Birds Nest licence extension

The news that the Birds Nest pub has applied for a late-hours music extension was raised at last night's residents' and tenants' association meeting.  Noise and other forms of disturbance have in the past affected Crossfields residents, particularly Frankham House residents.  The fact that each weekend seems to bring a new layer of broken glass to the Ha'penny Hatch may also be due to carousers returning to Greenwich from the Birds Nest but, to be honest, I've never witnessed this ever-popular form of late-night sport being played.

Anyhow, here are the details of the licence application, followed by how residents may lodge objections.

 The Birds Nest has applied for an extension as follows:

Thursday from 23:00 to midnight
Friday & Saturday from 01:00 to 02:00
And to have live music Thursday & Friday 20:00-midnight, Saturday 14;00-midnight and Sunday 14:00-22:30.

Representations have to be made before 6 August to Laurence House or to licensing@lewisham.gov.uk and must be related to one or more of these licensing considerations:

Prevention of Public Nuisance
Protection of children from harm
Public Safety
Prevention of Crime and Disorder

Any representations made become a matter for public record, need to have a name and an address, and will be available to the applicant, ie the Birds Nest.  In the words of Kim Giddings, Principle Licensing Officer:

''I would also advise that should you make a representation, a copy of your objection will be sent to the applicant.  You will also be advised that should the application be determined by the licensing committee of the council at a public meeting your letter would form part of agenda papers for the meeting. You will have the opportunity to address the committee on this matter. These documents are available to the press and the public.''

Cycle Path: Funded or Not?

Conflicting reports about whether this project will be given go ahead this year..

Design for London say No. (But it is now "On everyone's radar" which I think means "they want it to happen")

Lewisham says Maybe. (They will decided which projects  will go ahead in September.)

They are having a meeting on Thursday to discuss all the proposals that Lewisham has on the table. So maybe after that we will get a clearer answer?

Martin Hodge, Lewishams "Public Realm Programme Manager", has agreed that this project needs to be fully discussed at this meeting. So maybe we could give him some fuel for this discussion?

The TRA are sending a letter demanding that a proper degree of real consultation is essential.

And I still have questions I'd like answered...

1) Does the brief to WWM include the commitment to explore options other than the proposal that destroys the Community garden?

2) Will a proper comprehensive consultation about this matter be carried out?

3) If a decision is being made about whether funding for this proposal is approved in September will that allow for any changes in the plans that will be more acceptable to the Crossfields Community?

Any other suggestion?

Martin Hodge:
020 8314 7585
martin.hodge@lewisham.gov.uk

Richa Mukhia: Design for London:
07939 203606
Richa.Mukhia@designforlondon.gov.uk

Arthur: WWM Architects:
020 7613 3113
mail@wwmarchitects.co.uk

Greening the Estate: Something More Positive from WWM!

 (click on map to see larger version)

This is the map that Arthur from WWM Architects produced after the Estate Walkabout regarding the application for funds to "Green the Estate" with his version of ideas for various areas and the improvements that could be done.

Very sneaky to put on it  "WWM to look at options regarding re-location." of the garden marked as 10) on the map. As far as I am concerned the option is to relocate the path NOT the garden.

Anyhow that aside...

Surely we can come up with a more cohesive, comprehensive and interesting set of proposals for these spaces?

The more engaging and involving our ideas are the more likely the funding is to be forthcoming.

I shall be canvassing for suggestions at the TRA meeting this evening... and any ideas are more than welcome here...

We have to do it quick though... the window for funding is apparentely small.

Inadequate Response from WWM Architects

Well after two weeks and 4 ignored emails I had to phone Stephen Witherford (one of the "W"s at WWM Architects)  regarding his terse response to my report of the Estate Walkabout regarding plans to build a cycle/foot path destroying the Garden by the Railway Arches  (see this post)

I was told he was in a meeting until two and that he would call me some time after that.

No call came but I did receive an email...

My mail to him first:

Stephen:

I have consistently been told that the proposals regarding the cycle/foot path are in the very early stages and nothing is set in stone as yet. Is this indeed the case?

Your statement seems to imply that no change has happened in your position as a result of suggestions which Arthur brought back from the Walkabout?

Could you acknowledge whether routes more considerate of the wishes of the residents of the Crossfield Estate will or will not, be considered at all?

Can you tell us what suggestions have made that you have considered?

Is the position in this email likely to change when Arthur returns from his holiday?

As I tried to explain to Arthur surely a scheme that preserves a much loved community resource would look better on your web site than one that destroys one! Why not make this a triumph for community involvement and design compromise for the benefit of the community?

