Convoy's Wharf plans to be resubmitted in November

The most recent designs for Convoy's Wharf in Deptford

Building.co.uk reports that Deptford's most important redevelopment project (on Lewisham's little scrap of riverside land) is "back on track."



It writes:

Plans for the £700m 3,500-home Convoys Wharf scheme in Deptford, south-east London, which floundered during the downturn, are back on track, as its new developer prepares to submit revised plans this month. Chinese corporation Hutchison Whampoa, which bought the 16ha site from News International in 2008, will make only minor amendments to the original 2005 masterplan by Richard Rogers Partnership.

One of the biggest developments in the Thames Gateway, the plan included three towers of between 26 and 40 storeys, nearly 338,000m2 of residential development, 73,000m2 of offices and 7,000m2 of retail. The revised proposal will need to be approved by the mayor of London...


The brownfield land was originally used by News International to receive imported paper. It is on the site of a former royal dockyard used to build ships for King Henry VIII’s navy.

The scheme in its current form is arguably Lewisham's most coherent and exciting and we hope that the decision to drop Rogers doesn't lead to signifcant design changes.

Mess nights - a message from the Brockley Mess

Tim from the Brockley Mess has been in touch with an update from the popular cafe - as ever, we're happy to pass on the message to Brockley Central readers. So here he is:

Firstly, we'd like to thank everyone for their patronage over the past couple of months. Positive comments in the cafe and on the blog have been hugely encouraging, and the less favourable ones have given us food for thought; we hope we will continue to improve.

From day one there has been a tidal wave of opinion that we should open in the evenings. We were always going to do this but didn't want to run before we could walk, so to speak.

Now that we have found our feet a bit, I am happy to announce that we will be dangling a few toes into the murky waters of evening opening. So, from now until further notice, we will be open all day until 11pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Our full opening times will now be:

Monday-Wednesday: 9am - 6pmThursday-Saturday: 9am-11pmSunday: 10am-6pm

We are offering a short, snacky evening menu featuring some of our most popular daytime dishes and some delicious new things for you to try. We have a good and very keenly-priced range of beers, wines and spirits. And we also now have music! If these late opening evenings prove to be a success, we will very likely start opening later throughout the week.

In other news, the gallery space at the back of the cafe now has a name - cueB. Over the coming months we will be exhibiting a number of different artists, and also giving the good people of Brockley the chance to see their work on the walls - more about this soon. This week the gallery changes from the excellent Thion exhibition which we have staged since opening to an exhibition by the artist Beatrice Poggio entitled Women of the Wood. Please come down this Thursday evening, 12th November, 7-9pm for the not-so-private view.

For those who don't know, we have a Facebook group and a website on the way.

And finally, a date for your diary. Please don your finest Val Doonican christmas jumper and come to our Brockley Xmess Party on Saturday 12th December.

I can't tell you exactly what we have planned yet (because I'm not entirely sure myself) but there will definitely be mulled wine, mince pies, music and merriment into the small hours.

All for now

Tim Arnold, Brockley Mess

Children's dance classes

BC reader Nicola would like to know if there are any children's dance classes in Brockley.

We know of "Bounce and Boogie" in New Cross and Tippee Toes in East Dulwich, but if you have any recommendations, please share them here.

Bounce & Boogie
Creative and Street Dance Classes
The MUSIC ROOM
The Old Library
116 - 118 New Cross Road
London
SE14 5BA

Tippee Toes
All Fired Up
Goose Green
34 East Dulwich Road
London
SE22 9AX

Lewisham town centre re-development: Public meeting

The planned re-development of Lewisham town centre has become a hot talking point in recent months.

The scheme involves two linked developments, one on Loampit Vale and the other known as Lewisham Gateway. BC believes that both now have planning permission.

Residents opposing the developments, under the banner of Central Lewisham Action Group, have organised a public meeting on Thursday 12th November, at 7:30pm at the Tabernacle, Algernon Road, SE13 7AT.

Speakers announced so far include Lib Dem councillor for Lewisham Central Andrew Milton and Fran Rogers of Transition Brockley.

All those interested in the town centre's future are invited to attend and participate in the debate.

Thanks to BC regular and aspiring local politician Max Calo for originally blogging this info.

Up The Line, November 11th - Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery

Organiser John McKiernan writes:

The waft of a solo violin across a dark, dimly lit path of the cemetery, as yet another poet recalls the words of a soldier, bombarded by bombs and bullets...

A film of men marching happily to war becomes discernible among the silhouetted trees, while an actor recounts the fear of life in a trench.

Welcome to 'Up The Line', a most beautiful and poignant experience marking the sacrifices of World War One.

This free twilight event will take place on Armistice night, 11th November 2009 and will be a short but stirring walk through a cemetery of performers and WW1 monuments.

The evening will give people of all ages an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made during times of war and discuss the experience afterwards in the famous Rivoli Ballroom.

Time:

You can arrive anytime between 7.15pm and 8.00pm, with the walk lasting approximately 20 minutes in total.

There will be a children's lantern procession at 7.30pm starting from the Brockley Gate.

Location:

Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery www.foblc.org.uk

After Event:

The Famous Rivoli Ballroom, 350 Brockley Road SE4 2BY (until 11pm) This is an outdoor event that will take place regardless of weather conditions.

Travel:

You can reach the start of the walk from the Brockley Rd/Ivy Rd Gate (SE4 2QY) or the Ladywell Gate at Brockley Grove/Ivy Rd, SE13

Buses P4, 122, 171, 172, 484
Trains Crofton Park, Ladywell, Brockley, DLR Lewisham

Please wear sturdy shoes, appropriate warm clothing and please bring a torch. Cemetery chapel will be open for reflection and lighting of candles

Contact:

info@brockleymax.co.uk

I Spy again

As per usual, whoever first names the spot wins our hearty esteem. Whereabouts in the local area is this mythic creature to be found?

Brockley Safer Neighbourhoods

The Autumn newsletter from the Brockley Safer Neighbourhoods team discusses the past and future priorities for tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, listing past achievements and new challenges.

Achievements

- Fly-tipping

The team worked with Lewisham council environmental team to tackle this problem and identify those involved. Offenders received fines through the post along with photographic evidence. The SNT and the Lewisham Environment team have also set up roadblocks to target vehicles involved. On two separate dates over 100 commercial vehicles were stopped and some received fines for carrying waste while not having the correct documentation. One vehicle was taken off the road permanently due to its poor condition and the driver had received many complaints about fly tipping over the past year. PC Poynter said: “This shows how effective it is to work with partners and the team are hoping this action has put a stop to fly tipping days.”

- The Clare Estate

The SNT has executed warrants in the Clare Estate with successful results.
More patrols and an increase in intelligence-led tactics have made an impact in reducing criminality in this area.

- Brookmill and Ashmead Roads

Increased patrols and stop and searches in the Brookmill Road/park and Ashmead Road areas has made a difference to the levels of anti-social behaviour.

New priorities

The current ward priorities set by the Ward Panel in October for the Brockley Safer Neighbourhoods Team are as follows:

- Youth Engagement in schools and colleges
- Drug dealing in Luxmore Gardens
- Vehicle and burglary crime in the Tressillian Road, Wickham Road, Breakspears Road and Tyrwhitt Road areas
- Recruitment of more Neighbourhood Watch Schemes within the Ward

With thanks to Cllr Walton for highlighting the news.