A half-hourly replacement bus will run between Lewisham and Plumstead on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Full services will run from Lewisham and Blackheath. Thameslink services will run from Lewisham and Blackheath but will only run north as far as Blackfriars.
The Jubilee Line and Docklands Light Railway are running a full service.
We’re having an event to mark the launch of Flyover Media on 4 June
Last month, we launched a community interest company, Flyover Media CIC, to take charge of The Charlton Champion and its sister site 853. It’s the first step towards putting these websites on a sustainable footing, and also means we can apply for grants to expand into new projects.
We’re holding an event on Tuesday 4 June upstairs at The White Swan, 22 The Village, SE7 8UD (doors 7pm, starts 8pm) to mark the launch of Flyover and to talk about what we – and you – can do to ensure SE London can still have an independent local media, with a special look at Greenwich and Lewisham. We’ll be outlining some of our plans, and figuring out a path for the future, while we’ll also hopefully have some special guests from the journalism industry.
There’ll also be a bar, so it’ll be good to share ideas over a drink. If you get along early and you’re peckish, there will be food available downstairs.
With the sun making increasingly regular appearances and a bank holiday weekend hoving in to view, we thought we’d take a quick look at the latest news from Charlton Lido:
You can start your long weekend with a Friday afternoon swim as they extend pool opening hours until 4pm today (though note they’re closing early at 4pm on Monday):
Extended pool time @charltonlido Due to the hot weather tomorrow, the pool will be open until 4 pm.
— Friends of Charlton Lido (@FoCLSE7) May 20, 2019
And – at last! – they have some merchandise to sell. Charlton Lido & Lifestyle Club branded swim caps come in four colours and are for sale at the reception for £5 each:
— Friends of Charlton Lido (@FoCLSE7) May 23, 2019
The lido’s Swim Doctor sessions – drop-in swimming classes for adults, included in lido membership fees or £3 on top of the cost of a swim – are now running 6 times a week:
Monday 7–8pm
Tuesday 9.30–10.30am and 12.30–1.30pm
Thursday 1–2pm.
Friday 7–8.30am (fitness) and 9.30–10.30 am (technique)
This writer highly recommends these classes as a way to improve your swimming as part of a supportive group of swimmers of varying experience and ability, without having to commit to regular attendance.
Inexplicably, there’s no mention of the Swim Doctor sessions on the official lido website, and you can’t book them online (as far as we can see – if anyone’s worked out how to do this, let us know!). We recommend following Tracy Swim Doctor or Friends of Charlton Lido on Twitter to keep up with the latest news.
@Swim__Doctor@charltonlido is for all swimmers that can swim 50m regardless of ability, technique and injuries. It is a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and great for your wellbeing!
Today’s 9:30-10:30 session was based on endurance swimming on average 2k pic.twitter.com/cPSOObRo69
— Tracy – Swim Doctor at Charlton Lido (@thewhitesat64) May 17, 2019
The Synergy development is now poking into the sky above Charlton
Local MP Matt Pennycook has reacted angrily after the developer behind 330 new homes being built on Victoria Way shrugged off complaints about the impact of construction work on the site’s neighbours.
Fairview New Homes dismissed a series of issues raised by Pennycook on behalf of residents about dirt, idling construction vehicles and work taking place outside permitted hours.
Its senior site manager, Matthew Hook, said “we can only assume that the points raised are generally historical” and said that Greenwich Council was happy with the cracked state of the road outside the development site, which is being branded Synergy.
After effectively being told residents’ complaints were groundless, Pennycook has now said he will name the company in Parliament as an example of bad practice in the construction sector. He is also asking for residents with complaints to get in touch with him and the company.
Residents have had to put up with dust and construction lorries
Hook also said that the points had been addressed in a meeting with the council on 25 February, and that no further complaints had been made since.
