Zero tolerance on the high street

Although the high street was as lively as ever in the Spring sunshine yesterday, certain usually more rowdy areas were eerily quiet. Can you guess what is missing in these pictures?

The street drinkers who gather outside the betting shops and on the anchor have been "moved along". These spots are now being policed by the Safer Neighbourhood Team (or whatever they're called now). The officers first took up their posts on Wednesday and it's thought they might be around for a couple of weeks. We are unable to confirm how long this will last at time of posting, and also didn't have time to find out where the drinkers have "moved along" to.

Mostly everyone seems to welcome the arrival at last of the police presence – or rather, the absence of the street drinking crowd. Signs stating the high street is a zero tolerance zone have been up for a long time, so congratulations must go to whoever has finally decided to actually put it into practice.

UPDATE 30/03/12: 4pm

Officers were called off early for the day, as the regulars began to gather outside Ladbrokes in anticipation of their leaving. The two-week initiative is drawing on officers from all surrounding wards and several 'dispersal notices' have been issued since it started. Well-known character Errol was fined £50 for 'getting a bit too feisty', but was back in his usual spot next to Paddy Power today.

UPDATE 13/04/12

This initiative didn't seem to last for more than a week. The Deptford Dame posted on 7 April about the antisocial behaviour being tolerated by local residents, one of whom has started a petition (click to sign) and has also received a response from Mayor Steve Bullock regarding the problem.

It appears the temporary police presence was the result of the Safer Lewisham Partnership's Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) being applied. "The DPPO can now be used in tandem with Police Dispersal powers that allow Police Officers to disperse individuals causing alcohol related disorder from a particular area for up to 48 hours. If the individual returns to the area within this time they will be arrested. The enforcement of these dispersal orders will begin shortly and it’s hoped this will have a significant impact on the drinking habits of the problematic drinkers in the High Street area." Read the Mayor's letter in full on the Deptford Dame's post.

Easter Football Coaching on Crossfields

Leanne Taylor is a new tenant on the estate who is fantastically enthusiastic about getting young people active. So much so that she's organised a packed FREE two-week programme for the Easter holiday period, open to girls and boys aged 6 to 16 years.

FREE! EASTER FOOTBALL COACHING PROGRAMME

Friday 30th March – Friday 13th April, 11-4pm (1pm–5pm on Sundays)

at Crossfields Estate Ball Court

But it's not just about football – the next two weeks will also include basketball, netball, rounders and cricket, with tournaments, competitions and prizes. Starting on Friday 30th, the timetable will go something like this:

Mondays FOOTBALL  • Tuesdays BASKETBALL  • Wednesdays NETBALL  
• Thursdays ROUNDERS  • Fridays FOOTBALL  
• Saturdays & Sundays MULTI SPORTS

Please note: there will be no supervision between 1pm–2pm.

Leanne is a fully qualified sports coach, and her company LMagic Youth Project employ fully trained staff (CRB checked and First Aid certificated).

Contact Leanne on 07984 362 835 or email lmagicyouthproject@hotmail.co.uk

lmagicyouthproject.webs.com

Music with a message: United Vibrations

Local band United Vibrations have played at Crossfields Festival a few times. This summer they are booked into festivals all over the country. With trombone, sax, drums, bass and vocals, the genre description "jazz fusion" is apparently inadequate for this band – they prefer "Cosmodelic Afro-Punk" or "12Tone", and list Fela Kuti and Bob Marley among their inspirations.

Three of the band are brothers. The eldest, Ahmad, was born on Crossfields. Much older Crossfields residents may remember their parents Dave Dayes and Barbara Hicks, who left the estate in 1985 to take part in a council sponsored self-build home project in Honor Oak. They have been at the heart of the self build and renewable and sustainable energy movement ever since. (Read more about their latest project here).
 
The band say "12Tone" reflects the cultural melting pot of their surroundings and world view (although the name derives from the techniques of avant-garde composer Schoenberg). Described by some as "eco-warriors" and "philosophical poets",  they founded the record label 12 Tone Community Interest Company, which donates all its profits to "building zero waste, energy plus, carbon negative social housing".

