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Thames Water: The Chair, Jamie Evans, attended the Crossness Working Party on 21st September with John and Joanna Livingston, where it appeared that Thames Water are moving in the right direction with major programmes of work planned throughout the next 10 years, with a lot of expenditure committed to improve filters and other improvements. Thames Water have agreed to be present in March 2006 to the forum, followed by a question and answer session. Residents were asked to inform the forum prior to the meeting, if they had major questions to put to Thames Water in order that they could research accurate answers. It was noted that the Crossness Works was difficult to get to by public transport. Jamie stated that Crossness had altered the working party to an evening, to enable residents to attend, but there was still poor attendance. Those wishing to attend future meetings of the Crossness Working Party are asked to call Jill Sterry of Thames Water, on 020 8491 2677, to book a place and receive an agenda and minutes.
A poll was taken of whether or not those attending the meeting thought the smell from the plant had improved – 4 people considered the smell worse, 4 thought it was better and 27 people felt it had not changed.
*** Residents are reminded to ring the Thames Water Call Centre on 0845 9200800 and ask for “waste”, and specify that they are reporting an odour from Crossness. Environmental Health also ask that odours are reported to them on 020 8303 7777 .
It was noted that smells come from the food factory as well – to report these please leave a message on 020 8312 4091 (Ferndale Foods) or email contact@ferndalefoods.co.uk
Environment and regeneration services are looking for guidance from the community on new guidelines for pubs, cafe’s and takeaways as they are bringing in new regulations to remove smells from the area. This will be put on the agenda for the December Public Meeting for discussion with a return date to the Council of January.
Splash park – two residents have written to the forum regarding problems with the park being shut outside the hours, and not allowing access to those without children, as it is no longer possible to take a short cut or have a rest. Residents present were asked whether they felt it was a problem – 2 people thought it was, 3 did not and the remainder did not have an opinion. There had also been a problem with toilets only being accessible from inside the park. Toilets will be open from the highway as from the 3rd October via a change of gating. Daniel Francis stated that the council were looking at the gates being moved on rainy days during the park’s opening period as well. Those with concerns regarding the park were asked to write to Jamie Evans, c/o the Forum (address below) and he will pass on views.
Belvedere CSAZ (Community Safety Action Zone) - Emma Leathers, CSAZ Co-ordinator explained that this is an area based action, where the Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team are concentrating solely on the Belvedere area and engage with the community around issues of crime and disorder. Please see attached information on CSAZ and 8 ways to report a crime. Residents are reminded that although the Belvedere CSAZ covers the political ward boundaries of Belvedere, (which is a smaller area than that which is covered by the Forum) all residents are asked to report any crime or anti social problems to the CSAZ, regardless of boundaries, and these will be acted upon.
Jamie Evans represents the Forum at the CSAZ fortnightly meetings and had received year on year comparison of figures for the Belvedere ward, comparing May/September 2004 to May/September 2005 as follows:
Burglary decreased from 15 to 10 incidents, robbery decreased from 7 to 2, criminal damage had increased from 61 to 90, car theft stayed the same at 20, damage to motor vehicles increased from 17 to 40, damage to motor vehicles and theft from motor vehicles had also gone up. Emma Leathers considered that the increases may have been caused because residents are being encouraged to report crime and easier access to the mobile phones of police and PCSO’s (copy attached).
Residents were of the general opinion that people felt reassured by the presence of the PCSO’s.
Bexley Police/Community Consultative Group (PCCG) – Jamie had attended this meeting in September and it had been noted that the areas still without a CSAZ are very keen to get it.
Thames Strategy East – consultation papers have been received for the development for Thames Gateway . This will also be on the agenda for December as there was a need to respond as a community.
Clean up day organised by the CSAZ had been very successful and Jamie Evans had participated.
Vice Chair:
Incinerator Inquiry: John Livingston had regularly attended during the entire length of the Inquiry, which had now closed. He considered that the Inspector had been fair with residents, who are not led by a barrister as expert witnesses are, and allowed them to have their say. The Mayor’s Waste Plan, scrutinised by the London Assembly, was now in existence, and stated how waste should be dealt with, and that this should not be done by individuals looking for profit but by a planned system. This has the force of law behind it and John is hopeful that the response will be not to build the incinerator. The Plan does look to us to accept some of Central London’s waste, but no more than 25% of it. The Inspector will make his report on 8th December, and then this will go to the minister who takes a decision in his own time
ROGUE TRADERS
A presentation, warning about rogue traders, was made by Tina Gibbons, one of the Council’s Trading Standards officers. There had been various incidents involving building work in the area recently, and leaflets with details of what to do if approached, and where to get further advice, were made available for members to take away and distribute more widely. (Anyone approached at home by traders looking for building work should telephone 07716 116452).
ERITH SHOPPING CENTRE
Martin Evans (Rockcliffe Developments) reported on the progress in letting units in the shopping
centre.
Several new businesses were coming into the
centre as well as a number of local traders. The centre was being actively marketed and interest was being shown and, with time and increasing numbers of businesses, the atmosphere will improve.
Martin quashed a rumour that Matalan and Wilkinsons did not have contracts and suggested that members of the Forum did likewise. When members hear rumours about the Centre they should contact Chris Langdon. For the Centre to be a success, local people needed to demonstrate a positive outlook.
Several issues were raised about seating, planting, and toilet provision in the centre. Martin would look into whether any action could be taken on the reported “wind tunnel” effect around the shops. Chris Langdon to liaise with Martin and report back to the next Forum meeting.
Mayor’s 100 Public Space Programme;
Mark Brearley of the GLA’s Architectural and Urbanism Unit, in Thames Gateway, made a presentation on the London Mayor’s 100 Public Spaces Programme and how it relates to Erith, which was one of only 3 town centres in East London on the River Thames. Works would include highway improvements using high quality materials, including granite and York stone paving. Riverside Gardens and Morrisons car park would be included in the area under consideration.
There would be further consultation on proposals.
Peter Kilner, Chair of the Erith Riverside Festival, was assured that the Festival would be able to take place in 2006.
The notes of the last meeting held on 20 July 2005 were agreed. The following matters were arising:
(3.1) Erith Leisure Centre - Noted that additional staffing had been organised for the soft play area. In respect of the swimming area, it was noted that complaints were monitored and action had been taken to resolve problems.
(3.2) Seating - The Forum’s Management Board would discuss whether it should make a financial contribution towards an additional seat in Erith Recreation Ground.
(3.3) Floral Displays – additional winter displays had been requested.
(6.(7)) Safety Audit – The Audit was being finalised and the Forum would be informed of progress.
The issue was again raised about en-bloc purchases of apartments, and subsequent sub-letting in the light of problems of poor standards of upkeep being experienced. Chris Langdon reported that care needed to be taken about linking the two issues. Enforcement was taking place where possible.
MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SITES.
Seb Salom and Chris Langdon gave an update on the Erith Western Gateway, including:
Development sites – The Council was working towards marketing Council owned sites. Further information about the 100 Public Spaces and the implications of the Olympics would be taken into account before going out to the market on sites. Efforts were being taken to co-ordinate development as much as possible. Seb Salom confirmed to the Forum that the Planning Brief was just a guide to developers – one possible way of achieving aspirations for the riverside area. It is up to developers to propose alternative approaches and the Council would need to consider them. In any event it was confirmed that public consultation would take place.
Carnegie Library Building – The library service to vacate in 2007. Talks ongoing about the future and the issue will be kept on the Forum agenda.
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