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Greenwich news and information

Candidate Profiles: Robin Stott, Greenwich West

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Name: Robin Stott (Green Party)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

Im 67 years old, have lived in the Ashburnham triangle for 35 years and am active in the local Ashburnham Triangle Association.. I worked as a consultant physician in Lewsiham hospital until my retiremnt 5 years ago. Throughout my medical carreer, I have been active in the anti nuclear movement ( as Chairman of the the International Cttee of the International Physicians in the 1990’s against Nuclear war and as chairman of the local CND branch in the early 80;s ). And with the charity Medact, of which I was chairman for 8 years, I have worked to promote social , environmental and economic justice as a basis for global good health. I was for 6 years a member of The London Sustainable Development Commission, and now co-chair the Climate and Health Council, which seeks to engage health professionals in tackling climate change.
I am married with two grown up children, am a keen cyclist, tennis player and party goer.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

The council have a major responsibility for local affairs, and should be responsive to local opinion.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Because I believe that the fair shares green perspective needs to be represented as forcefully as possible at all levels of government.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

The Ashburnham triangle , where I live, is full of sparky and friendly people, and nearly every time I walk or bicycle around the triangle , I meet people I know. Its great to have the shops and cafes in Royal Hill, and Somerfields within walking/bicycling distance. The park is a jewel, particularly in the early morning, and with Greenwich theatre and Cinema gives me immense pleasure. And then there is the Thames, and the cammeraderie of the Ashburnham Arms.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the ward over the next four years?

My life long aim is to create local communities in which resources are shared in a more equal way, building a sense of trust and security which makes for joyfull living. Having all those things which make life worthwhile local and accessible means encouraging local shops, enabling more people to work locally so that commutes can be on foot or bicycle, encouraging local entrepreneurs, and encouraging people to meet and discuss issues in an open and non judgemental way. In the long term, this means devolving funds and responsibility from central govt to a more local level –In the short term, much can be achieved by the council devolving a proportion of the budget to the local level, for citizens assemblies to oversee.

In such assemblies I will argue for schools within walking/bicycling distance, and the safe paths to reach them, for a 20 MPH speed limit on our roads, for the council to actively support the Transition town movement, and innovative ways to provide local care for elderly people.

Those Magnificent Men, Greenwich Theatre

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New Perspectives theatre company returns to Greenwich Theatre next week with their new show, ‘Those Magnificent Men’, written by the critically-acclaimed comedy writing duo, Brian Mitchell and Joseph Nixon.

It’s a classic tale of plucky British pioneers – Captain John Alcock, dashing WW1 fighter pilot, and Lieutenant Arthur Whitten Brown, navigational genius with a gammy leg, huddled together against the elements in the tiny timber and canvas cockpit of their converted Vickers Vimy biplane – talk about winging it!

Jump on board for a fast and furious comic tour-de-force in a race to conquer the skies over the Atlantic. Thrill to the sheer adventuring spirit of our unlikely heroes, marvel at their daredevil aerial antics, and wonder at how the whole bally thing is told with just two actors and a crate full of funny props.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR GREENWICH.CO.UK READERS

See ‘Those Magnificent Men’ at Greenwich Theatre for just £5 (normal price £15).
To take advantage of this fantastic offer simply call the Greenwich Theatre Box Office
on 020 8858 7755 and quote “Greenwich.co.uk offer”

‘Those Magnificent Men’
Wed 5 – Sat 8 May
Eves, 7.30pm; Mat, Sat 2.30pm

T’s & C’s: This offer ends at 6pm on 8/05/10. This offer is available for the production of Those Magnificent Men
at Greenwich Theatre. This offer is not available online. Booking fee applies.

Candidate Profiles: Dick Quibell, Peninsula

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Name: Dick Quibell (Labour)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I have lived at my current address in Peninsula Ward for 19 years, and in the Borough for almost thirty years; I have a son and daughter who both attended local state schools. I am a maths graduate with a twenty five year career helping organisations use information effectively to optimise their operations. I have been a Labour Party member for almost forty years.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

Obviously it is important that you have confidence in – and have chosen – the people who spend so much of the public’s money. The environment, local economy, public safety and local services are all influenced hugely by the elected Council members, it matters that people choose representatives that will use that influence on their behalf. They also need advocates to take up issues for them – like getting a fair deal over a school for their child, or ridding their neighbourhood of crime, noise, pollution etc. Choosing the people to do this job for you is really an important part of getting a fair deal. Voting is the only way you can make these choices.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Firstly I believe I am effective at being the representative and advocate I described in the previous answer – and that my record in this regard is good. This borough has serious problems that need to be addressed. A lot of our people are relatively poor, have not enjoyed their fair share of the comforts and benefits that a 21st century affluent society offers. I think I can make a significant contribution to redressing this, and to ensure that everyone – but especially the least privileged – have someone to speak up for them. I believe in Local Government being a strong element of our social fabric, helping to shape and change lives for the better, and being effective and well run. I want to be part of making that happen.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

