Friday, December 31, 2004
Celebrating the diversity of Tooting
The holiday period has reminded me of what a wonderfully diverse place Tooting is and why I am proud to be Labour's Parliamentary candidate here.
On the 16th of December I attended "A Sunny Christmas" at Lola Jones Hall. This fantastic event was sponsored by Tooting Town Centre Partnership with assistance from Arts About Wandsworth, the Tooting Business Network and lots of local traders. There were more then 100 local residents, mainly older members of our community. The theme was of a traditional Caribbean Christmas.
The event was hosted by broadcaster and commentator Alex Pascall, local theatre company Ladder to the Moon's interactive characters gave a performance based on their detailed reminiscence work with local elders; and live music from steelpan duo Kiskadee and the Junction Community Choir.
I had a great time and was persuaded to dance to the sound of the Caribbean! I also had the pleasure of chosing one of the winners of the dance contest. I did not chose myself but instead chose a youngster who was having a great time and encapsulated beautifully what Christmas should be about.
I have also attended a number of Church services over the Christmas period.
The highlights for me have been the Christmas Family Praise and parade service held at the Earlsfield Baptist Church on Magdalen Road. This was led by Mrs Margaret Loomes and included many local youngsters inlcuding the girl guides (held on 4th Sunday in Advent, 19th December).
The Candlelight Christmas Carol service at The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene (Trinity Road, Wandsworth Common) was brilliant. The Church had the excellent Medici Choir in attendance. A highlight was the "St Mary Youngsters" (all those under 6) singing the first verse of Away in a Manger!
The candle light service and communion at St Anselms Church on Christmas Eve and the Parish Communion at St Augustines Church (on Broadwater Road) on Christmas Day were also particularly memorable.It was noteworthy the number of different races and ages celebrating Christmas.
In between celebrating Christian festivals with my constituents and neighbours I have also worshipped at Tooting Islamic Centre, Balham Mosque and Gatton Road Mosque."
So on the eve of 2005, I wish you all best wishes for the New Year.
Sadiq
On the 16th of December I attended "A Sunny Christmas" at Lola Jones Hall. This fantastic event was sponsored by Tooting Town Centre Partnership with assistance from Arts About Wandsworth, the Tooting Business Network and lots of local traders. There were more then 100 local residents, mainly older members of our community. The theme was of a traditional Caribbean Christmas.
The event was hosted by broadcaster and commentator Alex Pascall, local theatre company Ladder to the Moon's interactive characters gave a performance based on their detailed reminiscence work with local elders; and live music from steelpan duo Kiskadee and the Junction Community Choir.
I had a great time and was persuaded to dance to the sound of the Caribbean! I also had the pleasure of chosing one of the winners of the dance contest. I did not chose myself but instead chose a youngster who was having a great time and encapsulated beautifully what Christmas should be about.
I have also attended a number of Church services over the Christmas period.
The highlights for me have been the Christmas Family Praise and parade service held at the Earlsfield Baptist Church on Magdalen Road. This was led by Mrs Margaret Loomes and included many local youngsters inlcuding the girl guides (held on 4th Sunday in Advent, 19th December).
The Candlelight Christmas Carol service at The Parish Church of St Mary Magdalene (Trinity Road, Wandsworth Common) was brilliant. The Church had the excellent Medici Choir in attendance. A highlight was the "St Mary Youngsters" (all those under 6) singing the first verse of Away in a Manger!
The candle light service and communion at St Anselms Church on Christmas Eve and the Parish Communion at St Augustines Church (on Broadwater Road) on Christmas Day were also particularly memorable.It was noteworthy the number of different races and ages celebrating Christmas.
In between celebrating Christian festivals with my constituents and neighbours I have also worshipped at Tooting Islamic Centre, Balham Mosque and Gatton Road Mosque."
So on the eve of 2005, I wish you all best wishes for the New Year.
