Thursday, 17 March 2011
Housing Crises as Shelter reports within 10 years Social Housing will be unaffordable
At a key planning meeting this week, with by other Hat on, my position as a director of the RLA,( i get to meet all the big guns in Housing, and through this able to put forward and make national housing policy)The British Housing Federation, Shelter, Crises, rla,citizens advice bureau. I was shocked to discover that a report just published by Shelter states within 10 years we will have no affordable housing in the uk... The Goverment is seeking to turn the Housing market. like the NHS in to a free for all private market..with rents up, all new social tenants expected to pay increase of 80% rent for example a 1 bedroom flat will rise from £68 per week, to £150 per week plus... they are also putting forward article 4, this gives powers to councils to stop homes being let out to Students and others on HMO. at a time the goverment is saying on one hand, every one under 37 years old must share a room or flat. the other hand is helping Councils get the power to close down HMO homes, when residents object, this could see homes used by Nurses, fireman etc who may live in shared house, who come home at night, being seen as disturbing the other people in the street, giving them the power to close down the house..is this really about being fair?...Housing is such a big issue, and yet politically it is never high up the agenda, i hope i can help at national policy on supporting the roll and the case to build more Council Homes and save what we have, but with Labour supporting the Goverment on this.. we have little chance of doing any thing...What do you think?
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Deptford Job Centre.. Back as Our Big Society
Local residents Horrah.... have moved in and turned the closed former Deptford Job centre on Deptford high street into a hive of communty action, it was always total madness to close the job centre at a time after 13 years of wasted Labour rule, Lewisham ended up with the largest number of young people without a job in the UK.It seems in Lewisham they no longer care. Deptford high street has been a national scandle the way Labour has allowed 11 betting shops to open, and failed to develop the areas arts and marine History into a key London tourist attraction. Lewisham people before profitput forward a cable car idea at the last elections, to boost jobs in the area, and to see the river given better public access, everyone thought it a bad idea in the Council, but Boris loved our idea and is running with it in Greenwich.. another great ideal lost, because we have a Council full of Labour People with no Vision and no skills, Deptford could be so fantastic, we have the arts, The Music, the fantastic people that give us all this wonderful sense of community, although i must admit, i would like to see more get of the sofa and take a more active roll in our Neighbourhood. At the Deptford Communty Forum, it was shocking the numbers of people present, happy to go to a meeting, but will never write a letter objecting to a planning application, go on a demo, or play any real active roll.
Bellingham By-Election Vote to close to Call as Ian Page gets message across to win..
Out in Bellingham Ward Lewisham, it is clear the anti cuts message and the years of community service given to Lewisham by Ian Page the Socialist/Lewisham People before profit candidate is paying off if we can get more people helping and getting out more flyers as well as speaking on the doorsteps,we can win here big.. what a boost it would be to the antui cuts movement, please get out and help... , after all does Lewisham need another Labour Councillor to vote for Cuts? they have 50 councillors already, and they all support the national cuts agenda, even though in Lewisham, Labour have wasted and mismanaged public funds and services on an epic scale.. glad to see my letters were published in South London Press, Mercury, 8/16 News paper and more to follow. Vote Labour and you get more cuts, Vote Ian and you get a guy elected who will show that the first big cut we need to make is in Cutting the Labour Councils Cabinet Gravy train and Steve Bullocks excessive pay.. cutting back or stopping the 6.5 million, this is Lewisham Council figures not mine, spend on Consultants would be a great start.. remember this mess was caused by a Labour Goverment full of greed and hunger for wealth and power, which by failing to regulate the financial sector or the banks, caused this mess, how can any one really vote Labour again..they sold out the poor, years ago...
Discuss and Plan the future of public services in New Cross London SE14
James Holland from Lewisham Anti Cuts Alliance has organised a meeting from 7pm at the Woodpecker Hall on the Wood Pecker Estate New Cross SE14, on Monday April 11.The Topic is New Cross The future for public services...
The Cuts, a real financial crises, or political ideology-your questions answered
We have booked All Saints Communty Centre New Cross road New cross from 7pm on Thursday 24 March, same date as the Bellingham By-Election, in which we hope local people vote to elect a No Cuts Councillor such as our Candidate Ian Page.
The Meeting will be a chance for any one to drop in and ask any question or raise any concerns they have about the cuts. with the 3 main political groups and the national press all saying the cuts are a must.. are we really being given the truth? or more lies from the political elite? Spead the word.. will love to meet you all there.. All Saints Hall is on New Cross road, Bus Garage end..
