On account of the engineering works this weekend I am now on one of the last direct services from Charing Cross to Brockley. It feels very civilised - and a bit sad that this is happening - there is not even the prospect of a high frequency tube service to make up for it.
To me it does not feel that the publicly-supported railway industry is addressing the wants of either hard-pressed commuters coming home in the early evening or the people who actually live in London so that they can enjoy the West End, the theatre, a drink, meet with friends or like me go to my German nightclass.
I am sure I will find a new routine quickly - but it won't be as convenient. It will take a bit longer, will involve changing trains and using tubes more but will not be any cheaper - how I love being able to sit in a comfy seat for a good 20 mins reading a book or a paper. I am sure my irritations will be shared by a sizeable proportion of the 11.5 million people going in and out of our stations in a year.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
11 December 2009
The last train to Charing Cross.
Southern's service cuts programme came closer today with the last 0532 direct service to Charing Cross.
Tonight I'll be catching the direct service from Charing Cross for the last time.
From a personal perspective these services provide a very convenient and direct link with Central London. I am sure I'm not alone in regretting the cutting of these services - and certainly the level of interest shown by the local groups, commuters and Lewisham Council demonstrates this.
Planning timetables and the like takes months - so it was almost inevitable that when the new timetable was published without the direct services to Charing Cross it was a 'done deal'. I hope we have an opportunity now to push once again to reverse the proposed changes brought in on the back of the East London Line (saw one of the trains the other day).
The meeting with Southern, local Councillors and the Mayor to discuss these cuts has been set for 17th of this month. Too late for these cuts to the Charing Cross service.
And so it is I arrive, for the last time, on a direct train, at Charing Cross. For once it's on time and I'll arrive on the tube platform just as a train arrives...and I did!
Tonight I'll be catching the direct service from Charing Cross for the last time.
From a personal perspective these services provide a very convenient and direct link with Central London. I am sure I'm not alone in regretting the cutting of these services - and certainly the level of interest shown by the local groups, commuters and Lewisham Council demonstrates this.
Planning timetables and the like takes months - so it was almost inevitable that when the new timetable was published without the direct services to Charing Cross it was a 'done deal'. I hope we have an opportunity now to push once again to reverse the proposed changes brought in on the back of the East London Line (saw one of the trains the other day).
The meeting with Southern, local Councillors and the Mayor to discuss these cuts has been set for 17th of this month. Too late for these cuts to the Charing Cross service.
And so it is I arrive, for the last time, on a direct train, at Charing Cross. For once it's on time and I'll arrive on the tube platform just as a train arrives...and I did!
1 December 2009
Tribute to Mallaig
Not an article about the small fishing town on the west coast of Scotland, but a tribute to our cat, Mallaig, who died this morning.
We got Mallaig when he was a kitten in September 1995. For those of you who met him you'll know that he had a bit of a character and a few bad habits - the worse of which was to urinate in places other than his litter tray. He was very purry and also dribbled a bit, he liked lying around on soft cushions, duvets and in front of the fire. However, now is the time when I can go public about the time when unbeknown to us he wet the sofa just before a local party meeting. It was not until after the meeting we realised that a potential new member had spent the entire evening sitting on that patch. She never came again. Still Mallaig's attempts at marking his territory and single-pawedly attempting to restrain the Green Party in Lewisham do not appear to have worked terribly well.
On a lighter note there was also the time when the cat took a liking to bright stringy Christmas decorations - we'd not used these previously. He certainly looked festive with the strings hanging out of his bottom - however the sight of him playing with strands of pooh wrapped around the same strings was less so.
I hope that the wren he caught a few years ago will be able to forgive him - I was not at all impressed when he brought the lovely little fellow in.
Mallaig was clearly getting older in recent months, had lost a bit of weight, had a heart murmur and was under the vet for treatment for a thyroid problem. I found him lying dead in the garden this morning and his posture appeared to show a very sudden and hopefully relatively painless death. We quickly buried him this morning and gave all of his remaining cat food to the Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
Thinking about myself, when I looked through some old pictures of the cat, I was struck by (a) how young I looked in the photographs and (b) I didn't have any idea of how my life could develop over those 14 or so years when the cat would be alive.
Despite his flaws, we loved him and will miss him.
