Two men have been charged following Saturday’s assault at Jennings bookmakers on Charlton Church Lane, which has left a man still in hospital.

From the Metropolitan Police:

Two men have been charged with the assault of 49-year-old man outside ‘Jennings’ bookmakers in Charlton on Saturday, 5 November.

William Munn, 24 unemployed of no fixed address appears in custody by virtual court at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 9 November charged with GBH (cont. Sec 20 Offences Against the Person Act) and

Robert Munn, 29 a builder of The Rodings, Woodford Green also appears in custody by virtual court at Camberwell Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 9 November charged with GBH (cont. Sec 18 Offences Against the Person Act).

Two women, aged 21 and 52, arrested in connection with the investigation have been bailed pending further enquiries – returning to a south London police station in early February 2012.

A stone’s throw outside SE7, this, but well worth a mention – it’s the Open Studios at Second Floor Studios & Arts in Warspite Road later this month.

Tucked away on the riverfront, it’s a fascinating warren of studios rented by painters, photographers, sculptors, designers, jewellery makers and more besides. It’s part of a five-year plan to convert seven old industrial units into over 300 workshops and studios, together with education facilities, gallery space and a cafe.

New facilities include the Thames Barrier Print Studio, one of London’s largest spaces for fine art print-making.

It’s one of south-east London’s best-kept secrets, and even if you’d normally hesitate before going to see anything that sounds artistic, you’ll be sure to find something which will catch your eye, and maybe even something you want to take home.

The opening night is on Thursday 17th November from 5pm-9pm, with the studios open on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th from 11am-6pm, at Mellish Industrial Estate, at the end of Warspite Road (turn left just before the road ends, into Harrington Way). More at secondfloor.co.uk and the Second Floor blog.

The image on the flyer is Decline the Bough – pen/pencil on wood, © 2011 David Bray.

Police after appealing for help after a 49-year-old man was left unconscious after being attacked outside Jennings bookmakers on Charlton Church Lane at 7pm on Saturday evening, a couple of hours after the Charlton v Preston match and before the Blackheath fireworks display.

He remains in a critical condition in hospital. The shop and pavement were still sealed off early this morning.

From the Metropolitan Police:

A 49 year old man had entered the bookmakers alone at 18.40hrs. He placed a few bets and watched the races.

Shortly afterwards others entered the bookies – a man [Suspect 1], and another man [Suspect 2] and a woman who appeared to be together.

Suspect 1 is white, and in his mid-20s, with short dark hair. He wore a dark coloured jacket, blue denim jeans, and brown coloured shoes.

Suspect 2 is white, thought to be aged mid to late 20s, and has short dark hair. He wore a distinctive red long sleeved top with leather looking patches to the elbows and shoulders, blue jeans and dark coloured shoes.

The woman is white, thought to be in her mid-20s, and of large build. She has shoulder length dark coloured hair, and wore a white cardigan (with a black top underneath) and black leggings, and had a white handbag worn over her shoulder.

These three people subsequently left and waited outside, and were seen talking to each other.

The victim then left shortly after 19.00hrs and immediately Suspect 1 set upon him. He head-butted the victim, apparently knocking him unconscious.

Suspect 1 then punched and kicked the victim repeatedly. Suspect 2 also joined in the attack.

The woman watched the assault and then ran off down Charlton Church Lane.

The suspects then also ran off in the same direction at the woman, towards Charlton rail station.

The victim was left unconscious on the ground. He was taken by ambulance to a south London hospital where he is in a critical condition.

DS Mick Smith of Greenwich CID said: “This was a brutal and cowardly attack. The victim apparently fell unconscious after he was head-butted, and he was left completely defenceless as the suspects continued their assault.

“He suffered serious head injuries, and remains in a critical condition at hospital.

“The motive for the attack remains unknown at present, and nothing was taken from the victim.

“We need any witnesses who saw the attack, or the suspects or the woman making off, to come forward.”

There were other customers in the bookies at the time – if they have not yet come forward we would ask them to do so.

Anyone with information on the incident should call Greenwich CID on 020 8284 9430; if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Wednesday 12:30pm update: Police have arrested four people in connection with the case. Three – a 24-year-old man, a 28-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman – are being questioned on suspicion of attempted murder, while a 52-year-old woman is being questioned on conspiracy to attempt murder. Anyone with information is still asked to call the police.

Wednesday 2pm update: Charges have now been brought.

