Lewisham’s leading Scrutiny Councillor Alan Hall was in cold water at the weekend attending the launch of London Rivers’ Week with Thames21, London’s leading waterways charity.

Councillor Alan Hall and Chair of Sustainable Development Cllr Liam Curran donned waders and grabbed nets to highlight the work of the charity that galvanizes thousands of volunteers across the capital every week to make practical differences and improvements to London’s canals and rivers.

Councillor Alan Hall said: “It’s a real privilege that Thames21 chose Lewisham and the restoration of the River Ravensbourne in Ladywell Fields to host the launch of London Rivers’ Week. It reflects the cooperation demonstrated by the Council’s involvement in river improvement schemes and the magnificent efforts by the community to volunteer and take part in these projects.

“This shows that we are not only going with the flow but we are also leading the way in improving the environment but we couldn’t do it without the magnificent work of Thames21 and the thousands of hours put in by volunteering Lewisham residents.”

 

At the end of London Rivers Week Councillor Alan Hall posted this short interview with Debbie Leach, Chief Executive of Thames 21 on social media saying: “We’re ambitious for Lewisham, that’s why London Rivers Week was launched in Lewisham.”

https://twitter.com/cllralanhall/status/881535038042583040

Read more on Thames 21 rivers’ charity website here

Young people from across Lewisham wowed the audience in a performance at the Lewisham Summer Gala held at the Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday 20^th June 2017.

The performance was put together by Lewisham Music, the newly established charity to provide music education across the London Borough of Lewisham. Lewisham Music is based at The Green Man Hub in Bellingham, hosted by Phoenix Community Housing Co-op. 

Phoenix Co-op board member and local Councillor, Alan Hall said: “It was a great pleasure to see the young people of Lewisham shining brightly on one of the nation’s most famous stages. The pleasure and self-assurance it gives them will help them grow in confidence and develop as adults. I am sure they will remember it for the rest of their lives.”

The programme included the full range of Lewisham schools. The gala concert opened with Rathfern Primary School’s drummers and ‘Toque de Male de Bale’ and the ‘Rathfern Rhythm’ followed by another primary school and the Edmund Waller School Orchestra. Their ‘Mexican Hat’ included a distinctive whistle and put a smile on the audiences’ faces.

Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College String gave an accomplished rendition Prokofiev’s March, Opus 65 amongst their repertoire.

More contemporary songs by Greenvale and Bonus Pastor College with Coldplay and Snow Patrol. The Lewisham Schools Concert Band played Earthdance by Michael Sweeney.  The first half concluded with a bravura set by Vocalize – Sedgehill School’s singers including Hello written by Adele.

After a short interval the massed choirs of Lewisham schools led inspiring and demanding programme. Have a listen here to Africa!

And listen to Sing by Andrew Lloyd Webber & Gary Barlow arr Clare Caddick

 

Councillor Alan Hall added: “The original piece ‘My Town’ by Chris Wilcox closed the evening and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. It emphasises the fact that we achieve more together than we do alone and have more in common than that which divides us. It’s another triumph for Peter Hayward, Lewisham Music’s Chief Executive and all the performers and schools in Lewisham at the Royal Festival Hall in London.”

Lewisham Music are due to take up residence in Phoenix Community Housing’s  The Fellowship Inn a Heritage Lottery Funded project in June 2018

 

 

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Read the article in the newsshopper

Lewisham’s leading scrutiny councillor Alan Hall is calling on all residents of Lewisham to share their stories on social media of how co-operation is a powerful force for good using the hashtag #coopstories.

A motion before Lewisham Council on Wednesday 21^st June praises the work of co-operatives in the borough and Cllr  Alan Hall believes that they could play an even greater role in improving residents’ lives.

Cllr  Alan Hall said:

“I am delighted that the work of award-winning Phoenix Community Housing has been singled out in the motion. As a board member, I am immensely proud of all the staff and members who are to be congratulated for winning the UK’s best landlord for tenant involvement in the UK Housing Awards 2017. Phoenix Community Housing are building new homes for social rent and these will include extra care facilities releasing more social homes in Lewisham.

“Co-operatives play a vital role both in our borough and across the UK in strengthening communities and giving members a say in how their businesses and organizations are run.

“What we want to do during Co-operative Fortnight, now running until 1^st July, is to show and share amongst ourselves as a Lewisham community how what a powerful thing co-operation can be.

