Blanche Cameron

"Local Burial for Local People" Southwark cuts down trees on One Tree Hill for "local burial" but will sell plots (with a view) out-of-borough. Southwark Council claims it is ?running out? of burial space and the tree felling is to provide ?local burial for local people? according to Cllr Ian Wingfield, Southwark Council?s cabinet member for the environment and public realm. Yet if Southwark is so desperate for ?local burial for local people? why are they selling them to non-borough residents? Read Statement here: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/selling-burial-out-of-borough/4593740106 ICYMI: Area B, Old Nursery Site, next to the Allotments and Rec Ground, Camberwell New Cemetery. Planning application for approximately 1000 graves on 3 acres site in Honor Oak Nature Corridor has been made public. We will be making a statement about this shortly. http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk:8190/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_9571538 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

UPDATE Area D1, The Glade, Camberwell New Cemetery, One Tree Hill As of 5:45 Thursday, tree cutters haven't arrived and works have not begun on vehicle access over public (poorer people's) graves or up the side of One Tree Hill Area B, Old Nursery Site, next to the Allotments and Rec Ground, Camberwell New Cemetery Planning application for approximately 1000 graves on 3 acres site in Honor Oak Nature Corridor has been made public. We will be making a statement about this shortly. http://planbuild.southwark.gov.uk:8190/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=_STHWR_DCAPR_9571538 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

FOCC/SSW will be on One Tree Hill at 11AM.

LATEST The Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries, the Save Southwark Woods campaign, has asked people to write to Southwark Council to ask them to stop tree felling immediately ? it?s bird nesting season. And to stop cutting trees for new burial plots, full stop. Southwark Council is cutting trees in The Glade, Camberwell New Cemetery woodlands on One Tree Hill, over the fence from One Tree Hill Nature Reserve on the Honor Oak Nature Corridor. Write to Ian Wingfield, Sadiq Khan and others. Details at this link: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/stop-felling-in-nesting-season/4593735109 ONE TREE HILL SITE(Area D1) As of last night, the half acre worksite was inactive. We are awaiting tree cutters today. Go to the highest part of Camberwell New Cemetery (260 feet above sea level)and take photos. We will be there at 11AM. Photo attached is from One Tree Hill Local Nature of workmen in Area D1 on New Cemetery land. We have asked Mr. Wingield for a site visit inside Area B, but also to Area Z in the Old Cemetery, but he has not replied to us. UNDERHILL ROAD WOOD, CAMBERWELL OLD CEMETERY (Area Z): As of yesterday afternoon, the site was quiet. We are awating work to restart, stripping the few remaining bits of nature and start mounding over the graves of 48,000 poor Londoners. OLD NURSERY SITE, CAMBERWELL NEW CEMETERY (Area B) Southwark Council's planning application has been received by Southwark Council to turn the football pitch sized green land next to Honor Oak Park train station and also in the Honor Oak Nature Corridor (HONC). What an absolute waste of inner London greenspace. We shall be at The Glade - or whatever it is now - at 11AM today. If you would like to meet with us and see what the Council has wrought on the beautiful hill, please come. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

Come and witness an environmental crime in your own back garden. Photo attached was taken in the One Tree Hill Nature Reserve on One Tree Hill yesterday afternoon. The view is across the boundary fence into Camberwell New Cemetery. Today, 12 noon Wednesday 15th March 2017 Southwark Council are cutting a quarter of an acre of trees in bird nesting season in the buffer zone on One Tree Hill next to the Ancient Woodland Nature Reserve, part of the Great North Wood. The Glade. The highest point in Camberwell New Cemetery, Brenchley Gardens SE23 3RD (not the Old Cemetery on Forest Hill Road but the NEW Cemetery). Enter the cemetery from the Main Gate and walk up the hill to the right. Or coming from Honor Oak Park Station, enter the cemetery and walk to the left. Our notice: [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] or call Lewis 07886 504 221 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods

