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======================================================= [ SE1 Direct ] http://www.London-SE1.co.uk Issue 21 | 13 September 2000 ======================================================= An email update from the Bankside Press team ======================================================= [ Borough Market Jury verdict ] The government's official yardsticks show that the proposed Thameslink viaduct in Borough Market will undermine quality of life in the area, according to a "citizens' jury" of local people organised by the the New Economics Foundation. The jury considered 12 official indicators developed by the Department of the Environment, Transport and other local government organisations. The jury sat in Montague Chambers at Southwark Cathedral and heard from five expert witnesses before coming to their decision that the new viaduct will have a negative impact on seven of the indicators, and a neutral impact on five. They also said it was striking that a public transport project should have no positive impact on the quality of life for the community it most deeply affected. "This is an act of economic and cultural vandalism," said jury spokesperson James Todd, during his summing up. Railtrack decided not to attend because the public enquiry was on-going. "But we did ask them to approve the 12 indicators we used, and they didn't ask for them to be changed" said jury organiser Julie Lewis of NEF. "The South Bank has seen a renaissance, and the Tate Modern has seen one million visitors since opening in May," said expert witness David Marshall, from Shakespeare's Globe. "The Globe has seen visitor numbers increase by a third in the last year. Borough Market is one of the String of Pearls along the South Bank, and the Railtrack project will significantly block the greatly expanded tourist flows along the South Bank, particular to the east of London Bridge." Another witness, Jason Hines, of local cheese wholesalers and retailers Neal's Yard Dairy, said they would have to relocate from Borough Market - the oldest market in London, operating since the 13th century - if the project went ahead. "You cannot maintain food hygiene in a building site, whatever Railtrack promises," he told the jury. Harvey Edgington from the London Film Commission explained that Borough Market is a prime location for feature films. "Film-makers like it because it is not a facade, it's a genuine community," he said. "The cast and crew of the film Entrapment spent �100,000 here in a week, and employed 55 locals. "The film industry contributes seven percent of London's GDP, and Borough Market is a key site, hosting about two feature films a year. The new rail project will destroy it as a film location except for the most expensive productions, which can edit out the noise more trains will inevitable produce." Local MP Simon Hughes submitted written evidence that: "If the existing track through Blackfriars, the Elephant and Castle, and Herne Hill is viable, as I believe, then it not only reduces the disruption and disadvantage to the Borough Market, but by increasing access from other parts of Southwark and Lambeth, increases the balance of use of trains in an environmentally helpful way." Julie Lewis of NEF said: "Are Railtrack's proposals for London Bridge real regeneration? We are trying to encourage new ways for local people to assess projects that could change their lives. The verdict on this project, according to the DETR's own indicators, seems to be a thumbs down. The Borough Market itself is also a prime example of community-led regeneration, as opposed to the more sterile and uniform regeneration projects we have seen elsewhere that fail to provide a thriving living and working community." ======================================================= [ Have you ever wanted to tread the boards? ] Can you see yourself in tights or a nun's wimple? Waterloo based Geoids' Society start rehearsals for their Christmas pantomime (a very silly story with lots of songs) Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood Rehearsals are every Friday from 6.30 to 9.30 under Waterloo Station. Contact Deborah Dowdall on 07771 763680 for details. ======================================================= [ Thames Festival on the South Bank ] There will be low tide conditions all day for the Thames Festival due to the closure of the Thames Barrier. On Sunday 17 September visitors to Oxo Tower Wharf can slip a fish into the now clean River Thames or just enjoy the music from a floating stage - starting with relaxing classics and climaxing with jazz. At dusk there will be the now popular River of Life lantern procession from the Victoria Embankment, crossing Blackfriars Bridge shortly after 7.30pm. The fireworks finale is a special commission from the French master pyrotechnician Christophe Berthonneau who created the stunning display for the Millennium Bridge opening ceremony. See http://www.London-SE1.co.uk/news/0900/thames.html ======================================================= [ Friday is Faraday ] "An electric celebration of the people of the Elephant & Castle past, present and future" is how the week-long Friday is Faraday festival is being described by the Southwark Arts Forum. The discoverer of electricity Michael Faraday was born at the Elephant & Castle in 1791 when the Elephant & Castle Inn was an important coach stop outside London on the way to Kent and Sussex. Friday is Faraday is being devised and produced by the Southwark Arts Forum as an inventive series of arts, heritage and science projects with the Elephant & Castle community. Michael Faraday's birthday is on Friday 22 September when a public artwork will be unveiled in the Elephant's shopping centre at 4.30pm - after the school day has finished. There will be events all week from Monday 18 September in the centre and at� South Bank University, the London College of Printing's Eckersley Gallery, the Cuming Museum and the Blue Elephant Theatre. Saturday is Family Fun Day, in association with Child & Sound, at both the shopping centre and nearby St Mary's Newington Butts with bouncy castles, workshops, face painting, music and puppets. See http://www.London-SE1.co.uk/news/0900/faraday.html ======================================================= [ in SE1 - October issue ] Last call for listings information! Please send details for inclusion in the October issue to [email protected] as soon as possible. If you are interested in advertising your business in our 12-page October issue call 020 7633 0766 to book your space as soon as possible. ======================================================= The next [SE1 Direct] mailing is scheduled for Wednesday 20 September. Contributions to [email protected] please. ======================================================= >> C O N T A C T D E T A I L S ======================================================= We welcome your comments on any aspect of our website, printed publication and email service. The address is [email protected] [SE1 Direct] Editor: James Hatts [email protected] 27 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NY Tel 020 7633 0766 - Fax 020 7401 2521 Web http://www.London-SE1.co.uk SE1 Direct is copyright (c) 2000 Bankside Press