27 February 2006

Masterplan aiming to revamp site

The Giffin Street masterplan would see the area around the road, near Deptford High Street, transformed by a new-look school, more homes and extra business premises. The plan, first seen by Lewisham's Mayor and cabinet committee last week, puts forward two proposals. The first would see Tidemill Primary School, Frankham Street, Deptford, rebuilt on a new site in Giffin Street.

Police hold woman over £6000

A NURSE wept last night as she told how police swooped as she tried to pay £6,000 into a building society, suspecting it was Securitas stolen cash. Mum-of-three Dawn Bailey, 41, was opening an account at the Portman in Bromley, Kent, with a bundle of £50 notes when staff became suspicious. They delayed her for half an hour saying there was a computer problem. Dawn, of Brockley, South East London, had drawn the cash out of her Halifax account in Catford. Dawn, a Salvation Army care nurse, said: "It was taking a long time but I thought it was only because it was so much money. Then suddenly I was surrounded by uniformed policemen who handcuffed me and marched me to a police car.

Sleuth seeks clues to student lodger’s death

AN INQUISITIVE resident is appealing to News Shopper readers for information on a mysterious death more than 30 years ago. Tony Mclaren and his family moved into a house on Bromley Road, Catford, in 1977 where they heard a student lodger had died at the address following an electric shock in the bathroom.

24 February 2006

£40 Million theft takes Lewisham Twist

Police have arrested two people over the record £50m robbery of a security depot on Wednesday but officers believe some or all of the armed gang may have escaped to the Continent.

Last night, a man aged 29 and a woman aged 31 were arrested in the Forest Hill area of south London. They were being held at undisclosed police stations in Kenton suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery. Adrian Leppard, Assistant Chief Constable of Kent Police, said the two arrests were "significant and directly related to the investigation". He said the two people were arrested at separate addresses in Forest Hill, which were both being "extensively searched" and examined by forensic scientists.

From ‘tired’ centre to tree-lined streets

PRESSURE from a residents' group has paid off as a "tired" town centre looks set to get a £500,000 makeover. The Sydenham Society last year drew up its vision for the Sydenham Gateway, which includes the creation of new open spaces and a tree-lined high street. Now this dream is set to become a reality after transport bosses put up the cash for the work.

Hoping to be Maines attraction

LIB Dem candidate Chris Maines is ready for a new challenge. This is why he is set to hang up his boots as an Orpington councillor after 20 years and vie to unseat current Mayor Steve Bullock in the upcoming May elections.

He has recently moved to Blackheath and says if he makes it to office as Lewisham's directly elected mayor, he will improve people's quality of life. Providing a cinema for the borough is on his hit list of things to do, and he is also keen to expand leisure facilities.

A week in the life of a campaigner

Max Calò's local leisure centre, Ladywell Pool in Lewisham, is under threat of closure. This week he'll be keeping a diary of the highs and lows of his fight to save the pool, and how he fits his campaign work into his life as a new dad.

Victim calls for better security

A FORMER councillor who was attacked at a mugging hotspot is calling for security to be upped in the area. Cathy Priddey was going to meet her partner for a romantic Valentine's Day meal when she was jumped on by an attacker near Hither Green Station.

Now the former Lib Dem councillor is urging those now serving in the town hall to improve safety in the area, which is a notorious haunt for muggers. Ms Priddey, 40, was attacked at around 8pm, on February 14, as she walked towards the station down Beacon Road, Hither Green.

Tributes stolen from graveside

THE mother of murdered teenager Rochelle Holness has spoken of her anger after floral tributes were stolen from her daughter's graveside.

Jennifer Bennett says her family is devastated by the theft of flowers and teddy bears from the grave at Hither Green Cemetery, Verdant Lane, Hither Green.

Body found in the Thames

The body of a 20-year old South African man has been found in the Thames two days after he disappeared, police revealed today. Police were called on Sunday evening just after 10pm after the bosy was spotted on the shoreline opposite Caledonian Wharf in east London. The identity of the dead man is believed to be that of Levier Van Der Hoven, who was living in Lewisham.

Blade

New Cross and Lewisham's very own Blade releases new album GUERRILLA TACTICS today.

