Jade Goody statue plan not backed by Bermondsey locals

The meeting at Harris Academy Bermondsey heard that the Mayor of Southwark, Cllr Eliza Mann, will be attending Saturday's funeral on behalf of the local community.

Jade Goody's funeral cortege will pass through The Blue at approximately 8.40am on Saturday before heading to the Dickens Estate and then crossing the river at Tower Bridge.

This week the Daily Mirror reported that "Jade Goody is set to be commemorated with a statue near her childhood home" on the Dickens Estate on the SE1/SE16 border.

"Anything that you've read in the newspaper as a quote from the council on its intentions – or even me and my intentions – you can entirely discount," Bermondsey Community Council chair Cllr Bob Skelly told the meeting.

"If you read what it says, then think of the exact opposite of that, that's probably more or less what I actually said."

He added: "The gist of it was that I had suggested that a statue is erected in her honour. I've never in any sense, in any way or in any forum suggested that a statue to her is raised.

"I have had that suggestion put to me ... and we've also have had some pretty firm communications in the opposite direction."

Cllr Skelly continued: "What I want to do, now that she has passed away, is to try to gauge what sort of feeling there is amongst you about any sort of memorial."

Responding to a question from the floor, Cllr Skelly confirmed that there is "absolutely no truth" in suggestions made on ITV1's London Tonight news programme last week that the Dickens Estate could be renamed the Goody Estate.

The chairman asked for a show of hands from the members of the public attending the meeting. No-one raised their hand when a statue was suggested, and there was no support for the idea of naming a playground or garden after the Big Brother contestant.

More than half of the people in the room raised their hand when a blue plaque was suggested.

It was agreed that the issue would be revisited later in the year to allow a more thoughtful consideration.