News
Why it’s now virtually £300 per year more expensive to travel from Penge East than Sydenham
An annual season ticket including tube travel now costs almost £3oo more per year if you travel from Penge East rather than Sydenham station.
This is in large part a result of over-the-top fare rises by Southeastern who run the line from Orpington to Victoria via Penge East and Sydenham Hill. Whilst Southern (and LOROL) who run the Sydenham line have announced more modest fare rises, Southeastern have hiked the cost of an annual season ticket by 12.5%
The fact that Penge East is in Zone 4 and Sydenham in Zone 3, simply does not explain the considerable differences in fares.
In reaction to the rises, Rochester and Strood Conservative MP, Mark Reckless and Labour MP for Erith and Thamesmead, Teresa Pearce, have both called for Southeastern to be stripped of the franchise.
Below is a list of annual season ticket prices from Sydenham and Penge East:
Sydenham to London Bridge/Charing Cross (train only)
| Days/Months | Price |
| 7 Days | £21.00 |
| 1 Month | £80.70 |
| 3 Months | £242.00 |
| 6 Months | £483.90 |
| 12 Months | £840.00 |
Sydenham to London Bridge/Charing Cross including tube
| Days/Months | Price |
| 7 Days | £32.20 |
| 1 Month | £123.70 |
| 3 Months | £371.00 |
| 6 Months | £741.90 |
| 12 Months | £1,288.00 |
Penge East to Victoria (train only)
| Days/Months | Price |
| 7 Days | £27.90 |
| 1 Month | £107.20 |
| 3 Months | £321.50 |
| 6 Months | £642.90 |
| 12 Months | £1,116.00 |
Penge East to Victoria including tube
| Days/Months | Price |
| 7 Days | £39.40 |
| 1 Month | £151.30 |
| 3 Months | £453.90 |
| 6 Months | £907.80 |
| 12 Months | £1,576.00 |
Want to hear one of the world’s great musicians? He’s appearing at St Christopher’s Hospice on Thursday 6 January
Ever since he made his debut concert at the Festival Hall at the age of 12, cellist Robert Cohen was destined for musical greatness. As a soloist, concerto-player, chamber musician, director and inspirational teacher, Robert has established himself as one of the foremost cellists of our time.
See Robert Cohen with accompanist Elizabeth Burley at 7.30 on Thursday 6 January at the opening concert of the 2011 St Christopher’s Concert season
£12 tickets include canapes and wine during the interval.
Dame Cicely Saunders Room, St Christopher’s Hospice, 51-59 Lawrie Park Road Tel: 020 8768 4500
http://www.stchristophers.org.uk/
See a video of Robert Cohen in action:
Minister calls on local authorities to reduce street clutter
In a letter to the leaders of local authorities Communities and Local Government minister Eric Pickles confirms the coalition government’s commitment to reducing street clutter, and asks borough chiefs, to make the same commitment. The minister points out that streets and roads make up around three quarters of all public space, and unattractive clutter can impact on people’s quality of life, causing confusion for drivers and pedestrians and affecting safety.
The Minister’s letter in full:
http://www.londonforum.org.uk/f/d/The_Ministers_letter_in_full_207.pdf
Our thanks to London Forum for this information.
Recycle your Christmas tree
According to tradition, Twelfth Night (5th January) is the date when all Christmas decorations should be removed otherwise it will bring bad luck upon your home. You can recycle your tree at Sydenham Wells Park (Wells Park Road entrance) and at Mayow Road (Mayow Road entrance) until 28 January. The trees are chipped and used as mulch in parks around the borough.
Don’t be put off if you find there are no other trees at the entrance to the park – it will be due to the fact that they have already been picked up by Glendale. Just place your tree to one side away from the entrance itself.
Real trees only are accepted!
Government to help prevent pubs turning into flats?
Pub Minister Bob Neill has launched a public consultation into the use of “restrictive covenants” which make it easier for pub landlords to shut down pubs and turn them over to property developers.
If made into law, the removal of this restriction could prevent breweries making sure that a pub can’t be bought by one of its rivals when they come to sell the premises.
The move has been welcomed by Camra’s chief executive, Mike Benner, who said: “Restrictive covenants are used by pub companies to deprive local communities of their pubs, at a time when 29 pubs are closing every week.
Between 2004 and 2009, this happened to almost 600 pubs.
He welcomed the consultation as a “great success for localism” and added: “It shows that government recognises that pubs are vital community assets that need to be protected.
For the new community right-to-buy scheme to work, pubs need to be available for communities to keep open.
It’s a victory too for people power: this proposal came from communities on the ground, via their local councils. ”
Photograph above courtesy of Steve Grindlay
Visit Columbia Road Flower Market
The new East London line puts us into contact with great places in London you’d rarely have visited a few months ago before the line opened. So if you’re looking for something to do on a spare Sunday morning, why not visit Columbia Road Flower market – close to Hoxton station on the East London line?
Open from 8am-2pm every Sunday, the market has over 50 flower stalls selling plants and flowers at unbelieveable bargain prices (leave it until near closing time and you’ll get even better prices!). And Columbia Road and the adjoining streets are packed with interesting boutiques, art galleries, vintage clothes shops and the like.
Hackney City Farm with the wonderful Cafe Frizzante is just along the road.
For directions from Hoxton station visit:
Beauty and the Beast – Christmas panto at Catford Broadway until 3rd January
Singing sensation and ex-East Enders star Michelle Gayle headlines a stellar cast in the fabulous pantomime story of Beauty & the Beast.
The Broadway boasts that this is the best-value star pantomime in London with tickets from £12.50- £15.50
Until 3 January Broadway Theatre Catford
Catford Broadway Catford SE6 4RU
Ticket office: 020 8690 0002
Lewisham has to find an extra £13m in cuts
The results of the complex settlement made by the Department for Communities and Local Government means that LBL has to find an extra £13m in cuts over and above the £60m it has already budgeted for.
Lewisham’s Mayor Steve Bullock announced this depressing news in his recent mayoral E-newsletter – see the key paragraph below:
“The Council had been planning to have to reduce its budget by £60 million over the next three years. Following the recent announcement, it now seems it will be forced to find a massive £89 million over the coming four years. Next year alone it is facing a reduction of £33 million.
These figures add up to the greatest financial challenge the Council has ever had to face. So far we have been able to meet most of our savings through efficiencies and have protected services to the most vulnerable. We had been expecting to reduce our budget by around £20 million next year – now we know we have to increase that amount by a further £13 million.”
For the Mayor’s full message see http://www.sydenhamsociety.com/2010/12/message-from-mayor-of-lewisham/
Post-Christmas stroll – Thursday, 30 December
The Society’s traditional post-Christmas stroll is on Thursday 30th December
Meet at 11.00 at the entrance to Low Cross Wood, opposite the Dulwich Woodhouse, for stroll through Dulwich Woods taking in part of the Green Chain Walk from Sydenham Hill. The walk will take approximately 1 hour and will finish at the Harvester on Dulwich Common for a seasonal drink and maybe food. Please note that if some parts of the woods are still very icy, we may need to change the walk.
Contact Jackie [020 8778 5455] or Iris [020 8693 9525] for further information