22 November 2009

Southwark's CGS programme 2010 now open

Published on: 17/11/2009

Ref: 6007

Residents and community groups are being urged to start thinking about their neighbourhood and how they want to improve it, as Southwark Council’s Cleaner Greener Safer Programme gets underway.

The window for applications to the council is now open, with a closing date of January 8 2010.

Examples of CGS projects that have been successfully carried out in Southwark over the last few years include
• an outdoor gym in Peckham Rye Park
• renovation of a peace garden in Borough at Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park
• a wildlife garden in Nunhead
• three new cricket nets in Burgess Park
• an outdoor dining area on an estate in Kennington
• a brand new stone balustrade by the lake in Southwark Park

This year the Community Project Bank programme, which is a similar scheme that also funds local projects throughout Southwark, is being run alongside the CGS programme to make to process simpler for applicants and for those assessing the ideas.

Councillor Paul Kyriacou, executive member for the environment at Southwark Council, said
“The figures for the Cleaner Greener Safer programme speak for just how much Southwark residents have taken this scheme to their hearts. The fact that we’ve helped complete more than a thousand projects, with over £20m of funding, is phenomenal. But perhaps the more important aspect is that this programme enables local communities to make a real difference to where they live, a difference that they have requested.”

Notes to editors

Last year the programme funded 186 projects chosen by residents to the tune of £3.25m. This is the eighth consecutive year the CGS programme has been running. During the previous 7 years more than 1,000 projects were funded, totalling more than £21.5m.

Background Information

What is the Cleaner Greener Safer Programme?
Every year, Southwark’s eight community councils award funding to ideas put forward by local people to improve their community.
Who can apply?
Anyone can apply - an individual or on behalf of a group – but they must live or work in the community council area where they are proposing the scheme and provide a relevant address.
How to apply?
All we need is an idea by Friday January 8 2010. Applications can be made from November 7th 2009. Ideas submitted after Friday January 8 2010 will not be considered.
You can apply online at www.southwark.gov.uk/cleanergreenersafer or a form can be picked up at libraries, one stop shops and other council facilities.
Which ideas will be considered?
Any idea that brings a permanent physical improvement to the environment will be considered.

What is the Community Project Bank?
The Community Project Bank is a way of capturing ideas for physical improvements put forward by local people, that can be used by the council in their wider planning process. The criteria are similar to the CGS programme but projects in the bank are only considered as and when funding becomes available.

For more information on the Southwark Council Cleaner Greener Safer Programme, please contact Jabeen Ayub on 020 7525 0816 or Philip Murphy on 020 7525 0814.

For more information about the Community Project Bank scheme please contact Alistair Huggett on 020 7525 5576.

To interview Councillor Paul Kyriacou please contact Darell Carey on 020 7525 7307 at the Southwark Council press office.