Charlton Village Conservation Area: There’s still time to have your say

Nikki4 Comments
IMG_1614 (1)
Charlton Assembly Rooms: recommended for national listing

Have you seen Greenwich Council’s recent proposals on Charlton’s conservation area?

If you haven’t commented on the council’s proposed changes to Charlton’s conservation area yet, there’s still time. The consultation closes at 5pm on Tuesday 5th May and is based on two documents that can be found here.  The first document is the Draft Character Appraisal, which is an easy and interesting read covering the architectural history and character of the area.

The authors argue that ‘countryside in the city’ is “one of the area’s most significant and defining characteristics” and that “the extent to which Charlton Village can accommodate further development – at least without significant compromise to its historic character – is probably limited”.

The risks to Charlton’s character identified are the loss of retail uses, unsympathetic extensions, redevelopment of historic properties, infill development and the loss and replacement of features.

The council go on to explain how they hope to manage the challenges of conservation in the Draft Management Strategy, which suggests it will:

  • Extend the current conservation area to cover properties at the top of Charlton Church Lane, properties in Lansdowne Lane and south west Hornfair Park, including the Lido
  • Restrict the colours and signage available to shops in The Village, and provide a design guide to be followed for future changes
  • Set a target of 50% of properties in The Village to be used for retail businesses
  • Put the Assembly rooms forward for national statutory listing
  • Add further properties to the local listing to give them some protection against future development:
    • properties on Charlton Church Lane, The Village and Lansdowne Lane
    • the east lodge in Charlton Park
    • The chapels in Charlton cemetery
    • Charlton Lido

The authors write that they considered extending the conservation area to include Maryon and Maryon Wilson Parks, the inter-war houses near Charlton Park, and the Victorian and Edwardian housing north east of Charlton Park and also to the north and north west of the Village. These proposals are not being taken forward: the parks have a sufficient degree of protection from various other measures, and the areas of housing don’t offer sufficient historic interest or rarity in the context of London.

Are these the right things for the council’s planning department to focus on? Do you agree that signs and paint should be more closely controlled in the village?  Should the conservation area be extended further?

We’re thrilled that the Lido will have another layer of protection against redevelopment: is there anywhere else in Charlton that should benefit from similar protection? Let us know in the comments below.

Charlton Athletic protest group urges fans to support local shops and pubs ahead of ‘beach party’

Darryl Chamberlain1 Comment

Campaign Against Roland Duchatelet

Look out for this symbol in shop windows around Charlton this weekend – football fans are being urged to use local shops and pubs today instead of using facilities at The Valley as protests against absentee Charlton Athletic owner Roland Duchâtelet continue.

The Coalition Against Roland Duchâtelet want the Belgian, who has not attended a match since October 2014, to suffer as much financial damage as possible in protest at his stewardship of the side, which is almost certain to be relegated to League One.

The Addicks face Derby County at home at 3pm, and fans of both clubs are being urged to use local outlets to put a financial squeeze on the unpopular owner.

“Throughout this week, CARD has been talking to local pubs, takeaways, newsagents and more, and encouraging them to display special endorsement posters in the windows of their stores,” the group says.

“Now it’s your turn. We want you to use those local companies prior to the Derby game. We want you tell the shopkeepers and till operators why you are spending money in their stores.

“Unlike Roland Duchâtelet’s current regime, these local businesses are here for Charlton supporters for the long term. We’re asking you to support them, and in the process hit the regime financially and put pressure on its relationships with business partners.”

Fans are asked to highlight their boycott on social media with the hashtag #cafcboycott.

Recent weeks have seen matches interrupted by fans throwing beach balls and stress balls onto the pitch. There has also been a mock funeral procession while unofficial match programmes have also been handed out.

Now, inspired by Duchâtelet’s chief executive Katrien Meire taking a 10-day holiday to Dubai instead of overseeing the struggling side’s loss to QPR last weekend, CARD has decided to hold a “beach party” outside The Valley at 1.30pm.

There are two more home matches left this season, with CARD promising “a big protest party” ahead of next Saturday’s match against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Charlton fans have raised more than £20,000 to fund their campaign to force Duchâtelet out, with a protest song, More Than Just A Toy, released last Monday. It’s available via Bandcamp with all profits going to the protest fund.