“In days like these when the news can be grim, sharing these powerful stories of co-operation can remind us what we can all achieve when we work together.”

Cllr Alan Hall is also Chair of Lewisham Co-operative Party.

Read the newsshopper story here

Read the Association of British Credit Union’s article here

 

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After weeks of campaigning in the snap General Election held on Thursday 8th June 2017 the three parliamentary constituencies that make up the London Borough of Lewisham have elected three Labour MPs.

Heidi Alexander and Vicky Foxcroft were returned as Members of Parliament for Lewisham East and Lewisham Deptford respectively. While Ellie Reeves stormed to victory in Lewisham West & Penge after Jim Dowd had stepped down at this election.

Watch the moment that Councillor Obajimi Adefiranye, Chair of Lewisham Council announces the result in Lewisham West and Penge:

 

In her acceptance speech, Ellie Reeves pledged to work for public services and schools in particular. She praised the work of her predecessor and looked forward to fight for the needs of the many not the few. You can hear her speech below:

 

 

Heidi Alexander spoke about Brexit and the challenges to the economy. You can hear her below:

 

 

Councillor Alan Hall said: “It was a privilege to be at the count. The people have made it resoundingly clear that they want to be represented in Parliament by the Labour Party and we are delighted to have three Labour MPs. 

“I know that Heidi Alexander, Vicky Foxcroft and Ellie Reeves will serve us all well, stand up ‘for the many, not the few’ and work for a Labour Government to save our NHS, provide proper funding for education, for all our public services and end the Tories’ downward spiral of austerity. 

“Although Labour did not win a majority in Parliament, it seems possible that there may be another election before too long and we will be ready for that battle.”

The full results are:

LEWISHAM DEPTFORD

​Name of candidate	Description​	Number of votes​ ​
COUGHLIN John	Green Party	1,640	​
DEAN Bobby	Liberal Democrats	2,911	​
FOXCROFT Vicky	​Labour Party	42,461	elected​
​LAWRENCE Jane	The Realists’ Party	61	​
MARTIN Malcolm	Christian Peoples Alliance	252	​
​MCANEA Laura Marie	​Animal Welfare Party	​225	​
​MCLEAN Melanie Lylla	​The Conservative Party Candidate	​7,562	​

Total rejected votes: 208

 

LEWISHAM EAST

​Name of candidate	Description​	Number of votes​ ​
ALEXANDER Heidi	Labour Party	32,072	elected​
FORSTER Keith	UK Independence Party (UKIP)	798	​
FORTUNE Peter Timothy	The Conservative Party Candidate	10,859	​
FRITH Emily	Liberal Deomcrats	2,086	​
MARTIN Maureen	Christian Peoples Alliance	228	​
​POORUN Störm	​Green Party	​803	​
WINSTON Willow Eve	​ Independent	​355	​

Total rejected votes: 111

LEWISHAM WEST & PENGE

​Name of candidate	Description​	Number of votes​ ​
BAILEY Shaun	The Conservative Party Candidate	12,249	​
CHEAH Hoong-Wai	UK Independence Party (UKIP)	700	​
HORTENSE Katherine	Christian Peoples Alliance	325	​
REEVES Ellie	Labour Party	35,411	elected​
RUSSELL John Francis	Liberal Democrats	3,317	​
WHELLER Karen Nicola	​Green Party	​1,144	​
WHITE Russell	​Populist	​50	​

Total rejected votes: 156

 

The Labour Party manifesto For the Many not the Few is here

 

Call on Transport for London to protect wild geese crossing busy A21 Bromley Rd

 

A local councillor is calling on Transport for London (TfL) to put up signs advising motorists on the busy A21 in Lewisham to look out for wild Canadian geese crossing the road with their goslings.

Already some goslings are thought to have been killed while being shepherded across the traffic-heavy four lane road between Bellingham and Catford.

Lewisham councillor for Bellingham Alan Hall has lent his support to calls from the local Phoenix Community Housing Coop to TfL to put up signs to protect the geese.

Councillor Alan Hall, also a Phoenix Board Member said: “The sight of the adult geese shepherding the goslings from the historic Peter Pan’s Pond in Bellingham across one of London’s main roads in heavy traffic is truly impressive and shows how resilient these creatures can be. 

