Sunday, April 17, 2011

Oxfam 'Swishing' Party for Japan

Help.. Help!!

The local Oxfam group is holding a fund raising event for Japan on 29th April in East Greenwich Pleasaunce - this is part of a street party event in the Pleasaunce from 10.00am in the morning.

The Oxfam group is to hold a 'swishing party' - that means you bring along good quality unwanted clothes for sale or swap - they urgently need at least one dress rail, and expertise in making cocktails. Volunteers would also be very welcome - to help with the raffle and other things. Also some raffle prizes.

Contact: Bhaswati Guha on bhaswatioxjam@gmail.com
Tel: 07536087464

Train Services Cut for the Olympics

At a recent meeting of stakeholders, Southeast trains revealed their plans for 2012, summarised above (click to enlarge). The difficult to read blue on blue text reveals that there will be a dramatic reduction in services on the Greenwich Line, with a total suspension of service altogether at Maze Hill Station in one direction or the other for most of the day. Ironically, these cuts will not operate at weekends, even the day when most people are expected to use the trains (Saturday 4th August 2012). These closures will operate throughout the period from 27th July to 12th August, even though there will be exceptional numbers travelling to Greenwich on only one day (30th July). Even then, the Equestrian events are expected to attract no more visitors than the fireworks– for which the stations do not close. SE Trains disclosed at the meeting that, contrary to what was claimed, the reason for the closure was not just to allow extra times at event stations to allow people to get on and off; it was a deliberate policy to stop people getting off at Maze Hill, because the station infrastructure and surrounding streets were deemed unsuitable.


At the meeting, the Westcombe Society urged that suspensions of services from Maze Hill and heavy cuts at Westcombe Park not last two whole weeks. Since any problem would be concentrated on only one day, the stations should continue to operate normally for the rest of the period.


Residents of the western part of Westcombe Park would be uniquely disadvantaged. Residents would not be able to walk to the nearest stations (Greenwich, and Cutty Sark DLR - where trains would also not stop) because all foot and cycle paths across Greenwich Park would be closed, as would Charlton Way. As a London Assembly report notes, “the southern approach to the Blackwall Tunnel is the most congested junction in London. An increase in bottlenecks and traffic jams seems inevitable.” Romney Road would probably be virtually impassable for pedestrians, cyclists and buses because many visitors to Greenwich Park would be required to cross the road, even if the area were not gridlocked.


The Westcombe Society has responded to Southeastern Trains rejecting the proposed timetable as “wholly unacceptable”. Click here to see the Society’s response

An extremely useful source of information is the 853 blog, which was the source of the following summary table of services.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Big Increase in Parking Charges


No, it is not an April fool joke.

Greenwich Council really have increased parking charges at the Old Dover Road car park from 10p for 15 minutes or 20p for half an hour – which many people found long enough to pop into the shops, now that the free bays are taken up by commuters – to 80p an hour. Indeed 10p coins are now useless. The machines will no longer accept legal tender 5p and 10p coins. Users must insert four 20p coins to get a permit for up to an hour. Few people have as many as four 20p coins, so some frustrated shoppers feel they have no option but to inserting a £1 coin instead (no change is given) even when popping into the shops for a few items.

Although the notice conceals the fact, it is actually possible to pay for units of 15 minutes for less than an hour, not just increments beyond an hour. This can be done by inserting one or more 20p coins and pressing the green button. A mere doubling of the fee.

However, commuters will not share the pain. There has been no increase in the cost of an annual season ticket.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Welcome to Blackheath


Residents of Westcombe Park using mobility scooters, pushchairs, scooters, tricycles and pushbikes, going to the Heath or across it to Blackheath Village along the path from Vanbrugh Park Road, have faced the dangerous hurdle of a steep kerb on both sides of Charlton Way. None of the other road crossings has this hazard.


After many years of campaigning by the Westcombe Society, Greenwich Council have now installed dropped kerbs to allow such users to get off the road as quickly, easily and safely as possible.


Membership Form

Welcome to Mycenae Gardens


At a well attended public meeting on 24th March, local residents formally approved the establishment of ‘The Friends of Mycenae Gardens’, which aims to cherish, preserve and enhance this much loved space at the heart of Westcombe Park, in partnership with Greenwich Council (which has made a generous grant to help establish the Group). The Westcombe Society is also making a donation. The meeting has appointed a committee to run the group.

It was clear at the meeting that some local residents were unaware that the Gardens are open to all. The entrance (shown above) to Mycenae Gardens is between Mycenae and Garden Houses at 90 Mycenae Road.

Membership of the Friends is open to all and, for the first year, membership is free of charge, though donations would be very welcome. Membership forms are available in Mycenae House or downloaded by clicking here

Siege of Westcombe Park – 2011

As usual, the Local Information for residents enclosed by the route downloadable from http://bit.ly/h4852j makes no mention of Westcombe Park or Charlton. Characteristically, GreenwichTime also includes no information either.


However, Westcombe.blogspot understands that the organisers will be making a serious effort this year to help residents enter or exit Westcombe Park during this year’s London Marathon (as usual, unlike the run-to-the-Beat marathon in September, there will be no entry or exit possible from the Woolwich Road Flyover roundabout).


Last year, the organisers promised that it would be possible to cross the Marathon Route at the Gibb Memorial crossing point until 07.00 and that they anticipated the crossing would reopen by 14.00. In the event, it opened much earlier.


