Greenwich.co.uk

Greenwich news and information

Tributes paid to former councillor

By

COUNCILLORS paid tribute on Wednesday night to former councillor Roy Preston who has died.

His passing was announced at the full meeting of Greenwich Council by new mayor, David Grant.

Mr Preston was a Labour councillor for what was the Charlton ward between 1974 and 1986, and more recently was the Chair of the Blackheath Westcombe Labour Party.

The mayor asked for a minute’s silence in memory of Roy Preston also led the tributes: “I had a great deal of respect for his views on a wide range of subjects.”

Blackheath Westcombe ward councillor Alex Grant said “It was a real shock when I heard. He was incredibly active right up until his death. He will be greatly missed.”

Conservative councillor Dermot Poston said, “There’s no doubt about Roy Preston, he was notable for the conscientious contribution he made to the affairs of this council and I have no doubt at all we have lost a very good man.”

Cllr Mary Mills said: “I heard about Roy’s death yesterday lunchtime and I spent most of yesterday and this morning not believing it. Most people in the Labour Party knew Roy and knew him quite well… I want to say how sorry I am.”

Cllr Allan McCarthy said of Mr Preston: He was very resolute in his determination but he was someone with whom you never fell out and I regarded him, and indeed his family, as great friends. My condolences, and I’m sure for all of us go to his family.”

Greenwich + Docklands International Festival 2012

By

NINE DAYS of mostly-free spectacular sights and sounds kick off tomorrow with the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival (GDIF).

St Alfege Park, the National Maritime Museum, the Borough Halls, the Old Royal Naval College and West Parkside on the peninsula are among the backdrops for the vibrant collection of performance pieces.

One of the most spectacular shows to look out for is Prometheus Awakes on Friday night at the National Maritime Museum. A fiery interpretation of the Greek myth is promised by La Fura dels Baus and disabled-led theatre company, Graeae.

Originally banned in the 19th century and revived at last year’s GDIF, the Greenwich Fair will again take place this weekend, promising a packed programme of street art around the town centre. Look out for a ‘The Man Who Lost His Buttons‘ – a Catalan performance atop a swinging pole – in Cutty Sark Gardens and a demonstration of acrobatics and dance from female street dance company Mimbre with ‘Falling Up‘

To learn more about all the events at the Greenwich + Docklands International Festival, visit their website.

Olympic parking permit website goes live

By

UntitledA NEW website has gone live so that Greenwich residents can plan for parking this summer during the Olympics.

Parking restrictions are to be put in place on all roads near the Olympic venues, including roads that aren’t subject to parking controls, to prevent spectators from driving to the games.

Residents with existing parking car parking permits will continue to be able to use them, but Greenwich Council’s visitor permits (pictured right) can’t be used between 27th July and 9th September.

New 2012 Games Parking visitors’ permits will have to be applied for instead, with each household being allowed to apply for two.

Any residents who currently parks a car in an area where there is no controlled parking will need to apply for a free parking permit to continue doing so throughout the summer. Paid parking bays will continue as normal throughout the Olympics.

Get more info, and register for permits, by visiting 2012gamesparkingpermits.com

See also: 853 on Olympic parking permits

Council starts annual search for best local gardens

By

THE COUNCIL has launched its annual Greenwich in Bloom competition to find and reward the best gardens in the borough.

Green-fingered residents of Royal Greenwich are invited to nominate their front and back gardens in the following four categories:

• Front garden with colourful summer plants
• Front garden with the best landscape design and creative use of plants
• Back garden with creative use of colour and plants
• Colourful window boxes and hanging baskets

The gardens will be independently judged and prizes will be presented by the Mayor of Royal Greenwich.

Councillor Peter Kotz, the Royal Borough of Greenwich’s cabinet member for Cultural & Creative Industries said: “Greenwich in Bloom is a fantastic chance for residents to showcase their horticultural and gardening skills to the Royal Borough.

“The competition has had great success in the past and I’m really looking forward to seeing this year’s entries.”

An entry form for the competition can be downloaded from the council’s website – the deadline for entering is June 15th.

Chemical factory fire sends smoke across London

By

TWELVE fire engines were called out to a large factory fire in Greenwich in the early house of this morning.

60 firefighters tackled the blaze at a chemical processing plant in Peterboat Close, off Tunnel Avenue.

