Headlines - August 2007
Work is progressing well on the construction of the new leisure
centre in Sidcup, which is on schedule to open in early April 2008.
For the third successive year Bexley has retained five prestigious
Green Flag awards for its parks and open spaces - and this year it was the
turn of Danson Park to be used to mark the event.
It was cool to be cool at the Embassy Court, Welling, on 23
August for the town's Summer Fun event. Although low temperatures and copious
amounts of ice cream meant things were less than warm, the spirits of the children
did not flag.
Dr Nick Johnson, Bexley's Chief Executive is retiring early
from the Council following health concerns. He will leave on 4 November 2007,
after 20 years working for the authority.
International long jump sports star, Jade Johnson, was the celebrity
guest at this year's Inter-Borough Athletics Day for adults with learning difficulties,
held at the David Ives Athletic Stadium, Erith, on Thursday 23 August.
More than 3,000 babies are born in Bexley each year and, at
any one time, over 7,500 are nappy wearers. It has been calculated that a single
baby will wear between 4,000 and 6,000 nappies, which equals one tonne of waste.
Successful Bexley GCSE students have been celebrating a bumper
crop of positive exam results right across the borough.
Parents and carers are being asked to back Bexley Council proposals
which would give them the results of the 11-plus selection tests for secondary
schools earlier, before they have to submit their applications for a school place.
Breaking News ... Cub reporters in Bexley had the chance to
show off their skills as news hounds this summer during the Aimhigher Headliners
Journalism Summer School at Welling Youth Club.
Music Industry professionals from top London music college Point
Blank will be sharing their expert knowledge in a range courses for budding young
producers, presenters and film makers across Bexley.
All telephone calls about Building Control will be answered
by the Council's Contact Centre at the Civic Offices, Bexleyheath, from Friday
31 August.
A new food waste recycling service provided by Bexley Council
for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the Borough has proved that
businesses are keen to go green.
A 16-year-old Erith youth, Nathan Robinson, said to be involved
in serious and persistent disorder, was made the subject of an ASBO at Bexley
Magistrates Court on Monday, 20 August, after an application by Bexley Council.
Members of the Smerdon Day Centre, Belvedere, had something
to celebrate earlier this month (8 August) when they won the Inter Borough Indoor
Hockey competition at Erith Leisure Centre.
Crayford's improved and pedestrianised Waterside Plaza was the
centre of the 'Love Crayford' summer entertainment event, on Thursday, 16 August.
The wait was finally over last Thursday (16 August) for the
Borough's A level students. Early results show a significant increase in higher
level results and a slight rise in overall passes.
Parents are reminded that from 3 September 2007 they will be
able to apply online for secondary school places in Bexley. The closing date
will be 19 October.
Bexley Council and Invest Bexley are pleased to confirm the
short list of developers that will be invited to tender for the second stage
of the Erith Western Gateway regeneration project.
Senior representatives from The Little Business Academy and
Bexley Council, with support from DCSF, Government Office for London and Together
for Children met this week to discuss the long term future of the nursery.
The Run for the Children annual family fun run will return to
Bexley on Sunday 23 September, starting at 11am at Danson Park, next to the
splash park.
For the second time Bexley Magistrates have thrown out an appeal
by Montrose Park Club, Hurst Road, Sidcup, for longer permitted licensed hours
- and, on this occasion, the Magistrates ordered the club to pay £1,500
towards Bexley Council's costs in having to defend a second appeal.
Bexley Council is in final negotiations with a leading local
organisation for the provision of music services from September following the
recent closure of the Bexley Academy of Music and Performing Arts.
Bexley resident has been awarded £5,000 interim compensation
following a successful prosecution by Bexley Council. The award was made by
a District Judge earlier this month, (2 August) at Bexley Magistrates' Court,
to a resident who fell on the poor surface of the Red Barn Pub car park in
February this year.
Bexley Council's Neighbourhood Services kicked off the summer
holidays by organising a series of events across the borough as a taster for
what youngsters could be doing during the holiday period while staying occupied
and safe. Thousands of youngsters and their families joined in this year's
range of Summer Slam events.
This year's Key Stage Two SATs results show Bexley to be among
the most improved local authorities in England with significantly improved
results in all subjects.
School dinners in Bexley are about to undergo a change for the
better, with the appointment of Harrison Catering to provide meals in the borough's
primary and special schools.
Bexley's young footballers got together last month (25 July)
at a special presentation event to mark the end of the borough's Ball Court
season.
Descendants of All Worlds, a travelling photo-documentary exhibition,
is visiting various places in Bexley, including libraries, schools, colleges
and religious buildings during the next 12 months. The first photo-story is
on display at Bexley Central LIbrary, Townley Road, until 17 August and it
will be followed by four or more new subjects over the year.
Bexley Council is investigating the possible presence of asbestos
on land on which the Wallhouse Road Estate was built in the 1950s.This follows
the identification of material containing asbestos in a garden on the estate.
Bexley Council has a statutory responsibility to deal with such environmental
hazards and is taking the appropriate action to protect the health of the public.
A new joint dispersal zone for Erith town centre and the Frobisher
Road estate will come into operation at 12.00hrs on Monday 13 August - giving
the police extra powers to curb anti-social behaviour.
A Sidcup man, Howard Hatley of Hurst Road, is Bexley Council's
winner of the Recycle Now home composting Golden Bin competition.
Two new information kiosks have been installed in Bexley's Children's
Centres at West Street, Erith and North End, Slade Green.
Christ Church CE Primary School in Erith has received an accreditation
award for developing a school travel plan, which aims to bring about a change
in the way families travel to and from school.
Brampton Primary School teacher, Catherine Aylen, recently came
second in the National Training and Development Agency Teaching Awards in the
category for Outstanding New Teacher', taking away a Distinction Award.
Community Centre users in Belvedere are celebrating the news
that Bexley Council has secured external funding for a £75,000 investment
into the Centre.
Bexley Council has prepared all Year 6 pupils (aged 10-11) in
the borough's primary schools to be safer when they start secondary school
in September.
There are still places available for Bexley Council's summer
sports courses in tennis, cricket and hockey for boys and girls aged eight
and over. The courses are being held at Mayplace Sports Ground and Danson Park
until 31 August.
Children from Royal Park Primary School paid a visit to Foots
Cray Meadows last month as part of a series of bug hunts organised by Bexley
Council.
