“EVERYONE IN THE BOROUGH DESERVES A BETTER FUTURE” as MAYORAL CANDIDATE COUNCILLOR ALAN HALL LENDS SUPPORT

Councillor Alan Hall spoke today at an early morning postal workers’ ‘Gate Meeting’ in Lewisham to give his support to the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) in their crucial national dispute with Royal Mail which includes staff from Forest Hill & Sydenham areas.

The leading candidate to become Labour’s candidate for Mayor in next year’s election is joining the dispute which is part of the CWU’s ‘Four Pillars Campaign’*

Cllr Alan Hall said to the staff based at the Forest Hill Delivery Office in Perry Vale: “In the last 7 years people across the UK have seen their quality of life deteriorate through poorer pay, poorer conditions at work and deteriorating public services. 

“The action by Royal Mail staff in Lewisham and across the country shows that everyone has had enough. The people of Lewisham are fighting back against austerity and I give my full support to the CWU. 

“I think the decision by the Post Office to close New Cross Crown Post Office is disgraceful and the threat to Sydenham Crown Post Office is very real. We need a Crown Post Office in Sydenham and at least one in the borough. 

”Lewisham has shown its determination by successfully stopping the closure of Lewisham A&E in a campaign where I represented the Council at the High Court. As Mayor I will lend my support to those who are fighting for decent conditions, decent pay and a decent quality of life. Everyone in the borough deserves a better future.”

Here is an excerpt on YouTube

ENDS 

*Editors’ notes:The CWU’s Four Pillars of Security Campaign represents four key aims of the CWU: a decent wage in retirement, a shorter working week, a redesign of the company’s pipeline and the extension of current agreements. More information can be found by clicking on the following link: http://www.cwu.org/campaign/the-four-pillars-of-security/

Alan Hall was outside the Crown Post Office in Sydenham today, supporting the defense of public services in Lewisham. He said, “This proposal would seriously damage the provision of services in Lewisham. We must call on the Post Office to withdraw their plans.”

Cllr Alan Hall noted, “Not only is Lewisham in the process of losing the Crown Post Office in Sydenham, it has also been announced yesterday that we are going to lose the New Cross Gate Crown Post Office as well. This would be a disaster for the borough, severely limiting access to services such as border agency facilities.”

As highlighted by the CASS Report released today (see below), the Post Office services which replace the Crown Post Offices will  have limited facilities and mean there is no facility for Border Agency work to be done in the whole borough.

Alan Hall explained, “This will mean that economic migrants, asylum seekers and those wishing to apply for passports or driving licenses must travel outside of the borough to access these services. That is unacceptable. We must fight to protect our Crown Post Offices in order to provide our residents with the facilities which they need.”

Click here to read the CASS report which advocates a People’s Bank for the whole of the Post Office Network. The report argues that this would have a beneficial and rejuvenating effect on high streets, boosting their economic futures.

There is a desperate need for social housing in Lewisham.

If I am elected as Labour’s Mayoral candidate, I will fight to ensure that the GLA, developers and Lewisham Council work together to build far more social and genuinely affordable housing.

I have a robust record on housing. I am a board member of Phoenix Community Housing Co-op, a tenant-led housing association which provides social housing across Downham and Bellingham. Before that I set up and chaired the Housing Committee on Lewisham Council.

I have worked with Phoenix on a 60-apartment extra care complex in Downham which will free up much needed social housing in the borough whilst providing community and care facilities and allowing residents to maintain their independence. Hazelhurst Court will be completed in September and is expected to be fully let by December.

I agree with Sadiq Khan where he says:

“London, like many other cities, faces tough challenges in meeting the housing needs of its population. Everyone should have access to a suitable place to live, supply should meet demand.”

Social renters should be protected from sky high rents, private renters should get a fair deal and high standards. There should be new genuinely affordable housing, so that ordinary people have the choice to buy a home. No one should sleep on the street – we must ensure we help those that don’t have a home at all.

Lewisham Council’s record on housing is good, but it can always be improved. There is so much more to be done for our residents.

