Menu:

 


by Layla

With 2 weeks to go until the election, it seems to be all anyone talks about, and Gay Camberwell has also given in to election fever (well I have - Roz, as a civil servant, is required to be a little more temperate).  

We emailed all the main candidates with a few questions once the election was called.  Two responses are in - from Jenny Jones, the Green candidate, and Columba Blango, the Lib Dem candidate.  Nothing from Harriet Harman (the current Labour MP) nor from Andy Stranack (the Tory candidate) yet, though Harriet's office have emailed to say she will be responding...

So here's what Jenny Jones had to say:

1. Tell us a bit about your connection with Camberwell.  
I've lived in Camberwell for 17 years. I use the shops, cafes and pubs, especially in the evenings, as I love being able to walk home from a night out. 

2. What do you think is good about Camberwell? 
Camberwell has huge energy and vibrancy. There are still lots of little shops that provide special products, and there's new ideas being generated all the time, in art, in gardening, in culture.

3. What are your top three priorities for Camberwell? 
First, it needs some traffic calming to make it less disrupted by noise and pollution. I want it very safe for pedestrians and cyclists - we've had too many deaths and injuries already this year. We must give some road space back to pedestrians by making pavements wider and more pleasant. Secondly, we should entice small businesses that offer specialist food or services to set up here to make the shopping even more varied. Thirdly, it's fairly scruffy in places, so some money has to be spent on decluttering the pavements and helping businesses to tidy up and repaint.

4. How are you going to achieve these?   
All of the above need money obviously, but my experience is that when the political will exists, the money can be found, either through organisations like Transport for London, or through grants from other bodies. Some businesses will be able to fund some improvements themselves, when they see how much it improves the area and is more attractive to shoppers.

5. How will your party promote gay rights? 
The Green Party promotes gay rights in the same way that we promote women's, children's, or any other section of society's rights, by embedding them in all our work. The Green Party has superb equalities policies which can be found here, under Responsibilities and Rights: http://policy.greenparty.org.uk/mfss/mfssrr.html

6. What do you think the biggest issues for gay people in Camberwell are?
Security is a big issue. In 1979 I visited San Francisco and saw gay men holding hands in public for the first time. Camberwell still isn't free enough or safe enough to see much of that, for men or women, and sometimes there is still a stigma around homosexuality, in clinics, or churches, or - dangerously - gangs.

7. Following on from the last question, what will you do personally to address these issues in Camberwell and what commitments will you make? 
Challenging out of date stereotypes is a forte of most Greens, me included, so I'm open to good ideas for action on this. I commit to helping make Camberwell better for gay people.
 
8. What are your views on the purchase of the bingo hall by the Redeemed Christian Church of God?   
I'm hoping to be reelected and sit on the planning committee that looks into this, so I can only say that I feel strongly that some sort of community use, open to people of all types, is desirable for a building in such a central place.

9. And, finally, what's your favourite place in Camberwell?
My really favourite place is in my own bed, looking into the garden, but my favourite public place is the children's play area at Camberwell Green, because it's the one that my grandchildren prefer above all others. I sit on a bench, look at the trees, birds, wildlife, ooh and aah at my grandchildren's superb athletic ability and cross my fingers they won't fall any great distance and hurt themselves. 

And here are Columba Blango's answers:

1. Tell us a bit about your connection with Camberwell.  
I live in the camberwell, my children attended (one still attends) secondary schools in the constituency, I am a member of the Camberwell of The Camberwell Society, I helped establish the Burgess Park Tennis Club, my family attend church in Camberwell and I established the Southwark Community Games from which a good number of Camberwell children benefit. I also do most a lot of shopping in the area.
 
2. What do you think is good about Camberwell? 
Camberwell is a wonderful place to live. It is a central hub where many people love to visit. I like the diversity of the area in terms of its population, shops, history, and location. The area presents a hugh potential for regeneration and economic prosperity.

3. What are your top three priorities for Camberwell? 
My top priorities, not in any order of importance, are:
A. Economic, Environmental and Social transformation through regeneration,
B. Education and Health facilities,
C. Leisure, Parks and Sports,
E. Transport,
H. Tackling crime and the fear of crime and antisocial behaviour,

4. How are you going to achieve these?  
As MP for the constituency, I shall work very closely with the residents of Camberwell to lobby government and council for the transformation of the area. I will be a hard advocate for the development of the Camberwell and Peckham. I will do my very best to ensure Camberwell and Peckham is a constituency that embraces civil liberty, social justice; a constituency where the residents will be proud of celebrating its diversity and fully appreciate cohesion and integration.   

5. How will your party promote gay rights? 
As Liberal Democrats MP, I shall ensure through our polices and by my personal attitude and effort that residents fully understand and adhere to the principles of equality and fairness. I will continue to support Southwark LGBT and ensure more support gay rights the gay festival.

6. What do you think the biggest issues for gay people in Camberwell are?
I want to believe the biggest issues facing the gay community in Camberwell are:
A. The lack of or absence of sufficient information in the public about the gay community,
B. Hate (homophobic) crime

7. Following on from the last question, what will you do personally to address these issues in Camberwell and what commitments will you make? 
I will engage with the gay community and work closely with them to discuss the issues with a view to establishing an action plan to address the issues.

8. What are your views on the purchase of the bingo hall by the Redeemed Christian Church of God?   
I have always considered churches as a part of the community in which they are located. In that respect, they should integrate, work with and serve that particular community irrespective.

9. And, finally, what's your favourite place in Camberwell?
Camberwell as a whole is unique in its diversity and presents challenges and opportunities. I like the whole of Camberwell and i try to use the facilities in the area as often as possible; such as shops, leisure and sports facilities. 

More election fever anon...
 


Comments

Gabe

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:04:36

Good write-up. Jenny Jones is right that the biggest short-term improvement everybody would notice would be traffic calming, wider pavements, etc.

Personally, I think secondary schools should be a major issue, although can a local MP doing anything much about that?

 



Leave a Reply