Southwark Liberal Democrats’ campaign for new schools in the borough was given a boost this week with a visit from the Minister for Schools, David Laws MP. The Liberal Democrat minister met parents and local councillors in East Dulwich to discuss the shortage of school places in Southwark and what the Government is doing to […]

East Dulwich councillor Rosie Shimell has given her thanks for the support and donations received for her London marathon challenge earlier this month. Rosie completed the 26 mile course in the sunshine on Sunday 21 April to raise funds for the Southwark News / Evelina Children’s Hospital appeal. She finished in 5 hours and 9 […]

Southwark Council refuse collectors have seemingly been caught fly-tipping the streets they are supposed to be cleaning up. A video shot by a resident at Stephenson Crescent, South Bermondsey, seems to show council workmen putting boxes onto an existing pile of rubbish next to a bin storage area, rather than taking it away. Local councillor […]

A cross-party committee of Southwark councillors will be examining what went wrong with the botched refurbishment of Draper House. Work on the tower block at Elephant was halted after a gas leak left a resident in hospital. Repairs contractor Breyer has now had its contract with Southwark Council “concluded”. Now the council’s Housing, Environment, Transport and Community […]

Liberal Democrats have responded to plans for a major new dementia centre in Southwark, citing concerns about the consultation process and lack of detail about what benefits a new centre may bring. A new ‘Centre of Excellence’ has been proposed in the borough to help care for older dementia sufferers, but may come at the […]

Southwark Liberal Democrats will be raising the issue of the deadly ash dieback disease at a meeting of the full council next week. There have been 200 confirmed cases of the disease in the UK so far, and there are fears it may spread to London boroughs. Southwark has over 3,000 ash trees on public […]

Labour councillors in Southwark have been criticised for putting public money into a luxury ‘sky lounge’ instead of affordable homes. Last week Southwark Council approved planning permission on a 50-storey residential tower at Blackfriars Bridge, which will not include any affordable homes. Instead the council has chosen to accept cash from developers to buy out […]

Southwark Council spent half a million pounds on temporary staff for local nurseries last year, according to new figures obtained by Southwark Liberal Democrats. That is despite the council reviewing the future of four centres that it says have become financially unviable. Local councillors have questioned why so much is being spent on agency fees […]

Local Liberal Democrats have called on the council to apologise and make amends after workers pulled up flowers planted by residents on Great Dover Street. The flowers, set in tree pits at the Trinity Street piazza outside The Roebuck pub, were removed on Saturday by council workers without warning. That is despite being planted with […]

Southwark Liberal Democrats have welcomed the council’s decision to halt the closure of two nurseries after a high-profile campaign by local parents. Bishop’s House Children’s Centre in Kennington Park Place and South Bermondsey Children Centre in Tenda Road were both facing the axe, but have been given a stay of execution whilst the council reviews […]