Is Plumstead a toilet? 3




(but not doing too well in Plumstead)

I had this response to my previous post, from anonymous, ( I wish people would use a name or pseudonym or something as you can end up calling someone Ann for short, which is all very well, but you just might end up getting the gender wrong!) Anyway Ann wrote in response to my previous post..

'Any statistic can be slewed to support any argument.

What I would say in response to the increased reporting of crime in the Plumstead and Glyndon Wards is that the Safer Neighbourhood Teams have invested considerable resources to tackling recidivist offenders with a high local profile.

By doing this they have encouraged residents to come forward and report crimes rather than turn a blind eye or to continue to live in fear.

I think that many people failed to report crimes through fear and intimidation in past years, the Police and especially the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams are working hard to help residents feel safer and more confident about coming forward.

Let’s look at the crime stats in 3 years time when I believe we will see a downturn in reported incidents, not because people are frightened to report crime but because crime has in fact reduced due to effective targeted policing.

I would prefer high crime stats which reflect a new found confidence in the Police rather than low crimes rates because residents are too scared to report incidents.'

Aside from the fact that this sounds very much like it comes straight from the Met's PR Dept. I agree that statistics of reported crime certainly don't tell us the whole story about crime in the area, but they are a better starting point than having no actual evidence at all to put forward a case. I am also aware that evidence from the British Crime Survey are more reliable measures of the levels of crime, but such information is not available for a borough, let alone a ward level.

However I am afraid that your logic is rather flawed, because to follow your argument, this must mean that in most of the rest of London where reported crime has fallen this presumably is because local Safer Neighbourhood Teams have failed to tackle recidivist offenders with a high local profile and therefore local people in those areas are now failing to report crimes through fear and intimidation, hence the fall in recorded crime.

I am afraid that the person has either fallen for the spin coming from the police or is in fact spinning for the police, that any increase in recorded crime can be explained away as evidence that the police are doing a great job in giving us the confidence to report crime and that any fall in recorded crime is down to the police in doing a great job in reducing the level of crime. You just can't have it both ways. I have never met anyone in Plumstead (and I have lived here for 21 years) who is too scared to tell the police that their house has been burgled, yet burglary is up nearly 20%, ditto their car has been broken into, up 15%. Drug offences presumably are not in the main dependant on reporting by victims and they are up by 40%. I presume that the increased reporting of Homicides is also down to our new found confidence in the police, as I expect a few years ago young people were being gunned down all over Plumstead, and that we just didn't bother to mention it to our local bobby on the beat.

An equally plausible case could be made for the increased crime figures not reflecting the true scale of the increase, certainly the last time I reported a crime in Glyndon ward the woeful response by the police would make me hesitate to bother to dial 999 again. This incident took place at 8.30 pm at a bus stop on Plumstead Road. A slightly built middle aged Asian lecturer who was going home after teaching his evening class was viciously attacked by a gang of youths and was left bleeding on the pavement. I phoned the police immediately and on two further occasions, despite the fact that Plumstead police Station is less than 500 metres away not one policeman was able to attend the incident, I was told 'it was a busy night'. No police arrived at all and I had to leave at 10pm having waited in vain for an hour and a half. If the police are unable to deal with assaults on wholly innocent people by gangs of youths how much low level crime must be going unreported?

As for the effectiveness of local safer neighbour teams in influencing the level of crime in the area I think you should take on board this direct quote from the chair of the Glyndon panel of the local SNT;

'The Safer Neighbourhood team (of which I chair the Glyndon Ward panel!) certainly don't frankly seem to make much difference - they are undermanned have no night shifts and are based in Thamesmead and one vehicle shared with another team (oh yes and of course only three of them are actually police officers with powers of arrest . . . oh yes and once any of those three actually make an arrest they are then off the street for several hours)'

All in all, on the balance of probabilities I am afraid to say that the increase in drug offences, which is massive, is probably linked to the rise in gun crime and homicide, the increased number of houses being burgled, cars being broken into and people being robbed. Even the local chair of the SNT in Glyndon thinks that the SNT is making little difference to the situation, because they are inadequately resourced.

