Comments on Brockley Central: Designing out crime

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2009-07-21T11:03:27.364+01:00

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Re the Kender Triangle/small windows etc., surely ...

2009-07-20T10:45:07.289+01:00

Re the Kender Triangle/small windows etc., surely it's being built like this so the sides of the flats that face the busy roads only house bathrooms/toilets rather than bedrooms and living rooms? So, once again, the problem is cars...

That's a good idea Tamsin - they'd give you the us...

2009-07-19T15:18:19.111+01:00

That's a good idea Tamsin - they'd give you the usual brush off (see Nicks brockley-cross-parking as an example) in terms of things that need to be done to the present environment, might be interesting if they have an answer how the 'designing out crime' theory has been brought into play with *any* current or proposed development (I'm thinking Loampit Vale of course, but the planning at Sainburys New X may serve equally as well)

OK, let's get onto our respective Ward Councillors...

2009-07-19T13:51:48.722+01:00

OK, let's get onto our respective Ward Councillors about it. And is it Malcolm Smith who is head of regeneration in LBL?

A reduction in business rates would be a great inc...

2009-07-19T12:07:07.089+01:00

A reduction in business rates would be a great incentive I'm sure.
Successful, vibrant businesses leave clues and you only need to look at how attractive the businesses I have mentioned look to see that having a nice frontage does make a difference. Many of the boroughs that have'come up' have encouraged shopkeepers to change their shopfronts. Getting rid of these graffiti riddled shutters would be a start.

...also do shops in Brockley have high value windo...

2009-07-19T09:57:22.439+01:00

...also do shops in Brockley have high value window displays? Mind you Sounds Around does have a rather nice flashing crucifixion sculpture that I've got my eye on - £9.99.

Random comment, shutters may have made more sense ...

2009-07-19T09:55:26.202+01:00

Random comment, shutters may have made more sense before the advent of toughened glass? If you have modern glazing do you need shutters??

...end of random comment.

Would paying a grant towards the extra insurance a...

2009-07-19T09:37:52.932+01:00

Would paying a grant towards the extra insurance and the cost of shutter removal be something positive and simple that the Council could do to regenerate an area rather than its usual nebulous reports and vage initiatives that get nowhere?

Although I suppose it would not work as it would have to be on-going and the Council can never commit to expenditure anything more than three years ahead. Hence the usual way of thowing massively inappropriate capital sums at long-term issues.

On the other hand, is there scope for creative thinking and having a policy of the extra insurance costs of non-shuttered shop-fronts being something that can be set against the Business Rates.

Anon-Insurance is indeed cheaper with shutters and...

2009-07-19T05:20:44.929+01:00

Anon-Insurance is indeed cheaper with shutters and grills but as studies mention above seem to indicate, there is a link between a persons environment and how they behave.
In Crofton Park Jam Circus doesn't have shuttters I think. They don't seem to be troubled by vandalism. Babur Indian restuarant also doesn't have grills and shutters (I think their take away does though). Perhaps it is because these businesses have interiors to be proud of that they are willing to pay that bit extra for insurance. Along with Geddes, these businesses seem to be very vibrant and are able to take a view as far as extra insurance costs are concerned because they seem to be busy, well run operations.

I am not sure, but I think the insurance is cheape...

2009-07-19T01:56:27.212+01:00

I am not sure, but I think the insurance is cheaper with shutters and grills on shop fronts.

I suspect there is link between insurance companies and the makers of locks and shutters.

Together they suggest a shopping parade is in high crime area.

Shutters, neglected pavements, poor shop waste collection by t'council, shops left empty by landlords and rubbish on the streets from takeaways.

We have the lot.

I couldn't agree more about the shutters on shops-...

2009-07-18T08:15:14.952+01:00

I couldn't agree more about the shutters on shops-they make the area look run down more than anything else. I notice in Ladywell that Geddes have a floor to ceiling glass window and they manage to do without shutters. The other shops by contrast look terrible and after closing time they look disused-Ladywell road looks like a ghost town. It would be great to get all other shopkeepers to follow Geddes' lead.

Environment makes a huge difference to behaviour -...

