02 April 2006

02 April 2006

Apologies if updates are patchy, I finished working in the Lewisham area last week and start work for a new company this coming week. It's going to take some adjusting to that's for sure! In the meantime...

'Too posh to push' mothers cost NHS £80m

The NHS is spending more than £80 million a year carrying out Caesarean sections that are not medically necessary. The highest rate was at St John's Hospital, Chelmsford, Essex, at 33.3 per cent, closely followed by University Hospital London, in Lewisham, at 33.1 per cent.

Parents' anger at decaying school

THE roofs leak, the playground is cracked, the classrooms are cold and too small - and the toilets are outside. Even Lewisham council admits Gordonbrock Primary School in Brockley is in a dilapidated state. Parents were furious and dismayed when it was announced the primary school would not be rebuilt after all.

How we will deal with education

CHRIS JOHNSON asks the Lewisham mayoyal candidates their views on the Government's Education Bill, how they would tackle the problem of truancy and where they would build a new secondary school in the borough.

Pools closed over roof safety fears

THE Forest Hill pools have been shut for health and safety reasons. Timber supporting the main roof truss has been found to be unsafe because of decay, and both swimming pools at the Dartmouth Road facility have been closed. The problem was discovered during a routine safety inspection last week.

24-hour off-licence booze bid rejected

THIS off licence has been refused permission to sell booze 24 hours-a-day because councillors fear residents will lose sleep. An application to extend opening hours at ARD Food Store in Blackheath Hill was rejected at a meeting on Monday morning.

Licensing sub-committee members dismissed the application because the area is largely residential and due to objections made by neighbours of the business.

Good turnout for local government strike day

"A number of primary schools were partly closed, i.e. open 'til lunchtime or staggered closing throughout the day - don't know of any totally closed. A not very strong picket line at the main council offices in Catford, none at the FE despite threats of one (though they may had one first thing I suppose, no one there by 10am). Only two people striking in my work place two or three miles from main council offices (only two Unison members out of 29 staff)."

Borough is top dog for social housing

LEWISHAM is at top of the league when it comes to social housing, according to a new survey. Of all homes built in the borough in 2004/05, 57.6 per cent were social housing set aside for poorer residents the joint highest in London.

According to the survey carried out by the GMB trade union, this far outweighs the London-wide average, where only a quarter of homes built are social housing.

Better access for disabled people

DISABLED commuters are on track to benefit from multi-million pound plans to improve facilities at three train stations. The Government has announced a £350m cash boost to make life easier for disabled people at 47 stations across the country.

The first wave of this investment will see a trio of the borough's mainline stations Lewisham, New Cross and Blackheath being made more user-friendly for disabled people.

Vote of confidence for political project

A PROJECT aimed at getting more young people interested in politics has won a national award. Lewisham is the only London borough to have a young mayor with his own youth cabinet and a budget.

Now this scheme has been recognised, with Lewisham Council being awarded Beacon status for positive youth engagement.

Ward closures to cut costs

HOSPITAL bosses have named the three wards which will close as part of a cost-cutting exercise. Lewisham Hospital is to close the trio of wards in the next three months, meaning the loss of 55 beds.

But Lewisham has avoided having to make the major surgery needed at nearby Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, where up to 100 jobs are set to go.

Council under fire as election looms

A POLITICAL storm has erupted over the relationship between the ruling Labour party and council officers. Opposition members claim Lewisham Council has become too involved in "partisan politics" and have accused some officers of being politically motivated.

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