Rockets

Does London need more high-end, high-cost, high-margin housing - is that where the need really is - especially as more working families are being forced out of the capital because of the cost? Do the people who currently live in Surrey Quays need more high-end, high-cost housing at the cost of their leisure facilities? You're trying to distract about the Pizza Hut - I am looking at the big picture and this is a gentrification trend which ultimately harms London and the people who live in it. Perhaps you quite like the idea of a £1.9m 3 bed loft style apartment - unfortunately for most that's not a realistic target. The upsides tend to be reserved only for those who can afford to live there and, for most, those aren't the people who may have called it home for the whole of their lives.

How many local people currently use said pizza chain, cinema and bowling alley? How many local people will move into one of the new homes built over it? If you welcome over-priced houses, are a fan of gentrification and a bit of social cleansing to boot good for you! I am not. Go ask the people who use to live in Elephant and Castle about the impact this type of development has on a local community - developers don't build anything now for the incumbents. I am still chuckling to myself that people actually thought this was a good thing on the basis that it removed car parking space - it just shows how blinkered people can be - it's a very special branch of champagne socialist that has those thoughts!!!! 😉

Removing a high-usage cinema and bowling alley to replace it with a supermarket and expensive homes (at a cost well out of reach for the vast majority of local residents) should not be something that is championed just because it is removing parking spaces. At those sort of prices the developers are catering to the Canary Wharf and City banking types who want a short commute to the office - not the existing local community. This is why there is an constant flow of people out of London and why primary schools are closing left, right and centre - because developers behind things like the Canada Water Masterplan (not sure masterplan was the best name to give it as it suggests some sort of social cleansing) like this are only interested in catering to the high-margin, high earner market: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyjwy5951lo#:~:text=People are leaving inner London,space in the outer suburbs Dumping supply is not good if the supply is only at the high-end, high-margin end of the market. Southwark News asked if there were plans for a cinema and bowling alley to replace the ones closed. Their response suggests that there will actually probably be an over-priced "artisan" coffee shop selling the finest Yak-dung coffee, a sandwich shop called Kumquat, a hot yoga studio and a We Work!!! 😉 We asked them if there was due to be a bowling alley, cinema and facilities similar to the ones due to close. Whilst British Land said they were ‘committed’ to delivering a variety of leisure and entertainment options, they were unable to confirm whether these facilities in particular would return.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpw5d50xwwpo

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c04plzgyvg4o

definitely something going around - a lot of people seem to have it - our family had it over the last week and a bit.

Earl, I think you're being blinkered by the car park - it is the loss of the cinema, bowling alley and Pizza Hut that have been such a focal point for many Surrey Quays residents (and those, like us, who travelled to them to use them) that is the issue. I bet those who used the facilities (and they were always really busy whenever we visited them) are overjoyed that they are being replaced by a bigger supermarket and a load of new (what look like really expensive) homes.....The first development in the area is a loft-style living space called The Founding and prices start from £700,000 for a one-bed up to £1.9m for a 3-bed. I now realise this is why PrintWorks shut down too. The Canada Water Masterplan (as the developers refer to it) should probably be renamed the Canada Water Gentrification Plan. https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/rotherhithe/im-there-every-other-day-locals-heartbroken-over-surrey-quays-leisure-park-closure/

Went to book a film to find Surrey Quays Odeon is no more. Such a shame, I didn't realise everything was being shut there. Used to love a bit of bowling at the Hollywood Bowl too. https://southwarknews.co.uk/area/rotherhithe/surrey-quays-odeon-cinema-confirms-august-closure-date/

I doubt it but looking at how narrow the cycle track currently is they might have to as that chicane will become problematic with the speed some cyclists hurtle down Calton.

That's how I remember it - people used to park in the park (but it was a long time ago!).

Was it a through route - I remember people parking around it?

Earl, congrats - that's by far the most well-thought and rational post you have made yet!!! I am glad you are finally seeing sense - it's taken you a while but glad you have finally joined us! 😉

Apparently they are now operating in the Calton Avenue/Woodwarde Road/Beauval Road area around school drop off and pick-up times.

Why because did that displace traffic onto other routes causing more congestion and pollution as part of efforts to create less congestion and pollution?

I miss the Londis pick and mix! Did Walsh's Glazing used to be where Oliver Bonas is now - did they have two shop frontage or was it further down?

You sound like a councillor trying to justify why they refused to make the changes when the emergency services said that the closures needed to be reopened as they were putting lives at risk. Why is it you all happily turned a blind eye to that? Do you think the emergency services were lying? Do you and the council have some ideological opposition to the emergency services or were they (and the people who needed them) just collateral damage? At least you are acknowledging that they have wasted tax-payers money on it - one step at a time and all that!

This is now the fourth time there have been shovels in the ground...how much more money can the council waste on this folly? I can't wait for the grand opening...I am sure the councillors will be grandstanding their handiwork and avoiding questions about why so much has been spent on one junction.

It's good to have a passion in life!!!! 😉 In all seriousness, you should probably be questioning why people do feel so passionately about and why people are still challenging the council over their wastage of millions of pounds of tax-payers money. Some of us are clearly not happy to turn a blind eye to such wastage.

Don't respond to Raptortruck - it's someone masquerading as petrol head from the pro-LTN side!!! 😉

If I remember rightly there used to be a similar shop in Catford - weird that we used to have arms and militaria shops dotted around South London! Was that the Junction Emporium?

Bravo to Norway - positively encouraging the transition to EVs and it's working! Free parking, use of bus lanes and no tolls for EV drivers - now that is progressive! https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx25ljxpygeo

* except in every local consultation the council has run on the issue

I remember that place - always looked a bit creepy inside - did anyone ever venture inside? Lordship Lane certainly used to have an eclectic mix of shops back in the day! And some eclectic bars too - Inside72 was always a great/weird night out.

Oh dear...now you really are living in fantasyland........you mean things like the objections tabled by emergency services because the measures were putting lives at risk (that the council ignored for nigh on a year)? The only ridiculous obstacle in that case were the planters blocking emergency vehicle access - I mean, who thought that was a good idea? That cost a sizeable chunk of cash to put right (once the council finally relented). You're trying, desperately and rather hopelessly, to rewrite history. As is DulvilleRes. Were you there DulvilleRes - there was a huge turnout - especially for one you think is just a small vocal minority? I am with firstmate and I love the fact the pro-LTN usual-suspects put so much time and energy trying to convince people that it is a small vocal minority and get themselves in such a lather; yet actual evidence presented to them (consultation responses, protests, their upset at posters people put in their windows, the number of people trying to attend council meetings on the matter, the vandalism of signs put in people's gardens) is so compelling that it is anything but a small minority. The obsession as to who is behind OneDulwich clearly indicates that they are still a thorn in the side for those on the Pro-LTN side - and that makes me chuckle. If it really was a small vocal minority people would have lost interest by now. But they haven't. And that clearly still really angers some people.

Do you find the boredom only washes over you when the discussion goes in a direction that you can't argue against........;-) Maybe those who are bored of it should take heed of some sage advice from 80s TV classic kids programme Why Don't You: