So much going on in Forest Hill

We have a busy period coming up in the next week or so.  The main events we are organising are a History Talk from Steve Grindlay and a Bring and Take day.  Steve's talks are always interesting, and this one on Thursday, 23 February should be no exception.  Read on for more information...

This week
There are four local events on Saturday 18 February.
Firstly, the Sydenham Police Station is threatened with closure, which will mean the loss of a front counter, but more importantly will also mean that the Safer Neighbourhood Teams for Forest Hill, Perry Vale and Sydenham will be relocated to Catford.  We feel that this is far from ideal and are calling on the Metropolitan Police to review their decision.  There will be a demonstration outside Sydenham Police Station on Saturday 18 February, from 10-11am.  There should be plenty of media coverage as the Sydenham Society have arranged for Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick to attend. You can sign the petition in support of Sydneham police station at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-sydenham-police-station/

After that, help Nature's Gym will be planting whips at the Horniman Triangle  from 11am - 2pm.  Nature’s Gym have been donated more “whips” from Woodland Trust, so come along to the Horniman Triangle to help with planting them and creating a stag beetle loggery.
Also on Saturday, Friends of Albion Millenmium Green will be holding their first AGM at Holy Trinity Church Hall, SE26 4EA just off Sydenham Park from 2-4pm.  Go along to hear about plans for how it is to be used and managed, or to let them know what you want from the green (www.amgfriends.org.uk)

Finally, Canvas & Cream will be opening their doors on Saturday, 18th February, next to Santander on London Road.  The Dining room/Restaurant, Gallery, studios  and healing room will all be open to the public for the first time. Go  and have a nose around at what they have been doing. They will have some Art 'Taster' workshops and information showing you  what will be on offer and therapists will be there to talk to you and  show you their wares.  After the 19th the  studios will be private and the healing room will only be open to the  therapists' customers.

On Sunday evening, 19 February,  Canvas & Cream will finish off with a  one-time-only Dinner and film night. A set menu of two courses followed  by a full screening of Garbage Warrior, an inspirational true story of  maverick US architect Michael Reynolds and his fight to introduce  radically sustainable housing. The event is £30.00 (including the film). Tickets can be purchased from their website,www.canvasandcream.com, but thelittlegreenscreen also has a limited number of cinema only tickets for £6.50 if that is too steep for you.

Next weekOn Monday, 20 February, the Sydenham Arts Festival will be holding their AGM from 7.30pm at Here For Good, 17 Sydenham Road SE26 5EX.  Sydenham Arts Festival 2012 is now underway and will take place from 1st to 15th July 2012.  This year it is part of Lewisham's Cultural Olympiad celebrations. All supporters are invited to attend the AGM and find out what is planned. There are plenty of opportunities for local residents to get involved. If you are unable to attend the AGM but would like to be involved please contact the Festival Administrator at Operationssaf@gmail.com
The next Forest Hill Local Assembly is being held on Wednesday 22 February,  ​7.30-9.30pm​ at Sydenham Girls' School on Dartmouth Road, SE26 4RD.  Topics for discussion will include your chance to suggest improvements for Forest Hill and feedback on progress form the grants which were awarded from the Assemblies Fund.

Steve Grindlay will be giving a talk entitled "The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker.  A history of commerce in Forest Hill" on Thursday 23 February from 7:30pm at The Hob, 7 Devonshire Road, SE23 3HE (opposite Forest Hill Railway station).  These talks are usually well attended and provide an interesting insight into Forest Hill's past.

Our next Bring & Take event will be held on Sunday, 26 February from 11am - 3pm at the Holy Trinity Centre (between numbers 35D and 37 on Sydenham Park) just across the street from the entrance to Whittel Gardens.   
Bring usable items you no longer need eg bicycles, pushchairs, books, toys, CDs, DVDs, tools, small items of furniture, musical instruments, good‑quality clothing, electrical goods, kitchenware etc.  
and take items you will find useful - this isn’t a swap so no need to match a 'Bring' item with a 'Take' item.

Please note: items should be in good working order. In addition, Lewisham Council will provide a van for WEEE waste (electrical and electronic equipment), so if you have any small electrical items that no longer work bring them along to be disposed of properly.

Later on..
The next Sydenham Local Assembly will be held on Tuesday, 6 March from 7-9pm at The Grove Centre, 2 Jews Walk, SE26 6PL

Calling all budding artists!As part of the planning permission for the redeveloped Greyhound in Sydenham.  Purelake (the developers) have to incorporate a piece of public art (made from ceramic tiles) on the north wall of the building. A new design competition for 2012 has been launched, replacing the previous competition which failed to find a winning entry. It is open to anyone who lives, works or studies within 2km of the Greyhound, and their family and friends. The design should capture “the Essence of Sydenham” and there's a £1,000 prize for the winning entry. Entries must be submitted before the end of March and the winner will be announced by the end of April. Anyone who wishes to enter and receive a competition brief should email greyhoundcompetition@gmail.com or write to Greyhound Competition, c/o 43 Bishopsthorpe Road, London SE26 4PA before March 17 2012.

