Author: Chair

D-Day for Lewisham council cuts

Lewisham is facing cuts from its budget amounting to between £50-60m over the next three financial years. At the Mayor and Cabinet meeting on the 17 November the Mayor and Cabinet is expected to approve the first tranche of these cuts – £19.78m over three years plus a further £12.7m savings where consultation with staff and public are currently taking place.

A decision on closing five Lewisham libraries has been postponed for two months pending further investigations on “alternative community library proposals” and the cost of moving to these alternatives (see http://www.mayorsteve.co.uk/ ).

Here are some of the cuts expected to be approved at the meeting:

Severely cutting the borough’s economic development unit with the loss of 22 jobs, meaning that there will be no community business support and no town centre managers
Reducing the number of flower beds in parks – a saving of £30,000
The financial control department to reduce cost and staff saving £943,000
Corporate communication department’s budget to be cut by £97,000 (£64,000 of this to be saved by cutting Lewisham Life from 10 issues per year to six)
Reduce park investment by £396,000 which will mean fewer Green Parks, hanging baskets and street planting
Head of strategy department to be cut – savings £70,000; loss of three posts
No more spraying of weeds on streets and pavements saving £50,000
Saving £170,000 by reducing the amount of printing and photocopying by borough
IT savings of £1.3m by sharing services with Bromley council; IT data services to save a further £200,000
Mayor’s Fund (giving grants to local wards) cut by 25%; Local Assembly grants budget cut by £45,000 and admin costs for LA cut by £31,000
Close Clyde Children’s Centre (Deptford) and reduce budgets of Early Years Centres in Rushey Green, Honor Oak and Ladywell to save £2.1m
Reduce Lewisham’s contribution to Arts and Brodway Theatre by £43,000; One Lewisham Funs for Arts support also reduced by £25,000
Cut Lewisham’s contribution to borough’s Police Support Team by £125,000 (currently £250,000) resulting in “changes to PCSO deployment” . Note – this was postponed by M&C on the night
£450,000 cut in “Valuing People Agenda” (due to personal care packages scheme for elderly and disabled currently being proposed by central government); some savings could be gained by closing existing day care centres
A £22.84 charge to households for replacing lost, damaged or stolen wheely bins. Note – this was postponed by M&C on the night
£63,000 cut in waste advisors who encourage recycling
A reduction in the strategy and performance division saving £278,000
Amalgamating the community safety service and the community wardens service to create three area based neighbourhood safety teams and reduce staffing – saving £811,000

For full details of proposed cuts see:

http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6473F8B1-EE6C-44AA-A754-40A634EC4A6A/0/fedacedddad140aca772135c7b7b7ffbItem8Appendix217November2010.PDF

.PDF

Work starts on another new building on Sydenham Road

This is an exciting new development at 2-4 Trewsbury Road just behind the Mexican restaurant (the old ice cream parlour) on the corner of Sydenham Road and Trewsbury Road. Permission was granted in November 2007 for a 3-storey building plus basement housing commercial space plus 2 x 1 bedroom and 7 x 1 bedroom flats.

The building was designed by local archtitects Thomas Ford and mirrors the redeveloped former church hall on the corner opposite.

Full details of the plans can be seen here:

http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/lewis-xslpagesdc/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPSESSION=%7B%5B%2A%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%21%2A%5D%7D

St Christopher’s serve up a brilliant series of concerts for 2011

Throughout 2010, on the first Thursday of every month, St Christopher’s Hospice has hosted the Dame Cicely Saunders Concert Series – classical, folk and jazz music from the very best in the business. Now St Christopher’s has announced their line-up for 2011. And it’s even better than 2010.

Here is a quick look at the first six months concerts for 2011:

Thursday 6 January – Robert Cohen (one of the “foremost cellists of our time”) with Elizabeth Burley

www.robertcohen.info

Thursday 3 February – The Alba String Quartet, one of the UK’s leading ensembles

www.albaquartet.com

Thursday 3 March – Jana Frenklova, Czech pianist who records regularly for Radio 3

www.bangor.ac.uk

Saturday 26 March – The Zenoria Trio, combine classical, jazz and folk influences

www.londonzenoriatrio.com

Thursday 7 April – Branco Stoysin Trio, jazz with a Brazilian influence

www.brancostoysin.co.uk

Thursday 5 May – Sarah Walker, one of the voices of Radio 3 talks and plays piano

www.bbc.co.uk/radio3

Thursday 2 June – Martin Pyne and Busnoys, jazz vibraphone player with trio

And don’t miss the last concert of the 2010 season:

Thursday 2 December 2010
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Joglaresa: “ Folk Carols of England and Ireland.”
Ancient and spell-binding Yuletide song ringing with echoes of winter pagan festivals. Reworkings of well-known carols

Belinda Sykes : vocals, bagpipes, dirrector.   Jeremy Avis   : vocals.
Mick Sands vocals, bodhran, flute.   Jim O’Toole :   fiddles.
Jean Kelly     :   clairseach.             Tim Garside :   percussion, dulcimer.

