Council tax in Greenwich frozen
January 31, 2011 by Rob Powell
There will be no rise in council tax after a freeze was agreed by councillors for the year 2011 – 2012 at a full meeting of the Council last Wednesday at Woolwich Town Hall.
Band D homes will continue to have an annual council tax of £1,290.73.
At the same meeting, councillors agreed an average rent increase of £5.16 per week for council tenants.
It was also revealed that the council is to consult its tenants on implementing a new service charge to help close a gap in the housing budget.
Council officers report that a £2.00 weekly service charge would meet the shortfall but a range of figures will be included in the consultation – the results of which are expected to be introduced from October 2011.
Daily Photo: 31/01/2011 – Sculpture on the Beach
January 31, 2011 by Rob Powell
Sculpture on the foreshore – taken in December 2010
Many thanks to Peter Grahame Woolf for sending me photographs of a sculpture on the foreshore near to Greenwich Sailing Club. Peter explains that it has “survived all the tides and weathers including the recent freeze, and gradually accreted more bits and pieces over the years.”
Taken in March 2010
Taken in October 2008
Daily Photo: 28/01/2011 – River walk
January 28, 2011 by Rob Powell
The two lovely photos above were taken by Dazza on his walk along the Thames Path last Friday afternoon. He was kind enough to share these pictures and there’s more to come next week…
Greenwich planners approve cable car scheme
January 28, 2011 by Rob Powell
A cable car system across the Thames took a step closer to becoming a reality last night after it won the unanimous support of Greenwich Council’s Planning Board.
The TFL scheme to build a cable car linking the Greenwich Peninsula with the Royal Docks has already been backed by Newham Council.
Once built, the Thames Cable Car will carry 34 gondolas – each with a capacity of 10 people – on the short journey fifty metres above the Thames.
In their review of the scheme, CABE praised the “the elegance, inventiveness and originality” of the towers that will straddle both ends.
For further coverage of the planning committee meeting, see Darryl’s report at 853.
Nick Raynsford MP told Greenwich.co.uk last year that the scheme was a “nice little project” but not one that would address the “absolutely hopeless cross river links”
Review: Private Peaceful, Greenwich Theatre
January 28, 2011 by Peter Jolly
Michael Morpurgo wrote Private Peaceful with a mission in mind, that was to help grant posthumous pardons to soldiers shot in the First World War for cowardice; this was, happily, realised in 2006. In Simon Reade’s adaptation the character Private Peaceful too has a mission; to ‘set the record straight’ with regard to his conviction for cowardice. In a play lasting 80 minutes, he does just that – the performance lasts only slightly longer than the court martial that has convicted him.
The stage is set without any trappings, just a young man curled up on an old iron bedstead in a barn, awaiting execution by a firing squad. The young man is Private ‘Tommo’ Peaceful, and the play keeps returning to this location as his pocket watch “slowly slides away the seconds” towards the final moments of his life. We experience flashes of his life as Tommo’s story gradually unfolds during the course of the play. There is an inevitability about the structure of the narrative but the trick that is so successfully pulled off is to make the audience care intensely about Tommo’s journey.
Mark Quartley, an outstanding young actor at the start of his career, takes on the role of Private Peaceful, and he creates a touching and affecting portrait. During the course of the play he is called upon to create a battalionful of other characters that populate the stage in Tommo’s journey from Devon to the Western front. The performance is energetic, with clear and precise transformations from one character to another, as Quartley effortlessly becomes a young wide eyed-child, a colonel, a schoolteacher and even a cantankerous old woman urging Tommo to join up for the army well before he’s reached the proper age. He has an impressive physical presence and a vocal precision that creates and maintains the audience’s attention. Sound and lighting carefully enhance the simplicity of the play; they are both judiciously used to indicate mood and location. As the play reaches its conclusions key moments are dramatically staged, slow motion is used highly effectively to illustrate the pain of the battlefield and the worthlessness of human life on the Western Front.
