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Greenwich news and information

MBE for Pieter van der Merwe in New Year Honours

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THE NATIONAL Maritime Museum’s Pieter van der Merwe has been awarded an MBE.

The recognition for the museum’s General Editor was announced in the New Year Honours list.

He has been given the award for his “services to heritage and the local community of Greenwich.”

Pieter told Greenwich.co.uk: “It was an unexpected shock but as Sir Thomas Beecham used to say ‘one should try everything once except incest and folk dancing’ so, unaccountable as it is, I’m getting used to it and mainly enjoying the pleasure it is giving to others: and at least it put Greenwich in the Jubilee New Year list!”

Pieter has worked at the National Maritime Museum since 1974.

Outlet shopping village planned inside The O2

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The O2 could be set to have a brand new outlet shopping mall developed inside it.

An outline planning application has been submitted to Greenwich Council to establish a “retail outlet village” in the the former Millennium Dome in North Greenwich.

The plans envisage two storeys of shops with a leisure offering, such as bowling or a children’s play area above them.

If built, it would be the “first significant Retail Outlet Village within the Greater London area,” say the developers.

“Outlet” shopping centres typically offer products from well known brands at discount prices. Project architects RTKL carried out visits to outlet centres at Ashford and Bicester as part of their research for the designs.

They suggest in their plans that five “zones” could be created, each offering distinct characteristics such as “Main Street” for popular brands, a “Market” for stalls and smaller shops and “The Court” for upmarket, designer brands.

The applicant says the scheme will “deliver the final component of The O2 and complete its transformation into a world class destination for the London Borough of Greenwich,” adding that the increased daytime footfall “will enable The O2 to strengthen as a world leading leisure destination.”

If the council approves the concept of a retail shopping village in the outline planning application, a more detailed planning application will have to be submitted before it can go ahead.

St Alfege Park Friends hope for reprieve

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THE FRIENDS of St Alfege Park have decided to go into hibernation in the hope of one day being allowed to return.

The decision was taken in a ballot of members at a Special General Meeting earlier this month at St Alfege Church Hall.

The meeting, which had a “thin” attendance, saw the group decide to “go into hibernation for the present and hope that Greenwich Council will eventually relent” and restore them to “full partnership.”

Other options on the ballot paper were to continue to organise events in the park or to permanently disband and dispose of the group’s assets.

The chair, Tim Delap, is believed to have resigned and two custodians will be responsible for the running of the dormant group.

The decision was brought about following the controversy this summer when headstones in St Alfege Park were smashed. Greenwich.co.uk understands that the Greenwich Council plans to constitute a new group early in 2012.

St Alfege Park - Headstones reduced to rubble

New student housing proposed in East Greenwich

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A DEVELOPER has applied for planning permission to build new student accommodation in East Greenwich.

The 49-bed,  five-storey block is proposed in Denham Street, just off Woolwich Road. The site was previously used as  a depot and offices for Lewis Coaches.

The developer hopes to benefit from requirement for student homes from both the University of Greenwich and Ravensbourne College.

A letter from the University of Greenwich submitted with the application confirms they have “unsatisfied demand for student accommodation” in the vicinity of their campus at the Old Royal Naval College.

The applicant behind the scheme is Mr David Purewall of Greenwich. It is proposed that the site be used as a car wash until the planning decision for the student accommodation is reached.

Buy British trees, MP tells Transport For London

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LOCAL MP Nick Raynsford has criticised Transport for London for deciding to buy foreign trees to be planted near the Blackwall Tunnel.

The trees are due to be planted to the rear of properties in Tunnel Avenue but Raynsford says the decision to buy them from Germany has caused the planting to be delayed until late January 2012.

Mr Raynsford commented:

“While I welcome planting of trees to shield residents of Tunnel Avenue from the noise and traffic fumes of the A102, why couldn’t TFL have bought British saplings from a homegrown tree nursery? Boris Johnson is encouraging people to ‘buy local’ to help London’s economy recover from the recession. But it seems he cannot even persuade TFL – for which he is responsible – to buy British trees.

The Greenwich and Woolwich MP added that there “many excellent tree nurseries in and around London”, citing in particular the Meantime Nursery although that is soon to be turned into an up-market “glamping” site. He added:

“I can’t understand why TFL needs to go to Germany to buy trees. At the new Olympic Park, most of the trees being planted are British-grown, and I hope TFL can take a leaf out of their book in future.”

TFL defended their decision, however, saying that they couldn’t source the right quantity of the size required in the UK.

Leon Daniels, Managing Director Surface Transport said: “The majority of trees that we plant are sourced locally within the UK, mostly in the South East region. However, as we were unable to find any nurseries within the UK who had the quantity of 6 metre tall trees required, we’ve had to source them from Germany. The sizes of the trees are important as they will provide a screen between the residents’ gardens of Tunnel Avenue and the A102.

“The trees are being planted along the Blackwall Tunnel approach as they can trap harmful particulate matter (PM10) which comes from road transport, to prevent dust particles becoming airborne.”

TFL plans to plant 27 Western Red Cedars alongside the A102.