Bellenden Residents' Group (BRG)

Thursday, 23 July 2009   South London Press

FEUDING transport bosses are blaming each other for the scrapping of a vital train line.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said the funding of the South London Line (SLL) is “a matter for Transport for London (TfL) to consider and fund”.  Meanwhile, TfL told the South London Press the decision on whether to pay for a replacement line “is one for DfT, not TfL”.

The South London Press is calling on the Government and TfL to reverse plans to axe the SLL – a train service which runs from Victoria to London Bridge through the heartland of our boroughs.

Letters in South London Press  Monday, 20 July 2009

RESIDENTS of Camberwell who use Denmark Hill railway station to travel direct to London Bridge and Victoria are to face considerably reduced services. An improved service between these destinations, rather than a reduced one, is what is needed.
Denmark Hill is a vital link for many people travelling to King’s College Hospital, as well as for many who commute daily from Camberwell to central London. For them, bus travel is not a suitable alternative.
Journey times are terribly long due to congestion on the roads at all times of the day.

Jenny Clover South London Press  Friday, 17 July 2009

Campaigners are stepping up the battle to save a vital rail line from South London into the centre of town.  The South London Press is calling on the Government and Transport for London to back down over plans to axe the South London Line, which runs from Victoria to London Bridge through the heartland of our boroughs.  We are standing side by side with residents’ groups, MPs, politicians and King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill to demand the authorities listen to the needs of South London.
 
So far, medical bosses, residents, politicians and a chaplain have spoken passionately about the loss to the thousands of people who rely on the service.  In today's South London Press we look at the impact on small businesses.  And earlier this week our photographer joined campaigners at Peckham Rye station, talking to commuters about services. 
 

Monday, 13 July 2009   by Jenny Clover  South London Press

A CHAPLAIN has denounced plans to cut a train service which serves staff and visitors at the hospital where he works.  Rev David Rushton, 39, works at King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill.  He spoke out against plans to cut the South London Line (SLL) – the train service which runs from Victoria to London Bridge through Denmark Hill.
If the SLL is axed in 2012 as planned, Denmark Hill will lose all direct links into London Bridge and will have just two trains an hour to Victoria, which will not run past 7.30pm or on Sundays.
Mr Rushton said: “I know a lot of our patients, and particularly their families who need to get to see them, rely heavily on the SLL. Many families come to King’s from a long way out of London and we have quite a few from Northern Ireland.
“We have got used to living in London but for many people it's a daunting prospect.
“It isn't the easiest place to understand, especially if you are elderly and are going through the difficult time of a loved one being taken into hospital. 
 

 BATTLE CONTINUES TO KEEP RAIL LINE

16 July 2009  Anthony Phillips Southwark News                              

Campaigners were out in force this week, demonstrating against the planned closure of the South London Line (SLL).

Residents and politicians leafleted outside Peckham Rye Train Station and other stations on the line’s route, which connects London Bridge to Victoria, to gather support for the campaign. The ‘News’ has reported previously how a deal was struck between the Department for Transport and Transport for London, to divert £24m that was set to preserve the SLL and plug a funding gap in phase two of the extension to the East London Line.
 

Thursday, 02 July 2009

MPs, commuters and King’s Hospital staff gather to make their feelings known

By Jenny Clover [from South London Press]

THE fightback against the axing of a South London train service has begun.More than 100 commuters, residents, politicians and hospital staff gathered on Friday to rally against the planned closure of the South London Line (SLL). The threatened service runs from Victoria to London Bridge, via Wandsworth Road, Clapham High Street, Denmark Hill, Peckham Rye, Queens Road Peckham and South Bermondsey. Val Shawcross, London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark and deputy chairwoman of the transport committee, said: “If the SLL goes it will have a terrible effect on much of South London. We know we can win this, but we need to work really hard.”  read more...

From the blog EastDulwich YourLocaLondon 

"The official launch of the campaign against South London Trainline rail cuts was marked by a rally at Denmark Hill today. The cuts threaten to close the South London line (which runs between Victoria and London Bridge,via Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye) by 2012 which would  mean no services from Victoria before 7.30am and after 7.30pm.  The impact of these cuts in an area which has no option of a tube line has implications for us all and I was certainly happy to be able to be there to show my support.  And I wasn’t the only one… the rally attracted wide-reaching support including NHS workers, local campaigners, commuters and many more.  There was also a rare show of cross-party support with Liberals and Conservatives as well as our local Labour MPs Tessa Jowell and Harriet Harman leading the charge. Read more plus photos... and more photos

Staff and patients from King’s College Hospital will join local MPs, residents and campaigners at Denmark Hill train station on Friday, 26 June to protest against plans to terminate direct train services between Victoria and London Bridge from 2010.

 The plans will mean longer journeys for King’s patients and staff who currently use the Denmark Hill station. The cutbacks will also adversely affect thousands of other south Londoners who travel into central London for work. Read more...

A campaign to save rail links from South London into the centre of the capital is being launched this week. Commuters, MPs and many more will gather at Denmark Hill railway station on Friday 26 June midday to rally aganst the axing of the South London Line. Read more...

Letter in Southwark News  23 June 2009

One of the wonderful things about living in Peckham is that Peckham Rye station is like a Tube station.
It is one of the most under-utilised assets in marketing Peckham, as a place to live, to work and to visit.
It has enough direct trains to central London Tube stations to be like a turn up and go station to the central tube network. Every five to ten minutes a train arrives that can take the user within nine to fifteen minutes to one of four central London stations connecting with six different Tube Lines - Victoria, District, Circle, Bakerloo, Jubilee, Northern (both loops).
Unfortunately this is now threatened. Between 2008 and 2012, the trains to London Bridge and Victoria will be cut in half, and there will be none in the evening to and from Victoria. TfL's secret plan, to replace trains