Quite an exciting week. As even Clement Attlee might have said.
On Tuesday evening, went to a well attended meeting of voluntary organisations and local residents at the Methodist Hall on Albion Way, in Lewisham Town Centre. There is clearly a lot of unhappiness about the genuineness of the Council's consultation with the local community on the plans to develop Lewisham's Town Centre, including how £600k for a 'community asset' is going to be spent. This is clearly going to be a big issue for the future. Also got to taken to task by Sundermeade residents about no progress being made on the issues raised with the Mayor when he visited in February. I feel a question for Full Council coming on.
On Wednesday, went to a meeting between local residents in the Clarendon Rise and Albion Road area and Council highways officers. Residents are concerned that the new road traffic scheme in that area might result in significantly increased traffic flows. That does not seem to have happened so far, except at peak periods when traffic is heavy along Molesworth Road and Lee High Road. But it's early days yet. The signage for the scheme was now in place, and the cameras policing the new bus lanes were operational. Shortly, people caught on camera violating the bus lines will be sent warning letters. In a few weeks time, they will get fined.
I am waiting for the reaction.
Thursday was General Election day. Attended the count for the Deptford constituency. Saw Joan Ruddock's votes being weighed, although not so many as last time. Columba Blango, the Liberal Democrat candidate, increased our vote and pushed the Tories into third place. Deptford was a Green target seat, and I sense Darren Johnson was bitterly disappointed with fourth place. Felt rather sorry for him. The reaction of his Labour colleague, Cllr Terry Scott, was somewhat different.
But that's what you get with a rubbish electoral system. Where one party can govern with only 36% of the votes. Wouldn't happen in any other country in civilised Europe.
Mixed result for all the parties, I would say. All were hoping to do better, and probably relieved not to have done worse. On balance, a good overall result for the Liberal Democrats, but I seem to have helped turn a Tory majority of 200 in Orpington into one of 5,000. :-(
Sorry to see my Minister, Chris Pond, lose at Gravesham. A good bloke. We're going to need to train a new DWP Minister for Europe.
But that pales into insignficance with the Cabinet changes announced over the weekend.
Especially the one involving DWP. About which I couldn't possibly comment.
Had a surgery at St Swithun's church on Saturday and 50 people came.
It was a wedding. So my Council duties extended to ushering and providing baby changing facilities.
On Sunday, visited a consituent on Wellmeadow Road who had been experiencing a great deal of hassle from the builders next door, and was exasperated at the lack of support from the Council.