Sadiq
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
The South Asian calamity gives us pause for thought
As the international community mobilises to provide aid for the millions in South Asia whose homes, livelihoods and families have been devastated by the tidal wave that struck on Boxing Day, I simply want to reflect on two things:
First, how lucky we are to live in a country not under constant threat of catastophic floods, or on the edge of earthquake-causing tectonic plates, or beneath an active volcano, or where we need to worry about drought-causing heatwaves.
We all moan about our damp climate - and love to travel to places like those hit so hard by this latest natural disaster - and of course 'leaves on the line' will continue to be the butt of jokes and rail delays. But basically, we are incredibly fortunate to live on this island, where the gulf stream provides a far warmer climate than other countries on our latitude wrap-up against.
My second comment relates specifically to the tidal wave. It took three hours between the quake under the Indian Ocean occurring and the consequential devastating waves reaching Sri Lanka and India. It isn't possible - yet (and it may never be so) - to predict where and when quakes occur and for Indonesia and Malaysia, not far from the epicentre, little warning could have been given. But there were three hours to warn and at least institute the most basic defences for the more distant countries. I hear that seismologists who recorded the 9 richter earthquake "didn't know who to call". That's something that must never happen again.
Natural disasters on the scale just experienced are so rare and so overwhelming that nothing can be done to prevent them. We must always balance the rarity of disasters of this scale against other priorities within these developing nations. Simply put, investing in growing their economies and lifting their citizens out of poverty may rank higher than diverting their precious resources to avert one-in-a-thousand-year catastrophes like this. But once South Asia is back on its feet, the international community must work to provide them - and other vulnerable areas - with as much of an early-warning system as our cutting-edge technology can provide.
Sadiq
First, how lucky we are to live in a country not under constant threat of catastophic floods, or on the edge of earthquake-causing tectonic plates, or beneath an active volcano, or where we need to worry about drought-causing heatwaves.
We all moan about our damp climate - and love to travel to places like those hit so hard by this latest natural disaster - and of course 'leaves on the line' will continue to be the butt of jokes and rail delays. But basically, we are incredibly fortunate to live on this island, where the gulf stream provides a far warmer climate than other countries on our latitude wrap-up against.
My second comment relates specifically to the tidal wave. It took three hours between the quake under the Indian Ocean occurring and the consequential devastating waves reaching Sri Lanka and India. It isn't possible - yet (and it may never be so) - to predict where and when quakes occur and for Indonesia and Malaysia, not far from the epicentre, little warning could have been given. But there were three hours to warn and at least institute the most basic defences for the more distant countries. I hear that seismologists who recorded the 9 richter earthquake "didn't know who to call". That's something that must never happen again.
Natural disasters on the scale just experienced are so rare and so overwhelming that nothing can be done to prevent them. We must always balance the rarity of disasters of this scale against other priorities within these developing nations. Simply put, investing in growing their economies and lifting their citizens out of poverty may rank higher than diverting their precious resources to avert one-in-a-thousand-year catastrophes like this. But once South Asia is back on its feet, the international community must work to provide them - and other vulnerable areas - with as much of an early-warning system as our cutting-edge technology can provide.
Sadiq
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
Britain is working this Christmas: don't let scrooge Tories wreck it
One in three Tooting pensioners are benefiting from the pensioners' credit, typically by almost £60 a week.
I know that for many of the pensioners I represent in Tooting on low and middle incomes, the pensioners' credit can make all the difference at Christmas: it's an extra present for the grandkids, or the money for the little extras that make celebrations that bit more special.
It is also a real demonstration of the difference a Labour government makes. We pledged we'd tackle pensioner poverty and we are doing just that. £60 a week is a drop in the ocean for someone like Michael Howard's millionare Tory candidate from Chelsea, which is why, if the Conervatives are elected they'll scrap the pensioners' credit immediately - leaving millions worse off.
