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Why does Bexley keep missing out?
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| This map shows the limited public transport links in Bexley. There is no direct access to high-speed rail services, the DLR or north Kent's Fastrack. The Greenwich Waterfront Transit and Crossrail are in Abbey Wood, on the borough's boundary |
Is there something about Bexley which makes it invisible to the power brokers and the deal makers? LINDA PIPER asks Bexley's politicians why the borough always seems to miss out on the major things in life.
IT CANNOT have escaped the attention of most people in Bexley the borough has been getting a rough deal.
Bexley has limited public transport, especially in the north of the borough, and both Labour and Tory councils have lobbied hard to be included in major transport schemes.
Somehow, the borough seems to have missed out on everything going.
Hopes Crossrail would run through the borough to Ebbsfleet were dashed when it was decided to end the link at Abbey Wood, on the borough boundary.
Bexley also missed out on north Kent's Fastlink to Ebbsfleet International station, the DLR extension and the Greenwich Waterfront Transit.
So what did Bexley get?
It got one of the largest incinerators in Europe, despite spending nearly 20 years and more than £1.2m fighting the plans.
 |
| An artist's impression of the Thames Gateway Bridge |
Bexley also got a giant rail freight depot taking up 155 acres of Bexley's green belt in Slade Green next to the ecologically prized Crayford Marshes, with no guarantee it will not become an enormous lorry distribution
centre.
And Bexley residents look set to lose out on discounted tolls for the Dartford Crossing, despite living nearer to it than many people in Dartford borough.
Bexley is still fighting a rearguard action against the Thames Gateway Bridge, whose public inquiry is to be reopened.
If it goes ahead, traffic will pour onto Bexley's roads and it has already been proposed,
unlike in other boroughs, only a small number of Bexley residents will get toll discounts.
Bexley is a safe borough with a four-star council, a top recycler and has the best park in London, so where is it going wrong?
Most politicians seem to agree Bexley's location is its biggest disadvantage - on the edges of both London and Kent.
| ‘Bexley is very much a victim of the political priorities of others.’ | | DAVID EVENNETT MP |
|
Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett said: "Bexley is very much a victim of the political priorities of others."
He added: "As the Government and the Mayor
of London are more interested in inner cities, they have a tendency to margin-alise Bexley's interests when key issues are raised."
But Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin takes a different view.
Mr Austin says Bexley residents will benefit most from Crossrail coming to Abbey Wood, and from millions of Government cash used to regenerate Erith and Crayford.
He said: "Bexley has been generously treated on police resources, and the Government chose Bexley for its state-of-the-art flagship business academy."
Old Bexley and Sidcup MP Derek Conway said: "I am not convinced Bexley is picked on' but it suffers the consequence of being on the fringe of central London schemes as it is, in
reality, neither Kent nor London."
Mr Conway thinks it would have been better for Bexley to have been in Kent, with parts of his constituency in Bromley.
Former council leader Councillor Chris Ball agrees Bexley's geographical position is a major problem.
He said: "I think we continue to suffer from an image perpetuated from the 1970s, that Bexley is a green, leafy place similar to Bromley and therefore has no real issues."
Cllr Ball says Bexley has done well on specific issues such as community safety, which has
attracted national attention, and in bringing in external cash for projects.
Current Bexley Council leader Councillor Ian Clement describes Bexley as "the pivotal borough south of the river in the Thames Gateway".
He said: "The challenge is to put and keep Bexley on the map with those who matter; challenge and fight our corner on issues we care about and sell what we can offer, to bring in the right investment."
8:57am Monday 24th March 2008
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CommentPosted by: Ben, Belvedere on 9:25am Mon 24 Mar 08
I do feel living in Bexley borough we miss out of certain things that other boroughs have.
We're very weak when it comes to transport as highlighted, the DLR link should really be extended from Abbeywood all the way out to Bexley itself via Bexleyheath through the heart of the borough not the fringes.
I also have to say I hate it when people ask where you live... I say London they but why's your address Kent... it's quite confusing if you don't already live here...
