The triumph of old Brockley

Put your shaved Parmesan away, the wave of gentrification sweeping Brockley has hit a snag - Old Brockley has drawn a line in the sand.

In the heady days of summer, when it seemed Brockley was somewhere between steps two and three in the 'five stages of up-and-comingness', we covered the landlord's decision to update the Wickham Arms. Admittedly, the 16-point manifesto for change stopped short of the full gastropub treatment, but it did at least include radical new thinking, such as the promise to ventilate the men's toilets.

However, like the 300 Spartans, facing the Persian empire, the regulars have decided that, if the thousand city-workers descending on their pub blot out the sun, then they shall drink in the shade.

Having tolerated the decision to replace the front patio with decking, it seems that the proposal to replace the frosted windows with glass you can see through was a step too far.

A regular reports that our local Andy Capps protested that see-through windows would make it easier for their wives / children / employers to spot them at the bar and make it harder for them to prop it up. After a lobbying campaign, the landlord's been convinced by the argument that it's better to turn out your base than to chase the floating voter. Karl Rove would approve.

And so do we.

Sure, see-through windows might have been nice. And we don't see what's inherently twee about floorboards, rather than sticky carpet, but despite our original clamour for a Wickham upgrade, we've come around to the view that the evolution of the Wickham should mirror the regeneration of Brockley - gradual, subtle and without sacrificing the character of the place.

Decking aside, the pub has changed for the better. There's more of a welcome for non-regulars and the smoking ban means that any light that makes it through the frosted windows is no longer strangled by a the fog of fag smoke.

So long-live Brockley's velvet revolution. But maybe a better selection of wine (for the ladies, naturally) wouldn't hurt?

Brockley Christmas market details announced

Brockley's Christmas Market is confirmed for December 1st.

The Christmas Market will take place on Coulgate Street and will feature 15 stalls, all of which have been allocated. Goldsmiths College will be supporting the market [update: apparently, Goldsmiths are no longer able to participate, but the fair will still have a full complement of stands].

The market is a pilot initiative, led by Sarah Pfeiffer of Lewisham Council and the Brockley Cross Action Group (yes, them again) and its success could lead to further street market events in future.

Street market operators have so-far been discouraged from considering Brockley as a location because of perceived lack of local demand and the relatively small and inaccessible sites which Brockley can offer.

Last year's Christmas programme included carol singing, lantern making and an "illuminations" ceremony for the Christmas lights.

Brockley Bites

Lewisham Gateway approved

Cllr Dean Walton's blog contains the best report from the Strategic Planning Committee meeting that passed it, yesterday.

Broca-Zilla

Brockzilla - if you don't know, click here - is now on show at the Broca, until Halloween.

More police to target low-level crime in Brockley

In October, twelve extra Police Community Support Officers joined the streets of Brockley. The officers patrol the borough in New Cross, Brockley, Lewisham Central and Rushey Green.

Crossrail to meet East London Line

This one's for people who really are committed to Brockley for the long-haul. The confirmation that Crossrail will go ahead means a major new transport interchange will be created at Whitechapel, on the East London Line route. We just have to wait until 2017.

Brockley Central get-together next week

A few Brockley Central regulars will be meeting up for a drink on Thursday, October 11th. If you would like to join us, please email Brockley Nick for details. Warning: very little of any practical benefit to the area will be achieved, or even discussed.

Welcome to the new-look Brockley Central

Well done Brockley Jon! The site redesign is thanks to his work and expertise and we hope you agree it's a great leap forward. It's now easier to make suggestions for new stories and there is a permanent home for the photography of the Brockley Flikr group, which is really impressive and captures the spirit of Brockley far more vividly than we could manage.

The redesign is timely, because the site has experienced significant growth in the number of people reading, searching and posting comments recently. When we first began, we were stupidly excited if we got one comment in response to our articles. This week, the article about the £10,000 community fund set a new BC record of 97 comments (and counting).