The narrative is full of carefully woven images that trace Tommo as he grows from a young child in an Edwardian country idyll to the final moments of his life. The mud that young Tommo feels between his toes as a child when he walks excitedly through a stream becomes the gooey mud that “wants to drown you” in the trenches. The thrill of seeing his first aeroplane cutting its way through the Devon sky becomes the smoke-trail of a Royal Flying Corp biplane plunging to the ground over Belgium. The images that are evoked at the start of the play turn to dust as the horrors of war overcome Tommo and his brother Charlie.
Simon Reade’s adaptation makes no concessions to children regarding the reality of the battlefield and it has real bite; for the adult it has the simplicity and punch of a well-told parable. However, there is also a lightness of touch that allows the audience to laugh at the world through Tommo’s eyes, even in extremis.
Michael Morpurgo’s books about the First World War and its effect on the individual have reached an entire generation of children and their influence grows. As the lavish stage adaptation of War Horse continues to run in the West End and the publicity machine cranks up for Spielberg’s adaptation of it for the big screen, Private Peaceful quietly begins its national tour at Greenwich Theatre. It is worth noting how effective a one man show can be; it is startlingly simple, and surprisingly effective.
Private Peaceful is on at Greenwich Theatre until Sat 29th January.
Daily Photo: 27/01/2011 – Meridian Line
January 27, 2011 by Rob Powell
With the news that the Royal Observatory is going to start charging visitors £10 to access the Meridian Line in its courtyard, I started to wonder if alternative markings of the line may start to become popular with tourists. Did you know that the Meridian Line is marked in the tennis courts at Greenwich Park, just a stone’s throw from the Observatory?
Changes agreed to Planning committee system
January 27, 2011 by Rob Powell
More objections will be required for future planning applications before they are referred to council planning committees following a decision taken at last night’s full council meeting.
Currently a planning application that receives two or more objections will be referred to the local Planning Board by council officers, but this threshold is being increased to eight.
The cost saving measure is estimated to cut the number of applications considered by committees from 179 to 75 in a year and result in a saving of £27,000 in 2011/2012.
Council officers say that at least ten London borough have a higher threshold than that which is being introduced in Greenwich, or they leave referral at the discretion of officers and members.
Conservative councillors voted against the plans, with Cllr Alex Wilson suggesting the plans wait til the Government’s Localism Bill has been published – expected to make many changes to local planning rules – and Cllr Geoff Brighty questioning whether applications could be dealt with in a timely manner if the number of meetings were being reduced.
Deputy Leader of the Council, Cllr Peter Brooks, backed the plan and said that the proposals could be reviewed at the council’s AGM in May.
A Greenwich Education
January 26, 2011 by Paul Webbewood
When considering what secondary school might best serve their child, parents often look to the Government’s performance tables for GCSE results. In recent years in Greenwich these have often been an embarrassment. One thing which has particularly needled the Town Hall has been the number of potentially high performing pupils from the Borough who have chosen to go to a grammar school in Bexley.
Some years ago the council tried to combat this by an advertising campaign featuring well-known people who had been educated in the Borough exhorting others to “Get a Greenwich Education”. I remember in particular footballer Anton Ferdinand and Trudie “June Ackland from The Bill” Goodwin. While the posters told us when Anton had attended Blackheath Bluecoat School, they were too polite to tell us Trudie’s Eltham Hill vintage.
On the same theme the rebuilt Crown Woods campus near the Bexley border will be split into four distinct units including Delamere School for “high-ability” 11-16 year olds and seemingly a grammar school that dare not speak its name.
However the recently published results for 2010 are interesting. Just over 50% of pupils at Greenwich achieved five GCSE passes at A*-C Grade including English and Maths. This puts us in a lowly 29th place out of the 32 London Boroughs. At the same time it continues a significant upward trend from the nadir of 2007 when Greenwich was firmly at the rear with a 34% pass rate.
