This latest press release from Lewisham Council sets the scene for some MORE consultation! Great to see so much effort being expended on improving facilities in Deptford; hopefully we'll soon get to the bit where we stop talking and start doing!
"Plans for the proposed development of Deptford Town Centre are due to go on public display next Friday 8 and Saturday 9 February.
The plans aim to transform the area around Deptford High Street and create a new community focus. Features include a new public library and council access point, a modern café and a new home for Tidemill Primary School.
The exhibition, to be set in Giffin Square, will take place from 12-8pm on Friday 8 February and 10am-4pm on Saturday 9 February. Representatives from Lewisham Council and the project team will be available to help answer questions and record comments.
Central to the programme are planned improvements to Giffin Square, which under current proposals will see it extended and transformed to provide a focus for the town centre. The square will complement new homes, work units and parking facilities to create a dynamic area for local businesses and residents. All initiatives aim to further enhance the area’s existing reputation for artistic excellence."
THE DEPTFORD DAME
Wednesday, 30 January 2008
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Swimming pool consultation
If you would like to voice your opinions on the planned opening hours, etc, for the new pool at Wavelengths, click here to download the survey as a pdf.
You will need to print it out (only print the FIRST SIX pages, the rest are blank), fill it in and either hand it in at Wavelengths by the middle of February, or send it to Clare Motton, Centre Manager, Wavelengths Leisure Centre, Giffin Street, Deptford, London SE8 4RJ.
You will need to print it out (only print the FIRST SIX pages, the rest are blank), fill it in and either hand it in at Wavelengths by the middle of February, or send it to Clare Motton, Centre Manager, Wavelengths Leisure Centre, Giffin Street, Deptford, London SE8 4RJ.
Monday, 21 January 2008
Deptford park redevelopment & farmer's market
This Sunday 27 January, get yourself down to Deptford Park for a chance to have your say on the council's future plans for the park.
It seems like only yesterday that they were planning to build houses on it, I trust that the new proposals represent an improvement on this idea!
Plans and drawings will be available to view in the Early Years Pavilion building from 12 till 4 on Sunday; apparently these are the result of 'intensive' consultation last November. They are intending to have the first phase completed by the end of March this year - that's pretty good going, although maybe not if the first phase involves planting some bulbs.
(Sorry I can't be more specific, I couldn't find any more information about these plans either on the council website or on the website of Groundwork, the environmental regeneration organisation that is involved.)
They also want your input regarding the long-term future of the park, so get down there and get your voice heard. After all, they've got £50k to spend so it might be worth a look if you've got any thoughts on what is needed.
More info here.
I'm not going to be able to make it this weekend, but I was excited to see that the event is planned to coincide with the first Deptford Farmers' Market! It will be great if this becomes a regular thing - I'm not sure what the plans are, perhaps one of my kind readers could enlighten me if they know, or if they manage to get down there this weekend. Sadly I'm going to be out of town this Sunday, but I hope to take advantage of the market if it becomes a regular thing.
It seems like only yesterday that they were planning to build houses on it, I trust that the new proposals represent an improvement on this idea!
Plans and drawings will be available to view in the Early Years Pavilion building from 12 till 4 on Sunday; apparently these are the result of 'intensive' consultation last November. They are intending to have the first phase completed by the end of March this year - that's pretty good going, although maybe not if the first phase involves planting some bulbs.
(Sorry I can't be more specific, I couldn't find any more information about these plans either on the council website or on the website of Groundwork, the environmental regeneration organisation that is involved.)
They also want your input regarding the long-term future of the park, so get down there and get your voice heard. After all, they've got £50k to spend so it might be worth a look if you've got any thoughts on what is needed.
More info here.
I'm not going to be able to make it this weekend, but I was excited to see that the event is planned to coincide with the first Deptford Farmers' Market! It will be great if this becomes a regular thing - I'm not sure what the plans are, perhaps one of my kind readers could enlighten me if they know, or if they manage to get down there this weekend. Sadly I'm going to be out of town this Sunday, but I hope to take advantage of the market if it becomes a regular thing.
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Station redevelopment drags on
According to Cathedral Group, the company which is responsible for redeveloping the disused yard and arches next to Deptford Station, things are still moving, but they are moving slowly.
Readers might recall (although it has been dragging on so long now you'd be forgiven for forgetting!) the station area redevelopment incorporates a number of elements, including a huge block of live-work units and (you guessed it) new apartments backing onto the old carriage ramp, as well as a 'creative industries' market and a new station, if Network Rail can scrape together a few bob to evict the rats and give the place a lick of paint.
