Crofton Park Labour Party

Late last year Cllr Morrison (Chair of the Safer Stronger Communities Committee, received a request to scrutinise the Lewisham’s response to the recent riots.. Cllr Morrison felt it was too early to learn lessons from the response and referred the matter to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to enable a wider member involvement. On 6 February a well-attended meeting took place, chaired by Cllr Alan hall and in the presence of the Mayor, Steve Bullock.  It was clear that Lewisham police were reduced at the start of the riots in Lewisham because they had been used elsewhere.  When reinforcements arrived, the police, the Council and the community pulled together to deal with a very frightening situation.

On 28/29 January Lewisham commemorated  Holocaust Memorial weekend.  On the 28th January a multi faith service took place at The Catford and Bromley Synagogue.  With participants from  various faith leaders across the borough and a moving drama performance from Bonus Pastor School.  The theme this year was “Speak Up, Speak Out” and people who have been brave enough to do this were remembered through readings such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Pastor Martin Niemoller, Peneltrium (from Poland), Janus Ckorezak  On Sunday 29 January, Lewisham  primary schools , including St William of York school, gave a very moving performance in the Broadway Theatre which was attended by 500 people.  They did not shy away from the difficult subject but managed to make it a spiritually uplifting experience.  As Chair of the Holocaust Memorial Committee, I would urge to look out for these free events next year.

Young people often have a very bad press which ignores the fact that there are many young people who make significant contributions to the community.  To encourage community participation YOU was set up by the Mayor for London to encourage engagement with young people.

YOU brings together all uniformed groups including all service cadets, St John’s Ambulance, The Scouts, Girl Guides and Police Cadets.  All cadets will be showcasing their work in the Town Hall on 16 March from 2pm.  All schools and individuals  are invited for a chance to see the work of these young people and hopefully be so impressed that they would like to join in!

On 4 February, I chaired Crofton Park Assembly meeting which heard updates from the projects funded by the Assembly.  Darren Taylor, Chief Executive of ECO computers led a consultation on future plans for the Crofton Park Community Library, including establishing a café, a floor plan that provides space for a number of community activities.  Darren was applauded for his ideas. The Assembly contributed £15,000 from its grans fund to contribute towards the set up costs for the refurbishment.  We also heard plans for establishing a Youth Assembly and planning for this year’s Crofton Park Carnival.

Cllr Addison and myself attended the Youth Assembly hosted by Prendergast Ladywell Fields.  All the primary schools in Crofton Park Ward attended and drew up ideas for spending the £10,00 they received from Crofton Park Assembly.  It was good to see that all the ideas included  the library to varying degrees and will enhance the use of the library by young people.  The winning ideas came from Brockley Primary School but proposals are being drawn up for implementation, which include similar ideas from the other schools.

You can now see Cllr Morrison and Councillor Addison on the 2nd Saturday of the month at the Try Tapas restaurant, Honor Oak Park from 12 – 1pm and on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10am until 11am at Crofton Park community Library.  We also do street surgeries on a monthly basis and  notify the relevent roads beforehand.

The News Shopper reports Cllr Morrison's free employment advice service at Crofton Park Library.

Councillor Pauline Morrison is to provide an employment service in Crofton Park Community Library.  Cllr Morrison, one of the leaders of the Save Crofton Park Library Campaign said: “I volunteer in the Library twice a week and thought that this was agood use of my time and experience in this time of high unemployment.  I will be happy to help local people with their CV, job search, interview skills and any other support in their search for a job.  The service will be free but a donation to the library would be appreciated."

For more information please contact Councillor Pauline Morrison, 020 8244 5315.
Email: pauline.s.morrison@ntlworld.com

Cllrs Morrison and Addison have been busy dealing with several big planning applications in the ward. 

On 20 September Cllr Morrison chaired a local meeting of almost 100 people about the planning application for 437 – 439 Brockley Road. Residents were angry that:

•             The developer had demolished the building

•             Blocked access at the back to local residents

•             There were rumours of a Tesco being built on the site

The developer undertook to take up issues about access and put up signage.  There will now need to be another planning application as demolition makes the previous one void.

We have received numerous emails about the Bank building in Honor Oak Park which has an application from Dominoes Pizza.  Residents main concern is the illuminated sign and the prospect of noisy mopeds.

There is also a rumour that 55,57 and 59 Honor Oak Park will become a Sainsburys Local but no planning application has been received as yet.