Brockley Central

Brockley Bites: Gastrocharity special

2009-11-30T15:49:00.003Z

Chrunch

The lovely people at the Honor Oak pub are teaming up with local charity the 999 Club to open its doors to local homeless people and those in need on Christmas Day. They're asking for donations of warm clothes, food and practical essentials and would love to hear from anyone interested in coming along to volunteer on the day.

Please contact hello@thehonoroak.com

Blaggers Banquet

Local foodie bloggers, Ben Bush and Hollowlegs, are involved with a delicious charity initiative called Blaggers Banquet. There's a culinary auction going on right now - click here for more.

Ofsted gives Chelwood Nursery School outstanding rating

2009-11-30T12:44:00.004Z

Chelwood Nursery School, St Norbert Road, is one of six Lewisham schools highlighted as being outstanding in the latest Ofsted annual report, according to COI News.

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

2009-11-30T12:34:00.002Z

In a move that is surely entirely unrelated to the forthcoming general election, Brockley’s MP Joan Ruddock has written to constituents asking for their views on a wide range of issues.
She’s asking us to tell her ‘what is good and what is not so good about living in Brockley’, and poses a number of specific questions.
These include:

- What do you think about the new Brockley Station approach, and what further improvements would you like to see?

- What is the biggest anti-social issue you face, from the following?:
Aggressive begging
Dog mess
Gangs
Litter / fly-tipping
Street drinkers
Vandalism
Other (please state)

- What is the one thing you would do to improve Brockley?

We're sure BC readers have strong views on these questions, and we too would be delighted to hear them!

Anyone who hasn’t received the Freepost feedback form from Ms Ruddock can send her their views on these issues via email
at ruddockj @parliament.uk
Or write to her at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA

I Spy: Slothful Sunday edition

2009-11-29T10:05:00.000Z

As ever, the question for our eagle-eyed readers is: Whereabouts in Brockley is this piece of art?

Riverside South boosts Lewisham's future

2009-11-29T07:39:00.007Z

Riverside South will create demand for homes in Lewisham

One of the world's leading banks, JP Morgan, has submitted a revised planning application for its new Canary Wharf HQ, signalling that the project is almost certain to proceed beyond the foundation construction which has been underway for over a year.

Riverside South is Europe's largest office development, providing 3m square feet to house JP Morgan's London employees. It means thousands more jobs will move to Canary Wharf and should trigger a rash of other developments in the area, including hotel and residential buildings. In short, it means the next wave of the expansion of Canary Wharf will proceed. Although work has been underway for some time, the developer's stated plan was to complete the foundations before confirming that it would proceed with the superstructure.

Many of Lewisham's most important development projects are predicated on the ongoing development of the Wharf, creating growing demand for housing along the route of the DLR. Brockley's organic growth is also being fuelled by the expansion of the Wharf and London Bridge as key employment hubs, dragging the centre of London south and east. The East London Line will dramtically cut commuting times for Canary Wharf workers, from early next year.

At London Bridge, the superstructure for the Shard has recently appeared, meaning that it remains on track to open in 2012, while demolition work to make room for its baby sister "the Gem" [above] has also begun.

Brockley Central Drinks at The Talbot

2009-11-28T12:33:00.005Z

Last night, the BC Army was unleashed on The Talbot. With scaffolding still on the walls and the tang of fresh paint lingering in the air, Talbot drinkers old and new filled the pub on its opening night.

It's a fairly small pub and the ground floor is dominated by the bar, which confronts you head-on when you walk in. Seating is pushed to either side and in to a few cosy alcoves. Upstairs, the dining room is served by a small bar. Both floors were packed-out, which is a great show of support for a pub, which many feared had been lost forever. The staff were struggling with temperamental cash registers, unlabelled beer taps and a larger-than-anticipated crowd. Despite that, they coped admirably and the service was friendly throughout the evening.

It's too early (and our head hurts too much) to review the pub properly, but we intend to go back for lunch very soon. Frankly, it was a miracle that the pub was open so soon - given the appalling state it had been allowed to deteriorate to by its former owners. At this stage, The Talbot could probably benefit from a bit more detailing - some flourishes that give a bar like Jam Circus real personality. During our brief chat with the proprietor Felix, he mentioned that he was planning on adding some more furniture shortly.

As BC reader "b." said, while he waiting at the bar in an attempt to "treat" us to a shot:

"It looks very south west London. But then I love south west London - I go drinking there all the time."

Were you there last night? What were your first impressions?

Brockley Central Drinks tonight!

