Renata Hamvas

The blue recycling bins are being tested due to the feedback received from residents within the food recycling pilot areas. It was found that particularly families found that co-mingled recycling in their blue boxes gave them insufficient capacity to suit their requirements and some of their families asked for for wheelie bins for their recyclable solid items (also conversion flats where they could have 1 bin for 2 or 3 households, reducing clutter). The reason why co-mingled recycling hasn't yet gone borough wide is the current recycling facility in Walworth is situated around the railway lines and there are limits to the design of vehicles that can use this facility (I visited it a few months ago and it's a nightmare for vehicles to navigate there!). A new state-of-the-art recycling facility is being built just off the Old Kent Road. This will be better able to cope with the through flow of vehicles that take co-mingled recyclable solid waste, it is at the point when the new facility becomes fully operational that the wider blue wheelie bins distribution will occur. Renata

I believe this was funded by cleaner greener safer. This is a fund where Southwark residents apply for funds for projects in their local community. The last batch of CGS funding was decided before I was a councillor, early in 2010. I shall investigate and post. Renata

Hi Elloriac, there would only something on the planning register if there was a change of use application. This implies that the new tenants/owners will be running a business in the same category as the previous one. Do you know what was there previously? Renata

Surrey Docks farm has a function room (you bring your own food, suitable for up to 30 children), before/after the party the children can feed/visit the animals and also usually on Sundays you can book donkey rides (they have helmets etc) http://www.surreydocksfarm.org.uk/ Gary Jones Interim Farm Manager Address: Surrey Docks Farm South Wharf Rotherhithe Street London SE16 5ET Telephone: 020 7231 1010 Renata

Ralee, I did post here about the incident on 8th July, for some bizarre reason it was moved to the Lounge. Sadly on Friday morning an 81 year old lady died in a house fire on Honor Oak Rise. I went up to talk to fiends and neighbours on Friday afternoon, including one who tried to rescue her, but were beaten back by thick smoke. I ask that those of you who have elderly friends, relatives & neighbours check that they have smoke alarms and that these are in working order. My condolences go out to her friends and family. Sheilarose, yes it is the Brenchley Gardens/Forest Hill Rd junction I am referring too. I think the project which stretches from the junction with Colyton Rd right up to the boundary with Lewisham just past Cabrini School is in the very early stages. There was some preliminary consultation with members of the public at a Community Council meeting a few months ago. I will contact the Southwark Traffic Team and post back. I don't think much is happening yet, just the preliminary stage of traffic flows, speeds etc. Renata

I am sad to report the death of an elderly woman in a house fire on Honor Oak Rise this morning. Two fire engines with 10 fire crew were in attendance at the scene and the cause of the fire is under investigation by the Fire Brigade's Investigation Unit. My greatest condolences go out to the family and friends of the victim. Renata

Incident 6th July I have contacted the Office at St Francesca Cabrini Primary and they have informed me that the man who collapsed on Forest Hill Rd was not a member of staff at the school. The first aiders from the school were at the scene, assisting, so the child may have seen a familiar member of staff. My greatest condolences go out to the family of the man. Incident this morning 8th July, I haven't been able to find out any information about this yet (so hopefully this means that it was a minor incident). I know this junction is an accident hotspot and I hope it will be improved when the junction, crossing point and traffic management works are done on this road. Renata

Southwark Gymnastics club, based at Harris@Peckham and other locations in Southwark currently only takes from aged 4 but are planning to expand into the toddler age group. http://www.southwarkgymnastics.co.uk Ladywell Gym Club run gymnastics for aged 2+ and also drop off and leave gym play sessions for under 5s on a Friday morning and Wednesday afternoon. They are opposite Bellingham Train station (Catford area)and their website is http://www.ladywellgym.com Its about a 10 minute train journey from Peckham Rye/Nunhead or from ED around a 20 minute drive. Renata

Hi Fushia, I don't know about access, but will ask this at the meeting, but I do know the official opening is on Saturday 23rd July, just in time for the school/nursery summer holidays. Unfortunately I had previous inflexible plans for the day, but I think the other two Peckham Rye Councillors, Victoria Mills and Gavin Edwards will be there. Renata

I'm meeting with council officers next week (this is for prelim discussions on the running of the club)and will raise the points raised here. Gussy, I don't know if you are aware that the funding for such schemes was cut by central Government (early intervention funding ie for surestart and other childrens services) Southwark and some other inner London boroughs lost 90 pounds per child in grant funding compared to eg 30 pounds in Richmond and other more affluent boroughs. At Council assembly on Wednesday 270k was allocated in the Capital building program for rebuilding the one o clock club. (FYI the Lib Dems voted against this.) This together with the money already allocated by Greener Cleaner Safer means that the facility will be rebuilt. Renata

