July 2016 – South Dock
Yesterday morning a “Headline Report” about South Dock Boat Yard landed on our doormat. It shows how after “consultation” with the local people Southwark Council have decided to make the tower blocks even taller. They are still claiming an increased boat yard space despite plonking 213 flats on top of it! As Southwark Council appear to be totally ignoring the opinions of local boat owners, residents and those who work in the boatyard it was decided that we need professional help to fight against this horrendous development. A Crowdfunding Proposal was put forward to raise funds to hire a planning consultant and a planning lawyer. We needed around £7,500 and it was very quickly raised. There was a long feature article in the Times on Saturday 30th July about the success of the campaign.
The destruction of industry in London has become rife and industrial properties are being destroyed on a mammoth scale. Just within a 5 minute walk from South Dock about 100,000 square foot of industrial space has been demolished. Many of the buildings were quite recently built and in good condition. It is putting huge pressure on the few remaining industrial estates and no doubt industrial prices will be forced upwards. Jobs are being lost on a grand scale. With the future of London as a financial centre under threat we could end up in real trouble.
Southwark are now set on destroying the industry along the Old Kent Road. You can find out more on Facebook at Facebook.com/vital.okr. Southwark obviously make more money from luxury flats, many of which just stand empty while their Far Eastern investors reap the profits.
It’s not just Southwark and Lewisham, other London boroughs don’t realise the importance of industry either. London’s last spectacle works is now under threat from housing.
Please try to find a few moments to watch Mark’s excellent video about the importance of industry to London:
For more information on the South Dock Boat Yard development visit their Facebook page
I will post more information on this blog as and when something occurs. It is essential this boatyard remains as a working yard for the sake of all the river users and local people of Rotherhithe and Deptford.
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