‘The Elderly can starve, who cares’
I was most concerned to read your article in September's edition 'The elderly can starve, who cares!'
I care, as does every councillor and member of staff at Bexley.
I am always happy to meet with you and explain in detail our policies to aid accuracy in your reports.
It is very hard for us to correct untruths in articles about individual service users as we are bound by confidentiality. Sensationalised stories help no one and only serve to scare our most vulnerable. Our hard working Care Workers tell me how demoralised they feel reading negative untruthful stories in our local press and the frustration they feel in not being able to put the record straight.
The elderly in Bexley are increasing in age and number. Care packages are becoming more complex and costly. By 2026 for example it is expected there will be a 30% increase in those over the age of 90 years old living in Bexley, also a 47% increase in males over 65 years old with dementia.
The money pot from the Government is however getting smaller. Bexley Council is constantly in a battle with the Labour Government to get adequate funding for local services. Last year the Labour Government increased our funding by 2%, inflation costs were closer to 3.5%, next year the Government have told us we will only get 1.9% increase in funding, inflation is already over 4 %. The gap continues to grow between demand and funding.
Another example of poor funding is that the Government are underfunding our Supporting People budget by £3.75 million this year alone, but will only agree to correcting the funding over many years! We continue to fight for Bexley's money to be paid now.
To ensure our most vulnerable residents are protected we have focused our funding on those with substantial and critical needs.
If you are serious about wanting to help the elderly in Bexley then please encourage your readers to write to Gordon Brown MP to ask for fair funding to Bexley.
Cllr Sharon Massey,
Bexley Council
• The Chronicle asked Mrs Massey to tell us what untruths were included in our article and she replied that owing to confidentiality she couldn’t! Ed
St.Stephens Boys Secondary Modern schoool, Welling Class 1A 1958/9
Where are my old boys?
Fifty years ago, on September 8th. 1958 1 stood in front of my first class, 1A at St.Stephen’s Secondary Modern Boys’ School in Welling. From there I went to teach in Chelmsford, Northampton, and then went into Teacher Training, where I stayed for 20 years, becoming Deputy Head of the School of Education at De Montfort University in Leicester. So I have a great deal to thank that first class for. I have a photo of us all, and as I run my eye along the lines I remember something about each of the boys there. They are about 61 years old now, but if any of them remember me I would be delighted if they could get in touch with me, either through your newspaper, through the contact details above, or through philsnel@aol.com.
I suppose I ought to sign myself ‘Mr. Snelders’, because forenames for teachers were unheard of in those days.
Mr.Snelders
Fair play required
I was heartened to see in the Chronicle articles that at least give-rise to readers starting to question the ability and indeed willingness of Bexley Council to administer this borough with some notion of fair-play toward the Bexley electorate. Nice to see that one publication from the local press at least had the courage to ‘step on toes’.
The social services (like all council dept’s) are meant to serve US. They answer to elected councillors, who in turn are accountable to us (or should be).
In essence this is a personal matter, but if it can happen to me, it can happen to any Bexley resident.
What happens when one has a genuine and provable accusation against a council dep’t? What happens when one follows the complaints procedure as stated on Bexley Councils web-site exactly, but because one is in the right and can prove that one is in the right, one is totally ignored!.
The matter discussed in this letter is connected to a situation which has dragged on for years, but the precise situation I mention has only recently arisen.
It concerns Bexley’s ability to adhere to policy laid down with regard to Data Protection, and Bexley’s willingness to comply with that Act (in this case, with regard to Adoptees).
I have enclosed various documentation that I have submitted to a supposedly independent authority. I have also included an article which appeared in another publication, which tells of a similar confrontation with the same dep’t. Amazingly, Bexley have committed a similar wrong- doing again. The big difference this time is that no council officer will even reply to me, my elected councillor will not reply,nor will the Chief Executive. I
S.M Barthorpe
Welling
• I believe the councils current slogan is ‘Listening to you, working for you”. It doesn’t include ‘answering you’! Ed
Can anybody help?
I am trying to trace Mr Peter Gilbert Moore,or any of his descendents, he was living at No 7 Willersley Av Sidcup in 1945. He was a member of a Whitley bomber crew, from No 138 special duty sqdn (SOE), that crashed in France on the night of 26/27 September 1942, both of the pilots and the wireless operator, Frederick George Green were killed.
Mr Moore and the Navigator managed to bail out and became prisoners of war, the wireless operator, was my second cousin, and I am trying to find the cause of the crash.
Thank you in anticipation,
Peter Green
(Via Email - contact us and we’ll contact him - Ed)
Where’s my hat?
Hi, my daughter who is 18 months lost her favourite Winnie The Pooh beanie in Sidcup High Street on Sunday 21st Sept.
Someone from Freecycle told me they had seen someone pick it up yesterday and put it on the pedestrian crossing button outside Blockbusters.
Please if anyone is in the area , or has seen it or picked it up please send me a message as my daughter is heartbroken.
Thanks
Clare (from email - let us know and we’ll pass the message on)
Dear Editor,
Re Article in September 2008 Edition titled “Pests in Queen Mary’s!”