The market was originally slated for 'autumn 2007', so I was wondering what had happened. But it seems they haven't forgotten it:
"We are making plans as quickly as possible to open up the development site around the carriage ramp next to Deptford Station. The creative industries market that we plan to open on the site during the period before construction begins (sometime in late 2009) will open now in early Spring 2008. At around the same time we are planning to open up a site HQ in the form of a cafe in a converted train carriage."
Well guys, take all the time you like. I am all in favour of a cleaner, safer and more accessible station and the sooner we can get this, the better. Another cafe might be nice too, and it would be good to see that yard being used for something other than an occasional car park. I will reserve my judgement about the apartments and live-work units - I suspect that the building will be disproportionately high in comparison to the mostly low-rise structures on Deptford High Street, and may turn out to be totally out of character with the neighbourhood.
Readers might recall (although it has been dragging on so long now you'd be forgiven for forgetting!) the station area redevelopment incorporates a number of elements, including a huge block of live-work units and (you guessed it) new apartments backing onto the old carriage ramp, as well as a 'creative industries' market and a new station, if Network Rail can scrape together a few bob to evict the rats and give the place a lick of paint.
The market was originally slated for 'autumn 2007', so I was wondering what had happened. But it seems they haven't forgotten it:
"We are making plans as quickly as possible to open up the development site around the carriage ramp next to Deptford Station. The creative industries market that we plan to open on the site during the period before construction begins (sometime in late 2009) will open now in early Spring 2008. At around the same time we are planning to open up a site HQ in the form of a cafe in a converted train carriage."
Well guys, take all the time you like. I am all in favour of a cleaner, safer and more accessible station and the sooner we can get this, the better. Another cafe might be nice too, and it would be good to see that yard being used for something other than an occasional car park. I will reserve my judgement about the apartments and live-work units - I suspect that the building will be disproportionately high in comparison to the mostly low-rise structures on Deptford High Street, and may turn out to be totally out of character with the neighbourhood.
Tuesday, 18 December 2007
Deptford pool - latest news
From Lewisham Council's website, posted on 11 Dec: (apologies for any grammatical errors, they are not mine!)
"The works for the new pool remains on target in terms of practical completion. A defects period will then remain in force until 1.8.08 after which Parkwood Leisure will then take over and commission the facility with a view to opening the site for public use on or about 30th August 2008.
The contract build costs remain on budget. The build programme requires the facility to be closed twice. The first was to accommodate reorganisation of the foyer and took place from 1st to 26th April with as little inconvenience to the public as possible, and the second will take place from 3rd May to 20th August 2008, and this will be to join the new pool with the existing building. The opportunity will also be taken to carry out refurbishment works in the existing pool hall.
The creation of new offices and workspace within the library were completed on 4th July 2007. Works to form a mezzanine deck were found to be more intensive than originally envisaged, but in the main, the works did not cause any major problems to the continued day to day operation of the library or the services it offered.
Overall, the construction works have progressed significantly towards a watertight building, with the roof and internal blockwork walls and glazing to the Giffin Street façade now complete."
One thing I am concerned about is the planned opening hours. Currently the pool does not open until 8am for its 'early bird' swim. (These birds will never catch the worm if they stay in bed that late!). This combined with the fact that it's primarily aimed at kids (very warm water, funny shape pool) means I'm rarely seen in there.
Since I'm usually on a train heading for Waterloo East at 8am, I am keen to see the new pool operating more appropriate hours to offer access for early swimmers. I have to cycle to the Arches leisure centre in Greenwich to get a swim in the morning, and I know at least one other early morning swimmer who passes Wavelengths on her way to the Arches every morning in her car.
I have asked the council's leisure dept what opening hours are planned, but all they could tell me was that it had not yet been decided, and there would be consultation carried out before the pool is ready to open. So far no sign of any consultation either on the council's website or at the pool, and I'm finding it difficult to get any more response from the leisure department.
Please please please, if you are listening, make the morning hours more sensible! If you are serious about improving swimming provision in the borough (I'm trying to pretend that the Ladywell fiasco was an isolated case) then take the simple step of giving us the chance of an early morning dip!
"The works for the new pool remains on target in terms of practical completion. A defects period will then remain in force until 1.8.08 after which Parkwood Leisure will then take over and commission the facility with a view to opening the site for public use on or about 30th August 2008.