Come and witness an environmental crime in your own back garden. Today, 12 noon Wednesday 15th March 2017 Southwark Council are cutting a quarter of an acre of trees in bird nesting season in the buffer zone on One Tree Hill next to the Ancient Woodland Nature Reserve, part of the Great North Wood. They've cleared the smaller trees. Fences are up. The Council are moving fast. The Glade. The highest point in Camberwell New Cemetery, Brenchley Gardens SE23 3RD (not the Old Cemetery on Forest Hill Road but the NEW Cemetery). Enter the cemetery from the Main Gate and walk up the hill to the right. Or coming from Honor Oak Park Station, enter the cemetery and walk to the left. Closest train station (10 minutes) is Honor Oak Park. Our notice: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/witness-enviromental-crime/4593733289 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

MEETING Campaign to save the beauty and the heritage of the cemetery meets today at The Herne, East Dulwich at 7:30PM. All are welcome. Trees are being cut now. Graves are being mounded over. NEW VIDEO Here is the link to a video shot yesterday about the fencing that is being put up on One Tree Hill. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

STATEMENT Southwark Council has begun cutting down trees on One Tree Hill in Honor Oak for burial plots. See attached map of the area. We are expecting hoardings to go up today so tree cutters can take down dozens of trees in the Glade. When they are done there will no more glade and One Tree Hill will be scarred forever for 121 burial plots. Late last week Southwark?s chainsaws returned to Victorian Camberwell Old Cemetery. They cut down 20 trees outside the hoardings on consecrated ground which were unmarked on council planning applications. Hundreds of trees above 75mm at 1.5 metres have now been cut down for subsidised burial in inner London, unfit for almost half of those who require burial, above the graves of paupers and the nation's soldiers. To read more: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/trees-cut-down-for-city-burial/4593725953 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

Yesterday the campaign was in The Times. "Church allows burials again at war cemetery" http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/church-allows-burials-again-at-war-cemetery-jgctzznkn (Paywall) Also the Telegraph: "War graves lost as court gives council permission to bury civilians on top of World War I soldiers" http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/10/war-graves-lost-court-gives-council-permission-bury-civilians/ Also on ITV and LondonLive. If you have recorded it please contact us. Lovely day to visit what is left of the woods on Underhill Road in Camberwell Old Cemetery and on One Tree Hill in Camberwell New Cemetery. Visit: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/visit/4589491794 Thank you everyone who came on such short notice to the demonstration. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

The Cemeteries cause made the Telegraph today. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/10/war-graves-lost-court-gives-council-permission-bury-civilians/ DEMONSTRATION ON ONE TREE HILL STOP THE CUTTING OF TREES ON ONE TREE HILL Meet at Camberwell New Cemetery Main Gates 12pm Saturday 11th March Meet 12pm Camberwell New Cemetery Gates Brenchley Gardens SE23 3RD Southwark Council started felling trees on One Tree Hill yesterday, next hoardings, then the tree cutters come in. Cutting down trees for 121 burial plots About today: [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

The Cemeteries cause made the Telegraph today. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/10/war-graves-lost-court-gives-council-permission-bury-civilians/ DEMONSTRATION ON ONE TREE HILL STOP THE CUTTING OF TREES ON ONE TREE HILL Meet at Camberwell New Cemetery Main Gates 12pm Saturday 11th March Meet 12pm Camberwell New Cemetery Gates Brenchley Gardens SE23 3RD Southwark Council started felling trees on One Tree Hill yesterday, next hoardings, then the tree cutters come in. Cutting down trees for 121 burial plots MORE INFO: [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

DEMONSTRATION ON ONE TREE HILL STOP THE CUTTING OF TREES ON ONE TREE HILL Meet at Camberwell New Cemetery Main Gates 12pm Saturday 11th March Meet 12pm Camberwell New Cemetery Gates Brenchley Gardens SE23 3RD Southwark Council started felling trees on One Tree Hill yesterday, next hoardings, then the tree cutters come in. Cutting down trees for 121 burial plots MORE INFO: [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

TREES BEING CUT ON ONE TREE HILL - 13 SO FAR - DOZENS TO COME - DEMO CALLED SATURDAY 12PM Emergency Demo For One Tree Hill: 12pm Saturday 11th March Meet 12pm Camberwell New Cemetery Gates Brenchley Gardens SE23 3RD Southwark Council started felling trees on One Tree Hill this morning. Southwark is denying any trees have yet been felled as they are required to carry out bird and bat roost assessments before beginning. Southwark says "only ground vegetation cleared". More trees to come scarring One Tree Hill for generations. MORE INFO: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/demo-for-one-tree-hill/4593718959 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

