Letters to NERA - Page 2 

Return to Home Page

Return to Letters Page 1

No Road Sweeper (16/12/2010)

I was wondering if our street cleaner has been a victim of cut backs ?I have not seen the road sweeper who always used to be working around the New Eltham station junction when I was on my way to work in the mornings for some time. I only realised I hadn;t seen him when I noticed the rubbish on the streets getting worse and worse - it looks disgusting and I am ashamed to be a resident. The station ramp is also really bad - but I don't know that he ever went down there anyway - I think that might be the railways responsibility.

Sue (Via email)

 

Speeding in Sparrows Lane (14/02/2010)

I noticed earlier in your letters a reference to Sparrows lane and speeding vehicles. I have complained on a number of occasions about this problem, both to Greenwich council and also to Charlton football club, as appeared a number of these vehicles were entering their training ground. I urge residents who have concerns to follow my example and complain about noise etc and if possible provide some evidence. The council does listen but needs more residents to voice their views.

taxi105 (via email)

Traffic Calming (16/07/2009)

Hi, The roads between Footscray and the A20 / Southwood Road are frequently used as a cut-through for drivers and I am regularly shocked by the speed at which some cars pass down these roads. What are the chances of having traffic-calming measures placed on these roads to prevent someone from getting injured or killed? The roads I believe to be worst are Thaxted Rd (on which I live), Gerda Rd, Mervyn Avenue and County Gate.

Thanks, Lindsey

Traffic Calming (30/04/2009)

We live in Green Lane and are most concerned at the council proposals for traffic calming, centreing on cycle lanes and on-kerb parking. I'm retired and regularly cycle and drive in the area. My thoughts are this. We need speed bumps; the presence of a bus route should not be a reason to preclude them; there are many examples locally. Cycle lanes add nothing to cyclists' safety on these sort of roads, instilling false security as drivers find they have to ignore them to negotiate. To instal them with the objective of slowing traffic is dishonest. The resultant loss of parking spaces proposed will mean even more gardens are paved over, increasing water run-off, etc. Additionally, there will be ongoing costs in maintaining or reinforcing kerb stones to withstand on-kerb parking. Finally, there will be considerable loss to the aesthetics of our street, with cars parked higgledy piggeldy half on the pavements. I very much believe speed humps or cameras are the answer. They ar e cheaper, less intrusive and safety-proven. I would like to think other residents share my concerns; should you have any opportunity to reflect local opinion on this matter, you at least have mine. If you are aware of any meetings at which this will be discussed, I'd like to know.

Many thanks (Name with held)

 

Sparrows Lane (14/08/2008)

I have lived in Sparrows Lane for the last five years, and feel the volume and speed of traffic travelling up and down the road is totally unacceptable and appears to be getting worse. In the summer it is incredibly difficult to get to sleep and stay asleep with the windows open. The majority seems to stem from Sparrows Farm centre. I believe a traffic analysis of Sparrows Lane was carried out this year but no action seems to have been taken. Is anybody aware if anything is being done to address this issue, not to mention the very noisy pedestrians who walk to and from Sparrows Farm Centre late at night.

David B

Bardhill Sports Ground (30/07/2008)

This place is a eye soar and a source of weeds and rubish, This land has stood idle for years, I tried to get the use of the field for the archery club I shoot for at least it would have been kept in some sort of order if we could use it, or or at least let the local schools have use of it. Can you tell me what are the plans for the future of this piece of land and or what can be done about it.

David Gosling

 

Bus Shelter, Green Lane (04/06/2008)

I am one of the residents of Green Lane who was not fully consulted about the erection of a bus shelter outside my house on Green Lane. The stop in question is London bound after the bus turns out of Edgebury. After losing a late fight to stop the shelter being put in i have gotten used to it as i have no choice. My neighbours agree that the bus stop should be put around the corner in Edgebury where it would not be outside someones house and therefore not a direct noise problem but apparently this request was rejected some time ago. My main issue now however is the amount of rubbish that gets posted into the flower beds of my front driveway. Can i make a suggestion to NERA that at least if the shelter you so desired was delivered then you make the effort to ask the bus company for a bin to accompany it.

Terry Jackson.

 

Response to Locked in Southwood Park (13/05/2008)

Referring to recent problems of people being locked in the park. The council have informed me that due to lack of staff they have had to close the park at irregular times, but now they are back to normal. We have asked them if they can ring a bell just before they close the park.