My priority is to assist those who need help the most unlike the Tories, who would lavish the money currently going to those on lower incomes instead on pensioner millionaires. That's the sort of reverse redistribution you can expect if the Tories win.
Labour believes in helping everyone, not just the poorest - and certainly not just the richest as the Tories want to do. In Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield, all 18,565 over-60s in the constituency have received the winter fuel allowance.
Remember the days when the miserly Tories insisted on some bizarre, complex formula where temperatures had to be below a certain level for so many days before the Government grudgingly doled-out a stingy £50 to help with the heating - and then only if you actively claimed it?
Thankfully, those days ended when Labour was elected in 1997 - but the Tories fought tooth and nail against us when we introduced universal winter fuel payments now worth up to £200 (for those between 60 and 79) or £300 (for those aged 80+) every year for everyone.
Or the days when the over-70s had to find the money for their TV license? Or scrape around to pay for dental and eye tests? Again, fees scrapped by the Labour Government, on top of year-on-year decent increases in the state pension.
In the coming election the choice will be clear: to keep Britain working, at Christmas and all year round, with Labour or let the Tories wreck it again.
Sadiq
Notes: There are 9,900 pensioner households in Tooting; of these 3,345 (34%) benefit from the pension credit. The average pension credit entitlement in Tooting is £57.58 (that compares to a UK average entitlement of around £40). There are 18,565 over-60s in Tooting - all of whom receive the Labour Government's winter fuel allowance.
I know that for many of the pensioners I represent in Tooting on low and middle incomes, the pensioners' credit can make all the difference at Christmas: it's an extra present for the grandkids, or the money for the little extras that make celebrations that bit more special.
It is also a real demonstration of the difference a Labour government makes. We pledged we'd tackle pensioner poverty and we are doing just that. £60 a week is a drop in the ocean for someone like Michael Howard's millionare Tory candidate from Chelsea, which is why, if the Conervatives are elected they'll scrap the pensioners' credit immediately - leaving millions worse off.
My priority is to assist those who need help the most unlike the Tories, who would lavish the money currently going to those on lower incomes instead on pensioner millionaires. That's the sort of reverse redistribution you can expect if the Tories win.
Labour believes in helping everyone, not just the poorest - and certainly not just the richest as the Tories want to do. In Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield, all 18,565 over-60s in the constituency have received the winter fuel allowance.
Remember the days when the miserly Tories insisted on some bizarre, complex formula where temperatures had to be below a certain level for so many days before the Government grudgingly doled-out a stingy £50 to help with the heating - and then only if you actively claimed it?
Thankfully, those days ended when Labour was elected in 1997 - but the Tories fought tooth and nail against us when we introduced universal winter fuel payments now worth up to £200 (for those between 60 and 79) or £300 (for those aged 80+) every year for everyone.
Or the days when the over-70s had to find the money for their TV license? Or scrape around to pay for dental and eye tests? Again, fees scrapped by the Labour Government, on top of year-on-year decent increases in the state pension.
In the coming election the choice will be clear: to keep Britain working, at Christmas and all year round, with Labour or let the Tories wreck it again.
Sadiq
Notes: There are 9,900 pensioner households in Tooting; of these 3,345 (34%) benefit from the pension credit. The average pension credit entitlement in Tooting is £57.58 (that compares to a UK average entitlement of around £40). There are 18,565 over-60s in Tooting - all of whom receive the Labour Government's winter fuel allowance.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
What I've been up to in December...
December's been another busy month for me, getting out and about in the constituency and working on some of my policy big issues. Here's my retrospective of the month:
- Attended an Eid Reception hosted by Ian McCartney MP, the Chairman of the Labour Party
- Attended the commendation of local Special Constable Fred Ahmed MBE. I recommended Fred for his Commissioners Commendation and Sir John Stevens presented him with it on 24th November in the presence of Wandsworth Borough Police Commander Jauch
- Ran the Nike ten kilometre night-run
- Attended a meeting at Ernest Bevin School about the redevelopment of land at the school, where all residents who objected to original plans were present. At the subsequent Council Planning Committee meeting, I managed to defer the plans to allow more consultation with the community on this contentious application.