I am sure this article has caused unnecessary scaremongering especially as it ends with the inference that patients may be confronted with vermin, this is absolute twaddle.
For over three years I have been engaged as a patient representative by the hospital’s management including the current Director of Nursing and Infection Control. I joined QM’s Patient Forum when Charles Brooker, Peggy Wagstaff, Eddie Edwards, Margaret Bell and others were the active members and through them I was asked to engage with Queen Mary’s to oversee their own cleaning audits.
Pushing my luck I introduced a very powerful torch and about 18 months ago, a telescopic mirror, to carry out cleaning inspections. These are now used extensively in their audits to inspect; under beds, tables, lockers, armchairs, in bath and shower rooms, toilets, sluice rooms, outpatients department, dental, occupational therapy, maternity and other areas.
In all the time I have been inspecting with them, which also includes their Patient Environment Action Team’s annual audit, I have never seen any signs of vermin in any area of the hospital.
The patients of Queen Mary’s are very fortunate that the hospital permits rigorous independent criticism of their cleaning standards. The forum provides constructive criticism, and the hospital acts on it thereby achieving a good standard.
I am told that I have been referred to as the Rotweiler because I never let anything go and fortunately the management responds. Through using the mirror myself, I have encouraged both the Matrons Department and the cleaning contractor (OCS) to do so. The Nursing Department now has twenty-five mirrors and the cleaning contractor seven and they are using them with enthusiasm. I am sure that if all hospitals adopted Queen Mary’s approach they would be better for it.
My main reason for writing was to tell you that the London Assembly member James Cleverly was wrong to infer by his final statement “people go into hospital to get well, not to be confronted by vermin infestation”, that this is what happens at QM - it is certainly not the case in the patient areas.
Please note that in the last six months Patient Forums in England have been replaced by local Link workers combining voluntary organisations with an interest in NHS services. If you would like any further information in respect of the matters raised in my letter please contact the host organisation: Bexley Patients Forum, Shaw Trust, Bexley Centre, Milton House, 240A Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 8AS.
Richard Neville
Voluntary Worker
Chislehurst
• It is still on record Richard, the hospital called in pest control companies! Ed
Bank Scam
The following potential scam has been brought to our attention and, as is our custom, we like to make readers aware of it at the earliest opportunity.
A householder was contacted on the telephone by a person who stated that if the resident thought that their bank charges were too high then some of the charges could be claimed back. The residents bank details were requested but, on this occasion, the resident realised that this was wrong.
Please be aware that your bank or other personal details should not be given over the telephone or by any callers knocking at your door.
Any residents who find themselves in this position are encouraged to contact the police on 020 8301 1212 for Bexleyheath Police Station or your Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT).
Peter Burt
Blackfen & Lamorbey SNT
07970 544523
Cricket
Girls cricket in Bexley has been in the doldrums over the past couple of seasons. Problems raising teams in the under 13s and under 15s groups is the main issue. During the winter months 2008/9 there are some initiatives being entered into at local schools to introduce girls to the game through a series of indoor kwik cricket matches and coaching sessions. Townley Grammar School for Girls already run an indoor cricket club with Blackfen Girls and Chislehurst and Sidcup just beginning to play matches. If any girls wish to be involved in cricket be they novices or with previous experience please fee free to contact me for information on what is going on around the borough. There is no adult female team in Bexley but Blackheath Cricket club in nearby Greenwich run a womens team who play in the National League and are always happy to hear from anyone who may be interested.
John Daniels
Bexley Girls Cricket Co-Ordinator
020 8304 7050
JDAN410293@aol.com
What price European Union Reciprocity?
My experience of Bexley’s parking policy has been that their wardens are very strict and relatively inflexible, but I have now learned different.
Last week, turning into St John’s Road I was obstructed by a large articulated vehicle facing up the road, completely blocking entry from the High Street. I had to reverse out into the High Street and drive round to Granville Road in order to get near the house in St John’s Road that I wanted to visit. Over ten minutes later I was walking up St John’s Road to the High Street and saw the same vehicle still blocking the road! At this time the Traffic Warden arrived so I felt pleased that there is after all some justice in this world.
However I hadn’t reckoned with the practical approach of the warden in that, because the lorry had a Belgian index plate, she didn’t consider it worthwhile taking its registration as the apparently English driver moved off because “they never pay”! I only wish we could be sure to find a similarly relaxed law enforcer when driving abroad in Europe and overstep the law. The Belgian police are renowned for being very unsympathetic to foreigners infringing their laws.
Roy Barlow - Sidcup
Anti Aircraft Noise - Action Group
I would like to form some kind of Action Group to try and tackle the problem of low flying aircraft and aircraft noise generally over Sidcup.If there are readers who feel the same way please contact me.
Ray Carter MA
Sidcup
• Contact Ray through the Chronicle.
Gateway proposals
The following letter pretty well summarises the concerns of a good number of residents in Erith about the proposals to develop what is know as TheErith Thames Western Gateway.
