A Greenwich Council planning committee has opted to defer a decision on whether or not the old Horse and Groom pub on Woolwich Road should be turned into a church. Our man at last night’s meeting takes up the story…
The pub has been sold to a church which started holding services there without planning permission. Greenwich Council stopped this and the church put in a planning application for change of use.
This was rather mysteriously placed before Wednesday’s Woolwich Planning Committee as an urgent item, with officers recommending approval. There were objections on noise and parking grounds from a couple of neighbours and also from CAMRA.
Following an impassioned plea from Woolwich Riverside ward concillor John Fahy, the mattter was adjourned for further discussions and will probably come back before the Commitee on March 16th.
The pub wasn’t much of a loss when it closed about three years ago, frankly – its only real trade came from Charlton home games and the odd strip show. But surely this site would be better used as housing? I’d be interested in your thoughts.
The council says it has to save the £43,000 it costs to run the centre as a response to cuts in the grants it gets from central government.
If sponsorship cannot be found, it is likely the centre will close in April 2012.
The petition is already approaching 200 signatures, with one signatory commenting that the animal park is “as much a part of Charlton as Charlton House or Charlton Athletic”.
Others have pointed out how many local children, from Charlton schools and others in the borough, take part in educational visits to the centre.
Greenwich Council wants to change planning guidelines so more housing can be built on the Charlton riverside, according to its long-term proposals for the borough’s future.
The only riverside housing in Charlton at the moment is at Vaizey's Wharf, off Anchor and Hope LaneAn exhibition about the proposals will be held at Charlton House on Tuesday afternoon (between 3-7pm) to explain the plans for the future, which will see developers encouraged to build homes between Lombard Wall and Warspite Road, Woolwich.
At present, most of the riverside is given over to industrial and commercial use, with Sainsburys – which is applying to redevelop its depot on Anchor and Hope Lane – one of the major employers, although the large factories which dominated the riverfront are long gone and have been replaced with retail outlets.
A century ago, “New Charlton” was a residential area. The former Lads of the Village pub (now a veterinary surgery) and derelict Victoria pub near the Thames Barrier are among the last remnants of the riverside community which saw the birth of Charlton Athletic at Siemens Meadow – land now occupied by the Westminster Industrial Estate.
Angerstein Wharf and Murphys Wharf on the Charlton/Greenwich border will remain in industrial use, but the council wants to see the borough’s entire riverfront, from Deptford to Thamesmead, made available for housing.
For Charlton, the council’s “spatial strategy” says:
Charlton
3.3.10 With the exception of Charlton Riverside, Charlton will see limited change within the plan period. Its existing character will be protected and it will benefit from the improvements to both Woolwich, to the east, and Charlton Riverside, to the north, and the increase in services and facilities that the planned development in these locations will bring.
Charlton Riverside Strategic Development Location
3.3.11 Charlton Riverside is a key regeneration area that provides a significant opportunity for new high quality river front development. The area will be transformed into an attractive and vibrant mixed use urban quarter providing around 6,000 new homes. The area has the potential to offer new community and education facilities, space for small businesses particularly within the creative industries, new employment opportunities and accessible open spaces.
3.3.12 The Strategic Development Location will exclude the current Aggregate Zone and the safeguarded Angerstein’s and Murphy’s Wharves. The total area for the site is over 100 hectares.
3.3.13 An Area Action Plan will be prepared to guide development at the site. It is envisaged at this stage that the large site could provide for a significant residential led mixed use development plus improved commercial space, retail and community facilities as well as improvements to the existing open space.
3.3.14 It is considered that the housing component at the site will commence around 2016 and could take up to 20 years to be completed. It is therefore anticipated that just over 70% of the 6000 dwellings will be delivered in this area during the plan period, with the remainder coming post 2026/27. Development of the site is dependent on the provision of increased public transport infrastructure in the waterfront area.
The draft “core strategy” for the borough also promises long-overdue redevelopment for the Morris Walk and Maryon Road estates, as well as further development along the Greenwich riverfront and on the peninsula.
Before any one makes a wisecrack, with eyes like that he’ll be hard to miss in the dark. But in all seriousness, if you see a pale, friendly-looking dog looking lost, you know who to call.
Greenwich Council and Transport for London are planning to build a new cycle path to help fill a gap in the Thames Path between Charlton and Woolwich.
The plans, agreed by councillors before Christmas, will see a dedicated cycle path built along the pavement between Hardens Manorway, Charlton and Ruston Road, Woolwich; leading from the Thames Barrier site to the King Henry’s Wharf housing development.
At present, walkers and cyclists using the Thames Path are forced away from the riverside at the Thames Barrier, with cyclists encouraged to join the busy A206. The only other route linking the two sections of path, through the Westminster Industrial Estate, is often blocked by the owners.
The Olympic Delivery Authority is backing the plan to create a link between Games venues in Greenwich and Woolwich. Works are also due to take place at the Woolwich Ferry, where the route is also broken.
A group of Greenwich councillors is currently investigating ways of improving cycling in the borough so more residents take to their bikes.
Charlton Athletic have asked for help in clearing the snow around The Valley in advance of their Boxing Day match with Southampton.
Anyone who can assist is asked to visit the main reception at 11am on SundayThursday – with a shovel if possible.
Managing director Stephen Kavanagh said the club was making every effort to ensure the match went ahead – but did not have the staff to cover all areas of the ground.
“We’re constantly talking to the police and Greenwich Council about the roads and the pavements, but there are some areas, such as behind the south and east stands, which need attention, and we simply don’t have the resources,” he said.
“Some supporters have already been in contact to offer their services, but now we’d like to formally appeal for help.”
He said the “worst-case scenario” would be having the pitch playable – but the match still being called off because of conditions around the ground.
Conditions have eased in south-east London over recent days, but with the weather remaining unpredictable, the club and match officials will review the situation early on Christmas Eve.
The Addicks’ away match at Hartlepool was one of the scores of matches postponed at the weekend because of the bad conditions nationwide.
Before any one makes a wisecrack, with eyes like that he’ll be hard to miss in the dark. But in all seriousness, if you see a pale, friendly-looking dog looking lost, you know who to call. 
Neighbours working today while 
The Charlton Champion 