The Green candidate for Peckham has said controlled parking zones (CPZs) are positive but Southwark Council’s failure to properly consult and communicate “didn’t wash”.
Implementing CPZs and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) is down to local authorities. But it’s become a national issue, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously calling for a national review of controversial traffic measures.
Southwark News asked four candidates for Peckham whether the CPZ proposed for Queen’s Road is really needed.
Claire Sheppard – Green – ‘Measures taken should be properly consulted and communicated’
“My family owns a hybrid car and so as a driver I’m maybe not what you expect of a Green. I believe the sudden blanket implementation that was suggested last year should have been mentioned in the Labour manifesto, so people can make a choice about what policies they are voting for.
“I think the measures taken should be properly consulted and communicated well, so people can see what positives it could bring. Just saying “this will solve parking problems” when so many residents experience very few issues with parking provision, just won’t and didn’t wash.”
Ben Mascall – Conservative and Unionist Party – ‘Borough-wide CPZ highlighted disconnect from the community’s needs’
“I’m afraid Southwark Council’s muddled attempt to implement a borough-wide CPZ does highlight a disconnect from the community’s needs. The plan was pushed forward without genuinely consulting residents, which led to a confusing U-turn and wasted resources. It is right that residents will now be consulted directly.
“What is key is that the Council learns from its mistakes: not only asking for feedback but listening carefully to what residents want and then taking action accordingly.”
Relatedarticles
Miatta Fahnbulleh – Labour Party – ‘We must mitigate the economic costs traffic measures have on people’
“We have to tackle the environment and inequality together. Traffic measures have improved London’s air quality and there are many successful schemes we can point to.
“But these must be done in a way that builds public consent, and where possible, action should be taken to mitigate the economic costs on individuals and communities.
“As your MP I’ll be working with the council to make sure future schemes deliver benefits for residents in Peckham, without disproportionately impacting the livelihoods of families.”
David Watson – Liberal Democrat – ‘CPZs reduce car use but must be a shared decision’
“CPZs reduce car use and therefore harmful air pollution and can help us tackle the climate emergency. But introducing CPZs must be a shared decision, so this question must be answered with the residents and businesses of Queen’s Road and Nunhead.
“The Council should not impose them. And people need to see viable alternatives such as better public transport and access to cycle hire. “
Seat Analysis
Peckham is a brand new constituency now that the former Camberwell and Peckham seat has been dissolved. Although the new boundaries have seen it absorb part of Walworth and Elephant and Castle, it will arguably keep its essential character – a predominantly working-class area, with a strong ethnic-minority community and an influential, middle-class component.
According to the most recent census data, more than two-fifths (43.9 per cent) of residents were born outside the UK. That figure rises to 50.7 per cent in North Walworth, which is now part of the new constituency.
Peckham keeping a similar demographic to its predecessor is good news for Labour. Camberwell and Peckham was the 19th safest Labour seat in the country in the 2019 general election, with the party achieving a 59.8 per cent majority. However, it is not without its party political intrigue. A local politician recently described it as a ‘training ground’ for up-and-coming Tory candidates – a challenging seat where bright prospects can cut their teeth before being parachuted into safer seats. Jessica Lee, who contested in 2005, and Ben Spencer, who contested in 2017, both went on to become MPs for other parts of the country.
The next MP will have a loaded in-tray, complete with crime, housing, and economic development being high on the agenda. Gang violence remains an ongoing issue and the controversial Aylesham Centre regeneration will reshape the area for generations to come. Further north, Walworth is one of the most deprived areas in the borough. The stagnating Aylesbury Estate regeneration is seen by many as a visible symbol of failed local and national housing policy. Meanwhile, local schools are closing at an alarming rate as student rolls fall.
The Constituency’s History
From 1885 to 1908, Peckham, a wealthy semi-rural suburb, consistently voted Conservative due to its affluent factory-owning residents. However, the area’s demographics shifted as local manufacturing and retail industries grew, attracting more working-class residents who leaned towards Labour.
The arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush in 1948 brought a wave of Caribbean immigrants to south London, including Peckham, further solidifying Labour’s presence due to their working-class status. A pivotal moment in Peckham’s political history was the election of Harriet Harman as the Labour MP in 1982, during a time of political and economic turmoil under Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government.
Harman became a notable figure in British politics, advocating for women’s rights, social justice, and community issues, which bolstered Labour’s support. Her tenure brought national attention to Peckham, and in 1997, the Camberwell and Peckham constituency was established. Despite her contributions, she faced criticism for perceived complacency and lack of visibility, exemplified by wearing a stab-proof jacket during a police walkabout in 2008 and lacking a permanent constituency office.
In 2021, Harman announced her decision to stand down at the next election. In November 2022, Miatta Fahnbulleh was named as the Labour candidate to succeed Harman.
The 2019 election results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | Votes (%) | Swing (%) |
| Labour | Harriet Harman | 40,258 | 71.3 | -6.5 |
| Conservative | Peter Quentin | 6,478 | 11.5 | -1.3 |
| Liberal Democrat | Julia Ogiehor | 5,087 | 9.0 | +3.1 |
| Green | Claire Sheppard | 3,501 | 6.2 | +3.4 |
| Brexit Party | Claude Cass-Horne | 1,041 | 1.8 | NEW |
| Workers Revolutionary | Joshua Ogunleye | 127 | 0.2 | 0.0 |
What are the candidates’ key pledges?
Miatta Fahnbulleh – Labour Party
- I’ll tackle the cost-of-living crisis by helping those struggling with rising costs, getting energy bills down, making work pay with a New Deal for Workers, and giving parents a helping hand with free breakfast clubs in every primary school.
- I’ll deliver the homes we need through the biggest boost to social housing in a generation, raising the standards of homes across our area, and giving first time buyers first dibs on new homes in Peckham.
- I want to make our streets safe again by tackling antisocial behaviour, knife crime, gangs by working hand-in-hand with our community while ensuring we reform and rebuild trust in the police.
Ben Mascall – Conservative and Unionist
- Backing local businesses: the constituency is bursting with vibrant local businesses. If we can fully unleash the spirit that has driven that success, then even better days lie ahead. That means bearing down on business taxes. The Conservative Government took welcome steps to reduce business rates last autumn. If I’m elected, I will campaign for further progress.
- Fighting for better transport links: When it comes to the London Underground, south London has always lacked the infrastructure of the north of the city. It is time this was addressed. The proposed Bakerloo Line extension, with two stations along the Old Kent Road, has broad support and detailed plans – but it has been put on the backburner. I will campaign to get it back on track and to get Old Kent Road on the Tube map.
- Campaigning for safer streets: People deserve to feel safe when they walk the streets whether that is petty, low-level crime or more serious offences. If I’m elected I’ll press for a continued focus on increasing police presence on the streets.
David Watson – Liberal Democrat
- Campaign for more GPs and faster access to GP appointments – including the right for those in urgent need to see a doctor within 24 hours.
- Fight for more affordable homes and stand up for residents and communities with big developers.
- Make the Walworth Road the vibrant artery between Elephant and Castle and Burgess Park that our neighbourhood deserves.
Claire Sheppard – Green
- Sustainable and Inclusive Development: Ensure all new developments are environmentally sustainable and include significant social and affordable housing to meet local needs. We need the right homes, in the right places that people can afford to live in.
- Protect our NHS: As a cancer survivor I owe my life to the care and treatment the NHS gives. I would fight to save it from further privatisation and fight for the huge investment needed to turn it’s fortunes around. I support our Doctors and Nurses getting much better pay deals than have been offered to reflect their extraordinary service through the pandemic and beyond.
- Community-Driven Policies: Prioritise community involvement in decision-making processes to ensure policies reflect the needs and desires of local residents. As an MP who has come from a community activist background my job is to represent Peckham, if elected I would work with community groups and residents to do the work you need your MP to do. I’ve lived in Peckham for 25 years, set up business here and am raising my family here, to be our MP would be an honour but I’d be there to represent our community.