"After extensive touring and non stops shows all over Europe, BLADE finally decided it was time to knuckle down to get some new material recorded. It looked like the only way this was gonna happen any time soon would be if he got another producer involved; enter BABY J. This whole relationship started off with one track for which BLADE bought the beat off the hot producer. The recording completed and discussion began to possibly get a whole album recorded together, this being the end result. There are a few collaborations and the skits are designed to give props to the five elements of Hip Hop. The whole album is produced by BABY J and has a very varied feel to it ranging rom laid back meaningful tracks to all out in your face brutal attack of words an content. Something for everybody!!"

Visit BLADE here. Order the album directly here.

Post Office

Being an eBay fiend I've spent a lot of time in Lewisham Borough's various Post Offices. I'd wanted to rant at length about the decling state of the services but it's like shooting fish in a jam jar and won't change anything. But I do need to mention a few things.

Blackheath deserves a special mention - is there a post office in the borough where the staff are as efficient and helpful? I don't think so. The Forest Hill staff are slightly more friendly but Blackheath is just all round excellent. That's where the praise ends.

I haven't ventured into the Lee Green Post Office in a year now. I promised never to put myself through it again. The staff are rude and ignorant - three times in a row I witnessed a verbal fight break out between the staff and customers. The two older men that work in there have a system of whistling to each other when women who they find attractive walk in (I'd spent enough time in the queue to work it out - and believe me, that post office has some long queues).

I'd given up on New Cross because it seems like a meeting place for the insane and the other post offices just don't come up to scratch. Of course, central Lewisham is nice if you like the High Street because you'll be standing in it as the queue stretches out the door and along the street. The bald young guy that works there goes out of his way to be polite and is the only plus side to a miserable experience.

My last bastion was Catford. Catford is normally always busy - but the queue moves and the staff were surprisingly upbeat. Recently the branch was franchised out and new owners are running it. The existing staff have all vanished and I thought it was time I visited again to see how it was doing.

First thing I noticed was the queue to the door, past the door and pressed up against the window. Then I noticed the state of the place - chipped walls and paint missing. Leaflets across the floor and trash everywhere. Forms, posting certificates and applications are missing from the desk and a bundle of recorded delivery slips remain vacuum sealed in a pile at the side. Did I mention how dirty it was in there? Yes? I will do so again - it's horrible.

The staff sit there in casual clothes and not even smart casual - c'mon guys - if KFC opposite and WHSmiths can manage a uniform surely you can get into something professional looking - like a clean shirt? I see an old lady having to yell at the young guy behind the counter who isn't really listening to her and makes her repeat everything twice whilst his eyes stare into the distance. While five people serve there is an employee of the post office (central office?) walking around with a clipboard trying to sign people up to services they don't need - we need that man behind the counter. Never again, like I snubbed the Lee Green branch I will never set foot in the Catford branch again. I'd rather stop off closer to home or wait until I pass Blackheath (even though I won't be able to park and I'll end up having to go elsewhere).

As for the worry over the ever increasing amount of Post Office closures I'll simply shrug and huff. The operating methods they employ are out of date and half hearted - they deserve to die out and although that causes great problems to certain sections of the community hopefully it will spark a review of services and how they can be delivered in a bolder, cleaner, nicer and more efficient manner.

17 February 2006

Stations shamed by crime figures

THREE of the borough's train stations have been named crime hotspots in a damning new survey. Greenwich, Abbey Wood and Blackheath stations all polled in the worst 20 manned railway stations in London. Thirty-five criminal offences were reported at Greenwich station, Abbey Wood had 32, while Blackheath saw 25. All three are staffed until 8pm each day.

Major battles for mayor’s role

The Tory candidate for Mayor says he is hoping the electorate will use their vote "Cleverly". And 36-year-old James Cleverly believes he has a "strong chance" of election success in less than three months' time. Born and bred in Lewisham, the Territorial Army major says he knows what is best for the borough and wants to make changes.

Restoration delay ‘threatens manor’

CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the council to get its Manor House in order. Residents fear the Grade II listed Manor House Library in Old Road, Lee, will "fall apart" if no restoration work is done soon. They blame the council for a series of delays which have blighted the project, first mooted six years ago.