The Brockley Central debate: Do we need a CPZ around Brockley Station?

And so the time has come to address a question we’ve been scared to raise until now. But it has begun to bubble up in debates on other threads:

Should Lewisham Council introduce a Controlled Parking Zone in and around Brockley Station and Brockley Cross, similar to the one recently approved in Ladywell?

As a car-owner likely to be caught up in any Brockley CPZ, we don’t relish paying money for the privilege of parking our car. We don’t have any problems finding a parking space, but we do notice that on weekends, the local pavements empty of cars and we’d welcome any initiative that would persuade Lewisham Council to take the issue of parking enforcement in Brockley seriously. However, that ought to be a separate issue – we’ve written before that the area needs is a few vigilant traffic wardens to clamp down on local abuses.

It seems to us that the worst possible world would be for conscientious locals to shell out for parking permits, only to see the abuses continue because Lewisham Council fails to enforce the system.

Nonetheless, it’s a worthwhile debate and we’d be fascinated to see which way the weight of local opinion falls. So let’s have it. Here are the arguments for and against (as far as we can see them). Tell us what you think and please vote in the new poll, but please note the Council has no plans to introduce one and this is not part of a formal consultation - it's just a debate topic!

The case for:

On the Zone 2 borders, Brockley Station attracts car drivers from across South East London, in search of a convenient place to stash their car every day – a CPZ would not only reduce the number of parked cars in the area, it might also cut local road use

BC readers who live on nearby roads have complained that is increasingly difficult to park near their own homes – a CPZ could solve this problem, at a price

Illegal parking in Brockley Cross is a problem – a CPZ ought to be an incentive for stronger enforcement

Van hire companies that use the streets around Brockley Cross instead of paying for a proper parking facility would be forced to find alternative (legitimate) arrangements

 A CPZ could provide the Council with another source of revenue at a time when cuts are on the agenda

The case against:

It’s an additional expense imposed on many local residents in a borough where Council Tax rates are already high

On top of the expense, it’s a massive pain in the neck to have to sort out permits

It could cause displacement of parking problems on to other nearby roads

Parking is still relatively easy compared to many parts of the capital – our pavements are not full yet

A CPZ could dissuade people from shopping in Brockley because parking would become more problematic

The Crown and Sceptre redevelopment

The Crown and Sceptre pub on Friendly Street in Deptford (but Brockley ward) is currently being redeveloped for residential use. The Brockley Society have again ventured beyond the conservation area to ensure that the planning conditions intended to preserve the character of the building during the conversion process are being adhered to. BrocSoc's Robert explains:

Permission was granted last year to convert it into residential flats, including a large extension to the rear. Part of the agreement of the consent was that the external appearance of the building should not change – as it is an important end building in a row of remarkably preserved early Victorian terraces. I have a particular interest in these buildings, as my grandfather grew up in a (now demolished) terrace house opposite. My Great Grandfather use to frequent the Crown and Sceptre, and my grandfather had a “job” running betting slips from the pub to the local bookies as a boy!

When the works were on site, I notice that they had started to strip all the original tiles off the front of the building. I spoke to the foreman, who explained that they had to do this, otherwise the building will still look like a pub. I told him that this was the point, and explained why this was a serious breach of their planning consent, that would likely have repercussions. I went back the next day, and the entire lot had been stripped.

Having raised the issue with the Planning department, it has now become an enforcement issue. I recently received this note from Jan Mondrzejewski from Planning:

“The owner has told us he will replace the tiling. My colleague Rebecca Lamb in Conservation is dealing directly with him on this issue to ensure that as far as possible we replicate the original tiling. The tiling should never, of course, have been removed and the owner has also been reminded that he should also have discharged all outstanding planning conditions requiring submission of details before commencing work.”

The Brockley Harvest

Transition Brockley is organising a local fruit harvest. They say:

Have you got a fruit tree? Donate part of your tree's harvest for distribution to the local community (you get first share, of course).

Or volunteer to be an urban harvester (September and October) and have fun getting involved with picking, distributing and / or processing the fruit. Then come along to a harvest celebration.

Brockley has an abundance of fruit trees and a lot of fruit goes to waste because the fruit isn't picked.

