The Friends of Charlton Park aims to “develop the former King’s Troop training ground into grassland habitat to preserve and increase the population of endangered species such as bats, stag beetles and hedgehogs.
It won’t happen straight away – a ecological survey needs to be carried out to see what kind of grass is suitable, and the whole project spans 10 years. But this neglected corner of the park will start to look very different in a few years’ time.
The tailor’s showroom in Charlton Village was ram-raided in April
Greenwich Council is to set up a working group aimed at combatting the recent increase in crime in and around Charlton.
Worries about crime in the area have escalated in recent months following a number of high-profile incidents, including the ram-raiding of a tailor’s shop on The Village in April. In addition, there have been a number of anecdotal reports of incidents in streets close to Charlton station.
The Charlton Champion does not regularly feature crime reports – but we would like to play our part in combating crime without whipping up fear, so we have asked the local police if we can be sent crime advice and alerts.
We’re grateful to Charlton ward councillor Gary Dillon for passing on these briefing notes from a meeting held by the council last week to discuss the issue. We’ve edited them slightly for clarity and to remove information that may be sensitive.
And you are the victim of crime or have any information, you can contact the police online or call 101 (999 in an emergency).
The Charlton ward has seen an increase in crime and disorder over the last few months. Businesses in the locality have been particular targets. As a result, the incidents have had a significant negative impact on the community.
This briefing will address:
– Activities undertaken to date in response to crime incidents and concerns.
– Ways forward to reduce and prevent further incidents to the best of our ability by working in collaboration with key stakeholders.
The aim is not only to decrease crime and disorder but to also enhance reassurance and confidence in those who live, work and visit Charlton.
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The top three crimes in the Charlton ward are burglary, violence and vehicle crime. There are no specific hotspot areas identified as incidents have occurred across the ward. A recent meeting held on 4 July revealed that the ward has also suffered from street thefts, drug dealing, moped enabled crime, anti-social behaviour and a recent alleged firearms incident at an off-licence. The ward police officers have suggested that some offences are likely to have been linked.
It is recognised residents and those who work in Charlton may not be reporting incidents directly to the police, therefore promoting reporting methods will be explored. It is understood residents feel reporting to police results in little or no action, however an important message to the community is to highlight the fact that if police are unaware of incidents, it is difficult to respond to them.
As a partnership, we want to ensure all incidents are being reported so that appropriate resources and responses are deployed, not only from police but from the Royal Borough of Greenwich and any relevant stakeholder who can contribute to the reduction of crime and disorder.
Crime figures
The safer neighbourhood team produced figures for 1st November 2018 – 4th July 2019. It is evident crimes have shown an increase around March, which correlates with the concerns highlighted by the community. However, figures also show number of incidents have started to decrease, which is positive and the aspiration is to continue with this trend. The decrease may be a result of the work already undertaken in response to the incidents.
Work carried out by Greenwich Council
Daniel Bygrave, Community Safety Officer, Safer Spaces Team, has visited several shops following reports of burglaries. Daniel liaised with the business owners and employees and detailed options of how further incidents could be prevented by utilising problem solving methodology.
These options include layout and how the premises can be further secured. Daniel also explored the possibility of CCTV in the area following an enquiry from a councillor. Unfortunately this option is currently less feasible due to the lack of fibre optics needed to support the cameras, however other options for the area were discussed in the meeting held on 4 July, which are discussed in the ‘next steps’ section.
Garry Perkins, ASB Officer, Safer Communities team has issued a number of warning letters to individuals who have caused anti-social behaviour in the Charlton ward. Those who breach warnings issued to them will expect to be pursued with anti-social behaviour enforcement action.
Police activities
Actions undertaken:
Police officers changing their hours to night duties on a voluntary basis.
Home visits to known offenders have taken place, evidential and intelligence gathering and the use of stop and search.
Motor vehicle response tactics employed have been very similar to that used to target burglary subjects. It is suggested they are likely to be the same opportunists therefore crime prevention information is being tweaked for vehicle crime. Messages are not only around leaving valuables in sight but also around locking doors and windows.
The Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT) led on a burglary operation in June. Their shifts started at 10pm and finishing at 6am to fit the needs of the ward. The officers have been doing these shifts in uniform to show a high visible presence. Covert patrols have been led by officers from other teams.
All victims have been and are being visited.
A number of warrants were being planned across the borough which should have a positive impact in the Charlton ward. The Gangs Unit are leading on this. The evidence is suggesting the burglary and vehicle crime are drug related.
An image of a suspect was provided to the Police. The individual has been identified and action is being taken.
A two month burglary operation is being carried out.
The violence-related offences have been ad-hoc offences, not gang related.
The SNT have signed up to the phone app Nextdoor where there are already 6,000 members. Police plan to send out crime prevention information this way. Twitter is also being utilised.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition operations have been planned.
The SNT are working with the Charlton Central Residents Association regarding reporting, awareness, prevention information and intelligence gathering.
Smartwater is being rolled out in priority streets and was also promoted at the recent Great Get Together event in Charlton Park on 29th June.
Neighbourhood Watch Activities
The Neighbourhood Watch lead disseminated crime prevention messages to all members in the Royal Borough of Greenwich highlighting burglaries and motor vehicle crimes as the issues.
The message includes vigilance in the community, reporting any suspicious behaviour and submitting any CCTV footage to police.
All the existing Neighbourhood Watch schemes in Charlton had been contacted and volunteers had been asked to carry out a door knocking exercise to provide residents with burglary awareness and prevention messages.
A burglary masterclass was delivered in the ward and there is scope to deliver more.
Meeting on 4 July and next steps
The purpose of the meeting was to obtain fuller understanding of the issues and agree ways forward. The meeting was attended by ward councillors Leo Fletcher and Gary Dillon, Assistant Director Community Safety & Environmental Health Sean McDermid, representation from the DMT Directorate, Safer Communities, Open Spaces and SNT officers.
The actions agreed from the meeting are as follows:
Police and council Officers to review all of the incidents and available intelligence which can be shared
SNT to further roll out Smart water kits with possible support regarding funding from Greenwich Council
The organisation of a Crime Prevention Event, which would involve the SNT, Neighbourhood Watch and Community Safety Officer where a further Burglary Masterclass can be delivered.
Environmental Visual Audit with designing out crime officers to identify Hotspot areas, which could present an opportunity for CCTV or mobile CCTV locations and enhancing visibility of areas by cutting back hedges/bushes and additional lighting.
Adopting a Town Centre approach to Charlton Village.
Disseminating any good news stories to enhance community reassurance via council communications team in addition to SNT communications.
To add Charlton as the fourth tasking priority for the month of July under Integrated Enforcement. This way visibility by Street Services and Warden Patrols would increase.
To devise a detailed action plan/Problem Solving Plan encompassing all the crime types and options for responses for each.
To introduce a monthly stakeholder group forum.
The immediate next step is to arrange visits to all affected businesses and explore problem solving options with council and police representatives. A meeting with the partnership police inspector is taking place on 11 July to discuss the possibility of a formal problem solving process around burglary which will cover the businesses in Charlton and other businesses affected in the borough.
Many of the Morris Walk buildings are now in a poor state of repair
Greenwich Council has been “badly let down” by the developer in charge of rebuilding the crumbling Morris Walk Estate, its senior councillor in charge of housing said last night as it approved plans to knock down the 1960s estate.
The council entered into a 12-year deal with Lovell in 2012 to redevelop the Connaught Estate in Woolwich town centre and the Morris Walk and Maryon Road estates, on the Woolwich/Charlton border.
While Lovell has pressed ahead with turning the Connaught – close to the under-construction Crossrail station – into the Trinity Walk development, where 445 of the 689 homes are for private sale, work has not started on Morris Walk or Maryon Road. This is despite the council having spent years moving tenants and leaseholders out.
Now frustrated councillors have agreed to tell Lovell to knock Morris Walk down anyway, to stop the largely deserted estate from being a haven for crime and anti-social behaviour. Demolition had been due to begin in autumn 2018.
‘Build date could not be met’
Chris Kirby, the cabinet member for housing, told the cabinet – the council’s main decision-making body – that the council has been asked for “vacant possession” of the blocks. “When that process had begun, we were informed that the build date could not be met,” he said.
