Spoons hopes to add nine flats and a pub terrace to Brockley Barge

Wetherspoons has submitted plans to redevelop The Brockley Barge as a mixed use development, which would incorporate nine new apartments.

The plans would dramatically transform the structure of the pub (built in 1868) with the proposed residential apartments being positioned above the ground floor of the public house and extending to the south of the three-storey front façade of the building.

The internal layout retains the public house use at ground floor level with the enclosed beer garden to the rear and creates a new customer area on the first floor with access to the terrace. The first-floor terrace would be opened up to use by customers of the public house and will have a 1550mm high glass balustrade mounted behind the existing parapet.

The second floor of the public house would be for staff and will include toilets with changing facilities, store rooms, office space and a staff room.

This is an important one to get right. The Barge is central Brockley's only remaining pub and a focal point for the community. A terrace could be fun, but anything that compromises this community asset or spoils its clean lines is to be treated with caution.

BCer Cynthia writes: "I would love to know what readers think of these plans."

TfL proposes to trim 171 and 172 routes

TfL is proposing to shorten two Brockley bus routes as part of a rejigging designed to reduce central London congestion. 853 reports:

Route 171 from Catford Bus Garage and Brockley to Holborn would be cut back from Holborn to Elephant and Castle under the scheme.

And the 172 from Brockley Rise faces being trimmed back from Clerkenwell to Aldwych.

The scheme affects routes from across London, and also brings a permanent end for Routemaster services a step closer, proposing reducing the “heritage” services on route 15 along Fleet Street using the vintage vehicles to summer weekends and bank holidays only.

The consultation will start next month.

For the full article, click here. Thank you to Joe.

The Telegraph Hill Community Choir

The Telegraph Community Choir write:

We are a group of enthusiastic singers. We meet once a week on Tuesday evenings from 7.30 to 9pm at the Telegraph Pub on Dennett's Road.

We sing lots of rounds, and harmonies, on folk songs, sea shanties, pop, African and world folk, in fact, any songs with heart and soul. 

We are very mixed bunch, some of us have not sung since childhood, others are more seasoned singers. 

Our leader, Lizzie, has worked in music all her life, and sings professionally. She is also a music teacher, workshop leader, and songwriter. One of her songs was recently short listed in a big song competition in Scotland, and she has also composed for BBC TV. 

We are a fun, lively group, who welcome new people, we are expanding all the time. Please come along. Each session costs £6.

Click here for full details

Time is a flat circle

I've been sent two mysterious local circumferences that need explanation. The former is presumably the temporal shadow of the Hilly Fields bandstand, but what's the latter?

David asks: "I recently discovered that some of the shapes on Hilly Fields are the outlines of huts from WW2 but what is the rather large circle?"

Any ideas what this could be? Unearthed behind bramble and ivy on the Buckthorne Railway Cutting. @harbro @Eco_CP_Library @BrockleyCentral pic.twitter.com/KjgfYbyNmX

— Fourth Reserve (@FourthReserve) July 28, 2018

Purple Rain on Coulgate Street

Breakspears Mews Summer

BrocSoc calls community meeting to discuss Ashby Mews developments

Brockley Society Public Meeting - Ashby Mews – Gates and Resurfacing
Thursday 19 July 7.30pm
Myatt Garden School, Rokeby Road, SE4 1DF

Feelings have been running high about developments in Ashby Mews. BrocSoc has called a public meeting to discuss the issue. They say:

Locked gates recently installed at the Ashby Road end of Ashby Mews, SE4, followed by
resurfacing a stretch of the mews in tarmac have caused a significant number of residents
to contact Brockley Society to complain. We are holding a meeting to gauge local opinion,
explain the legal and planning ramifications and consider the next steps.

Everyone is welcome, whether you oppose or support the changes, simply walk through
the mews, or are just interested in the Brockley Conservation Area. Those responsible for
the gates and tarmac and those whose properties are affected are also welcome.

Brockley Society’s position is as follows:

1. Resurfacing the Mews in tarmac

Brockley’s mews are an integral part of the character of the Conservation Area. We view
black tarmac as inappropriate and believe it damages the character of the mews and may
also cause flooding or water seepage as no drainage is provided. Lewisham Planning
department is currently looking at enforcement. Planning and ownership in the mews is
very complex but we believe several solutions are worth exploring, including for this
section to remain resurfaced with a more sympathetic and sustainable topping material.

2. The Gates

The gates are inappropriate for the location: they are far too tall for gates on a public road
and contravene other guidelines in the Brockley Conservation Area. We believe they
should be reduced in height or removed entirely and replaced by a better “gallows” gate,
like those which exist in all Brockley’s other mews. The one currently in Ashby Mews,
behind the new gates, could have been modified.

3. The Right of Way

Ashby Mews is a private road. However, it is also a public right of way – and has been for
at least 120 years. This means the public have an established legal right to use the mews
as a footpath. Locked gates block the right of way. We believe that unimpeded pedestrian
and emergency vehicle access must be restored to the mews as soon as possible.

