A look back at 2005
Bell Green, Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill Pools and the perennial road works...
After the result of the Bell Green public inquiry in November 2003 there had been a twelve-month lull, and despite permission to develop the Phase 3 site, Sainsburys appeared to be doing nothing. In fact they were negotiating the sale of the lease back to agents of British Gas, who in turn were discussing with both Lewisham and the GLA the massive development of the remainder of the whole site to include large retail warehousing, some business/industrial units and 156 units of housing.
Lewisham granted permission in July, subject to the scrutiny of the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State. The Mayor chose not to direct Lewisham to refuse permission but the Secretary of State decided that the proposals, being of more than local importance, may conflict with national and regional planning policies, and
decided to call the applications in for examination at a
local public inquiry. Sydenham Society will be taking part
in the inquiry scheduled for sometime in 2006 (see
here for more information).
Plans for the new regional sports centre at Crystal Palace Park are under way following several years of discussion. With the announcement of the successful Olympic bid last June plans by the London Development Agency (LDA) took on a new momentum.
The coming 6 months should see the LDA assuming full responsibility for the NSC. A further public consultation will take place during the summer before a planning application is submitted to Bromley next November.
The future of Forest Hill Pools has come to the fore
with the council consutation on a single pool in a new
Leisure Centre versus a refurbishment of the 2 pools in
the current historic building.
Local residents at two public meetings have shown an
overwhelming desire for a refurbishment and retention of
the two pools. As we go to press the result of the
consultation is awaited. Sydenham Society, having listened
to local opinion, supports the option to refurbish and
hopes that Lewisham, too, is listening.
Roadworks
Is there really anything more to say about the misery we have all suffered since November 8 2003 when the Pedestrian Accident Reduction Scheme first turned environs of Sydenham Road into a long traffic jam.
Remember the roundabout fiasco? Hot on the heels of
this scheme came Morrisons renewing gas mains
throughout the area. There was a short two-week respite
over Christmas 2004 and they returned to wreak misery
throughout 2005. A further lull in the gas mains works
over Christmas 2005 will be followed by more of the same
during 2006. Oh what joy!
This time last year Sydenham Society launched its ideas for
the Sydenham Gateway - a new look for the area
around Cobbs Corner and the station to make it more
pedestrian friendly. Our plans also included ideas for a
new station. Just before Christmas we learned that the
Council had been successful in a bid to Transport for
London for funding to improve pedestrian flow and
introduce bus stops to provide a transport interchange.
Ideas for a new station (in the longer term) are still being
discussed.
With all these matters ongoing, and others beside, Sydenham Society looks forward to another busy year in 2006.
Spring 2006
After the result of the Bell Green public inquiry in November 2003 there had been a twelve-month lull, and despite permission to develop the Phase 3 site, Sainsburys appeared to be doing nothing. In fact they were negotiating the sale of the lease back to agents of British Gas, who in turn were discussing with both Lewisham and the GLA the massive development of the remainder of the whole site to include large retail warehousing, some business/industrial units and 156 units of housing.
Lewisham granted permission in July, subject to the scrutiny of the Mayor of London and the Secretary of State. The Mayor chose not to direct Lewisham to refuse permission but the Secretary of State decided that the proposals, being of more than local importance, may conflict with national and regional planning policies, and
decided to call the applications in for examination at a
local public inquiry. Sydenham Society will be taking part
in the inquiry scheduled for sometime in 2006 (see
here for more information).
Plans for the new regional sports centre at Crystal Palace Park are under way following several years of discussion. With the announcement of the successful Olympic bid last June plans by the London Development Agency (LDA) took on a new momentum.
The coming 6 months should see the LDA assuming full responsibility for the NSC. A further public consultation will take place during the summer before a planning application is submitted to Bromley next November.
The future of Forest Hill Pools has come to the fore
with the council consutation on a single pool in a new
Leisure Centre versus a refurbishment of the 2 pools in
the current historic building.
Local residents at two public meetings have shown an
overwhelming desire for a refurbishment and retention of
the two pools. As we go to press the result of the
consultation is awaited. Sydenham Society, having listened
to local opinion, supports the option to refurbish and
hopes that Lewisham, too, is listening.
Roadworks
Is there really anything more to say about the misery we have all suffered since November 8 2003 when the Pedestrian Accident Reduction Scheme first turned environs of Sydenham Road into a long traffic jam.
Remember the roundabout fiasco? Hot on the heels of
this scheme came Morrisons renewing gas mains
throughout the area. There was a short two-week respite
over Christmas 2004 and they returned to wreak misery
throughout 2005. A further lull in the gas mains works
over Christmas 2005 will be followed by more of the same
during 2006. Oh what joy!
This time last year Sydenham Society launched its ideas for
the Sydenham Gateway - a new look for the area
around Cobbs Corner and the station to make it more
pedestrian friendly. Our plans also included ideas for a
new station. Just before Christmas we learned that the
Council had been successful in a bid to Transport for
London for funding to improve pedestrian flow and
introduce bus stops to provide a transport interchange.
Ideas for a new station (in the longer term) are still being
discussed.
With all these matters ongoing, and others beside, Sydenham Society looks forward to another busy year in 2006.
Spring 2006
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