It’s short notice, but it will be held at the Charlton Liberal Club (non-political), 59 Charlton Church Lane, SE7 7AE on Wednesday 23rd May at 7.30pm.
We’ll have a representative from LXB who will talk in detail about the application and can answer any questions you may have. We’ll then urge everyone to send in their own feedback before the end of the month.
And just in case you didn’t know already, CRAG is a non-political group made up of concerned local residents that have come together to try to improve the local area. We’re concerned about traffic, pollution, improving public transport and cycling routes, and ensuring that one of the last underdeveloped areas of river-side in London is used for the benefit of local people.
We are all local residents and hope that we can re-establish a greater sense of community to improve our area jointly – in partnership with the council, local businesses and developers.
The Alexandra Players, Charlton’s amateur theatre group and “the borough’s best-kept secret” are presenting their summer production on 7, 8 and 9 June. In this Jubilee year, and in recognition of the Greenwich’s newly acquired royal status, the play is Crown Matrimonial by Royce Ryton. This play, first performed in 1972 takes a look at the 1936 abdication crisis, with the King’s (or should that be Kings’) mother Queen Mary firmly at the centre of the action.
Recent years have seen an influx of new talent to the Alexandra Players which will be on display in this production, as well as some of the familiar faces of the group.
Performances are 7, 8 and 9 June at 8pm and tickets are £8 (£7 for concessions). You can book at alexandraplayers@gmail.com, or leave a message with you name, contact and how many tickets for which night on 07867 627 987.
We’re always looking for new members, either onstage or backstage, with or without experience, so if this sounds like something for you, send us an email.
The new Wickes DIY store in Charlton opens later this month. It means a move over to Bugsby’s Way at the northern end of the retail park from its current home facing onto Woolwich Road.
Here’s a first glimpse at what it looks like from the outside. Just look at that car park – plenty of room.
Luckily, there’s more car parking than we used to have when it was a Lidl. Looks more than there is at the current Wickes, which must be a good thing as it’s always jam-packed.
Can’t see any trees, but that surely means more room for cars. With increased gate receipts at Charlton Athletic after their recent promotion, surely match day parking won’t be a problem anymore.
These images form part of developer LXB‘s application to Greenwich Council. A planning board will then decide whether to approve or reject these plans – likely to be some time in June.
View of M&S and coffee shop from Woolwich Road
There’s several elements to this application including an impact assessment on retail in much of south-east London. A thorough report by consultants WYG states that:
“The enhancement of the retail facilities at Bugsby’s Way will not affect Woolwich’s status as a Major Centre, nor its prospects of being re-designated as a Metropolitan centre in the long term.”
Their reasoning behind this are the new developments in Woolwich, such as the Tesco, that WYS believes will regenerate the SE18 area, keeping shoppers from getting into their cars or straying onto a bus and travelling over to Charlton.
Another talking point recently has been the downgrade of the western end of Woolwich Road (from Charlton station to the flyover) and how these new developments will impact on the near 24,000 vehicles that use the road on an average weekday.
This website understands the developer LXB have been told by TfL and the council’s highways department that alterations to plans won’t be considered until the road has actually been downgraded.
Meaning, the proposed reshaping of Woolwich Road for deliveries and customer access (including current work being undertaken for the Travelodge) don’t take this downgrade into account.
Would it be outrageous for me to suggest that a coherent plan for Woolwich Road, using a bit of foresight, might save a lot of time, money and upheaval in the future?
Two different diagrams highlighting proposed changes to Woolwich Road
The old retail barns that currently occupy this site lay dormant, aside from the odd illegal rave. Wickes is the last store still operating and is believed to be moving into its new home next to Matalan in the next two weeks.
If approved by the council’s planning board the new Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer would be looking to open before the end of 2014.
After a successful meeting back in February, plans for a community garden on Highcombe continue to gather pace.
A steering group has been formed that meet regularly and they’ve just announced their second open meeting.
It”ll be taking place at 8pm on Thursday 10th May at Alexandra Hall on Bramshot Avenue.
That evening they’ll be updating people with details on how they’re negotiating for the land, what the group’s constitution will be and what funding they have applied for.
They’re also urging people to bring spare seeds, seedlings or plants to swap with your neighbours. As well as announcing an edible window box competition to be judged in late summer.
If you need more details then you can email Judy at charlton.community.garden[at]gmail.com.
Part of Charlton Park is to be used by the King’s Troop horses for exercise while Woolwich Common is out of bounds for the Olympic Games, it has emerged.
The Charlton Champion understands Olympic organisers are paying for a temporary entrance is to be created for the 111 horses and their riders to enter the park, and they will be allocated a “designated area”.
However, it is unclear what area of the park is to be used or how long they will be using the park – popular with scores of Sunday league footballers – for.
The only warning park users have had has been two small signs at entrances to the park (thanks to Helen for the photo above of the sign at Cemetery Lane), while “beware – horses” signs have been erected on Charlton Park Lane. No news has been released by Greenwich Council, and there is no information on its website.
The King’s Troop, Royal Horse Artillery only moved into their new base in Repository Road, Woolwich, in February. With much of Woolwich Common being taken over for Olympic and Paralympic events this summer, the army’s ceremonial unit needed a nearby open space on which to exercise their horses. It is understood the decision to use Charlton Park was only taken earlier this month.
Meanwhile, locals are awaiting details from Greenwich Council on what parking restrictions will be put into place for the Olympics. It had been announced last year that all streets in Charlton would be placed in some kind of permit zone, but with less than 90 days to go to the opening ceremony, no news has been announced.
Rashpal Dhesi is applying for “change of use” permission to open a “sandwich bar/coffee shop” on the premises, which were previously a minicab office, and before that part of the old main post office.
The council has received three letters and a 29-signature petition opposing the plan, with residents saying the area is already well-served with similar outlets, such as the long-established Valley Cafe.
Council officers have recommended the scheme be approved, on condition that sound insulation is installed and opening hours are restricted to 7am-5pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and 9am-4pm on Sundays.
The building, constructed as a post office in the 1960s, has recently had flats built on top of it. Greenwich Council’s Woolwich and Thamesmead Planning Committee is due to decide on Mr Dhesi’s application on Wednesday.
The Charlton Champion 
