This Thursday, Friday, and Saturday there’s a chance to start your Christmas shopping, support local potters, and have a nose into the former pet shop on the corner of Bramshot Avenue and Sherington Road. Over to Pop Up Pots organiser Louise Tomlins:
I am a former midwife and now work as The Accidental Knitter, producing knitted and other handmade items. My husband and I bought 96 Bramshot Avenue as a rebuild project and it’s still very much a work in progress! I have had a number of pop-up shops over the last 12 months and have been overwhelmed by the support from the local community.
I met Fiona Veacock during this time and am delighted to be hosting a pottery pop up to showcase her work along with Anne Richards, Katherine Joekes and my own.
I am lucky to have my own wheel and share a studio with Anne and having making a piece of pottery as an item on my a bucket list has changed the direction of my life. The plan for the shop in the long term is for it to be a coffee shop but that is very much my husband’s project.
The event runs at The Corner, 96 Bramshot Avenue, London SE7 7JN on:
Thursday 8.30am-4.30pm
Friday 8.30am-4.30pm
Saturday 10am-4pm.
PS. We’d like to feature more local artists and makers on The Charlton Champion – as time allows – and we’re particularly interested if you produce work that depicts or features the local area. Get in touch with us here!
Unperturbed by Storm Brian, a decent crowd showed up in Charlton Park on Saturday morning to witness the official opening of the skatepark. A downpour mid-morning meant a bit of delay in proceedings but by 11.30am skating was underway, after a short speech by Denise Scott-McDonald, Greenwich Council’s cabinet member for Culture, Creative Industries and Community Well-Being, who encouraged the crowd to “to get skating, whatever your age!”.
The skatepark is located next to the outdoor gym, close to the Old Cottage Cafe. It features a bowl, plus a street skate area, and was being used by people on skateboards, BMXs, and microscooters when we visited.
Issues around the ‘missing link’ in the Thames Path near Warspite Road have been resolved and the link is to be opened in Spring 2018.
TheCharlton Champion welcomes submissions of councillors’ reports from Charlton and the surrounding wards. Cllr John Fahy of Woolwich Riverside ward writes:
Woolwich Riverside Ward Report:
Please find an update on my activities over the period since the last newsletter. Meeting attendance has been limited due to a knee replacement in August.
Meeting the needs of Greenwich Residents
There was a time when August was regarded as a period of recess but lots of activity has been happening in the Town Hall. Top of the agenda and the most discussed policy issues relate to the decisions of the Planning Board and the impact these have on the lives of residents facing major housing needs.
I am pleased to see that this debate is now out in the open and a change of policy is required. It cannot be right that the shortage of housing based on a social rent is not being maximised in the Borough. Councillor responsibility is to the needs of our residents rather than the aspiration of developers to maximise their profit margin and develop housing for overseas speculators.
A number of planning applications are in the pipeline that must be regarded as not meeting community aspirations.
Meyer Homes have now submitted their planning application for Woolwich Central Phases 3 and 4. The proposals include three new buildings (each between 9 and 16 Storeys in height). The proposals also include a twenty seven storey Tower Block in Love Lane directly in front of the Tesco Store. The Tower Block does not include any social housing. None at social rent. The proposal includes 20% of units in the new phases which is suggested as being affordable. Of course they will not be.
In addition the Island Site has received planning permission with proposals for housing, retail and a cinema. The amount of social housing is derisory. More importantly, in my view, a significant level of social housing is far more important than a cinema. Indeed a cinema is included in the Spray Street proposals.
The Herringham Road development is the other worrying proposal. The proposals for a 20 Storey Tower Block contrary to the Charlton Riverside Masterplan. Again the lack of social housing is self evident. It was encouraging to see how those attending the Public Exhibition spoke out in clear terms about the proposals.
There are challenging times ahead but the steps taken by Mayor Khan will help to influence a change of direction for the greater good of Londoners.
Council Officers have been working for some time to find solutions to resolve. Solutions have now been found and work will late October. There will be two phases to complete the work and the missing link will open in the Spring of 2018.
Have your say about issues that concern you. The Woolwich / Charlton Meeting will take place at Charlton House on Wednesday 25th of October starting at 7.15pm.
The Alexandra Players return to the Alexandra Hall on Bramshot Avenue at the end of this month with a production of Season’s Greetings, written by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. The play, directed by Juliette Harrison, runs from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th October. Tickets will be available on the door, or you can book or reserve tickets online, by email, text or phone on 07867 627987.
Charlton House hosts its Horn Fair on Sunday 15 October from 10am to 4pm.
It might not be the riotous, drunken event of Horn Fairs past, but it does promise a range of family-friendly activities, cream teas, market stalls, children’s music lessons, and “Hogarth’s 1751 pub selling gin and beer” – plus live music and balloon entertainment.
Following the recent Customer Forum meeting, and feedback from members over the summer, the Lido has now published the winter pool programme which will commence on Monday 9 October. The good news is that it follows the broadly the same pattern as last year but with the addition of three lunchtime sessions per week, two of which replace the 2-4pm slots on Monday and Tuesday which were the quietest times of the week. It’s hoped the new pattern will enable more people to swim regularly throughout the winter season. The early morning opening on Monday will also continue through the winter, in response to popular demand.
Winter Timetable
Monday 6.30am-2pm & 4pm-8pm
Tuesday 7am-2pm & 4pm-8pm
Wednesday & Thursday closed
Friday 7am-2pm
Weekends 9am-5pm
Swim Doctor Programme
The Swim Doctor programme will continue with three sessions per week through the winter, with the present Wednesday and Thursday morning sessions moving to Fridays from the week of October 9th. Sessions are free for members and £3 for non-members. Booking is advised.
Monday 7-8pm Swim Doctor Technique
Friday 7-8.30am Swim Doctor Fitness (30 minutes land-based + 1 hour in the pool)
The Charlton Champion 