As a preliminary to the fruit orchard planting in Hilly Fields Park in November, and also as an independent project, Transition Brockley is organising some local fruit harvesting in the autumn. The aim of harvesting is to benefit from our local produce, raise awareness of the fruit bounty on our doorsteps, help people harvest their fruit and redistribute the surplus amongst the community on a non-profit basis.

We will need lots of volunteers for the actual harvesting and distribution, but to start with we'd like to map what fruit trees there are in the area. Most of them are in gardens, so if you know of any, we'd love it if you could tell us the type of fruit tree (ie apple, pear, plum etc) and the address. If you know approximately when the fruit is ready for picking that would be helpful too.

If you'd like to be involved in any way, please let us know. Some of the things that need doing are:

- Mapping the trees (with details of address, cropping time, owner's contact details)

- Contacting owners of fruit trees by knocking on the door, talking to them and leaving a leaflet.

- Identifying sources of, and collecting boxes and crates for carrying fruit.

- Harvesting (tree climbers, tarpaulin holders and sorters).

- Loan of equipment e.g. fruit picker, bike trailer, large juicer / crusher

- Helping with an event to celebrate with juicing and sampling of other uses of fruits (possibly on Hilly Fields).

This is an exciting project very much in tune with Transition priorities for working as a community to reduce our carbon footprint and we hope that you will be inspired to assist in some way.

If you can help please contact: Brockleyharvest@yahoo.co.uk by the 11th September.

Four and five bedroom houses in Brockley

Reader Rajeeva has been in touch to ask why there are "so few" 4-5 bed houses on the market in Brockley.

We weren't aware that this was a particular problem and we suppose the answer is down to the fact that many of the larger properties in the area are subdivided so that there aren't that many 4-5 beds around in the first place. But if you have a better explanation for Rajeeva, please share it here.

To lose two looks like carelessness

After last month's unfortunate encounter between a van and Mantle Road bridge, friend of BC Drakefell Debaser spotted another white van victim this weekend.

It's almost as if God himself supports our bid to get rid of the vans from Brockley Cross.

The Brockley PFI Leaseholders Association

The Brockley PFI Leaseholders Association meets every third Wednesday of the month, at 7.30pm at the Broca cafe, Coulgate Street.

The group exists to secure a fair deal for the 600 private leaseholders affected by Lewisham Council's 20 year deal with Regenter to maintain their properties. The NAO recently criticised Lewisham Council for allowing the cost of this contract to spiral out of control, from £45m to £115m.

We spoke with Patrick McGinley (in May) who represents the group, to understand the group's main issues.

He explained that the group believes that the work they are being forced to pay for is overpriced, with up to 26% of the cost of the work taken up by professional fees and a further 10% of the cost accounted for by management fees. They can't see any evidence that costs have benefited from economies of scale and there is no hourly rate provided in their quotes (when they've asked for one, they've been told it's commercially sensitive information).

The group also claims that much of the work is of an unsatisfactory standard, the result of a contract which punishes Regenter for failing to meet deadlines but which provides no quality control - a recipe for rushed work.

When leaseholders are informed of the cost of the work required for their property, which can be up to £10,000, they are only given one month to find the money. Back in March, the Council responded to the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee, agreeing to look at ways to introduce more flexible payment options.

Above all, the group is frustrated that they haven't enjoyed a more constructive relationship with the Council, which they feel has divested itself of any responsibility towards them.

The group invites anyone who's been affected by these issues to attend one of the meeting and join them.

London cycle hire opens today

London's official cycle-hire scheme starts today, completing the capital's cycling 'revolution' and following in the slipstream of the cycle superhighway network.

As Brockley Central is home to so many keen cyclists, we thought we'd ask for your verdict on the superhighways (map here) and whether you've registered to use the cycle-hire scheme.

We regularly cycle from Brockley to Victoria so we're looking forward with interest to route 5, which will open in 2012, connecting Lewisham and Victoria. But most of the existing routes seem to be providing little more than cosmetic change, with many routes fragmented and frequently blocked by parked cars. Have you noticed any substantive improvement in your journey as a result of the ugly blue ribbons?