1)    Southwark Police - Enhanced Investigation Service to Robbery Victims + The Immobilise Property Register (Updated @ 27-5-2007) (Web Link :  http://rotherhithe0001a.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!13812BBE54BAD78D!405.entry )

2)    “Nuisance Bikes Briefing”, a 6-Page report issued by Safer Southwark Partnership (“SSP”) that contains a lot of useful information including explanation of the important legal issues and illustrative pictures of the different types of motorcycles to help correct identification of them.  A copy of the report as well as the photograph of a metallic sculpture of "Crushed RAMs" - a Southwark Council's Community Safety Publicity Campaign in 2006 - can be accessed via the Web Link :  http://rotherhithe0001a.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!13812BBE54BAD78D!189.entry 

The proposed new bridge linking Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf could still be on the cards, as a long awaited report is due for release.

The organisation behind the proposals, sustainable transport charity Sustrans, say they are expecting the report - which will discuss the ambitious engineering requirements needed for the scheme - by the end of this week.

Once the report has been completed, it will be sent to Transport for London (TFL) for the organisation to give their opinion on the scheme. If TFL are in favour, the chances of securing the multi-million pound funding necessary become far higher. The charity say they are also in talks with both Southwark and Tower Hamlets councils, in the hope the authorities will help foot the bill, should the scheme become a reality.

The proposal was also boosted last month when Sustrans received a £50m grant for its 'Connect2' project - a nationwide scheme to improve cycling and walking infrastructure. One of the schemes to benefit was the plan to convert the disused viaduct by South Bermondsey station into a walking and cycle path. Whilst the money could not be spent on the bridge, it further cemented Sustrans’ reputation as serious national players.

The initial idea was for the bridge to link the northern tip of Rotherhithe - the area around the Hilton Hotel and Surrey Docks Farm - to the Limehouse Reach area on the southern tip of Canary Wharf. However, specific locations for the proposed bridgeheads are yet to be decided.

A report released in November 2006 estimated the cost of the bridge at around £30m, but also said the project was unlikely to be completed in time for the London Olympic Games in 2012 - an opinion now accepted by all connected with the scheme.

With the capital's main political institutions now operating within a 'purdah' period caused by the official calling of this year's Mayoral elections, it is highly unlikely a response will now be produced before the start of May.

However, with the potential for new blood in City Hall come May 1, the ambitious bridge may soon be moved well up the list of the capital's political priorities.  

Message Received: Feb 24 2006, 01:05 PM
From: "Jenny Jones"
To: Andrew.Boag@tfl-buses.co.uk
Cc: kam@khleung.fsnet.co.uk, Lisa.Rajan@eurorscg.com
Subject: 395 bus service

Dear Andrew

The 395 is a much needed route from limehouse to surrey quays, and I am strongly against the idea that it could be axed.

Local residents need it and TfL must recognise that.

Jenny Jones AM
Green Party Group
London Assembly

City Hall
The Queen's Walk
London SE1 2AA
Tel: 0207 983 4391
Fax: 0207 983 4398

Rotherhithe bus services

I am writing to appeal to TfL to overturn the decision to withdraw the 395 bus route.

The bus provides a crucial connection for residents both within the Rotherhithe area and across the river.  The bus provides the only public transport link for parts of the peninsular such as Timber Pond Road to Canada Water Station and Tescos Surrey Quays.

The route is particularly important when signalling problems occur on the East London Line, resulting in its temporary closure, as occurs on occasion. The bus allows people to get across the river to the DLR at Limehouse.

I appreciate that the bus is currently underutilised. However, I believe that this is in large part due to the route being so short. I would propose that TfL examine options for extending the route, perhaps to Canary Wharf, which would make the route useful for more passengers.

I note that we are still awaiting a decision regarding the C10 bus route. I would like to reiterate that I believe it is crucial that the C10 serves the stops at Tescos Surrey Quays as well as Canada Water Station. This is a vital link for residents in the Rotherhithe Street and Redriff Road area.

Yours sincerely

Valerie Shawcross
Assembly Member for Lambeth & Southwark

Message Received: Feb 20 2006, 03:57 PM
From: Lisa.Rajan@eurorscglife.com
To: "Kam Hong Leung"
Cc: jackie.rose@canadawaterforum.org.uk, PADENWALLA@aol.com
Subject: Save the 395 bus service


Kam,

We have stepped up the campaign to save the 395 bus service, and I thought that local residents in your RSCF would be interested to know that there are good indications that TfL will consider keeping the 395 service from Surrey Quays to Limehouse if there is a high enough level of support from local residents. I am told that residents of Tower Hamlets are lobbying TfL as well, so if we can keep up the pressure on the south of the river we are more likely to be successful at getting TfL to retain this important service for all of us. I would be grateful if you could send this information around in your next circular, so that we can spread the word that there is a chance we can save one of the vital public transports links for Rotherhithe.

