TJMP

Following my letter to David Laws (http://www.tessajowell.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/CHAP0101901140379010100413.pdf), I met last week with a number of officials from the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to discuss the future of the Dulwich Community Hospital site. Representatives from both of the secondary school proposals attended. The meeting was not to discuss the respective merits of each of their campaigns, but to reiterate the jointly recognised need for a new secondary school and health centre on the Dulwich Community Hospital site and the undesirability of a Harris Nunhead Primary School being located there. Parents in East Dulwich are absolutely clear on their priorities for the site: a first class new secondary school, based on the clear evidence of need for secondary school places, alongside a new health centre. Not only is the prospect of two schools on the site highly undesirable for local parents, but prospective Harris Nunhead Primary children could face a situation where they wouldn?t be able to attend the secondary school next door because they are highly unlikely to fall into its catchment area. The officials maintain that there is room for two ?constrained site? schools on the site. Whilst recognising the local climate and favouring a site in Nunhead for the Harris Primary, their inability to secure an alternative means that the hospital site is still an option in their considerations. They did provide an assurance that parents in East Dulwich would be consulted if this plan progresses. However, I will be writing to the Harris Federation making clear the scale of the opposition they face and asking Southwark to redouble their efforts, together with the EFA and Harris, to find an alternative and more suitable site for the Harris Nunhead Primary in a location where there is clear evidence of need. Both of the secondary campaigns in East Dulwich will also, of course, continue to make the case and will have my full support. Tessa Jowell MP

Thank you to all those so far who have copied me into their correspondence with David Laws. My most recent letter to him can be seen here: http://www.tessajowell.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/CHAP0101901140379010100413.pdf I'll be printing off all the emails I have had from parents to date and will send them to him personally so if you want to submit any further comments please do by the end of the week and I will send on Friday. Tessa Jowell MP

Dear all, Thank you (MOST of you!) for the kind and generous comments. For the avoidance of any doubt I'm certainly not standing down as MP for Dulwich and West Norwood. It is my great privilege to continue to represent East Dulwich and the other diverse and vibrant communities that make up my constituency. As always you can get in touch via [email protected]. Many thanks Tessa

If you're not already aware there is to be a public meeting about this application next Tuesday - 21st August at East Dulwich Community Centre, 46-50 Darrell Road, SE22 9NL at 7:30pm. Representatives from the local health authority have been invited. Office of Tessa Jowell MP

Just for the record, and for those interested, the Torch WILL be passing through part of Dulwich and West Norwood - on 26th July it will go along Coldharbour Lane and pass Windrush Square in Brixton where lots of activities will be taking place and crowds gathering. As some you who may have seen in Southwark News (Dulwich&Herne Hill edition) on 5th July, Tessa is obviously disappointed the torch won't be passing through Dulwich and East Dulwich as well (and particularly Herne Hill Velodrome). However the organisation of the relay is an incredibly complicated logistical task and it would have been impossible to accommodate all of the competing demands. The route, and the stories of those carrying the torch, can be seen and read in full here http://www.london2012.com/torch-relay/route/ (Day 69) Office of Tessa Jowell

drew Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Peckham Rye is a massive benefactor of the new rail changes, in terms of both volume of trains > and number of new direct destinations (East London-City-Islington). I only wish places like ED > could be so lucky! > > The new East London extension (a more regular service) will take you up to Denmark Hill (1 stop: > 2-3 minutes) and then you can change for the existing fast service from Kent on South Eastern > to Victoria (direct: 9 minutes). > > With the ELL extension, I personally believe this loop is a redundant line (not just due to LB > changes) and the key is to ensure South Eastern can increase the regularity of stops to Denmark > Hill from Kent. > > Does anyone know if we can petition for this? Both Peckham Rye and Denmark Hill will suffer from a reduction in frequency of trains to Victoria to 2 trains per hour (from 4tph) - with service severely reduced in the evenings and at weekends. That is what this request to the Minister highlighted above by Medley is about. Tessa Jowell (Office)

I would urge people to support Medley's request on this. I have already sent an email to Theresa Villiers asking her to reconsider her previous position - as set out in the attached letter from last September addressed to my colleague Val Shawcross AM. Tessa Jowell MP

David, Perhaps you should re-read Tessa's original post. It is in three parts: First, her view of the situation as it stood earlier today and a short description of actions she has been taking and will continue to take over the next few days. Second, and clearly described as such, is the advice that the police have asked to be passed on. Third, a suggested point of help and support for those who own or work in local shops who may have been affected by recent events. The first post was direct from Tessa and is marked accordingly. The later clarifications are via her office and are so described. Tessa Jowell (Office)

