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Welcome to the Camberwell Online blog, a place for free and spirited exchange on anything with even a tangential connection to the South-East London district.
Did Major Tom leave the needles in Lucas Gardens?
Published by Peter | Filed under Crime, Development, Events, London
Been a couple of weeks since I last wrote a post, and there’s lots to talk about. So here’s a whistle-stop dash through what’s happening…
First a bit of a Burgess Park mini-special. Somewhat late, I watched the final episode of BBC series Ashes to Ashes. The location of the explosive key scenes looked familiar to me, and this photograph confirmed that it was, in fact, our very own Park that played host to the scenes of the car bomb. As I passed through the park recently I noticed that the old William the Fourth pub has been transformed, by the use of some meshing, into a work of art (low quality photograph here); also, the area around Chumleigh Gardens is to be landscaped, and there will be a public consultation this Saturday (19th) if you want to get involved.
I haven’t written anything about the informal meet-up a few weekends ago. I have to confess that my poor organisational skills and freakishly nice weather led to it being under-attended compared to previous meetings. So poor, in fact, were my skills, that I forgot to leave an identifier for the members of the Flickr group, which resulted in two disparate groups of people wondering where the others were! Still, thanks to everyone who made the effort, it’s always nice to meet new faces. If you still want to meet your fellow residents, there’s a proposal for a picnic in Burgess Park this Sunday (weather permitting). I may or may not make this one; waiting to hear about something else. There’s also an SE5Forum board meeting on Wednesday, but I’m not sure if that’s public or not.
My contacts at the Cadeleigh told me everything about the raid on the illegal DVD factory; apparently a rival gang phoned police and told them someone in the flat was armed, hence the heavy police presence. Shenley Road and arround was cordoned off for two hours or more. I was at the London Aquarium with my sister’s family, and missed it all. I did get to stroke a ray, however. Oh, the Cadeleigh lot also confirmed the location of the porn studio on McNeil Road. Louie, how did you know all this? Are you a local there too, along with D-MAN and myself?
Lots of new & refurbed bars and cafes in the area now, as is traditional every spring. How many of them will last until next year? On the subject of development, Councillor Peter John has an update on the Camberwell Grove bridge changes.
I’m feeling a little flu-ey today, so forgive me if I wrap up for now.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Yep. I guess I count as a local. I’m the one that often leads the Sunderland contingent to the Cadeleigh whenever we’re on the telly. I can also be seen in there at other times, too! If it helps you place me, I’m the one who would have more interest in most than the recent appearance of Chinese “thugs” in blue and white tracksuits on the streets of London recently. Although I don’t think they had anything to do with the DVD operation in Shenley Rd.
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April 17th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Picked up takeaway from Buddha Jazz last night having nipped into the Canning for a pint.
Both places were busy and full of fun.
Great food from Buddha Jazz - I love those fresh rolls. Also a decent pint of London Pride in the Canning.
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April 17th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
By the way - property was still selling well locally in February:
• 117, Shenley Road, SE5 8NF - Sold for £497,500 on 08-02-2008
• Flat 12, 72, Grove Lane, SE5 8TW - Sold for £285,000 on 08-02-2008
• Flat 126, Ruskin Park House, Champion Hill, SE5 8TL - Sold for £194,000 on 01-02-2008
• Flat 12, 4 Ruskin Court, Champion Hill, SE5 8AH - Sold for £205,000 on 31-01-2008
• Flat 121, Fearnley House, Vestry Road, SE5 8JX - Sold for £140,000 on 31-01-2008
• 32a, Sunset Road, SE5 8EA - Sold for £395,000 on 30-01-2008
• 5, Grove Hill Road, SE5 8DF - Sold for £644,000 on 28-01-2008
• Flat C, 69, Peckham Road, SE5 8UH - Sold for £263,000 on 18-01-2008
• 28, Love Walk, SE5 8AD - Sold for £592,464 on 10-01-2008
• Flat 203, Ruskin Park House, Champion Hill, SE5 8TN - Sold for £226,000 on 14-12-2007
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April 18th, 2008 at 1:38 am
*Pride of London*
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April 18th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Did anyone see that marathon-man and fecund Camberwellian Buster Martin turns out to be a springer after all, at 94? Looks like the company he works for, the much derided and amusingly licenced plated Pimlico Plumbers, have been using him for PR purposes. I passed him going in the opposite direction just before Tower Bridge and he was surrounded by an entourage of fellow employees all bearing the PP legend and carrying a large company flag. He finished though, in around 10 hours; so well done Buster and keep stretching the ITB.
