Daily Photo: 09/03/10 – Sunset over Our Lady Star of the Sea Church

Thanks to Ed Ewing for this gorgeous photo of the sunset over Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on Crooms Hill, taken from Greenwich Park.

Also, don’t miss Ed’s review of Laughter in the Rain, currently showing at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley.

Call for clarity over East Greenwich Library

Dave Sharman, a Green Party candidate for the Peninsula ward, has written to Greenwich Council asking for assurances that East Greenwich Library will not be closed.

The library, donated to the community by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, is also home to Greenwich Community College’s Meridian Music Centre.

Greenwich Community College is currently undertaking a consultation process on the courses it can afford to offer after it had a 10% cut imposed on its “Adult Learner Responsive” budget this year.

The review involves all aspects of the college, including the Meridian Music Centre, although local Greens claim that staff have already been told the music centre will close at the end of this academic year.

Dave Sharman commented: “I hope the music college’s planned closure is not part of a wider project to do away with the library by stealth – the people of East Greenwich will not stand for that”

Cllr John Fahy, Greenwich Cabinet Member for Culture and Olympics, commented that “the Scheme [to refurbish the library] and Estimate is being costed and work will commence shortly“.

He added that he would continue to work with the Friends of East Greenwich Library and Ward Councillors ”to maximise a long term future for the building“.

Daily Photo: 08/03/10 – The Pigeon Is Landing

Fergal Spelman kindly emailed me this spectacular photo of a pigeon landing at what appears to be the avian equivalent of an all you can eat buffet.

Royal George pub to be converted to flats

The Royal George pub in Blissett Street is set to be turned into flats after planning permission was granted by Greenwich Council.

The pub closed its doors recently and the owners, Shepherd Neame, put in an application to have the building converted into two flats.

To illustrate the loss of trade the pub had suffered, Shepherd Neame described in its application how annual beer barrel volume averaged at 120 barrels between 2000 – 2009, whereas it has been as high as 310 barrels between 1977 – 1986.

They also highlighted the affect of the smoking ban, business rates, utility bills and the minimum wage as factors which they say made the pub no longer economically viable.

Six responses from the public were made which all opposed the closure, but permission was granted at last week’s meeting of the Greenwich area planning board.

Daily Photo: 05/03/10 – Choppers above the church

This convoy of three tandem rotor helicopters passed over Greenwich on Wednesday and can be seen here above St Alfege Church.

Jacob Zuma visits Sainsbury’s in Greenwich

The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, paid a visit to the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Greenwich today.

Zuma, known for his polygamist weddings, is on his first State Visit to the UK after becoming president last year.

It’s reported that Zuma requested the visit himself because of the trading links between Sainsbury’s and his country. He was greeted at the supermarket by Sainsbury’s CEO, Justin King, and shown some of the products that Sainbury’s imports from South Africa, such as wine, apples, grapes and flowers.

Justin King said, “We have strong links with South Africa, so we’re delighted to welcome President and Mrs Zuma to our store in Greenwich.

“We’re proud of what we have achieved at this store. It has acted as a blueprint for many of our subsequent environmental stores, so it is apt that the first state visit to a British supermarket should happen here.”

For an eye witness account and photos of the presidential visit, check out Darryl’s post on 853.

Daily Photo: 04/03/10 – Inside

I had an exceptional lunch yesterday at Inside, Greenwich South Street. It’s hard not to be too enthusiastic about this place: excellent food, really good value for money with its lunch time set menus and friendly customer service. No wonder this is many people’s favourite restaurant in Greenwich.

Cutty Sark pub expansion blocked by Council

A plan to build a three-storey extension to the Cutty Sark pub has been refused by the Planning Board of Greenwich Council.

The proposal by the owners – Morden College – was that a current one-storey extension to the Grade-II listed public house in Ballast Quay be demolished and replaced with a three-storey extension

The council received 12 responses to the planning application – all against the move.  Criticisms included that the proposal would substantially change the nature of the business from a pub to that of a restaurant and that the changes were not in keeping with the character of the building or of the street.

Council officials had recommended that permission be granted but Councillors turned down the application at their meeting on Tuesday night.

Daily Photo: 03/03/10 – 6 Mitre Passage

From left to right: 6 Mitre Passage, 14 Pier Walk, the new Ravensbourne college and then the O2 arena.

Mitre Passage, like 14 Pier Walk, was designed by Terry Farrell and Partners, and from the exterior puts me in mind of a magic eye picture.

Daily Photo: 01/03/10 – Le chat dans La Fleur

This handsome cat was looking out of the window at La Fleur, Royal Hill, when I walked past last week.

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