STATEMENT: CHURCH ASKS COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION NOT TO PUT MEMORIALS ON THE GRAVES OF LOCAL POOR WW1 SOLDIER'S GRAVES Callous Southwark Council wants to sell ?new? burial plots over the graves of forty-eight local First World War soldiers. And the Church of England has said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission do not need to mark the poor soldiers? graves - to avoid making them seem special and for 'practical purposes', that is, to allow Southwark to bury on top of them. To read more... http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/48-ww1-soldiers-graves/4593715253 Disrespect for the Nation's soldiers is another reason why Southwark's burial strategy must be stopped. TODAY'S SOUTHWARK NEWS ONLINE "Cabinet member reacts to accusations of 'religious discrimination' from Save Southwark Woods campaigners" https://www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/southwark-diocese-approves-council-plans-hundreds-new-burial-plots-fought-cemeteries/ Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

This week's Southwark News, in full. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

MEETING Meeting today of the Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries /Save Southwark Woods Campaign. 730PM at The Herne, 2 Forest Hill Rd, London SE22 0RR across from Peckham Rye Park. We will be discussing what actions we are taking regarding the pending planning applications for the destruction of three acres of Honor Oak Nature Corridor land for just 3 or 4 years of burial plots. We will be discussing what actions we will take regarding the continuing destruction of the Underhill Road woods and graves of local people. And what we will be doing to stop the cutting down of up to 60 trees on One Tree Hill for fewer than 145 burial plots with lovely views of London - to be made available for purchase by people from outside Southwark. Further actions: To alert potential new plot purchasers in the cemeteries that new burial plots are currently on top of the graves of deceased local residents, and that shortly the newly buried will be sharing the graves of deceased local residents. Families Meeting: 18th March gathering of local people concerned about their loved one's graves being mounded over and dug up for new burials. OTHER For those who missed it: South London Press article (attached) Uproar of local people concerned over Church of England's support of mounding over local people's graves and of digging up local people's graves. FOCC/SSW are for the stopping - except for those deceased with current burial rights - all burial in inner city London - including Southwark. And for the graves of local residents to be protected and the nature, used by local residents, to be protected. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

One must ask these questions, as well Do you support the digging up of local peoples' graves to provide burial plots for local people on top of the remains of local people? Do you support the mounding over of local people's graves to create local burial plots for local people? Do support destroying the memorials and heritage of local families to create local burial plots for local people? Do you support Southwark treating the poor and working class dead of Southwark buried in public graves worse than the rich dead in private graves to create local burial plots for local people. Do you support cutting down trees and undergrowth and scarring the historic and beautiful One Tree Hill - a hill which people fought to save from development over 100 years ago - to create local burial plots for local people? Do you support spending millions of pounds to subsidise local burial plots for local people - when other local people are facing cutbacks in local services - when there are cheaper, fairer alternatives? Do you support creating a greater flood risk for local people to local create burial plots for local people? Do you support creating subsidised local burial plots for local people when as many as half of all local people who ask for burial cannot bury locally and must go outside the borough at greater cost? Do you support discriminating against Muslims, Jews and others who have needs that are not being met by Southwark's plans to create local burial plots for local people, in possible violation of the law, to create local burial for local people? Do you support selling local burial plots to those from outside the borough without ties to the borough which were created to provide local burial plots for local people? Do you support digging up heavily-used sports fields and allotments to create local burial plots for local people? Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

The small "Muslim Area" in Nunhead Cemetery doesn't meet the requirements of most of the borough's residents who require Islamic funeral rites. We are waiting for the Council's explanation on how providing 7 Muslim burials in the borough compared with 420 non-Muslim burials doesn't represent a discriminatory policy. SOUTH LONDON PRESS Attached is a jpeg of "Graves Concern" - Full article in Friday's South London Press by Toby Porter Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