It's still one of the best boroughs though in terms of eductaion, housing, green spaces, and crime though so we can't moan too much.
I do feel living in Bexley borough we miss out of certain things that other boroughs have.
We're very weak when it comes to transport as highlighted, the DLR link should really be extended from Abbeywood all the way out to Bexley itself via Bexleyheath through the heart of the borough not the fringes.
I also have to say I hate it when people ask where you live... I say London they but why's your address Kent... it's quite confusing if you don't already live here...
It's still one of the best boroughs though in terms of eductaion, housing, green spaces, and crime though so we can't moan too much.
Posted by: Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott, Bexley Village on 9:46am Mon 24 Mar 08
The best thing about [bold]Bexley[/bold] is its resident [bold]Lord[/bold]!
See [bold]Your Lord's[/bold] latest blog in the [bold]'Your Shopper'[/bold] section:
[bold]ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDANT – ESPECIALLY AT EASTER[/bold]
Posted [bold]by Lord Erastus Theobald Piggott[/bold] at 10:34pm on Sun 23 Mar 08.
[bold]Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott[/bold]
The best thing about
Bexley is its resident
Lord!
See
Your Lord's latest blog in the
'Your Shopper' section:
ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDANT – ESPECIALLY AT EASTER
Posted
by Lord Erastus Theobald Piggott at 10:34pm on Sun 23 Mar 08.
Your Lord, Erastus Theobald Piggott Posted by: AJ, Bexley on 9:48am Mon 24 Mar 08
To be honest, I chose to live in Bexley knowing that the trasport links wern't great! But it's nice to know I get in to work quicker than some people that live in Greenwich!
My daughter has been waiting for a flat/house with her partner and two children for 3 years now. They currently live with me, my husband and my twin sons. They both work and have decided to rent privatly and are moving next month. Bexley's excuse is we have a waiting list of 2 years and you are not a priority. I have lived in Bexley for 12 years now and still think they treat people that work hard for a living like dirt. I just hope the Housing market settles so they can buy in the near future!
To be honest, I chose to live in Bexley knowing that the trasport links wern't great! But it's nice to know I get in to work quicker than some people that live in Greenwich!
My daughter has been waiting for a flat/house with her partner and two children for 3 years now. They currently live with me, my husband and my twin sons. They both work and have decided to rent privatly and are moving next month. Bexley's excuse is we have a waiting list of 2 years and you are not a priority. I have lived in Bexley for 12 years now and still think they treat people that work hard for a living like dirt. I just hope the Housing market settles so they can buy in the near future!
Posted by: Gavin, Gravesend on 1:48pm Mon 24 Mar 08
I have also found it stannge has transport links work and how they are planned for! For the life of me I can't see why crossrail will end in abbeywood surely it would make sound commercial sence to link it to ebbesfleet to the international rail travellers, just think the planners are plain thick. All that will happen is the A2 will just get more congested than it is!. I do allot odf traveling and it wold of been ideal to jump on at ebbsfleet and get the train down to heathrow than use my car and vice versa for peple going to europe on the eurostar, just plain stupid when we are always told to use less car travel and more public transport!
I have also found it stannge has transport links work and how they are planned for! For the life of me I can't see why crossrail will end in abbeywood surely it would make sound commercial sence to link it to ebbesfleet to the international rail travellers, just think the planners are plain thick. All that will happen is the A2 will just get more congested than it is!. I do allot odf traveling and it wold of been ideal to jump on at ebbsfleet and get the train down to heathrow than use my car and vice versa for peple going to europe on the eurostar, just plain stupid when we are always told to use less car travel and more public transport!
Posted by: Muhammad Haque, London on 5:58pm Mon 24 Mar 08
Your question in the intro would have been credible if you had used one of the words below instead of ‘Crossrail’: -
“Railway’, ‘Transport’ or ‘public transport’.
Your reasoning is consistent with the view that we need a competent, economic and truthful transport policy and implementation system. There is none now. Not as far as the evidence of the Government’s relevant decision-making behaviour on transport shows.
