16 OPINION www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters
Southwark News, Thursday February 23 2023
Comment
MP on the problem of anti-social behaviour and the investigation into his conduct in Parliament
T
he epidemic of antisocial behaviour under the Tories continues, and not all of it involving their ‘lockdowning street’ parties!
There were 1.1 million anti-social behaviour incidents last year, that’s 3,000 a day and it is a serious issue raised with me every week. I am holding a meeting in south Bermondsey with council representatives, local police and people affected. Some dismiss antisocial behaviour as ‘low level’ but it blights lives, provides funds and participants for other serious crimes and has been deprioritised
under the Tories who cut 23,000 police officers and PCSOs without considering the consequences or damage to communities across the country. In Southwark, anti-social behaviour includes what police call ‘cuckooing’ where criminals take advantage of an isolated or vulnerable person, usually older or with addiction issues, and use their property to commit a range of crimes, often involving drugs. Colin Wingrove, Southwark’s outgoing Borough Commander, deserves credit for pursuing new methods to tackle this crime and it is a shame to lose him from Southwark but he goes upwards to Scotland
from
Westminster
NEIL COYLE
MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark Yard in the next step of his career. If antisocial behaviour is affecting your neighbourhood, then please let me or your councillors know. There are means to tackle the problems but I am also seeking greater powers for the police and social landlords like councils to tackle cuckooing and other problems. Labour would provide 13,000 dedicated neighbourhood police to help address the issue if the next election propels the Tories into the obliteration they deserve for the damage they’ve done to our economy and country. In personal news, I’m expecting the parliamentary investigation’s report
out very soon into the trouble I got myself into last year when drinking got the better of me. I’m deeply proud to serve such a vibrant, diverse community here in Southwark with such an amazing hospitality sector providing fun and jobs for local people. It has been great to sample the 0% alcohol beers since stopping drinking almost exactly a year ago. I’ve always been a big drinker, having been served in pubs from about the age of 14 to representing the Bermondsey Beer Mile and even getting ‘Bermondsey Best’ behind Stranger’s Bar in Parliament but I was not in control by the end of
‘Doing more with what we already have - I take a look at the council’s action plan on climate’
A
cheerful ribbon of daffodils on Peckham Rye this week points towards spring, new activity and renewal. So I took the opportunity to look through the council’s action plan on climate: www. southwark.gov.uk/environment/ climate-emergency/reachingnet-zero/our-plan-for-net-zero
The sections on energy and greener buildings show the most progress. All council operational buildings now have electricity from green tariffs. That’s a quick and easy win - something everyone who pays an energy bill can do. There has been some action to cut energy waste in council
buildings, with the installation of air source heat pumps and solar panel schemes; and a successful funding bid to install air source heat pumps in Brunswick and Crampton primary schools. The council’s new licensing scheme in some areas of Southwark means they will be able to enforce minimum energy standards for landlords. This should mean landlords investing in insulation and repairs to draughty windows – leading to better living conditions for renters. But even in the buildings section, there are boxes ticked which give no idea of any real impact. One action is to establish an advice service for homeowners. Apparently the
council has contacted 500 homes to tell them they are eligible for retrofit – but this doesn’t tell us how many people read the letter, let alone took the next steps. And this is dwarfed by the recent announcement that Maydew House in Bermondsey is to be demolished, after the council has already spent over £15 million on it. For comparison, look at the French architects Lacaton and Vassal, who refurbish tower blocks with low cost materials, creating winter gardens and balconies to increase space and improve comfort and energy use. Anne Lacaton says their work is about ‘doing more and better with what is already existing.’ Demolition
is ‘a waste of many things—a waste of energy, a waste of material, and a waste of history. Moreover, it has a very negative social impact. For us, it is an act of violence.’ It’s clear that some changes take time, expertise and cooperation. That’s why I’m so keen on the proposal to ‘embed climate change awareness across the council’. What has happened to this action? According to the report, the council ‘delivered training to new councillors’. What about the existing councillors? What about the 4,000+ people directly employed by the council? Let’s train and empower them to make real change across Southwark.
last January and had to stop for my health, for my six year old daughter and to better serve our community. As ever, the level of support locally has been truly amazing – with organisations and people dropping by to offer advice and help. One longstanding drinking buddy even gave up alongside me in an act of craziness/heroism depending on your viewpoint! I’m proud to have helped around 5,000 people last year with a range of issues and will step up this effort as well as seek new ways to thank the community that has given me so much. Thank you for your continued support!
Southwark
Green eleanor margolies Eleanor Margolies writes about theatre and on environmental issues, and is an active campaigner for urban green spaces and clean air. www.eleanormargolies.co.uk @ellanOrnell