Rather spoilt for choice – an urban park to rival any in the world on its boundary, the Dome with the best concert venue on the planet, being the centre of time and space (0° longitude), and one of the most vibrant and socially diverse communities in London.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

i) Making sure that the Olympics in 2012 go fantastically well and that as many people as possible enjoy them hugely;
ii) Getting the school opened on the Peninsula, and drawing more of the Borough’s children into our own secondary schools
iii) Helping neighbourhoods be rid of the scourge of excessive traffic – especially on the minor residential streets
iv) Extending social ownership of the organisations that run things for us – including many of the Council’s own services.

Candidate Profiles: Charlie Easton, Peninsula

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Name: Charlie Easton (Conservative)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I’m Charlie, I live and work locally, as an HR Administrator at the National Maritime Museum. I also study part time at the University of Greenwich. I have a blog, gipsymoth.blogspot.com where I talk about my studies, thoughts and experiences as I go about my week. I enjoy visiting parks and museums, walking and learning about London’s history in the little spare time I have amongst everything else! My favourite TV show is House, and my favourite meal is Chicken Madras with fluffy rice (and I’m one of the few people I know who actually likes Lime Chutney on their poppadum’s!)

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

The average household in Greenwich gives over £1,000 a year to the Council, to provide and run local services such as schools, libraries, community centres, parks and leisure facilities. The Council has the power to approve or refuse planning applications, to sign off large events and projects such as the Olympics or Crossrail and to ensure the streets and houses of the borough are kept neat and tidy. There are over 220,000 people in the borough, yet turnout for local elections in the area sits between 20-40% of the voting population. The council has the power to spend a great deal of money and change the quality of life of its residents. By voting for 3 councillors in the local elections, we all have a say in whether it does this, how it does this and how well it does this.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

Every time I used to see something in the area that looked untidy, or read that a local service was underperforming or closing, it used to sadden and frustrate me. For somewhere that has so much culture and potential and so many visitors from outside the area, Greenwich underperforms locally and nationally in a number of areas, such as providing decent housing provision, good schools and local employment opportunities. The more I looked into the council’s record on its ability to improve delivery of local services, the more I realised the incumbents weren’t making the most of what they have. And rather than accept that things would only ever be as good as they are, I decided to get involved with Greenwich Conservatives and help them hold the council to account. By standing as a councillor in Peninsula, I hope that voters will permit me to take my fight for better services in Greenwich right to the Town Hall.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

There’s a lot to like in the Peninsula – the East Greenwich Pleasurance, the local pubs, the views across the river, the shops and houses, new and old. But (perhaps oddly) my favourite landmark in the ward is the power station and the old coal jetty. Its size and location beneath the meridian laser on the banks of the river make it as much a local landmark as the Naval College or Observatory. Its Charlie & the Chocolate Factory-like air of desertion make it intriguing, and its functional yet elegant design – particularly the little turret on the side – make what perhaps ought to be a building you turn your eye from a building your eye is drawn towards. And like the more culturally valued buildings in Greenwich, it has an air of permanence about it. I like it

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula / Greenwich West ward over the next four years?

-Secure a sustainable future for East Greenwich Library, which has been neglected by the council and under threat of closure for over a decade. Andrew Carnegie donated the borough the money to build and maintain the library in perpetuity for the public good: to keep our promise to Carnegie and the people of Greenwich is the least we can do.

-Stop the Council from granting consent to build housing on green space like Woodlands Park Road when plots like the site of the former East Greenwich housing office remain derelict.

-Use the land where Greenwich hospital stood: if money for the proposed development cannot be found, the land should be offered in the meantime as allotments, parking space or an area for an East Greenwich market.

-Change the way the council responds to fly tipping and littering. It took me 4 phone calls, 3 call centre operatives, 2 polite “asks” of Cleansweep on the street, 1 manager, 1 meeting and 10 weeks for the council to clear up a single shopping trolley. The system is expensive and clearly not fit for purpose – a more robust system that responds effectively to local residents’ requests needs to be established as a matter of urgency.