Just to update on this: Official reopening of the playground area 23rd July. 200k has recently been allocated in the Council's capital building programme to match a similar amount that was earmarked under Cleaner Greener Safer funding to rebuild the 1 o clock club. The government has cut funding for running of such schemes, so a different system will be used to run it, but I currently don't know the details. (it wouldn't make sense for it to shut as the money has just been earmarked to rebuild it!) Where has this newsletter come from Gussy? Is it a closing due to rebuilding one?? Once I know more, I'll post it on here. Renata

I agree with you Fushia (school children doing homework is another group)and so I asked about this. The figures quoted are for actual visitor numbers with or without a library card, so mothers visiting with toddlers would be counted. The Kingswood consulation evening is tonight. You can fill in the form whatever library you attend, not just Kingswood. As well as the general cuts, due to cut in the council's main grant, the funds that used to come from central government for specific services eg homework clubs have ceased. I also asked about ebooks for Kindle etc. The problem is that the costs are quite high and only for a fixed period of time eg a year for a book and then library services have to pay again. At John Harvard Library they have Blu ray, what do people think about that format? Renata

The first of the local consultation meetings about library services is taking place in Nunhead Library, Gordon Rd, Nunhead at 7-8pm tonight (just round the corner from Nunhead Green and the Nun's Head pub). Users of ANY Southwark library can go to any of the consultations and give their opinions at any of the meetings. (Money needs to be saved from Libraries, just like everything else the council provides as 33.6 million cut from the council's grant from central government.) I shall be there after my Surgery, Renata

The information that I have so far, is that it is part of the annual schedule of tree crown reduction (specific trees within the park/common are on the current schedule)and removal of dead/dying/unstable branches. Timing is linked to the type of trees. I have requested more details and will post when I have them. Renata

I'll investigate and post when I know more, Renata

There had been a confirmed sighting of a red kite in the area (eastern side of Peckham Rye Park)last week, so maybe it's the same bird? Renata

Yes, due to be released next year, filming will be continuing on Monday. Renata

A gas main was damaged in the incident, hence the traffic problems and diversion. Renata

I hope you will come to the consultation at your local library Reggie! Renata

As parents have been contacting me asking similar questions, I'd thought I'd post the information here. Waiting Lists Your child can move up or down on a waiting list. They move up as children get offered places at the school or if parents say they now want to be taken off the waiting list. Your child will move down a list if the number of children who have priority in accordance with the school's admissions policy increases. Reasons for extra children going into the list above yours include: Children who have a special emotional or physical need that means that this school is more suitable for them. Looked after children (eg Fostered). Siblings-this is where eg a form got lost in the post, or parents forgot to apply or apply and forget to tick the sibling box or an older sibling has recently been offered a place in the school. Distance-where another child lives closer than you and they have moved into the area since the closing date for applications, or their application was received after the closing date. The amount of movement on a waiting list will depend partially on why those at the top of the list are there. If they are there as they are younger siblings, they are unlikely to drop out of the waiting list, while a child who is on the waiting list because it was the families first choice school, and they buy uniform and visit and like their offered school, this latter group are more likely to drop out (particularly as it gets closer to September and beyond). It is common for a couple of places to become available in September due to families moving home over the summer break. The jump up in waiting list position that may occur then, is not due to 15 places suddenly becoming available, but once children start a school and are happy there, they are more likely to turn down places offered from waiting lists. Appeals Appearing before an appeals panel may seem to be a daunting process. The main thing is to stay calm and have your reasons for appeal prepared. Be aware that appeals are long shots and the chance of winning them are slim. The chance is get a place from the waiting list is much higher than from appeal. You may win an appeal if you have social or medical reasons why the school is better than other local schools for your child. Appeals are particularly difficult to win over infant school places as the maximum number of children allowed in a class is 30 and there is little flexibility on this (there is a bit more flexibility with junior classes if space/facilities are available to go above 30). Liking a school, distance (unless your distance has been calculated incorrectly and you can prove it) and even siblings are unlikely to win you an appeal due to the class size regulations. I'm sorry to be negative for those of you going through this process! Deferred entry The age at which a child must start school is 5 in the UK. Until this year, Southwark and many other authorities had split entry, some LEAs such as Southwark had 2 entries to reception, others had 3. This September is the first year of single entry to reception ie all children born between Sept 2006 and August 2007 will start primary this September, this has happened nationally. The law on when children must start primary is unchanged, this means that Sept-Dec children must start by Xmas, and Jan to March children by Easter and April to August children by the end of summer term. Even though in theory summer born children could start next September, they can't as they would need to reapply to schools and you are entering a new academic year. I do not encourage parents to defer their child's entry, but they can do it if they wish too. A parent may wish to do this, I suppose if they are top of a waiting list before summer and want to wait and see if a place comes up early in the Autumn term (eg keep them in Nursery a few weeks longer). If parents are deferring they must let Southwark and the school where they are holding a place know so that they don't lose the place they already hold! Parents should think very carefully about doing this as their child will be then joining a class where children know each other and the teacher and the class will be already be following the foundation curriculum. Renata

