I have left the business and creative capital of Europe, London, for the political capital of Brussels aboard the environmentally friendly Eurostar. To some in Woolwich and Plumstead, Europe may seem a long way off but actually we're part if it and it makes a difference to our lives every day.
So for workers, it means statutory holidays, parental rights, equal rights for part time workers and a maximum 48 hour week (which you can opt out of). For consumers (and that's everyone) it means mobile roaming charges have been more than halved, compensation for cancelled and over-delayed flights and the right to buy from anyone in Europe at no extra charge. And for local regeneration, the EU has helped fund skills training, credit unions and physical regeneration.
We all now have the right to work and study anywhere in Europe and the world's largest economy and single market brings added jobs and clout on the world stage.
Europe is not perfect of course, we need more say; we need to stop the farce of our European Parliament carting everything from Brussels off to Strasbourg every month and we spend too much subsidising inefficient farmers and too little on research and science to foster jobs and competitiveness. But nor is the UK perfect.
So, your vote for the European Parliament on 22 May (same time as local elections but a different ballot paper) will make a big difference. Labour MEPs will effectively fight within Europe for London, Tories ally themselves with a ragbag of right wing groups some of whom have very dubious histories while UKIP hardly ever show up or vote, letting London and Britain down. So do vote and have your say. We need Europe to take a lead for sustainable growth and jobs, as well as good air quality and our environment, for all of us.
http://www.eurolabour.org.uk
Thursday 20 February 2014
Wednesday 19 February 2014
Barnfield Hub - David Gardner
I left home early on Tuesday to catch the 53 bus to Barnfield to see the first part of the exciting new Barnfield Hub swing into place at 07.30. Met some of the great team of community leaders, all tenants on
the estate, who have worked so hard to bring a community centre back, a tenant making a video and the contractors doing the hard work on the day.
After being filmed, I had to leave just gone 08.00 to get to my work - but later that day the giant green crane swung a further four modules into place on the Plumstead Common Road end of the Barnfield estate where the old Somali Community hut used to stand. Both this and the brick community centre in the centre of the estate were victims of arsonists many years ago.
Since then, Barnfield has rediscovered its spirit with Big Local support to landscape a brilliant garden with play area for younger children (it has some tellytubby like hills!) and a hard court area for football for older children. They have a great voice and organise community days and trips out with a difference. As well as open coffee mornings every Tuesday at the Barnfield project. But now these will move to the new community centre, which just has to be securely fastened, fitted and landscaped with another soft play area adjacent.
Barnfield has come so far. There are still issues and councillors and candidates are helping to address those, especially with the limitations of the building structures. But a great community has risen, and this latest addition is definitely the start of a new chapter in the Barnfield renaissance.
Sunday 16 February 2014
Meet our councillor candidates - Harry Singh
Councillor Harry Singh is currently the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s Cabinet Member for Greener Greenwich and works as an Energy Project Manager at Medway NHS Trust Foundation. He joined the GLL board in 2012 and has enjoyed an illustrious career to date in Energy Management, working in both the public and private sectors.
Priding himself as an active member of the community, Harry Singh has served residents of the Royal Borough of Greenwich since being elected as a councillor in 2001. He has previously been a trustee of Demelza Children’s Care Hospice, Greenwich MIND, Blind Independence Greenwich, Greenwich Victim Support and the Greenwich Enterprise Board.
In addition, he has also been a school governor at three of the borough’s primary schools over the past ten years.Harry enjoys taking part in various sports and is passionate about the aims and objectives of GLL – and encouraging as many people as possible to lead an active lifestyle.
Harpinder Singh
Our Prospective Councillors (image)
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From left to right: David Gardner, Ambreen Hisbani and Harpinder Singh
New Community Hub Swings into Barnfield
I was up early this morning to see the new Barnfield Hub being swung into place, after the old centre was destroyed by Arson. All led by Barnfield Residents. Opening on 22nd Feb @ noon.