So I absolutely stand by my final comment.

'Either the police are inadequately resourced to deal with the problems confronting them or they are failing to manage their resources effectively to bring about the falling crime levels seen in other parts of the capital.'

Is Plumstead a 'toilet' 2




(but not doing too well in Plumstead)

Following on some of the discussions as to what Plumstead is like I thought I ought to try and get some facts to go with all the gut feelings out there so to try and get a bit of informed debate going I took a look at the Met's crime figures. The first thing to say is that crime in Plumstead, is about average for London, there are places that are a lot worse, and some that are a lot better. That said, there are some disturbing trends that indicate that unlike London as a whole, crime in Plumstead is getting worse.


Recorded Crime in London fell last year by 6.1%, but Greenwich was one of only 4 Boroughs where crime increased. Information on some crimes can only obtained at a borough wide level, but some of this does not make for comforting reading, the number of Homicides doubled (from 4-8) at least 2 of which were in the Plumstead area (in Barnfield Road and another just off Herbert Road). Motor Venicle crime increased by 15% in Greenwich compared to a 8% fall across London and Gun enabled crime went up by 32.8%, compared to a 11% fall London wide.



When you look at ward Data, although there is a ward called Plumstead it does not cover the whole area, indeed much of Plumstead Common is in fact in Glyndon ward, there are also bits of Plumstead in Shooters Hill and Woolwich Common wards. However I have looked at Plumstead and Glyndon, just to get an idea if there are any trends. What I found out was rather disturbing.

The good news was that there were significant falls in Criminal damage, down 19.4% in Plumstead and 14.9% in Glyndon and smaller falls in Violence against the person of 9.6% in Plumstead and 4% in Glyndon but set against this, there were very large increases last year in some of the crimes which concern people the most. Burglery rose by 19.4% in Plumstead, with a smaller increase in Glyndon. and robbery went up by a whopping 28.7%. Some of these increases may be down to the other significant change and that is the huge increase in Drug offences in the area, up 40.6% in Plumstead and 19.8% in Glyndon.

So it seems that despite all the hoo ha from the Met about safer Neighbour teams and falling levels of crime, they don't seem to be doing too good a job around here. I think we all need to be kicking up more of a fuss. Either the police are inadequately resourced to deal with the problems confronting them or they are failing to manage their resources effectively to bring about the falling crime levels seen in other parts of the capital.

A Bandstand for the 21st Century?

As you may know Plumstead Common used to have a Bandstand, it was located at the western end of the Common, near Blendon Terrace. The Adventure Playground now occupies the site. It was demolished in the 1970's apparently following arson attacks and vandalism. There is an urban myth that it was in fact dismantled and is lying in some forgotten council warehouse.

You may ask why am I blogging about this long gone and mostly forgotten relic of the Common's past, the reason is that I have an Idea and I want to know if people think it is a good one or have I in fact just gone quite mad?

My Idea, a new bandstand 'for the 21st century, I am not talking about some modern unused pastiche of a 19th century icon, but an open air performance space for the many communities of Plumstead. The Victorians knew a thing or to about making urban living civilised and bringing culture to the masses, hence among many other things, bandstands so why can't we update the idea for now and do something really exciting for the area?

I hope to get the PCEG involved and this is an extract of what I wrote to the chair, Nick Day:

'...one of the historical losses from the Common was the demolition of the Bandstand in the 1970's. But I have a vision for a 'bandstand for the 21st century'. It wouldn't be somewhere just for brass bands on a Sunday afternoon, (not that there is anything wrong with that, I think that would be fabulous in itself), but I was thinking more of a multi-use open-air community performance platform that could host music, dance, theatre, and even be a venue for a big screen during the 2012 Olympics.
I had a look at the 2012 website http://main.london2012.com/en/ourvision/olympism+and+culture/ and in particular the pdf file on the cultural update on 2012 http://main.london2012.com/NR/rdonlyres/00006717-77A7-4285-90AD-A1896E051202/0/Cultureupdate210607.pdf
..... and I think if we move fast and can get local people enthused there is real potential for the funding of such a project, which I think would bring about a real legacy benefit for the area. It is also the kind of project which might just inspire the younger generation to participate....
..This may just be a pipe dream on my part, but I think it has the potential to be something really exciting. When I have travelled on the continent I have always been struck how even relatively small towns have cultural festivals, performances etc. often in a town square or similar central location, and I don't see why Plumstead can't do something similar.'

