Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Train carriage squatted, and Creekside cafe to close

Plans to move the train cafe to Douglas Square have been taking a long time, and we heard it could be up to a year before it is relocated. In the meantime, the Deptford Project developers Cathedral plc had now agreed to help the cafe business owner's storage problem by moving it to one of their other sites in Greenwich (yet to be redeveloped) so that building work can commence on the Deptford site. But at the end of last week the train was squatted.


This is the same notice as was pinned to the door of the old Job Centre (perhaps even the very same notice), which was squatted at the end of September, just as refurbishment work was about to start on the new pub that is planned for the building. Although a train is not a pub, it seems the same rules apply, and no-one except the squatters can enter the premises. The decking was due to be removed and donated to a garden project, but now cannot be touched since it would deny the squatters access to their new pad. The electricity supply was also due to be cut off, but the squatters say it would be a breach of their human rights to remove their only source of power, which means the cafe (not the developer) may be stuck with a large bill.


No one was in when the site security guard let us into the yard on Saturday to take these photos. The developer's schedule will now be held up until they can get a court possession order. Not that they have seemed to be in any hurry to get started since they got planning permission several months ago.

Meanwhile, another local cafe is about to close, also thanks to redevelopment – the Creekside Cafe on Creekside, part of Faircharm Trading Estate. Their lease is up and there's no point in renewing it, since some time in 2014 building work will begin to turn a thriving employment zone into luxury housing. This will last three years or more and bring great disturbance to Crossfields residents. Unfortunately, a Lewisham Planning Committee agreed earlier this year that Workspace plc cannot make enough profit for its shareholders by simply providing actual workspace.

Creekside Cafe's situation differs from the train cafe in that its owners (Mason's Catering, already a fairly successful catering firm based on Deptford Church Street) knew nothing about Workspace's plans to turn Faircharm Trading Estate into luxury flats and chuck out the businesses that the cafe serves when they took on the tenancy. The train, on the other hand, was initially supported by the developer, who paid for its installation as "meantime use" on the site. In return, Cathedral ingratiated itself into the community with its branding, whilst boasting the cafe's successes as its own. Until, that is, they got their planning permission and wanted rid of it.

The same clever developer did the same last year with the pop-up Mvemnt CafĂ© by Greenwich DLR, which was run by Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, who knew the limits of the project – to cash in on the Olympic pedestrian traffic to Greenwich Park. Perhaps a fine example of "meantime use". Cathedral hailed it as a great success, though we hardly ever saw or met anyone there (since most Olympics punters were herded away from it and all the other Greenwich businesses).

It seems "meantime use" can only work if the business can be easily relocated or closed down. But even then, a planning application can take a long time to come to fruition, and there are often delays in building phases once permission is got, so any business who takes up a "meantime" offer suffers enormous insecurity about when they must move out. In the meantime the business may have become established in the community, sorely missed as a community resource when it's gone, and the business itself left with debts it has no chance of recouping if it cannot easily relocate. And even if they can, like the businesses being chucked out of Faircharm, relationships in the community built up over many years are severed by a move to another borough or town.

Meanwhile, Creekside Cafe has only been around for a relatively short time, but their cheap and tasty food proved popular with and highly convenient for local artists, craftspeople and residents – and those Creekside businesses who haven't yet been forced out by Workspace's new plans for Faircharm.



9 comments:

  1. Pity as I'll miss the Creekside's Fentiman drinks range they sold - they were fab. Also, feel sorry for the train carriage owners - I had no idea they would be lumbered with the electric costs of the squatters - the sooner the government bring a law in to prevent people squatting in business premises the better.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love their lovely crusty rolls and imaginative soups, it's a sad day when they go.

      But personally think squatting in business premises is OK as long as that business is of the kind that can afford the court costs and the delays. The train is just a tiny struggling business, I don't understand why the squatters didn't go for nearby St Paul's House, which is huge and owned by the council, and probably the last thing to be redeveloped (affordable homes I think). It has heating and lighting. Maybe it was strategic if the developer was going to start on the carriage ramp first, though I can't see why they can't start elsewhere first. Or have the squatters secured the whole site? Can't have if there's still a security guard there...?