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April 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am
if only Paulet Road had the same cache as Grove Lane…
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April 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Alan Dale @ 2
I’m also fond of a good pint of London Pride…Sometimes it can taste a bit off though - I think the further away from Fuller’s in Chiswick it travels, the worse it gets
Last year on a family holiday to Northern Spain, I was delighted to find it in a bar in the city of A Coruna (where the footie team Deportivo are from) - the bar owner said it was the only bar in the north of Spain which imports it and not only did he have it in bottles - it was on draft as well
Aparently, Carlsberg-Heineken import it there
But he was serving it cold, the locals didn’t understand a warm beer - I tried to explain but didn’t need to - he was well aware of how it was meant to be served…it was just that not many people understand warm beer
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April 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Alan - i wonder how much longer these prices will continue thoguth - mortgages are increasingly difficult to get and i expect many city boys won’t be getting the big bonuses this year.
As a non home owner who decided a couple of years ago i couldn’t afford to buy in the current climate (or rather was reluctant to take out the kind or mortgage i’d need to be able to buy) i’ve been watching the current situation unfold with detached interest - oh well i’m ok as long as my landlord can afford his mortgage!!
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April 18th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Was it hand pulled or gravity pulled eusebiovic?
I have never had hand pulled beer anywhere outside the UK but I’m told you can get it in Chicago.
No idea where house prices will settle Hannah but Gordon Brown seems intent on protecting homeowners and the banking sector:
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article3768193.ece
One of the houses in my street has changed hands three times since October 2000
1 08/06/2007 £365,000 Ter. F No Map 15, Allendale Close, Southwark, London, Greater London, SE5 8SG
2 01/10/2004 £235,000 Ter. F No Map 15, Allendale Close, Southwark, London, Greater London, SE5 8SG
3 26/10/2000 £174,000 Ter. F No Map 15, Allendale Close, Southwark, London, Greater London, SE5 8SG
Even if prices drop I don’t expect them to fully reverse these gains.
You never know though… fingers crossed.
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April 18th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
After the champagne, porridge, as Bertolt Brecht, who passed through Camberwell yesterday evening in the shape of a locomotive, might have said. “Poverty makes you sad as well as wise,” he actually said. Tesco and Asda are doing OK, but only they, are doing OK.
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April 18th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Dagmar @10
There is a Brecht play at The Young Vic starting next month - The good soul of Schezchan” (not sure that’s spelt correctly)
Apparently it warns of the self-defeating nature of a society which only values unregulated free-market economics and nothing else - what a genius
Alan @9
It was a British Pump which the bar owner bought at an antiques place while he was a student at Richmond in London and took over there with him - He even had the London Pride badge/plaque attached to the pump as well!
I had to give him some praise for his dedication to the cause…
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April 18th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Actually, there’s business growth from the NDA, who are doing great, with a new nationwide network joining up a series of small local businesses all over the UK. Surely profits from this new venture will trickle out and prop up the services sector or something.
It’s not all doom, gloam, clay and loam unsuited to tube construction.
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April 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Regeneguru @ 12
Yeah, but they can’t use the old clay and loam to excuse themselves for not stretching their expenditure to bring forward the minimal cosmetic cost of constructing the western extention of the East London Line to Clapham Junction…
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April 18th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
@9 The big difference between sales 2 and 3 was mostly because the loft was converted into a third bedroom - very well done by all accounts
(almost a neighbour)
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April 18th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Now we’re talking. The east wind may bring yeasty pongy beastie, but the Camberwellers are feisty. Gordon Brown’s gloaming, gloom, looming loan and clay, groan and loam… what was it? Anyway, well done John. Some logic behind the blogic.
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April 19th, 2008 at 12:56 am
oop
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April 19th, 2008 at 1:01 am
I want to make it clear to any one who was at The Sun and Doves tonight, and any customers who hadn’t a clue that there was supposed to be an ‘art’ event going on, that ‘We’ and I are totally pissed off by the behaviour of the closing performance of Live on Stage which, to be fair to the people curating it all, was clearly a hijacking by a bunch of stupid, idiotic, over privileged tiny minded ignorant and bored ex Camberwell College students who consider themselves to have some kind of anarchistic nihilist overview of life that can get away with anything anyway.