Secretary of Friends of Southwood Park.

Table Tennis (17/04/2008)

Unfortunately New Eltham does not appear to have much in the way of facilities catering for the youger members of our community, hence the groups on street corners with nothing to do except cause problems out of bordom. As a New Eltham resident and the Secretary of the Kemnal Table Tennis club, I would like to ask if you have considered linking your website to community/sports clubs within the surrounding area. The Kemnal club is a community based club and is the largest table tennis club in S.E.London It has 15 tables and is open 4 nights per week plus organises competitions at weekends and caters for all ages and abilities. For more details visit http://www.kemnalttc.co.uk 

Yours sincerely, Len Pilfold, Secretary

 

Friends of the Parks (17/04/2008)

Just to let you and your web site visitors know that the SE9 area now has the following Park Friends' groups:

* The Friends of Avery Hill Park

* The Friends of Eltham Park North & Eltham Park South

* The Friends of Fairy Hill Park

* The Friends of Queen’s Park 
(Altash Gardens & Coldharbour Playing Fields)

* The Friends of Southwood Park

* The Friends of The Tarn

* The Friends of Well Hall Pleasaunce.

Other Friends' groups not so far away are:

* The Friends of Horn Park

* The Friends of Kidbrooke Green Park
(Rochester Way Playing Fields)

* The Friends of Sutcliffe Park.

Needing information about what the role of these is?
Would you like to join?
No Friends' group in your local park? Would you like to see one established?

Do drop me a line and I'll see if I can assist.

Regards

Jonathan Bangs
Parks Outreach Officer

020 8856 0100
jonathan.bangs@greenwich.gov.uk

 

Locked in Southwood Park (03/04/2008)
 
                                Point of observation, my wife was locked in Southwood Park towards the end of October 2007, she had 2 small grand children and a brightly coloured pram, it was 1620 hours, they were playing in the recreation area. The police were called, they tried to contact the council,without success. Between the police, the library assistance and some chairs they managed to free her, without calling the Fire Brigade. Perish the thought if one of them had fallen when assending/desending the gate.
 
I sent the council a letter and after some time without a reply I telephoned about a response, I was told they had not received the letter,although it was addressed to the Town Hall. I sent a copy of the letter after obtaing a different address. Again I gave a little time before telephoning about a response regarding my letter and was told that the computer was down.-------------- its now APRIL----
 
I have just retired, it was only when you posted a leaflet through the door a short while ago that I realised how active you were.
 
The point of my letter is not based on a complaint, but maybe the council can put some kind of prominent notice or even a notice,at the park entrance to advise of a closing time or even dusk.
 
                                                           Regards  Gordon Wren (Via email)

 

New Eltham (rubbish and litter) 15/02/08

Thanks very much for your swift replies.
 
I am pleased to say that the rubbish was collected promptly - both recycling and food bins - this Wednesday. However we still have the black bags in the streets around here and the pavements - which residents are obviously putting out for collection every week, and thereby misunderstanding the collection procedure of fortnightly.
 
It seems to me that it is really too complicated for many people to understand, particularly the elderly and large families. We have never had cause for complaint about Greenwich Council's collection policy over many years until now and this recent change. The system we had already seemed to work perfectly well and others in other boroughs were impressed with it. It is farcical to have only a couple of inches of waste foodstuffs in a large bin. I personally find it very time consuming to keep having to think carefully about when to wrap food in newspaper etc. Thank you for doing all you can to persuade councillors to lobby for a return to the perfectly acceptable previous method and for updating us on progress!
 
J Jones (via email)

 

The Friends of The Tarn 13/02/08

The group is called The Friends of The Tarn. The Tarn is in Court Road, Eltham, opposite Mottingham Station. We are holding a public launch meeting at 7.30pm on 19th February at St. Andrews Church Hall in Court Road, Eltham, SE9. We hope all those who love The Tarn will attend. For the time being, we can be contacted via Greenwich Council Parks & Opens Spaces Department.  The following will give you some information about The Tarn and why we are setting up the Group:-