      Delete
    2. Funnily enough I am one of the people "squatting" the carriage. We entered though an already smashed window and made the space hibatable. Unfortunately the photgraph shown of the living area is an inncarute represetation of what the inside of the train carriage generally looks like, and the effort we have gone to in respecting the space and makinh it habitable and clean. I'm somewhat upset and concerned however by strange reporters taking innacurate pictures of the carriage, and also that they didn't even come say hello and made no contact whatsoever, as opposed to both the tourists and locals who turn up on a daily basis out of curiosity, all of whom I invite in for a free cup of tea and free meal and we have a chat about what were about and also the future of the carriage from what I'm told. We're here out of necessity and fully appreciate a rooves over our heads. I am also very "squat proud" so I have kept the place clean and even improved it in areas. With regards to the property developers, they want the same here as they do for the rest of London, new bistro's, brand name shops and plenty of consumerism, but at what cost? The local businesses are struggling as it is. After finding out more about the train including the history of it being the oldest railway service yard access ramp in the world along with other local stories and local support for the train reopening on such a wonderful piece of local history. The land involved extends to areas that could be used for so so much more than a trendy bar or a new Starbucks etc etc and as for us saying about the electricity supply. I can honestly say none of us have said such things that is a pure lie. From the start, to both to the owner of the business and the property developers, we have always said we will leave whenever they tell us to. But nobody has given us an answer, instead they just slapped us with a civil court date, costing them money and causing us distress when we have been nothing but honest from the start. In short, we fully support the Deptford project, and it will be a great shame if the property developers take away that autheticity that Deptford still has with yet more "development". Sam :)

      Delete
    3. Please read my post :) hope it clears things up. Also we have taken electricity meter readings and changed it my name so I am more than happy to cover water and electricity costs :) please give us a chance my friend, we truly are on every bodys side. Oh btw there's no security guard maybe your confusing the guys who work in the shop. If anything im the security guard, the carriage had been BROKEN into around 20 time and we didn't break a thing when we entered. I just want to give my side if the story :)

      Delete
  2. what other way can we kick the squatters out from the Train Carriage?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Like the job centre all plans to open are completely on hold. So if it takes 4 months to get the squatters to leave it means adding another 4 months on to the relocation planing time line. Its so frustrating! Especially as things like the carriage and a new job centre pub just add good things to the high street and to Deptford.

    Also, Cathedral were not reluctant to store the carriage. What was needed is somewhere where all refurbishment works can take place and to give the carriage much needed attention, specially now it's been trashed even more by the squatters. And also what has taken so much time is trying to work out with The Albany, the Council and Cathedral how and where the carriage can and will stay in Deptford for the long term.

    I have been in so many meetings now working out with everyone all the details that I am amazed at just how much needs to be considered. Street traders, services, access, location, position, how to and when... The list is endless. At the meetings I wondered if this process has been more complicated than the actual development.

    And your absolutely right this did set out as a mean-while idea but who was to know when it all started thing would be the way they have been and for everyone I'm sure, especially for me it's been a learning curve.

    Let's hope the guys on the train leave soon so we can get on with work to get the carriage re-opened!!.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Please Rebecca, see what I have wrote. I really hope you're not the Rebecca whom owns the business because if so, I have always let my of in, and once you even commented on how tidy it was. If anything I'm protecting your business from other people who could make a lot of money from all the equipment, which I use, clean and look after until you want it all back :) I am not a squatter, I am a human being. This place is clean and friendly with free tea, food and conversation. Please understand we are not the image of "squatters" you may have in your head, we are productive, proactive and happy people wanting to help not hinder. They don't want the train moved yet or they would have started regardless. I will leave when the train can be moved somewhere it can be reopened for this lovely community. Much respect but please come by before you judge :)

      Delete
  4. What makes you think the guys on the train, have trashed it? I see them cleaning and sweeping up the decking and putting a otherwise unused building back to see use. From what i gather is they have been more then willing to not have to take this to the civil courts and come to some sort of short term deal. The people of Deptford can see through the lies

    ReplyDelete
  5. some people need to wake up and see what the system are doing to you there is nothing wrong with squatting/squatters most squatters live of peoples rubbish (unused food cloths buildings) yer some squatters are bad and give a bad name but it is just a small number of the bad that happens around us and am pretty sure the train is in better shape then most houses round the area at least wile u have a good squatter u should be thankful

    ReplyDelete