Sorry, I don't have a lot of time to spend on here. Thanks for your questions. Issues come up all the time which are worth publicising. Religious discrimination is one of these, along with flood risk, refusal to produce financial information on spending to date and so on, as well as the main issues of the destruction of valuable inner city greenspace and graves. [We will be holding a meeting soon for the families who concerned about their loved one's resting places. I will let you know when and where that will be.] Southwark tries to justify the destruction by claiming it is to provide burial for ALL residents, regardless of their religious practices. But they are not doing this, as their own figures show. As EdAus pointed out, the Equality Act 2010 prohibits local authorities from providing services which appear not to discriminate but, in fact, do so in the way they are delivered ('indirect discrimination'). I would hope everyone would feel that discriminating against residents because of their religion is wrong. If you feel differently, that's your right obviously. But Southwark has a duty to provide services fairly and proportionately. Other boroughs are investing in burial space for all residents' needs on the edge of the city. Southwark's cemeteries were on the edge of the city too when they were created. Most questions can be answered on our website. Click on NEWS at http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/news/4588391437. If anyone wants to meet up and have a chat I'd be very happy to, or feel free to email me about anything: [email protected] and I'll try and reply quickly. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

FOI Request regarding discrimination: 7 Muslims are buried in Southwark Cemeteries every year, on average, against 244 Christians - a Freedom of Information request shows. And that doesn't count the 176 people of other, non-Islamic faiths, including Humanists, Hindus, and Others. That's 420 to 7 - every year. Read it here in full, including Southwark's data: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/foi-religious-discrimination/4593695024 Muslim residents make up about 10% of Southwark?s population of just over 300,000 ? that?s 30,000 people. But they make up between one third and a half of all residents whose faith requires them to bury their dead. We believe Southwark's burial provision to be illegal and is just one reason why burial in Southwark cannot continue. Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods campaign are not seeking to stop burial - only to stop burial in Southwark's Cemeteries. People's existing rights to interment in the cemeteries must be respected. Southwark is disrespecting the dead and their families by mounding over graves and by working to remove the rights of those that were buried in perpetuity. It is Southwark who will be digging up the dead to sell burial plots. Our position is that these are cemeteries and should remain cemeteries, with respect for the dead. If you have a question which you feel has not been answered by me, please email or call me. We also meet most Tuesday's at The Herne Tavern. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

Camberwell Cemetery made the South London Press Church of England let town hall chiefs clear out cemetery for more grave space https://www.londonnewsonline.co.uk/19143/church-england-let-town-hall-chiefs-clear-cemetery-grave-space/ "Councillor Ian Wingfield, cabinet member for environment and public realm, said: We are delighted that the Diocese has approved our plans to create more burial spaces in Southwark. Local people will now continue to have the choice to be buried locally, rather than being forced to pay higher costs for burials outside of the borough." Many, if not most Muslims and Jewish residents in the borough, are denied the benefit of being buried locally at lower cost. Religious discrimination - asking Muslims and Jewish residents to pay taxes for burial they cannot use - is just one of many reasons why Southwark?s burial project must stop at once. You cannot provide burial for some residents and not others - especially when they are at least a third if not half of your residents who need burial. And Southwark is spending millions subsidising these ?new? burial plots. Subsidies per plot are at least ?1,000 and quite possibly ?3,000 or more in real terms - in this time when Southwark is cutting back on other services. Blank cheque for burial: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/blank-cheque-burial-service/4593627679 It is the position of the Friends that those with rights for additional interments in the Cemeteries should be allowed to use them. The Friends are fighting to save all the 100 acres of the Camberwell Cemeteries and make them Nature Reserves with respect for the dead and their memorials and land for the living ? for health, happiness and the common good into the future. The playing fields, allotments, wooded hillsides and Honor Oak Nature corridor land are too valuable as they are to be used for burial. Statement from 17 December 2016 On letting the cemeteries return to nature: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/first-rewilding-of-cemeteries/4591351349 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries. Old Nursery Site Statement: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/inner-city-burial-land-grab/4592635119

