So another betting shop opens in Camberwell town centre: a cause for celebration?

Err no — by my reckoning this is the eighth or ninth betting shop in the area. It is also the second Bet Fred shop — there seem to be no plans to close the original shop near the Green.

A multitude of betting shops is, in my opinion, not good for the area as they aren’t actually very useful for the majority of the population. Unless you want to place a bet they offer no services which are of value to local people. A large number of betting shops do  not promote a diverse, sustainable high street where people want to shop but instead drive people away.

Interestingly I see that Camberwell and Peckham MP Harriet Harman has published a well researched report on this matter — available to download on her website — in which she analyses the problem and cites evidence that the betting shop chains target poorer areas such as Camberwell as, counter-intuitevely these are more profitable for them. Harman also cites evidence showing an increase in anti-social behaviour as a result of the increase in betting shops. This is in addition to any personal cost to those involved in gambling.

Harman suggests that the problems arise because of planning regulations which allow former banks and similar premises to reopen as betting shops without any change of planning use required.

It seems that in our case Southwark is helping the betting shops along by not merely tolerating betting shops but encouraging their proliferation by  granting change of use planning permission without too much concern: looking at the documents surrounding this planning applicaion it seems there was little consideration given to how a change of use from A1 (retail) to A2 (financial services including betting shops) would impact on Camberwell — they seem to accept Hinds’ argument that the shopping area is in decline and so the only thing to do is to replace useful shops offering good and services with betting shops. If we want to revitalise Camberwell and make it into a sustainable town centre to which local people travel for shopping purposes this increase in the number of betting shops needs to stop.

As the Sun and Doves was within a short walking distance of our flat, had a good range of food and drinks, generally had space and was welcoming to babies, we used to go there regularly as the default option when pub going or when food was required. Of course the film nights, quizzes, live music and art were also attractions but the main reason for going to a pub is the drink and food.

In the past six weeks or so we have had to consider other options when looking for a pub. And so this has given us an opportunity to revisit old haunts and discover new ones in a Men Behaving Badly style quest for a new local.

The Tiger, the Crooked Well, the Bear, the Cambria and Stormbird have all been visited over the past few weeks and a good time was had in all. Most seemed to be reasonably busy when we visited which is good generally for Camberwell. One gap in the market that I have noticed is the late lunch market — we had to go to three pubs on our quest for lunch at 3:30pm last Saturday as most pub kitchens seem to shut after lunch, opening again at 6. But none of the pubs we have been to so far has been as good as the Sun and Doves which is still sadly missed.

One or two other local news stories of interest:

• Saturday 19 November will be the last day of the bendy buses on route 436 — as Londonist notes I dont think there will be quite the outpouring of emotion when the final bendy has run as was the case with the demise of the Routemaster.

• The Lambeth Libraries Commission report has been published and it looks like the Minet Library near to Myatts Fields Park is to remain open but will be under “community control” — see local Vassall ward website for further details. I havent heard anything further about Camberwell main library beyond a news story saying that Southwark has decided that Bermondsey offices were not suitable — anyone know anything more about how the plans are progressing?

The London Open House website contains details of the buildings open across London. In Camberwell we have various buildings open including the 3 Acorns retro eco-home on Coleman Road, an innovative remodelling of a home to provide full disabled access  at 49 Camberwell Grove, a innovative new home at 5 Grace’s Mews, the new developments at Cambridge House, the Fabrik development on Coldharbour Lane and the pavillion and surrounding grounds at the Temple Bowling Club.

Other events taking place this weekend include the Harvest Festival on Sunday at Myatts Fields Park where everyone is invited to a vegetarian feast at 1pm followed by music and dancing around the bandstand.

And on Camberwell Green on Sunday is the Tropical Garden Fiesta celebrating Latin American music, dance and food

I know its not Camberwell strictly speaking but its reach is wide and dubbed ‘South London’s premier summer event’.

If you’ve not been before it features live music, food, drink information on Lambeth and other agencies’ work, information on local charities, farm animals, a flower and vegetable show, country displays such as sheep shearing and of course owls. Well worth a visit! More information is available on the Lambeth website

Get Set Southwark: Southwark celebrates a year to go to the start of the London 2012 Games 
And more directly of relevance to Camberwell next weekend, 23 July 2011 12-5pm, is an event on Camberwell Green marking one year to the Olympics with activities including

• Southwark Community Games with a full day of sports activity
• Give it a Go Village, where local clubs will demonstrate their sports
• Butterfly Ballroom, showcasing dance and music
• Libraries summer reading challenge, this year all about circuses
• The Big Swim at the Camberwell Leisure Centre pool, round the corner
• The Amazing Southwark Gymnasts and their daring displays
• Groundwork Southwark Spots vs Stripes.

In addition there be the usual monthly farmers’ market operating.

Further information on the event is available on the Southwark website

Saturday saw the official reopening of Camberwell swimming pool with various events at the pool — it was reported on the BBC website and on Harriet Harman’s website and on the Southwark Council website flickr set but look out I guess for more pictures of the event in Thursday’s Southwark News or Friday’s South London Press. I’m pleased to say that the refurbished swimming pool is a great improvement on the previous pool. See the pool timetable for opening hours and other information.