The pub had to close two hours early, rozzers in attendance, swarfega, watermelon juice and chicken blood sprayed all over the place, several very understandably upset customers who have grounds for issuing personal assault proceedings, seven broken chairs, many broken glasses, a broken glass pane in the entrance doors and a whole lot of general disruption.
We will be issuing civil and criminal proceedings for compensation for recovery of loss of trade, damaged property and reputation.
Apologies to anyone who got caught up in it.
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April 19th, 2008 at 8:13 am
mark it’s a real shame that your thirty days of performance art has ended badly.
it was a really innovative idea; what i saw was good, or challenging, or funny; and i heard there was much i missed that was similar.
it sounds like youve been steamed by the art equivalent of a footie casual crew - don’t let it stop you from doing the same next year.
the sun and doves is one of the principal arts venues in our beloved camberwell, mate!
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:04 am
‘Swarfega, watermelon juice and chicken blood’. ?
?
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Thanks Drew. There is only one four letter word to describe these juvenile little ****s. I’m struggling to find which one. I have a feeling that someone involved in the planning of the night had an idea that something disruptive was going to happen. Whatever, if I can finds grounds to support this notion I will pursue them as well.
In the name of performance art of course.
The main child responsible for the actual damage last night is appearing at Synergy Centre on 2 May. I might just go along and crush his middle class bollocks on stage and push his head up his backside and say ‘it’s a civil matter’ when the police turn up.
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April 19th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
Mark @17
Sorry to hear about what happened at S&D
I know many artists but there is a small minority of them who are very priviliged,very pretentious and very stupid.
The pathetic thing is that they think that they are making some very relevant, post modern statement on anarchy when it’s nothing of the sort…
They don’t have any belief or conviction about anything, least of all their art -
Art students are now taught how to market themselves like a product, the quality of the product is irrelevant - they are just proles which are there to sustain an ever expanding industry, for the benefit of the shareholder beast - a bit like any other endeavour
Architecture,Cinema,Gastronomy,Music,even Football - it’s all being compromised
As Woody Guthrie once sang
“This Cancer Will Kill Us All”
He was spot on
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April 19th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Holy shit. Art riot. Why can’t we have anything nice?
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April 19th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
A happening. It was a happening. This is good long-term for the Sun & Doves brand.
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April 19th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I hope you are right Dagmar, although I cannot see an upside to that sort of juvenile behaviour that is desirable.
As far I’m concerned it was a Twattening
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April 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
It was a strange evening indeed. I got a head full of swarfega from jabba the hut. I was relieved it wasn’t one of my guests who came over from Hackney - at least I was able to get home and wash it off within the hour. Still, despite that incident it was good to have an art event in Camberwell that brings people over from ‘the east’ (of London) and it would be a shame if these baby actionists put a stop to that.
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April 19th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Although I am sorry to hear about this, I think Dagmar may have a point.
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April 19th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
@21 eusebiovic - spot on - and thanks to all who are so understanding, Eva particularly.
I want witnesses please. Anyone prepared to act so? Send them down. The S&D number is 0207733 1525 and my email is mark@sunanddoves.co.uk
I haven’t altogether forgotten about 24 February either.
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April 19th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
The bleak mist that hangs over Camberwell is the Oedipal shame caused by Millwall losing to Leeds today at home. A bit of Swarfega tossed by some art student pratts from a Viz magazine cartoon is nothing. Take no action, Mark. There are bigger fish to fry, including that jammed into the top of Alan Dale’s bowler hat - so surreal is the weather, so uncertain and unnerving the current climate.
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April 19th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Take no action. I’m inclined not to disagree but estimated losses 2.5K and I want a lesson of sorts to be taught about respect for other people.
I found THIS today. We are amazing things, us humans.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Nice, open it up as a pub, Mark. The Matts and Tarquins from the art scene can throw their toys out of their prams there with no harm done to the fabric.
You have suffered damage and it must have been frustrating not to have thumped a couple of artists, so precious are the times we live in. This what the traditional Camberwell landlord would have done and the police would’ve turned a philistine eye, rightly. I have witnessed a senior host at the Hermits arrange the most inescapable and painful headlock you’ve ever seen on a really aggressive customer who I don’t think ever came back. That certainly eliminated the paperwork, apart from a quantity of toilet tissue used by the aggressor, I am sure. Aren’t these skills taught in the hospitality industry these days?
Your actionists were lucky not to be handed out a lesson in aggression if that was what they were dabbling in. Many of us remember not so long ago in Camberwell, Walworth and Peckham, before the posturing gun-shootin’, bling and aftershave, there was a lot of violence and it was not very nice. We are lucky to live in better times, but the Pete Doherty and Blake Civil pseudo-geezers, egged on by that daft Guy Ritchie, are getting the wrong end of the stick about the violence of the past.
