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Greenwich news and information

Prayer Space opens on Greenwich Peninsula

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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.

Thames Cable Car Proposed

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A new cable car across the Thames, linking Greenwich Peninsula with the Royal Docks, has been proposed by Transport for London (TFL).

The new river crossing would see journey times between the O2 and ExCeL – both venues for London 2010 – fall to around five minutes.

TFL say that the cable car, expected to be privately funded, would operate at a height of 50m, and be able to carry up to 2500 passengers over the Thames every hour.

Cable cars are used successfully in other cities such as Barcelona, Cologne, Hong Kong, Lisbon, New York and Singapore, but this would be the first such system in London.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said:

“A cable car spanning the majestic Thames would not only provide a unique and pioneering addition to London’s skyline, but also offer a serene and joyful journey across the river. Passengers would be able to drink in the truly spectacular views of the Olympic Park and iconic London landmarks whilst shaving valuable minutes from their travelling time. It would also provide a much needed enhancement of cross river options to the east of the city.”

Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner said:

“A privately funded cable car system offers a relatively quick and cost effective way of improving connections across the river for pedestrians and cyclists while road links are progressed in parallel. It would be frequent, with cable cars every 30 seconds carrying up to 2,500 passengers per hour in each direction, equivalent to the capacity of 50 buses per hour.”

Len Duvall, London Assembly member for Greenwich and Lewisham, commented via Twitter:

cable car: great for tourists but not a solution for E/London commuters. We only have 3 crossings east of Tower Brg Vs 16 to the west

As Darryl at 853 notes, a previous idea for a cable car to the dome in the late 90s came to nothing. You can have your say on the new proposal as TFL have launched a consultation which will last until August 2nd.

Updated – 06/07/10

Nick Raynsford MP has told Greenwich.co.uk that the cable car proposal is a piece of “tourist frippery” that is “not a solution to the cross river transport needs of South East London”.

The MP for Greenwich and Woolwich said that although the scheme was a “nice little project” which would be good for tourism, it wouldn’t address the “much wider problem” of  the “absolutely hopeless cross river links” in the area.

He re-iterated his support for a new crossing at Silvertown and said that the Thames Gateway Bridge should never have been cancelled.

Peninsula Chinese restaurant gets food hygiene fine

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The Peninsula restaurant in Bugsby’s Way has been handed a fine of £13,500 by Woolwich Magistrates.

The hefty fine was issued last Monday after a number of food hygiene breaches were found in an unannounced inspection by Environmental Health officers at Greenwich Council.

During the inspection, officers found:

  • Dirty equipment, walls, floor and ventilation ducting in the kitchen
  • Food storage containers in a poor state of repair
  • Failure to protect food from contamination in the refrigerator
  • Inadequate procedures were put into place to control pests
  • Mouse droppings were found in the storage areas
  • General cleanliness of the premises was below standard

Peninsula restaurant, which is in the same building as the Express by Holiday Inn hotel, pleaded guilty to the offences and were charged £13,500 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £6,800.

Councillor Maureen O’Mara, Greenwich Council’s Cabinet Member for neighbourhood services, said: “The Council will continue to carry out unannounced visits to food businesses and will take necessary action to safeguard customers’ health. It is essential that food businesses take all the appropriate steps to ensure general food hygiene standards are met”.


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Blackheath Bluecoat to move to Peninsula

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Blackheath Bluecoat Church of England school is set to move to a brand new building off Millennium Way on the Greenwich Peninsula.

The Governing Body of the 300 year old school has unanimously agreed the move, subject to the decomissioning of a nearby gas holder, or the provision of a suitable site nearby if that isn’t possible. If all goes to plan, the move could be complete by the summer of 2012.

Executive Headteacher Jeffrey Risbridger said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity to move to what promises to be a remarkable building.

“We are enormously grateful to Greenwich Council and the Diocese of Southwark for their unflinching support for this proposal. However we will also remain focused on the vital work of continuing to raise the standard of pupil achievement at Blackheath Bluecoat School.”

Chair of Governors David Prescott added:

“It’s fitting that 310 years on from the first Bluecoat in Greenwich, we’re now writing the next chapter in the school’s impressive history.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to provide a first-class secondary school specialising in maths and computing on the Peninsula and we’re absolutely delighted that staff, pupils and parents are fully behind the move. ”

Councillor Jackie Smith, Greenwich Council Cabinet for Children and Young People said:

“The Greenwich peninsula offers excellent educational opportunities for young people to really drive up their attainment as part of the huge investment in new facilities, skills and local partnerships.”

“The year sees the relocation to the peninsula of the internationally renowned Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication. The College is a world leader in its field and will provide students additional access to the very best technology and learning facilities.

“The school will further benefit from its close proximity to an ever growing business community, and on its doorstep will be The O2, the world’s most successful music and entertainment venue.”

In November 2009, a planned move for the John Roan School to the peninsula was called off.

The Blackheath Bluecoat school is currently on Old Dover Road, SE3, but its history can be traced back to 1700 when a school for 30 girls was created in a house on what has now become Greenwich High Road.

Planning permission sought for new 450 bedroom hotel on Greenwich Peninsula

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Ansco Hotel

A planning application has been lodged with Greenwich Council for the construction of a 452 bedroom hotel next to the O2 arena.

The large development, on what is known as plot NO301, would also include a separate 22-storey tower comprising of 100 serviced apartments, a ballroom & events space and a health spa.

The Evening Standard quotes David Campbell, of AEG Europe, as saying: “The O2 has already created more than 2,500 direct jobs in Greenwich. However, the real economic prize for Greenwich and east London is adding overnight visitors.”

At present the nearest hotels to the O2 – recently named as the in ticket sales – are the Express by Holiday Inn and the Pilot Inn guest house.

The planning application and association documents can be seen in full at the Greenwich Council website.

Related link: Greenwich Hotels

Greenwich Yacht Club puts on panto for charity

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Greenwich Yacht Club put on a pantomime for its members and selected guests yesterday afternoon. The fundraising production was titled Blazing Paddles III, and Mary Mills went along to enjoy the show – here’s what she made of it:

Greenwich Yacht Club doesn’t seem the most obvious place for thespian endeavour – let alone an actual panto. Yet they do seem to put something on every year with a cast of thousands. It also seems you only find out about it by accident – so thank you Roger, for telling me at the last minute that it was on, and I really enjoyed it. (Roger, with his triple candelabra, is the musical director).

So this was all about the adventures of Dick Dangler and his faithful Puss cat who had to get the beanstalk Giant to eat chocolate instead of mud so that they could join Greenwich Yacht Club and save beautiful Virginia from the evil clutches of Commodore Tacktightly – or at least I think it was. Tacktightly came from Little Luffing, elsewhere on the river – and as Barnacle Bob explained he could face any danger on the high seas “but its people from Erith I can’t handle”. The whole thing was saved when the Giant took up with Virginia’s sister Chlamydia helped by the ministrations of Flossie, the Woolwich Free Fairy. Anyway, everyone married everyone else in the end so it must be alright.

The cast was headed by the redoubtable, current Club Commodore., Nick Day as Commodore Ophelia Nobbes – with a mountain of blue hair and an impressive bosom. Backing was provided by the GYC Combined Foot and Mouth Chorus who enthusiastically sang a vast selection of songs – anything so long as it had the word ‘sailing’ in it somewhere.

I suppose all there is left to say is that a good time seems to have been had by all and that proceeds will go to a selection of charities headed by the RNLI.