David, The bullet-pointed comments are verbatim advice from the police which Tessa was simply passing on. Tessa Jowell (Office)

I have been appalled by the intolerable behaviour shown in East Dulwich and elsewhere in recent days and I fully support the police in taking tough action to bring to book those responsible. East Dulwich and other communities in my constituency are robust and will not be scarred by these mindless actions. I and my office have been in constant contact with the local authority, community leaders, the police and other colleagues. I will be working closely with them all over the next few days to make sure that everything is being done to prevent any recurrence of violence and to make sure that our local communities return to normal as soon as possible. Here are the key messages from the police that they would be grateful if everyone could heed and pass on: ? Parents and guardians should know where their children are and they should be at home tonight ? Onlookers should go home as they are hampering the police operations ? If you see something suspicious dial 999 If you own or work in a local shop affected by the recent disturbances you might consider contacting the Retail Trust Helpline on 0808 801 0808 or via their website at: www.retailtrust.org.uk Best wishes, Tessa Jowell

I'm aware that sliding_doors has produced a really useful pocket timetable in the past. I have attached a very much less handy, but hopefully informative, timetable for the week as from 12 December from/to East Dulwich and London Bridge. (The late Fri/Sat and Sat/Sun services start the following weekend). Tessa Jowell (Edited to add correct timetable - TJ's office)

I have just received final confirmation that there will be a series of improvements to the rail timetable from East Dulwich station which will be implemented from 12th December this year: Extra Mon-Sat evening trains from London Bridge along the East Dulwich route and on to Tulse Hill. This will provide a 15 min service to East Dulwich right through the evening up to 00:03 instead of the current 30 min service after 8:18 pm which finishes at 11:48. Extra Sunday services between London Bridge and Crystal Palace via East Dulwich (total of four trains per hour instead of the current two). Later Friday night/Saturday morning and Saturday night/Sunday morning trains from London Bridge to East Dulwich at 00:18 and 00:33. Along with the use of Oyster PAYG on local railway stations and the extension of ticket office opening hours, these changes formed part of the contractual requirements under the franchise agreement that was awarded last year. There has also been a big improvement in the spacing of morning peak trains into London since May which I wrote about on the EDF earlier this year. Tessa Jowell MP

A further session will take place at the West Norwood RSPCA shop from 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday 8th August. More details here: RSPCA South East London pet chipping dates Tessa Jowell MP

Huguenot Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ED's service to London Bridge is scheduled to be uprated from the current 6/4 peak/offpeak to 8/6 service in 2015. > Until that date it will remain unchanged. The latter part of this is not entirely correct - there are changes due at the end of this month that, whilst only introducing a couple of extra trains in the peak, will smooth out the gaps in service that were often greater than those in the off peak. The changes should really help with unacceptable levels of overcrowding on certain trains. I gave some detail of this in my contribution to the EDF election debates. It is something I have been arguing for over a considerable period: Current: 7.03; 7.14; 7.29; 7.51; 8.05; 8.14; 8.35; 8.41; 8.56; 9.16 will become: 7.05; 7.15; 7.29; 7.34; 7.46; 7.57; 8.04; 8.14; 8.27; 8.33; 8.45; 8.59; 9.04 The March 2008 South London Rail Utilisation Strategy document does indeed have an 'indicative morning peak frequency' of 8tph from ED (Figure 9.1) from 2015. Tessa

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HAL9000 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > KD - I'm familiar with the type of behaviour you have described. > > I know of cases where Tessa Jowell, her conservative predecessor Gerald Bowden and Harriet Harman have blanked > constituents who raised allegations against medical practitioners, lawyers and police officers. > > I think most politicians and social elites know whose back to scratch and what to leave well alone. HAL9000 - That's a serious allegation and, I think, entirely untrue. I certainly have followed up a whole host of allegations against doctors, lawyers and police officers on behalf of constituents. I take the view that if a constituent has raised the matter it should be properly investigated. If you PM me with details or email me direct - [email protected] - with details of any examples, I will look at them as soon as possible. Tessa

