News

Since we covered the tragic death of Myron Isaac-Yarde back in April there have been several other stabbings in the area, with at least one other being fatal. The level of anxiety and worry for young people, parents and families fearing the same fate for young people they know and love is huge. This week several community groups and organisations got together to discuss what can be done to raise awareness about knife crime and build confidence and self esteem among boys and youth in the area. Representatives from Somerville Adventure Playground, New Cross Learning, Queens Road Surgery, Ubuntu Social Living Network and NXG Trust decided to raise funds for an ongoing knife crime awareness campaign that will include: an exhibition that can move around the area placed in public spaces to inform and educate  people about knife crime and how to avoid it; short term and ongoing workshops for young people and their families as well as positive activities for young people to get involved locally. The group is concerned to work both in and with schools as well as community organisations where youth and family are involved. 

Raising funds in a climate of cuts to services is not going to be easy but there is a firm determination that this initiative has to be an ongoing campaign that will have impact among young people and families in New Cross and the surrounding area. 

The next meeting is Tuesday 1 November. If you are from an organisation or local group with an interest in this initiative, please contact jill.mountford@nxgtrust.org.uk to fund out more details of the next meeting. If you would like to donate to this initiative, please visit our fundraising page at: www.localgiving.org/charity/nxgtrust/project/stopknives. 

On 30th August there was a community meeting at New Cross Learning to discuss the planning application that Corals have submitted to change Barclays Bank into a betting shop. Cllrs Paul Bell and Brenda Dacres were present at the meeting, as well as the planning officer and representatives from Corals. Attendees voiced a wide range of objections to this proposal including the impact on antisocial behaviour in the local area, the exploitation of more vulnerable members of the community, and the visual impact on a key building of local historical interest.
The planning officer confirmed that there have been at least 50 objections submitted, and that this will therefore go to a planning committee (date still to be set, but this is likely to be in October). 
Three of our local councillors have already objected to this planning application. However, this means that they have no vote at the pending planning committee meeting. It is therefore vital that we let all those councillors who are likely to decide this application know how opposed the community is to letting a betting shop take over what is a flagship building for the local area. 
If you feel strongly about this pending planning application, please let your objections be heard by writing to the councillors who may have a role in deciding this application. We do not yet know which planning committee will hear this application, therefore it is important that you contact ALL the relevant councillors via these email addresses: 

Planning Committee A
Cllr_Abdeslam.Amrani@lewisham.gov.uk, 
Cllr_Andre.Bourne@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Obajimi.Adefiranye@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Amanda.DeRyk@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Maja.Hilton@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Stella.Jeffrey@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Roy.Kennedy@lewisham.gov.uk
Cllr_Pat.Raven@lewisham.gov.uk
Cllr_Alan.Till@lewisham.gov.uk
Cllr_James-J.Walsh@lewisham.gov.uk

Planning Committee B
Cllr_Joan.Reid@lewisham.gov.uk (Chair)
Cllr_Olurotimi.Ogunbadewa@lewisham.gov.uk (Vice-Chair)
Cllr_Mark.Ingleby@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Alicia.Kennedy@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Jim.Mallory@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Hilary.Moore@lewisham.gov.uk, 
Cllr_ John.Muldoon@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Jacq.Paschoud@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Gareth.Siddorn@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Susan.Wise@lewisham.gov.uk

Planning Committee C
Cllr_Paul.Bell@lewisham.gov.uk (Chair)
Cllr_Simon.Hooks@lewisham.gov.uk (Vice-Chair)
Cllr_Peter.Bernards@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Suzannah.Clarke@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Liam.Curran@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Brenda.Dacres@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_Helen.Klier@lewisham.gov.uk, 
Cllr_Jamie.Milne@lewisham.gov.uk,
Cllr_John.Paschoud@lewisham.gov.uk

If you are looking for information on health and social care services near you, try Lewisham’s Health and Social Care Directory. This hosts information on a very wide range of services provided in the borough, from benefit advice to counselling, weight management and alcohol misuse to volunteering opportunities, as well as pharmacies, dentists, opticians and health centres.

 

Changing Chapters are a community interest company supporting children (from aged 4 years), young people and vulnerable adults though bereavement, grief and loss, and related mental and emotional health problems. Email: info@changingchapters.com, tel: 07949 042127 or 07903711834.

www.changingchapters.com

The Primary Care Centre, Hawstead Road ,Catford, London SE6 4JH

The New Cross Gate Trust is pleased today to launch its new community directory. This directory aims to list all community and voluntary groups within New Cross and the surrounding area, as well many important local statutory services.

We hope that this will be a useful guide to local residents, in particular those who are new to the area, but really for anyone wanting to know what’s on where.

If you think your group should have been included in this directory, or you find any details that are out of date, please let us know. We will update this regularly.

Hope it’s useful!

NXG Trust.