Neither centrally as typified by the UK Department for Transport [DfT] nor regionally as exhibited in the egotistic, personal career-driven ‘plans’ of Ken Livingstone, the hugely diversionary, wasteful and grotesquely unaccountable ‘Undone mayor’.
The fact that ‘local’ councils are controlled by career-minded councillors who have CHOSEN, on the whole, to behave as poodles for central funding bureaucrats is not unconnected with the fact that Bexley’s local representatives have had to fight for the extension of the transport links to your area. The democratic question is: why should people have to fight to have what should be provided by reason of public need?
If elected representatives do not speak up and if they don’t do so truthfully then more of the wrong decisions you address your headline to will be made. Let’s start by scrapping the word Crossrail and the agenda for Crossrail. Let’s substitute it with ‘transport’ or ‘public transport’ or ‘railway’. And notice the environment of difference. In understanding where the problems may exist. Once we know where, we can start to address it.
Crossrail is NOT a transport solution for the transport needs of ordinary people in need of transport facilities in London. It is a stunt. And it is stuffed full of seriously contradictory promises and resource applications.
If Heathrow is bad, as the London DVENING STANDARD has been telling readers that it is then the same Heathrow cannot be cited as being so important and good that £Billions of public money should be spent on an alleged transport scheme that is justified by citing speedy access to the same Heathrow!!!!
And as the financial crisis now spreading begins to cause losses of jobs in “Canary Wharf’ [another location cited to justify ‘Crossrail’] and in the merchant City of London [the third main ‘reasons’ for Crossrail], it should be accepted by all thinking members of society that Crossrail has never been about addressing the serious transport needs of the region. Crossrail has been spun for three locations that are being seen for the hollow and the unsustainable pretexts for the Crossrail propagandists that they were.
Compare the number of passengers who will actually NEED transport with those who will NEED and appreciate a good alternative to the existing badly run London regional railway, underground and the overall public transport infrastructure and see what the answer is. It is NOT Crossrail. It will not be. It cannot be. So scrapping Crossrail is the best option.
The ‘crossrail Bill’ now being formally ‘treated’ in a ‘select committee’ in the legislative ‘House of Lords’.
The behaviour of the bureaucracy involved in the control of the agenda of the same Select Committee so far has shown evidence of being under the influence of anti-democratic lobbys [or 'lobbies'] mostly promoting the caused of interests other than those of ordinary people in the London region.
Perhaps the concerns that you have helped to highlight and those that exist in bundles across London will be allowed comprehensive and truthful airing by the ‘Crossrail Bill select committee’ in the upper chamber.
After all, the constitutional obligation on law making includes the obligation that Parliament should actually let the people speak and to do so fully on matters that affect peoples’ lives and needs…
Khoodeelaar! has filed a formal objection against the Crossrail Bill to that select committee and is urging all who oppose the Bill itself on any ground including the important ground that Crossrail package leaves out of transport service areas that should have railway service and links, to make their views known to that committee. Even if such communication may not be included in the closed list of published objectors [called ‘the petitioners’] to the formal body of that ‘committee’..
Thank you
Khoodeelaar! The Brick Lane, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green ‘south’ and Stepney London E1 Area constitutional law and democratic campaign against the Crossrail hole Bill [‘House of Lords’, “Palace of Westminster’, London as at 24 March 2008]
[quote]quote[/quote]
Your question in the intro would have been credible if you had used one of the words below instead of ‘Crossrail’: -
“Railway’, ‘Transport’ or ‘public transport’.
Your reasoning is consistent with the view that we need a competent, economic and truthful transport policy and implementation system. There is none now. Not as far as the evidence of the Government’s relevant decision-making behaviour on transport shows.
Neither centrally as typified by the UK Department for Transport nor regionally as exhibited in the egotistic, personal career-driven ‘plans’ of Ken Livingstone, the hugely diversionary, wasteful and grotesquely unaccountable ‘Undone mayor’.