New businesses
Finally, three new businesses are opening in Forest Hill.  As mentioned above, Canvas & Cream will be opening their doors on Saturday.   Leaders Estate Agents is now open for business next to the station. The other business due to open its doors very soon is the Sylvan Post, Antic's new pub located in the former Post Office next to Paddy Power on Dartmouth Road.  No date has been finalaised yet, but they are hoping to open before the end of the month and it's looking good inside.  There will be a couple of sungs in the old safes as well as the main bar and a back room. 

 

I hope there is something interesting here for you.  Next month, we will be looking for help with oiur Britain In Bloom entry, which will spread to Honor Oak Station this year, as well as further planting in the Town Centre.  Please let me know if you would like to help in any way.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Richard Hibbert
Chairman, Forest Hill Society

Planning: 57-59 Honor Oak Park (Sainsbury's?)

Letter sent to Lewisham planning department regarding DC/11/79057: 57-59 HONOR OAK PARK, (potential Sainsburys Local for Honor Oak)

I am writing to you on behalf of the Forest Hill Society to register our objection to this planning application.

In general we have no objection to the combining of the three shops into a single A1 unit. We believe that such a unit will be an asset to the area, increasing footfall for the shopping area, and having a positive impact for many other local businesses.

Our objections do not pertain to the retail unit but to the residential units above the shop which forms part of the application.

Our main concerns regarding these residential units are:
1. Flat 57a has poor quality layout with a kitchen/livingroom that is just over 2m wide in most points, providing little useful floor space.

2. Poor quality access provided to flats 59a & b. Both accessed from the rear, up a flight of stairs, and then an external walkway over the flat roof.
3. General outlook and daylight from a number of the units, most notably the kitchen/diner of 59a.

We are also concerned that no details have been provided of neighbouring properties, most notably 57b which surrounded by this development. There are concerns about the suitability of the internal layout of the units within this application, and the impact this may have on the neighbouring properties.

As a result of these issues we believe this application should be rejected in its current form as it is contrary to council policies HSG5, HSG8, and HSG11.

We hope that the applicant can find ways to adjust the residential units to make them comply with policies and provide a good standard of accommodation for existing neighbours and future residents.

Swinging in the Triangle

Following funding secured by the Forest Hill Society from the Forest Hill ward assembly, work will start on Monday installing swings in the Horniman Triangle.

The plan is for five swings; two flats swings, two swings with bars for babies, and one 'birds nest' swing for sharing and for children with mobility difficulties.

In addition there will be two all weather games tables suitable for table tennis for older children or for adults to use.

We are not sure how long the work will take and some machinery may need to be brought in to facilitate the installation, but by the Easter holidays we will have some fantastic new facilities in the park. In addition the work in the Horniman Gardens across the road should be complete this spring with a new animal enclosure, education centre, outdoor musical play, and a water feature in the centre of the sunken garden.

Planning Application - 2 Radlet Avenue

The Forest Hill Society have opposed a planning application at 2 Radlet Avenue.

This is an unusual application for a basement extension to the side of the house only. This is in addition to a large roof extension on 2 Radlet Avenue which is not shown in the plans, despite being almost completed.

We believe that the nature of this extension is unsuitable for the location and should be regarded as over-development. There are concerns about limited daylight to the basement. Our final concern is the proximity of the excavation to neighbouring properties.

Bearing in mind these concerns we support neighbours of this property in opposing this application and hope that the council will reject this application.

Planning Application - 49 Houston Road (DC/11/78883)

The Forest Hill Society has objected to a plan to convert a house on Houston Road into seven studio flats.
The details of the application can be viewed on the Lewisham council web site.

Our main reasons for objection are:
1. Overdevelopment resulting in units that are too small
2. Poor quality of daylight and concerns about internal layout
3. Reduction in family housing

The full objection can be read here.

Local Crime Survey

The Safer Lewisham Partnership wants your views and your experiences of crime and anti-social behaviour in Lewisham. The results of the Lewisham Crime Survey will be used by the partnership, which includes Lewisham Council, the police, probation and fire services, health, and voluntary groups, to set its annual priorities. The online survey will only take a few minutes to complete.

Conservation Areas

There are several conservation areas in Forest Hill. If you live in one, then there are certain impacts on your rights.

• If you live in a flat or subdivided house, then you do not have permitted development rights and must seek planning permission to undertake changes to the exterior. This includes alterations such as such the erection of a satellite dish or replacing windows or doors. Check with the Council before making any external changes to your property.
• If your property is affected by an Article 4 direction (see below), then this removes your permitted development rights and planning permission may be required for certain minor changes, such as the replacement of windows and doors or front boundaries. Check with the Council before proceeding with any external works.
• It is an offence to cut down or wilfully damage any tree in a conservation area without prior written consent. A plant is considered a tree once it is over 1.2m tall with a trunk over 100mm in diameter. Applications are free, but should be made at least six weeks in advance.
• If you want to demolish (or rebuild) a wall over one metre high, or demolish a building then you must first apply for a demolition notice, giving at least six weeks' notice. Consent for demolition is not normally granted where a building contributes to the character of the conservation area.
• Commercial properties have limited development rights, and we recommend you talk to Lewisham's Planning department before undertaking any works. All shop fronts should comply with the Council's Shopfront design guide supplementary planning document.
• A heritage statement is required for all planning applications affecting buildings in conservation areas and listed buildings (both nationally-listed and locally-listed), including applications affecting the setting of a building.

