Andrew Richardson is new Bankside Residents' Forum coordinator

Andrew succeeds former Lib Dem councillor Cathy Bowman who left BRF this summer to take up a new career in teaching.

Bankside Residents' Forum was founded in 1995 to represent local people in the regeneration process and work to improve people's quality of life. The projects it has helped to nurture include the popular Community Film Club at Tate Modern.

BRF currently receives funding from Southwark Council to pay a part-time coordinator to work with local residents and groups.

Andrew, who has lots of experience in the community and regeneration sector, is no stranger to SE1 having been involved with local projects including Bermondsey Village Hall in the early 1990s.

"I am very much looking forward to meeting as many local residents and groups as possible over the coming months to find out about the issues that affect them," says Andrew.

"As the new Bankside Residents' Forum coordinator I hope to support local residents and groups to develop the area for everyone's benefit.

"Bankside is such an historic place; over the centuries it is the local people that have always shaped the area, so it will be up to local residents and businesses to shape the future of Bankside.

Andrew is based at the Bankside Community Space in Great Guildford Street; tel 020 7928 9528.

The next public BRF event is the annual general meeting which is scheduled for early November.