Louisa

How frustrating computedshorty. Ditto the post above, and I'm sure everyone else on here, if you need milk don't hesitate to ask. I'm popping to the shop in a bit. Louisa.

Welcome back computedshorty - you've been greatly missed! :-) Help-Ma-Boab I've just finished off a bottle of chardy I'm in no condition to meet anyone other than the lovely man at the kebab shop haha. I think being sentimental is a great thing, we all have different things we look back on in life. For me, Peckham and ED has always been my life, I've known no different so I guess alongside some others here I'm in a uniqueish position to recall various versions of the same place. maxxi I remember the late 80s and Bros! The blonde haired hunks from Peckham! Where exactly did they live? Louisa.

PR you're indeed correct Primark was British Home Stores and when it was first built it was a very notable post-modern addition to the lane. There was also a H Samuel jewellers and numerous fine tailors lining the street including the locally famous Mr Sunshine- made to measure heaven! I remember the Uplands and the music nights with bikes outside wow now that really is a memory! Louisa.

My goodness me Ravels really was the place to buy footwear - end of. The one in Peckham was just such a prestigious place (or seemed to be to me). All the style icons of the time such as Twiggy were seen wearing them and you'd never pop into Rye Lane Ravels unless you were wearing your finest clobber. Memories. Louisa.

lindylou. I remember the Sainsbury's freezer centre which was before Bejam took over the premises. I also have vague memories of the coal heap- you often got some of the old rag & bone men (really showing my age) down there looking for bargains. They kind of fazed out as we got into the 80s. The pub really was the centre of the community back then- the storytellers and regulars so many fond memories- not saying it was some sort of utopia far from it, lots of fights and quite poor in general, but memories are there to be made, and my fondest ones were made back then. Louisa.

And, sorry Otta, the great CPT - forever in my heart! Very happy times. Louisa.

The 1970s was a good time for me personally. back then, Rye Lane was the place to shop- Sainsbury's M&S etc.. And ED was a rough round the edges but full of personality neighborhood. We always had the best pubs from the parmy to the EDT, Plough, Grove Tavern etc etc.. My best memories are always to do with local public houses. Louisa.

Another school would be welcome and much needed, but this site is not big enough, it can't go here - I agree with other comments. Louisa.

I think you misunderstand me sophie_d. I wish markmc71 and all the co-founders/contributors to this paper the very best, it surely will be a positive step for print media and the local area. That isn't my gripe. My gripe is aimed more at an 'idea', one which is often taken by the middle-classes (especially the recent influx searching for cash buy do-me up Victorian terraces) as some sort of virtuous crusade. The artists and creatives mean well and obviously do a lot of good for an area, Peckham included, but they aren't the issue, it's what follows behind them which is the transforming factor in the inner city which eventually prices whole communities out of an area. It seems to be concentrated solely in zone-2 currently too which is quite alarming. I think JoeChuff sums it up well. Louisa.

According to this article in the South London Press, the new buyers have paid well in excess of 5 million pounds for the former site. Quite astonishing considering the limited room for development that there is. So guys, take your bets, do you think 5 mil was a fair cop or daylight robbery? Also who's the buyer? http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=1965&headline=It?s%20a%20fair%20cop! Louisa.

I point to Clapham and Battersea, Shoreditch and Islington. Hey even Notting Hill. All areas with high social housing and strong traditional working class British and first/second/third generation immigrant communities with 'roots'. When money pours in and an area becomes 'cool' those things matter not one jot, because ultimately and Peckham is a classic case study, a zone 2 location now on the map and finally connected up to the tube network with a good Victorian housing stock is ripe for development. And those of you who thought gentrification in ED was quick, you ain't seen nothing yet, cos Peckham will gentrify at such a pace it will become unrecognisable in the next decade, and yes even Rye Lane will join in. Those suggesting it is a natural transformation, he's maybe it is, but the extent to which it's happening in Peckham and other inner London areas is alarming. The deep rooted communities will move away as rents rise and push out into the outer suburbs and we will be left with another generic gentrified zone 2 community with crazy house prices. It seems a shame to me. Louisa.

I remember Steve's Chippy at the bottom of Maxted/Corner of Bellenden, one of the best in the area at the time. And jimbo useful means something different to every person. If you take Peckham in General, would its population want to or be able to afford to shop in most of the shops on the current Bellenden RD? Louisa.

That's exactly my point. We can no longer pin down what Peckham is or means to people, because the generic SW brigade have followed hot on the heels of the artistic crowd and students from the trendy East End, to buy up Victorian properties and turn Bellenden Road into a pop-up Northcote in SE15. Rather than immerse themselves in existing culture, what Clapham blow-ins do is create their own little enclave and allow gentrification to distort an area until eventually the poorest are forced out and the place becomes exactly what they want it to be. Louisa.

DaveR that's a frightening statistic. Is it really that high, 50%? Is that a greater London general statistic or specifically regarding this particular corner of the capital? That sends a shiver down my spine. I'm just going to make sure the doors are all locked and bolted. Scary stuff. Louisa.

More arty trendy middle class stuff detached from reality. So much is happening in Peckham? Maybe if you're on the cool carriage first class from Shoreditch or Dalston, but what about the real Peckham? Louisa.

It isn't fair on innocent people but the number of incidents reported on here confirms just how dangerous it is for us out there. It's a terrible shame that we are put in such a position but that's the reality of where we live. Unfortunately you have to be suspicious of everyone otherwise you could end up in a compromising position. Louisa.

The Hudson Hotel. Stayed there in 2005. Contemporary chic interior, amazing cocktail bar, right near Central Park and slap bang on Broadway. Time Square a subway stop or two away. Louisa.

It's sickening what is becoming of society. It seems as each day passes something else is happening locally and it's enough to frighten you into never leaving home again. I for one invested in an extra lock on my front door and I am terrified to leave home at night. Why are these people allowed to get away with doing this to others? As a society we need to crack down on it. It wasn't this bad too many years ago whatever the happy clappies wish to tell you. Louisa.

I think EDF has finally stooped to a new low. Louisa.

I heard from a friend of a friend it was going to be a Simpsons-in-the-strand metro. Personally, I think Bell-end road is too posh. Louisa.

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > just those that write negative stuff about > places that they've not actually tried for > themselves. Like Iceland, classic example. Louisa.

Absolutely Otta. People being judge and jury from the comfort of their own home with throwaway comments can show up on Google and other search engines when you search for a particular business. Genuine gripes should always be dealt with first and foremost with the business proprietors before using this forum to spout comments which could potentially cause a lot of damage. I love the castle pub, nothing anyone says on here will ever change my opinion. Louisa.

jctg Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Should this be a surprise? UKIP attracts crackpots > and not-so-closet racists. There's a lot of them > about. Bit unfair. Not all of them are crazy racists. Louisa.

There should be more accountability on the internet. Registering on the forum today and making negative jibes which could affect this great family business is bang out of order. This forum is highly influential whether we like it or not, if you have nothing constructive to say please keep your comments to yourself. Louisa.

Everyone on EDF flirts with SJ. It's a right of passage. Louisa.