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NOGOE Attracts Six New High Profile Patrons

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Local pressure group, No to Greenwich Olympic Equestrian Events (NOGOE), has had six new patrons join its campaign to stop the 2012 Equestrian events taking place in Greenwich Park, including the  well known TV historian, Dr David Starkey.

The six new NOGOE patons are:

  • Dr David Starkey (TV Historian)
  • Margaret Tyzack OBE (Award Winning Actress)
  • Dame Jennifer Jenkins (President of the Ancient Monuments Society)
  • Blake Morrison (Writer and Poet)
  • Jonathan Sumption QC (Barrister)
  • Sir Willard White CBE (Opera singer)

Severe Weather in Greenwich

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The great thing about this snow is that it makes for some lovely pictures. The flip side of this though is that it affects people’s ability to get around safely, get to work or to the shops, or to access important services.

Greenwich Council has implemented its pre-organised “Snow Plans”, which means some council run services such as rubbish collection and general passenger services have been suspended. Meals on wheels deliveries will be made as normal.

Most schools are closed, and listen to local radio to find out if they will be open tomorrow. More heavy snow is predicted so the advice is not to travel unless you really have to. South Eastern has suspended services in and out of London.

Councillor Chris Roberts, Leader of Greenwich Council, said: “Greenwich Council is making every effort to keep vital services running and I am very pleased we are able to say we have got staff out and about to ensure the elderly and vulnerable are being looked after as normal. We urge people to stay indoors and keep listening to local news reports for the latest advice. We will be issuing updates as and when we have them”.

Stockwell Street Development "Off"

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Following on from the rumours that the , it seems that Docklands 24 has managed to find out more about this and is reporting that the owners, Capital and Counties Ltd, have cancelled the planned development for the site which included flats, shops and offices. It confirms that C&C are also considering selling the site.

Have a look at the article yourself – it mentions the University of Greenwich as possible buyers but also raises the interesting scenario of Greenwich Market relocating to the site whilst its own planned works take place.

University to buy Stockwell Street “Village Market” land?

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Has the University of Greenwich purchased the land at Stockwell Street where the Village Market is held? That was the question sent into me by Johanna, who heard this from a Cabbie – usually the best informed people in London.

The site in Stockwell Street, which includes John Humphries House and hosts the “Village Market” every weekend whilst being a private car park for the rest of the week has had redevelopments planned for it for as long as I can remember. In fact, I had an office in John Humphries House about four years ago and was told not to expect to stay too long as it would soon be demolished.

Plans by the developers – WestCity Plc and Capital & Counties Properties Ltd – for a mixed use development of flats, offices, shops and space for new market stalls were granted permission by the Council last year, and also got the nod from the Mayor of London and the Government Office for London.

But with new home building coming to a stand still, have the developers decided against going ahead with their plans? I contacted the University of Greenwich to find out if there was any truth in the rumour, and their spokesman told me:

“The university does have plans to move its School of Architecture & Construction to Greenwich and we have been looking for a suitable site for some while. Although we have been in talks with a number of landowners, we have not yet purchased a site.”

So, intriguingly, the Cabbie was half right – the University is looking for a site but no, it hasn’t purchased the land in Stockwell Street… yet!

What would you like to happen to the site in Stockwell Street? Would you like to leave it as it is – a private car park for five days a week and a market for two days – or do you think it could be more productively used?

Travelodge Coming To Greenwich High Road

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The housing slump and economic malaise has led property developers to sell a 25 year lease in Greenwich High Road to Travelodge rather than go ahead with a planned residential development. The site had been earmarked for 14 luxury apartments by City and Surburban Homes, but with the property market firmly in the doldrums, the owners have instead opted to lease it to the budget hotel chain, Travelodge.

The forthcoming Travelodge is not the only new hotel coming to Greenwich – we reported in August that Whitbread are planning a 197 room Premier Inn.

See a list of hotels in Greenwich

Council Wins Funding For Tunnel Refurbishment

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Greenwich Foot Tunnel

EXCLUSIVE
Greenwich Council has won funding from central Government to refurbish the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels. £11.5 million has been awarded as part of the Government’s Community Infrastructure Fund which will allow for substantial improvements to both of the tunnels, which are used by 1.5 million people a year.

The century-old tunnels will benefit from

  • New lifts
  • Refurbished stairways & head houses
  • New CCTV and communications system, including help buttons
  • New lighting
  • New drainage
  • Structural repairs
  • Leak sealing
  • New signing
  • Historical information murals

Works are expected to be completed by March 2011.

Greenwich Uni Professor Gets OBE

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Professor Thomas Acton from the University of Greenwich has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List. The academic who has worked at the University for over 30 years was given the award for his services to education.

Professor Acton is a sociologist specialising in Romani studies, and has been a long time campaigner for education for gypsy children.

Congratulations on your award Professor Acton!

Maritime Museum to host new 2010 Greenwich Horse Trials

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Thanks to Abe for the heads up on this one…

Britain’s National Maritime Museum announced today that it is to host the new 2010 Greenwich Horse Trials. A Museum spokesman explained: “This is a key initiative in our strategy to attract a wider audience, and will serve as an important dry run for our hosting the Equestrian Events of the 2012 Olympic Games. A great deal of management time has gone into planning this new event which maps directly onto the DCMS core objective of increasing and broadening the impact of culture and sport. Given the magnificent effort so far from all our staff, I am confident the event will be a great success.”

Read on here

Greenwich Uni and Cutty Sark Win Award

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The London Knowledge Transfer Awards 2008 were held on Friday, and there was good news for Greenwich. A collaboration between the University of Greenwich & Knowledge East working with the Cutty Sark Trust was the winner of the Knowledge Base Collaboration Award, as well as winning the overall “champion” award, the Knowledge Transfer Collaboration of 2008.

The pioneering partnership saw experts from the University of Greenwich use sophisticated computer models to work out the best way in which to dismantle and reassemble the ageing tea clipper as part of its major refurbishment.

The Knowledge Transfer Awards are supported by the London Developement Agency and are intended to recognise London’s Innovation in the business arena.

Peninsula Projects On Hold

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Regeneration projects on the Greenwich Peninsula could be delayed by up to half a decade. That was the verdict of Andrew Storey – joind Chief Exec for the Greenwich Peninsula – when he spoke at the Thames Gateway Forum.

“‘House prices are now 20 per cent below where they were [when permission was granted in 2007], so we need to wait until they return to what they were before we can go ahead” said Storey.

This means that planned developments for thousands of new homes in the area will be mothballed, and even projects where work had begun may be put on hold.

Read more about what came out of the Thames Gateway Forum at The Architect’s Journal.