The 2011 concerts will be held in the Dame Cicely Saunders Room at the hospice. Tickets are just £12 and include canapés and a glass of wine during the interval.

To reserve your place at one of these exclusive concerts, or to receive a leaflet with further details, please contact Debbie Calvert at d.calvert@stchristophers.org.uk or on 020 8768 4747 (Monday to Fri 10am-4pm). Money will be payable at the door. If you cancel a reserved place please let them know as numbers are limited.

www.stchristophers.org.uk

Griff Rhys Jones talks about civic society – BBC Politics Show

Griff talks about the role of civic volunteers, the Big Society and reforms to the planning system. Watch the feature by fast forwarding BBC i-player to 22 minutes. Watch it here

Forest Hill pop-up shop event – 2nd December

The Forest Hill Society and Forest Hill businesses would like to hear from people who are interested in inspiring local residents in a fabulous event of local, community-run activities that celebrates just what is available in the community.

Forest Hill high street businesses are offering their venues and facilities for POP UP SHOPS to hold free activity sessions. And they are inviting you to take part. It’s a great opportunity to promote your project, interest or business to local people. They’d like to hear from people who are interested in inspiring residents of Forest Hill in a fabulous event of local, community-run activities that celebrates just what is available in our community.

Forest Hill Pop Up Shop event is on Thursday 2nd December 2010 6pm – 9pm; Children’s activities 3pm – 6pm

For further details on running a 45-minute activity session contact Hugh before the 15th November and we will include your session in the programme and publicity campaign.

People are already going to share

Creative Writing Yoga Parent & Toddler Art Workshop DIY Art

Forest Hill community workshops Computer Training Children’s Boxing & Dance

Vegetable Carving Allotments & Vegetable Growing Adult & Child Christmas Card Making

Phone: 07891 296354

Email: hugh@foresthillsociety.com

www.popupforesthill.wordpress.com

Lewisham Council cuts – 446 staff to go

Lewisham Council has written to Town Hall unions warning them that 446 staff jobs are to disappear in the next three years as cuts start to bite.

Management jobs will be at the forefront of cut backs.

The agenda of the Mayor and Cabinet meeting on November 17 carries a report which warns that 195 jobs – 43% of the total – will go from the Resources Directorate which deals with finance, corporate policy, the executive office, procurement, personnel management, legal services, strategy and IT. The report warns that “the Authority is currently considering Phase 1 revenue budget savings proposals of some £19.8m for 2011/14, of which £13.7m relates to 2011/12. …… Should all the Phase 1 proposals be agreed, it is likely that this will result in up to 195 posts being deleted. This will inevitably result in substantial redundancy costs which will need to be financed corporately and via the use of directorate resources. “

A history of Perry Vale fire station

An application to redevelop Perry Vale fire station into flats has just been received by Lewisham Planning Department. www.sydenhamsociety.com/2010/11/perry-vale-fire-station-to-become-a-church/

Local historian, Steve Grindlay, tells the history of this distinctive building:

Before the opening of Perry Vale Fire Station on 22 March 1902 fire defence in Sydenham and Forest Hill was fairly haphazard.

From the 1860s there was a horse drawn pump based at the Crystal Palace. Beside the Bricklayers Arms there was a fixed hose, attached to a water pipe, by which “any person may direct water in abundance”. There was also a fire escape (a cart with a ladder fixed to it to rescue people from burning buildings) next to the Woodman. In 1872 a volunteer fire service was formed in Forest Hill, but it was severely constrained and constantly in debt because it depended entirely on voluntary contributions.

After its creation in 1889 the London County Council began building fire stations across London. The earlier buildings were Victorian Gothic but by 1900 the Arts and Crafts style predominated. Building began on the Perry Vale fire station in 1901; the foundation stone was laid on 4 July 1901. The architect was most probably Charles Canning Winmill, the LCC Fire Brigade Department’s principal architect. The building is considered a particularly fine example of an early arts and crafts fire station.

Times (24-3-1902) (1) — From the Times 24 March 1902

The building was designed to house 12 firemen and their families. The 1911 census has 10 firemen, 2 coachmen (who drove the appliances and cared for the horses) and their families, a total of 50 people living in the station. The reason the accommodation was provided was because the firemen were on call 24 hours a day. This system ended in the early 1920s when shift work was introduced and the firemen had a fixed working week.

At the time the Perry Vale station opened there were two basic types of fire appliance: the pump, for extinguishing fires, and the escape with a ladder for rescuing people. The familiar dual-purpose fire engine, with both a pump and ladder, was introduced in 1934, partly for greater efficiency, and partly as an economy (reducing staff numbers).

