SE23 Forum

The initial proposal was for Forest Hill and Sydenham to share a MP with our neighbours in Dulwich.

This has changed to a proposed Lewisham South constituency covering Forest Hill, Perry Vale, Crofton Park, Sydenham, Bellingham, Whitefoot, Downham and Grove Park wards.

http://assets.boundarycommissionforengla...h%20BC.pdf

FH, Honor Oak and Sydenham residents with SE23/26 postcodes inside Southwark are proposed to be part of a new Dulwich and Peckham seat, thus keeping the constituencies inside borough boundaries instead of the original cross borough proposal.

http://assets.boundarycommissionforengla...m%20BC.pdf

Looks like a victory for the borough purists, but does it take any account of communities?

People in Grove Park rarely visit Forest Hill or vice versa, but I'm sure it makes more sense for the north of Lewisham and for Southwark and Bromley, we are just the messy left overs. And from those messy left overs Forest Hill is on the periphery. The combined Dulwich and Forest Hill constituency had Horniman more or less in the centre rather than on the boundary.

Lewisham South is a constituency with no sense of identity and no geographic focus.

Agreed Michael. I think we're the victims of an attempt to keep certain Labour MP's in power in Dulwich and Streatham which has led to a seat where constituents have nothing in common with those in the east of the borough.

The new MP will have to look at transport issues as diverse as the ELL and Southeastern commuter lines in Grove Park. A Dulwich and Sydenham MP would have had more clout as we'd also have those Southwark residents who also use our station and trains.

An opportunity to unite all of Forest Hill (and Upper Sydenham), regardless of the borough they live in has been lost.

These changes may not happen if the LibDems vote against the government... but in the meantime, you can have your say until 10 December.

Personally, I rather relished a cross-boundary MP.