Now this is one thing where I would really appreciate hearing what people think, is it a good idea or have I just gone nuts?

The Great British Obsession

(House Prices, not the weather which is the other one!)

For most people house purchase is the biggest single financial transaction we enter into, so perhaps it is not surprising people take a keen interest in what they believe their home is worth, although I have never understood why so many people automatically think increased prices are a good thing. I am sure many of us get a warm glow when we hear our little pied-a-terre is worth a quarter of a million quid, but all that means is the next house up the housing ladder is probably £75,000 more rather than £50,000, well that doesn't strike me as much of a bonus (though if you are trading down, then that is). It is of course all right if your area is going up in value by more than the one you want to move to, but as for the poor sods trying to get on the housing ladder, my heart goes out to them, to get a house in Plumstead these days you need a joint income of at least £50,000.

I am not suggesting that falling prices are a good thing I well remember the misery of negative equity suffered by so many in the early to mid 90's, it's just one of those things, that really isn't as simple as, up good, down bad.
Nos 50,52 &54
In terms of the Plumstead market I think there is a bit of a boom going on, especially my end, nearer to Woolwich and the DLR. The 3 houses at the top of my road have all been sold over the last year and a bit, and are all a similar style, layout etc.
no 52. went for £172,500 in Feb 06, no 50 £182,500 in Aug 06, and no 54 was sold within a few days of going on the market last month so I expect it went for something near the asking price of £219,995. Of course, what this kind of fevered price increases tends to generate is a certain amount of greed in some people, as can be seen by the owners of the small rabbit hutch I look down on at the bottom of my garden, who are currently marketing their property at £245,000 and surprise, surprise, it is still on the market, unsold.

Rather than prices, what concerns me more is some of the wider issues, around housing. All the parties agree we need more of it, especially in London and the South East as this is the only long term answer to the problem of affordability, but then comes the problem of where. Nobody seems to want it where they live, the cry goes up of the Thames Gateway, but then you end up destroying unique habitats such as the Erith and Crayford marshes (more about these on a subsequent post), and you are also building on a floodplain which is a whole other can of worms.

But the lack of suitable new housing (whether for sale or rent) leads to other problems, one of which is HMO, or houses in multiple occupation as the jargon goes, as Plumstead has relatively low prices (by London standards) it is a target for buy to let purchasers, some of these houses are rented to families, which does not change the character of the area, but some are let off room by room to individuals. Now I am not having a go at every one who rents a room we all need somewhere to live, but this can cause problems, one is that it leads to a transient population with no roots in the area, it puts pressure on things like car parking, such houses are frequently not looked after, and there are often problems with noise. One house in my street was so comprehensively trashed that it is still vacant today.

The problem with HMO!
Another problem comes with the shortage of social housing for rent, there is so little available that when something does come up it goes to those in the 'greatest need', but what really pisses me off is that those in the greatest need are frequently people who have deliberately been irresponsible and the people who suffer are those who act reasonably manner. By irresponsible I mean people who choose to have child after child, while expected the state i.e. me to pick up the bill for their upbringing and accommodation. While others who are on a relatively low income, but choose not to breed until they are in a position to afford to do so are stuck on council house waiting lists. A little while ago Margaret Hodge was vilified, I think quite unfairly, for suggesting that established British families should have their long term residence in this country taken into account when social housing is being allocated, in my view failure to do this just gives oxygen to far right groups like the BNP, who can prey on peoples feelings of unfairness.


Not sure of the answers to all of these questions, but I do know they need to be answered.