2009-11-27T12:45:00.000Z

We hope to see you tonight at the opening of The Talbot pub, Tyrwhitt Road, from 7pm.

The team has been working round the clock to get the pub ready in time, so the least we can do is turn up and attempt to drink them dry.

For those who haven't been to a BC drinks before, the organisation is so subtle that you could be forgiven for thinking that there is no organisation at all. Just turn up, have a drink and start chatting to people. Come and say hello to Brockley Nick, Brockley Jon and (when she turns up a bit later) Brockley Kate. Or feel free to ignore us - entirely up to you.

Brockley mosaics

2009-11-27T12:13:00.003Z

Capture Arts is an artist collective based in Brockley and Deptford and the creative team behind the popular Brockley Station mosaic. As part of the same project, they created two mosaics at St Saviour's Church Hall, Brockley Rise.

The mosaics will be formally "opened" (?) by Mayor Bullock on Thursday, December 3rd and the Broca will be providing tea and cakes for the finale event at 11.15am in Coulgate Street.

Everyone welcome.

Gulen hopes to ride the Midnight Meat Train

2009-11-27T10:11:00.003Z

Will late-night Gulen inspire a work of similar genius from mdotebeats?

Gulen Kebab has applied for a late night license, in order to serve food until 2am Sunday-Thursday and until 3am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The application suggests Gulen is aiming to capitalise on increasing late-night traffic that will accompany the opening the East London Line and the gradual transformation of the area around the station.

Retro fashion fair, November 28th

2009-11-26T18:19:00.002Z

St Hilda's Undercroft, Crofton Park, will stage a retro fashion fair on Saturday, from 11am until 5pm.

Afternoon tea will be served and Gavin Stamp, the art historian, will be giving a talk.

With thanks to MG.

Brockley's advent windows revealed

2009-11-26T13:37:00.003Z

Christmas in Brockley starts with Housemartins Estate Agents!

Tea Leaf Arts has now published the list of local businesses taking part in its Advent Windows campaign. During December, art will spring up in shop windows - one a day, leading up to Christmas. It's great to see such a wide range of participating companies, from Starbuck Upholstery and Sids Plumbing to Co-Operative Funeral Service, Central Cafe and Crofton Park Library.

Brockley Station improvements could be brought forward to 2011

2009-11-26T11:32:00.005Z

Brockley's representative on the London Assembly, Darren Johnson, has enjoyed some early success with his campaign to bring forward the plans to make Brockley Station fully accessible.

TfL has scheduled the work, which would introduce step-free access on both platforms and provide a number of smaller improvements, to be completed by no later than 2015 - two years later than originally hoped. The development of Brockley Common, which created a wheelchair-friendly ramp on the east side of the station, was designed in anticipation of this work.

Johnson is pushing for the timetable to be accelerated, to bring Brockley in to line with some of the other stations along the route of the new East London Line. He told Brockley Central:

"My aim is to get the Mayor and the Department for Transport to reach agreement on bringing it forward to 2011."

Earlier this week, this campaign enjoyed some success, when his question during the Mayor's Question Time, elicited the following response:

"TfL London Rail have made a tranche of bids for Access for All Small Schemes funding for 8 of these [former Southern] stations. These are relatively small scale measures to make the station DDA compliant and would complement the DfT ‘step free’ scheme."

By recognising that this is a relatively small-scale project, the Mayor signalled that there may be some scope to deliver these improvements earlier.

In a statement, Darren Johnson said:

"Local community groups were dismayed to hear that Brockley Station would not be receiving accessibility improvements at the same time as other local stations that have come under the control of TfL. I hope that the Mayor of London and the Department for Transport can work together to ensure Brockley is not left behind."

Brockley Cross measured up

2009-11-26T10:19:00.002Z

"You have been weighed, you have been measured and you have been found wanting."
- Adhemar, A Knight's Tale

In what world could Brockley Cross possibly be considered a good road layout? The confusing, dangerous and ugly system that encourages flytipping and double parking and frustrates the efforts of Lewisham Council's planners to attract suitable developers to some of Brockley's key sites is finally set to be replaced.

As we reported in September, the Council applied for TfL funding to remodel Brockley Cross, to improve safety and the quality of the public realm.

Today, the surveyors are out in force, taking measurements that will enable them to develop a detailed proposal for Brockley Cross' enhancement. It's very encouraging to see work underway and we hope to bring you more news soon.