NEWS: CHURCH RULING BACKS DESTRUCTION OF INNER CITY WOODS AND GRAVES As expected, the Diocese of Southwark retrospectively approved Southwark Council cutting down acres of woods in the Camberwell Cemeteries to mound over thousands of graves and cut down woods on One Tree Hill for inner city burial plots. The Diocese ignored more than 900 written objections, with just 3 letters in support of Southwark?s destructive schemes. Below, in part, is what the Diocese of Southwark has decided to support: Destruction of acres of inner city woods and green space: Two acres of woods felled in Camberwell Old Cemetery. Dozens of trees to be cut down on One Tree Hill in Camberwell New Cemetery - including 10 English Oaks. Disrespect and desecration of graves: Removal of family memorials, mounding over 48,000 graves including driving vehicle access roads over graves on One Tree Hill. Digging up the dead: Mass exhumation will be acceptable even though no families have been consulted, paving the way for Southwark to dig up graves on an industrial scale. http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/grave-reuse-unacceptable/4593658115 Burial over and in other people?s graves: Also perfectly acceptable, even though it is against many people?s faiths and personal wishes, including many Muslims, Jews and Christians. Promoting systemic religious discrimination: Burial plots are unsuitable for a third of residents by faith, yet Southwark?s discriminatory burial service is not mentioned once in the eight page judgment, even though this was one of the major objection points to Southwark?s schemes. Link to statement: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/church-supports-project/4593686592 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

EDAus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > It could be argued that the council's current > policy of reusing certain sections of the cemetery > is indirect discrimination as it fails to > accommodate the needs of some religious residents > i.e. Muslim or Jewish residents. > > The council would be within their rights to argue > the defence of 'a proportionate means of achieving > a legitimate aim' - the only way in which they can > continue to provide burial services to the > community, of which their is clear evidence of > demand, is to use all the available resources at > their disposal i.e. reuse of the land within the > existing cemetery. Most inner London boroughs do not provide burial within their borough. Providing burial within one's borough is not a statutory service. Southwark cannot serve between one third and one half of those who require burial in the borough because of their faith. Religous discrimination, whether direct or indirect, is another reason why burial in Southwark must stop. Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries should become Memorial Park Nature Reserves. Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and the Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

oddlycurious Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hello Blanche - just so we're all clear, are you > calling for the council to provide extra burial > space for orthodox muslim and jewish burials in > the borough? You seem to be avoiding a yes or no > answer. Religious discrimination is just one more reason why Southwark must stop its misguided, wasteful, destructive and disrespectful burial project now. There is no room in the Borough to meet the demands of all the residents that require burial and Southwark should look elsewhere. 10 reasons for stopping the burial project: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/inner-city-burial-not-viable/4592656246 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.

MEETING Tonight 730 we are meeting at the Herne Tavern, 2 Forest Hill Road, London SE22 0RR. Everyone welcome. We will be discussing the upcoming gathering of families with loved ones buried in the cemeteries and are concerned that their family graves will be obliterated by new burial plots and paths. Also the impending planning applications for the three acres next to Honor Oak Park Station in the Honor Oak Nature Corridor. SOUTHWARK SUBSIDISES BURIAL Southwark Council quotes ?5.2Million as the total cost of its ?sustainable? burial strategy to create approximately 5000 burial plots. Those figures are over a half-decade old. Undoubtedy they will have to spend more money for fewer burial plots - probably as few as 2000. And that is just in preparing the ground for burial. They don't feel the need to give anyone the current figures. 'Sustainable' means having enough burial plots now to get to the point where they can begin digging up the dead. Subsidies per plot are at least ?1,000 and quite possibly ?3,000 or more in real terms. This doesn't include, for instance, the value of the land. You can read about the blank cheque given to burial in this time of cutbacks here: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/blank-cheque-burial-service/4593627679 RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION: Southwark knows thousands of their residents have specific burial needs that Southwark don?t and won?t serve. Southwark is not planning to provide burial for the majority of these residents ? yet they are taking their taxes. You can read here about the religious discrimination that will eventually stop this horrific project: http://www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk/death-taxes-and-discrimination/4593668565 Blanche Cameron Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries / Save Southwark Woods Campaign 07731 304 966 [email protected] [www.savesouthwarkwoods.org.uk] Twitter: @southwarkwoods Facebook: Save Southwark Woods Friends of Camberwell Cemeteries was founded as Save Southwark Woods in January 2015 to stop the destruction of the woods and graves of Camberwell Old and New Cemeteries. We are for maintaining recreational activities already taking place on cemetery grounds, such as the Recreation Ground and Allotments. We are for preserving the cemeteries as Memorial Park Nature Reserves, like Nunhead or Highgate Cemeteries.