“So to summarise, all of the concerns raised in your letter have already been discussed, reviewed and mitigated following a meeting between [Fairview] and [Greenwich Council] on the 25/02/19 and to date, since the meeting we have had no further complaints or correspondence from local residents or [Greenwich Council] or any other industry bodies such as the Considerate Constructors Scheme regarding the development on Victoria Way,” Hook wrote.
However, the residents’ complaints were made to Pennycook at a roving advice surgery on 30 March, more than a month after the meeting with the council, with the letter written on 14 May.
How not to do "stakeholder engagement". One of the worst examples of a developer, in this case Fairview New Homes Ltd, simply dismissing concerns raised on behalf of local residents about poor construction management. pic.twitter.com/VoGAZYUiC8
— Matthew Pennycook MP (@mtpennycook) May 21, 2019
Pennycook has responded: “It is patently the case that local residents do have outstanding complaints about construction management on the site. Rather than seeking to dismiss these complaints as you did in your letter, a responsible developer would have engaged with the substance of each of them and given due consideration as to what more could be done to alleviate them.
“I intend to name [Fairview] on the floor of the House of Commons and use your letter as an example of bad practice in the sector as well as making additional direct representations to ministers at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.”
The source of residents’ gripes was clear on Thursday afternoon, with surfaces on the lower stretch of Victoria Way covered in dust from construction. While a site worker hosed down the entrance to the development, nothing was being done about dust and grime outside people’s homes. The wheels of a passing construction truck did not appear to have been washed.
Fairview has hosed down the road and pavement outside the site, but not outside people’s homes
Fairview has not responded to a request for comment.
Cratus Communications, whose deputy chairman is former Greenwich Council leader Chris Roberts, handled the consultation for the Victoria Way scheme. Last month, the company published a blog post on its website claiming it was “quietly revolutionising and abolishing the traditional view of ‘faceless’ developers sweeping into town and ‘doing what they like’”. “Communication with existing residents has to be managed carefully and with tact,” it added.
If you live close to the Victoria Way development and are affected by the dirt and grime from Fairview New Homes’ Synergy development, please email matthew.pennycook.mp[at]parliament.uk, and copy in matthew.hook[at]fairview.co.uk. Comments are also open below.
The developer, Pure Let Greenwich, put forward plans to demolish the pub’s extension in place of six new homes, concreting over the pub’s garden in the process.
Neighbour Susan Archer said her house had not been considered by officers who had recommended approving the development, which would have a four-bed family property at its rear.
She said: “My conservatory would be directly looked into by the four bedroom property. The rear buildings will be able to see directly into my property. My privacy will be totally affected.”
The resident said there has also been confusion amongst residents as to what the application was, as a previous scheme for the pub itself was thrown out last year.
A model of the plans, with the original scheme to bulldoze the pub in the corner
Council officers rejected plans last year to bulldoze the three-storey pub after more than a dozen people objected to losing the building.
The neighbour said there could have been more people objecting if the process had been clearer.
Developers said they would plant trees to screen her property from overlooking, but were left red-faced when asked about why they had already cut a tree without permission.
Chair Sarah Merrill said: “In the plans it very clearly says the tree is to be retained but it has been felled. If that’s an old plan as you say what is it doing before us.
“My view is that the pub is empty, the community space at the back is falling down. It’s an eyesore – the land is vacant. When I first looked at the application I was happy you were retaining trees so then to find out you’ve felled the huge one is upsetting. That’s disingenuous.
“However it is not worth turning down housing on those grounds. I do share concerns from the resident and there is going to be a very firm condition for screening.”
The developers said having a profitable development would eventually lead to bringing the vacant pub back into use.
Tom Bull is the Local Democracy Reporter for Greenwich. The Local Democracy Reporter Service is a BBC-funded initiative to ensure councils are covered properly in local media. See more about how The Charlton Champion uses LDRS content.
The first sell-out crowd at The Valley in seven years saw Charlton Athletic beat Doncaster Rovers after extra time and penalties to make it to the League One play-off final at Wembley.
