Daily Photo: 08/09/2011 – Clipper aground

Local photographer Tim Keeler sent me this snap of one of the Thames Clippers aground, near the O2 last week.

The boat was deliberately placed there by Thames Clippers so routine maintenance could be carried out once the tide was out.

Tim saw another boat in the same spot, presumably for the same purpose, when he went back a few days later.

Tim’s website is www.timkeelerphotography.com

Daily Photo: 19/05/2011 – Amandine

Thanks to Fergus Noone for today’s Daily Photo – a beautiful photo of Cobelfret’s new container ship, the Amandine. She headed back out to sea today after a two day stop off.

Don’t miss Fergus’ column on the website today where he explains some of the functions on compact digital cameras. I’ve also heard that he’s giving away a signed print to anyone that ‘Likes’ his new Facebook page – the deadline for the offer is the 31st May so don’t hang about!

I also received this photo of the ship, which reprises the name of a former Cobelfret ferry, from Alan – many thanks!

Greenwich cruise liner terminal approved

A planning application for a cruise liner terminal, hundreds of new homes and a new hotel has been approved by Greenwich Council.

The mixed use development will be built at the disused Enderby’s Wharf adjacent to Christchurch Way on the south western side of the Greenwich Peninsula.

In addition to 770 new homes and a 251 bedroom hotel, the 3.6 hectare site will also include shops, a creche and a gymnasium. The cruise ship terminal will have one cruise liner berth capable of accommodating  ships up to 240m in length. There will also be two berths for Thames riverbus services.

The land includes the Grade II listed Enderby House which was built in the mid 19th century. The property will be extended and converted into a restaurant “with accompanying exhibition and tourist” space.

Once completed,  365 full time equivalent jobs are expected to be created and a “skills academy” will train 16 – 21 year olds for opportunities at the cruise terminal and hotel.

The site itself was formerly owned by Alcatel Lucent – still based on adjacent land – and it was from here that the Enderby Brothers were pioneers in the development of telegraph cables that would be laid across the Atlantic.

The proposals received the unanimous backing of councillors at last week’s meeting of the council’s Planning Board.

James Blakey, commenting on behalf of developers Mason Properties who are behind the scheme, said:

“We are delighted that the Planning Boardhas decided to endorse the recommendation to approve the Enderby Wharf proposals. The collaborative approach to preparing the proposals over the past 18 months has resulted in a comprehensive mix of uses, which will bring a range of economic, environmental and social benefits to the borough and London as a whole. At the heart of the proposals is the provision of an international cruise liner terminal in the maritime heartland of Greenwich and London. The proposals have optimised the deep water within the River Thames to create a new tourist destination in a highly accessible location”.

Daily Photo: 31/01/2011 – Sculpture on the Beach

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

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…

Daily Photo: 08/11/2010 – Grey seal at Blackwall

Thanks to Tim Keeler who spotted this seal in the Thames near Blackwall, took a photo and then added it to our Facebook page.

If you spot any marine mammals you might wish to complete ZSL’s  marine mammal survey form, as well as sending us a photo which is always a recommended course of action

Get more information on ZSL’s survey here.

Daily Photo: 22/09/2010 – MV Deutschland

Many thanks to Nick Davison from the University of Greenwich for sending me this snap of the MV Deutschland that he took last week.

Thames Cable Car Proposed

A new cable car across the Thames, linking Greenwich Peninsula with the Royal Docks, has been proposed by Transport for London (TFL).

The new river crossing would see journey times between the O2 and ExCeL – both venues for London 2010 – fall to around five minutes.

TFL say that the cable car, expected to be privately funded, would operate at a height of 50m, and be able to carry up to 2500 passengers over the Thames every hour.

Cable cars are used successfully in other cities such as Barcelona, Cologne, Hong Kong, Lisbon, New York and Singapore, but this would be the first such system in London.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

“A cable car spanning the majestic Thames would not only provide a unique and pioneering addition to London’s skyline, but also offer a serene and joyful journey across the river. Passengers would be able to drink in the truly spectacular views of the Olympic Park and iconic London landmarks whilst shaving valuable minutes from their travelling time. It would also provide a much needed enhancement of cross river options to the east of the city.”

Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner said:

“A privately funded cable car system offers a relatively quick and cost effective way of improving connections across the river for pedestrians and cyclists while road links are progressed in parallel. It would be frequent, with cable cars every 30 seconds carrying up to 2,500 passengers per hour in each direction, equivalent to the capacity of 50 buses per hour.”

Len Duvall, London Assembly member for Greenwich and Lewisham, commented via Twitter:

cable car: great for tourists but not a solution for E/London commuters. We only have 3 crossings east of Tower Brg Vs 16 to the west

As Darryl at 853 notes, a previous idea for a cable car to the dome in the late 90s came to nothing. You can have your say on the new proposal as TFL have launched a consultation which will last until August 2nd.

Updated – 06/07/10

Nick Raynsford MP has told Greenwich.co.uk that the cable car proposal is a piece of “tourist frippery” that is “not a solution to the cross river transport needs of South East London”.

The MP for Greenwich and Woolwich said that although the scheme was a “nice little project” which would be good for tourism, it wouldn’t address the “much wider problem” of  the “absolutely hopeless cross river links” in the area.

He re-iterated his support for a new crossing at Silvertown and said that the Thames Gateway Bridge should never have been cancelled.

Daily Photo: 23/02/10 – Hurricane Clipper

Hurricane Clipper with the Dome in the background. Photo used with kind permission of Nick Agar.

Daily Photo: 16/02/10 – Rainbow over the Thames

Another brilliant photo from Tim Keeler – this time of a rainbow over the Thames, taken near Greenwich Yacht Club.

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