Little Heath and Hillreach road safety measures planned after 1,100-strong petition

Darryl Chamberlain2 Comments

Back in November 2014, we covered a 1,100-name petition being handed into Greenwich Council demanding road safety improvements on Little Heath, Charlton and Hillreach, Woolwich, after newsagent Ash Patel was run down and killed outside his shop.

The area has long been notorious for speeding traffic, but it finally looks as if some action will be taken, with speed cushions planned for this stretch of road. We’re grateful to neighbour Jane Lawson, who brought us news of the original petition, for this update on the story.

Little Heath and Hill Reach, on the Charlton/Woolwich border

I attended a meeting with the Borough Engineer to update on the progress of the measures to calm traffic on Hill Reach.

As you know, TfL have refused a request for average speed cameras to be installed, despite that request having the support of the police. The policy states:

“The criteria for the implementation of a speed camera is that there must have been a minimum of four KSI (Killed or Serious Injuries sustained) collisions in a three year period within one kilometre of the proposed camera site and two of these must have been as a result of speeding.”

So there you have it. Not enough deaths.

However, the Borough does have authority to implement other measures and the plans for these will go to consultation shortly.

In brief, there will be speed cushions added, double yellow lines around the bus stop, a traffic island added with a wider refuge and two additional speed indicators.

Richard explained that the factors that had to be considered were the width of the road, the fact that it is a bus and emergency vehicle route and, further westwards on Little Heath, the spacing and position of the trees. That means that a pedestrian crossing cannot be placed as the sight lines would make it dangerous.

The department has carried out average speed checks and the results show that on the Little Heath stretch the average speed is 34/35mph and on the Hill Reach stretch average speed is 38mph, which is very high.

Commendably the department analysed data for a ten-year period to yield the patterns of deaths and RTCs – a pattern which would not have emerged in a shorter period of time.

The work is likely to be done in July and August during the school holidays, when traffic will be lighter. The road will probably need to be closed for a short time and diversions put in place.

So, it’s not quite the result we had hoped for, but the Borough has done a good job within the limitations of its powers, and it does show the impact of a local petition with hand written names and addresses.

At well over a thousand signatures the depth of local feeling was very clear.

It’s Big Dig Day at Maryon Park Community Garden this Saturday

Darryl Chamberlain

Maryon Park Community Garden

A message from Maryon Park Community Garden…

There are 2,500 community gardens in London marking the start of the growing season. Capital Growth organise the Big Dig Open Day. Maryon Park Community Garden is taking part and has a ‘Drop-in Open Day’ on Saturday 16th April from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

The Community Garden provides organic growing plots for local people, a Forest School for primary schools and volunteer opportunities for individuals and corporate groups as well as educational visits for special schools.

On Saturday 16th April visitors can learn more about the Community Garden, enjoy tours and talks about the plots, orchard, wild flower bank, Forest School and the historic Maryon Park itself. There will be refreshments, children’s activities, a plant sale and a fundraising bric-a-brac stall. Visitors can join the waiting list for growing beds.

Maryon Park Community Garden is a not-for-profit voluntary community project situated in the former council plant nursery in Maryon Park. Now in its fourth year, the Friends of the Park, Capital Growth, the Olympic Transform Fund, City Hall, Greenwich Parks Forum and the London Tree and Woodland Trust have all funded the garden.

“The Big Dig Day is about encouraging people and families to visit their local community garden. Whether you are an experienced gardener or new to gardening or just want to see how your local project is developing you will be welcome,” says Maryon Park Community Garden chair Tim Anderson.

You’ll find the community garden by the Maryon Road entrance to the park – just look for the bunting.

Seven up: Smaller Valley House scheme gets council go-ahead

Darryl Chamberlain1 Comment

Valley House render
The previous Valley House scheme was nine floors high, the new one is seven storeys

Greenwich Council’s planning board has backed plans for a seven-storey block of flats on Woolwich Road, six months after it threw out a request to build a nine-storey development.

Developers want to knock down Valley House – a former office block on the corner of Gallions Road – and replace it with 73 flats.

The approval, which came at a meeting on Tuesday evening, comes after months of wrangling over the development. Last June, councillors deferred a decision after objecting to a separate entrance for residents living in “affordable” housing in the scheme. Then in September, a revised proposal was rejected on the chair’s casting vote.

This time around, 10 objections were received, with the Charlton Society and Central Charlton Residents Association – which covers an area south of the railway line – commenting that the building was still too bulky. There were 80 letters of support, many of which used a generic text praising developer London Green’s scheme.