Candidate Profiles: Lucy Mortimer, Greenwich West

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Name: Lucy Mortimer (Liberal Democrat)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

My name is Lucy Mortimer, I am 32 and have lived in the Borough for about 7 years, first in East Greenwich, then Shooters Hill, then West Greenwich. I work in renewable energy and carbon finance in developing countries, particularly South and East Asia, although originally I trained to be an architect. I’m currently doing up a derelict house in West Greenwich with local architect Roger Sedgely, whos practice is on Roan street. Between us, we’ve ensured its being fitted with some “green” technologies, including solar panels a water collection facility which feeds water back to the washing machine! Most importantly its highly insulated to prevent the power we generate and the heat we use escaping, which is something the council should really be considering with all houses if we’re ever to reduce our carbon footprint – simple measures like this really work well. I’m also involved in mentoring kids under the Children’s Society programme for vulnerable 11 and 12 year olds in the local area.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

I think if people want local services that work for them, communal spaces that cater to their tastes, local amenities that reflect their needs and local council policies that reflect their beliefs and values, the only way to do that is to take an interest in who represents them best at the local level on the council. If you don’t take the time to vote, the council is just that bit less likely to reflect your own needs and desires.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I love living in Greenwich, but the things that drew me to live here – the Park, the artisan & vintage Markets in the centre of town, the diversity of the population – are being slowly eroded. The idea that the Market could be under threat again, now that the planning application to develop it into a hotel has gone to appeal, is really distressing, especially as the plan disregards the views of pretty much all of the local community who want it to remain largely as it is. The town centre is fast becoming run down, with empty boarded up shops, and those that remain don’t cater to the needs to the public but mainly to tourist. So, rather than just watching from the sidelines, I decided to get wholeheartedly involved! I believe if you really feel strongly about things like this, you should do what you can to fix it, so thats why I decided to stand for local election.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

My favourite place in Greenwich is the University. I walk through it at 7 each morning on my way to work, and again on my way home. Often in the evenings you’ll hear the most amazing music floating out across the courtyards as students at orchestra or band practice rehearse, which is really uplifting after a long day!

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Greenwich West ward over the next four years?

Priorities for me would be the things my fellow candidates Anthony, Ian and I have collectively been outlining in our weekly focus’:

1. Education education education! So many people we’ve canvassed have talked to us about the difficulties they face in schooling their children, forcing them to send them outside of the borough, pay for private schools, or move away. We should be helping families to educate their children well, and improving schools, not closing them like we’ve seen at Charlotte Turner.

2. Making Greenwich town centre work for the community; At present, the centre is full of empty shops, and few sell goods that cater to local people, who are forced to shop out of town for fresh food – for example, why are there so few greengrocers and butchers, and basic provision stores? And where there could be numerous cafe’s to at least cater to the tourists that pass by, we have closed stores. We should be encouraging people to spend their money locally, by supporting local business through regeneration and innovation, instead of allowing shops to remain closed, which degrades the local area and does nothing for people who live there.

3. Saving Greenwich market from development; I am totally against the development of the market, plans for which have already been turned down but have been resubmitted at appeal in much the same form. We don’t need another 100+ room hotel, we need a market that is substantially the same as it is now, which draws in visitors and locals alike, and I think the community needs to have its voice and its wishes heard .

4. Listening to the community, so that services are improved where it matters, problems are addressed, and the voice of the many are heard rather than just the vocal minority.

Your questions for parliamentary candidates?

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If you haven’t yet decided which way to vote in the parliamentary elections, maybe you could help yourself to decide by putting your questions to the candidates. Send us your question for the any of the parliamentary candidates standing in the Greenwich and Woolwich constituency and we will send your questions to them and try to get them answered.

You can submit your questions by email or by posting them as a comment below. Please state your question and to which candidate the question is directed.

Candidate Profiles: Darryl Chamberlain, Peninsula

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Our continuing series of profiles of candidates for the Peninsula and Greenwich West wards in the forthcoming council elections.

Name: Darryl Chamberlain (Green Party)
Ward: Peninsula

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I’ve lived in the east Greenwich and Charlton area all my life – I was brought up in Combedale Road, and now live in Charlton. I’m a journalist who worked on the BBC News website until last year, and since then I’ve been doing freelance work (including for greenwich.co.uk). I’m a season ticket holder at The Valley and like live music, long walks and even longer train journeys. I also write the 853 blog.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

Council elections matter at least as much as the general election – I’d even say you’ve more chance of forcing change through by voting in a council election than in a general election. If your local council isn’t sweeping your street properly, is leaving your local facilities to rot away, allows developers to walk all over it and has no plans to tackle congestion and pollution, then you should make a stand and vote.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I’ve kept blogs for seven years and started off being rude about everyone and everything under a psuedonym. But as time went on, the penny dropped and I realised that taking potshots at everything wasn’t enough, and through blogging I’d met people in Lewisham who were doing good things to improve their areas. When I quit my job at the BBC I decided I wanted to do something positive to improve the area. I’d been impressed with what Greens had done in Lewisham, especially in doing basic things like keeping residents updated with what they’re doing – something that seems beyond most Greenwich councillors. So I joined the Greens to help them improve their publicity, and when the opportunity to stand came up, I jumped at it. This area’s my home, and I want to make it better.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

It’s the walk along the river – we’ve miles of waterfront that we don’t talk up enough, from the tourist scene in central Greenwich through to the industry in Charlton. The recent fiasco with the Thames Path closure highlights just how it gets taken for granted. It’s as important to Greenwich as the park is. One of the good things about the recent developments is that – eventually – the walk was opened right the way around the peninsula for the first time. We need to keep up the pressure to make sure the path is kept open as much as possible, and stays open.

