AN INFLATABLE replica of world-famous Stonehenge will be in Greenwich for a weekend in July.

The bouncy version of the prehistoric monument has been created by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and has just started a tour that will take it to twenty-five locations across the UK.

The life-sized piece of work, called Sacrilege, will make its first appearance in the capital at Central Park, off West Parkside, on the Greenwich Peninsula on July 21-22 and is free to bounce on.

Sacrilege is being presented by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and the London 2012 Festival. Mr Johnson commented:

“You don’t have to be a specialist in ancient British history or an acolyte of the summer solstice ritual to be aware of the unending fascination that Stonehenge continues to inspire around the world.

“Jeremy Deller’s Sacrilege is a wonderfully witty, quite literal leap into that history and a fantastic example of the irreverence that are hallmarks of our great British humour and our incomparable artists.”

See all of the Sacrilege 2012 tour dates here

FIRE ENGINES, ambulances and the police were deployed to Greenwich Pier this morning after a fire was reported on a boat.

The emergency services were seen rushing to the scene after the alarm was raised shortly after half past seven.

Greenwich.co.uk understands that a small fire had broken out in the engine room of a Dutch barge called Selene.

The blaze was dealt with and the barge departed to continue its journey down river after about forty-five minutes.

CONTROVERSIAL signs for the new restaurants at the Greenwich Pier development are to be considered by councillors.

A meeting of the Greenwich Area Planning Committee early next month will decide whether to approve illuminated signs at the Frankie & Benny’s restaurant.

Local planners refused a previous application for signs that were originally put up by Frankie and Benny’s and the eatery is now trying to get retrospective permission for its replacement signs –  reduced in size – that it also put up without consent.

Sixty-three letters of complaint have been sent to the council over the plans and opposition has also come from the Greenwich Society.

A report by council officers recommends councillors accept the revised signs, adding that they do not “adversely affect the character and appearance of the surrounding area (including nearby listed buildings and structures, the Greenwich Park Conservation Area or the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site).”

Officers also recommend that councillors approve the use of two 4m x 3m parasols on the upstairs terrace.

Illuminated letting, window logos and a canopy at neighbouring Zizzi will also be considered by councillors, and have also been recommended for approval by officers.

The planning meeting will take place on July 4th.

Another  Greenwich Pier restaurant, Byron, has just submitted a planning application for more illuminated signage, too.

The burger restaurant wants to add two window logos and have a second illuminated 60cm x 163xm Byron logo. The signs will be “relatively understated when compared to that of the neighbouring restaurants,” says a supporting statement with the planning application.

GREENWICH COUNCIL will decide tomorrow night whether to proceed with setting up a power company to provide hot water and energy for Greenwich Peninsula for decades to come.

The council’s cabinet looks likely to give the go-ahead to establishing the Peninsula Heat Network – a join venture with energy provider E.ON.

The new company would build a plant on the peninsula that uses gas and biomass sources to provide hot water and electricity to homes and businesses in the area.

Although existing properties could be connected, the new plant would primarily be intended for the thousands of homes planned, but yet to be built, on the peninsula, delivering on-demand hot water without the need for a gas boiler and savings on energy bills.

The planning masterplan for the peninsula that was adopted by the council in April suggested that the heating plant could be constructed in the southern part of the land between the A102 and Millennium Way.

The council has secured £7.3 million of funding through grants from the mayor of London and the HCA which it will plough into the new company in return for a minority shareholding and a place on its board.

Powers to establish the joint venture are contained in the Localism Act introduced by the coalition government, the report by council officers notes. The cabinet agreed to commission a feasibility study for the heat network in April 2010.

Building of new homes on the peninsula is expected to be kickstarted after a £500 million investment was just announced by Hong Kong-based Knight Dragon.

A 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

A ROAD running through Greenwich Park will close to cars from next week, while cyclists will only be able to use it for two and a half hours in the mornings.

The closure of The Avenue to cars from next Monday comes almost a whole month before London 2012 organisers had planned to close it on July 7th.

A letter has been sent to nearby residents saying that Olympic organisers have had to reschedule their works in the park because of the “unusually heavy rainfall” in April and May.

Pedestrians will be able to walk alongside the Avenue until July 7th, but cyclists will only be able to use it betwen 6am and 8.30am, and then again after 5pm.

Organisers are preparing the park for the staging of the Equestrian events and the Modern Pentathlon at London 2012. The road will fully reopen on October 1st after the Olympics and Paralympics.

Official London 2012 notice announcing the rescheduled closure.