NEWSLETTER JUNE 2007

The next meeting of the Association will be the

1. Welcome and Introductions
2. Minutes of last AGM and matters arising
3. Chairman's report
4. Treasurer's report
5. Election of committee members 2007-2008
6. Guest speakers
7. Any other business
8. Date of next meeting

CAMBERWELL LEISURE CENTRE
Under Southwark Council’s recent Leisure Strategy, it was decided that the original development plan for the Borough’s Leisure Centres could not be carried out. Instead of the £25m plan that would have regenerated all of the Centres, the Council decided to use its own capital resources. However, the £12m amount now made available will total only half of the original programme.
The Leisure Strategy sees a full refurbishment of Dulwich Baths and Surrey Docks and quite substantial expenditure on the Elephant and Castle and Seven Islands Leisure Centres, but only £1.5m for Camberwell Leisure Centre. This provides, in the words of the Strategy paper, funding to ‘do (the) minimum’ for Camberwell. The Strategy paper elaborates further, saying ‘this option can only be considered a short-term palliative’, which would ‘keep the facilities open, but with a continued risk of building failure’ and that ‘it is likely that users would continue to be lost to competing facilities’.
Under this new Strategy all the Borough’s leisure centres, have a guaranteed future, except Camberwell.
Camberwell Leisure Centre users and the local community in Camberwell were extremely concerned by this decision, not least because it followed eight years of discussions and intensive plans being developed for Camberwell.
The reaction of the local community to the Council’s decision has been swift and has resulted in the setting up of the Camberwell Baths Campaign. This is an umbrella group of users and local organisations. The Camberwell Baths Campaign is asking for:

• The preservation of Camberwell Baths & Leisure Centre for the local community with the pool as its central attraction;
• The investment in and regeneration of the leisure centre and pool to bring them up to 21st century standards to retain existing users and attract new users;
• The above to be set out in a formal agreed plan by the Council Executive by October 2007.

ANGELA OCCOMORE
Many people will have known and remember Angela Occomore who sadly passed away last year. Angela was one of the founder members of the Wilson's Residents' Association when it first started 21 years ago and remained a member until 2006. She was very involved with St Giles Church and was a church warden. She also ran the youth club. Angela would offer help to anyone in the community and was a busy and active person. A memorial service is to be held in her memory on Sunday 17th June 2007 in St Giles Church after mass at 11.30am. Everyone is welcome. A rose bush is to be planted in her memory in the church grounds and a bench to commemorate her life is to be placed in the churchyard at a later date.

RECYCLING
As you will be aware Southwark have been encouraging all residents to recycle as much household waste as possible. They are now monitoring households more closely and will send a member of their recylcing enforcement team to visit homes that they feel are not participating. For those residents who persistently refuse to recycle, they can issue a £75 Fixed Penalty Notice. They have introduced a warning system consisting of blue, yellow and red cards which will be issued as first, second and final warnings, to those residents not recycling. They can eventually issue the FPN. If you are physically unable to lift your blue box or bag, assisted collections can be provided - phone free on 0800 183 6183. On a final note many people ask if it is legal to make residents recycle? The answer is yes - under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, Southwark Council can legally require residents to use specific containers for different waste materials. Remember that the Household Waste Re-use and Recycling Centre is based at Manor Place in Walworth and accepts many items. For more information on recycling see our previous newsletter devoted to the subject Recycling Hints and Tips

NEW EMAIL ADDRESS
Earlier this year the committee set up a new emailing address, so you can contact us at wilsonsra@hotmail.co.uk

BILL BAILEY
It was with deep sadness and regret that we record the death of Bill Bailey in the Spring. Bill like Angela Occomore was one of the founder members of the Wilson's Residents Association. For years he served on the committee with great good humour and a twinkle in his eye. He will we particularly remembered for the stalwart work he did in mapping the sad state of our pavements, kerbs, roads and gutters. He attended numerous walkabouts with council officials which resulted in the relaying of our pavements and the clearing of the gulleys and gutters. His other legacy to the Wilson's Residents' Association area is the magnificent new street lighting scheme which he oversaw and worked tirelessly on planning and implementing with the relevant council departments.

BE REWARDED FOR RECYCLING
Southwark Council introduced an award scheme to encourage residents to recycle. Everyone should have received a leaflet about the scheme called Tag It to Bag It Recycling is everyone’s responsibility and now if you recycle in Southwark you could win £1,000. Prize draws take place once a month. Each month one person will win £1,000, drawn at random from the prize draw. Southwark Council will contact the winners and information about the winners will be available on their website. How to enter
There are three ways to win:

• Use your blue box and bag
• Use your clear bag
• Use your local recycling centre

WILSON’S RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION C/o 18, Vestry Road, SE5 8NX Tel: 0207 701 1150 wilsonsra@hotmail.co.uk