The Thamesmead & Erith Chronicle September 2008

John Austin to retireJohn Austin, Labour MP for Erith & Thamesmead, has informed his local constituency Labour Party that he will stand down at the next General Election. The announcement was made at a meeting of the General Council of the Erith & Thamesmead Constituency Labour Party held at Abbey Wood Community Centre. Jokingly, the MP, who has just celebrated his 64th birthday, had asked the meeting ‘Will you still need me when I’m sixty four’. The answer from a stunned Party was “Yes” and tributes were paid by many members. John Austin who had been reselected unanimously by the Party’s Wards, sections and affiliated organisations after the last G e n e r a l E l e c t i o n told his Party that his decision was for purely personal reasons and said: “It is unlikely that there will be a General Election before late next year or 2010; in either case I will then be over 65, and 70 by the end of the next Parliament. At present I feel fit and well and I had thought of delaying a decision until I reach 65, but that would have been unfair on the Party and risk the possibility of being so close to an election that there might not be time for a full selection process if I chose to stand down then. Erith & Thamesmead is one of the most challenging constituencies with one of the highest levels of casework and whilst I feel fit, active and enthusiastic now, I am not sure that I will want to be working a 7 day, 70 hour week when I am 70. “Of course there will be some regrets but it has been a great privilege to represent the area and I am grateful for the good comradeship and support I have received over the past 16 years as MP. I will not be slowing down during my remaining period as MP. It will be business as usual. “The Party now has the chance to select a new candidate who could be in post by the end of the year and I will work and campaign with him or her to ensure a Labour victory at the next election. ” Austin a good public servant Commenting on the announcement that Thamesmead MP John Austin is to stand down, Old Bexley & Sidcup MP Derek Conway said, “Although John and I are from different political perspectives, as an individual he has been a very good MP, a hard-working parliamentarian and it has been a pleasure to work with him in representing the Borough of Bexley. ” Mr. Conway was Vice-Chairman of the InterParliamentary Union during Mr. Austin’s chairmanship and the two MPs from different parties became friends. When Mr. Conway initiated a debate in the Commons on the future of Queen Mary’s Hospital Mr. Austin attended the Chamber and spoke in support of his colleague and Borough neighbour. Mr. Conway added, “I wish John and Sylvia a long and healthy retirement. He has been a public servant for a very long time and the residents of the Borough should be grateful for his tireless endeavours on their behalf. ” Chronicle 40p Where SoldT h e Vo i c e o f T h a m e s m e a d Thamesmead & Erith Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE 26 Movies20 Motoring16 Competition SEPTEMBERwww. bexleychronicle. com THE FRONT PAGENewsagents and Much More. . . . . . Newspapers Magazines, Stationery, Confectionary, Tobacco, Travel Passes, Photocopy Fax Services Full Post Office Service Available Unit 2 Joyce Dawson Way, Thamesmead Town Centre Tel/Fax 020 8310 7119 September 2008 NHS & Private Dental Care Vijay Vithani Dental Practice 12 Joyce Dawson Way Thamesmead Town SE28 Ring for details: 020 8311 9400 LATE NIGHT AND SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE GET READY FOR A REAL SUMMER SMILE. . . ASK US ABOUT OUR SPECIAL OFFER ON TEETH WHITENING All empty offices must pay rates! Property consultant Peter Simons who owns Prospect House and Tudor Cottages in Foots Cray is furious with the government for changing the law so that all empty offices must now pay National Non-Domestic rates with no exceptions. He has written to Privy Councillor the Rt. Hon John Hutton who is the Secretary for State for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform asking him to explain how he is supposed to finance the payment of rates when there is at present no demand for small office space. Neither can he sell his property because there is no market for such premises! He is now questioning whether it is official government policy to completely destroy small businesses like his or have they not thought through the consequences of their actions? BLUE BADGE CHEATSTwo Greenwich residents have been successfully prosecuted for Blue Badge Fraud. In two separate cases, a 31-year old man from Plumstead and a 44-year-old woman from Eltham both received fines for illegal use of a Blue Badge. Possessing a Blue Badge enables people with disabilities who travel as drivers or passengers to park in almost all parking spaces across the borough for free. In the first case, the 31-year old man from Plumstead was seen on two separate occasions to have displayed a Blue Badge in the windscreen of his vehicle enabling him to park without charge at Woolwich Arsenal station whilst he boarded a train to his job in London. Enquiries by Greenwich Council’s awardwinning Corporate Anti Fraud Team identified that the man was not the lawful owner of the Blue Badge and that it actually belonged to a disabled relative. As a result, the Blue Badge was seized and following an interview under caution regarding the offence, the man admitted to not having a disability and therefore having no legal right to use the badge. He also accepted that he was evading parking charges by doing so. He appeared at Woolwich Magistrates Court on 4 August 2008 where he pleaded guilty to both offences and received fines totalling £300 and an order to pay costs of £124. On the very same day, the 44-year-old woman from Eltham, Westhorne Avenue, SE9, was fined a total of £100 and ordered to pay costs of £100 following a guilty plea to a charge of falsely displaying a Blue Badge whilst parked in Bexleyheath. The woman admitted that the badge belonged to a relative who had not been present at the time it was displayed and that she herself had no disability. Residents have played a big part in helping to detect fraud and can continue to help, by contacting the ‘blow the whistle’ hotline on 0800 169 6975 or emailing fraud@greenwich. gov. uk. Mead win friendlies THAMESMEAD TOWN complete an unbeaten run of pre-season friendlies. Goals from Pedro Knight and new signing Nick Smith ensured a solid win in a competitively fought friendly against Blue Square South team, Fisher Athletic. Individual errors by Slade Green enabled Mead to win 4-1 at Bayliss Avenue. The friendly saw Mead lift the inaugural “Chopper Trophy. ” The trophy is in memory of Neil “Chopper” Harris, who played for both Thamesmead and Slade Green, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Both clubs have agreed that the match will be played each year at alternate grounds. Mead met Ryman Premier League Margate and held them to a 1-1 draw, thanks to a second half goal from new forward, Peter Smith. For more information, visit www. thamesmeadtownfc. co. uk Tandoori RestaurantFully Licensed and Air Conditioned Open 7 Days a week for lunch & dinner 169-171 Station Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 7AA Reservations: 020 8300 0777 / 020 8300 2527 Top tribute and cover artistes Sarah Jayne and Andy Crust with tributes to Patsy Cline and Shania Twain, and great songs from Johnny Cash, Dixie Chicks, John Denver, The Mavericks and more. Bring your Stetsons and cowboy boots and join in with the Line Dancing! (Est 1978) Free entertainment for diners (Usual top quality menu) Tuesday 7th October Theme Show WIN TICKETS TO LEGOLAND!