Public Meeting tomorrow, Weds 12th, about Network Rail's plans for area around Peckham Station.

[The Minkey]

From Peckham Vision's Facebook page:

"The meeting about redeveloping the area around Peckham Rye Station is:

Peckham & Nunhead Community Council

WEDNESDAY 12th FEBRUARY at 7pm

at Peckham Academy, Peckham Road on the corner with Lyndhurst Way.

There are signs that the Council is listening ? see Cllr Fiona Colley?s comment on previous post. But this is just the beginning of finding a way to put right the mistakes that have allowed this wrong plan to be developed.

Your presence is needed. Please come to this meeting to support the local community attempt to get the right plan for Peckham. Encourage your friends and neighbours to come.

BACKGROUND

Network Rail?s plans have given only one option ? a major redevelopment . Many feel there should be an opportunity to discuss a different approach eg create the new square and improve the area beside and behind the station, not demolish it. Peckham is already self-regenerating with the creative and cultural sector at the forefront, boosting the local economy. Understanding the role of the station site in this needs much better understanding before deciding to demolish it. Local MP Harriet Harman is Shadow Culture Secretary has a keen interest in the creative and cultural industries in her constituency. So:

* EMAIL: [email protected] to seek her support for an effective process designed with the community to present other options to the public for discussion and development.

http://www.peckhamvision.org/wiki/images/d/dc/Station-Flyer-A4-Revised-05Feb14.pdf

[The Minkey]

Response from Fiona Colley:

"Dear Peckham Residents

Thank you for emailing me regarding your concerns about the proposals for Peckham Rye Station. I'm sorry I'm unable to reply to each email individually, but there have been a quite lot of emails.

I was at the consultation meeting a couple of weeks ago and I was not happy with the proposals. It was apparent that there is a lot of work to do on the plans. Whilst most people support the work to open up the station square on Rye Lane, there are too many unanswered questions about the extent of further development in neighbouring streets which seemed excessive. I also heard the swell of concern from local people about the need for public toilets in the area, and that is something I've told council officers must be looked at in more detail.

One area I felt we really needed far more commitement from Network Rail (as landlord) on was the vision for Dovedale Court at the rear of the station as well as the lettings of future retail spaces around the front of the station. I want a guarantee from Network Rail that the thriving creative industries and independent businesses in the area will form a part of the plans and not be priced out.

The event was intended to give people an opportunity to comment on the early plans, and Southwark Council have heard and taken on board the comments. We don't want to do this without the support of local people and therefore the council is actively working with Network Rail and the GLA (who are part funding the project) to ensure the next set of plans more closely reflect what residents and businesses want to see.

I support calls for an extension in the time for additional public consultation and engagement on the proposals. One of the conditions of the ?5m funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA) is that the project should be complete by Spring 2016 and to meet this deadline a planning application would have to be submitted next month. I believe this is unrealistic and so Southwark Council will be asking the GLA to extend this deadline. I am optimistic that they will agree to this.

I will provide a further update within the next few weeks to let you know how things are progressing.

Kind regards

Fiona

Cllr Fiona Colley

Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Corporate Strategy

Labour Member for Nunhead Ward"

[The Minkey]

The Community Council meeting this evening is at:

Harris Academy Peckham, 112 Peckham Road, London SE15 5DZ

The entrance is on Peckham Road near the corner with Lyndhurst Way, through vehicle sized gates along a wide path up tp the building. This school is locally referred to as the Peckham Academy but its formal name is Harris Academy Peckham. They are the same place. Meeting starts 7pm. See you there!