Subsidising Bromley's expansion at residents' expense

Letters published in local media are often forgotten the week after they appear. This letter by Rod Reed deserves perhaps a more permanent post on Bromley Cuts Concern (Bromley Against the Cuts) blog.

The Bromley Times, September 29 2011

Bromley Kids - What Future

Tuesday, 6th September, 7:00pm - children & youth services under threat of cuts and closure. Bromley Cuts Concern is supporting a lobby against a vote for cuts at Tuesday's council meeting - Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley, meet 6:30pm.

In his capacity as Bromley Cuts Concern (Bromley Against the Cuts) supporter, Paul Summers writes

What will the future hold for the children of Bromley, are they being failed by the council and national government, the prospects don't look good. Sure Start family centres have lots of ways to help children and families through early years. Bromley council's proposed closures of these centres led to questions in parliament.

Libraries are vital for children whose families don't have books, a computer or a quiet room for homework. Half the library staff face redundancy and opening hours could be reduced. The council has backed down a little in the face of community resistance.

Youth clubs keep teenagers occupied, helping them to learn to socialise and cooperate through sport and film projects etc. When two youth clubs closed in St Mary Cray Harold Barker chair of safer neighbourhood panel said Mountfield Estate "is now out of control " Councillor Stephen Carr had to admit " We don't always get it right" (Newsshopper 4 May 2011) but the youth clubs remain closed. Education Maintainance Allowance was a good thing because attendance at class was conditional to payment. Some teenagers will not be able to do A levels now. Connexions was good at helping with CVs and getting people through their interviews and into their first job. All south London boroughs have closed Connexions Centres.

University fees have tripled to £9,000 a year. In today's terms we have a quarter of the debt we had post World War Two so why the cuts? Maybe that's the subject for another article. What kind of society do we want? It is false economy to cut these services because of the damage it will cause.Any short term savings (and in fact more) will need to be spent on probation, policing, fire service,insurance premiums, hospitals, court costs and prisons. 

Paul Summers
bromleycuts@gmail.com


 

          The Bromley Times 8/9/11

 
The Bromley Times, 15/9/11 

Kate Nelson @ Bromley Times reports on Bromley children's centres here 

Bromley and the London Riots

The Bromley Times, 11 August 2011

Posted below is copied email from Amanda Evans of the Darwin Safer Neighbourhood Panel, made publically available Tuesday, August 9th, containing a message from Bromley's Borough Commander Charles Griggs to Judith Cross, chair of the Bromley Community Engagement Forum (BCEF).  They have requested that it should be circulated as widely as possible.

Monday night proved extremely challenging. With minimal resources intelligence suggested that the Town Centre, the Glades and the police station were going to be attacked. At about 2130 a large group descended on Market Square and began attacking shops. A rapid police response dispersed them. They re-grouped and attacked police, throwing stones and other items. A small number of Bromley officers in full public order gear, supported by the night duty team on foot, were able to hold the Town Centre, and protect life and property. However, they were unable to prevent some looting and damage in East Street and in The Mall. There followed sporadic attacks on police with rioters breaking up paving slabs and plant pots to use as missiles. Other key retail locations across the borough were attacked throughout the night with looting occurring at The Nugent Centre, Comet, and Currys in Cray Avenue; Currys and PC World in Homesdale Road, several shops in Beckenham High Street and Biggin Hill. We have 29 prisoners in custody, 19 of which are for burglary and other offences of disorder in Bromley, and a further 10 prisoners from other boroughs.
I was personally appalled and disgusted by the level of violence and sheer lawlessness that I saw on our streets over night. Officers have shown bravery and courage protecting our borough from these mindless thieving thugs; I am ashamed to think that they see their actions as justified. Whilst we have been unable to protect everywhere on the borough, we will not give up the streets. We will work tirelessly with our partners and the community to maintain order, and try and prevent a repeat of last nights awful scenes.
Many officers have already worked very long hours, and they will continue to do so. Every police officer and PCSO have had their rest days cancelled, and we have introduced 12 hour shifts to maximise our resources. Whilst I am providing significant aid to Tottenham and other high risk boroughs, I have a lot of resources available in Bromley. We will ensure presence and visibility in our Town Centres and other vulnerable locations. I do not want a repeat of last night. I do not want us to experience the ferocity of violence seen in the inner cities. We will not give up the streets, and we will maintain order in Bromley.
I do not intend to convene a public meeting, unless I have seriously under-estimated the amount of information available to the public. I am quite happy for you to share this e mail with the BCEF members.

Amanda Evans

Operations Manager

Two pictures borrowed from Beckenham Town .us website, Tuesday. Source, photo-credits and Beckenham discussion on the riots can be found here.

Save Bromley's libraries, children's centres, and youth services!

Bromley Cuts Concern is supporting demonstrations at the following council meetings - Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, Bromley.

Thursday 14th July - children & young people's services under threat of closure, including some valued Sure Start centres.

Wednesday 20th July - decision on Bromley's Library service: under threat of slashed hours, branch closures, staff cuts, and loss of accountability for local users through proposed merger with Bexley.
Read Bromley Times 24 story online here.

Bromley Cuts Concern are meeting outside the Civic Suite from 6:30pm and will go into meetings at 7pm. 

More details of council meetings at Bromley's website www.bromley.gov.uk.  Click Council and Democracy

Bromley teachers strike out!

The Bromley Times,  July 7 2011

Bromley Cuts Concern demo

PROTEST AGAINST THE CUTS
Organised by Bromley Cuts Concern
Outside The Council Meeting
Monday 4th July from 7pm
Civic Suite, Civic Centre,
Stockwell Close, Bromley, BR1 3UH

The Bromley Times, June 30, 2011

Bromley Cuts Concern demo

Many thanks to everyone who came to the public meeting on 25th May. Our next planned event is a demonstration at the council meeting at Bromley Civic Centre on Monday 4th July from 7pm.

The Bromley Times, June 16, 2011  On socialist organisation Workers' Liberty website, a June 'Anti-cuts round up', including a report of Bromley's May 25 public meeting, is featured here.