2009-07-18T02:37:34.418+01:00

Environment makes a huge difference to behaviour - and windows are important both for looking out of and letting light in. Why the much consulted but still railroaded through scheme (now on hold but unlikely to be significantly revised) for the Kender triangle was slated by certain medics commenting on it as condusive to anti-social behaviour. Large expanses of blank wall and tiny windows. However by the time these chickens come home to roost the NDC will be long gone and no-one accountable.

People piss in the alleyway at the bottom of Cranf...

2009-07-17T23:23:31.960+01:00

People piss in the alleyway at the bottom of Cranfield Road all the time. It is disgusting.

Intersting read. That part of Cranfield Road is ...

2009-07-17T22:09:35.314+01:00

Intersting read.

That part of Cranfield Road is dreadful despite the newly tarted up council housing and Pavillion estate agent. It's a fly tipping hotspot and dog poo corner. As there is a long wall down one side I guess people think they are unobserved and can get away with anti-social behaviour.

Not sure what the solution along the wall is but a better high street round the corner with paving that doesn't trip up pedstrians or leave massive puddles when it rains as well as removing the bent metal railings would be a good start!

Fred Vest - re burger, surely Nick was adding flavour!

I believe that theory and that is why I am concern...

2009-07-17T18:23:26.777+01:00

I believe that theory and that is why I am concerned about those new trains for the ELL. They are severe looking and think it's going to bring out the worst in people.
They've got Wormwood scrubs on rails aura about, they give me the creeps.

anon (15.32) - I said that last time Nick wrote ab...

2009-07-17T17:50:35.458+01:00

anon (15.32) - I said that last time Nick wrote about this issue. Don't think anyone picked up on it though.

When was the last time a gang of dwarfs could affo...

2009-07-17T17:40:27.902+01:00

When was the last time a gang of dwarfs could afford to get into Disneyland - seriously, have you seen their prices?

Seriously though I do believe that a better environment makes for better people. Now that I've made this statement I should probably attend the next Brockley Cross Action group - if more people volunteered their time we could probably actually make Brockley a much nicer place without relying on the shop keepers to make the first move.

Isn't this just the 'broken window' problem? http...

2009-07-17T15:42:10.600+01:00

Isn't this just the 'broken window' problem?

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/crime/safehood.htm">help

If the first broken window in a building is not repaired, then people who like breaking windows will assume that no one cares about the building and more windows will be broken.

When people in this district see that a gang has spray-painted its initials on all the stop signs, they decide that the gang, not the people or the police, controls the streets.

Disneyland is example of this at work. When was the last time anyone got mugged by a gang of dwarfs in Disneyland?

thanks, didn't mean to put you to work or anything...

2009-07-17T15:17:53.640+01:00

thanks, didn't mean to put you to work or anything, but it would be nice to know

perhaps if anyone else knows as well

@Fred - the disgustingness of the burger was meant...

2009-07-17T15:13:46.124+01:00

@Fred - the disgustingness of the burger was meant to add a little colour to the piece and emphasise how greasy and disgusting the mass of paper and food thrown on the floor was.

@Anon 11.12 - when i have some time, I'll try digging out some case studies.

Yawn

2009-07-17T14:23:52.827+01:00

*Yawn*

macro view catman? Of what exactly?

2009-07-17T14:15:02.280+01:00

macro view catman? Of what exactly?

"Fred Vest, I would of done it. But then again I h...

2009-07-17T14:12:40.793+01:00

"Fred Vest, I would of done it. But then again I have a much more 'macro' view of things compared to most."

that's odd as you strike me as one of the most narrow minded people on here

Don't the City of London get there rubbish picket ...

2009-07-17T13:34:19.025+01:00

Don't the City of London get there rubbish picket up during the night,And also have council staff enforcing shopkeepers not to just leave rubbish outside anywhere.

Great story, and indeed there is a lot of truth in...

2009-07-17T13:16:27.107+01:00

Great story, and indeed there is a lot of truth in it. Keep those local suggestions coming.

Nick's anecdote reminds me of a time I was walking past the Honeypot and a punter sitting in his car stuck his hand out the window and dropped his chicken remains right in front of me. I cast him a moody stare, but I always regret not having the balls to throw the thing right back at him! (note, I often pick other people's litter up, but I draw the line at chicken leftovers as it's pretty gross)