Greenwich.co.uk

Greenwich news and information

You are here: Greenwich / News

Federer takes ATP World Tour glory at O2

By

O2 Tennis

ROGER Federer beat Rafael Nadal to take the ATP World Tour Finals title at the O2 arena last night.

The world number two beat his younger arch-rival 6-3 3-6 6-1 in the match which lasted just over an hour and a half.

A jaded looking Nadal was unable to offer up much resistance in the final set, perhaps not surprising since he had defeated Andy Murray in a thrilling three hour duel just 24 hours earlier – probably the match of the tournament.

Spanish and Swiss flags were held aloft and shouts of “We love you Roger!” and “Vamos Rafa!” could be heard around the packed arena.

Federer said after the match that “beating Rafa in the finals makes it extra special because of the year he had.” His  undefeated run through the year-end championships scoops Federer prize money of $1,630,000.

Earlier in the afternoon, Daniel Nestor & Nenad Zimonjic were crowned doubles champions.

This was the second time that the year’s top eight players have assembled at the O2 for the World Tour Finals, with the event due to remain in Greenwich for at least the next three years. Next year’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals begin November 20th 2011.

If the tennis has inspired you to pick up a racquet, check out our guide to tennis courts in Greenwich.

The courts in Chesterfield Walk and Eltham Park South are my personal favourites, although as the Kidbrooke Kite notes, not all parts of the borough have such great facilities.

Cutty Sark Gardens revamp gets go-ahead

By

Greenwich councillors have approved plans to give Cutty Sark Gardens a makeover.

The designs from Dutch firm, OKRA, include  6,540  sq m of new stone covering, less steps to make it more pedestrian friendly, and an interactive “wet floor” feature designed to mirror the tide of the River Thames.

Five new green planting area will be established and there will be a clear route for cyclists.

The plans came in for sharp criticism from World Heritage Site Executive. They said the “soft landscaping” was at odds with their preferred “dockside” character and criticised the “flower beds” and “pond” for having no relationship with the river and its industrial setting.

The Planning Board gave their unanimous support to the new designs at a meeting on Thursday night at Woolwich Town Hall.  The project is expected to be completed in time for London 2012 but a programme of archaeological work must take place on the site before the redevelopment can begin.

Darryl from 853 posted photos this week showing latest illustrations of how the restored Cutty Sark will look.

Murray to face Nadal in tennis semi finals

By

Andy Murray will  play world number one, Rafael Nadal, at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 arena in North Greenwich this afternoon.

Nadal secured top position in Group A after beating Wimbledon finalist, Tomas Berdych, in an impressive straight sets win yesterday afternoon.

Murray and Nadal have already met three times this year with the Scot winning two of those encounters – notably both times they played on a hard surface.

The second semi final will take place tonight between Group B winner, Roger Federer, and Group A runner-up, Novak Djokovic.

The winners of the semi finals will play on Sunday, when the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals 2010 Champion will be crowned.

Find tickets for ATP World Tour Finals at the O2

Edward Hill comments on CPS decision to drop prosecution

By

The protestor who had charges against him for damaging London 2012 course markers in Greenwich Park abandoned has claimed a “moral victory”.

Prosecutors dropped their case against Edward Hill last Friday. They had previously described him as “anti-Olympics” – a tag he is keen to reject in a written response provided to Greenwich.co.uk.

Mr Hill says his actions were intended to prevent “further damage to Greenwich Park” and he calls for the equestrian events to be moved to Windsor.

Edward Hill’s full response to the CPS’s decision

With regard to the statement of the Crown Prosecution Service that my actions were ‘anti-Olympics’, I wish to make clear that I in fact share the educational and health ideals of the Olympic Charter. My actions were not in any sense generally ‘anti-Olympics’, but were solely aimed at preventing further damage to Greenwich Park from the works that are taking place due to the decision to hold the Olympic Equestrian Event there.

After 35 years living and working locally, and as a previous Artist in Residence for Greenwich Park, I probably know it as well as anyone. I have studied its archaeology and history, enjoyed its landscape and tried professionally to visualize its future.

I certainly see the dropping of the charges against me as a moral victory for common sense, and it may even be a sign of the authorities’ anxiety about the evidence which could have been stirred up by a court case.

Ever since it was first proposed that Greenwich Park should host the Olympics Equestrian Event, very many people have pointed out that Windsor has always been a better choice in every way. Windsor is iconic, it is an established site for equestrian events, it is easier for security, it is accessible, it is a 2012 Olympic Borough and was used in 1948 for an Olympic event which had to be moved, it has plenty of accommodation and other facilities, it is cheaper to build, and a legacy could be left.

Most importantly, the local community in Windsor would welcome the event. This change of venue should now take place, in the same way as when the Montreal Olympic Equestrian Event was moved to another venue at a similar stage of preparations, when it became apparent that it was the right thing to do.


Thanks to Peter Grahame Woolf for sending me this photo showing one of the course markers in Greenwich Park.

“First anti-Olympics case” dropped by CPS

By

The Crown Prosecution Service has abandoned its case against a protestor alleged  to have damaged course markers for the London 2012 equestrian events in Greenwich Park.

Edward Hill, 62, was accused of causing criminal damage to the white feather markers in Greenwich Park with a kitchen knife.

He pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Woolwich Magistrates Court last month and opted to be tried by jury at Crown Court. Dave Townsend, for the Prosecution had told magistrates: “This is our first anti-Olympics case.”

