While out canvassing in Greenwich West, Peninsula and Blackheath Westcombe wards, it became clear that many residents were finding it difficult to cope with the disruption caused by the roadworks on the A2, but had little idea why these works existed.  As a result, this Saturday Conservatives from across Greenwich delivered or gave a letter to residents from Parliamentary Spokesman Cllr Spencer Drury.  The letter was very well received and Greenwich Conservatives are pleased that they could be of help to residents.  The letter reads:-
 
"Dear Resident,
 
 
 

RE:      Roadworks on the A2

 
Over recent weeks local Conservatives and I have been canvassing across the Greenwich area and it has become clear that residents have not been fully informed of the reason for the roadworks on Blackheath Hill and Shooters Hill which are causing such congestion and delay across the area. As a result I thought it might be useful to write to update you on the current situation.
 
As I am sure you are aware, the roadworks were started on 15th February and are scheduled to last for approximately eight weeks. I understand that the main purpose of the roadworks is:-
v      Full reconstruction of the carriageway
v      An improved drainage system
v      Installation of new street lighting
v      Improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
Local Conservatives have contacted Transport for London (TfL) to express concern that the work seems only to be happening at limited times and maybe it could be completed more quickly. In response, we have received reassurances that although TfL did consider working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it was felt this would cause undue disturbance to residents who live near to the works. As a result, the work should be completed daily from 6am to 10pm, unless problems (like working around a gas main) stop work early as they did on 26th February. However, having monitored the work, we remain concerned that the times we have been given do not reflect the time work is being finished and would be grateful if resdients could let our local activists know if they feel the works are not continuing until 10pm. The contact name depends on the ward concerned and are laid out below:-
v      Greenwich West Ward:                Simon Gallie (Simon.Gallie@eu.nabgroup.com),                                                      or Ryan Acty (Ryan@entechts.co.uk). 
v      Blackheath Westcombe Ward:      Cllr Geoffery Brighty & Cllr Alex Wilson (details                                                       overleaf) or Elizabeth Drury.
v      Peninsula Ward:                           Charles Easton, Malcolm Reid                                                (mreid@rasini.com) or Toks Bailey                                                        (baileyfamjor@aol.com).
Greenwich Conservatives have also asked that TfL regard eight weeks as a deadline rather than an approximate estimate of when the works should finish. 
If you would like more details on the roadworks, TfL issued a press release which can be found at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/media/newscentre/11120.aspx

. Please do not hesitate to contact me or Gareth Bacon (our Conservative GLA Assembly member) if you have any further questions.

 

Yours faithfully,


Cllr Spencer Drury
Leader of Greenwich Conservatives
Parliamentary Spokesman for Greenwich and Woolwich"
 

At Wednesday's Budget meeting Labour and Liberal Democrat members voted against Conservative proposals to create a ‘Town Centre Police Team’ in the borough and to reduce Council Tax.  
 
The proposal to create a ‘Town Centre Police Team’ based in Eltham for this financial year, to be followed by another in Greenwich in 2010 was made by Conservative Leader Cllr Spencer Drury.  The purpose of the teams, each of which would be composed of one sergeant, two PCs and three PCSOs, would focus on dealing with the specific problems confronting the High Street and Greenwich Town Centre.  
 
Cllr Drury said ”Currently the Safer Neighbourhood Teams for Eltham North and Greenwich West find themselves focused on dealing with Eltham High Street and Greenwich Town Centre rather than the problems of residents in and around their wards, which means residents get a lower level of coverage than elsewhere.  This proposal would have helped reduce crime and improve the number of patrols in town centres and in Eltham North & Greenwich West.  We felt that funds could be found for the police team in Eltham immediately and would aim to reduce the publicity budget to provide extra police in Greenwich West as soon as possible.”
 
The proposal to decrease Council Tax by 0.5% was made by Conservative Finance Spokesman Cllr Andy Jennings who said “Whilst we welcome the fact that no Council Tax increase was proposed, we feel that there is scope to begin reducing the burden of taxation on local people.  The Council has shown over the last year that in difficult economic times it is prepared to spend thousands of pounds of residents’ money on business class trips to China, on doubling the frequency of its propaganda newspaper and on pointless attempts to upstage the Mayor of London at the opening of Woolwich Arsenal DLR station.  A reduction in tax would be an acknowledgement to local people that we are serious about starting to cut out some of this unnecessary spending at a time when they are trying to make their own household budgets balance.”
 
Cllr Drury said “Both of these proposals could be financed with affecting any frontline services.  Labour did not accept that more police were their responsibility although they provided them in Woolwich and on the Ferrier Estate.  I think their priorities are wrong and the fact they admit we need more police, but will not fund them reflects the muddled thinking of this Council.”