- Attended an 'International Fair' organised by the reception class of Fircroft Primary school
- Attended an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC) meeting with the family of a Tooting lad, Babar Ahmed, who suffered serious injuries in an arrest that took place in 2003. Until April 2004 there was no Independent Police Complaints commission: we now have one because of the Labour Government. As a Solicitor I gave evidence to Home Affairs Select Committee back in 1998 arguing for an independent PCC
- On 2nd December I attended the SHARE Community AGM: you can find out about this important local organisation at their website: www.sharecommunity.org.uk
- On 4th December Tooting Labour Councillors and I drummed-up a petition outside Tooting Library demanding an end to the Tory Council's neglect of this, the most-used library in Wandsworth. Tooting Library hasn't had a penny invested in it for years - and the Tories currently don't plan to even consider improving it until at least 2009! In an hour or so over 200 of you gave us your support: thank you! We're winning several converts to our cause, including the Tory candidate for Tooting, who has gone to the trouble of trekking from his millionaires' pad in Chelsea to join us in demanding action from his Tory council chums.
- On 9th December, I met with Communications Workers Union General Secretary Billy Hayes, to talk about Wandsworth Post Office closures and other topical issues relating to the Post and Telecommunications industries.
- On10th December I went to Fircroft School's Christmas Fair organised by the school's Parents & Teachers Association.
- Over the weekend of 12th-15th December, I must confess to having taken time off from campaigning to take the family to Disneyland Paris. Despite bitterly cold weather, the kids loved it and got to meet Mickey and Goofy (no, not my Conservative opponent!)
- In the past few days, I've attended several carol and church services, and some community group Christmas Parties.
There are a few outstanding events before I take a break over Christmas and the New Year, then it'll be back to the business of representing the communities of Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield in 2005. Have a brilliant festive season - if I haven't met you this year, I very much hope I will in the forthcoming weeks.
Sadiq
Wednesday, December 15, 2004
A sporty Christmas for Ernest Bevin College
I've just heard the fantastic news that my old secondary school, Ernest Bevin College is getting over £500,000 to develop a Dojo - a special gym for Judo and Karate - thanks to an early Christmas present from our Labour Government.
The £548,332 grant from the Government's "Big Lottery Fund" will benefit 900 Ernest Bevin pupils, but also some 350 pupils from nearby Tooting schools, and a potential 5,000 local residents who will also get to use these fantastic new facilities outside school hourse. The dojo is part of a larger, six-court sports hall complex at Ernest Bevin.
A big debate is of course raging about sport in schools, and the health problems lack of exercise among kids produces later in life. I think school sport is really important - but the key to involving more children is widening the choices available; the old-fashioned school sports of football or rugby on windswept, rain-drenched playing fields just aren't working any more.
By widening the choice of activities available to everyone, not only will people get fitter, but by learning martial arts like judo or karate gain self-defence skills and equate exercise with fun.That's why the Government's early Christmas present for Ernest Bevin is so welcome.
Sadiq
The £548,332 grant from the Government's "Big Lottery Fund" will benefit 900 Ernest Bevin pupils, but also some 350 pupils from nearby Tooting schools, and a potential 5,000 local residents who will also get to use these fantastic new facilities outside school hourse. The dojo is part of a larger, six-court sports hall complex at Ernest Bevin.
A big debate is of course raging about sport in schools, and the health problems lack of exercise among kids produces later in life. I think school sport is really important - but the key to involving more children is widening the choices available; the old-fashioned school sports of football or rugby on windswept, rain-drenched playing fields just aren't working any more.
By widening the choice of activities available to everyone, not only will people get fitter, but by learning martial arts like judo or karate gain self-defence skills and equate exercise with fun.That's why the Government's early Christmas present for Ernest Bevin is so welcome.