PCEG and stuff

As loyal readers will know some time ago I joined The Plumstead Common Environment (keep having to resist the urge to add 'al' at the end, must be something psychological at work there) Group, because I was fed up with the state of the Heavitree Close garages.
Well, after much delay, a painting by cleansweep, another graffiti attack, a wait for some paint, another wait for it to stop raining and I have finally done what I said I would do and paint the wretched stuff out.
So now all I have to do is keep on top of it and paint it out as soon as it appears. One of the current solutions to the problem is to get the little monsters to paint it out themselves if they get caught, but I would prefer a more radical solution, and that would be for local people to go round and paint our own tags all over the houses of the offending brats, that way we can all see exactly who is to blame and I bet a few more parents would have a better idea where their little darlings are. I think my tag would be ageing avenger.

Day of the triffids?
(Japanese Knotweed)

The Knotweed is the big bright green clump at the top of the slope

At the councils Great Get Together, one concerned local resident came up to me on the PCEG stall and asked what was being done about the Japanese Knotweed, which was to be found on the western end of the Common, by St Johns Terrace. I of course stared at him blankly and asked if he wanted to join so he could bring the matter up at the next meeting (Sunday 8th July, St Mark's and St Margaret's Church Hall, 3pm), at which he baulked at the £4 cost of annual membership, so I guess he wasn't really that concerned about it after all.

It looks like bamboo, but isn't related. It blocks out completing native species, and forms a large 'monoculture stand'. Its organic waste forms a deep layer and prevents native species seeds from germinating.

It did however ring a few bells as I remember reading about some problems that residents of Chelsworth Drive and Tuam Road were having with said weed growing on waste land behind their homes.

The footpath on St John's Terrace has been completely overgrown by the Knotweed

I also then saw it mentioned in the management plan for Plumstead Common as something that threatened the biodiversity of the Common and that effort should be made to eliminate it. So in the interests of I science I decided to investigate a bit more. What I found out was rather scary. The plant is an absolute menace and is running amok in the UK as it has no natural controls such as insect, parasites etc. to keep it in check. It is deemed so hazardous and threatening to the environment that it is illegal to spread it under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. You can find out more about Japanese Knotweed here.

New shoots are already coming up through the footpath
and the roadway

I have to say if I lived in St Johns Terrace I would be rather concerned as 'The rhizome (posh word for roots I think) system may extend from a parent plant up to 7 meters laterally and to a depth of 3 metres'. That means that the roots for the problem plant can go over 21 feet sideways. So the weed on land looked after by the council can come under the road and footpath and up into your front garden or even your front room, damaging your property in the process. It is already breaking up the footpath on the side by the Common.

The footpath has almost disappeared

I will certainly be asking the Council what they intend to do about it when I go to the Council's Parks Friends Buffet on the 13th July.

How long before you get this?

Plumstead 19 years on

Was reading the other day about the polish gentleman who woke up recently from a coma, 19 years after being hit by a train. He awoke to a completely changed world of democracy, NATO and EU membership for his country. It got me thinking, what if the poor fellow had been knocked down by a 53 bus up by Plumstead Common? and awoke in 2007, what changes would he notice? Would he notice any?

Politically of course there are changes nationally, but locally it's still a Labour council 19 years on. The area is probably a bit richer overall, as is the country. There are mobile phones, the internet (couldn't do this 19 years ago), but these changes are world wide, I am thinking, how has Plumstead changed (if at all!).

The first thing to say is if our fictitious victim was hit by a 53 bus, if it was before the 19th Nov. 1988. he would have been done in by a routemaster, so he would awake to a one person operated bus (though I think you were allowed to call it one man operation back then).
Once on the bus, I expect he would notice the hoards of brats travelling for free, and the inability to see out of the windows due to the amount of vandalism/graffiti.

Outside would be the proliferation of traffic calming measures, including the sleeping policeman, no doubt he would also become aware that the police themselves are actually asleep when it comes to policing the roads. Having left it up to speed cameras, and surrendered the roads to anarchy.

I guess the amount of cameras spying on us generally, in shops, council estates etc. would also come as a bit of a shock.

But what else is different? There is a shiny new Police Station, apparently with fabulous facilities for the officers, now someone more cynical than I might suggest that's why you rarely see them on the streets. The tennis courts have been done up. PCEG would be new to him, they started in 1991, (they get very upset if you don't mention them), but would someone notice them in 2007.