“To say I am disappointed doesn’t cover my feelings towards that. I feel badly let down by Lovell and I have told them in no uncertain terms.”
The agreement was signed off by former leader Chris Roberts and his cabinet, which included current Woolwich Riverside councillors John Fahy and Jackie Smith, whose ward covers the estate.
“If we were writing it now we would design it in a different way, but I’m not here to unpick old agreements,” Kirby said.
“Where we are in is a really difficult negotiation about bringing the build date forward. There’s a huge amount of concern and frustration about the start date – it’s difficult to give a running commentary on a negotiation, but as soon as we have concrete information for residents, we will do.
“We’re looking for that start date to be as soon as possible. We’re working with Lovell, with PA Housing [the housing association involved in the scheme], with police and with residents to mitigate the fallout from where we are.”
‘Not short of a bob or two’
Addressing the cabinet, John Fahy spoke of how Lovell’s parent company, Morgan Sindall, presented to councillors at the Local Government Association conference in Bournemouth last week that it had “£2billion in 2012, and £2 billion in 2019”, “They’re not short of a bob or two,” he said.
Kirby responded: “I just agree with you. Developers are allowed to get away with this kind of activity all around the country and what we need is a radical government that’s going to stop landbanking and restore grants for the building of social homes.”
Council leader Danny Thorpe defended the original deal with Lovell, saying the estates were “exempted” from the Decent Homes Programme, a Blair-era programme to bring social housing up to scratch. “We can’t defend squalor, we want to see a decent standing of housing moving forward, and we will be holding PA Housing to account for their actions as well.”
Councillors also approved a decision to approve compulsory purchase orders on the estate on improved terms, following a government decision involving Southwark Council and the Aylesbury Estate in Walworth. “This is now seen as best practice, which is why it is back before us tonight,” Kirby said.
July and August’s Friday Concert Programme sees recitals from a host of talented musicians including; Royal Greenwich Brass Band 12th July, the Ensemble of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force 2nd August and Duo Furioso 30th August. A firm favourite for audiences young and old Charlton House’s Friday Concert programme is free to attend from 1pm to 2pm every Friday in the Old Library, and only made possible by kind and generous donations.
Tickets are still available for an open-air performance, in association with Drama Impact, of the Shakespeare classic comedy ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ on Sunday 14th July, 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available at £15.00 per head from the dramaimpact.com website.
Two very special outdoor screenings in association with the Extraordinary Travelling Film show are being held on Friday 19th and Saturday 20th July.
Watch the Oscar winning Bohemian Rhapsody on the big screen under the stars on Friday 19th 7.30pm, within the impressive grounds and gardens of Charlton House. A big night is expected so come along and make some noise to the classic hits of Queen. Tickets are available at £12 per adult, £9 per child and £35 per family.
Hidden Figures screens on the evening of Saturday 20th July, part of a series of events in association with the Moon Festival celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the moon landings. This heart-warming crowd pleaser film celebrates the crucial and often overlooked contribution of a group of women to space history, to critical acclaim and with a stellar cast. Tickets for this screening are now available at the discounted rate of £8 per adult, £6 per child and £25 per family.
For families and young children Holiday Histories returns to Charlton House every Wednesday from the 31st July to the 28th August, with activities centred on Jacobean fashion and embroidery, Honeybee making and dressing up. Suitable for children aged 4+, you can drop in on the day from 10am to 1pm, £1.50 per child, with younger children welcome to join with the help of a responsible adult.
More details and booking information on all the events coming up at Charlton House & Gardens can be found at greenwichheritage.org/whats-on or by calling 020 8856 3951.
There’ll be superheroes in SE7 this Saturday. Thorntree dad ANDREW DONKIN explains…
This Saturday, 13 July 2019 sees Thorntree Primary School on Thorntree Road, Charlton, throws open its doors to welcome pupils, ex-students, parents, carers, teachers, and the wider Charlton community to its Summer Fayre. Come one, come all, everyone is welcome. Money raised goes to the Friends of Thorntree Association.