We got Mallaig when he was a kitten in September 1995. For those of you who met him you'll know that he had a bit of a character and a few bad habits - the worse of which was to urinate in places other than his litter tray. He was very purry and also dribbled a bit, he liked lying around on soft cushions, duvets and in front of the fire. However, now is the time when I can go public about the time when unbeknown to us he wet the sofa just before a local party meeting. It was not until after the meeting we realised that a potential new member had spent the entire evening sitting on that patch. She never came again. Still Mallaig's attempts at marking his territory and single-pawedly attempting to restrain the Green Party in Lewisham do not appear to have worked terribly well.
On a lighter note there was also the time when the cat took a liking to bright stringy Christmas decorations - we'd not used these previously. He certainly looked festive with the strings hanging out of his bottom - however the sight of him playing with strands of pooh wrapped around the same strings was less so.
I hope that the wren he caught a few years ago will be able to forgive him - I was not at all impressed when he brought the lovely little fellow in.
Mallaig was clearly getting older in recent months, had lost a bit of weight, had a heart murmur and was under the vet for treatment for a thyroid problem. I found him lying dead in the garden this morning and his posture appeared to show a very sudden and hopefully relatively painless death. We quickly buried him this morning and gave all of his remaining cat food to the Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
Thinking about myself, when I looked through some old pictures of the cat, I was struck by (a) how young I looked in the photographs and (b) I didn't have any idea of how my life could develop over those 14 or so years when the cat would be alive.
Despite his flaws, we loved him and will miss him.
18 October 2009
More bling
I had the pleasure of accompanying Darren Johnson to Westminster today in the London Mayor's Association annual service at Westminster Abbey...the service was very pleasant, the choir sung very well (as they would). Here's the Mayors - Lewisham was represented by Cllr Barrie Anderson, Chair of the Council.
16 October 2009
Are these real savings?
Lewisham's Officers have published their initial proposals for achieving the efficiency savings that are required to both drive more efficient use of public money and also to provide new money for new services and/or changes in the Council Tax.
This aspect of the budget setting process always causes interest as the focus is on which of the services are 'up for the chop' - when the picture is probably better painted as being 'pruned' or 'shaped' or 'adapted' to reflect a change in the demand for the services or different ways of doing things.
Lewisham's Officers have proposed replacing some of own funded programmes with grants from other government initiatives including Sure Start (see CYP07 £56k, CYP08 £91k, CYP17 £6k, CYP18 £82k, CYP21 £40) totalling £275,000 a year. Of course this means that public money is being spent - but not from the Council tax in Lewisham. Each of these proposals is rightly described as having a 'neutral impact' in terms of 'Inspiring efficiency, effectiveness and equity' - simply because all they do is transfer funding for the service from Lewisham to another Government Body - and do little to determine whether the service could be better run altogether.
The full report is available here
This aspect of the budget setting process always causes interest as the focus is on which of the services are 'up for the chop' - when the picture is probably better painted as being 'pruned' or 'shaped' or 'adapted' to reflect a change in the demand for the services or different ways of doing things.
Lewisham's Officers have proposed replacing some of own funded programmes with grants from other government initiatives including Sure Start (see CYP07 £56k, CYP08 £91k, CYP17 £6k, CYP18 £82k, CYP21 £40) totalling £275,000 a year. Of course this means that public money is being spent - but not from the Council tax in Lewisham. Each of these proposals is rightly described as having a 'neutral impact' in terms of 'Inspiring efficiency, effectiveness and equity' - simply because all they do is transfer funding for the service from Lewisham to another Government Body - and do little to determine whether the service could be better run altogether.
The full report is available here
13 October 2009
Meet the Manager
Following the motion to full Council, the Mayor has written the following letter on behalf of Lewisham Council.
I hope to get along to the 'Meet the Manager' session at London Bridge - however I regularly catch the 0532 direct service to Charing Cross (not sure if that's going to be cut - will need to check the timetable) and therefore could miss this session.
Nevertheless, if I'm not able to make this Thursday then I'll be sure to make any meeting that comes from the letter from the Mayor.
I hope to get along to the 'Meet the Manager' session at London Bridge - however I regularly catch the 0532 direct service to Charing Cross (not sure if that's going to be cut - will need to check the timetable) and therefore could miss this session.
Nevertheless, if I'm not able to make this Thursday then I'll be sure to make any meeting that comes from the letter from the Mayor.
