In an unexpected u-turn, Sainsbury’s has dropped its appeal against a six week suspension of its licence to sell alcohol at 510 Blackfen Road, Sidcup. In January 2008, Bexley’s Licensing Sub Committee heard...   [Plus]

In an unexpected u-turn, Sainsbury’s has dropped
its appeal against a six week suspension of its licence to sell alcohol at 510 Blackfen Road, Sidcup.

In January 2008, Bexley’s Licensing Sub Committee heard how the Sainsbury Local had continually failed test purchases, with staff at the store
selling alcohol to children on four separate occasions.
This was despite staff having had the benefit of Sainsbury’s own in-house training, as well as
advice and guidance from Council and police.
As
a result, the store’s alcohol licence was suspended
for six weeks, with extra conditions imposed to
prevent further under-age sales taking place once
the licence is reinstated.

Despite representatives of Sainsbury’s accepting that there had been problems at the store, the
company decided to appeal the decision to Bexley
Magistrates.
A few days beforehand the store had
a change of heart and withdrew.
This means that
the original decision stands and the store cannot
sell alcohol for six weeks.

Cllr Mike Slaughter, Chairman of the Bexley’s
Licensing Committee, said: “I’m pleased Sainsbury’s has decided not to appeal the decision.

“The Council is well aware that it has a duty to
make proportionate and reasonable decisions.
The
fact that Sainsbury’s has withdrawn its appeal
demonstrates that the original decision was fair
and balanced.
”
Chief Inspector Steve Murrant of Bexley police
said: “It was apparent from the evidence that children were able to buy alcohol at the store and no
retailer, no matter how large, should be exempt
from the consequences of such actions.
However,
in accepting the Council’s decision, Sainsbury’s
have shown their willingness to work with the police and Council and this can only be a positive
step.
”
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The Metropolitan Police
Authority’s responsible for plans to
modernise their buildings have
confirmed that no police stations
with front counters are being
closed without another front
counter service replacing it.
Far
from retreating from communities
they are rolling out patrol bases to
improve their service to the public.

“The fact is that many of our officers and staff
continue to be working from unsuitable and
inadequate buildings that simply do not meet
the needs of policing London in the 21st century
or provide value in the use of resources.
This is
being improved by a rolling programme of work
which is being done with a high level of public
consultation specifically designed to ensure
modernisation is achieved in tandem with
bringing police closer to the public”.

Where patrol bases are in operation they are
welcomed by officers and staff because they
provide what they deserve - accessible modern
working conditions.

Comments about the estates strategy by Peter
Smyth (Met Police Federation) contrast starkly
with the day-to-day feedback from our officers
on the ground who consider the patrol bases to
be a great improvement.
The Daily Telegraph
conducted its own national survey on police
station opening times eighteen months ago and
found that the Met ‘has the highest number and
proportion of stations open around the clock’ in
comparison to other forces.

Sainsburys lose alcohol licence
Bexley white collar
workers to strike!
UNISON, the public sector trade union, has
sent ballot papers to its members on Bexley
Council calling for
strike action over a
2.
45% pay offer.

Heather Wakefield, Unison
spokesperson talking on behalf of
their Bexley members said: “Our
members working
in Bexley are disappointed and
angry.
Four years
of real pay cuts
have left them
choosing between putting food on the table or
heating their homes this winter.

“Costs of all the basics are running high.

Bread is up a massive 44%, petrol 21% and mortgage costs 8%, but for some members working
for Bexley Council this offer means a pitiful
£7.
50 per week.

“By voting for a strike, UNISON members
can send a clear message to the employers that
pay is an issue that will not go away.
The employers must realise that world-class public services cannot be run on empty stomachs!”
A variety of council workers covered by the
pay claim include care home and home care assistants, housing and environmental health officers, refuse collectors, librarians, nursery nurses,
lollipop ladies and school cooks.

Over half of those covered earn just £15,825
or less annually.
Seventy five per cent are
women.

IS SIDCUP POLICE STATION SAFE?
  [Moins]

Young Volunteer of the Year The voluntary work of a number of young people from the Sevenoaks District was recognised recently at the second ever Young Volunteer of the Year award ceremony. The winner and two...   [Plus]

Young Volunteer
of the Year
The voluntary work of a number of young people
from the Sevenoaks District was recognised recently at the second ever Young Volunteer of the
Year award ceremony.

The winner and two runners up were presented
with their prizes at Sevenoaks District Council
Offices by the Chairman of the Council, Cllr Felicity Broomby.

The winner of the award was 16 year-old Sarah
Sturrock of Sevenoaks who was nominated for her
award by her mother.

Sarah received £100 in High Street vouchers for
herself, and a £200 cheque went to VSU Youth in
Action, to help them continue to support young
volunteers
Two runners up each received £50 in High
Street vouchers, with an £100 cheque going to the
organisation that nominated them.

The runners up were Edward Bankes, aged 16,
from Sevenoaks and Eleanor Selleck aged 18 from
Kemsing.