Charlton will play Sunderland on Sunday 26 May – 21 years after the two clubs met at Wembley in a play-off final to reach the Premier League. Back then, the Addicks won 7-6 on penalties after drawing 4-4 after extra time in one of the greatest games the national stadium has seen.
The 25,428 crowd was the biggest since eccentric Belgian electronic magnate Roland Duchâtelet took over the club in 2014, precipitating a decline which has seen the Addicks marooned in the third tier of English football, with attendances slumping as longstanding fans boycotted the club.
It was an even more dramatic day for Charlton captain Patrick Bauer, who became a father in the afternoon before leading his side to victory in the evening.
Wow what a day! Welcomed my little daughter Kayleen Bauer into the world this afternoon. In the evening we secured a spot in the play-off final. A day I definitely won’t forget. WE‘RE GOING TO WEMBLEY! 🔴⚪️ #CAFC#COYRpic.twitter.com/K9QM0FrAum
Many fans set aside their boycott to come to The Valley last night as promotion back to the second-tier Championship should make the club more attractive to potential buyers – although Duchâtelet is still reported to be insisting that new owners repay the money he has lost in his disastrous spell in charge of the club.
What a start for Charlton!
Cullen whips a cross into the box, which Krystian Bielik connects with to head past Marosi!
Charlton took an early lead when Krystian Bielik’s second-minute header made it 3-1 on aggregate, after the Addicks won Sunday’s first leg in South Yorkshire by two goals to one. But Rovers fought back amid a hesitant second-half performance from Charlton to lead 2-1 after 90 minutes – 3-3 on aggregate.
Former Millwall striker John Marquis scored for Doncaster after 100 minutes, but Darren Pratley capitalised on an error by Rovers keeper Marko Marosi just a minute later to make it 2-3 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate.
⏱️ Marquis (100) ⏱️ Pratley (101)
The play-offs never cease to amaze!
A minute after falling behind, Charlton are back level in the tie!
After the match went to penalties, Charlton sealed the win when Doncaster captain Tommy Rowe missed the fifth spot-kick of the shoot-out, sparking a joyous pitch invasion at The Valley. The last pitch invasion was three years ago, when Charlton were relegated, in protest at Duchâtelet’s ownership.
The Addicks now have over 36,000 tickets for Wembley – sale details are available on cafc.co.uk.
This is my wife standing outside our house at the full time whistle. We’re around half a mile from the stadium. Fans were ridiculous tonight (🔉sound on). #cafcpic.twitter.com/03Qjidnkz5
Charlton House Stables is hosting a play about dementia
Greenwich Carers Centre, at Charlton House Stables, has been in touch about a performance happening on Thursday 23 May…
Don’t Leave Me Now explores the impact of young onset dementia on two very different families. Rachael Dixey cared for her partner with dementia for seven years. Cindy Toulman visited her husband in his care home every day for ten years.
Don’t Leave Me Now was inspired by these two real life stories. With authenticity, insight and humour, playwright, Brian Daniels weaves the strands of these stories together to create a documentary-style production highlighting the emotions, dilemmas and challenges experienced by people affected by dementia.
Don’t Leave Me Now was written by Brian Daniels, Artistic Director of New End Theatre Beyond. The playreadings will be performed by a cast of five professional actors and each performance will be followed by a discussion and audience Q & A with the actors, playwright and Rachael Dixey.
Rachael Dixey’s book, ‘Our Dementia Diary: Irene, Alzheimer’s and Me’ will be on sale and Rachael will be happy to sign copies.
There are two performances, at 3pm and 6.30pm. Greenwich Carers Centre is at The Stables, 76 Hornfair Road, SE7 7BD. Tickets are £5. Book on 020 8102 9654 or email info[at]greenwichcarerscentre.org.
Tom Bull is the Local Democracy Reporter for Greenwich. The Local Democracy Reporter Service is a BBC-funded initiative to ensure councils are covered properly in local media.
The Charlton Champion 