The band's latest video "My Way" is shot in Deptford and features some well-known landmarks, as well as some fabulous dancers. It coincides with the release of their debut album "Galaxies Not Ghettos"on Kudos Records (available on Bandcamp, Juno and Amazon).

unitedvibrations.co.uk
www.12tone.co.uk/
www.theruss.org/

Check out this short Guardian video about DIY Britain, featuring Dave Dayes talking about self-build (skip to 5 minutes in to see Dave)...

RIP TJ

There are now bouquets and messages of remembrance up on the central railings at the pedestrian crossing on Deptford Church Street by Bronze Street where TJ was knocked off his bike and killed by a hit-and-run driver in an allegedly stolen car yesterday afternoon. 

The local press clearly have better things to do on a Friday afternoon than cover the news and, as yet, I've still not found any local journalist who has bothered to report it.  All I have managed to find is the traffic delay reports (oh the inconvenience!) so all I know about it is just from asking around.  Reports are that he was taken to hospital by air ambulance but died around midnight.

I'm sure Crossfields residents would wish to join me in offering our deepest sympathy to TJ's family and friends.  RIP TJ

EDIT:  According to a posted comment, the air ambulance did not take him, instead he was taken to hospital by road ambulance.

UPDATE (25/03/2012): 

The Newshopper finally got round to publishing its account this morning.  I've copied the article in full:

17-year-old cyclist killed in Deptford hit and run

7:00am Sunday 25th March 2012 in News By Crime Reporter

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following a hit and run accident in Deptford which killed a 17-year-old cyclist.
Officers were called at around 5pm on Friday to Deptford Church Street, at the junction with Bronze Street.
A 17-year-old boy, named locally as TJ, had been knocked off of his bicycle by a silver Audi car as he was using the pedestrian crossing.
The car failed to stop and the driver continued south along Deptford Church Street, then turned around at the traffic lights before coming back to the scene.
Eventually, the driver stopped on the opposite carriageway before driving off again, turning left into Coffey Street.
The car, which had not been reported as stolen, was found abandoned in Watergate Street, Deptford, at around 7pm.
The cyclist was taken by London's Air Ambulance to King Collage Hospital with severe injuries and died there at 8.20pm.
Next of kin are aware but formal identification has yet to take place.
Inquiries are underway to trace the driver of the vehicle involved.
Anyone with information can contact the Road Death Investigation Unit at Catford Traffic Garage on 0208 285 1574 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

UPDATE (26/03/2012):
The Met Police say: "A 27-year-old man was arrested at approx 1430hrs on Saturday, 24 March, on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failure to stop. He has been bailed to a date in May."

There is an Evening Standard article by a journalist who has actually spoken to TJ's uncle here: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/london/tribute-to-special-guy-killed-in-hitandrun-7585657.html

An Olympic breakfast anyone?

Bikepest writes:

On Monday 23 July, early rising Crossfields residents will have the chance to glimpse from their windows the Olympic torch as it starts day 66 of its 70 day odyssey around the country.

Lewisham’s first torchbearer will leave the Laban Centre at 7.20am and take in key (!) Deptford landmarks on its way to Tooting Bec common. From the Laban, the torch heads north onto Creek Road to go west with the rush hour traffic, then turns left down the High Street and left again onto Giffin Street (and its brand new square), past the Deptford Lounge. It then turns right onto Church Street, passing the Bird’s Nest and Lewisham College before heading to the Steven Lawrence Centre and onwards to Lewisham High Street.

What’s less clear is who Deptford’s torchbearers will be. Though the names of the nominated individuals and some details are online (see www.london2012.com) the time slots are not revealed. Nor is it clear whether they are actually local residents, though all the Lewisham runners are described as living in London.

But Seb Coe can’t pull the wool over the eyes of your Crosswhatfields editorial team. Through painstaking research (OK it was just a chance discovery – ed.) we have established that at least one Lewisham torchbearer actually lives across the river in Newham. We’ve no objection to this, but clearly it would be more meaningful if torchbearers had some relationship with the community that hosts them. If you can cast any light on any of the local nominees, let us know so we can campaign for a Deptford-based torchbearer to represent us. That might, at least, make it worth getting out of bed for.

Check out the Olympic Torch Relay map online.