In other Camberwell news the author of Camberwell through time will be talking about his book at a Peckham Society meeting on 17 April — more information on the Peckham Society website

As has been mentioned in the comments on a previous post the regimental football of the Royal Irish Rifles has been on display at their head quarters on Flodden Road — more about the football on the D Company (Irish Rifles) website

And finally Guardian journalist Dave Hill passed through Camberwell recently in his training for the London Marathon

If religion is your thing there are likely to be carol services on in the Camberwell churches (or certainly the more ‘conventional’ Church of England churches) this Sunday late afternoon. The beauty of the carols as we head towards a snowy (?) Camberwell Christmas…

Has anyone been to the new Indian Cinnamon on Church St? It seems to be in the location where Four t Four was (44 Church St) — I went to have a look last weekend and it had the shutters down in the day so I couldnt work out if it was a proper restaurant as well as a takeaway — all I could find online is http://www.just-eat.co.uk/restaurants-cinnamon-indian-bengali

In other news Camberwell musician Captain Ska is to release a single Liar Liar! which they want to get to Christmas number 1 — see http://www.facebook.com/pages/Captain-Ska-Liar-Liar-for-Xmas-2010-No1/167549809939108 or interview in the New Statesman or follow him on Twitter

And finally news-wise architects Emrys are talking about their plans for Camberwell New Road

A bit of a public service announcement — Southwark Council have asked me to post the following couple of links: first is to a service which helps parents whose children are starting school in September — southwark.gov.uk/schooladmissions; and second is an online questionnaire about violent crime in the borough: southwark.gov.uk/keepingyousafe.

Now, unless I’m spectacularly unobservant and have never noticed it before, the passage that cuts between Camberwell Grove and Grove Lane, where the Grand Union sits, has been named Mary Boast Passage Walk in honour of the local historian and long-time (life-long?) resident, who died earlier this year.

Mary Boast wrote the well-known The Story of Camberwell, still probably the definitive history of the area despite being written in 1972. I have a copy here at home, and refer to it often. She was a Freeman of the Borough of Southwark, and lived in the flats at the top of Denmark Hill, which have wonderful views all across Camberwell, until she passed away in June of this year, aged 89.

Over the course of Saturday and Sunday 11am — 7pm there is music, dance, food, displays, a flower show, farm animals, charity stalls, owls and all sorts of other things all in the heart of inner London.

Further information is on the Lambeth website including the programme of events.

Update (by Peter): Also it’s the College of Arts MA Summer Show this week; it’s open to the public from tomorrow (Wednesday) until Saturday; details here. And huge apologies to Hannah at the CCA for forgetting to tell you all about the private showing.

Update 16/7/2010 There is also the fabulous Urban Art Fair on Saturday and Sunday on Josephine Avenue, SW2 near to Brockwell Park.
London’s largest annual open air contemporary arts fair will have around 2,000 pieces of work on display from 150 local and international artists. As well as art displays there will be foodstalls, refreshments and a sound stage featuring a mix of local musicians. This is the kind of art event I would like to see Camberwell in the future
www.urbanart.co.uk

“Cross Kettles Yard in Cambridge with Barbara Hepworth’s studio in St Ives, throw in a quirky café and you’ll have the latest addition to the Camberwell Art Scene: the all-new South London Gallery.“

Friday saw the long awaited opening of the new SLG extension. The Matsudaira Wing now seamlessly extends into the once dilapidated neighbouring terraced house increasing the size and scope of the exhibition space along with the addition of a funky new café and an artist is residence apartment.

On the other side of the original 1891 Victorian gallery is now a large garden courtyard. To the right the huge floor to ceiling doors of the Clore studio swing open while a ceiling lantern runs the length of the building allowing more natural light to flood in. The outside tables and chairs are overlooked by the Marie Curie block of Sceaux Gardens, devastated by fire in 2009 the high rise has found a new lease of life with a bright buoyant mural by Yinka Shonibare.

Through the Clore Studio a beautiful brick path weaves through the newly planted Fox Garden back towards the back of the house where a new Atrium furnished simply with a long wood table stands beneath a sumptuous golden work by Paul Morrison. Beyond waft the smells of the ‘No. 67’ café. The ‘front room’ is taken up with tables and chairs and the neutral sludge colours sit well with the bulb lights and rough wood floor. Out front are more tables and chairs with a fine vista across the Peckham Road!

Upstairs are three more small exhibition rooms while the top floor has been transformed into an apartment with roof terrace. 6a Architects have striped and hacked illuminating the fabric of the building removing the ceilings to reveal the roof joists and do away with plasterwork to expose brick walls. From October the outset flat will be used for artists in residence.

The current exhibition ‘Nothing is Forever’ aims to seamlessly marry art and architecture; works have been made directly onto the walls to become part of the fabric of the building forever.

The SLG hosts five contemporary art exhibitions each year. Exhibitions and many of the SLG’s events are free. There is also a shop selling books and magazines relating to the works on view as well as those covering art theory and philosophy, artist monographs, live art, film and music.

I think the gallery is a great addition to our area and would recommend everyone visit.

Opening: Tuesday – Sunday, 10am-6.30pm, Wednesdays, 10am-9pm

www.southlondongallery.org

more photos at: flickr.com/photos/nickwoodford/sets/72157624357938986/