Prosecutors have now decided not to go ahead with the trial. A CPS London spokesperson said:

“During the life of a case the Crown Prosecution Service has a duty to keep cases under regular review.

“At a very early stage in the proceedings a review of this case concluded that it was not in the public interest to pursue a prosecution through the court as punishment in the form of a caution would be a suitable alternative.

“As such the case has been discontinued.”

Fire Brigade called to Greenwich High Road blaze

By

The Fire Brigade attended a blaze in Greenwich High Road last Thursday (18th) afternoon.

Four fire engines and 20 firefighters from Greenwich, Lee Green, New Cross and Lewisham stations were called out to the fire in a shop unit near to the junction with Blackheath Road.

The London Fire Brigade were alerted to the incident at 4.38pm and had the fire under control an hour later. Part of the building’s first floor was damaged by the blaze.

Darryl from 853 blog was passing and took this picture. The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Prayer Space opens on Greenwich Peninsula

By

Prayer Space

A multi-faith prayer space has opened on Greenwich Peninsula near to the O2.

The space was formally opened at the end of October by the Mayor of Greenwich. It exists to provide a quiet space for prayer as well as being used for regular worship events. Services are held weekly by Church of England, United Reform Church, Muslim and Baha’i worshippers.

The purpose built facility also includes an office, disabled toilet and ablutions room for foot washing.

The building is the result of an agreement between the developer, Greenwich Peninsula Regeneration Limited, and Greenwich Council. The local faith groups that use the building are contributing towards the ongoing cost of managing it.

The prayer space, which is open daily, is also home to chaplaincy services on the Peninsula which are provided by volunteers to local businesses and organisations.

Rev’d Malcolm Torry, Co-ordinating Chaplain of Greenwich Peninsula Chaplaincy, talks to Greenwich.co.uk about the new Prayer Space.

Greenwich doctors sued over “tragic” death

By

TWO Greenwich doctors have been sued by the family of a man who died after being prescribed a “dangerous combination” of drugs.

The family of Theo Osgerby were awarded £500,000 by the High Court on Friday after the judge found that the two GPs, Dr Subathira Ratnarajan and Dr Don Hettiarachchi, had been negligent in their treatment of him.

Both doctors were practicing at the Woodland Surgery in Woodland Walk, off Trafalgar Road, when they treated Mr Osgerby.

Mr Osgerby had been prescribed three different drugs which each had the effect of lowering his seizure threshold. He suffered a fatal seizure in 2005, aged 29, and was found by his daughter at their home.

Judge Lissack said: “Tragic is an overused word but it seems to apply in this case for the error upon error that was made in his care, which has been accepted by the defendants in these proceedings.”

Mayor of London visits new Ravensbourne College

By

Boris Johnson

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited the new Ravensbourne College next to the O2 this morning.

The Mayor met with students, staff and business leaders from the creative industries and was given a tour of the college’s state of the art facilities.

In his short speech to invited guests, Boris praised the “amazing” college, describing it a “beautiful, beautiful building.” He credited Michael Heseltine for “initiating the transformation… of this patch of ground in North Greenwich”.

Boris also commented on the new cable car proposal which would connect the O2 with the Royal Docks, saying it would be “named after Vince Cable” and would allow him to “reflect on the importance of the banks” from high above the Thames.

Leader of Greenwich Council, Councillor Chris Roberts, paid “huge tribute” to Robin Baker for his leadership during the college’s move to Greenwich Peninsula and praised the “completely new and revolutionary ways of learning and teaching” on offer at the college.

Ravensbourne director, Robin Baker OBE, pointed out that this was not an opening but one of a series of events to celebrate with stakeholders, to which the Mayor replied that he was happy to declare “the college even more open than it was a few moments ago.”

Listen to the speech by Robin Baker OBE, director of Ravensbourne College
Listen!

Listen to the speech by Mayor of London, Boris Johnson
Listen!

Listen to the speech by leader of Greenwich Council, Chris Roberts
Listen!

IMG_3392

IMG_3391

Chris Roberts and Boris Johnson

Darryl from 853 was also there and has his own write up.

Thames cable car planning application submitted

By

Planning applications have been submitted to Greenwich and Newham councils by Transport for London for the construction of a new cable car system across the Thames.

The new scheme would provide a new direct transport link between the O2 and the Royal Victoria Dock, carrying up to 34 gondolas over 50 metres above the Thames.

Each gondola will be able to carry up to 10 people, creating “improved improved cross-river connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists”.

The scheme, which TFL believe will become a “visitor attraction in its own right”, consists of a station in North Greenwich, a station at Royal Docks and a number of steel towers with the two main towers both rising to about 85 metres in height.

The station at the Royal Docks would be the “drive station” where the system’s electric motor is housed. The Greenwich station would be the “return station” and also home to the gondola garage.

TFL are proposing that the Greenwich station be built a few hundred metres from the O2 on hard standing that is currently used for visitor coach parking.

The cable cars, considered to be “one of the most reliable forms of public transport in the world” according to the planning application, could be in operation by the time of the London 2012 Olympics.

A fare structure has not been devised yet but TFL plan to integrate the cable cars into the Oyster system and are forecasting suggested single fares at £2.50 for Oyster PAYG users and £3.50 for other users.

When news of the scheme first emerged in July, Nick Raynsford MP told Greenwich.co.uk that the scheme was a “nice little project” which would be good for tourism, but it wouldn’t address the “much wider problem” of the “absolutely hopeless cross river links” in the area.