Hi everybody. Here are my responses to the debate questions. Thanks to the EDF for organising this. Do PM me, email me ([email protected]) or post on here if you have anything you would like me to address on these subjects - or any other. Tessa 1) Should MPs live in the constituency they represent? Since this appears to be aimed at me I will tackle it head on and at some length. I have had to make a judgement that balances family commitments against the demands of being an engaged and effective constituency MP. I, and my constituency team, deal with over 5000 cases from local people every year. I have weekly advice sessions, mobile surgeries and coffee mornings where people can come and raise any issue they like. I?m always out and about locally. There is never, ever, anything of note that happens in my constituency that I do not quickly know about. How?s your knowledge on the plans for a new combined health and leisure centre in West Norwood for example? What about the new schools that we have delivered in Lambeth - Evelyn Grace and the Elmgreen? What did you think about the recent listing application for the historic Brixton Markets? What's your take on the problem of primary school places in Norwood? (no, not East Dulwich - that?s conveniently been put off by the Lib Dems until after the election remember - whilst the Lambeth offers go out next week). My constituency is incredibly diverse and comprises many communities, each with a distinct and proud identity: East Dulwich, Dulwich, West Dulwich, Gipsy Hill, Crystal Palace, West Norwood, Upper Norwood, Herne Hill, Camberwell and Brixton. I really do understand what makes it tick and I love it - stretching as it does from what used to be the Old White Horse on Brixton Road in a sweep across to Sydenham Hill and over as far as Streatham Common. I acknowledge that where I live has been used as a stick to beat me with by my political opponents - that?s up to them. But not one of the tens of thousands of constituents I have helped in 18 years as the local representative have said ?Thanks Tessa but I would have appreciated it more if you lived here.? A few years ago we sold our family home and I assumed that I would move to the constituency. But I now have my children and step-children living nearby with four lovely grand-daughters that I already see far too little of. The anguish that my family felt at the prospect of my moving away from them at what was already a difficult time was something I simply could not ignore. The families of MPs often pay a heavy price and the judgement I made was that I had to put my family first in this decision. That is the choice I have made. Every week, every day, every hour, I am working and my constituency team is working to get action and investment for East Dulwich and the rest of my constituency. I believe that every day we make something better for someone I represent. 2) What is the fairest way of capping individuals annual earnings i.e Bob Diamond ?63 million at Barclays? The best way is by progressive taxation and - a more difficult task - bringing such individuals and their remuneration committees back to reality after they have been bailed out by governments around the world. I welcome the recent proposals from the IMF, building on work initiated by Gordon at the G20 summit last year. This has to be resolved on a global basis or we will end up with ?onshore-offshore? countries competing to attract the sort of companies who brought the world economy to the brink. It is detailed, intricate, policy making that requires experience and good relationships with our partners across the world to deliver a new settlement that, I firmly believe, will set the world economy on a new path that places greater value on those who contribute to our community in terms of jobs, wealth and our wider society. 3) Do you accept that whilst the crime solving benefits of surveillance are considerable, there must surely be a level at which the costs to an individual's privacy and sense of freedom outweigh the potential benefits? Absolutely. But I have to take on board the views of good people I represent and deal with every day who often have committed their lives to improving their communities. If they tell me that their area needs CCTV simply to secure evidence to use against people who are making the lives of hundreds of people a misery through anti-social behaviour or open drug dealing I will side with them. But the provision of CCTV should be proportionate and subject to review. 4) Could the candidates please outline how they intend to offer this area (East Dulwich, Nunhead and the wider Southwark/South East London area) better transport links to other parts of London. Although I realise the Mayor has overall responsibility for transport in London, do any of the parliamentary or council candidates have a view/ have plans to propose measures to improve the connections between South East London and the rest of the city? Simple things often help. More people working on our railways with the dedication, tenacity, ingenuity and communication skills of Barry Jones - the area station manager - would make a massive impact and I would want to see our rail companies develop in a way that such exceptional public service is recognised, rewarded and encouraged. Just making it easier to use local transport can have a big impact. So I am very pleased that, from the end of this month, Southern Rail stations including East and North Dulwich will be staffed from first to last train as a consequence of the franchise negotiations that I was involved in as Minister for London and during which Ken Livingstone committed investment from TfL to fund inner London Metro rail services. The introduction of Oyster PAYG was also a specific condition of the new franchise - to focus minds - and it worked. From the end of May the ridiculous gaps in the morning peak service (7-9am) will be reduced so that the longest gaps will drop from 22 mins - much higher even than off peak - to 14 with many 10 or fewer. The core peak service from ED, for example, will change from: 7.03; 7.14; 7.29; 7.51; 8.05; 8.14; 8.35; 8.41; 8.56; 9.16 to: 7.05; 7.15; 7.29; 7.34; 7.46; 7.57; 8.04; 8.14; 8.27; 8.33; 8.45; 8.59; 9.04 I am sure that the extra trains and more even spacing will help relieve the difficult conditions that too many people have to endure. I have consistently raised this specific issue with the rail companies and Ministers and I am delighted that this change is now about to come. We will have the East London Line phase 2 opening in the