For 2011, the announced period of Closure will be shorter, from 07.00 until Noon. But Westcombe.blogspot understands that in fact the organisers will strive to get closer to the tradition reopening times and that “From approximately 10.45am residents will be able to exit from Maze Hill to travel west on the A2 to the bottom of Blackheath Hill to continue west or south towards Lewisham.”


Even more encouraging is the stated intention that actual opening times will be recorded to enable more accurate opening time to be published for next year's race literature.


All that would be needed then is for the organisers to follow the example of local taxi firms and pizza shops and let residents (directly, and via Westcombe News) know in advance, so that they can plan accordingly.


Friday, April 01, 2011

April 2011 Applications

29 HUMBER ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7LS ref 11/0649/TC

T1 Beech Tree to reduce crown by 20% and raise crown to 5 meters on small diameter branches - less than 3 inches RAISE NO OBJECTION

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 30 March 20111

Site Notice Date: No Public Consultation

Deadline for decision: 11 May 2011


171 WESTCOMBE HILL, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7DP ref 11/0633/TC

Cut back overhang into No:169 and crown reduce 2 crab apple trees by max 30-40%

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 25 March 20111

Site Notice Date: No Public Consultation

Deadline for decision: 6 May 2011 RAISE NO OBJECTION


64 FOYLE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7RH ref 11/0625/TC

Fell small ash on rear boundary (on previous application to reduce)

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 22 March 2011

Site Notice Date: 30 March 2011

Deadline for objection: 20 April 2011 RAISE NO OBJECTION


Land between 2 & 14 Beaconsfield Road, SE3 ref 11/0559/F

Construction of two new attached houses with detached shared garage (resubmission)

Case officer: Victoria Wood Telephone: 020 8921 6201

Registration date: 15 March 2011

Site Notice Date: 6 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 27 April 2011 APPROVED


28 BEACONSFIELD ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7LZ ref 11/0527/F

Construction of a single storey rear extension (resubmission)

Case officer: Victoria Wood Telephone: 020 8921 6201

Registration date: 11 March 2011

Site Notice Date: 6 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 27 April 2011 APPROVED


55 MYCENAE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7SF ref 11/0700/TC

Crown reduce multi stemmed sycamore tree by 30%

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 24 March 2011

Site Notice Date: No Public Consultation

Deadline for decision: 6 May 2011 RAISE NO OBJECTION


13-15 Westcombe Park Road, London, SE3 7UQ ref 11/0483/F, 11/0484/L

Renovation works consisting of replacement of rear garden steps, formation of sunken garden, minor alterations to room configurations and various alterations to windows and doors

Case officer: Kemi Erifevieme Tel: 020 8921 5566

Registration date: 24 March 2011

Site Notice Date: 20 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 11 May 2011


39 ULUNDI ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7UQ ref 11/0669/F

Construction of a single storey side extension

Case officer: Victoria Wood Telephone: 020 8921 6201

Registration date: 23 March 2011

Site Notice Date: 20 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 11 May 2011 APPROVED


39 Mycenae Road, Blackheath, London, SE3 7SF ref 11/0721/F

Loft conversion comprising 2 rear dormer windows and 2 rooflights to front roof slope

Case officer: Alex Smith Tel: 020 8921 5892

Registration date: 23 March 2011

Site Notice Date: 20 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 11 May 2011 REFUSED


16 CHARLTON ROAD, CHARLTON, SE3 7HG ref 11/0529/TP APPROVE

Reduce G1 Conifers in height by 30% & T1 Lime 50% Crown reduction

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 8 March 2011

Site Notice Date: No Public Consultation

Deadline for decision: 6 May 2011


50 VANBRUGH PARK, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7JQ ref 11/0890/TP

Fell Sycamore tree in front garden and replace with four year old Sorbus Commixta (Olympic Flame)

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 14 April 2011

Site Notice Date: 15 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 6 May 2011


25 ULUNDI ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7UQ ref 11/0784/TC

Fell sycamore tree with hollow trunk and replace with heavy standard whitebeam

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 12 April 2011

Site Notice Date: 13 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 4 May 2011 RAISE NO OBJECTION


27 WESTCOMBE PARK ROAD, SE3 7RE ref 11/0786/TC

Fell eucalyptus tree in rear garden (between 27 & 29) and replace with rowan

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 8 April 2011

Site Notice Date: 13 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 4 May 2011 RAISE NO OBJECTION


95 Maze Hill, Greenwich, London, SE10 8XQ ref 11/0725/CE

Lawful Development Certificate for an existing use of a glass structure on the roof

Case officer: Victoria Wood Telephone: 020 8921 6201

Registration date: 24 March 2011

Site Notice Date: No Public Consultation

Deadline for decision: 19 May 2011 APPROVE


30 MYCENAE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7SG ref 11/0944/TC

T1 Holly – Fell

Case officer: Debi Rogers Telephone: 020 8921 5661

Registration date: 19 April 2011

Site Notice Date: 26 April 2011

Deadline for objection: 17 May 2011

39 COLERAINE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7PF ref 11/0821/F

Construction of a rear infill extension

Case officer: Kemi Erifevieme Tel: 020 8921 5566

Registration date: 8 April 2011

Site Notice Date: 4 May 2011

Deadline for objection: 25 May 2011


28 COLERAINE ROAD, BLACKHEATH, SE3 7PQ ref 11/0688/NM

Removal of front porch and elevation alterations as non-material amendment to planning permission dated 21/01/2008 (ref: 07/2975/F) for an outbuilding

Case officer: Alex Smith Tel: 020 8921 5892

Registration date: 4 April 2011

Site Notice Date: No Public Consultation

Deadline for decision: 2 May 2011 APPROVE