Heavy smoke billowed across south east London and a siren was sounded to alert residents to the incident.

Although the smoke from the chemical factory is not thought to be dangerous, fire chiefs advised people in the area to keep their doors and windows closed as a precaution.

Assistant Commissioner Dany Cotton, said:

“Our firefighters worked extremely hard to contain the fire, which damaged around half of a big industrial unit.”

Hear the siren that sounded at around 3.30 this morning:

Five local schools to get cash for rebuilds

By

FIVE schools in the borough have been chosen to receive cash from the government to help rebuild them.

261 schools, from 587 that applied, have been selected to receive funds from the Priority School Building Programme. All five from the Royal Borough of Greenwich that applied have been successful.

The schools that will receive funding are:

  • Eltham C of E Primary School (SE9)
  • Invicta Primary School (SE3)
  • Our Lady of Grace Catholic Primary School (SE7)
  • The Eltham Foundation School (SE9)
  • Wingfield Primary School (SE3)

The scheme will see £2billion spent on upgrading schools using a reformed PFI model. The Eltham Foundation School is one of 42 schools that have been designated as requiring urgent assistance and will receive money directly from the Department for Education’s capital budget.

The announcement of funding for the schools was made by Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove, in a written ministerial statement published yesterday.

Cllr Jackie Smith, Royal Borough of Greenwich Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said, “We are pleased that the Government has recognised the need for investment in these school buildings, and look forward to receiving more details soon as to the exact level of funding that’s been approved for each school.”

The coalition scrapped the previous government’s Building School for the Future programme, which financed the newly rebuilt Thomas Tallis School, after taking office in 2010.

East Greenwich Community Festivals

By

A JUBILEE picnic, a 1948 style fete and a dog show are just some of the events taking place in East Greenwich this summer.

To mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the staging of the Olympic games in London, a series of events have been designed to bring the community together.

The first event of the East Greenwich Community Festivals events is a Jubilee Picnic in East Greenwich Pleasaunce on June 2nd. Then a special welcome is being organised for the Olympic Torch Relay as it travels down Woolwich Road on Saturday July 21st.

The main event comes in August when there will be a two-day 1948 fete in the pleasaunce where there will be music, food and drink, baking competitions, the dog show and lots more.

To help bring it all together, the organisers are looking for performers, craftmakers, cooks and artists as well as businesses who might want to hire a stall or make a donation.

To get involved, you can sign up here or get more information from Pistachios in East Greenwich Pleasaunce or the Greenwich Communication Centre on Trafalgar Road.

Greenwich Comedy Festival 2012

By

THERE will be laughs aplenty when the Greenwich Comedy Festival returns this summer.

Part of the Greenwich Festivals season, the comedy spectacular will take place from 13th to 20th July. It’s the festival’s fourth year and it will again be held in the grounds of the spectacular Old Royal Naval College.

The line-up includes some of the biggest names in stand-up comedy such as Sean Hughes, Rufus Hound, John Shuttleworth and Stephen K Amos.

Also performing will be Reginald D Hunter, Arthur Smith, Dylan Moran, Jerry Sadowitz, Sean Lock, Andi Osho and Andy Parsons.

Full line up for Greenwich Comedy Festival

Friday 13th July

  • Stephen K Amos, Richard Herring, Arthur Smith MC –
  • Jerry Sadowitz –

Saturday 14th July

  • Comedy club for kids –
  • Sean Hughes –
  • John Shuttleworth –
  • Jerry Sadowitz –
  • Des Bishop / Josh Widdicombe / Andi Osho –

Sunday 15th July

  • Mark Watson / Seann Walsh / Elis James / David O’Doherty –

Monday 16th July

  • Milton Jones / Marcus Brigstocke / Glen Wool / Craig Campbell –

Tuesday 17th July

  • Sean Lock /  Danny Bhoy / Tony Law / Ed Gamble MC –

Wednesday 18th July

  • Robin Ince –
  • Andy Parsons / Shappi Khorsandi / Rufus Hound MC / Doc Brown –

Thursday 19th July

  • Isy Suttie –
  • Reginald D Hunter / Frisky & Mannish / Andrew Maxwell / Jarred Christmas –

Friday 20th July

  • Dylan Moran / Alun Cochrane / Nick Helm / Chris Ramsey MC –
  • Rich Hall’s Hoedown –