Labour Member of the European Parliament Richard Balfe and
Southwark Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration Labour Cllr
Steve Lancashire - BOTH coming to hear your questions and views
at our September meeting - 8pm, Thursday, 13th September, 2001 at
Trinity Halls, Bryan Road, Rotherhithe.
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So if you have a Euro-question that's bugging you, come and talk to one of Britain's most experienced Euro-politicians - Richard Balfe MEP. Richard has particular responsibility within the Labour group of London MEPs for the southeastern quadrant of the capital - which includes us. Whether you want to help save Portuguese cork forests from the growing threat of plastic wine bottle stoppers, or maybe you want to say something about the asylum seekers' debate, or you might just want to know how Europe's Parliament can help YOU with problems or issues in your life..Richard wants to see and meet with you and help, so come along on 13th September. |
In addition, one of our very own members, planning expert Brian Hodge, is going to stage a presentation on the sudden rash of planning applications which private developers have stuck in over the summer to re-develop Canada Water and massively extend Harmsworth Quays printing centre. Brian will bring to life the scale and detail which these complex series of separate applications will REALLY mean for the landscape and community of Rotherhithe. Whatever happens, it is becoming quite clear, the Canada Water development will eventually change the face of Rotherhithe FOREVER. It will almost certainly be the BIGGEST change since the closure of the docks.
| The politician with specific responsibility as a public figure for all these proposed changes is Labour councillor Steve Lancashire. A frequent visitor to our Branch Meetings, Steve is coming along again next Thursday, 13th September. He'll update us on the Council's own schedule and timetable for the planning applications process, which the developers have tabled despite there being no agreed Masterplan for Canada Water. And he'll lend his ear to anything you have to say on the subject or any other Council-related matter. In fact the Canada Water developers' timing ifor putting in so many planning applications in the normally quiet summer period, is somewhat controversial to say the least: neither the Canada Water Consultative Forum, which Labour Branch members regularly attend, nor Southwark Council have produced any overall and agreed vision for the future of our area. Furthermore the Council is slap-bang in the middle of drawing up a new Unitary Development Plan called the Southwark Plan, which would most certainly outline the parameters for development in our area on such a massive scale. |  |
So, with all these matters up in the air, our Meeting could not come at a busier or more relevant time. Other business we must discuss will include planning for the May 2002 Council Elections, associated fund-raising plans, nominations for various constituency party vacancies and anything else you WANT to raise.
Attendances have
continued to climb at our regular branch meetings and we would
like that to continue so please - do come if you can on Thursday
13th September 2001 at Trinity Halls, Bryan Road. If you have any
questions ring the Branch Chair John Hellings on 020 7237 2287 or
e-mail him on Johnhellings@hotmail.com .