near future (phase 1 opened with a limited service yesterday, 27/4 and there will be a full service from 23/5) that will give cross-platform choices at Peckham Rye (and access at Denmark Hill for ED bus users) for journeys towards Clapham Junction in the west and Docklands and beyond in the east. I supported the Cross River Tram that Ken backed and Boris scrapped and the Croydon tram extension to Crystal Palace that, well, Ken backed and Boris scrapped. I have supported the retention of the South London Line services that run between Victoria and London Bridge, making detailed representations on two different Rail Utilisation Strategy Consultations. I will continue to work with colleagues on this and have already had several discussions with Ministers on the subject. I am also campaigning to ensure that the ?Wimbledon Loop? Thameslink services through Herne Hill will continue to travel through the tunnel at Blackfriars after 2015. I think we should be looking at extending certain bus routes as a simple way to open up travel options - the extension of the 63 to Honor Oak, and the 68 to Crystal Palace to link into stations served by the phase 1 East London Line extension, for example. I have also always supported the extension of the 42 beyond Sunray Avenue to serve East Dulwich and Dog Kennel Hill. 5) I would like to ask the candidates what they would do to ensure that all local children can go to good local state primary and secondary schools (with the emphasis on good as well as local). This is an area where Labour has really delivered locally and, whilst I am MP, I will make sure it is always a top priority. Key Stage 2 achievement levels in East Dulwich primary schools in English, Maths and Science are up on average by over 25 percentage points since 1997. We have invested in schools, teachers and teaching assistants so that a local state primary school is now a natural, positive, choice for people locally. The same is true at secondary level. I was involved in the campaign to secure the Charter School where, initially, pupils from as far as Peckham Rye itself obtained places. Its success, meant that the catchment area shrank so new alternatives were needed. I worked with SchoolWorks to develop a ground-breaking strategy for the redevelopment of Kingsdale School. Tens of millions of pounds later and given the dedicated input of one of the most charismatic and effective Heads in the country and his staff, Kingsdale too, is a huge success and is now used by many East Dulwich parents when it was not before. I campaigned for a mixed secondary school for East Dulwich on the old Waverley site, working with the EDEN Campaign but our efforts were stymied by a lack of support from the Lib Dem administration. When Waverley school allowed the use of their lower site as temporary accommodation for the City of London Academy in Lib Dem Bermondsey, plans for a mixed school for East Dulwich were mysteriously dropped. I think it demonstrated weak political leadership by the Lib Dems. It is still a regret that there will be two single sex schools in East Dulwich - albeit confederated - rather than a mixed school, but we had to move on and look at new options that would serve the growing demand for secondary places in East Dulwich. I fully supported plans for the new Harris East Dulwich Boys? School on the Waverley lower site and I firmly believe that this will become a popular and achieving local school. I also believe that the Harris Girls? School will become a popular option for East Dulwich parents in years to come if the investment in our schools is protected as it will be by Labour. Last year when it became apparent that there were too few primary school places locally, I intervened because local parents told me they had been ignored by their Lib Dem councillors in East Dulwich when they tried to contact them. I set up an emergency meeting of parents - pointed out the inadequacies of Southwark?s creaking admissions system, agreed to work with the Lib Dem Leader of Southwark in an application for extra money that the government was making available, supported parents in their tussles with Southwark, lobbied Education Ministers again and again to put the Southwark (and Lambeth) case and helped to secure ?12 million of extra investment for Southwark (and ?9 million in Lambeth). Many of the improvements that Southwark are now trumpeting about an improved admissions team etc came out of this process where I facilitated a dialogue between East Dulwich parents and Council Officers that is continuing. The political leadership in Southwark is still too weak in its approach and has even put off notification of places until after the election - I believe for purely political reasons. I fear that their plans to deal with the surge in applications for local primary places may be inadequate. Lambeth faces similar problems but it will notify parents next week about primary school places, as usual, and has made detailed contingency for eleven extra primary classes this year. When Labour was first elected in 1997, teaching, as a graduate destination, was way down the list. Now it is one of the most popular destinations for graduates and it is attracting some of the brightest and the best. When I visit our local schools I am simply bowled over by what they are learning and how they are learning. I will always remember a down-the-line lesson from NASA that I witnessed, open-mouthed, at one of our local secondaries. When I was first elected as the MP for Dulwich in 1992 many of our local schools had ?temporary? classrooms that had been there for twenty years. Some even had outside toilets. All that has changed with unprecedented levels of investment including five new schools with more on the way. When pupils moved on at the end of year six they would often go on in their ones and twos to 30 or 40 different secondary schools - that too has changed. I believe that a good local school is one of the building blocks for a good, strong, local community. Fighting for more and better local primary and secondary schools when they are needed will always be the number one priority for me because I know that, when it comes to our children?s education, we can never go back and give our children a second chance. 6) Should the government departments treat humanist, secular and religious organisations equally in policy making, funding decisions and consultations? My personal view is yes. (Revised to reflect limited launch of East London Line Phase 1 extension on 27/4 and confirmed date for full service on 23/5)