12 October 2009
Hanging baskets gone...Christmas on the way
Only this morning I commented that the now the hanging baskets had gone from Brockley Cross it won't be long before Christmas. Perhaps Lewisham's Highways Department heard me - I noticed that the lights have been installed on the lamp posts this evening.
Not got a date for when these will be switched on - but I'm hoping that there'll be a tree again in Brockley and that there'll be a market in Coulgate Street again - and I'm hoping that I won't have to hear Christmas music until 1 December.
What else do I want for Christmas - well a direct service to Charing Cross would be good for a start...
Not got a date for when these will be switched on - but I'm hoping that there'll be a tree again in Brockley and that there'll be a market in Coulgate Street again - and I'm hoping that I won't have to hear Christmas music until 1 December.
What else do I want for Christmas - well a direct service to Charing Cross would be good for a start...
5 October 2009
30 September 2009
31 Homes Kept Emtpy in Lewisham
It appears that Lewisham is keeping at least 31 homes vacant at the moment - some for over 2 years. No reason is given for this. The financial cost of the lost rent is currently estimated at £50,000.
The full question and answer is repeated below:
LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM
COUNCIL MEETING
24 SEPTEMBER 2009
Question by Councillor Walton
of the Cabinet Member for Customer Services
Question
How many long term voids does Lewisham Homes have and for how long has each of the properties been left vacant? How much rent has been lost? How many of these have been squatted and how much has it cost to remove the squatters? Should Lewisham Homes decide to sell off these properties how many replacement homes would be bought?
Reply
Further to your question concerning long term voids within Lewisham Homes,
the information you have requested is detailed below:
The total number of long term void properties is 31 –
13 Lewisham Homes properties
18 ex-Dunlop Hayward properties
The average duration of a vacant property is:
Lewisham Homes Stock = 61 weeks
Ex Dunlop Hayward - LTV's Interim Managed = 135 weeks
The approximate rental loss for the period is £50,000
2 of the properties have been squatted and it costs an average of £650 per property to remove the squatters
With regard to selling the properties, as Lewisham Homes only manage the stock for the Council any decision concerning the sale of property and the assets from that sale would be with the London Borough of Lewisham.
The full question and answer is repeated below:
LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM
COUNCIL MEETING
24 SEPTEMBER 2009
Question by Councillor Walton
of the Cabinet Member for Customer Services
Question
How many long term voids does Lewisham Homes have and for how long has each of the properties been left vacant? How much rent has been lost? How many of these have been squatted and how much has it cost to remove the squatters? Should Lewisham Homes decide to sell off these properties how many replacement homes would be bought?
Reply
Further to your question concerning long term voids within Lewisham Homes,
the information you have requested is detailed below:
The total number of long term void properties is 31 –
13 Lewisham Homes properties
18 ex-Dunlop Hayward properties
The average duration of a vacant property is:
Lewisham Homes Stock = 61 weeks
Ex Dunlop Hayward - LTV's Interim Managed = 135 weeks
The approximate rental loss for the period is £50,000
2 of the properties have been squatted and it costs an average of £650 per property to remove the squatters
With regard to selling the properties, as Lewisham Homes only manage the stock for the Council any decision concerning the sale of property and the assets from that sale would be with the London Borough of Lewisham.
26 September 2009
Extra Traffic for Hard Cash
Travelling to central London yesterday morning (change at London Bridge - yawn) I saw this advert on the Southeastern train.
I can't be the only one who is outraged by the idea that a major business in Lewisham's congested town centre is actively promoting itself as a commuters' car park.
I doubt there's little that can be done to curtail what I consider to be an irresponsible action that could easily increase congestion and degrade air quality. Moreover it could encourage people who currently use the train from Kent to drive into Lewisham instead.
Of course, when our station finally reopens (and I used the stairs on saturday and friday so it can't be far off) we'll have our very own commuter parking back.
I can't be the only one who is outraged by the idea that a major business in Lewisham's congested town centre is actively promoting itself as a commuters' car park.
I doubt there's little that can be done to curtail what I consider to be an irresponsible action that could easily increase congestion and degrade air quality. Moreover it could encourage people who currently use the train from Kent to drive into Lewisham instead.
Of course, when our station finally reopens (and I used the stairs on saturday and friday so it can't be far off) we'll have our very own commuter parking back.
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