Southwark
Merger of Elephant & Castle primary schools abandoned
Plans to merge two Southwark primary schools near Elephant & Castle have been called off after the proposals faced opposition from staff and parents.
Politics & local government
In our politics coverage we keep an eye on Southwark Council, Lambeth Council and the Greater London Authority (Mayor and Assembly)
Southwark
'HS2' cash used to patch up SE1 roads and pavements
Government funds notionally reallocated from the cancelled second phase of the High Speed 2 rail line north of Birmingham have been used to repair road surfaces and pavements in three streets north of the Old Kent Road, Southwark Council said this week.
Politics & local government
Sprinklers put out chip pan fire in Avondale Square towerblock
Six years after the City of London Corporation decided to fit sprinklers in its three high-rise towers on the Avondale Square Estate, the new system has successfully extinguished a chip pan fire.
Politics & local government
Devon Mansions: council took TWO YEARS to answer FOI request
The Information Commissioner has ruled that Southwark Council was in breach of the Freedom of Information Act when it took nearly two years to reply to a request for information about a troubled refurbishment programme of a council estate next door to its own HQ.
Planning & Development
Stoney Street: Lib Dems call for rethink of closure plan
Borough & Bankside councillors have called for a rethink of plans for a permanent traffic ban on Stoney Street in Borough Market.
Health
Defibrillator installed outside John Harvard Library
A defibrillator has been installed outside John Harvard Library in Borough High Street as part of a programme to make the lifesaving devices available in all Southwark libraries and leisure centres.
Transport
Elephant & Castle Rail Station in line for £18m makeover
Plans to install lifts to the platforms at Elephant & Castle's Thameslink rail station are to get a boost with Southwark Council allocating £350,000 of developers' funding for design work.
Old Kent Road
Bakerloo line extension 'could open in 2040'
Transport for London has published a new indicative timescale for the construction of a Bakerloo line extension from Elephant & Castle to Lewisham via the Old Kent Road.
Waterloo
Lower Marsh 'parklets' to be made permanent
An experimental scheme to convert parking bays in Lower Marsh into mini-gardens with seating is to be made permanent.
Old Kent Road
Government kick-starts Old Kent Road development with Berkeley Homes loan
A stalled development by Berkeley Homes round the back of Asda in the Old Kent Road is to be kick-started with a loan from the Government.
Hotels
15-storey hotel at Lambeth North: developer to appeal
An eight-day inquiry is to be held into plans for an 184-bedroom hotel opposite Lambeth North tube station.
Planning & Development
Gove gives green light to South Bank ITV site development
Controversial plans to redevelop the former ITV headquarters on the South Bank have been approved by levelling up secretary Michael Gove.