The following areas (some of which are not in Forest Hill) are identified in the map above. A detailed map of each area can be found by following the link:

16. Forest Hill

An Article 4 direction applies to the whole of the Forest Hill Conservation Area. The conservation area was originally designated in 1976 and extended in 1994 and in 2010. It now comprises an area of 45 ha which makes it the fifth largest conservation area within the borough. The area includes Benson Road, Bird In Hand Passage, Clyde Vale, Dartmouth Place, David's Road, Dorrel Estate, Havelock Walk, London Road, Manor Mount, Pearcefield Avenue, Waldenshaw Road, most of Wood Vale and parts of Dartmouth Road, Devonshire Road, Ewelme Road, Taymount Rise, Thorpewood Avenue, Westwood Park, Woodcombe Crescent and Waldram Crescent.

17. Stanstead Grove

Designated in 1975, this is the smallest conservation area in the borough, comprising ten properties in two terraces.

19. Sydenham Hill/Kirkdale

An Article 4 direction applies to Mount Ash Road. Sydenham Hill and Kirkdale Conservation Area was designated in 1976 and consists of three different character areas: Mount Gardens, Mount Ash Road and Lammas Green. Mount Ash Road to the south is a unique example of Victorian ‘byelaw’ housing designed as a set piece of identical three-storey terraces enclosing the road to both sides.

20. Sydenham Park

Comprising Albion Villas Road, Carlton Terrace, Redberry Grove, Shrublands Close and parts of Sydenham Park and Sydenham Park Road, Sydenham Park Conservation Area was designated in 1973 and has a peaceful Gothic revival character which retains a degree of original integrity. Development took place in stages during the latter half of the 19th century, with a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced housing.

21. Halifax Street

An Article 4 direction applies to the whole of the Halifax Street area. This small area was designated in 1972 and consists mainly of one street comprising a group of tightly-knit mid 19th century semi-detached houses set behind small front gardens and a few properties on Wells Park Road.

22. Jews Walk

Jews Walk Conservation Area was designated in 1973, the area consists of semi-detached villas in a Gothic Revival style, exhibiting high quality craftsmanship.

23. Perry Fields

An Article 4 direction applies to specific streets in the Perry Fields Conservation Area which covers Allenby Road, Garlies Road and parts of Perry Rise, Priestfield Road and Woolstone Road. To check whether your street is covered by the direction contact Lewisham Planning on (020) 8314 7400 or planning@lewisham.gov.uk.

24. Sydenham Thorpes

An Article 4 direction applies to the whole of the Sydenham Thorpes Conservation Area which comprises the Thorpes Estate, an Edwardian development consisting of six roads laid out between 1901 and 1914 by Edmondson and Sons.

26. Cobb's Corner

Cobb's Corner Conservation Area is one of Lewisham's newest conservation areas and was designated in 2007 following lobbying by the Sydenham Society.

Canonbie A Capella Concert, One Tree Hill

Hat Tip: Brockley Central

Forest Hill Burns Night - Thursday 26th January

The Forest Hill Society is holding a Burns Night at the All Inn One, 53 Perry Vale, SE23 2NE, this Thursday.

The meal is from 7.30pm, and if you'd like to join us, please call the pub on 020 8699 3311 to book by Tuesday 24th (as they need to order the haggis). The cost is £16.95 pp for 3 courses and a wee dram.

There will be the traditional Address to the Haggis and this year a few people will read some poetry. Feel free to bring along something yourself and don't feel shy!

It would be lovely to have as many Forest Hillers (and Sydenhamites!) there as possible, so hope to see many of you, new & old to the area.

Bryn Coedwig

Aber (or Bryn Coedwig, which is Forest Hill in Welsh) Outdoor Education Centre, a much loved centre that has been frequented by pupils and staff from Forest Hill School for over 40 years, is in desperate need of some attention.

Two ex Head Teachers are heading up the ‘Aber Action Team’ with local residents of Forest Hill and trying to get the community involved. The building is showing signs of fatigue and many, many years of wear and tear. Unless something is done now, the future of adventurous experiences for children at Aber will be under threat.

The Aber Action Team, which also includes several members of the Widehorizons Trustees, intends to spend a week at the centre from 27th February where they will be decorating and undertaking repairs. If you would like to help the team in any way, you can donate at AberActionTeam on Virgin Money Giving or contact the charity directly on (020) 8850 1581.