Predictions for 2011

Elaine: (pointing a finger accusingly at Kramer) You! This is all your fault! You told me I could run the company!
Kramer: Well, then I was way off!

- Seinfeld, The Foundation

After a 5 star performance in 2009, our predictions for 2010 were way off! Some of the preamble with general predictions wasn't bad, although it's little better than cold reading and our prediction that you'd all be staycationing in Forest Hill and Crystal Palace doesn't ring true.

Here's what we said:

1. The campaign to secure a station at Surrey Canal along the second phase of the East London Line will be successful. That will be the only positive bit of news about local public transport infrastructure in 2010, although of course the Jubilee upgrade which will benefit both London Bridge and ELL users should be finished early this year and the DLR's expansion to three carriages should be finished by the end of the year.

Good old, trusty DLR, never lets us down. Otherwise, we were completely wrong.

2. Brockley will attract at least one new business which caters specifically for the young family market - whether that be a new nursery, a shop or something else entirely.

Nope.

3. The final unit on Harefield Road will be occupied.

We've heard about two businesses that were supposed to be opening there, but nothing yet. Worse, we lost the Shop on the Hill.

4. At least one of the existing businesses along the Brockley Barge stretch of Brockley Road will decide it needs to raise its game in the same way that La Lanterna appears to have. This will mean a refit, a reimagining or selling-up to another business.

Costucutter's improved wine selection doesn't really count. The Brockley Barge added pavement-drinking to its repertoire, but that's not really what we were predicting either.

5. Through the hard work of local people, the Brockley Common project will at last fulfil its potential, flowers and shrubs will replace fag ends and discarded building materials, greenery will hide unsympathetic concrete walls and people will enjoy the meandering walk up the ramp, rather than endure its unremitting brownness.

Yes!

So we're giving ourselves a generous 1.5/5 for our 2010 predictions, which proved hopelessly optimistic about the pace of change. Nonetheless, we're going to five relatively bullish predictions for 2011, although we're deliberately avoiding making any predictions about Brockley Road. Here they are:

1. Construction work on a permanent cafe for Hilly Fields will get underway. The logic is compelling, there's an interested bidder and it will cost the Council nothing.

2. A new restaurant will open in Brockley. Or at least, a new place you can pay to sit and eat.

3. A new local supermarket will open in the area, near Brockley Station, joining the likes of Tesco, Budgens, Costcutter and Co-Op. The world will continue to revolve on its axis.

4. Martins Yard construction will start.

5. Double or quits: Both empty units on Harefield Road will be full by the end of the year.

What are your predictions for 2011? What do you think of ours?