Brockley’s vibrant and open community has developed over many decades through the
work of Brockley Society, Brockley Open Studios, Brockley Cross Action Group and many
other community activities, campaigns and projects. Closing off a right of way and creating
a gated community is totally at odds with this.

The Mantle Road Summer Street Party, July 8

The waterintobeer party organisers say:

Brockley's West Side will be hosting a summer party this Sunday, with beer/homebrew shop waterintobeer and newly revamped restaurant Norbert joining forces for the first time.

The Mantle Road bash will include a barbecue, live music… and of course, beer! Owners Tim and Helen (wib) and Luca (Norbert) look forwarding to welcoming everyone to enjoy the sun with their neighbours from 12-7pm.

45 Lewisham parks in 12 seconds

We walked all 45 Lewisham Parks in one day. Featuring @cornish_jack, @oliverhp, @robynbobyn_x & @katiemaem.@LewishamCouncil @damienegan @Ian_C_Thomas @BrockleyCentral @NewsShopper @DanRavenEllison @SouthLondonClub @Ramblers_London @SthLondonPress @Transpontine @lewishamledger pic.twitter.com/FUoFabSU3z

— Jack Cornish (@cornish_jack) July 2, 2018

Brockley street trees battling drought conditions

The ongoing hot, dry weather is killing Brockley's young street trees. Volunteers are needed to keep them alive. If you want to be responsible for watering a local tree, please email local group Street Trees for Living here.

To find out more about what's involved, click here.

The FlixBus fightback begins

@LewishamCouncil Can you get this company sorted out? This is on the corner of Ashby road and Wickham Road. They are always parked here, it’s dangerous as well as illegal.@BrockleyCentral @MPSLewisham @FlixBus pic.twitter.com/X46vRzQE8R

— Philos (@philos90) June 25, 2018

#Flexibus it is against law to leave engine running while parked. Your driver refused to turn engine off Wickham Rd SE4. They park here every day, this will stop. #brockley #paris #paristransport #lewisham

— Lawrence B Collins (@mentalmapping) June 25, 2018

The FlixBus fightback has begun. Years after the van hire companies using our pavements as a storage facility were driven away, Brockley residents are kicking off about the FlixBus coaches that are regularly and illegally parked on our streets, blocking pedestrian ramps and poking round junctions.

German coach company FlixBus keeps its operating costs low by loading some of those costs on to our streets.

The problem also highlights the hollowness of the argument that CPZs will deal with dodgy parking in the area. There are already enough laws to punish bad parking, they are simply not enforced.

FlixBus' social media team have promised to look into the problem of rogue parking, but Lewisham Council, which has promised action on clean air, needs to do the same.

Ladywell Baths: The Movie

The Lewisham Buildings Preservation Trust write:

Ladywell Baths comes back to life in this short film by local filmmaker, David Stock, in collaboration with Lewisham Buildings Preservation Trust.

Historic, grade II listed building, Ladywell Baths, and the recollections of people who have passed through its doors over the past century, will be commemorated in a new, short film, “Memories of Ladywell Baths”, to be shown at Curzon Goldsmiths on 8th July 2018.

Local film-maker, David Stock, in collaboration with charity, Lewisham Building Preservation Trust, has produced a short film which uncovers and documents the stories of people who have lived, worked and played in this iconic building, now known as Ladywell Playtower.

Built in 1884, Ladywell Baths became one of the first public swimming pools in the country. It attracted thousands of local people, including athlete Eric Liddell, whose gold medal win in the 400m at the 1924 Olympic Games inspired the film Chariots of Fire. In 2004 Ladywell Playtower was closed, and following a serious fire in 2006, the Victorian building fell into disrepair.

In 2017, after many years of campaigning by local residents and Lewisham Building Preservation Trust to bring the derelict building back into use, Lewisham Council put proposals for its restoration out to tender. In November 2017, the Council made the decision to award the redevelopment of the building to Curzon Cinema in conjunction with developers Guildmore.

From dance parties to boxing rings, midnight swims and floods, not to mention a few ghostly tales. Hear stories of this iconic building from those who were there.

The film will be followed by a Q&A with the director, David Stock, and some of the film participants.

Sun 8 Jul 2018, 2:00PM

Tickets £5.00 + booking fee of 8.5%

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/event/FIEIJG

Curzon Goldsmiths
Richard Hoggart Building,
Lewisham Way
London
SE14 6NW

Lewisham-led schools: Primary good, Secondary bad

Lewisham Council-run primaries have squeaked into the top 20 best-performing schools in England at Key Stage Two, in a new research produced by the Education Policy Institute.

The independent research group found that Lewisham's schools were among the country's best once factors including prior attainment of pupils and levels of disadvantage were taken into account. The top 20 is dominated by London schools. Lewisham is ranked 20th.

That's the good news, but Lewisham's biggest challenge is of course its secondary school provision, and at that level, the performance is poor, with our Council-run schools ranked 177th out of 218 providers. The Harris Federation, which runs a number of local schools was ranked second in the country at Key Stage Two and fifth at Key Stage Four.

