Last week I launched Southwark 2030, to bring our community together to shape the future of our borough.
Over the coming days, we are holding conversation across Southwark to hear your views on the changes you want to see by 2030; I hope to see you at one of them.
There is so much we have achieved together over the last decade. Almost all of our schools are now rated Good or Outstanding. We’ve opened new libraries, a new leisure centre, skills centre, athletic centre, BMX track and theatres. Our parks are transformed and award winning. We’re building thousands of new council homes, have created tens of thousands of jobs, and have planted tens of thousands of trees.
Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie rated ‘outstanding’ in all areas
We have achieved all of this in Southwark at a time when in many ways our country as a whole has been going backwards. In a recent YouGov survey, Southwark was one of just 4 boroughs in the whole of the country that residents felt was improving. Whilst it is great to see Southwark near the top of this table, the fact that people across so much of our country feel things are going backwards, is a damning indictment on 13 years of Conservative government.
I’m under no illusion that life in our borough is not increasingly difficult for many people too. This last year, we have had to work incredibly hard to support our community through the cost of living crisis. A crisis that has been made so much worse by the Conservative Party crashing Britain’s economy.
In contrast, in Southwark, we have put in place over £30 million of support to help local people get by. Working with local community groups, schools, GPs and many others to get that help to everyone who needs it. This month I attended one of our cost of living roadshows. I know from the conversation I had there, and the many others I’ve had with local people over recent months how hard times are, and how valued our cost of living help has been. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved in this vital work. However, it is so important that we also maintain our shared ambition for the future too, and that is what Southwark 2030 is all about.
I know from my conversations with local people that there are big things we need to achieve together. Building more homes local people can afford. Ending the need for food banks. Cleaning up our air. Making sure all our young people have opportunities to flourish and that Southwark is a place were everyone can age well too. I hope you will come to one of our Southwark 2030 events to share your priorities and your ideas.
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One of the best parts of my job is seeing the brilliant work happening across our borough. Last week I visited Livesey Exchange, who are working to open their second community run hub on the Old Kent Road; providing space for local people to start a business, be creative and gain skills. It was great to see their new building nearing completion thanks to funding from the Council and others, and incredibly hard work by the community. It’s a great example of the things we can achieve together.
In January, I also visited the Marlborough Sports Garden in Bankside; an outdoor space that provides local children with much-needed access to sports, exercise and leisure facilities. Run by Bankside Open Spaces Trust, it won a New London Architecture Award in 2022. It was great to present medals to local young people taking part in an after-school cricket project at the Garden. I want even more work like this to be part of a long-term vision for Southwark, so everyone can be part of building our future together.
Peckham school for excluded kids wins two architectural awards
Our Southwark 2030 events are happening throughout February and March. At the first one at Peckham Levels last week, local residents talked about the importance of play, of greening our borough, opportunities for people young and old, of supporting local businesses and much more. I hope to see you at one of the next ones, so together can make our borough an even better place.
You can find out how to get involved in Southwark 2030 online at: www.consultations.southwark.gov.uk/southwark2030
Warm Spaces open to help out Southwark residents this winter