Human Rights Need Protection

Cllr Alan Hall has joined charities, voluntary groups and trades unionists by signing a statement supported by more than 60 civil society organisations objecting to the Government’s plans to “weaken human rights protections in the UK”. The Human Rights Act establishes a legal obligation for the government and public bodies to uphold the human rights of everybody living …

Forgotten History of Deptford – Christ Church

Deptford has a rich history. The Czar of Russia learnt ship building in the Royal Dock and John Evelyn stayed in Sayes Court and his garden led to the establishment of the National Trust. St Paul’s Church has a well chronicled history but the older St Nicholas’ Church is closer to the River Thames and …

Beckenham Place Park – New Plans Published

Long awaited plans for the eastern side of Beckenham Place Park have been published by Lewisham Council. A full planning application is open for consultation and comment until 2nd February 2022. The improvement of the eastern side of Beckenham Place Park was to be delivered as part of a flood alleviation scheme in partnership with …

Missing London Squares of Lewisham

A public outcry at the development of green spaces in London including Euston Square where local residents, the National Trust and the London Society opposed to the building a friends meeting house led to the creation of the Royal Commission on London Squares. The Royal Commission report says that “… The enclosures, particularly those which …

Bromley Council and HIV – The Fight For Social Services

The late 1980s and the early 1990s was a time when the HIV and AIDS pandemic was in the news and high on the political agenda. Professor Virginia Berridge, Director of the Centre for History in Public Health and author of AIDS in the UK, gives us this accurate and succinct historical context: An expert …

Fight Secrecy! Say Campaigners

Cllr Alan Hall has joined bloggers, campaigners and other journalists supporting the Campaign for Freedom of Information’s crowdfunding initiative to close a funding shortfall. The Campaign for Freedom of Information played a key part in persuading the Labour government headed by Tony Blair to make and then honour a manifesto commitment to introduce the Freedom …

Abuse Is Not Part of the Job Say Shop Workers

Cllr Alan Hall has joined campaigners, co-operators, shop workers and trade unionists calling on the Government to making it an offence to assault, threaten or abuse shopworkers. In the annual ‘Respect for Shopworkers Week’ 15-21 November 2021, trade union USDAW has released shocking statistics that show: 89% have experienced verbal abuse. 64% were threatened by …

‘Grave Concern’ Over Goldsmiths Cuts

Cllr Alan Hall has joined thousands of academics, artists and local residents to express ‘grave concern’ at the plans for 52 staff redundancies and a restructuring at Goldsmiths University sited in New Cross within the London Borough of Lewisham. The letter explains that Goldsmiths serves the needs of some of the most diverse communities in …

Campaigners Say ‘Fund the Fight’ To End HIV

Cllr Alan Hall has joined campaigners calling for government action to end new cases of HIV in the UK by 2030. Lewisham has one of the highest rates of HIV infection in the country. HIV charities and organisations formed a HIV Commission in 2020 and published a report on the 1st December 2020 which is …