11 of the 73 flats are due to be “affordable”, including seven for social rent. Councillors placed a condition on the development that it be advertised domestically before it is promoted to foreign buyers.

Charlton’s Hornfair Park BMX track: Fantastic or a flop?

Darryl Chamberlain16 Comments
A near-deserted Hornfair Park BMX track on Sunday afternoon (photo: Clare Griffiths)
A near-deserted Hornfair Park BMX track on Sunday afternoon (photo: Clare Griffiths)

A few years back, plans for a BMX track in Hornfair Park were wildly controversial. On one side, neighbours had slightly wild visions of young people up to no good. On the other, Greenwich Council was playing fast and loose in its eagerness to get the thing built.

Sound familiar?

Anyhow, a Charlton Champion chum took her son there on Sunday… and found it deserted. We’ve had anecdotal reports that the BMX track isn’t being used as much as it could be – others simply don’t know it’s there.

We do know there’s an established BMX club that uses it, but it’s hard to shake off the feeling that it’s becoming yet another poorly-promoted local facility.

But what do you think? Did the BMX track live up (or down) to your expectations? Will the Easter holiday see a surge in kids on bikes heading for the track? And with the skateboard park looking like becoming a reality in Charlton Park, what lessons can be learned from the BMX track? We’d like to know.

Charlton Riverside developer U+I promises ‘affordable homesteads for ordinary people’

Darryl Chamberlain3 Comments
Charlton riverside at the Thames Barrier
Ripe for development: Charlton’s riverside at the Thames Barrier

One of the developers behind the redevelopment of Charlton’s riverside is promising “affordable homesteads for ordinary people alongside the river Thames” as part of a plan to create 5,000 new homes on what is currently industrial land.

Richard Upton, deputy chief executive of U+I, says the company will soon be in control of enough land to create a “small town” by the Thames.

Upton’s statement pre-empts a Greenwich Council consultation on a new masterplan for the riverside, which has been postponed until after the mayoral election.

His comments appear in Historic England’s Conservation Bulletin (see pages 26-28), in a special edition devoted to the challenges London’s next mayor will face.

Under U+I’s previous name of Cathedral, the company was responsible for the Movement development next to Greenwich station as well as the redevelopment of the Eltham Coronet cinema site. U+I is also behind Deptford Market Yard, next to Deptford station, and owns the Morden Wharf site to the west of the Greenwich Peninsula.

It’s the first official confirmation that U+I is involved in the plans for Charlton.

Upton writes: “In Charlton, U+I will soon control sufficient land to create a small town spanning 6 million square feet and providing 5,000 homes. The site is brownfield and light industrial in nature, but we’ve delved into its past and from this, we’ll create a future that makes it unique. The grimy industrial routes actually reflect the patterns of paths and hedgerows from the 17th century. Lovely. I promise you we will bring history and parochial distinction alive.

“Charlton will once again provide affordable homesteads for ordinary people alongside the river Thames.”

It also looks like architectural practice Farrells is also involved in the scheme. The article also features a timeline of the Charlton riverside’s history which is credited to Farrells.

This looks very like Anchor & Hope Lane... (picture: Farrells)
This looks very like Anchor & Hope Lane… (picture: Farrells)

Earlier this year, founder Terry Farrell told the Evening Standard he wanted to see a series of low-rise lift bridges for pedestrians and cyclists across the Thames at locations including Rotherhithe, Greenwich Peninsula, Charlton and Woolwich.

The story was illustrated by a mock-up of such a bridge – which appears to be at the end of Anchor and Hope Lane in Charlton. Last year, TfL identified Charlton as a site for a potential crossing in a speculative list of 13 possible or planned links across the Thames, although it said the idea was merely “conceptual”.

Information about what’s planned in the new riverside masterplan – which will replace an earlier version – has been kept firmly under wraps. But elements have been quietly emerging, with new council plans preferring housing above retail on land currently occupied by Asda. Earlier this month, plans emerged to demolish what’s left of the Victoria pub and replace it with student housing.

Separately, plans to create a secondary school on the riverside could come to fruition much earlier than planned, with proposals for the two-year-old Royal Greenwich University Technical College to become an 11-18 school, after the college had trouble recruiting students at age 14. A little-publicised consultation took place earlier this year.