The Meeting will be a chance for any one to drop in and ask any question or raise any concerns they have about the cuts. with the 3 main political groups and the national press all saying the cuts are a must.. are we really being given the truth? or more lies from the political elite? Spead the word.. will love to meet you all there.. All Saints Hall is on New Cross road, Bus Garage end..
National march against the cuts, 26 March
If you thought the anti war marches filled the streets, just wait until the real impact of the savage cuts start to bite. This national march through the streets of london, has been organised by the TUC, it will be a huge peaceful demo. please get your neighbours, your friends, all your family members to take part. Lots of feeder marches will be taking place across london. but Lewisham People before profit supporters will be meeting by the steps at the entrance to Waterloo East entrance...Bring home made banners and anything to make a noise..
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Lewisham Betting Shop Planning Applications
What is it with Lewisham Council? are they really so rottern that they do not care about the impact of yet another gamberling venue in Deptford? why did they agree this fresh application for betting shop number 11 for Deptford High Street?Lewisham People before profit submitted a sound argument to object, along the lines of thous given by Southwark and Greenwich Labour councils, but Lewisham in its wisdom, did not even inform objectors of the meeting and just stamped it through.We have sent a letter of complaint demanding a response as to why we were not informed of the meeting, and to make sure we are able to attend the next big planning meeting on Convoy Wharf.
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Bellingham By-Election Ian Page No Cuts Candidate set to Win
At last Ian Page is standing in the Bellingham by-election. A Socialist Alternative/Lewisham People before Profit candidate. A candidate we can trust. He could be elected on the 24th March.
Ian Page was possibly the best Councillor Lewisham ever had. For 15 years he worked tirelessly for the residents of Telegraph Hill ward, before tragically losing in last May's local elections. But Telegrah Hill's residents loss, is a great opportunity for the residents of Bellingham.
Ian will not just stand up to Labour cuts in the town hall, he will work hard day after day on behalf of Bellingham Ward. Having been there today, it was clear local people are fed up, let down by a Labour council that will close libraries and children's centres, but are not willing to cut the pay of staff at the top.
Lewisham Labour council spent 6.5million on consultants last year, but will close libraries that cost only £108.000 a year to run. Why don't they cut the consultants fees?
The Lib Dem vote is going down the pan fast...a party that makes promise after promise and then lies in order to win power can not expect the electorate to support it. Look at the Greens in Ireland, they were wiped out in the country's general election for supporting such an unpopular government. The same fate awaits the Lib Dems..
But we must not forget the mess we are in was caused by a Labour government seduced by greed and wealth, which allowed the banks to rob us all blind because they failed to regulate the markets.
Lewisham has the highest youth unemployment in the UK, and this is after 13 years of Labour Goverment and a solidly Labour Council. Hopefully Bellingham, like the rest of Lewisham, will realise that the Labour party gave up on the poor years ago... Roll on more by-elections so we can scare the ruling politicians big time.
Vote for Anti Cuts councillors. If they see the public is set to kick them out big time, we can make them Make cuts to the rich, not the poor.
Ian Page was possibly the best Councillor Lewisham ever had. For 15 years he worked tirelessly for the residents of Telegraph Hill ward, before tragically losing in last May's local elections. But Telegrah Hill's residents loss, is a great opportunity for the residents of Bellingham.
Ian will not just stand up to Labour cuts in the town hall, he will work hard day after day on behalf of Bellingham Ward. Having been there today, it was clear local people are fed up, let down by a Labour council that will close libraries and children's centres, but are not willing to cut the pay of staff at the top.
Lewisham Labour council spent 6.5million on consultants last year, but will close libraries that cost only £108.000 a year to run. Why don't they cut the consultants fees?
The Lib Dem vote is going down the pan fast...a party that makes promise after promise and then lies in order to win power can not expect the electorate to support it. Look at the Greens in Ireland, they were wiped out in the country's general election for supporting such an unpopular government. The same fate awaits the Lib Dems..
But we must not forget the mess we are in was caused by a Labour government seduced by greed and wealth, which allowed the banks to rob us all blind because they failed to regulate the markets.
Lewisham has the highest youth unemployment in the UK, and this is after 13 years of Labour Goverment and a solidly Labour Council. Hopefully Bellingham, like the rest of Lewisham, will realise that the Labour party gave up on the poor years ago... Roll on more by-elections so we can scare the ruling politicians big time.
Vote for Anti Cuts councillors. If they see the public is set to kick them out big time, we can make them Make cuts to the rich, not the poor.
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Lewisham Carnival against the cuts
Well what a fantastic turnout!
