Chuka welcomes government plans to improve security and services at train stations across Streatham and South London.

The Department for Transport has announced that all trains running on the South London rail network are to have CCTV cameras installed on them to increase safety for users. In addition, rail stations, including Streatham, Streatham Hill, Tulse Hill and Streatham Common, are to be staffed at night, and an extra 1,500 secure cycle bays will be provided to stations across the network.

The measures have been written into the criteria of the new franchise agreement for the South Central rail network – currently operated by Southern - which covers stations across South London and parts of Southern England. They were developed after consultation with rail user groups to improve services for commuters.

The operator that wins the bid to run the South Central network between 2009 and 2015 will be required to implement the security measures, and increase services running through South London. Late night services will run until 12.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays and at least 11pm all other nights of the week.

Chuka welcomed the recent government announcement:
“Improving our transport links and services to the Streatham constituency is an absolute priority and we are doing just that with these moves to increase safety on our stations and extend running times.”

Chuka is currently campaigning to maintain Thameslink services to Streatham rail stations, click here to find out more information and to join the campaign.

Carys Afoko

Yesterday I had the pleasure of accompanying Keith Hill, Labour MP for Streatham, to the 35th anniversary celebrations of Lewin Baptist Church’s Pre-School. Some 50 children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old are registered with the school, with around 25 children attending in term time between 9.15 and 11.45am in the church hall and/or at the afternoon session between 12.30 and 3pm.

The school was established by a group of mothers from the church in 1973 and is now predominantly funded through voluntary donations. It offers a range of stimulating activities from sand play, dressing up, painting and crafts, to construction toys, play doh, puzzles and cookery within a caring environment, to the children during those all important formative years in their development. The school aims to assist the children in their social, physical, emotional and intellectual development in accordance with the Pre-School curriculum and to prepare them for school with confidence - Keith and I were able to see for ourselves that that is just what the school has achieved and its tremendous contribution to the local community. Happy Anniversary Lewin Pre-School! For further information on the Pre-School, click here: Lewin Pre-School.

I never fail to be impressed by the sheer resilience of the people of our wonderful community in the face of the dreadful British weather!  This weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Streatham Vale Park Fun Day organised by the Friends of Streatham Vale Park.  Despite the grey and the rain, local people turned out to celebrate this communal local area profiled here: Streatham Vale Park. I am pictured talking to local residents at the Fun Day below.  Whatever the weather, Streatham Vale Park brings a ray of light to the local residents of Streatham South!