Do you recognise this chap?
14 February 2006
11 February 2006
11 February 2005
There's been a certain amount of slackness with updating over the last few weeks, for which I apologise. Personal circumstances could mean further changes over the coming weeks. Having moved out of the borough I could be looking at moving jobs as well - so the future of the blog is uncertain. If you have a blogger account and want to be involved in this blog - let me know. You can have multiple people posting and it would be a shame to lose it, even though just a handful of people read it (thanks guys!) and the majority of hits are from odd searches! Goes without saying it's unpaid and only updated through love of Lewisham ;) Onwards...
The race will then travel through Bermondsey, Deptford, Greenwich and Erith before travelling in to Kent. Lewisham Mayor Steve Bullock said: "If it is true that the Tour de France is coming here it is fanatstic news for the people of Lewisham.".
Bosses at the pest control- to-hygiene firm Rentokil have confirmed 245 jobs will go at its largest site in Catford where Initial Hygiene employs the workers. Rentokil will close the linen and workwear operations on April 30 as part of a total 1,700 job cuts country-wide. The firm has pledged to do everything possible to get workers jobs within other parts of the company, but cannot confirm this until the consultation period with workers and customers is finished.
LEWISHAM: Mayor Steve Bullock wants to impose a council tax increase of 2.5 per cent in 2006/7. The increase would mean a bill of £967.70 a year for Band D properties in the borough. But the Greater London Authority's part of the council tax - the precept - is yet to be set, so this figure is likely to rise. Mr Bullock's decision will be put to a vote at full council on March 1.
COUNCILLORS are supposed to represent the interests of their constituents but some it seems do it more rigorously than others. Figures obtained by News Shopper under the Freedom of Information Act reveal hundreds of complaints have been made by the 54 Lewisham councillors on behalf of residents in the past three years. The man who has made the most moans about the conduct of the council is Lib Dem leader Councillor Mark Morris.
POOR communication has led to delays in building a £16m leisure centre, a report claims. In September Lewisham Council confirmed the Downham Lifestyles Centre will open in February next year nearly three years later than originally planned. Now an independent report has blamed the delay on a "lack of clarity in communication" between the council and its chosen Private Finance Initiative (PFI) bidder.
A DRINK-driver led police on a high-speed chase when he took his mother's car for a spin. Inner London Crown Court was told how Gareth Clark forced two cars to swerve and pedestrians to flee as he careered around Forest Hill in a Renault car on November 16 last year. He was three times over the legal alcohol limit at the time. Clark, who was described as being an alcoholic since he was 15 by his defence lawyer Harry Drummond, finally stopped and was found lying in a garage doorway by police. Clark, aged 24, of Hennel Close, Dakers Road, Forest Hill, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, driving with excess alcohol, failing to stop and driving without insurance when he appeared before the court on January 25.
09 February 2006
15 Leegate
On a recent stroll around Lee I passed the Leegate Centre. I noticed that where there had been three empty shops a gent's barbers had set up in one unit. The other two units were still empty and 15 Leegate stuck in my mind as it used to be the Abbey National. I'm pretty sure it's been empty for quite a few years and although Leegate isn't a busy centre I couldn't work out why it hadn't been used.
So I decided to check out how much the rent is. I contacted Baxter Philips who are the letting agency. They sent information to me, I'm not really interested in leasing it, but very nosey.
Seems that first off, the "in-going tenant to make a contribution of £500 towards the landlords legal fees in the granting of the new lease." Okay. Seems odd considering the landlord wants to encourage interest but I don't know what the norm is, so let's move on.
15 Leegate is classed as having A1 use - that's shop, hairdressers, travel agent, dry cleaners "etc". It's 1488 GF sq ft and 1488 FF sq ft - a total of 2976 sq ft. Rent is £200 a week.
So, how much am I looking at for my first year? I've not included the tenants legal fees.
£500 to Landlord
£10,400 Rent
£8,300 Local Authority Business Rates
=====
£19,200 Total
Now that's without paying any utility bills or staff wages or anything else you can think off. £800 short of £20,000 for your first year. Is there a passing trade to support any business to that amount?
I now understand why it's still empty.