Sadiq
Friday, December 10, 2004
Why I'm backing the bid
The London 2012 Olympic Bid is one I'm backing 100%! I don't know about you, but I'm sick of the doom-laden whining that says London can't win, shouldn't win or shouldn't even bother for reasons that escape me.
London is a world class capital, but lets face it, by-and-large we have third-rate sporting facilities. London is a city of 7.5 million people. Yet we have just two - yes, that's two - Olympic scale swimming pools. Athletic facilities like those at Crystal Palace or White City are understandably squeezed when councils have to choose between funding schools or refurbishing a running track. Can you name a high quality velodrome in London? How can we criticise our gymnasts for failing to even qualify for the Olympics when there are no world-class gyms in London?
So for no other reason than to get the sporting facilities we all deserve and will benefit from for decades to come, the Olympic bid deserves support. But let me add four others:
First, because the Olympic bid will regenerate one of the most deprived parts of London: the Lea Valley. Regeneration is too often one of those meaningless bureaucratic words, but what it means in real life is new homes (the Olympic village will be turned into affordable housing for local people after the games end), real jobs, new bus, tube and train links and a cleaner, greener environment.
Second, because south west London will also share in the Olympic experience; one of the world-class facilities we do have on our doorstep is Wimbledon for the Olympic tennis events. And all the events taking place elsewhere in the capital will be just a ride away at a regular time, instead of having to stay up and watch on TV at some ridiculous hour of the late night.
Third, because the Olympics will transform London's public transport system - we're now on course to get CrossRail, new tubeline extensions and the Stratford rail terminal will boost services with continental Europe. Don't take my word for it: if London 2012 wins it will be because the International Olympic Committee - a bunch of people used to sorting fact from fiction - has been persuaded that their concerns about our public transport system have been addressed.
But fourth - and here's the argument that wipes all the whining, doubting, self-defeating objections off the board: the Olympics represents a fabulous ideal, an opportunity for a nation to unite in pursuit of sporting excellence, to get to witness records being re-written first-hand, to collectively celebrate our successes and mourn when we come up short and - for two weeks - to unashamedly rejoice in the most positive way Great Britain.Back the bid.
Please go to www.london2012.org and register your support.
Sadiq
London is a world class capital, but lets face it, by-and-large we have third-rate sporting facilities. London is a city of 7.5 million people. Yet we have just two - yes, that's two - Olympic scale swimming pools. Athletic facilities like those at Crystal Palace or White City are understandably squeezed when councils have to choose between funding schools or refurbishing a running track. Can you name a high quality velodrome in London? How can we criticise our gymnasts for failing to even qualify for the Olympics when there are no world-class gyms in London?
So for no other reason than to get the sporting facilities we all deserve and will benefit from for decades to come, the Olympic bid deserves support. But let me add four others:
First, because the Olympic bid will regenerate one of the most deprived parts of London: the Lea Valley. Regeneration is too often one of those meaningless bureaucratic words, but what it means in real life is new homes (the Olympic village will be turned into affordable housing for local people after the games end), real jobs, new bus, tube and train links and a cleaner, greener environment.
Second, because south west London will also share in the Olympic experience; one of the world-class facilities we do have on our doorstep is Wimbledon for the Olympic tennis events. And all the events taking place elsewhere in the capital will be just a ride away at a regular time, instead of having to stay up and watch on TV at some ridiculous hour of the late night.
Third, because the Olympics will transform London's public transport system - we're now on course to get CrossRail, new tubeline extensions and the Stratford rail terminal will boost services with continental Europe. Don't take my word for it: if London 2012 wins it will be because the International Olympic Committee - a bunch of people used to sorting fact from fiction - has been persuaded that their concerns about our public transport system have been addressed.
