Comments on: Nick Raynsford: The Challenge of Regenerating Greenwich

By: Wolfe

Wolfe — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:23:04 +0000

It’s a shame that Greenwich has attracted people like Miles. Hopefully he won’t stay long and will take his deeply unpleasant opinions about ‘undesirables’ back to East Dulwich if they’ll have him – which I strongly suspect they won’t.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 12:40:33 +0000

Miles is just the kind of tosspot poseur coming into Greenwich that we don’t need. It’s a cool place exactly BECAUSE it’s surrounded by poor areas. I welcome the advent of the new Old Brewery, a decent fish shop etc, but the grittiness of the surroundings is what makes the area. A Hawksmoor church doesn’t look right unless it complements a down-on-its-heels council block.

Greenwich is already cool, like Brick Lane is cool- has been for decades, when actors, artists and conmen lived here, the buildings were left gap-toothed from doodlebugs, and there was a brothel in one of the rambling villas on Hyde Vale. The last thing we want is some airbrushed themepark with all the poor people taken away because they offend our delicate sensibilities.

By: Miles

Miles — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 16:08:29 +0000

We so desperately need decent restaurants in Greenwich. We have a couple of nice ones but the rest are terrible mexican and chinese takeaways. It can’t be that hard…. Greenwich needs to get out of this mode of being a weekend seaside tourist place (ie get rid of the Blackpool feeling and more a Richmond/Blackheath vibe).

Only then Greenwich will become a cool place to live and attract decent types of people and restaurants. Unfortunately Greenwich/Blackheath is surrounded by undesirable areas and full of chavs and undesirables! The more council blocks that can come down the better in my opinion.

The Greenwich peninsula can only be a great thing and restaurant wise, the new visitors centre and Greenwich Meantime brewery establishment sets a new standard for how Greenwich should evolve. The Greenwich indoor market should def not be lost as it a real benefit… sure tart it up a bit but the core feel must remain.

I used to live in East Dulwich, which used to be tatty but now is such aa trendy area with a fantastic high street. Greenwich is SUCH a nicer plan than East Dulwich, so why can’t it change. Hopefully with all the peninsula stuff, and new pier/museum extension/cutty sark upgrade/gardens etc etc, we may finally get on a roll to finally get a Greenwich we really want (and hopefully chav free).

By: The Last Stand of the 150

The Last Stand of the 150 — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:52:43 +0000

The very smug Raynsford visited the covered market last Friday, rather like Caligula dining with the victims he was to put to death the next day.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:17:41 +0000

The closure of the village market was sad but I appreciate it was the landowners decision and I think the Greenwich University School of Architecture could be a good thing. I do suspect though that the undercover market developments will lead to it losing its character and, potentially, its footprint, to make way for the hotel. Sadly, I think the days of being able to talk of Greenwich’s markets are behind us now.

By: 6E P

6E P — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:03:42 +0000

“By cutting back on the bustling markets Greenwich is actually losing attractions that encourage people to visit”.
The Village Market site was private land that had a temporary planning permission for market use which was not renewed by the former or new owners. The loss of the village market is therefore the will of the owners.

By: Paul

Paul — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 09:40:44 +0000

I agree with most of this but a better balance has to be found between catering for overnight guests (ie: a 4th hotel in Greenwich being built in the indoor market space) and keeping what they are actually coming to see. By cutting back on the bustling markets Greenwich is actually losing attractions that encourage people to visit.
Another point about overnight visitors is that Greenwich nightlife is actually very poor. We have a handful of decent pubs and an even smaller number of decent restaurants. The pubs tend to be aiming at the 18 – 25 market when there should perhaps be more live music or cabaret nights to add variety and interest to the nightlife here

By: Paul T

Paul T — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:08:33 +0000

It’s great that Greenwich remains vibrant, with new people coming in. And that we have good new development – hopefully the new University buildings, at Stockwell Street, will be an example of how this can be done.

But I do hope, Mr Raynsford, that in “while protecting and preserving the best from the past” you will prevent the ripping up of the market floor, and demolition of stables at Greenwich Market?

These buildings are an example of the people’s Greenwich; if we just keep the grand buildings, we give a distorted view of the area’s rich, diverse heritage.