When the foul fog has gone, all will be well in Camberwell again very soon. The general people here are great, when you think about it. The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
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April 19th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
Mark,
Good work getting the photos out. Why not write a full account and appeal for witnesses and post it here, on the forum and on the ED forum?
Based on what we’ve seen in the past the SLP and maybe even the Times will run with it.
Great publicity can be gleaned from this senseless act. Maybe you can get Swarfega to sponsor next year’s event.
http://www.swarfegaexperience.co.uk/
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April 20th, 2008 at 12:56 am
There is only one solution to this problem: ban art.
We’ve just (an hour or so ago) had a policeman at our door informing us that someone’s been stabbed in Shenley Rd, and appealing for witnesses.
Armed raids, porno movies and now a knifing; and this is a quiet street.
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April 20th, 2008 at 11:01 am
The trouble with banning it is that you drive it underground.
Keep it out in the open and taxable.
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April 20th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Censor not. Prosecute. Tax. Milk.
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April 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Come on, Sunderland.
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April 20th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Magpies
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April 20th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Off to the S&D tonight to witness the aftermath of the Great Camberwell Art Riot of 2008. Will this turn out to be one of those (seminal?) events that years afterwards people who were nowhere around will claim to have been present at?
Perhaps, Mark, you should start selling T-shirts behind the bar with a ” I was there…” theme.
Dagmar — resident ingredientologist — is there anything in Swarfega that can make you happy or sad?
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April 20th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
That’s the problem, Merrick.
There were riots at the premiere of The Rite of Spring, and at the first London gig by The Jesus and Mary Chain; looking back at the artistic influence of both Stravinsky and JAMC, one sees clearly that their iconoclasticism was pertinent and timely.
Can the same be said of today’s art school kids? Aren’t these precisely the wastrels that Jarvis Cocker gave such a pasting in Common People?
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April 21st, 2008 at 8:57 am
Swarfega imparts feelings of wellbeing and even arousal in some people by association - the green jelly reminds us of the primal Martian visitor stepping out of his aloominum flying saucer to bring enlightenment and popcorn.
This thixotropic mix of detergents and oil solvents in an emulsifier was the vision of Audley Bowdler Williamson, of Heanor in Derbyshire, who, from the bowels of his brain, brought forth a concoction that was “eager” to clean the “swarf” from oily hands.
Similarly, the manic energy of hedge funds and private equity casts a grey-skyed hangover by proxy amongst the lower and middle ground of people, removing every last scrap of spare cash, leaving them clinging to the bones of their basic outgoings.
I hope this is clear, Merrick.
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April 21st, 2008 at 9:15 am
Sorry to hear that mark. 2 grand is a lot of money – even for an art riot.
I’d guess you have to pursue that. I would.
Riots and activism for social purposes – poverty, discrimination, ecology, etc, – can be good. Trashing a local and accessible arts venue isn’t in this category.
If it was the Saatchi gallery that’d be different.
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April 21st, 2008 at 9:21 am
Hi Dagmar, No need to feel oppressed by hedge fund managers, even by proxy, and even if you’re skint. Best not to let them get away with that “rule from above” concept.
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April 21st, 2008 at 9:34 am
I was in the Sun and Doves last night and had a chat with a couple of the bar staff about the previous nights debacle.
Frankly from what they told me it doesn’t have the dignity or focus of an art riot at all, just some nasty sorts taking out some perceived slight. A couple having a quiet dinner assaulted, lots of expensive damage, loss of trade to mark d. Swarfega is one thing, but throwing chicken blood has some very frightening religious and racial aspects to it too. Get your brief onto it, Mark.
I’m peripherally involved in the Creative Camberwell launch on May 2, looking forward to an interesting, innovative, and optimistic event.
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April 21st, 2008 at 10:42 am
Mark, What did Guy Hilton have to say about it all?
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April 21st, 2008 at 10:51 am
@ 43 southmark. He is sorry, I believe, so far but as he left as the police arrived I have yet to speak to him. I got there shortly after. Mark McGowan seemed genuinely disappointed that it had gone so.
My boys have an inset day so we’re going to the Science Museum and Natural History Museum - to the butterfly exhibition.
A refresher and not during holiday time. Should be great. Prolly find they’re all shut outside of hols.
