Louisa

Fingers crossed for an Ann Summers. I have to travel miles for my various bits and bobs. Louisa.

Talk about a storm in a teacup. Lucky we don't have more important things to worry about around here or we could all end up banging our heads on brick walls sporadically across the neighbourhood. Louisa.

Someone held the ladies toilet door open for me in sainsburys. I was overwhelmed. Louisa.

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Louisa Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > I am a vocal supporter of working class culture > > and come from a working class background. For > > once, this isn't about that. There is an > Iceland > > store within walking distance in Peckham, > > xxxxxxx > > It's within walking distance if you don't mind a > half hour walk there and a half hour walk back, > which is about what it would be for me. > > Compared to a two minute walk for me to the > Lordship Lane branch (which btw has six large > free-range eggs for a pound. Bargain.) Sue, I appreciate your argument and I love Iceland as you know, but they do deliveries and at worst it's a short bus/car ride away if you don't fancy the walk. M&S is much further away and parking is a major issue for Walworth Road and Beckenham branches of M&S. either way, I'd rather see one of the, rather than an empty retail space and that will be the result! Louisa.

hoser Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > > Rye Lane is awesome! I couldn't disagree more! I've lived here all my life and remember Rye Lane when it was a great retail destination, with numerous major department stores. It's now dominated by dirty butchers and fishmongers and is more akin to a third world street market than a thriving UK high street. If we want LL to turn into Rye Lane then lets tell M&S and every other chain store to move out and we can have a dirty stinking main drag where health inspectors are too scared to set foot! No thanks! Louisa.

I am a vocal supporter of working class culture and come from a working class background. For once, this isn't about that. There is an Iceland store within walking distance in Peckham, this is not the issue. I fear the issue comes from a small group of vocal residents who for some reason want to secure the utopian independent shopping culture of ED. Unfortunately, if this is the case, then this view is flawed. Time and time again the landing of a big retail name (in proportion to the other local retailers) actually helps and promotes those smaller businesses. This is not about delivery times or parking fears, it's a small format store. I hope I'm wrong about this, if not we may have a prime spot on our high street empty for a very long time. Louisa.

I'm with Penguin on this too. High streets up and down the country are struggling with empty retail spaces and falling footfall. We have the opportunity to attract a high end chain onto our main drag, which would compliment and perhaps reinvigorate the reputation of the area. What are we left with now? An empty neglected retail unit in the heart of our shopping centre. What would any visitor to the area think of this? I just hope Waitrose will feel the gap if M&S become bored of the constant moaning and groaning about the parking and other related issues. Such a terrible shame. It was only 25 years ago M&S decided to leave Peckham and look what's become of Rye Lane. As was said before, you'll be regretting this if no one now fills the gap. Louisa.

I was aware of the plans but have never been happy about them. Why not turn a more sustainable brown field site which could accommodate more flats and therefore more people rather than spend a fortune on a building which could easily be considered for a more profitable heritage role which could put Dulwich on the map. Waste of time and money IMO. What next? Shall we restore the ruins of Tintagel castle in Cornwall and turn it into an Eco-supermarket? Bizarre. Louisa.

They had an opportunity to turn that into a tourist attraction to bring money into the area, perhaps even hand it over to the national trust. But no, they turn it into housing. Louisa.

Britain's empty homes revisited, the concrete house in ED is about to come on. Louisa.

Hope everyone is now satisfied with this ridiculous outcome. We had the opportunity to attract a major high street name into the area, in a time of recession when many town centres up and down the country suffering badly with empty premises. Be careful what you wish for cos' you just might get, and guess what you have, nothing! So typical of people in ED objecting to anything and everything - and this is the result. Very angry right now. Louisa.

Sick of south London stereotypes. Is any large city safe to run in at any time? It's a matter of chance and bad timing if you run into a mugger or any other criminal activity. I wouldn't run through Hackney or Tottenham at 6am on a dark morning but maybe I'd consider Dulwich Village. Stereotypes work both ways. Louisa.