@David_Llew
David L Gardner
@David_Llew
020 8856 7488 (h) 07788 414182 (m)
Monday 10 February 2014
Shared Ownership Scheme - David Gardner
On my way up Bloomfield Road to our Eglinton Road listening canvass on Saturday morning, I spotted up towards Plumstead Common Road, this brand new block of yellow brick flats advertised as shared ownership on the market from £42000 for a 25% stake.
Under this scheme, you can own between 25-75% depending on your circumstances, and pay the rest in rent. It is one way (introduced by the last Labour Government) to bridge the gap if you don't have the savings or earnings for a mortgage on a flat or house but cannot find a decent rental property.
At least you get something back for your investment when you decide to sell and move elsewhere. It was brought home to me talking to some Woolwich Common residents who were privately renting just how extortionate rents can now be for private tenants in Woolwich - often £1000 per month for a 1 bed and £1200+ for a two bed. Sometimes, these are leasehold properties bought from the council at some stage under Right to Buy. So someone can be renting from the council paying £100 a week with a secure tenancy while next-door in a private flat, their neighbour will be forking out £225 per week with repairs neglected and the danger of being given notice at any time. While there are many good private landlords who adopt the highest standards on safety, security and repair - there are many absent, draconian landlords who do everything by cash or through shady middle-men (or women).
For many, it is a constant drift from one sub-standard property to another trying to keep head above water. This is why I strongly support a landlord registration scheme like that pioneered in Newham http://www.newham.gov.
Friday 7 February 2014
Meet our councillor candidates - David Gardner
As a councillor from 2002-6, David spearheaded the campaign to ensure we had a Woolwich Crossrail station that will now transform job, leisure and travel opportunities for Woolwich residents. He also successfully campaigned for the total transformation of the old crime-ridden Master Gunners estate as the new mixed Woolwich Green.
David is Chair of the Charlton Society, coordinator of the Charlton Rail Users' Group and a Governor of both a primary and secondary school. He has been Chair of John Roan School, leading the rebuilding programme.
He is married with three student daughters and enjoys running, travel and reading. He is passionate about making a difference.
Wednesday 5 February 2014
Walpole - David Gardner
What a wonder is Walpole. From a distance, Walpole Place looks like many other post-war council-built blocks of flats. But, look beyond first impressions and you soon discover it is a little oasis in the heart of Woolwich - and shows what tenants, leaseholders and communities coming together can do. Your local Labour team were out meeting the people of Walpole a week last Saturday and of course, it has its challenges and many people are struggling to find a job, and those in work to make ends meet. But what Walpole has is community - and pride. Back in the 1990s, the pioneering Labour council led by Len Duvall, established Walpole as an Estate Management Board (EMB) where the council retain the ownership and carry out major repairs, but everything else is run by the tenants with a delegated budget out of the rents they pay. And, obviously with a few twists and turns, it has gone from strength to strength.
There is great security and a concierge, people feel safe. The entrance is welcoming, not any graffiti or litter in sight but pictures of past events and celebrations. The front garden is tidy and colourful, easy on the eye. Then there is an array of activities for all ages and communities, helping people earn English, or celebrate Tibetan culture the morning we were there, or gardening and much else. This helps the finances and brings people together. And at the back is the real discovery, a tremendous garden, play and activity area, peace wall and a wooded wilderness area - all in the centre of Woolwich where the children and families of Walpole can play and relax safely to their heart's content - all created the imagination, determination, creativity and fundraising of the Walpole residents and their EMB. They also mange the minor repairs, caretaking (excellent) and grounds maintenance as well as security. The benefits are significant - a sense of pride and community, tenants feeling they are in charge all meaning much lower crime, lower rent arrears, little if any vandalism, fewer people moving out and thus fewer voids and much greater neighbourliness - so important for our quality of life and sense of happiness.
So let's hear it for Walpole - and very much a model that tenants and leaseholders in other blocks and estates should look to - a tenant-led partnership with the council that delivers stronger communities
David L Gardner
Woolwich Common Labour Councillor Candidate,
First post
This blog is intended for the candidates for councillors for the Woolwich Common branch of the Labour Party.
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