I have written the letter below, and Cllr Richard Thomas, Exec Member for Transport has also written to indicate his support - if residents would like to email Andrew Boag at TfL to voice their support for the 395 bus service, his email is Andrew.Boag@tfl-buses.co.uk. They plan to axe the route at the end of March, so the sooner people write in with objections, the better.

Many thanks,

Best regards,
Lisa Rajan
Liberal Democrat Councillor, Surrey Docks ward
Chair, Rotherhithe Community Council

Andrew Boag
Service Change Advocate - London Buses ,  Room 217 ,  172 Buckingham Palace Road ,  London  SW1W 9TN

Dear Andrew

Consultation 05018 - C10/225 route changes

C10
I very much welcome the proposal to extend the C10 bus route from Elephant & Castle to Canada Water and for the buses to be re-routed to serve St Thomas’ Hospital. The proposal has a great many benefits including:

·       Providing a direct link from Bermondsey and Rotherhithe to St Thomas’ Hospital

·       Linking residents in the Long Lane and Abbey Street area (which does not currently have a bus service) to Surrey Quays, Elephant & Castle, St Thomas’ and Victoria.

·       Providing a more frequent service between Canada Water Station and Rotherhithe Street

However, I would like to see one improvement to the C10 proposal. The C10 should also serve the bus stop at the Surrey Quays end of the Surrey Quays shopping centre – perhaps terminating here as the P12 and 395 do. It should serve the stops that are inside the grounds of the shopping centre, not just the nearby stops on Redriff Road, Lower Road or Rotherhithe Old Road.

Although Canada Water Station appears close to the shopping centre on the map it is at the opposite end from Tescos and is a long walk for people carrying heavy bags of shopping. A bus link between Rotherhithe Street and Tescos is essential if we are to persuade people to use public transport rather than their cars when shopping.

225
I am concerned about the proposal to terminate the 225 at Canada Water so that it no longer serves Rotherhithe Street. Although the new C10 service will be more frequent than the 225 it is only a small increase of 1 bus per hour. In the rush hour both the 225 and 381 buses are extremely busy between Canada Water Station and Rotherhithe Street/Salter Road.

The most direct pedestrian routes from the station to the housing on Rotherhithe Street involves walking through areas such as Russia Dock Woodland or along the Albion Channel. I recently carried out a survey of Rotherhithe & Surrey Quays residents that found that these were areas where people felt at risk. I include a copy of my report “Crime and the Fear of Crime in Rotherhithe & Surrey Quays” and I would like to draw your attention to the fear of crime map on page 9 and the explanatory text on pages 11 and 12.

The alternative of following the main roads means a very long walk along Surrey Quays Road, Redriff Road and then Rotherhithe Street. It is not surprising that catching the bus is a very popular option.

In my view the level of demand for this route is such that it would be preferably for the 225 to continue to serve the peninsular as well as having the new C10 route. The PTAL for the tip of the Rotherhithe peninsular is very low and I do not believe that 1 additional bus per hour is sufficient to cater for the ever-expanding population in this area.

I am mindful that there are problems with the 225 terminating at Bermondsey Station and that the current arrangements of the buses standing on Webster Road is not acceptable to residents. Therefore I would suggest that the 225 should terminate at Canada Water Station, but that it should run through the peninsular before it travels on to New Cross.

It seems to me that there are many alternative routes that could be considered. Two that occur to me are:

1.      Canada Water – right onto Surrey Quays Road – right onto Lower Road – Brunel Road – Rotherhithe Street – Redriff Road – Surrey Quays – onwards to Lewisham

2.      Canada Water – left onto Surrey Quays Road – Needleman St – Poolman Street – Timberpond Road – Ladago Mews – Salter Road – Redriff Road – Surrey Quays – onwards to Lewisham

Both these routes would have the benefit of giving additional services to the tip of the peninsular. They would also provide a direct link between the stops next to Tescos and the peninsular – a service which residents would really value. Option 2 would also serve the area currently covered by the 395 route which TfL are proposing to discontinue.

I hope that TfL will consider these options and any others that would result in improved bus links to both Canada Water Station and Tescos Surrey Quays for the residents on the peninsular.

I would be very happy to meet with you and to put you in touch with local residents’ groups to ensure we get the best possible bus services for the area.

Valerie Shawcross AM
Assembly Member for Lambeth & Southwark

Cc      Canada Water Consultative Forum (canadawater@timeandtalents.org.uk)
Redriff Tenant Association (info@redriff.org.uk)
Kam Hong Leung (Kam.Leung@Kraton.com)
Southwark Council Traffic Group (Chris.Mascord@southwark.gov.uk)

Rosie Schulz
Personal Assistant to Val Shawcross
LONDON Assembly Member for Lambeth and Southwark

tel: 020 7983 4401