“It is wonderful to have nature close up and present in our city and with a little help from their friends, the presence of these geese could be alerted to motorists who would then be aware that they need to take care.”

Phoenix Community Housing has raised the matter with TfL and are now waiting for a response.

In response to a tweet it is claimed that the geese have been on Southend pond for centuries.

23.5 Family cross road to reach grass. BTW local historian J Coulter says pond at Homebase (Bromley Rd) has existed s/ pre-Conquest era pic.twitter.com/az8lxMIzKq

— Lewisham Chess Club (@LewishamChess) May 29, 2017

Read this story in the Newsshopper

 

Latest stage of community campaign to Save Sydenham Crown Post Office

.@cllralanhall tries to present @SaveSydenhamPO cake to #postoffice officials. Save Sydenham Crown Post Office! pic.twitter.com/w5vtV7TSqS

— Cllr Liam Curran (@CllrCurran) May 23, 2017

A video posted on social media on Tuesday 23rd May shows Post Office representatives consulting on the closure of Sydenham Crown Post Office refusing a cake made specifically for the occasion by Sydenham residents.

Councillor Alan Hall can be seen in videos on social media offering the cake on behalf of campaigners but being refused by head-shaking officials.

The leading scrutiny councillor who has been heading up Lewisham-wide campaigns against closure of public services said: “It was a sweet offer and a warm hearted gesture to the Post Office officials and it was such a shame that they were unable to accept it today.”

“There have been over 500 signatures to online and offline petitions and these are growing. As soon as people know about the closure they willingly sign the petition.”

“There should be a Crown Post Office in the London Borough of Lewisham offering a full range of services.”

Mole Meade, Communications Workers Union said: “Rather than take the cake and engage in meaningful dialogue the Post Office prefers to take the biscuit.”

When Post Office officials reject a warm-hearted offer of cake by .@cllralanhall and campaigners to @SaveSydenhamPO Crown Post Office! pic.twitter.com/laqj9NNchb

— Cllr Liam Curran (@CllrCurran) May 23, 2017

To register your views on the closure of Sydenham Crown Post Office complete the Post Office consultation online here

The petition opposing the closure of New Cross Gate and Sydenham Crown Post Offices in the London Borough of Lewisham here

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Campaigners went to the Chef’s Delight cafe in Sydenham to cut the cake as the Post Office officials had refused to accept it.

Local newspaper report in the Newsshopper is here

Councillor Alan Hall congratulates Millwall Football Club’s players, management and supporters for its towering achievement in winning the League One playoffs final and wishes the club every success in the Championship next season. At the match in Wembley Stadium he tweeted:

https://twitter.com/cllralanhall/status/865961233530441729

In a statement after the match Councillor Alan Hall said:

I would like to congratulate Millwall Football Club on their success on Saturday. It is a towering achievement to win the League One playoffs at Wembley Stadium.

Millwall deserve their promotion.

It has been a rollercoaster year with a superb FA Cup run and Millwall FC have been named the English Football League’s ‘Family Club of the Year’.

All this against a backdrop of uncertainty concerning their home at The Den.

I would like to congratulate Millwall who are a credit to Lewisham.

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Phoenix Community Housing Co-op tenants have chosen six local projects in the south of the borough to be awarded vital cash support from their award-winning ‘Community Chest’ fund.

Phoenix Board Member and local Councillor Alan Hall announced the winners on Saturday 13^th May at the Phoenix Festival held in Forster Memorial Park, Downham saying:

“At Phoenix we are a co-operative housing association and the power of decision rest with local residents. They are the experts on what is needed in their area and they have decided which projects are successful. All the projects will make a positive difference by increasing opportunities and improving lives.”

The Community Chest was established in 2013 after residents voted to set up the new fund. Phoenix residents are involved at every stage and help to set local funding priorities, have the opportunity to be involved in shortlisting and all have the chance to vote. Assessments show an estimated return of between £7 and £119 per £1 invested, depending on the type of project.

Councillor Alan Hall announced the six successful projects:

• Bellingham Gateway Youth Centre Summer Scheme
• Bellingham Community Project – Improving Health and Wellbeing
• Community Conversations – Chit Chat Change
• The Dumps Adventure Playground Fun Activities
• Get Out and Go Wild
• Lewisham Young Carers Holiday Club

  

   

  The Story reported in the Newsshopper is here