In the pouring rain, hundreds of people were marching in protest at Lewisham Councils savage cuts. It is very clear to me that the Labour Party is playing party politics with our services. Cutting the services at the very front, hitting the poorest, just makes me sick. How else do you explain the fact that Lewisham Council spends £6.5 million a year on consultants, but will not spend the £108.000, it costs each year to run New Cross Library?
These are Lewisham Council figures, not mine.
Labour Mayor, Steve Bullock, and the other people at the top, will still be getting full pay and perks. Steve Bullock also earns lots more money from posts he holds as a direct result of being Labour Mayor.
The Carnival Against the Cuts with the huge number of people marching, some who had never been on a demonstration before, will shock the political elite. These marchers are the voters that keep them in power.
When local people start electing anti cuts councillors, power will return to the residents of the borough.
The cuts, in Lewisham or nationally, do have an alternative. For Lewisham, go to the Lewisham People before Profit website. Nationally, we all can see that taxing big business properly and stopping the epic tax dodging....could save money and improve services .
If you really think cuts are the only solution, you need to get an education. Even in the Sunday Telegraph, they reported that on top of the banker's bail out, the extra goodies from the goverment are worth 30 billion pounds a year...That's money that could be running our front line services, which in the main are run by staff on poor wages that do the job out of dedication and love, not for greed or self promotion..
In the pouring rain, hundreds of people were marching in protest at Lewisham Councils savage cuts. It is very clear to me that the Labour Party is playing party politics with our services. Cutting the services at the very front, hitting the poorest, just makes me sick. How else do you explain the fact that Lewisham Council spends £6.5 million a year on consultants, but will not spend the £108.000, it costs each year to run New Cross Library?
These are Lewisham Council figures, not mine.
Labour Mayor, Steve Bullock, and the other people at the top, will still be getting full pay and perks. Steve Bullock also earns lots more money from posts he holds as a direct result of being Labour Mayor.
The Carnival Against the Cuts with the huge number of people marching, some who had never been on a demonstration before, will shock the political elite. These marchers are the voters that keep them in power.
When local people start electing anti cuts councillors, power will return to the residents of the borough.
The cuts, in Lewisham or nationally, do have an alternative. For Lewisham, go to the Lewisham People before Profit website. Nationally, we all can see that taxing big business properly and stopping the epic tax dodging....could save money and improve services .
If you really think cuts are the only solution, you need to get an education. Even in the Sunday Telegraph, they reported that on top of the banker's bail out, the extra goodies from the goverment are worth 30 billion pounds a year...That's money that could be running our front line services, which in the main are run by staff on poor wages that do the job out of dedication and love, not for greed or self promotion..
Monday, 8 March 2010
People can be so fantastic.............
Another week, and the time seems to fly by. Hitting the schools with our Schools Petition has brought in loads more support.
The planning deadline for Oxstalls road site, which is the only place left for a new school in this part of Lewisham was today, so mad rush to get objections in to town hall planning department, a real nightmare, no parking, loads of people seeking a pass to get into the building, another example as to how badly Labour runs Lewisham.
Michelle, another new supporter, has set up a facebook group for us (people before profit lewisham borough). The last time me and Barbara ran for New Cross ward with Ann Maria, we only had about 5 people. This time round, though apathy is the real winner, we are getting the help, and people are becoming part of the wider Lewisham People before profit Group.
Tonight I have been invited to see a new youth dance project in New Cross ward. It is run by a local parent for local kids with no money and no funding, so I'm eager to give support and see what we can do to help...
A further 3 campaign flyers had to be approved today, and we got the last of the flyers out across the wards. We are consistently getting out 25.000 newsletters across Lewisham every 10 days. Labour in most wards have done nothing, partly because they take votes from the poor for granted.
The planning deadline for Oxstalls road site, which is the only place left for a new school in this part of Lewisham was today, so mad rush to get objections in to town hall planning department, a real nightmare, no parking, loads of people seeking a pass to get into the building, another example as to how badly Labour runs Lewisham.
Michelle, another new supporter, has set up a facebook group for us (people before profit lewisham borough). The last time me and Barbara ran for New Cross ward with Ann Maria, we only had about 5 people. This time round, though apathy is the real winner, we are getting the help, and people are becoming part of the wider Lewisham People before profit Group.
Tonight I have been invited to see a new youth dance project in New Cross ward. It is run by a local parent for local kids with no money and no funding, so I'm eager to give support and see what we can do to help...