Dear Mr Austin MP
I was horrified today having spoken to Mr Sunny Ee dealing with the Erith Thames Western Gateway Proposals that will seriously affect the lives of all the residents on this estate both tenants and leaseholders alike, that part of the proposals may see the Orbit West Street offices relocated to the front of Bosworth House on the Riverside Estate overlooking Bexley road. This coming so soon after we campaigned to prevent the offices being built on the car park area at the back of the Running Horses, is nothing short of an outrage coming from what supposedly is a Registered Social Landlord which is supposed to take into account the wishes of it's residents whose interests it should take paramount and first to that of it's own short-sighted territorial ambitions.
Mr Ee was well aware of not only leaseholders on these estates concerns and fears but also that of many tenants who have lived here for many a long and happy year and intend to carry on doing so, all of which are horrified over these proposals. Mr Ee stated to me that it would bring jobs into the town, what utter nonsense as the jobs are already in the town and situated at present just 700 yards away along West Street hardly an economic boom or boon to the town more like a prestige’s showcase puff of smoke, with far more obvious disadvantages than advantages!
To be told that the land on which our estate sits, is crucial to revitalise our town and that the additional hundreds of extra homes is vital due to the shortage of homes in the region is a nonsense if instead of estate gardens and car parking spaces for new homes is being targeted, that now totally unnecessary offices blocking views and light and the privacy of existing homes, and adding to the growing car parking problems on this estate which will only get worse in the long run, not better will be built on premium town centre green land. We argued this very point two years ago, with Orbit Managers over their last half hearted daft plans to buy the plot of land at the back of the Running Horses and building a three storey building to house their 90 odd staff, where will they all park? We asked then as the majority of their staff has their own vehicles. We were told at that time that there was ample room on our estate to park their vehicles.
For your information Mr Austin this estate, has 78 car parking places serving 128 dwellings, the reason residents are not constantly fighting for parking places at present, is that thankfully not all have cars, myself included. These proposals will see neighbours fighting with one another in order to park their vehicles at night and during the day with Orbit Staff and other visitors to their offices, together with our own visitors and delivery vehicles and tradesmen struggling to find somewhere to park.
Not all these new homes and offices will be able to have subterranean parking spaces and like many of the new build properties in the West Street area may well have to have ground floor parking with flats and offices stilted above them. Even this policy of raised buildings to accommodate car parking beneath will not be sufficient to cope with the rising numbers of car park spaces needed as what we have been told already, is that this estate will lose many of its existing car parking spaces, swallowed up by new build homes.
Residents on this estate at present have to contend with non residents using our car park as a park and ride scheme whilst they commute by train to work in London, and to users of the Erith Playhouse and Running Horses, not to mention those shoppers parking up on our estate and going across to the nearby shops reluctant to pay to park on Bexley Road, and residents in the flats above Pier Road who have also been observed parking on our estate late at night, their own car park at the back of Pier Road being used as target practice by stone throwing yobs at night, making it an unsafe place to park their cars.
We will lose valuable estate grounds, where is it envisaged the children of this new enlarged metropolis will play? At present we have no play area on the estate, and if the majority of these plans are implemented it would seem that the Riverside Gardens area may well be reduced in its present size considerably.
Where are the additional school and nursery places coming from? Will our already overstretched medical surgery be able to take on hundreds of more patients with over 700 more dwellings being built in the immediate area? Already we have lost the only NHS dentist in the town.
Four years after the new shopping centre opened it is now only starting to come to life with at least 4/5 units still un-let, we doubt these additional homes, relocated offices and jobs will make any real difference to the town other than cramping in more residents and offices into a tighter knit area all fighting to park their vehicles.
The residents of this estate and also of the wider Erith Town Centre should be told the truth of the impact on this town that these additional homes and offices, will have upon their daily lives together with the health risks and effects of living on a building site on which for us on this estate, is already a large roundabout surrounded by traffic on all sides. A wider forum must be found and greater information relayed to the residents of this town so that a more comprehensive debate can be held other than the cramped confines of the Veterans Club in Avenue Road, or Morrison’s entrance way or a small outlet in the shopping centre. The largest public meeting place in Erith no doubt would be the Christ Church Hall, and the meeting open to all the public should be well publicised in advance.
The pictures we have seen to date may look pretty, but do we really all want our town to look like Croydon on Thames, with even more high density buildings creeping down to the waters edge, I very much doubt the majority of Erithian’s want that to happen to our town and none of us are NIMBY’S “Not In My Back Yarders” only realists that know you cannot fit a square peg into a round hole.
With the economic downturn and credit crunch, with jobless figures expected to rise in the near future and the prospects of obtaining more than 100% mortgages consigned to the history books forever, are the developers and Bexley Council certain that this amount of new build properties, homes and offices will take place and are absolutely necessary, as already developers are mothballing existing new build properties until there is an upturn in the economy not envisaged until 2010 at the earliest.
I look forward to reading your thoughts on these many as yet unanswered questions.
Yours Sincerely
Stephen West
Chairman,
Erith Riverside Residents Association