The fact that ‘local’ councils are controlled by career-minded councillors who have CHOSEN, on the whole, to behave as poodles for central funding bureaucrats is not unconnected with the fact that Bexley’s local representatives have had to fight for the extension of the transport links to your area. The democratic question is: why should people have to fight to have what should be provided by reason of public need?
If elected representatives do not speak up and if they don’t do so truthfully then more of the wrong decisions you address your headline to will be made. Let’s start by scrapping the word Crossrail and the agenda for Crossrail. Let’s substitute it with ‘transport’ or ‘public transport’ or ‘railway’. And notice the environment of difference. In understanding where the problems may exist. Once we know where, we can start to address it.
Crossrail is NOT a transport solution for the transport needs of ordinary people in need of transport facilities in London. It is a stunt. And it is stuffed full of seriously contradictory promises and resource applications.
If Heathrow is bad, as the London DVENING STANDARD has been telling readers that it is then the same Heathrow cannot be cited as being so important and good that £Billions of public money should be spent on an alleged transport scheme that is justified by citing speedy access to the same Heathrow!!!!
And as the financial crisis now spreading begins to cause losses of jobs in “Canary Wharf’ and in the merchant City of London , it should be accepted by all thinking members of society that Crossrail has never been about addressing the serious transport needs of the region. Crossrail has been spun for three locations that are being seen for the hollow and the unsustainable pretexts for the Crossrail propagandists that they were.
Compare the number of passengers who will actually NEED transport with those who will NEED and appreciate a good alternative to the existing badly run London regional railway, underground and the overall public transport infrastructure and see what the answer is. It is NOT Crossrail. It will not be. It cannot be. So scrapping Crossrail is the best option.
The ‘crossrail Bill’ now being formally ‘treated’ in a ‘select committee’ in the legislative ‘House of Lords’.
The behaviour of the bureaucracy involved in the control of the agenda of the same Select Committee so far has shown evidence of being under the influence of anti-democratic lobbys mostly promoting the caused of interests other than those of ordinary people in the London region.
Perhaps the concerns that you have helped to highlight and those that exist in bundles across London will be allowed comprehensive and truthful airing by the ‘Crossrail Bill select committee’ in the upper chamber.
After all, the constitutional obligation on law making includes the obligation that Parliament should actually let the people speak and to do so fully on matters that affect peoples’ lives and needs…
Khoodeelaar! has filed a formal objection against the Crossrail Bill to that select committee and is urging all who oppose the Bill itself on any ground including the important ground that Crossrail package leaves out of transport service areas that should have railway service and links, to make their views known to that committee. Even if such communication may not be included in the closed list of published objectors to the formal body of that ‘committee’..
Thank you
Khoodeelaar! The Brick Lane, Whitechapel, Bethnal Green ‘south’ and Stepney London E1 Area constitutional law and democratic campaign against the Crossrail hole Bill
quote
Posted by: Graham Pennells, Joydens Wood on 2:19pm Tue 25 Mar 08
But when the residents of Bexley are offered improvements to their Borough, ie a bypass to Old Bexley village, they vote against it. I no longer go near the place because of the traffic congestion.
But when the residents of Bexley are offered improvements to their Borough, ie a bypass to Old Bexley village, they vote against it. I no longer go near the place because of the traffic congestion.
Posted by: des, here on 5:32pm Tue 25 Mar 08
Vote that Scammer of an MP out of power. Get a decent MP who will fight your corner and represent your interests and not their own.
Vote that Scammer of an MP out of power. Get a decent MP who will fight your corner and represent your interests and not their own.
Posted by: B Joners, Thamesmead on 10:15pm Tue 25 Mar 08
I take it des means john austin. That useless, inept MP does no work.is it any wonder the labour govrment,brown+blair and co. think they can walk over us when the labour mp does nothing. at least dezza 'conman' canway did work for people. wish he wuz my mp, bettter thn austinn.
I take it des means john austin. That useless, inept MP does no work.is it any wonder the labour govrment,brown+blair and co. think they can walk over us when the labour mp does nothing. at least dezza 'conman' canway did work for people. wish he wuz my mp, bettter thn austinn.