Supermarket wars could be about to break out in Charlton as it emerged Asda is hoping to expand its Bugsbys Way store and use it as a base for its home delivery service.

The shopping giant’s plans sound spookily like those for Sainsburys, which is planning to move from Greenwich to a nearby site in 2014 as part of a wider redevelopment of Charlton’s retail parks. Tesco is also building a giant store in Woolwich.

No further details were available, although it seems Asda’s plans are at an earlier stage to those of Sainsburys, which is also planning a store with space for home delivery vans.

Asda’s plans were revealed by store representative Hope Augustus – who also took on board gripes about abandoned shopping trolleys – at last night’s Charlton Riverside Action Group meeting, which pulled in a healthy crowd, including a raft of Greenwich councillors and local MP Nick Raynsford.

Also discussed…

• Construction of the new Travelodge at the foot of Victoria Way is not due to begin until the New Year, and is due to take 12 months – meaning it will miss the Olympics.
• There was some heated discussion about the section 106 agreements (cash given by developers to councils for community benefit) on the Travelodge scheme and (potentially, if approved) the Sainsburys/M&S scheme, where it is not certain any of the benefits will be immediately obvious in the Charlton area. For example, while we might expect cash to go to, say, a new building at Charlton station, it might just disappear into the council’s education budget. If you have any suggestions on what Travelodge should be doing in the area, get in touch with your local councillor.
• Much discussion about the awful road junction at Charlton Church Lane, the “dance of death“, and steering traffic away from the A206 between there and the Woolwich Road flyover in Greenwich. Suggestions included a left-filter traffic light for westbound traffic entering Charlton Church Lane, and better signage at the Blackwall Tunnel exit to steer traffic towards Bugsbys Way and not Woolwich Road.
• The shoddy state of the Asda footpath was also discussed, with Hope Augustus revealing two of her colleagues had been mugged in the dark there. It is due for partial redevelopment as part of the Travelodge scheme.
• Two left-field proposals for Maryon Park – a “green bridge” to the Thames Barrier was mentioned by Nick Raynsford, while there’s also an idea to construct a skate park there (although the Greenwich Skate Park group would prefer to go to the peninsula).
• There was also talk of the problems with graffiti on the Thames Path (cruder than this), and on the decline of the Thames Barrier Visitor Centre.

There was plenty more, but I hope that gives you a flavour. The CRAG will next meet early in the new year, but if you can’t wait until then for some community discussion, the Charlton Rail Users Group next meets on 23 November at the Liberal Club.

Sarah has been in touch to tell you about this Thursday’s Christmas craft market at Thorntree School…

We will have 25 stalls selling lovely Xmas gifts and most of the stallholders will be local craftspeople, such as Redurchin children’s clothing, Fiona Bell-Currie cards (featuring lovely scenes of Greenwich & Blackheath) and Sweet William Ceramics, plus more well-known brands like the Pampered Chef, Virgin Vie & Phoenix Cards.

There will be homemade refreshments on sale – mulled wine, cakes etc. Entry is £1 for adults, which includes a raffle ticket with prizes donated by stallholders.

Children go free, and it runs from 7pm-9.30pm. There’s more details on the Friends of Thorntree Association Facebook page.

Last summer, developers Galliard Homes won an appeal against Greenwich Council refusing it planning permission for over 200 flats and office space on a site catchily called “land to the rear of 40 Victoria Way” – the long-disused Thorn Lighting plant which sits behind Gurdon Road.

Councillors had thrown out the “Constellation” scheme in November 2009, largely because of pollution and noise levels around the land, adjacent to the A102 Blackwall Tunnel approach road – although Galliard had already pre-sold plots to homebuyers.

One of the biggest worries was that the main entry/exit to the site would be through sleepy Fairthorn Road. When the Thorn plant was up and running, traffic for that was routed via Victoria Way. But the adjacent industrial units on the rest of the 40 Victoria Way site were still due to stay in place – meaning a big change for Fairthorn Road.

Now there are changes to the plan, with Fairview New Homes taking the site on, and seeking to “update and enhance” the scheme – whatever that means.

There’s a public exhibition taking place from 3pm-8pm this Thursday at the Grand Salon in Charlton House (through the foyer, turn left, and up the stairs). It’s the first this website has heard of the event, so it might be worth asking just how seriously Fairview is taking this “consultation”.

It should also give the Charlton Riverside Action Group something to get their teeth into this Wednesday…