How to describe The Tarn? I would say that The Tarn consists of nine and a half acres of aged woodlands, shrubberies, lawns, and flowerbeds surrounding a long established natural lake, previously named Starbuck's Pond, which has two small islands and a bridge. There is also a small decorative pond and an 18th century Icewell. It is teaming with wildlife, including ducks, geese, little grebe, heron, coot, moor hen, woodpecker, nuthatch, as well as squirrels and foxes. But, what is The Tarn? Some, who don't know it, call it a park. Those who do know it, call it a nature reserve or even a conservation area. I have recently heard it called a "secret garden". Well, I guess its all those things rolled into one. But its more than that. The Tarn is something special. It's so special that it's "a little gem in the heart of Eltham" to be treasured. It's a place to take time out and relax from the cares and worries of this busy world. It's a place of tranquillity; a beautiful haven - hidden deep in the heart of Eltham. A beautiful place where we can stop for a brief while and marvel at the natural world around us. There is nothing better for the soul than half an hour in The Tarn. Unfortunately, over recent years, with many cut backs in local authority spending, the Council has not been able to maintain The Tarn to the standard it rightly deserves and those who know and love The Tarn have become concerned with its gradual decline. In particular, the lake, small pond, bird sanctuary and wildflower garden are in need of very urgent attention. So, what can we do? Well, we have decided to form a Friends of The Tarn group which will work with Greenwich Council to improve and maintain The Tarn for the benefit of the whole community and preserve it for the enjoyment of future generations. It would be so sad and a poor reflection of not only Greenwich Council, but also of us as residents of Eltham, New Eltham and Mottingham, and of all those who love The Tarn, if we allowed this decline to continue. Greenwich Council are holding a Public Meeting to launch the Friends of The Tarn group at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, 19th February, 2008 at St. Andrews Church Hall, Court Road, Eltham, SE9, where members of the Committee will be elected and our aims discussed. Most older residents of Eltham know about The Tarn. They were taken their regularly by their parents and by their school. They know about Eltham's history and links to Henry V111, Eltham Palace, The Pleasaunce and Eltham Lodge, but many youngsters and newcomers to the area, don't now our history, have never heard of The Tarn, don't even know where it is and have never visited. They don't know what they are missing. They do not realise what a little gem they have hidden in the heart of Eltham. We hope all those who know and love The Tarn will support The Friends of The Tarn group by joining us in promoting the Tarn, its history and its wildlife, in activities and events to raise funds to improve and maintain The Tarn not only for our benefit but for future generations.

We hope you will support us, join us on the 19th February, and most of all, PLEASE VISIT THE TARN.

June Hurst, Secretary, Working Group / Friends of The Tarn (via email)

 

 

The following letter appears here by kind permission of SEnine Magazine.

New Eltham (rubbish and litter) 08/02/08

SEnine magazine is a great read. We have lived in New Eltham for 25 years. When we moved here from Welling it was attractive, clean and tidy, but in the last 5 to 10 years has deteriorated like the rest of the borough. There is constant rubbish and litter swilling about by the shops with often the odd mattress or such like outside one shop in particular. And now we have the off-license looking hideous in bright yellow. The parade of shops is a sorry sight and hardly enhanced at all by the tree blossom in the spring. Like everywhere else the new houses are being crammed in every available space making a huge impact on local traffic. Evidence of weekend vandelism is an increasingly common sight. We have enjoyed our time here in SE9 using and contributing to the community, but feel its decline is being unchecked and the area is much less desirable.

Janet

Eltham

 

New Eltham (rubbish and litter) 08/02/08

I saw the letter in SE9 magazing about the new off licence and couldn't agree more, the colour is just wrong! I think the letter also mentioned the terrible rubbish left outside a "certain shop" on a continual basis. I think the shop in question must be general grocery shop on the corner of Footscray and Blanmerle Road. This is a shame, its a nice shop with nice staff, but the rubbish left outside really isn't acceptable. I'm not saying all the rubbish is generated by the shop (I don't think the recent mattress that sat outside for over a week was) but I believe a lot of it is. They leave their crates and clear bags of rubbish waiting for collection next to the tree outside and it just totally ruins the look of the place...no wonder others come along and dump mattresses and other rubbish. It just makes the problem even worse. I did e-mail Greenwich Council to complain about this and encluded the photos that I took on my camera on a particularly bad rubbish day (a Sunday) but I still haven't received a reply and as it was several weeks ago it doesn't look like I'm going to!

Louise (Via email)