Ben and Jerrys have previously expressed an interest in Dulwich village a number of years ago now. Wouldn't be surprised if they chose around here. Louisa.

I saw Brandon Flowers from The Killers getting money from the Barclays cash machine two years ago shortly before a solo gig at the Brixton Academy. Louisa.

I now want a smart phone just so I can be targeted, id love to see them try and take it off me. YouTube moment me thinks. Louisa.

This forum really is just bonkers PC most of the time. Louisa.

I once had an attempt on my handbag walking across goose green, this was a good few years ago, and I literally (some would say foolishly) retaliated back at the youth and he just ran off. I of course wouldn't recommend anyone else do this, it's just in my nature to not let anyone take something of mine I've had to pay for. Louisa.

-- moved topic --

DulwichFox I see your point entirely, this is one reason why it is my hope that the London Overground extension into Peckham Rye will see the regeneration of Rye Lane and more especially the station square which will hopefully attract many of these chains into that much bigger retail space with more parking facilities, in turn eleviating some of the pressure on the narrow and predominantly residential neighbourhood surrounding Lordship Lane. However, this is all pie in the sky stuff, and as such realistically growth is limited in SE London to gentrified areas such as ED. What I fail to understand about the parking argument however, is that an existing much larger M&S is on the Walworth RD and this does not promote extra parking pressures to that predinantly residential area. And from my understanding, the new M&S would be a Simply Food format store, which tends to attract people on foot for passing trade such as lunchtime snacks and food to take home after work. I don't quite adhere to the argument a small Simply Food will put parking pressure on the area, any more than the existing Iceland already has. A Wagamama would also tend to attract local people or those travelling on public transport as the demographic this type of restaurant is aimed at tend to be younger people and students and such like, many of whom do not drive. Louisa.

Unfortunately that is the world we live in. I would agree that there are some fantastic independent noodle fusion bars, but I for one think Wagamama is far fresher and tastier than most chain brands on our high street today. My point is that, having the odd chain brand isn't a disaster and if anything raises the profile of Lordship Lane as a great place to socialise, eat, drink and promote the area. Sure not every restaurant is to the taste of everyone, but my hope is that by attracting just a few 'decent' chains, it will in the long term provide us with a fantastic reputation for eating out in SE London and benefit the area by bringing in much needed revenue from neighbouring areas. Louisa.

You say that, but I've been to two smallish Wagamama restaurants, one in Chiswick and the other in Cardiff, both of which were in retail units the size of most of the existing single units along LL. Louisa.

Greetings one and all. What are your views on the potential arrival of another 'chain restaurant' onto LL? Gourmet Burger Kitchen has been around for a few years now and IMO compliments but does not override any of the existing independent restaurants and bars along the lane. There are a number of empty retail units currently, and I think out of all the chain restaurants Wagamama would be very successful in this area without damaging any existing businesses. I contacted them recently and they did not rule out this area, in fact they seemed very positive about ED, and considering it for future expansion, but obviously would not give information about future plans. What does everyone else think? Louisa.

Bizarre doesn't even come close. Louisa.

Oh dear, I'm away for a few months and I come back to this. I knew it was only a matter of time. To be honest, if Rye Lane was revitalised and the big names could be attracted back Peckham there would be no need for LL to accommodate this sort of chain store. Less than a mile down the road M&S ran a successful st.michael food hall and clothing shop up until its closure in 1989- where the peacocks and Argos stores stand today. Why not point them in that direction rather than complaining about them coming to ED? For me this is the final nail in the coffin of working class ED, Iceland and its predecessor Bejam have held the lease on that building for four decades, end of an era for me and many others if they go. Louisa.

In the year of Charles Dickens birthday, and his associated ties with the village where he based some of his Pickwick Paper characters on the locals, surely it would be right to reflect upon this for Dulwich? Louisa.