Eleanor Selleck was nominated by 2nd Kemsing
Guides where she has been volunteering for four
years, with her dedication helping the unit to
flourish.
She is also a volunteer at her local church
youth group.

Cllr Elaine Bracken, the Council’s Cabinet
Member with responsibility for young people’s issues, says: “Every single young person who attended the ceremony deserves enormous credit
for their dedication to helping others in their own
time, and for giving other people opportunities
they may not otherwise experience.
”
Residents of the District were invited to nominate young people for the award throughout
February and March using nomination forms
available from Sevenoaks District Council, town
and parish councils, libraries, community and
voluntary youth groups and schools and online
via the Council website.

The scheme was organised and funded by
Sevenoaks District Council to further recognise
and celebrate young people’s voluntary contributions and achievements.

Chronicle
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com
July 2008
Councillors v Officers
Sevenoaks District Council councillors and staff
had a wicket time, and stumped up money for a
good cause recently when they donned their
whites for their second ever charity cricket
match.

A Leader’s Select XI and a Chief Executive’s
Select XI did battle at the Vine Cricket Ground
with all the proceeds from the event going to
Sevenoaks Area Youth Trust the charity chosen
by the captain of the winning team.

The 20-over match proved to be a very close
run thing, with the Leader’s team batting first
and setting a total of 130 runs.
The game went
right down to the final ball of the game with the
Chief Executive’s team needing three runs to
win.

The task proved too much though and their
total of 128 was not quite enough, leaving the
councillors to claim victory for the second time.

Cllr Peter Fleming, “I always felt confident
that my team could retain our unbeaten record
even if it did go right down to the wire! It was a
great evening and the most important thing was
that we raised a bit of money for charity, and
everyone seemed to have a fantastic time.
”
Robin Hales, Chief Executive and captain of
the runners-up says: “I have to say that I, along
with everyone else who took part, thoroughly
enjoyed the game, with the exception of the result of course! The weather couldn’t have been
better and some money went to a good cause.
”
Sevenoaks Council targetted
Azalea Drive, the steps from
Station Approach to Azalea
Drive, Northview and Swanley post office from 10.
30am to
remove graffiti.

The council records incidents of graffiti
from the public and its partners, such as town
and parish councils.

These are prioritised, with racist and offensive graffiti made a high priority, then
passed to the Probation Service’s fully trained
and supervised graffiti removal team, which
visits Sevenoaks District two days a month.

The team includes people who are carrying
out Community Punishment Orders.

The graffiti is removed using the ‘Grimebuster 200’, a high-powered graffiti-removal
machine, which was bought jointly by
Sevenoaks District Council in partnership
with Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge
Wells Borough Councils.

Cleaning the graffiti is just one part of the
work to reduce the problem.
The Sevenoaks
District Community Safety Partnership
maintains a database of local graffiti tags, and
has recently registered with a national graffiti
database to enable images of tags and other
related information to be shared and offenders identified and prosecuted.

The Community Safety Partnership has
officially launched its new three year strategy
to control graffiti.

COUNCIL ATTACK GRAFFITI
Libarary Picture by Kent Photonews-Sidcup
Resident sought to keep
council standards high
Sevenoaks District Council is looking to appoint
an independent member of the public to its
Standards Committee to help ensure its
councillors work to the high ethical standards
expected of them by the public.

The Standards Committee aims to promote and
maintain high standards of conduct of elected and
other District Council members as well as town
and parish councillors.
It consists of six District
Councillors, three Parish Councillors and four
independent representatives.

The successful person would be expected to
attend three meetings a year, in addition to
monthly hearings, at the Council’s Sevenoaks
offices.
Travel expenses are paid.
Meetings take
place during the week beginning at 7pm, whilst
hearings will take place during normal office
hours.

Ideally applicants should be interested in public
sector issues and be able to reflect the views and
expectations of local people regarding the
behaviour of Councillors.

Anyone who has been a councillor or worked for
a council for the last five years or who is a close
Continued on back page
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Chronicle Blackfen & Eltham July 2008 T h e Vo i c e o f B l a c k f e n & E l t h a m 40p Where Sold Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE JULYwww. bexleychronicle. com 26 Movies19...   [Plus]

Chronicle
Blackfen & Eltham
July 2008 T h e Vo i c e o f B l a c k f e n & E l t h a m
40p
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JULYwww.
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24 Theatre
Call free 0800 163 186
53 The Oval, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9ER
5 Lessness Ave.
, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5SH
*Free Summer Check*
on Alternators, Batteries
& Starter Motors
Cutting
the cost of
Summer repairs
Batteries for
every make of car
BRAKE DISCS
AND DISC PADS
AT LOW PRICES
W.
UDEN & SONS LTD
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
The Family Business that still offers
a personal service.
Est 1881
ELTHAM
51-53 Passey Place, SE9 5DA
020 8850 2868
*24 Hour Service
Branches also at: Petts Wood, Biggin Hill, Dulwich,
Forest Hill, Sidcup, New Cross & Camberwell
NEW COMMUNITY
HOSPITAL IN ELTHAMThe Department of Health has announced that
it is giving over four million pounds to
Greenwich Teaching PCT to help the
development of a new Community Hospital for
Eltham.
Local people have expressed a strong
wish to see services developed on the old Eltham
& Mottingham Cottage Hospital site just off
Eltham High Street.
Plans have been developed
with local GPs, nurses and therapists and at a
range of public events earlier this year local
people gave the proposals a strong thumbs up.