This week has also created two more records:

The highest-ever number of visitors was on Monday, with 259
The highest-ever number of pages viewed was yesterday, with a total of 1,060

In the coming weeks, you will see further changes to the site. The plan is to create a dedicated section for places to eat and drink and, longer-term, to explore the options regarding a proper forum.

The main sources of visitors to the site (after the all-powerful Google) are Britblog.com followed by Findaproperty.com, Kateshomeblog (though we suspect most of those are Kate herself!), Wikipedia and Facebook.

But our favourite stat is the number of posts the site has generated: 1,227 so-far. As well as a growing list of regular commentators, we've also had contributions from Councillors, community activists, businesspeople, artists and campaigners. Every one has enriched the site and made it what it is today. So thank you everyone and long may the sun shine on Brockley.

Answers from Lewisham Council

THE BROCKLEY CENTRAL INTERVIEW
JOHN MILLER, HEAD OF PLANNING, LEWISHAM COUNCIL

PART TWO - THE LEWISHAM GATEWAY

This is the second part of the Brockley Central interview with John Miller about the future for our Borough. Part one can be found here.

Today is the day when the Strategic Planning Committee will meet to consider the Lewisham Gateway developer's application, so we thought it was timely to publish this background interview. As it's a live planning application, John was unable to make any comment about the merits of the developers' proposal, but he was happy to explain what the Council is trying to achieve with the Lewisham Gateway project:

"Lewisham Council wants to create a very high quality environment, reconnecting Lewisham Station with the community it serves by getting rid of the traffic system [the massive roundabout] that divides one of South East London's most important interchanges from a high street that has suffered a relative decline over a long period."

"Specifically, this means that we want to create new facilities, including retail, cafes, restaurants, a cinema, new parkland, a square and better pedestrian routes. It will also include a dense residential development, which will bring new people and new life to the area, and help Lewisham meet the targets for new housing that it has been set [see part one of the interview for details]."

So what will go forward for the Conucil's consideration on October 4th?

"An outline application from the developers [Muse Developments and Taylor Wimpey]. While the specifics of the masterplan, such as the style of architecture, won't be determined at this stage, the application will include details such as the maximum number of residential and retail units that the developers propose."

And what guidance has the Council provided to the developers?

"This project has been many years in development. We have invested £15 million [money secured from government funds] and worked with the London Development Authority, the Greater London Authority and Transport for London to bring it to this point. It's strategically important for the development of London and the Borough."

"We favour the "low-h" scheme [so called because the road layout will resemble an 'h'] because it frees up a lot of land and allows us to do something really radical, which is what we believe the area needs."

One or two residents have been highly critical of the scheme in the belief that the "low-h" will add to the time it takes to drive from one side of Lewisham to the other. What's your response to that?

"Contrary to those claims, the revised road layout has the support of TfL, which has endorsed the scheme."

Brockley Common moves forward

Brockley Common, otherwise known as the "area of lovely trees and wilderness by the station... fenced off with very ugly chicken wire fencing," (copyright: Spincat) is finally set to be transformed in to a public space which we can not only be proud of, but also access properly.

The project to transform the east side of the station on Coulgate Street is known as "Brockley Common Phase 2" - an idea for which the Brockley Cross Action Group (BXAG) has campaigned tirelessly. The vision is to create a new way to access the station and make proper use of Brockley Common - an asset which has been ignored for many years. The wire fence will be replaced by green terracing, which will lead up to a new public space, next to the station.

As we reported last week, funding for the next stage of the project has now been secured and work will move ahead shortly. Although there are several details to be finalised, Rupert King of the BXAG was able to explain more:

"Lewisham Council, in partnership with BXAG, Southern Rail and Network Rail, has secured £110,000 funding for Brockley Common from SELTRANS, a transport body administered by local authorities in South East London.

"The money has to be spent within the current financial year. Therefore works will commence early in the New Year and should be complete by March 2008.