Creekside Artists Open Studios, December 4th-6th 2009

2009-11-24T12:06:00.006Z

Brockley artist Caroline Underwood from Deptford studio collective "Creekside Artists" is helping to organise an open studios event in Deptford next week. She says:

The Open Studio weekend is a chance to explore the working studios of artists and designers exhibiting work in a range of media. Many works are for sale including paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, jewellery, T-shirts, shopping bags and greetings cards. The private view on Friday will also feature an exclusive interactive performance by ‘Step Off The Stage’.

The group of artists and designers recently collaborated on a week-long drawing marathon at The Albany, which was selected for the Deptford X programme, featured in the South London Press and filmed for BBC world service as part of their international news coverage of the Big Draw.

In addition to events and group shows outside the studios (the group exhibited at The Menier Gallery earlier this year and are booked for a show in February at the Limelight Gallery) Creekside Artists hold 3 open studio events throughout the year.

Creekside Artists December Open Studios

Friday 4th December - Opening (6:30pm – 9:30pm)
Saturday 5th December (11:30am – 6pm)
Sunday 6th December (11:30am – 6pm)
Creekside Artists
Unit A 110/112/114
Faircharm Studios
Creekside
Deptford
London SE8 3DX
http://www.creeksideartists.co.uk/

Brockley Central Drinks this Friday

2009-11-24T09:14:00.004Z

Mongol General: What is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women.

Last year, one of BC's resident antagonists, Hugh, placed a wager with us about The Talbot pub, Tyrwhitt Road:

"Ten quid says it doesn't re-open in 2009. Five quid says it doesn't re-open before 2011."

If you'd like to discover whether a gentelman's word is as good as his bond, come to The Talbot's opening night for Brockley Central drinks - this Friday, from 7pm.

Whatever happens, we're all winners.

New Cross war memorial to be unveiled

2009-11-24T05:38:00.008Z

During World War II, V1 and V2 rockets peppered south London, including Brockley, Deptford, Peckham, Nunhead, Lewisham and New Cross. The damage inflicted left a lasting impression on the cityscape and of course the memories of those who lived through the attacks.

The single most deadly rocket attack took place at 12.33pm on November 25th, 1944, when a V2 struck the Woolworth store in New Cross - killing 168 people died and injuring hundreds more.

The BBC archives include an eyewitness account of the destruction caused. Barbara Smith recalled:

It had fallen at the bottom of my road on the Woolworths store in New Cross. As I hurried home I saw many people who were injured, and others were dead and lying on the pavements and in the road. Ambulances and fire engines were parked nearby, attending to the injured and dying. The air was filled with grit and dust. There was a huge crater on the Woolworth site where the V2 had fallen.

Tomorrow, a plaque will be unveiled in memory of those who died. A memorial service will begin at 12.45, St James Church, while the Mayor will unveil the plaque at the site where the bomb landed, at 2.00pm on Goodwood Road (just off New Cross road).

All are welcome.

An earlier memorial plaque was unveiled on the site in 1994.

With thanks to Tamsin, for letting us know.

Oyster roll-out for South East London on January 2nd, 2010

2009-11-24T00:03:00.004Z

Oyster Pay-As-You-Go will reach Brockley, Ladywell, St John's, Crofton Park and other local stations as part of a city-wide roll-out on January 2nd, 2010, according to a Transport for London press release:

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, Transport Secretary, Andrew Adonis, and the Train Operating Companies serving the capital today confirmed that the hundreds of thousands of passengers who travel on National Rail services within Greater London will be able to use Oyster pay as you go from 2 January 2010.

The news means that South East Londoners will at last start to benefit from cheaper fares we have been promised for some time. The Standard illustrated how a Lewisham commuter would benefit, with a trip to Charing Cross costing £1.70 off-peak and £2.10 peak in January, compared with £2.40 at present.

The Evening Standard adds:

Under the agreement Oyster pay-as-you-go will be accepted on all Greater London services operated by Chiltern, National Express East Anglia, London Midland, First Great Western, First Capital Connect, Southern, Southeastern and South West Trains. Oyster pay-as-you-go will also be accepted on c2c services in Greater London as well as Grays, Chafford Hundred, Purfleet and Ockendon stations in Essex.

Thanks to everyone who alerted us to this story!

The Lewisham Mayor's Business Awards 2010

2009-11-23T09:57:00.004Z

The Lewisham Mayor's Business Awards 2010 are now open for entries by local companies.

The organisers have added four new categories for this year's awards, including "best pub", "best young apprentice", "best employee" and "enterprise achiever."

