Consultation #1: Creekside Conservation Area

Crossfields residents may by now have received a document briefly outlining the proposal for the Creekside Conservation Area with an accompanying questionnaire. A larger and more detailed Appraisal document is available to download here, and if you didn't get the letter and questionnaire or have mistakenly lined the budgie cage with it, you can find it again here.

You can also take part in the consultation by going online at Lewisham's website here, or go straight to the online questionnaire here. Deadline for comments is 27th January 2012.

Before the deadline, the council intend to hold a public consultation event in the new year.

Saturday 7 January 

11am–3pm

Creekside Discovery Centre

Ideally, there will be someone from Lewisham Homes present at this event to explain the implications to Crossfields residents.

Recycling Revolution!

June wrote to us to make us flag up Lewisham's new recycling changes. It's all in Lewisham Life we told her, but she thinks you don't read it (and we said you don't read us either)...but here goes:

As well as everything before, you can NOW RECYCLE: 

- TETRA PAKS including JUICE CARTONS, SOUP CARTONS, MILK CARTONS! YAY! (Please rinse!)

- PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINERS including MARGARINE/SPREAD CONTAINERS, YOGHURT POTS, TAKEAWAY CONTAINERS, COFFEE CUPS, TRAYS, FRUIT & VEGETABLE PUNNETS, MEAT TRAYS, ICE CREAM CONTAINERS, READY MEAL FOOD TRAYS! YAY! (Please rinse!)

- PLASTIC BAGS including SUPERMARKET CARRIER BAGS and PLASTIC SACKS...YAY! (about time, since you keep forgetting to take your own bag and the check-out staff keep loading them up and Deptford market and shop traders aren't happy unless they've given away a blue bag)

In addition you can also now add TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES, AEROSOL CANS (make sure they're empty), TAKEAWAY CONTAINERS (rinse first)...

Apparently we can also recycle our shoes, clothing, linen and curtains, but we're not sure if that'll go in our recycling bins...we may fall victim to the usual Lewisham "One Size Fits All unless you're posh with a garden" syndrome...Let's hope we are suitably catered for in due course with quite a few more recycling bins to take all this extra stuff that we're having to cart downstairs.

Creekside Consultations

Crossfields residents are invited to take part in two consultations very shortly. Firstly, we are invited this coming Wednesday to view the plans for a redeveloped Faircharm Estate. Secondly, Lewisham Council will be seeking our views on their plan to designate Creekside a Conservation Area.

WorkSpace who run Faircharm Trading Estate hope to submit a planning application for the redevelopment of the site in 2012. Their architects have developed plans "that are going to deliver an exciting mixed use development that will retain the unique nature of the area whilst delivering new residential and workspace accommodation."

This Drop In session is intended to give locals an opportunity to view the updated designs. Of particular interest to Crossfields residents will be the heights of the new buildings and how the work will be phased – there is likely to be serious disruption whilst building work takes place, should planning permission be granted. However...

CREEKSIDE CONSERVATION AREA

Lewisham Council notified the businesses on Faircharm Estate last week that it is commencing a public consultation on a proposal to designate the Creekside area – including the Faircharm Estate and Crossfields Estate – as a conservation area.

Lewisham's Enterprise Development Manager Paul Hadfield says the council's planning policy is to protect local employment locations such as Faircharm for employment uses in order to support the local economy. This is likely to affect Workspace's plans to redevelop Faircharm as a mixed use site (that will include yet more luxury flats overlooking the Creek, as well as employment space). It may also affect other developers' plans for the Lewisham side of the Creek.

The Council is of the opinion that Creekside is a place of architectural and historic merit, and its buildings and spaces should be enhanced and protected. It wants to know what local businesses think of the area and its buildings and intends to consult on its proposal between 5 December and 16 January 2012.

Crosswhatfields has been assured by Lewisham's Conservation Officer Regina Jaszinski that Crossfields residents shall also be receiving letters next week informing us of the consultation, and hopefully we shall find out what it will mean for the estate to become part of a Conservation Area.

Laundry thief

This jocular but angry sign went up at the foot of Holden's stairs this week.

It serves as a warning to the rest of us that there is someone going round in the middle of the night stealing laundry off washing lines. According to a resident in Castell, it's not a new thing and has been happening with regularity over the past four years. The theft usually takes place in the wee hours, and the last time we heard about it happening, the thief even emptied someone's recycling bag to carry off their stolen load (leaving rubbish all over the stairs)...

So don't leave your best stuff out to dry overnight!

GIFTED weekend on Creekside and beyond

This weekend sees a confusing array of local venues opening to showcase arts and crafts, offering the chance to shop for unique Christmas presents for friends and family. Mulled wine, mince pies (and a price cap on some work) are available at some venues. It is also SLAM Friday tonight, so some venues are open this evening. We have tried to make sense of all the different details for you here.

Unfortunately, Blogger has been on the blink all day, so this post may be too late to alert you to this evening's activities.

On Creekside…

COCKPIT ARTS designers open their studios to sell fashion accessories, jewellery and homeware.  Unfortunately there is a £3 charge to get in but entry is free all day today (until 9pm).
18-22 Creekside. Open Fri 11am-9pm (FREE), Sat & Sun 11am-6pm (£3).

FAIRCHARM CHRISTMAS FAIR has over 40 stallholders selling furnishings, fine art, fashion and jewellery. There is also a pop-up exhibition, and CREEKSIDE ARTISTS are opening 20 working studios. There will be live music at 4-5pm on both days.
Block A, 8-12 Creekside. Free entrance and parking. Sat & Sun 12-6pm

ARTHUB GALLERY is showing affordable (All work no more than £250).  
Private view tonight 4-9pm.
5-9 Creekside. Free. Exhibition runs 3-4 & 10-11 December 12-6pm

APT GALLERY also has a salon-hung show of studio members' work (everything from £20 to £500). Private view tonight 5–8pm.
6 Creekside. Free. Sat & Sun 10am-6pm 

Stepping out of Creekside…

Gifted@ARCH has some bargain deals on art materials and recent paintings by selected artists on display.
17 Resolution Way SE8 4NT. Sat & Sun 10-5pm

Art & Design Weekend @ BEARSPACE is showing over 200 prints and design objects by leading emerging artists as part of Print & Design Now.  
Private view tonight 6-8.30pm.
152 Deptford High St SE8 3PQ. Fri 10-8.30pm, Sat  & Sun 10am-6pm. (Exhibition runs till 16 Dec).

ArtDog Gallery@THE DUKE is showing three artists' work.
125 Creek Road SE8 3BU. Open 12-10pm.

Shop@NUMBER 82 will have artists gifts and special editions.  
Private view tonight 5-7pm.
82 Tanners Hill SE8 4PN. Fri 5-7pm, Sat 10-6pm.

Other venues…

Art exhibitions at Lewisham Arthouse, The Agency, Stephen Lawrence Gallery, cueB, The Old Police Station, Trinity – check the South London Art Map for details. There is a Private View and "after-party" at the Old Police Station tonight till midnight.

Pay What You Like guided tour...

South London Art Map is running a guided tour on Saturday 3rd at 2pm (tour lasts two hours). Attendees will also receive half price entry to Cockpit Arts. Pay what you can (suggested donation £5). Meet at Bearspace, 152 Deptford High St SE8 3PQ.