02 February 2006
02 February 2006
Report is a whitewash
EDUCATION campaigners say a council-commissioned report into the siting of a new school is a "whitewash". The New School Campaign has criticised the report into delays surrounding the plan to build a secondary school on the Ladywell Leisure Centre site. The campaigners are angry the scruitny committee report appears to clear Mayor Steve Bullock and his advisers of blame over the delays.
Excluded pupils’ second chance
Deptford charity Positive Mental Attitude has helped more than 300 excluded pupils get back into mainstream education. Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) was established in 1996 to meet the high demand of excluded pupils from black and minority ethnic backgrounds in Lewisham. The agency has established a track record of working with 311 young people in the past five years who do not access mainstream services and for whom there are few opportunities.
Borough’s news can be heard worldwide
A BUDDING broadcaster is doing his bit to spread the News Shopper gospel across the globe. Jon Jacob's weekly internet podcast carrying news and views from the borough has fans everywhere from the USA to Iran. Podcasts are audio or video files put on the Internet, which web users can subscribe to. To hear Mr Jacob's latest podcast, visit www.thoroughly-good.com
£5m cuts needed to stop increase
COUNCIL chiefs claim a proposed £5m package of cuts is needed to protect the borough's council tax payers. Two council committees have advised Mayor Steve Bullock council tax will have to rise without the savings package. And the Government has warned the council it could be capped if it increases the tax by more than five per cent.
Email Blunder
DEPUTY Mayor Gavin Moore was left red-faced after a confidential email was leaked to a packed council chamber. The email ordered Labour councillors to avoid speaking to a group who opposed a motion supporting its Building Schools for the Future programme. The email read: "It goes without saying but we need to ask you all not to have dialogue with the New School Campaign who are opposing the group motion to council tomorrow night."
31 January 2006
31 January 2006
Trio accused of ‘shameful’ attendance
AN OPPOSITION councillor has criticised the poor attendence of a group of Labour councillors as "shameful". Downham councillor Mark Morris is disappointed councillors Heidi Nash, Ruth Watt and Sabina Padmore have failed to regularly attend council meetings since last April.
Cllr Nash, for Lewisham Central, has missed six out of eight full council meetings.
Cllr Padmore, for New Cross, missed five out of eight and Cllr Watt for Bellingham has missed half of the meetings.
And Cllr Padmore has missed all six Public Accounts Select Committee meetings between May and December last year.
Cllr Watt has missed all Adult Care and Health Select Committee meetings since June last year.
Trust veers towards red
A NEW report has revealed Lewisham Primary Care Trust's (PCT) finances are in poor health. The PCT has reported a £2.28m deficit, in the report penned by its director of finance and resources Tom Breen. Mr Breen admits the figures show the PCT is under "severe financial pressure".
Proposal to create new park for housing estate
A PLAN to create a new park for housing estate residents is set to be considered by planning bosses. The would see a new open space created between Cornmill Lane and Elmira Street, on the Sundermead Estate, Lewisham. The new park, which would be on Metropolitan Open Land, would include a children's play area, a cafe and ornamental gardens.
Jailed after drug bust holiday raid
A MAN whose house was raided by police while he holidayed in Greece has been jailed for possession of firearms, drugs and laundered money. Gary Alan Cheeseman, 31, of Drakefell Road, New Cross, was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court on Friday for seven years and six months. Cops found a semi-automatic pistol, seven rounds of live ammunition, a bullet-proof vest, a canister of CS gas, 19.2 kilos of cannabis resin and £31,143 in cash when they raided his home and the empty flat above on September 26.
Vomit virus hits school
PARENTS have been panicked by a vomiting and diarrhoea illness that has struck down their children. Health officials took swabs from the mouths of youngsters at Sandhurst Infant and Junior School, Catford, to find out the cause of the out-break. The problem has been ongoing for several weeks and 18 pupils were absent from one class on Wednesday.
Blackheath's Nick Ferrari - an interview
Nick Ferrari, who does not wish to state his age, is the breakfast presenter of LBC 97.3FM. In 2005 he broke the mould with a series of sell-out stage shows, re-enacting his LBC radio show for a live audience. The shows were so popular they will be restaged later this year to coincide with the April launch of his debut book, 'The World According to Nick Ferrari'. In addition to this, he has just been re-signed to LBC on a three-year contract. He lives in Blackheath with his wife and two children. Click link for full interview.
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