The event is open from 11am to 3om and this year has an Avengers theme. There will be 30 Marvel-lous stalls (see what we did there?) offering everything from Spin the Avenger, to Incredible Face Painting, a Mighty Money Tree, and a chance to undertake Thor’s Balance Challenge. There will also be a tasty BBQ with veggie options, and a fully stocked bar.
The leader of the Summer Fayre team, Jude Belton-Owen, said: “The Summer Fayre is our largest annual event and we’ve been working hard to make this year’s the biggest and best ever. The kids picked the Avengers theme and have been full of energy and enthusiasm coming up with ideas for stalls and events ever since.“
The Friends of Thorntree Association chair, Mark Owen, added: “The event is open to everyone in Charlton! Please come along and support us and have a great time. We’d love to see ex-students and ex-parents to visit as well as folks who might be Thorntree parents in the future. There will be fun, beer and (fingers crossed) sun. I’ll probably be on BBQ duty so look out for the man with the singed eyebrows and come and say hello.”
The Barber of Seville opened in Hampshire before transferring to Charlton House at the weekend
We’ve had rave reviews from the weekend’s first two performances of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE at Charlton House. There are two performances left, so here’s its producer, ILONA BUSHELL, to tell you why should should sample some opera at your local Jacobean mansion…
Come along to Scherzo Ensemble’s Barber of Seville which is running this week with performances on Friday 12th and Sunday 14th. This witty touring production started in Hampshire at the Longhope Estate and finds its current home in the Old Library at Charlton House. The lively and entertaining music is masterfully directed by Matthew O’Keefe, who stands on the gallery with the sound of Rossini floating down over the audience. On stage, the characters dance, hide, laugh and – yes – sing under the clever artistic direction of Sebastian Freeburn. Freeburn’s costume design makes the stage pop with colour amongst the singing wood of the Old Library.
The production prides itself on its engagement with young artists, with the team all under 30 and the orchestra made up of talented players from London Conservatoires. Upcoming stars of the stage who are performing at famous venues around the country including Glyndebourne, bring the Opera House to your doorstep. Margo Arsane, an emerging mezzo and current young artist at the National Opera Studio in London, sings her first Rosina with devastating beauty and feeling. Meanwhile, Benedict Nelson, previous Harewood Artist at English National Opera, directs proceedings from his position as Figaro.
Get ready to laugh and cry with the zany characters as they embark on a complicated journey towards their happy ending. Tickets start from £14, with reduced prices for students and under 18s. Buy on the door with cash or card, and enjoy a free glass of bubbly with your ticket!
Performances are at 7pm on Friday 12 July and 4pm on Sunday 14 July.
More information: scherzobarbiere.com
The Hyde scheme would see plots A and C built first, followed by D and E, according to papers filed with Greenwich Council earlier this year. The rejected Rockwell scheme is to the left, the Flint Glass Wharf proposal is the other riverside project
Hyde Housing is to reveal more about its plans to build new homes on Charlton Riverside at an exhibition to be held next week.
Now Hyde is to hold an exhibition on Thursday 11 July (4-8pm) and Saturday 13 July (10am-2pm) about its plans. It says it plans:
Circa 1,250 new homes, with a target or delivering 50% of homes as affordable (it does not elaborate on what “affordable” means)
The provision of new commercial space, including maker, retail and wider employment uses
Delivery of new pedestrian and cycling routes and a comprehensive programme of public realm improvements
The opening up and activation of the riverfront so it can be enjoyed by local people
The documents filed to Greenwich Council’s planning team in May state that the blocks will be between one and 10 storeys tall, and that it hopes to begin eight years of construction next year, starting from the river and moving inland.
The exhibition will be at St Richard’s Church Centre, 40 Sundorne Road SE7 7PP. Coincidentally, it will be held on the same days as the exhibition on the Faraday Works scheme on the old Siemens site the other side of the Thames Barrier, hosted by developer U+I.
As well as the Hyde and U+I schemes, two other major schemes are at different stages in the planning process.
They are:
the Rockwell scheme for 771 homes at Anchor & Hope Lane was refused first by Greenwich Council last summer, then by the Mayor of London in January; we can expect to hear this month whether Rockwell will appeal to the Planning Inspectorate
The Charlton Champion 