Opinions

Covid infections are rapidly increasing. In Southwark, one out of every 20 people are Covid positive. Rising infection is followed by more people going into hospital and sadly, rising deaths.

The first vaccine was approved for use in the UK and it’s now starting to be rolled out. For all of those who volunteered to take part in the vaccine trials, you all deserve a huge thank you for enabling this to happen so swiftly.

2020 has been an extraordinary year, and an extraordinarily bad one for so many people who have lost loved ones and all those employers so badly affected by Covid.

With the news of a vaccine, 2021 is increasingly looking like a year where we can begin to return to some sense of normality.

Following a dangerous increase in Covid-19 infections we are now in Tier 3: Very High alert restrictions until further notice.

Thousands of Londoners will be given a pay boost with the increase of the voluntary London Living Wage to £10.85 an hour.

I know that the current second national lockdown is very difficult for many residents and businesses, both in my constituency and across the rest of Southwark.

Southwark council’s leader urges residents to stay home to stay safe. The new national restrictions began on November 5.

Due to the Covid pandemic, this year’s flu vaccination programme has been expanded to include more at risk groups including parent carers and children and young people with long-term health conditions or a learning disability.

With close to 10,000 households on Lewisham’s housing waiting list, our borough has been at the sharp end of the UK’s housing crisis.

It’s been a difficult year for Santa and the elves. Social distancing in the workshop has meant production has been tricky at times but they are still on target to have everything ready for Christmas Eve.

Over the last few years there has been a drive to encourage more people to train as teachers, especially in shortage subjects.

It was this initiative that led to the National School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) courses in maths, and physics and modern languages.

After weeks of worrying speculation about congestion zone expansion and the removal of free travel for younger and older people, this new funding deal for Transport for London (TfL) removes the immediate threat.

But, the Government and the Mayor must now work urgently to put TfL’s funding on a resilient footing.

A care agency has supported a breast cancer fundraising event by providing cakes and wearing pink.

The live-in care agency, Bluebird Care Merton, supported the “Wear It Pink” day on October 23 to help raise money for life saving breast cancer research.

Once again the issue of testing is of huge importance in the battle against Covid.

Obviously no one wanted to see us back in national lockdown but it’s clear that there was no alternative.

I urge Lambeth council to completely cancel and get rid of low traffic restrictions (LTN) in the Tulse Hill area.

I have spoken to many people who neither want or support this costly idea. LTN has greatly impacted on parcel, food and medicine deliveries, some shops along Upper Tulse Hill have lost trade, visitors driving to see family and friends ( obviously observing current rules on visits) are having a nightmare because many are not familiar with the area with LTN restrictions

This letter has been written on behalf of the St. Matthew’s Estate Tenants and Residents Association (SMETRA) to state our opposition to the proposed Hondo Development in Popes Road in Brixton.

In an effort to represent local opinion on this matter SMETRA Committee Members have been speaking to residents of St. Matthew’s Estate and discussed this at a recent open SMETRA meeting. We have developed a list of our core concerns which have shaped our position.

Tributes and donations pour in in memory of one of The Princess Royal Hospital’s most gifted and dedicated surgeons.

It was with profound shock and sorrow that family, friends and colleagues learnt of the untimely death of Mr Prakash Sinha, consultant surgeon and medical director for the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) and long-standing supporter of The Chartwell Cancer Trust.

While Over the last week, we’ve seen the best of Britain.

Hundreds of businesses, many of which have been struggling over the last few months, have stepped up to support their local communities with meals for children.

I am deeply disappointed that the Government refused to fund Free School Meals over the half -term holidays.

I’ve lived in Streatham for 47 years, born and raised. I have never felt more of a need to write to my local paper SLP until now.

I was issued a Penalty Charge Notice  (£130) for driving down a ‘pop up’ ‘No Entry’ road entering from Streatham High Road.

On September 3, in Streatham High Road, heading south towards Norbury I took the right turn into Glencairn Road as I have for 30 years.

More than 130,000 people live with MS in the UK, and many rely on services like physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and exercise classes to stay active, manage their condition and do the everyday things many others take for granted.

I am writing in the strongest terms to protest against the introduction of LTNs which has caused great anger in the local community.

It has Penge Road and Church road, and I suspect other roads, into pollution ridden hot spots.

Cat lovers have a lot to celebrate this Black Cat Day on October 27 with Cats Protection’s news that black and black-and-white cats are no longer overlooked as they once were.