I am glad you are in support of replacing the garden with a suitable replacement on the estate. Though hopefully this will not be necessary.  I appreciate your position re funding of course. What I really meant was to ensure that it would be included in any plans that did destroy the garden. I am also given a glimmer of hope by the phrase "should this be required".

Of course I do not see aggression in yr stance. You have your rationales and reason for the position that you take of course. As I said to Arthur and Richa I am all for co-operation and compromise...and hope that you are too.

I could explain to you how significant this garden has been to me personally in helping restore my mental and physical health after various long standing illness. I'm sure you would acknowledge the great benefits of gardening such as this.

I am very proud of the huge amount of time and effort I have put into this garden, bringing a corner of the estate previousley used for drug injecting and as a toilet back into cultivation. Making it a safer place where people want to be, and a place where children can  play I would love to be able to continue with my 5 year plan for its improvement into an important resource that we are planning on developing for the wider good of the community.

I mention all this because I'm sure the human aspects of the decisions that you make might sometimes become a little abstract and distant to you.

Perhaps you could return the favour by placing a fair record of my position on YOUR web site!

Maybe you would be interested in coming to visit the Estate to discuss alternative plans and explain WMM's  position personally to the Tenants and Residents Association?

Thank you very much for your time and consideration in this matter. Hope to hear from you soon.

John Rhodes.


And his reply...

Dear John

I am sorry that I missed your call earlier today, I was out at a meeting.

Apologies for not responding to your request regarding your invitation to attend the TRA meeting on Thursday. I am unable to attend the meeting because I shall be away on holiday from Thursday.

The last couple of weeks leading up to this break have been particularly pressured as I am currently covering for other staff in the office who are on holiday at the moment. This will unfortunately be the case throughout the summer as this is a small practice.

If the Deptford project can secure funding and is able to progress, I hope to have the opportunity to meet with you and other residents, to discuss in more detail your proposals for the open spaces on the estate.

Best regards

Stephen

Witherford Watson Mann Architects 

1 Coate Street

London E2 9AG

 t. 020 76133113
e. mail@wwmarchitects.co.uk
w. www.wwmarchitects.co.uk

 

Which I consider to be a shockingly inadequate response.

It does not address any of the concerns I raised and does nothing to allay my fears that they are treating this as something that will inevitably happen.

Should I be surprised that I'm treated in a way that I feel is dismissive and deliberately ignores the central thrust of my questions? I'm certainly very dissapointed and wonder if this is how WMM intend to continue? 

But as my Mum always says "You can't make things go away by ignoring them!

I shall hold fire until after the TRA meeting on Thursday to see what suggestions are made there...

I shall certainly have a list of questions that WWM will HAVE to answer :O)

Petition to consult the community before Tidemill Primary School is converted to an Academy

Frankham House resident and Tidemill parent Leila has posted the following petition and would like you to sign it. 

"It is proposed that Tidemill Primary School, Deptford, London is converted into an Academy. To consult with and inform parents, it has been suggested that over the summer holiday a random selection of 5 parents from each year followed by a one hour meeting by the Board of Governors is adequate.

This petition is for a full and unbiased consultation with all parents and the local community before this important and far reaching change is pushed through."


To sign the petition go here: 



Further information from Leila:

The new government plans to make us pay for the crisis brought about by the greed of the banks. A major part of this plan is to slash public services – and this means private investors taking over our schools and running them for profit.

Tidemill Primary School headmaster Mark Elms is proposing that the school become an academy this September 2010. 

Parents and the community in Deptford need to be informed and consulted about these proposals being rushed through.

Emotions run high whenever our children’s education is involved. For me, it is all the more personal as I have been an educator for the last 25 years and I am passionate about education and the transformative outcomes. Of course we should explore new ideas, but let us support them with our eyes fully open.

 This new proposal is far reaching and may contribute to a major lack of state (and therefore accessible) primary education in this area, but, as with many developments in the area, a decision may be taken without full presentation or representation.

•    The governors have registered an online interest in Tidemill becoming an academy.
•    On the 7th July, the school provided a questionnaire to ask parents to tick if they required information about academy status.
•    A cut and paste letter, complete with FAQs which are selectively edited segments from the government website, was given to children on the 19th July to hand to their parents. The school stated that the governors have begun a period of consultation to gather views of parents and staff to span the next two months (i.e. during summer holidays).
•    On the 8th September at 8am to 9am (1 hour only) a meeting is arranged for parents to share their views, after which the governors go into a meeting to finalise their decision about academy status.
•    In the July newsletter Mark Elms states that they are planning to canvas five parents from each class (“randomly selected”) to run through questions on how they “feel about the Academy issue”. 
•    Parents with questions are invited to email businessmanager@tidemill.lewisham.sch.uk during the holiday break.


Leila Galloway

www.antiacademies.org.uk/Home