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April 21st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Really sorry to hear about the roisterous last night Mark. Have to agree with Alan Dale and Dagmar (except for the Millwall result, I was at the other end).
Reckon the aftermath’s worth more than £2.5k to Saatchi. Promise to spend more at the S&D to help you recoup. And if you want a hand getting Tarquin’s head past his buttocks give me a shout.
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April 21st, 2008 at 1:22 pm
What is the significance of chicken blood?
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April 21st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
iirc dagmar some cultures use chicken blood for augury, and for cursing.
whether you believe in it or not, such things can be genuinely terrifying for many people.
that said, i can imagine few things that would enrage me more than someone throwing any kind of blood at me…
on a ligther note mark - wasn’t the butterfly show just amazing?
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April 21st, 2008 at 5:55 pm
“As it drifts along, it traps tiny animals to eat in the slime coating its bell-shaped body.” This caption from the moon jellyfish tank at the Horniman reminds me of hedge funds or private equity companies, except they are both more actively managed and predatory.
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April 21st, 2008 at 11:52 pm
The problem is, Dagmar, that there aren’t enough tiny animals in their tank to eat (at least not to their taste). The moon jelly fish are dropping like, er…, jelly fish? Go see soon everyone if you if you aint already as soon they will be no more.
Probably a stupid idea to attempt to keep these peculiar beasties in captivity. Marine biologists out there please comment…
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April 22nd, 2008 at 12:31 am
Of Babbages and Butterflies and of Pearly Kings and Queens.
I have to wait to illustrate the king&queen bit. Got a bit ahead of myself after reading Dagmar’s prose.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
Babbage’s brain is preserved in a glass jar for all to see at the British Museum. What’s it preserved in? Alcohol?
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April 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 am
St George’s Day?
Any news on Mary Datchelor development?
The new tennis pavillion looks good. Even the most ardent anti-capitalist would have to acknowledge the improvement in that local amenity.
The web site they have is merely a portal offering the opportunity to expose yourself to their hard sell. I’d like to see a price list and some specifications..
Anyone interested in phoning up?
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April 23rd, 2008 at 9:58 am
St George’s day, today, is traditionally when the dandelions are at their peak and ideal for picking to make dandelion wine with. I am on the St George Datchelor mailing, emailing and phoning list. A lady rang me the day after I registered on their website, even though it was a Sunday. The progress with the building site is less aggressive. They seem to be doing a really good job, instead. It’s amazing how the facade is held in one piece. The company’s “Due for release Spring 2008″ promise seem a bit Terminal 5.
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April 23rd, 2008 at 10:07 am
Thanks Dagmar. Did you get a price list?
They seemed to have called the whole thing Camberwell Grove. Very canny.
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April 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I had just the phone call, nothing else and nothing since. Meanwhile, the dandelions by the railway have been closed in the rain today. The railway maintenance equipment has been cleared away from McNeil Road. They are cutting down trees on the embankment opposite. Handel went past pulling containers bound for Bari.
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April 24th, 2008 at 9:25 am
St George sent me a copy of their magazine with some glossy pictures of Camberwell and some computer generated images of the future. No prices yet though. They are also building a 50 storey tower at vauxhall.
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April 24th, 2008 at 10:18 am
They should be allowed to build a 50 storey tower next to the Castlemeade estate. In fact every council tower block should have an equal sized pile of designer flats facing it.
We need guarantees from the Mayor that the level of unaffordable housing will be maintained.
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April 24th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Stopped for a beer at the Phoenix on way home yesterday. Loads of folk sat on the steps enjoying the evening sunshine. The bridge they were facing would look great with some kind of Welcome to Camberwell art on it.
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April 24th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Hi
Followed the link about the bridge. Went past that bridge on the Grove last night which has been out of action for ages. That new car lane is so narrow it’s ridiculous. A real hubcap scraper. Nice one council!
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April 24th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Should keep it nicely car free down there.
Good idea re the bridge art..
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April 24th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
haven’t seen the bridge yet… sounds like a workable comprise.
i’d rather they closed it as i only benefited from less traffic. but then some people suffered, so maybe this is best.
it had become a major rat run. hopefully that wont return
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April 25th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
@ 49 Merrick
My mate has just been made curator for Horniman Aquarium (hasn’t started yet) so hopefully he will be able to sort that one out.
Tentacles crossed
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April 25th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Yo wookie. Still enjoying life in the suburbs?