I know we can vastly improve the rate at which we provide social housing in the borough despite imposed cuts and austerity. Together we can provide good quality council & social housing, community facilities and jobs for local people. I will work with the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan to get a good deal for Lewisham.

Housing is in crisis, it must be a priority.

As your Mayor, I will fight tirelessly to improve social and council housing.

Dispossession Screening & Panel

On Saturday 9th September, I will be speaking on a panel following the screening of Dispossession: The Great Social Housing Swindle.

Buy tickets here.

Watch the trailer.

In response to an Open Letter from Millwall Football Club‘s Chief Executive, Steve Kavanagh, Lewisham mayoral hopeful Alan Hall has responded that he believes Millwall FC are an asset to Lewisham. He goes on to say that he will work to repair the relationship between the Lions and the Council.

Alan Hall asked that Millwall FC support a proposal to secure funding for a youth club on the Pepys Estate, Deptford earlier this week and the club have responded positively to his intervention. Please see the article Someone Likes Us! Alan Hall secures deal with Millwall to secure youth club

Pleased to see that Delia Smith @DeliaOnline has endorsed Alan Hall @AlanHall4Mayor as her key ingredient to keep @MillwallFC in Lewisham! pic.twitter.com/DJIxumj4DE

— DefendOurDen (@DefendOurDen) September 4, 2017

After Millwall FC 4-0 win over Norwich City Delia Smith took time to support Alan Hall and his efforts to keep Millwall FC at the Den. This is not only about Millwall FC remaining in their local area many commentators have said if Millwall FC can be forced to move it could happen to any football club.

Letter to Members of Lewisham’s Labour Parties dated 31st August 2017

Dear Friends,

VOTE ALAN HALL FOR MAYOR OF LEWISHAM

The future of Lewisham is in your hands. You will receive your ballot to choose the Labour candidate for Mayor of Lewisham on Friday. I am asking for your vote in the selection for Mayor of Lewisham. Your ballot paper will arrive in the next few days.

If you want to find out more about me you will be able to ask me questions live on Facebook today August 31st at 7pm.  [You can watch a recording of this here ]

Please come and join us at the Blythe Hill Tavern on Standstead Road, London, SE23 1JB on Saturday 2nd September at 3pm – 7pm. It would be great to see you.

The Ballot paper is YOUR chance to vote for change.

It is your chance to choose a better Lewisham for our families, our friends and our neighbours in the face of austerity and adversity. I am offering you hard work, persistence and a track record of getting things done. See just some of what I’ve done on my Action Map of Lewisham here

My campaign has been endorsed by individuals and groups as diverse as:

@JeremyCorbyn4PM
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party John McDonnell
TV cook Delia Smith
Lewisham councillors Peter Bernards, Skip Amrani, Timi Ogunbadewa, Eva Stamirowski, Sue Hordijenko and more
Millwall Football Club’s Chairman, players and fans
Trade Unions Unite, ASLEF and the CWU

My supporters are backing me for Mayor of Lewisham because they believe that I am the candidate with the experience and ability to deliver on the issues which matter to Lewisham residents such as the NHS. See my interview on ITV News after the Lewisham Hospital verdict here

I have secured major community schemes including the restoration of the £4m lottery-funded Fellowship Inn project, and a 60-apartment ‘extra care’ complex which will help older people stay in the local area and free up much needed social housing, watch my video Lewisham – our home
I made sure that the London Living Wage was on the Mayor and Cabinet’s agenda back in 2008 and, as a result, Lewisham became the first London Living Wage accredited council alongside Islington.

I was born in Brockley, went to school in Catford and live in Forest Hill. I know that the diversity of Lewisham’s residents is its greatest strength. However I believe that we can still do so much better in Lewisham. We must be ambitious about Lewisham’s future, and aspire to change it for the better.

I am sincere in my determination to transform the way Lewisham Council works. I want to work together with our employees and our residents to make their lives better, fairer and happier. I would welcome this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with residents, councillors, trade unions and others in order to make this a reality.

As your Mayor, I will stand up for Lewisham. I am ambitious for every child, every teenager and every adult in Lewisham.

Hope to hear from you soon,

Councillor Alan Hall