PV fire station (1) — Perry Vale fire station circa 1906

When the new Forest Hill Fire Station on Stanstead Road opened in 1972 the Perry Vale Fire Station closed. In March 1973, within a year of closure, it was listed Grade II. Since the building closed as a fire station it has been used by the Council as a housing office and for temporary accommodation. In 2008 the Council decided that the building was surplus to its requirements, and put it up for sale.

Nikolaus Pevsner described the Perry Vale Fire Station as “an especially picturesque example of its type”. Recent surveys make it clear that although there have been internal changes, some original features do survive. We must hope that any plans for the future of the building respect its past.

Steve Grindlay

sgrindlay@gmail.com

Forest Hill pools – what’s it going to look like?

The exciting new pool development at Forest Hill, due to open in December 2012, is currently going through the planning process. So what new facilities are going to be provided and what does the building look like?

The new pools complex will include the following:

a 25m x 13m main pool
a 16.7m x 7m learners’ pool
a 9m x 8m meeting space/multipurpose room
a 11.5m x 15.6m studio
a fitness studio, which (judged by the number of equipment “stations”) will be the biggest in the borough
a cafe

And here are some external views of the building:

It’s not the end of the line! Having a good time in Dalston.

Sydenham resident, Jonathan S Clarke gives you some clues to what’s on offer at the other end of the East London Line.

Dalston Junction is the last stop on the shiny new, open plan Overground train from Sydenham. It’s not that we have nowhere good to eat locally, but the East End has now opened up and those with an adventurous spirit should make that trip. Turning left out of Dalston Junction station takes youto the junction of Balls Pond Road, North is Kingsland High Street; south, Kingsland Road takes you back to Haggerston. I want to take you up Kingsland High Street and show you what’s on offer.

dalston superstore 1 — Dalston Superstore

I had a late brunch in Dalston Superstore, at 117 Kingsland High Street, a 5-minute walk past Dalston Kingsland station. It’s a very chilled bar in the day with American diner style 2-seater leather benches and high tables. Mannequins and puppets hang on the walls, a roof window keeps it airy and bright. The tiny kitchen produces quick tasty dishes. I had the French toast with streaky bacon and maple syrup. Simple and tasty with fresh thick cut bread. The Portobello and Paris mushrooms on toast with garlic and parsley sauce was excellent, too. With freshly squeezed juices and “Square Mile” coffee, it’s perfect for brunch. It is also the kind of place you can lounge all day and a DJ brings the place alive in the evening. There is a great cocktail list (£8.50 each) and what is described on the drinks board as Fancy Wine at £4.50 a glass. Skinny jeans are the trend but the Dalston Superstore welcomes all.

Just next door at 115, is Evin, a friendly, cozy Turkish restaurant. Open all day and with free wifi it attracts the locals to surf and sip coffee and graze meze. Before 5pm, a lady sits by the window, making fresh Gozleme, a wonderfully light and tasty Turkish pancake: thin and toasted. Tables turn around quickly, though you can sit there all evening if you want. The humus and grilled aubergine puree with tahini and yoghurt was perfect with the freshly made pancakes. Choosing a kebab from their choice of 13 was tricky – I loved the grilled minced lamb meatballs on a skewer which came with rice and grilled peppers. Fresh, authentic Turkish food with plenty of choice and lots of vegertarian options. Try the Turkish red. Trust me.

As you walk back towards Dalston Junction you pass the Rio Cinema at 107, Kingsland High Street – £8.50 for a full price ticket. They have all the new releases but also quirkydaytime and weekend alternatives. Over 60’s have a free matinee on a Wednesday. The Vortex Jazz Club, part of the Dalston Culture House complex, just off Gillett Square is a great place to lounge in the day-time – and listen to music in the evening.

Jonathan S. Clarke

Dalston Superstore: 020 7254 2273

www.evincafe.co.uk 0207 254 5634

www.riocinema.ndirect.co.uk 0207 241 9410

www.vortexdownstairs.co.uk 0207 923 9532

Gatwick Airport station redevelopment

Network Rail has announced the go-ahead for a major upgrade of the station at Gatwick Airport with easier access, reduced congestion and better facilities.

Work to finalise the station design will start immediately with the relocation of a substation due to commence in summer 2011. Passengers will begin to see progress at the station but the major construction work is not scheduled to start on site until Autumn 2012 after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics games have finished. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.

The £53m scheme will deliver a range of benefits for passengers including:

Improved passenger circulation on platforms 5 and 6 through the replacement of an existing stairway with an escalator and the installation of a new lift
Refurbishment of the concourse area to provide better facilities for passengers and improved circulation
Upgrade of the track and signalling to improve performance and reliability of trains passing through and travelling to/from Gatwick Airport.
A new platform to address the existing bottleneck in the Gatwick area for services on the Brighton mainline