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:
Front viewArea viewAerial viewsMultiviewFront viewElevations
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
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.
Evin
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.
Rio - London's largest independent cinema
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.
A planning application lodged with Lewisham council appears to open the way for the former fire station building in Perry Vale to be used as a church.
The application is to turn the upper floors of the building into 13 flats (nine x 1 bedroom; two x 2 bedroom and two x 3 bedroom). The planning forms state that “a further application will be made for the change of use of the ground floor to create a church and ancillary spaces”. Local gossip that a Tesco Metro was moving onto the site turned out to be nothing more than an unfounded rumour – and the listed status of the building would make it very difficult for any retailer to make a success of the site.
A walk in wooded countryside over the North Downs to the pleasant town of Oxted, with lunch at The Old Bell (lunch deal £4.95 with a starter or dessert just £2 extra). After lunch return from Oxted station or continue for a further mile and a half past Oxted Mill to catch the train at Hurst Green station. Meet at Sydenham Station ticket office 10.10am on Saturday.
The walk is approximately four miles and is almost entirely off-road using quiet well-established footpaths. There is a gentle but steady uphill slope on the first stretch before the descent down to Oxted; stout shoes essential. Please note that there are no “comfort stops”between East Croydon station and Oxted!
The first fireworks display at the park took place on July 12 1865 when two rival firework companies competed to show off their wares. One hundred and forty five years later why not join spectators at CrystalPalace for a traditional fireworks event on the evening of the 5th November?
Gates open 6pm
Children’s Display (aimed at children or those of a sensitive disposition!) 7pm
On Saturday 30 October, hundreds of carnival demonstrators marched from Crofton Park library to Lewisham town hall to protest against the closure of five Lewisham Libraries. The carnival was addressed by two local MPs – Lewisham East MP Heidi Alexander and Lewisham Deptford MP Joan Ruddock.
Joan Ruddock addresses protestors
With a majority of local MPs supporting the Save Libraries campaign, a 20,000-strong petition against library cuts and a unanimous vote by Lewisham councillors to save the libraries, the ball is well and truly back in the mayor’s court.
Lewisham Arts are offering half price tickets for key classical, contemporary and cross-over music events throughout early November. They include a production of Verdi’s Don Carlos on Sunday 7 November at the Broadway Theatre and Synthesis – an alternative Club Night at the Albany on Thursday 11 November.
To get your half-price tickets visit the following link.
The campaign to save Lewisham’s libraries invite you to a Carnival March and Procession on Saturday 30th October starting from Crofton Park library SE4 at 12.15 and marching to Lewisham Town Hall.
The wonderful Alex Carter, star of recent Sydenham hits such as BLITZ! and OOH LA LA! is accompanied by accordionist extraordinaire Serge Pachnine in Una Notte Italiana – a celebration of the Italian greats from Neapolitan to popular Italian songs.
£27.50 with a superb 4-course Italian meal. Starts at 7pm. Book your ticket now – they’re disappearing fast.
Pop into Raffaele, 29 Sydenham Road or phone the restaurant on 020 8778 6262
