Yes, I am referring to property developers…what did you think?

How the process which results in plots of land being picked up for rock bottom prices is facilitated by extremely poor planning decisions at local government level — either through intention or incompetence

Bit pricey though.

One of the things I really like about the Hermit’s is the lack of a backing track. Can’t beat the music of chatter. And it’s the only one that does this unless I’m mistaken?

Anyways, they’ve moved the decor along a bit, and opened up another section. Really felt the whole ‘thrift’ wartime style a lot more this time. Some interesting stuff on tap and, unlike the Hermit, some soft music as well. Good effort!

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/03/07/breaking-news-over-200-killed-in-reprisal-attack-in-jos/

And thanks to Peter for making some sort of order out of (dare one say it?) evangelical spam.

Spam reminds me of a certain type of food (not noodles) but fish fingers. What a treat it was to have Sun and Dove fish fingers in a bap, with chips like we had as kids. Good service too, with a smile, must go more often for lunch.

Friends

If you love Camberwell, if you care about Camberwell, read this. And, if you agree with it, pass it on to everyone you know who also cares about the future of this marvellous, unkempt, sadly run down part of London. WE might just be able to make it change for once and for all. There are links below which provide a lot of useful information. The people who got this work together are all people like you — who care — who came together in the space of a week. We just CARE and we desperately want to see Camberwell improve! Please enjoy and join in!

The former Gala Bingo hall is a 2000 seater grade 2 listed building with fabulous art deco interiors a stone’s throw from Camberwell Green, the centre of population to 40,000 people who have no substantial space for entertainment or civic congregation local to them. Last week Gala vacated the site and sold it, without notice, to an evangelical church group. This is a private sale. In legal principle it is a commercial transaction made between two willing parties and that’s that. But this situation is special. In short it is about hoping to achieve something invaluable for everyone in the area — of all faiths — something which will touch, improve and positively impact on more people’s lives than any faith denomination could ever hope to benefit. The fact is Camberwell is replete with churches while it perennially suffers from the absence even ONE venue appropriate for secular congregation.

Camberwell has an extraordinarily rich cultural history and one of the most diverse population ranges in the entire UK. Camberwell has a remarkable concentration of people from the Creative Industries from all levels, disciplines and backgrounds imaginable. Camberwell also has the heritage of being a centre of artistic innovation and excellence originating from pre Victorian times.

There are NO secular venues in the area that accommodate large audiences — no substantial venue for the performing arts, for music, for entertainments with general appeal. There are many voluntary and third sector organisations in the area who struggle perennially to find administrative facilities and a physical base from which to work. There are well respected community event organisations based in Camberwell who struggle to, who cannot, commission events here because there is nowhere that can accommodate even moderately large events. The Gala Bingo site has the potential to comprehensively address many of these serious, socially damaging, gaps in local provision of cultural and civic amenity.

If the existing facilities at the Gala Bingo site could be intelligently improved, enhanced, extended and redeveloped it could meet, deliver and exceed a long identified, well recognised and — perennially neglected — widespread, burgeoning local demand for the provision of high quality arts, culture, civic amenity and heritage which the whole population would immediately gain benefit from.

If, by some extraordinary turn of events driven by widespread consensus on the most desirable outcome for its future, the Gala site were to come under direct community control through the auspices of a Camberwell Community Development Trust, Camberwell’s current forlorn, downtrodden and sorely neglected position could change dramatically for the better, for ever.

The Gala site presents a UNIQUE opportunity for everyone living, loving, working or passing through Camberwell. It is ideally positioned with the potential to be developed into an iconic landmark destination which celebrates the area’s unparalleled, fantastic cultural mixes, influences, aspirations in one venue, a venue of national architectural and cultural importance.

Links

the ‘cinema’ reference is too narrow. A broader description will emerge in time

Facebook Group Cinema for Camberwell http://bit.ly/cDKGbo
Cinema Website http://www.camberwellcommunitycinema.webs.com
Camberwell Online blog http://bit.ly/cpwI0L
A poster / flyer for your consideration small http://bit.ly/cuBWhq medium http://bit.ly/b0mxuE large http://bit.ly/9ugrJt
Places of worship and of amenity and leisure within one mile of Camberwell Green http://bit.ly/91ymjH

Please forward this email to everyone you know who cares.

With best wishes