To those of you living East of the Rye, the Nunhead Library consultation is on 1st July at 7-8pm at Nunhead Library on Gordon Rd, SE15. Please come along and give your views ( This is important to preserve the library services YOU need!). Renata The full statement about this consultation is given below: Have your say on the future of Southwark?s libraries Published 21 June 2011 The borough?s residents and library users are to be asked their views on Southwark?s library service, with the launch of a borough-wide consultation. It's part of a review to establish how Southwark Council can maintain a high quality library service, fit for the 21st century, in the face of unprecedented budget cuts. Southwark Council is having to make savings of nearly ?400,000 in its library service over the next three years. The council will be speaking to key groups such as community councils, and will be asking residents their views through public meetings and through a survey of library users launched next week (week beginning June 27). Councillor Veronica Ward, cabinet member for culture, leisure, sport and the Olympics at Southwark Council, said: "The financial challenges we are currently tackling spread right across the council and libraries are no exception. What I hope to do with this review is make sure people are fully informed of the situation but also able to see this as a potential opportunity to change the service for the better. "This is why we are starting our review by speaking with our partners and key stakeholders, and listening to the public, as the future of our libraries is too important to get wrong." The consultation will include an extensive library user survey, public meetings in every library, an online survey and attendance at community councils. Members of the public who are unable to attend a meeting at their local library are welcome to attend any of the meetings outlined below. Background Information The survey starts in 11 libraries from Monday 27 June. NOTE: The survey will start at Peckham Library later, on Friday 8 July and run for three weeks from then. The survey will also be available at the following 12 public meetings, held across libraries throughout the borough: East Street Library 29/06/2011 2pm - 3pm Nunhead Library 01/07/2011 7pm - 8pm Kingswood Library 05/07/2011 7pm - 8pm Blue Anchor Library 06/07/2011 2pm - 3pm John Harvard Library 07/07/2011 7pm - 8pm Rotherhithe Library 08/07/2011 2pm - 3pm Dulwich Library 11/07/2011 7pm - 8pm Grove Vale Library 13/07/2011 2pm - 3pm Camberwell Library 13/07/2011 6pm - 7pm Newington Library 14/07/2011 7pm - 8pm Brandon Library 15/07/2011 2pm - 3pm Peckham Library 19/07/2011 7pm - 8pm All of these meetings are open to the public and will give local people an opportunity to put forward their views about the library service and make suggestions about how savings could be achieved. There is no need to book your place in advance.

The reason for expanding St Anthony's I believe is that it was a 1.5 form entry school. The school has currently 2 forms in reception from a bulge last year. Half forms are not ideal, as it means than children from two school years are mixed together for lessons. The parish of St Thomas More East Dulwich is a feeder parish to the school, but there were probably more children in the parish than spaces so some went to St Francesca Cabrini, as after church attendance distance also comes onto it. St Francesca Cabrini is different as it is not tied to any parish, so I think the Kids there come from ED, Nunhead, Honor Oak and Crofton Park parishes. I would have thought there would be a bit of increase in traffic as those extra children now getting into St Anthony's would be living on the fringes of the parish, ie further away.

In relation to James's point there are a possible 3 lost in post applications to DKH, not lots! This would not have led to 2 bulge classes for 60 children. Southwark was successful in allocating every child whose application was received on time a primary school under 2 miles from their home address. I do not know the background to the late applications at the moment, these are usually either due to people having moved into the area or having forgotten to apply or not realising that they needed to apply yet. Toast, I don't think Southwark can predict numbers and locations within the borough of new residents (unless a new housing development opens) or those who don't apply on time (it would be useful if we could!). There is extensive advertising in public places, community hubs and nurseries to inform parents of the closing date. Once I have an update I will post. Renata

The information I have received so far is that there were a large number of late applications after initial places were allocated. These children could not be accomodated by the existing places including the original bulges hence the extra bulges. I have asked for information about next year too. Renata

Mrs Lotte, as soon as I know, I will get in touch with you Renata