The Boundary Commission has proposed revised areas and names for parliamentary constituencies.
The Camberwell name has been completely dropped, despite residents feeling strongly about our identity.
Save the Camberwell Name – act now, before 5 December, and let the Boundary Commission know that the Camberwell name is important.
••Read our chair Sophy Tayler’s piece: Cancelling Camberwell: Why Parliamentary Boundaries Matter
Respond to the Boundary Commission here before 5 December
– and ask them to save Camberwell’s name
We may not be able to change the proposed boundaries, which have divided Camberwell in to three, but we may have a chance of saving Camberwell’s nameon one of the constituencies.
You have until December 5 to send in your comments:
- online at: https://www.bcereviews.org.uk/
- Or write a letter to Boundary Commission for England, 35 Great Smith Street SW1P 3BQ
You could say:
“I am a resident of Camberwell and I am writing to you to keep Camberwell in the name of our local constituency – either Camberwell and Peckham, or Camberwell and Vauxhall. Camberwell is an ancient, historic place. It appears in the Domesday book and has its own identity, local groups and organisations.”
The proposals to drop the name Camberwell and divide our town centre between three different constituencies is against the wishes of local people set out in a previous 800 signature petition submitted to them earlier in the proposals.
Jordana Leighton, SE5 Forum’s Camberwell Business Marketeer, who helped lead our high street recovery fund grant programme this year, told Southwark News: “This new proposal completely eradicates Camberwell from the agenda. Camberwell is not going to get a well-rounded strategy because we’ll have to answer to three MPs who might not have that much of an affinity with the area.”
Read the full Southwark News piece here:
Constituency boundary reshuffle could ‘wipe Walworth and Camberwell off the map’
Note:
The Boundary Commission for England is an independent body, which is redrawing parliamentary constituencies. It aims to divide Camberwell into two at the Green – creating the two new constituencies of Vauxhall and Peckham – and also moving Champion Hill to a new Dulwich and West Norwood constituency.
The name Camberwell will disappear from the name of any constituency at parliamentary elections.
(Our local wards will remain the same for Council elections)
Read the Camberwell Quarterly news piece below:
Bus Routes 12 and 45 Saved!
Thanks to everyone who supported the community-wide campaign against proposed cuts to bus routes affecting Camberwell and responded to TfL’s consultation. TfL have now made a U-turn after the backlash, and the bus route cuts to the 12 and 45 affecting Camberwell will no longer go ahead.
With help from local transport expert Jane Bevis, we put together a comprehensive response to the bus route cut proposals, and also co-ordinated with Southwark Council. This is a great win showing the strength of community response. Read more here from Southwark Council.
What’s On: Festive Camberwell
Community Kitchen: Saturday 10 December on the Green
Save the date for SE5 Forum’s Festive Community Kitchen on the green which aims to destigmatise food insecurity and support those struggling with the cost of living.
Our Community Kitchen is in partnership with Spring Community Hub, Healthy Living Platform and other local supporters – there will be a free lunch, food pantries, signposting to food poverty service, choirs and more. We look forward to seeing you there!
Full details will follow soon.
Camberwell Arts Winter Festival
Camberwell Arts Winter Festival Outdoor Arts Market kicks off the festive spirit tomorrow on Camberwell Green! There will be unique festive gifts, art works and designs as well as festive food and music.
You can also visit artists, designers and makers in their studios at the festival’s Open Studios, running this weekend 26/27 November – and 3/4 December.
The Camberwell Winter Festival’s Indoor Market is at St Giles’ Church on Saturday 17 December.
camberwellarts.org.uk/winter-2022
Cost of Living Crisis Concert: 10 December
SE5 Forum is delighted to support this fundraising concert in aid of local charities who are helping those struggling with food poverty and the cost of living crisis – Copleston Centre and St Giles’ Trust and Pantry.
£5 donation suggested and/or bring non-perishable food items for the Albrighton Community Fridge and Food Shift Charity Grove Collective.
On Saturday 10 December 3.30-11.30pm at the George Canning, 123 Grove Lane, SE5 8BG.
https://twitter.com/CostCrisis
Camberwell: Warm Spaces
For anyone needing to keep bills down and keep warm this winter, Southwark Council has opened 30 warm spaces across the borough, including in/near Camberwell: Southwark Pensioners, Camberwell Library, Copleston Centre, and Southwark Carers.
Full list of Southwark warm spaces here.
What’s On: Theatre Shows and School Winter Fairs
Look out for all the local school winter fairs coming up in Camberwell. Kids can find Santa in his grotto at Lyndhurst School’s Winter Fair tomorrow.
Theatre Peckham’s Scroogelicious is an unmissable musical take on Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol – but this time Scrooge is an unscrupulous property developer looking to make bucks gentrifying the local area!
Golden Goose Theatre – Off West End Award Winners 2022 – has comedy, children’s stories, Shakespeare Scratch and a Dream Machine throughout December.
Golden Goose Theatre, 146 Camberwell New Road, SE5 0RR.
Blue Elephant Theatre is perfect for young kids this year with its inventive A Topsy Turvy Christmas suitable for 4-8 years. 9-18 December. 59a Bethwin Road, SE5 0XT.
Longfield Hall‘s fabulous festive family production by The Dot Collective is The Elves and the Shoemaker from 9-11 December. 50 Knatchbull Road, SE5 9QY.
Camberwell Talks: Kit Green – Mon 5 December, 7pm
The last of our Autumn Camberwell Talks welcomes Kit Green, writer, performer, music hall legend and Camberwell’s Organoke rapping pensioner, aka Ida Barr, who will share tales of their fascinating life and work. Tickets £10 or £7 concessions, including a free drink and discount meal at Caravaggio. Please email if you’d like further concessions: admin@se5forum.org.uk. The Crypt at St Giles Church.
BOOK TICKETS HERE
Give to a local charity next week and double your donation
The Big Give: 29 November-6 December
If you’re able to support a local charity this Christmas, then look out for The Big Give running from 29 November to 6 December. If you donate between those dates, your donation is doubled as part of The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2022.
Reminder: Southwark Council wants your views on Camberwell Area Study
Southwark Council is undertaking an Area Character Study of Camberwell and they want your views. The study looks at the physical, social and economic information about Camberwell. It considers the experience of those who live, work in and visit the area. It will inform priorities for the area and guide future changes. The online consultation will close on 18 January 2023: Have your say online
Come and see us on our Saturday market stall!
Saturday on the Green 10am-3pm