For the full report click here. Thanks to Ian Duffy for the tip off.

The Hilly Fields Summer Fayre 2018

Brockley Streets

Let's Push Things Forward: The Streets exists to fight this kind of abuse

Brockley Streets is a new community campaign group dedicated to improving local roads for pedestrians and cyclists.

By encouraging better road design and re-routing traffic, The Streets want to stop cars prangin' out or squeezing down roads that don't fit but they know it. They say:

We want to create positive change for the benefit of all residents and visitors to Brockley by
increasing road safety for everybody inside and around the Brockley Conservation Area.

We want to give priority to cyclists, pedestrians and public transport, reduce pollution from traffic going through the area and prevent the use of our streets as rat-runs by non-local traffic.

We are not about the CPZ and we do not represent any particular view for or against (people have asked us this question in the past).

There is a London-wide initiative by TFL and the Mayor of London called 'Healthy Streets' designed to help communities improve local traffic issues and we would like to help shape these developments in Brockley.

To find out more, visit their website and to get actively involved, email them here.

Coulgate Pop

Browns of Brockley has a spiffy new Peter Max-style pop-art makeover, painted over tts black canvas.

BrocSoc slams Ashby Mews changes

The tarmac-covered north end

Following the installation of a gate across the north end of Ashby Mews, some residents have now decided to tarmac the surface, changing its historic character to something which more closely resembles a business park.

The southern end of Ashby Mews is untouched

The gates, which we were initially promised would be left open for pedestrians, are now permanently locked to anyone but residents. As a result of this action, the Brockley Society, which exists to protect the heritage of the Brockley Conservation Area, has issued the following statement:

Brockley Society is aware of the installation of gates at the northern end of Ashby Mews and has advised initiating mews residents (frontagers) that:

• a retrospective planning application is needed
• otherwise LB Lewisham will start enforcement action as the gate is too high
• even though the Mews is privately owned, all mews frontagers along the whole length should have been consulted and a management strategy should have been agreed to ensure free access is maintained for pedestrians as well as delivery and emergency vehicles

Despite this advice being given to the organising mews residents it seems to have fallen on deaf ears as they have now had the mews access lane resurfaced early this week with black tarmacadam at the northern end.

As this destroys the rural character that is such a unique characteristic of the Conservation Area (CA), the Society has escalated its concern via Ward Councillors so as to extend the request to LB Lewisham:

• for enforcement to be investigated or
• to require that planning consent be obtained to stop this 'suburbanisation' threat

On this Brockley Society considers that:

• the resurfacing work fundamentally affects the status of this part of the CA such that it could be withdrawn
• other more suitable traditional solutions should have been considered via the Society to avoid this possibility
• as the work is defined as 'a hard surface' within the curtilage frontage of each property bordering the affected area then the Article 4 Direction protecting the CA should fully apply and the planning applications already granted/in consideration for bordering properties should be reappraised in view of this ill-considered change

In contrast to original reassurances, the pedestrian gate is now locked

Lewishanimals

Lewisham is London's second-most pet-friendly borough.

An analysis of home-rental data on Zoopla by Fasthomes.org found that Lewisham had a higher proportion of pet-friendly ads than any borough except Kensington & Chelsea.

As rental rates increase across London, pet-friendliness becomes a more important issue.

With thanks to BCer Chris Wheal, who is friendly to pets.

The Brockley Street Art Festival 2018

Artist Orbit works on a cosmic piece in Honor Oak

The Brockley Street Art Festival is taking place in parallel to the Brockley Max, creating new works of art across the Greater Brockley area. Now in its fourth year, the Festival is spreading its wings. Organiser Ian explains:

We’re moving the 2018 centrepiece works north of the station this year and and our theme is community spaces.

Aspire is doing a huge work at Luxmore Gardens near Lewisham Way. At nearby Friendly Gardens, Enos is doing an extended mural working with the designs of students at Prendergast Vale.

Lionel Stanhope is refreshing his iconic SE4 work near the station and two artists, Orbit and Owain will be repainting the Honor Oak ‘love them, tell them’ corner fence.

We may also have a new piece by Artmongers, though that may be created next year - it’s big.

Festiball, July 15

Crofton Park Ryan writes:

"I’m hosting a family fun day and a dads football tournament down at St Dunstan’s in Catford called Festiball. It’s an urban fete with stalls of kids clothes, toys, books and local crafts.

"Then there’ll be a bakeoff competition judged by a local VIP. We’ll have big family picnic while the dads play football with a BBQ and a local craft beer tent.

"We’re putting on entertainment for the kids, face painters, magicians, balloon blowers and a penalty shoot-out competition.

"The Football Tournament is World Cup competition, with up to 20 teams involved, all getting a national team from the real World Cup to play for.

The reason we’re doing this is to raise money and awareness for mens cancer. We’re supporting Prostate UK and a smaller local charity called Ballboys that educates younger boys about the perils of Tesicular cancer.

We want teams to sign up for the football tournament and families to come to the event to enjoy. It’s on the 15th July and we’d love it if you could help us out in any way possible.

www.festiball.net