2010 GCSE results 5 A*-C passes including English & Maths
| Rank | Borough | % |
| 1 | Kensington & Chelsea | 71.3 |
| 7 | Bromley | 65.1 |
| 13 | Bexley | 59.8 |
| London Average | 58.1 | |
| 29 | Greenwich | 50.1 |
| 31 | Lewisham | 48 |
5 GCSEs at Grade A*-C including Maths & English
Trend 2007-2010
| Rank | Borough | Increase in % pass rate |
| 1 | Southwark | 17.7 |
| 2 | Westminster | 16.5 |
| 3 | Greenwich | 16.1 |
| London Average | 10.5 |
So is the glass half full or half empty? Greenwich Time has predictably concentrated solely on the improvement and ignored the raw figures, while Greenwich Conservatives provide an alternative, somewhat churlish, slant.
I feel that while there is clearly a lot of scope to do better, things do seem to be moving in the right direction and that Greenwich officers and lead Councillor Jackie Smith(no relation to the former Home Secretary) have cause for some limited trumpet blowing.
Whether examination results are the best indicator of a school’s performance is, of course, another issue…
Department for Education results for all schools can be seen here.
Paul Webbewood is a former Liberal Democrat councillor for the Middle Park and Sutcliffe Ward.
Royal Observatory to introduce £10 charge
January 24, 2011 by Rob Powell
Accessing parts of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park will cost visitors £10 from March, it has emerged.
The new charge is being introduced from March 8th this year and applies to Flamsteed House and the Meridian Line. Adults will pay £10 and those that qualify for a concession will pay £7.50. Once paid, the pass will enable free returns for 12 months. Children aged 15 and under will continue to get free access.
The Astronomy Centre with its three interactive galleries will remain free.
Charging was abolished at the museum in 2001, when free entry was introduced at national museums in England, Scotland and Wales, but a spokesperson for the National Maritime Museum says it “needs to look at generating more of its own revenue” after a “a prolonged period of limited investment”.
Lord Sterling, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Maritime Museum said, “After thorough deliberation, Trustees have taken the decision that the only responsible and practical course of action we can adopt is to return to charging for the Meridian Line and Flamsteed House at the Royal Observatory.”
When asked if the Royal Observatory would be considering discounted entry for holders of the council’s “Greenwich Card” scheme, the NMM spokesperson commented, “It is something we are looking into.”
Additional coverage at the Greenwich Gazette, Greenwich Phantom and 853.
Controversial Greenwich Market redevelopment gets the go-ahead
January 20, 2011 by Rob Powell
Controversial plans to redevelop Greenwich Market and build a new boutique hotel have been given the green light.
The proposals were orgininally rejected unanimously by councillors on the Greenwich Council Planning Board but landowners, Greenwich Hospital took their revised plans to a public appeal.
Following a public inquiry, with hearings held at Woolwich Town Hall last September, the planning inspector has recommended that permission be granted. His conclusions have now been backed by Local Government Secretary of State, Eric Pickles.
The Planning Inspector considered both the original application and the revised scheme, designed by Hopkins Architects, put forward by Greenwich Hospital. He agreed with many of the objections to the original proposals and stated that they would have been harmful to the character and appearance of the conservation area.
But in looking at the the revised plans, which dropped plans for a canopy roof and retain the market’s cobbles, the Inspector concludes that the “universal value, integrity and authenticity of the World Heritage Site” would be conserved by the regeneration. He adds that the scheme would “preserve the setting of nearby listed buildings”.
The banana warehouse and stable buildings in Durnford Street will be demolished as part of the revamp. The inspector admits they have a “degree of charm and character” but points out listed building building consent for their demolition has already been granted.
The 99 bedroom hotel, split across two buildings with the market in between, will be run by Bespoke Hotels, who also operate the Bermondsey Square Hotel, and is expected to create 86 full-time-equivalent jobs.
A new crescent street will be created leading from Durnford Street to the market which the inspector describes as as “imaginative and acceptable additional chapter in the market area’s evolution” that would provide “variety and interest”.
The redevelopment of the market, which has been strongly supported by the Greenwich Society and local MP, Nick Raynsford, will not begin until January 2013 at the earliest and traders will move to a new temporary market at Monument Gardens whilst the redevelopment is undertaken.
Martin Sands, Director of Greenwich Hospital, welcomed the news as a “a positive result for Greenwich Hospital and for the centre of Greenwich.” He added, “The Hospital believes that the approved scheme, which includes minor amendments, will maintain the character and atmosphere of the current market within a refurbished environment.”
Speaking to Greenwich.co.uk, Nick Raynsford MP said he was “delighted that consent has been given”. Although a supporter of the original application, he praised Greenwich Hospital for its “pragmatic decision” to “amend the scheme in response to genuine concern.”. He added that the redevelopment would “protect and ensure the long term future of the market”.
The Chair of Greenwich Council’s Planning Board, Cllr Ray Walker, has hit out at the decision and labelled the development as a “scheme totally out of keeping with the history and architecture of Greenwich Town Centre … which simply is not of a sufficiently high standard for a World Heritage Site.” He attacked the Government’s decision to back the scheme and their pledge towards greater “localism” carried “little actual meaning.”
For critics of the scheme, options to fight the ruling are limited to an appeal in the High Court or a Judicial Review. Ray Crudgington, head of Commercial Property and Managing Partner at Grant Saw Solicitors LLP in Greenwich commented, “I suspect this decision will be very, very, difficult and expensive to appeal against.”
Once built, the Greenwich Market Hotel will be operated by Bespoke Hotels.
REACTION IN FULL
Martin Sands, Director of Greenwich Hospital
This is a positive result for Greenwich Hospital and for the centre of Greenwich. The Hospital believes that the approved scheme, which includes minor amendments, will maintain the character and atmosphere of the current market within a refurbished environment. This decision recognises the standard of design employed by Hopkins Architects and their success in creating a scheme that responds to the constraints of the site yet remains sympathetic to the surrounding architecture.
Greenwich Hospital will consider the detail of the consent granted with its professional advisers to decide how best to take matters forward. In any event Greenwich Hospital will not consider starting the market regeneration before January 2013, following the first Christmas after the Olympics.
More immediately, Greenwich Hospital will continue working with Greenwich stakeholders, traders, retailers, Greenwich Council and all those involved in
the future of Greenwich, to make the market and Greenwich a continuing success, particularly in the key pre Olympic periodWe will also continue promoting the market and the town centre working with our retail PR consultant, to communicate the unique shops and market
stalls in Greenwich to key local, regional and national lifestyle and shopping editors, as well as promoting the seasonal events that Greenwich Market hosts
for the local community.Our programme of planned maintenance will continue this year as planned with the redecoration of the Hospital’s properties in Greenwich Church Street and all other refurbishment projects will continue as planned.
We will continue to work alongside Greenwich stakeholders who maintain a close interest in the town centre. Greenwich Hospital will continue to be
fully engaged in the future of Greenwich. In fact, it is very much business as normal”.
Councillor Ray Walker, Chair of Greenwich Council’s Planning Board
“It is regrettable that the new Secretary of State, apparently pledged to a greater degree of localism, has chosen to overturn the unanimous decision of the Council to reject the planning application for Greenwich Market. Localism is a word which seems to be increasingly deployed but carries very little actual meaning for the Government. This appeal gives the green light to a scheme totally out of keeping with the history and architecture of Greenwich Town Centre and which simply is not of a sufficiently high standard for a World Heritage Site. It is particularly unfortunate that the application will permit the Greenwich Hospital Estate to demolish the heart of Greenwich Town Centre just as we have shown off all its charms to the millions of visitors in 2012 and who, instead of being encouraged to return, will avoid the building site that the Greenwich Hospital Estate will turn the town into”.
SEE ALSO
Reaction from 853
Reaction from the Greenwich Phantom
FULL DECISION NOTICE