"The money will fund the construction of a new DDA compliant 1:20 ramp [for wheelchair access] and the set of steps at the south end of the site leading up to the ticket office, including the paved space outside the office and the switchback path from the top of the ramp back to the office. This Phase, which we will call 2A, will also include new lighting, hand rails and some seating. The scheme is essentially the same scheme as currently displayed on the BXAG website, though this will need updating to show minor amendments. I can confirm that Council have agreed in principle that high quality paving be used for the ramps and steps in recognition of BXAG's vision for the creation of a landmark public open space. This is good news and something we have pushed for throughout the project's development.

"We also have £28,000 of S106 money [funding secured by the Council from private developers, as a contribution towards local community projects] for the project and at present we are looking at using all available funding to carry out all of the hard landscape works in Phase 2A - i.e. including the performance space and steps at the north end of the site. This makes complete sense in terms of minimising disruption and addressing access issues for subsequent phases of works after Phase 2A is completed. But it is not confirmed and is subject to costs. All agree it would be ideal.

"The current funding does not include any soft landscaping, such as planting, or the proposed terracing along Coulgate St. This will be funded separately and would constitute Phase 2B. Phase 2A will open up Brockley Common to the public, but the temporary treatment of the soft landscape areas requires further discussion with the Council. A key consideration will be the safe use of the site, which will contain several banks.

"Although the ramp and steps are mainly about improving access to the station ticket office and footbridge, they are an integral part of the Common and we hope people will make use of the new access to enjoy Brockley Common's wildlife, its views and openness. Seating will be provided. It will be safer, more open and a good place to meet and hang out. But Brockley Common will only become a finished public open space once Phase 2B is funded and completed.

"Of course, we sincerely hope that when Transport for London take over the Ticket Office, they carry out some serious improvements to the building. One thing I do know is that automated ticket barriers are on the agenda, meaning everyone will have to go through the ticket office to access the platforms. This makes the new access improvements - the ramp and steps - even more important and will increase pedestrian traffic through and into Brockley Common."

Thanks to Rupert for providing such a detailed explanation of the status of the project. We think it will make a profound difference to the area and, if money can be secured for the performance space element, it will open up new possibilities for local events.

£10,000 for Brockley Ward - who gets it? You decide... by proxy

"Y'know, a town with money is like a mule with a spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it and danged if he knows how to use it!"

Lyle Lanley, Marge vs The Monorail

If you had £10,000 of tax-payers' money to spend improving Brockley - what would you do? The obvious answer is to subsidise gambling for children at a new, publicly-funded betting shop on the high street. Sadly, in a representative democracy, it's the politicians who get the final say.

However, Brockley Councillor Dean Walton is asking for our help to decide how £10,000 of public money can be spent on local community projects that will improve Brockley ward.

Cllr Walton explains how the money can be used:

"This is money councillors can use to address so-called low level problems in the Ward that have fallen below the radar of Lewisham's services. This year we want to focus on three key themes of keeping young people active, improving the physical environment and designing out crime & anti-social behaviour if possible."

Last year, the Brockley Councillors allocated the cash to provide solar panels at two local primary schools, financial support for the Brockley Max Festival, improved gardens on the Wickham Road estate and tree planting in Tanners Hill. All very worthy, no doubt, but only 5 out of 10 for imagination. Now that Brockley is one big, socially-networked happy family, we must be able to do better. It's time to put the wisdom of crowds to the test.

Sue Luxton recently promoted a similar scheme in Ladywell on her blog. You may or may not think that any of her suggestions for her ward are worth nicking.

If you have an idea for an activity or project you would like to receive funding for, please contact Cllr Dean Walton by Friday 16 November 2007.

E-mail: cllr_dean.walton@lewisham.gov.uk
Phone: 020 8691 1046
Write to: Cllr Dean Walton, Lewisham Town Hall, Catford, SE6 4RU.

And tell us what you think here.