The contract build costs remain on budget. The build programme requires the facility to be closed twice. The first was to accommodate reorganisation of the foyer and took place from 1st to 26th April with as little inconvenience to the public as possible, and the second will take place from 3rd May to 20th August 2008, and this will be to join the new pool with the existing building. The opportunity will also be taken to carry out refurbishment works in the existing pool hall.
The creation of new offices and workspace within the library were completed on 4th July 2007. Works to form a mezzanine deck were found to be more intensive than originally envisaged, but in the main, the works did not cause any major problems to the continued day to day operation of the library or the services it offered.
Overall, the construction works have progressed significantly towards a watertight building, with the roof and internal blockwork walls and glazing to the Giffin Street façade now complete."
One thing I am concerned about is the planned opening hours. Currently the pool does not open until 8am for its 'early bird' swim. (These birds will never catch the worm if they stay in bed that late!). This combined with the fact that it's primarily aimed at kids (very warm water, funny shape pool) means I'm rarely seen in there.
Since I'm usually on a train heading for Waterloo East at 8am, I am keen to see the new pool operating more appropriate hours to offer access for early swimmers. I have to cycle to the Arches leisure centre in Greenwich to get a swim in the morning, and I know at least one other early morning swimmer who passes Wavelengths on her way to the Arches every morning in her car.
I have asked the council's leisure dept what opening hours are planned, but all they could tell me was that it had not yet been decided, and there would be consultation carried out before the pool is ready to open. So far no sign of any consultation either on the council's website or at the pool, and I'm finding it difficult to get any more response from the leisure department.
Please please please, if you are listening, make the morning hours more sensible! If you are serious about improving swimming provision in the borough (I'm trying to pretend that the Ladywell fiasco was an isolated case) then take the simple step of giving us the chance of an early morning dip!
Greenwich peninsula
Sunday was a great chance to take the bike and scoot around the peninsula for the first time in ages. Great to find that some of the path that's been closed for ages is back open again, but disappointing to find other parts that have been open now closed.
It was sunny but bitterly cold, so nice and quiet especially on the stretch from the peninsula down to the Thames Barrier. I tried to remember what it was like here before all the redevelopment and found that some of these memories are fading well into the past.
Wished I had the time, daylight and flask of coffee that would enable me to extend my ride as far as Erith or beyond.
But the winter solstice is only days away, and after that, onwards to summer!!!
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Sunday afternoon blues
Sundays are very quiet for our car park patrollers. These guys are usually driving round the estate clamping unsuspecting parking violators and then charging them an arm and a leg to have the clamp removed. But we often see them parked up on Sunday afternoons in their vans, having a bit of a chat. Sometimes for several hours! I'm not sure if their extended breaks are costing 'the ratepayer' anything, perhaps the company's income comes from the fines?
Anyhow, it was rather wet last Sunday and this sight did make me chuckle a bit. I think it looks rather sweet....
Monday, 3 December 2007
Safety in numbers
I braved the driving rain on Friday night to meet up with a group of random strangers in a pub near Catford. Well actually they weren't really random since they all had Lewisham roots of some sort or another, and some of them weren't even strangers! As for the pub near Catford, the Jolly Farmers, it turned out to be a gem! Fabulous real ale on offer, the guest beers being served straight fromthe barrels that were installed behind the bar. Sadly I was driving (courtesy of the appalling weather) so wasn't able to indulge as much as I would have liked, but did enjoy a pint of St Austell brewery's Proper Job.
Anyway, it was good to finally meet up with some of those folks whose blogs I've been reading for years, and to find out about blogs I've never heard of before! It was an impressive turnout:
old 'friends' were:
Andrew Brown
Kate
Max
Inspector Sands
and Robert
New finds were:
Andrew Milton
Paul
Clare
Wulf
Katy
and David
I'll admit it was much more fun than an evening with random strangers in a pub in Catford could have been; already looking forward to the next one!
Anyway, it was good to finally meet up with some of those folks whose blogs I've been reading for years, and to find out about blogs I've never heard of before! It was an impressive turnout:
old 'friends' were:
Andrew Brown
Kate
Max
Inspector Sands
and Robert
New finds were:
Andrew Milton
Paul
Clare
Wulf
Katy
and David
I'll admit it was much more fun than an evening with random strangers in a pub in Catford could have been; already looking forward to the next one!
Saturday, 1 December 2007
God watches over Deptford
This morning I noticed a hand-written sign on one of the second-hand stalls on Deptford market:
"We do not give discount on this stall by order of God".
You can't really argue with that.
"We do not give discount on this stall by order of God".
You can't really argue with that.
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