Jill Bell from Greenwich Teaching PCT said:
‘With this additional money the scheme can really
move ahead now.
There is a huge amount of work to do
and it will take some time to develop the scheme fully
and work with planners and others to make it happen
but this large injection of cash will make an enormous
difference to us’
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw said: “Changes
in medical technology mean we can now provide so
much more treatment for patients in a community
hospital, in a health centre or even in their own home.

Treatments patients could only receive in large hospitals
a few years ago, will be done regularly right on their
doorsteps”.

A local resident and Honorary Secretary of the
South Greenwich Forum, Judy Smith MBE,
said: ‘members of the South Greenwich Forum will be
delighted when they hear the news’.

The proposals are for there to be 40 short stay
beds with rehabilitation facilities, a Local Urgent
Care Centre and a GP practice.
There will be
some additional services that can be provided in
a community hospital setting including minor
surgery and support for people with long term
conditions such as diabetes and stroke.

Dr Dermot Kenny, a GP at Courtyard Surgery
and Chair of the GP commissioning group for
the Community Hospital in Eltham added:
“This development in the South of Greenwich Borough
is one that the people of Eltham have needed for some
time.
We are delighted.
”
“I am really delighted to receive this very positive
news for patients.
I can see doctors, nurses and other
clinicians working together to deliver joined up care in
clean, modern, state of the art facilities.
There could be
many benefits for patients and local people such as easy
access for blood tests, x-rays and minor surgery.
”
Around 350 over 50s from across the borough
made their way to Eltham to take part in the
fourth “Living Well in Greenwich” event.

An event, jointly organised by Greenwich
Council and a number of other partners, had previously been held at Woolwich’s Waterfront
Leisure Centre but this year’s event took place at
the newly opened Eltham Centre as part of plans
to engage with all areas of the borough.

The afternoon was action packed with more entertainment, information and healthy living opportunities than ever before.

A host of stalls from organisations such as the
Greenwich Teaching Primary Care Trust, The
Stroke Association, The Handyperson scheme,
Greenwich Telecare, University of Greenwich,
London Fire Brigade, Age Concern and many
more were on hand to offer a range of information on key services across the borough.

Stalls boasting a wealth of advice on healthy living were also available with residents able to take
part in a wide range of healthy living activities including alternative therapy treatments, Tai Chi exercises and healthy eating demonstrations with
delicious fresh fruit smoothies.

A Beauty Therapy Area offering head and neck
massages and mini manicure and pedicures was
packed to capacity while a Discussion Zone giving residents a chance to give their views on services and living in Greenwich attracted plenty of
opinions.

IT taster sessions designed to take the stress out
of learning the basics were also amongst the extensive range of activities available throughout the
day.

Visitors were also treated to a performance from
Green Candle Dance Company’s latest dance theatre production, Falling About, which was specifically designed for older people while a fashion
show sponsored by Age Concern and showcasing
the latest high street fashions, wowed the crowd.

The Mayor of Greenwich Councillor Steve Offord with Councillor Angela Cornforth and others trying out the Healthy
Living options
“Living Well in Greenwich” gets great reception
Bexley white collar
workers to strike!
UNISON, the public sector trade union, has
sent ballot papers to its members on Bexley
Council calling for
strike action over a
2.
45% pay offer.

Heather Wakefield, Unison
spokesperson talking on behalf of
their Bexley members said: “Our
members working
in Bexley are disappointed and
angry.
Four years
of real pay cuts
have left them
choosing between putting food on the table or
heating their homes this winter.

“Costs of all the basics are running high.

Bread is up a massive 44%, petrol 21% and mortgage costs 8%, but for some members working
for Bexley Council this offer means a pitiful
£7.
50 per week.

“By voting for a strike, UNISON members
can send a clear message to the employers that
pay is an issue that will not go away.
The employers must realise that world-class public services cannot be run on empty stomachs!”
A variety of council workers covered by the
pay claim include care home and home care assistants, housing and environmental health officers, refuse collectors, librarians, nursery nurses,
lollipop ladies and school cooks.

Over half of those covered earn just £15,825
or less annually.
Seventy five per cent are
women.

Got a story?
The Blackfen & Eltham
Chronicle wants it!
Email: newsdesk@bexleychronicle.
com
020 8302 6069
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The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Gerry & The
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Free entertainment for diners
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  [Moins]