Posted by: B Joners, Thamesmead on 10:16pm Tue 25 Mar 08
I take it des means john austin. That useless, inept MP does no work.is it any wonder the labour govrment,brown+blair and co. think they can walk over us when the labour mp does nothing. at least dezza 'conman' canway did work for people. wish he wuz my mp, bettter thn austinn.
I take it des means john austin. That useless, inept MP does no work.is it any wonder the labour govrment,brown+blair and co. think they can walk over us when the labour mp does nothing. at least dezza 'conman' canway did work for people. wish he wuz my mp, bettter thn austinn.
Posted by: ann, Middlesex on 12:25pm Wed 26 Mar 08
I am sorry that Bexley has to put up with a large incinerator. These give off harmful dioxin chemicals which are proven to cause cancer and birth defects. Michael Ryan, who studies the link between childhood illness and pollution, says that infant deaths in Bexley have increased since the incinerator was built. To find details, Google: Michael Ryan + incinerators
I am sorry that Bexley has to put up with a large incinerator. These give off harmful dioxin chemicals which are proven to cause cancer and birth defects. Michael Ryan, who studies the link between childhood illness and pollution, says that infant deaths in Bexley have increased since the incinerator was built. To find details, Google: Michael Ryan + incinerators
Posted by: Michael Ryan, Shrewsbury on 1:42pm Wed 26 Mar 08
When I attended Primary School in West Street, Erith [1953-60], I never dreamt that I'd have to bury two of my own children when I grew up and it's that fact that has persuaded me to research these health matters.
Chay & Greenstone are reported in the University of Chigaco Chronicle of 14 August 2003 "Infant mortality rates improve as air quality improves" and yet the London Health Observatory has failed to look at the infant mortality rates in the 625 electoral wards in London and the fact that the wards with high infant death rates are associated with incinerator emissions and the low death-rate wards are free from such emissions.
Dr Richard Weisler, of the University of North Carolina, plotted two suicide clusters that were linked to air pollution, one near an asphalt plant and the other near a paper mill that had started to burn waste residues instead of discharging into a watercourse. Dr Weisler's first press release of Dec 2004 can be accessed via link on left hand side of home page at www.ukhr.org
Infant deaths and suicides are just two adverse outcomes that are associated with exposure to PM2.5 emissions.
Low birthweight babies are another adverse outcome and the LHO lists the statistics by electoral ward in London, but not the infant mortality data.
Rates of asthma, stroke, COPD, stillbirth, diabetes 2, heart attack and cancers will also be high in polluted zones.
My evidence to the Belvedere incinerator public inquiry was blocked in Sept 2005, but the content of that evidence can be shown to be true.
Kind regards,
Michael Ryan,
Shrewsbury
When I attended Primary School in West Street, Erith , I never dreamt that I'd have to bury two of my own children when I grew up and it's that fact that has persuaded me to research these health matters.
Chay & Greenstone are reported in the University of Chigaco Chronicle of 14 August 2003 "Infant mortality rates improve as air quality improves" and yet the London Health Observatory has failed to look at the infant mortality rates in the 625 electoral wards in London and the fact that the wards with high infant death rates are associated with incinerator emissions and the low death-rate wards are free from such emissions.
Dr Richard Weisler, of the University of North Carolina, plotted two suicide clusters that were linked to air pollution, one near an asphalt plant and the other near a paper mill that had started to burn waste residues instead of discharging into a watercourse. Dr Weisler's first press release of Dec 2004 can be accessed via link on left hand side of home page at www.ukhr.org
Infant deaths and suicides are just two adverse outcomes that are associated with exposure to PM2.5 emissions.
Low birthweight babies are another adverse outcome and the LHO lists the statistics by electoral ward in London, but not the infant mortality data.
Rates of asthma, stroke, COPD, stillbirth, diabetes 2, heart attack and cancers will also be high in polluted zones.
My evidence to the Belvedere incinerator public inquiry was blocked in Sept 2005, but the content of that evidence can be shown to be true.
Kind regards,
Michael Ryan,
Shrewsbury
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