Brockley is lucky enough to have some great high street businesses, which we'll be able to vote for in February in the "Who do you love?" category - but there is a growing number of small businesses setting up in the area, including a number that we have profiled in recent months.

Each award is sponsored and there will be a £5,000 cash prize for the overall winner. The deadline to enter is 25 January 2010 and the winners of the Awards will be announced at a ceremony to be held on 11 March 2010 at Blackheath Halls.

For more information on each of the categories visit: www.lewisham.gov.uk/businessawards

Brockley Central Drinks Presents: The Talbot

2009-11-21T10:25:00.005Z

It's kinda like a speakeasy kind of thing. It's kinda cool. It's like you're in on some kind of secret. You tell a chick you've been some place, it's like bragging that you know how to find it. The only way you could know where a place is is if someone who knows brought you there. You have to have someone come before. There is a direct line connecting you back to the original, unequivocally cool, club patrons. It's kinda like Judaism...
- Mike, Swingers

Friday, November 27th 2009
7pm onwards
The Talbot, Tyrwhitt Road

We've never dared to try and organise a Brockley Central drinks night on a Friday before, because we're all supposed to have better things to do with ourselves. But then, we've never had the carrot of a sneak preview of the newly-refurbish, long-awaited, heavily-trailed Talbot to offer you before.

Brockley Central veterans may remember the last time we took you to The Talbot, back in May 2008, for a hint of what we hoped was to come. It was an intimate affair, for those people who wanted to learn how a dilapidated but beautiful pub might be restored.

Those plans unfortunately never materialised and for a while it looked like the naysayers would be proven right. But then, this summer, Felix swooped in and achieved what no-one else has managed - delivering a new-look pub in an extraordinarily short amount of time, despite one or two setbacks along the way.

Now, true to his word, he's ready to open next week and to let Brockley Central readers to put him to the test.

BC readers are cordially invited to join Felix on the evening of the 27th, the night before the pub formally opens (bookings for lunch from the 28th!). He writes:

I would like to extend a special invitation to all Brockley Central readers and would like to welcome everyone from 7pm.

There will be some delicious canapes 'on the house' and a paying bar.

I really hope that everybody likes and enjoys the new place.

See you there.

Kind regards

Felix

It would be great to see as many of you there as possible and see if we can get close to the numbers we saw at the Ladywell Tavern for Brockley Central's Brockley Max night during the summer.

Even if it is a Friday.

Car club pool

2009-11-21T06:58:00.002Z

BC reader Alison is hoping to find some local people to help her start a new car club, with a company called Zip Car.

She says she's found it a struggle to find available slots with the local Street Car services and reckons that Zip Car's prices can be more competitive too.

She's been told by Zip Car that if she can demonstrate sufficient local demand, they will consider setting up in Brockley (they've not ventured further South East than Bermondsey so far), so she's looking for other interested readers to join her. If you want to be put in touch with Alison, please email us at the usual address and we'll connect you.

Brockley Bites: Community activism edition

2009-11-20T10:48:00.003Z

A newly-launched news website East London Lines has picked up on the campaign against cuts to Brockley's train services, running an interview with campaign leader Richard Hibbert from the Forest Hill Society.

The site is produced by journalism students and staff at Goldsmiths and aims to be 'the virtual shadow of the new East London Line, connecting communities in virtual space, just as the new line connects them in physical space'.

BC wishes them all the best - and would be pleased to offer advice about covering local matters, if they're interested!

....................................................................................................................

An upcoming event that East London Lines' eager newshounds might like to cover is the 6th meeting of the Brockley Assembly, which will take place on Monday 30th November from 7pm to 9pm at Leander Community Centre, Ship Street SE8 4DH.
Registration takes place from 6.45pm.

Local ward councillors Darren Johnson, Romayne Phoenix and Dean Walton will be present.

The Assembly has already allocated the majority of its annual £50,000 Mayor's Fund, and this latest meeting will vote on how to spend the remaining £12,500.
The projects which are up for consideration include:
*** A voluntary 'Time Bank' scheme;
*** Arts events as part of the Brockley Max festival;
*** A dance course for young people, to be run by the Laban Dance Centre.

Attendees will also hear a presentation from the police about how to set up a Neighbourhood Watch group, and will hear updates on other community activities in the area.

Rockin' around the Christmas tree

2009-11-19T09:48:00.005Z

Here's an important date for everyone's diaries - the 3rd annual Brockley Christmas Market will take place on Coulgate St on December 12th, from noon to 6pm. A great opportunity to stock up on Christmas presents.