But fourth - and here's the argument that wipes all the whining, doubting, self-defeating objections off the board: the Olympics represents a fabulous ideal, an opportunity for a nation to unite in pursuit of sporting excellence, to get to witness records being re-written first-hand, to collectively celebrate our successes and mourn when we come up short and - for two weeks - to unashamedly rejoice in the most positive way Great Britain.Back the bid.
Please go to www.london2012.org and register your support.
Sadiq
Wednesday, December 08, 2004
OFFICIAL: Tooting neglected by Tory council
Anyone seen today's feature in the Wandsworth Borough News about the neglect of Tooting by the Conservative council?
The most common complaint was simply the lack of care Tooting is given by the Council, which encourages people to share their disrespect of our environment. Complaints about street-cleaning in Tooting have climbed steadily and are now at record levels. Let's face it: our streets need a good scrubbing, street corners need to be cleared of never-disappearing fly-tips, we need more litter bins and more civic respect.
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani - a Republican - was elected in his overwhelmingly Democrat city because he understood that allowing a neighbourhood to be run-down encourged a vicious circle of ever more neglect and disrespect, crime and fear of crime. His zero tolerance policies were copied the world over. Tom Cox MP and I both agree that it's time Wandsworth took a leaf out of his book.
The good news is that despite the high level of dissatisfaction with the Council's care of Tooting, the thing people love most about our area is the strong community spirit. That's what makes Tooting a great place to live - despite the best efforts of the Council to keep the place grubby - but just think what it could be like if the Conservatives invested as much here as they do in the more affluent parts of our borough.
Sadiq
PS If you can't get the Wandsworth Borough News, visit http://www.wb-news.co.uk/ for the story
The most common complaint was simply the lack of care Tooting is given by the Council, which encourages people to share their disrespect of our environment. Complaints about street-cleaning in Tooting have climbed steadily and are now at record levels. Let's face it: our streets need a good scrubbing, street corners need to be cleared of never-disappearing fly-tips, we need more litter bins and more civic respect.
Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani - a Republican - was elected in his overwhelmingly Democrat city because he understood that allowing a neighbourhood to be run-down encourged a vicious circle of ever more neglect and disrespect, crime and fear of crime. His zero tolerance policies were copied the world over. Tom Cox MP and I both agree that it's time Wandsworth took a leaf out of his book.
The good news is that despite the high level of dissatisfaction with the Council's care of Tooting, the thing people love most about our area is the strong community spirit. That's what makes Tooting a great place to live - despite the best efforts of the Council to keep the place grubby - but just think what it could be like if the Conservatives invested as much here as they do in the more affluent parts of our borough.
Sadiq
PS If you can't get the Wandsworth Borough News, visit http://www.wb-news.co.uk/ for the story
Monday, December 06, 2004
Wandsworth Tories told to stop neglecting Tooting Library
On Saturday morning local Labour councillors, members and I drummed up a petition demanding that the Tory council stops its neglect of our local library.
Did you know that Tooting Library is the most used in Wandsworth borough but, largely due to the lack of money spent on it, also has the highest complaints made about in the borough?
That's because while the Tories have completely rebuilt libraries like Putney's in areas they get more votes in, not a penny has been spent on improving our library for years.
Our councillors recently quizzed the Tories as to when they might deign to invest in Wandsworth's busiest library. The best they could come up with was that they'd consider doing a feasibility study - but not before 2006!
That's just not good enough, so on Saturday we took to Mitcham Lane to see how many of you shared our concern about this latest example of the Tories' neglect of Tooting.
Frankly, I was amazed how many of you supported us. Over 200 passers-by, from Tooting, Furzedown - even Mitcham - signed up their support to demand action from our idle council - and that in barely an hour of campaigning.
We're going to present our petition to the council shortly, but if you want to sign yourself up, there's still time: just send an email with the sentence "Labour's Tooting Libary campaign" and including your name, address and contact telephone or email address to tooting@email.labour.org.uk. Fingers crossed that the Tories turn over a new leaf and start listening to Tooting...