We’re also lucky to have beautiful streets around Pelton Road – which could benefit from a little bit more care – some cracking pubs and the buzz around The Valley on matchdays.

If elected, what would be your priorities for the Peninsula ward over the next four years?

We need to make sure local services are defended – East Greenwich law centre is under threat of closure, and the council won’t commit to the
future of East Greenwich Library, which is a fantastic community facility in a beautiful building which should stay in public use. Greenwich Council should also come clean about just what’s happening on the old hospital site – this patronising “heart of East Greenwich” stuff is wearing thin when the land’s been lying empty for three years.

We’d also like to pursue some simple ideas to combat congestion, like electronic boards to warn drivers of traffic jams through Greenwich or Blackwall Tunnel closures, and put pressure on TfL and Southeastern to make public transport more attractive to use.

We need to make sure streets are kept clean and safe – parts of the ward, particularly in Charlton, barely see a street sweeper’s broom and are left looking an absolute state after the bins are collected.

We’d like to champion local businesses – the East Greenwich Traders Association is doing great work and we’d like to help them do better. And I’d like to see the barriers between the Millennium Village and the rest of the area broken down – it could be a real asset to the area, but GMV residents have issues with the way it’s run. It’s incredible that nobody has been able to set up a full-time cafe by the ecology park, for example – it could boost its profile like the cafe
in East Greenwich Pleasance has done there, and attract other businesses to GMV.

Finally – the Greens will keep publishing newsletters and keep in touch with residents. Councillors on their own can’t improve Greenwich, but by teaming up with local people, then together we can give it our best shot.

Teenager dies in Greenwich shooting

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A teenager died in the early hours of this morning after an incident apparently involving a gun in Greenwich.

Police were called out to an address in Park Mews, Calvert Road, just after 2am.

A man, believed to be 17 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers from the Homicide & Serious Crime Command are investigating and an incident room has been opened at Lewisham this morning.

Five people have already been arrested in connection with this incident and are currently in custody.

Candidate Profiles: Ryan Acty, Greenwich West

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This is the first a series of posts which gives candidates in the Greenwich West and Peninsula wards the chance to tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about themselves and why they standing in the forthcoming council elections.

Name: Ryan Acty (Conservative)
Ward: Greenwich West

Please can you tell Greenwich.co.uk readers a little about yourself.

I joined the Army in 1998 and served for nine years which including operational tours of Kosovo in 2000 and Iraq in 2004 before getting posted to Woolwich Barracks. Since then I have worked for an Engineering Recruitment Company as a Recruitment Consultant before becoming their IT Manager. I have lived on Blackheath Hill since leaving the Army in 2007.

Why does it matter that people vote in council elections?

At the 2006 Council elections the turnout in parts of the Borough was as low as 25%. By going to the polling station on Election Day you are giving a clear signal that you want to improve the services that you receive.

Why are you standing to be a councillor?

I am standing to make a difference to the services we get from the Council and for greater value for our council tax, to work hard to make Greenwich a better place for all of us.

What do you like most about the area you wish to represent?

One of my favourite places to visit after work in Greenwich is the Tolley (Richard the First) on Royal Hill which has a great community feel and Young’s bitter on tap! I also enjoy wandering around the market on a weekend, in particular trying the various different foods, which is why it needs to be protected from damaging redevelopment which would ruin the heart of Greenwich.

If elected, what would be your priorities for Greenwich West ward over the next four years?

If elected to serve West Greenwich I would ensure that Charlotte Turner School was re-opened, fight against the redevelopment of Greenwich Market, ensure that an extra police team was set up and based in Greenwich Town Centre and ensure that the LOCOG deliver on their assurances of returning the Park in the same way that they found it. Also that Greenwich Time, the Councils propaganda paper is scrapped.

Victoria Way planning inquiry kicks off

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A public inquiry into a large planning application in Victoria Way started today at Woolwich Town Hall.

The application from Galliard Homes would see the demolition of the existing warehouse building at the site and the development of 209 apartments – rising up to six-storeys in part – and basement parking for 169 vehicles at the land to the rear of 40 Victoria Way.

Galliard have been marketing this development under the name Constellation for several years off plan.

After having the application rejected by Greenwich Council, Galliard have appealed to the independent Planning Inspectorate.

The public inquiry at the Town Hall is scheduled to run until Friday.