Off to fetch my good old folks from Paddington. Their part of Wales is just too quiet and they wanted to see some action. Look out everybody! If you see a friendly-looking lady with a stick going into the Crypt later that’ll be copeywolf’s mum on the razz.
Bon weekend.
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April 25th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Good on them for visiting their ‘wolf in London. On days like tomorrow, which will be hot and sunny, one could think oneself in Cranford. Today the church bells mingled with the police sirens and one could have imagined our well to be that of Tunbridge.
Take them to see the new Camberwell Grove railway bridge, single-file, traffic-light arrangement solution provision. It indeed looks like Checkpoint Charlie. We could hand out leaflets there to the queues of cars waiting days and days to go through. The leaflets could contain useful local information, or just some puff, along the lines of “Welcome to Free Derry”.
Take them to the 99p shop. At the moment they are selling six toy cars in different flavours, orange, mint, blueberry, etc., in a sort of wall hanging to celebrate personal freedom of motor car. The cars are no-logo vehicles (rather than the usual sneaky Mercedes copies), mid-engined and have chrome interiors throughout. What is best is the four bullet points at the top of the packaging, which say:
New edition
power
Beneficial
Pleased
For some reason “power” does not have a capital “p”. The whole ensemble is called “THUNDER FABRICATE”.
Then there is the art gallery art. There are a load of 15cm diameter glass balls on the floor of the South London Gallery in the new show. The thinnest and most brilliant art world people in London gathered there on Wednesday evening to launch them. The back door of the main exhibition room with its wheelchair ramp may yet prove a jolly set of goalposts!
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April 28th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Dulwich Hamlet finished the season in 7th place - missing out on the play-offs by 3 points
Although in their last home match they beat Tooting and Mitcham 4-1
Hopefully they can make promotion or at the very least finally sneak into play-offs next season
I see Millwall just about saved themselves on Saturday, a solid 3-0 against Belinda Carlisle, ensuring they avoid relegation to League 2 (Division 4)
Peter must be pleased…
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April 28th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
To the Camberwell Community Council planning meeting last week with several others to object to a planning application; of wider interest was the proposal to make the Sunray Estate a conservation area. Inspired by the Garden City concept the houses were built for soldiers coming home from World War 1 but some have been altered in ways that beggar belief. Hope it comes to fruition.
Nice to see democracy in action and our councillors taking their responsibilities seriously.
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April 28th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
John @66
Ahhh! - The Sunray Estate
Yet more architectural evidence of the kind of progressive thinking that the magnificent but now sadly defunct Camberwell Borough Council were well known for…
I’ve will keep saying it again and again until I’m probably dead -
There is definetely a strong case in many a London Borough to perhaps split the current administrations into a north and south seperate entity…
These administrations are far too large and cumbersome - we need to get back to smaller more manageable concerns…which respond quickly and instigate prompt action regarding pressing matters which the local people are concerned with.
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April 28th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
All the best examples of civic architecture and social housing in Southwark exist in
Camberwell,Dulwich,Peckham and Nunhead - which collectively formed Camberwell Borough Council…
Funny that
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April 29th, 2008 at 7:52 am
some of the most hideous does too.
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April 29th, 2008 at 8:39 am
John not to take away from your enthusiasm, and I wish you well, but here is my bet. Councillors put on a good show as always. But nothing will happen. They have little power. CC are for show. It will be overridden or approved on appeal. Local councillors will claim it is the Lib Dems and they are powerless. That’s the whole game for another few years. Do nothing, blame Lib Dems, hope to get back in power. Trouble is it leaves Camberwell twisting in the wind. CC are all about show of power but they have none. our councillors do nothing but play the lib dem blame game never admitting they were the ones in power when all the problems round here started and ripened. Bet i’m not the only one on here who has been excited by local councillors only to find out all the hope for change never happens. You’ll join our club soon enough.
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April 29th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I’m underwhelmed by the liberal democrats around here. I don’t see how moving the town hall and closing the kids museum really helps.
On that note, the mayoral election is on Thursday. Normally I vote Green Party to be awkward, but I’ll probably vote for Ken this time. If he wins it’ll be worth it just to wind-up up the conservatives and other parochial right-wingers.
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April 29th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Go Boris.
We need more conservative sense back in Gov’t. They aren’t the mean social conservatives anymore and we need better financial management
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April 29th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I dont think that Ken (or for that matter our GLA member Valerie Shawcross) will have any problems winning around here - his support is inner city.
The election will be won or lost in places like Croydon, Bexley, Bromley, Barnet etc in outer London.
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