A further 3 campaign flyers had to be approved today, and we got the last of the flyers out across the wards. We are consistently getting out 25.000 newsletters across Lewisham every 10 days. Labour in most wards have done nothing, partly because they take votes from the poor for granted.
Friday, 5 March 2010
Another Week, another campaign
Well at last a night free from the campaign. We have been to so many meetings and attended so many school gates it all becomes a way of life, and the local Lewisham elections are only 9 weeks away.
The press is full about Lord Ashcroft and the money. All political groups get money from people with a lordship in mind. The real story is that Lord Ashcroft was given a lordship on the understanding he would pay UK tax, as he has not paid tax for ten years, and the fact the conservatives have used this tax money to buy votes, he should have this title removed at once.
Lewisham Council are set to make 80 million in Cuts, this staggering amount of money will lead to massive job losses, and the people in most need will have to go without. It is really shocking, that when you are at the school gates or hitting the doorsteps, so few people care about the problems faced by others, and yet every one in Lewisham has seen the way in which Lewisham council misspends public money.
Building new council homes creates real jobs. Are you aware how much money councils spend on bed and breakfast and high end home rentals due to the shortage? Are you aware that it costs more money to keep people on benefits than it does to give them work?
We have endless amounts of money for War and Trident, do you really think we are about to be invaded by China, but because we have Trident they leave us alone? Local people need to wake up, and challenge the rubbish we are told. We do have an alternative, and that needs to start with the wholesale eviction of all our party politicians.....
The press is full about Lord Ashcroft and the money. All political groups get money from people with a lordship in mind. The real story is that Lord Ashcroft was given a lordship on the understanding he would pay UK tax, as he has not paid tax for ten years, and the fact the conservatives have used this tax money to buy votes, he should have this title removed at once.
Lewisham Council are set to make 80 million in Cuts, this staggering amount of money will lead to massive job losses, and the people in most need will have to go without. It is really shocking, that when you are at the school gates or hitting the doorsteps, so few people care about the problems faced by others, and yet every one in Lewisham has seen the way in which Lewisham council misspends public money.
Building new council homes creates real jobs. Are you aware how much money councils spend on bed and breakfast and high end home rentals due to the shortage? Are you aware that it costs more money to keep people on benefits than it does to give them work?
We have endless amounts of money for War and Trident, do you really think we are about to be invaded by China, but because we have Trident they leave us alone? Local people need to wake up, and challenge the rubbish we are told. We do have an alternative, and that needs to start with the wholesale eviction of all our party politicians.....
Friday, 26 February 2010
Lewisham People and Residents Fight Back for Housing and Jobs.
Well what a week!
Monday night - as a member of the Canada Water Consultative Forum, we had full reports on more granted planning permission, the Downtown residents have fought long and hard to save the trees and woodland.
Steve Cornish who would make a fantastic local councillor has fought a very good and fair campaign, it is just so sad the Councillors for the area, Lib Dems, have forgotten they were elected to serve the interest of local people, not as they do the financial position of Developers. Southwark needs a Southwark People before Profit team.
Tuesday night - we had a fantastic meeting at Deptford Assembly, we expressed our concerns on Convoy Wharf and the other key developments in Deptford. We again urged local residents to support our campaign for new council housing, a new school, and turning the commercial units into work shops to create real jobs and local Business, instead of yet another Tesco.Youth issues were raised, lack of care for people with Disabled issues, and so much more. We ended the meeting with a new army of helpers and more council candidates for May 6th elections.
Wednesday night - we all had to split up as groups, we are and have been sending group members to every assembly to give out flyers and raise real issues. Me, Barbara Raymond, Susanna Farley and Other group members again raised our profile in New Cross Ward.
Susanna brought the house down on her passion for better housing and the need to build more council homes. I spoke on crime and youth as well as the real concerns of elderly and residents with disability issues not being given the care and support they need, only 1 of the 3 Local Labour Councillors showed up, again poor numbers of people, but more people offered help, Deptford and New Cross has had clearly more than enough of Labour.
Thursday night, yet more Meetings, Assembly's and a New Green Group was Forming, meeting at the Royal George Pub, on Tanners Hill, I arrived early so did a leaflet drop in Brockley, stunned by how well our flyer's are going down, this is a Green held ward, and yet they keep supporting and voting with the Labour Group, Local residents offered help and pledged votes for Lewisham People before profit.