The market will host 35 to 40 stalls of gifts, food and presents, as well as a live music tent, a Santa's Grotto with treats and bell ringers.
The lights will be switched on on the Brockley Christmas tree, followed by carols.

BC looks forward to seeing you all there!

The market's organisers are looking for more stallholders; stalls cost £40 and this includes public liability insurance, stall, cover and lights. Between 10-15 stalls are left to be booked.
To reserve a stall, contact the Broca's Erin at eaessex @hotmail.com or via the Broca cafe, or contact Brockley town center manager Julie Sutch on 020 8699 1064 or julie.sutch @lewisham.gov.uk.

Mud, glorious mud

2009-11-18T21:26:00.004Z

The area outside the Barge, which BC complained about recently, has turned into the Somme.

All the paving has been taken up, leaving the phone box stranded in a sea of mud, and next to it lies a giant hole (dug to Australia?).

BC hopes this is a prelude to glorious restoration, but with council contractor Conways in charge, who can be sure?

In the meantime Brockley Rd pedestrians are left dodging the traffic as the plastic barriers are frequently blown into the road.

And the baffled drinkers in the Barge are barricaded into the pub ...

Thrills, chills & bellyaches

2009-11-17T13:51:00.008Z

A well-insulated group of locals gathered at Brockley Station this morning to promote the ongoing campaign against cuts to Brockley's train services, by handing out leaflets produced by the Forest Hill Society and others*.

With the cross-party support of local politicians, the Forest Hill and Sydenham Societies have been running a campaign against proposed cuts to the service on one of Southern's busiest passenger routes. They have written to the Minister of Transport, both privately and in an open letter, requesting a meeting to discuss their concerns, and over 1,500 people have already signed the petition.

All the civic societies along the line are leafletting their local stations this week to urge people to take action. Brockley volunteers along with the Forest Hill and Sydenham Societies handed out thousands of leaflets today and HOPRA and the Telegraph Hill Society will leaflet Honor Oak Park and New Cross Gate tomorrow.

The changes:
*** In December, Southern Railways plans to cease service into Charing Cross station, terminating all services at London Bridge. Southern have tried to smuggle this change in without any announcement; there is nothing on their website regarding this change in service despite the fact that they claim to have consulted widely in their official submission to ORR, the rail regulator. This off-peak service on one of south London's busiest lines has significant demand and there was supposed to be further investigation before the service to Charing Cross was altered.

*** As if this wasn't bad enough, Southern Railways plan to reduce the number of trains which serve the Sydenham line in the afternoon and off-peak by making the Caterham and Sutton trains fast to Norwood Junction.
This means that the number of trains will be reduced from six trains an hour to four trains an hour once the East London Line starts operation in May 2010.

*** The third threat to our services comes from the possible re-instatement of the South London Line service from Victoria to either Bellingham or London Bridge.
One of the options currently being considered by TfL and Passenger Focus is to cancel our loop service from London Bridge to Victoria via Crystal Palace and replace it with one via Peckham Rye instead.

The vast majority of commuters gave the campaign a warm welcome, with around 70-80% of people taking the leaflets. Those listening to headphones were, perhaps unsurprisingly, by far the least interested. After a couple of hours, fingers and feet were definitely feeling the chill - but in all that time, only one person stepped up to bellyache against the campaign.

If you haven't done so, please sign the online petition here.

* = Brockley Society was invited to participate but has not responded due to the lack of a chair, according to campaign organisers.

PS. Thanks to Paul for the pic.

Community skipping: The answer to fly-tipping?

2009-11-17T13:44:00.002Z

BC is somewhat behind the times on this one, given that it's been and gone, but we thought it was worth a mention anyway.

As a follow-up to Lewisham Council's research into the problem of fly-tipping, a free 'community skip' trial took place last weekend. The skip was placed on Eddystone Road for the disposal of large, bulky waste which should otherwise have been dropped off at the Landmann Way Recycling Centre, but all too often is simply dumped on the street.

Mattresses are a particular problem according to Tom Ashworth, a local chap studying for an MA in Design who has been working with the council to try to tackle the fly-tipping problem. 'An average month sees 1,500 [mattresses] dumped onto the streets of Lewisham,' he told BC.

Tom's 'community skip' idea sounds like an innovative way to respond to an irritating ongoing problem. The team are now evaluating the results and considering whether to roll the idea out to the rest of the borough; they're also working on other, related ideas.
BC hopes the skip makes another appearance on our streets.