Sadiq
Did you know that Tooting Library is the most used in Wandsworth borough but, largely due to the lack of money spent on it, also has the highest complaints made about in the borough?
That's because while the Tories have completely rebuilt libraries like Putney's in areas they get more votes in, not a penny has been spent on improving our library for years.
Our councillors recently quizzed the Tories as to when they might deign to invest in Wandsworth's busiest library. The best they could come up with was that they'd consider doing a feasibility study - but not before 2006!
That's just not good enough, so on Saturday we took to Mitcham Lane to see how many of you shared our concern about this latest example of the Tories' neglect of Tooting.
Frankly, I was amazed how many of you supported us. Over 200 passers-by, from Tooting, Furzedown - even Mitcham - signed up their support to demand action from our idle council - and that in barely an hour of campaigning.
We're going to present our petition to the council shortly, but if you want to sign yourself up, there's still time: just send an email with the sentence "Labour's Tooting Libary campaign" and including your name, address and contact telephone or email address to tooting@email.labour.org.uk. Fingers crossed that the Tories turn over a new leaf and start listening to Tooting...
Sadiq
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Out and about in Tooting
Throughout the Autumn I've been out and about in the community talking to residents on their doorsteps, attending and addressing local groups, representing Tooting on Wandsworth Council, fulfilling my duties as a school governor and more besides. Here's an extract from my Autumn diary:
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER
- Visited the Childrens Discovery Centre in Bickersteth Rd
- Attended Fairlight Church
- Wrote to local community groups inviting nominations for Wandsworth Council's civic awards
- Attended a Hazelhurst Residents Association meeting
- Visited Generate - a group in Summerstown that helps people with learning difficulties
- Met residents of Nightingale House - an elderly peoples home in Balham
- Attended the St Georges Trust Annual General Meeting
- Was guest speaker at Wandsworth Citizens Advice Bureau AGM
- Was guest speaker at Tooting Islamic Centre on Palestine
- Visited the Asian Elders Support Scheme
- Was guest speaker at the Wandsworth Asian Centre AGM
OCTOBER
- Welcomed Secretary of State for Trade & Industry Patricia Hewitt MP to Tooting: she came to speak at the annual dinner of Tooting Labour Party at the Ocean restaurant, Trinity Road
- Attended a meeting of Fircroft School Governors
- Attended a meeting of Gatton School Governors
- Attended a Hazelhurst Residents Association meeting in my ward
- Met with London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Metropolitan Police Commisioner Sir John Stevens and local PC Fred Ahmed at City Hall for the handover of a sponsored patrol car for Tooting and Wandsworth
- Celebrated Pooja - aHindu Tamil event - at Fransiscan School
- Also celebrated Durja Pooja at the Sivayagum Temple
- Celebrated the start of Diwali - the Festival of Lights - in Tooting
NOVEMBER
- Attended a public meeting with Tooting ward neighbourhood co ordinators and local police
- Guest speaker at Churches Together for Tooting
- Celebrated Eid at the local Islamic Centre in Upper Tooting Road
- Attended a meeting of Fircroft School Governors to discuss the school's OFSTED report
- Celebrated Diwali at Samaj Hall
- Gave evidence to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee on civil liberties issues
- Attended the opening of some new Pathway housing on the Bickersteth estate followed by a reception at St Boniface
- Attended a public meeting at Ernest Bevin School regarding a controversial planning application there.
Sadiq
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Local news for Tooting
The new Tooting Labour newsletter, featuring news from right across Tooting, Balham and Earlsfield plus an expose of Wandsworth Council's dreadful failure over education and the botched refuse contract is now online.If you've got Adobe PDF viewer and want to read all the latest news from around Tooting, click here to download the newsletter - but its an 800kb file so please be patient!
Cheers
Sadiq
Cheers
Sadiq