The new Group was small but full of Energy, Arts Group Utopia, Friends of Deptford Creek and other local Groups pledged support for the campaign, We have planned a direct auction day for Saturday 13 March from 12pm in Deptford, Location and more details to follow, After having been involved in community campaigns for more than 30 years, I have never seen the numbers joining this campaign, attending our meetings or willing to help, John Hamilton has a really good chance of making the break through, Ian Page may even Kick Joan Out in Deptford as the MP, After all this is the Local MP who is a Climate minister but has done nothing to eradicate fuel poverty in Deptford, we could have turned Deptford into the Centre for Green energy and new jobs, as well as giving low cost fuel and power to local residents through Wind Turbine or the power of the water, But Joan is just happy to sit on her back side and let local residents Struggle to Eat, pay Bills, or even get a job interview, Affordable Housing, a new school, Come may 6, she deserves the order of the boot.........
...Hope to meet up with you on the campaign trial, we need every one to help, when ever you can, what ever you can offer, this is a fight we as residents can win.Please email every one you can who has a Lewisham Connection, we do not have the Money the Conservatives Lib Dems or Labour Have, they will seek to buy your votes, we are seeking your votes to change the way these people live of your hard earned tax and build new council homes, create real jobs and campaign in the interests of Local people not big business, Council services, Schools and Hospitals should not be run to make a profit, much the same way Councillors are elected to serve local people not line their own pockets..How many party Candidates would have been active in any local residents campaign, Group ofr direct action, looking at the present bunch none, they are all party people looking for a easy way into politics.
Monday night - as a member of the Canada Water Consultative Forum, we had full reports on more granted planning permission, the Downtown residents have fought long and hard to save the trees and woodland.
Steve Cornish who would make a fantastic local councillor has fought a very good and fair campaign, it is just so sad the Councillors for the area, Lib Dems, have forgotten they were elected to serve the interest of local people, not as they do the financial position of Developers. Southwark needs a Southwark People before Profit team.
Tuesday night - we had a fantastic meeting at Deptford Assembly, we expressed our concerns on Convoy Wharf and the other key developments in Deptford. We again urged local residents to support our campaign for new council housing, a new school, and turning the commercial units into work shops to create real jobs and local Business, instead of yet another Tesco.Youth issues were raised, lack of care for people with Disabled issues, and so much more. We ended the meeting with a new army of helpers and more council candidates for May 6th elections.
Wednesday night - we all had to split up as groups, we are and have been sending group members to every assembly to give out flyers and raise real issues. Me, Barbara Raymond, Susanna Farley and Other group members again raised our profile in New Cross Ward.
Susanna brought the house down on her passion for better housing and the need to build more council homes. I spoke on crime and youth as well as the real concerns of elderly and residents with disability issues not being given the care and support they need, only 1 of the 3 Local Labour Councillors showed up, again poor numbers of people, but more people offered help, Deptford and New Cross has had clearly more than enough of Labour.
Thursday night, yet more Meetings, Assembly's and a New Green Group was Forming, meeting at the Royal George Pub, on Tanners Hill, I arrived early so did a leaflet drop in Brockley, stunned by how well our flyer's are going down, this is a Green held ward, and yet they keep supporting and voting with the Labour Group, Local residents offered help and pledged votes for Lewisham People before profit.
The new Group was small but full of Energy, Arts Group Utopia, Friends of Deptford Creek and other local Groups pledged support for the campaign, We have planned a direct auction day for Saturday 13 March from 12pm in Deptford, Location and more details to follow, After having been involved in community campaigns for more than 30 years, I have never seen the numbers joining this campaign, attending our meetings or willing to help, John Hamilton has a really good chance of making the break through, Ian Page may even Kick Joan Out in Deptford as the MP, After all this is the Local MP who is a Climate minister but has done nothing to eradicate fuel poverty in Deptford, we could have turned Deptford into the Centre for Green energy and new jobs, as well as giving low cost fuel and power to local residents through Wind Turbine or the power of the water, But Joan is just happy to sit on her back side and let local residents Struggle to Eat, pay Bills, or even get a job interview, Affordable Housing, a new school, Come may 6, she deserves the order of the boot.........
...Hope to meet up with you on the campaign trial, we need every one to help, when ever you can, what ever you can offer, this is a fight we as residents can win.Please email every one you can who has a Lewisham Connection, we do not have the Money the Conservatives Lib Dems or Labour Have, they will seek to buy your votes, we are seeking your votes to change the way these people live of your hard earned tax and build new council homes, create real jobs and campaign in the interests of Local people not big business, Council services, Schools and Hospitals should not be run to make a profit, much the same way Councillors are elected to serve local people not line their own pockets..How many party Candidates would have been active in any local residents campaign, Group ofr direct action, looking at the present bunch none, they are all party people looking for a easy way into politics.
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