A map of the new Dulwich and West Norwood Constituency has been created by my office and can be found by clicking here It's a Google map so you can zoom in and out etc. Tessa Jowell

Hi everybody, Just been shopping on Lordship Lane - where were you? ;-) I'm out and about tomorrow - advice session at Kingswood House followed by discussions with the police and private visits to relatives of a constituent who was the victim of a serious crime. West Norwood and Lordship Lane on Saturday and campaigning hard on Sunday. On Monday I am at an LGBT event at the Ritzy from 6pm to 8pm. On which subject - in case you've missed it - you can see the real face of David Cameron here: Proof, along with the recent comments by Chris Grayling, that the Tories are just pretending to be comfortable in modern, tolerant Britain, when actually they're just the same old Tories. What a beautiful day in East Dulwich. I love this time of the year when the blossom is just fantastic. Tessa Jowell

Mellors Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I copied in my letter which made exactly this > point to Tessa Jowell at the time the changes were > made to Leapers. I got no substantive > response.... A PM was sent to Mellors on this subject on 22nd March and an email was sent on 17th February. Tessa Jowell MP (Office)

An email has been sent to louisiana and a PM to lpool on the issues they have raised. Tessa Jowell MP (Office)

Last year the London South East RSPCA Branch chipped over 2300 animals including 107 at their last microchipping day in December. The next free microchipping day at the RSPCA shop in West Norwood will be this Sunday 7th February from 12 noon until 4pm. The shop is located at 380 Norwood Road, London SE27 9AA (opposite the end of Robson Road). The branch covers the whole of south-east London so I would reiterate my earlier advice that users of the East Dulwich Forum are welcome to take advantage of this session. And please do consider making a donation to support this and the other excellent work carried out by the RSPCA locally. More information here: New February chipping session Tessa Jowell MP Edited to add: Sorry - I had meant to include the following information from the RSPCA which will be helpful if you intend to take advantage of their chipping session this weekend: Free Microchipping Day - 7th February 2010 [Dogs on leads and Cats in baskets please] Sunday 7th February 2010 ? [12noon ? 4pm] RSPCA Charity Shop, 380 Norwood Road, London SE27 9AA No appointment is needed. If you have any queries please telephone us on 07952 680 522 or email [email protected] Free parking is available outside of the shop. Nearest train station is West Norwood (TJMP: unfortunately there is no direct service on Sunday to West Norwood from East Dulwich but there are trains to Tulse Hill - which is not far from the RSPCA shop - every 30 mins. They take 5 mins from East Dulwich Platform 2). We shall also be offering free health checks for your pet along with flea and worm products. Donations are welcome on the day.

There is now an update on Tessa's website following her meeting with FCC MD's on Friday. Click here Tessa Jowell (Office)

Just to confirm that Tessa will be meeting with the Managing Director of FCC and the Managing Director of First Group Rail Division on Friday to raise the understandable concerns over the performance of FCC in recent weeks and months. If you have any concerns that you would like to pass to Tessa ahead of this meeting, please email her directly at: [email protected]. Tessa Jowell - Office

It might be helpful to clarify the position on 'appropriate parliamentary activities'. Without boring you with details of protocol an EDM is basically a way for back-benchers to register concerns on an issue. It carries no legislative weight whatsoever and it is never itself debated - despite having the word 'motion' in it. There is a lot of information on this and similar subjects on the parliamentary website Parliamentary Website if you are interested. Tessa has already noted above that she is seeking an urgent meeting - I understand that she has requested one this Friday - with senior FCC representatives. She is also seeking a meeting with the Transport Secretary and she will in any case be bringing every single one of the individual concerns of her constituents who have contacted her on this matter to his direct and personal attention. She will indeed, TQ, make use of any and every other opportunity she has to raise this issue with Andrew Adonis. These actions are likely to be effective whilst putting her name to an EDM which would effectively be pointing out to herself that she is concerned about something would not. I hope this is helpful. Tessa Jowell (office)