Can't think of any other buildings of note having gone up since 1988 in Plumstead.

I have it, the thing you would notice, is all the Pole's living here! Didn't get that in 1988.

Green Chain Walk

Most SE Londoners will have seen the direction signs for the Green Chain walk all over the place, as it is a network of paths stretching from Crystal Palace to Erith. I decided to write about it after reading a comment by 'the Rev' on a previous post...

'......I walked almost 2 miles either way every day to school. Sadly now I’m lucky if I walk half a mile a day…Shame, I LOVE walking…'

Rev it's not too late to get, back into a bit of walking, and there are some fantastic walks, right under our noses. The route I am going to describe is one I have done a couple of times with my Dad (who will be 80 in August) so it's never to late to give it a go. Apologies that the pictures are taken off the internet, but when I did the walk last year I hadn't yet got my digital camera.

The Green Chain refers to a whole chain of land across SE London which was protected from developers by enlightened Victorians, a sort of 19th century Green belt.

Plumstead Common soon after 'The Links' was built. (about 1900)
The walk I did with my Dad is (mostly) circular so you can start at any point, but we began at Plumstead Common 'cos that's where I live. We headed West off towards Charlton crossing the South Circular and going past the Royal Artillery Barracks, though the Royal Artillery are just about to leave Woolwich after 300 years, the barracks are to remain as a military installation.

The Barracks above in 1900 (see how little they have changed except they are in colour these days) will play host to the Olympic shooting events in 2012.


Charlton House
Then on to Charlton Park and a view of Charlton House which this year celebrates it's 400th aniversary. You then cut through a small Park and follow the route through the wild and wonderful Woolwich Common to emerge at the Old Police Station at Shooters Hill.

Woolwich Common

Then into Oxleas Woods, an area of ancient Woodland, only to be surprised by the 17th century folly Severndroog Castle.

Severndroog Castle

Castle Gardens
You go through the Castle's ornamental Gardens to emerge at Oxleas Meadow with some great views South and the opportunity to stop for a well earned cup of Tea.

Oxleas Woods
After diving back into Oxleas Woods you cross Shooters Hill and go through some of the Fields belonging to Woodlands Farm. This is a Working Farm, run as a educational trust. They have a Open Day on Sunday 10th June. It's their 10th anniversary and it sounds like a really good day out with arts and crafts, sheep dog displays, home grown produce, meet the animals and a whole lot more.

Woodlands Farm

East Wickham Open Space
Next stop is the deserted, but lovely East Wickham Open Space, then on to the wonderful Bostall Woods and Heath. At this point I would recommend a diversion from the circular route and take the walk down through Abbey Wood to emerge at the ruins of Lesnes Abbey.

Lesnes Abbey
It is amazing how many people, even locals don't realise that Abbey Wood actually has it's own Abbey, The area is beautifully maintained by Bexley Council and it is a good spot for a Picnic.

Winns Common
You need to then retrace your steps back through the Wood to Bostall Woods, but this time you take the path through the beautiful Beech Woods towards Plumstead. You cross Wickham Lane and climb Bleak Hill to emerge at Winns Common, with it's spectacular views across East London and beyond, while we all look down on East London, not everyone gets the chance to do so literally.

Slade Ponds

Alfie on the Slade steps (he didn't do the whole walk 'cos he only has short legs)
You then have to go all the way down the Slade steps passing the Slade Ponds on your left, taking the time to marvel at all the good work PCEG do!

The Slade
Then it's back to Plumstead Common, and you are home for tea.

Plumstead Common
There is a guide book available to the whole of the Green Chain, and there is also a lot of information at the Green Chain Website, including guides to the different sections that you can download.

Next time we plan to do the sections round Eltham and New Eltham, and this time I will take my camera, would have liked to do it over this Bank Holiday, but couldn't find my flippers, so will wait for the weather to improve.

PLUMSTEAD PUPPIES

My friend Marc is taking a general interest course at Greenwich Community College in web design and he was a bit stumped as to what to make his website about. In the end, as a bit of fun he decided to dedicate the site to the pooches of Plumstead.


So here a a few pics of Chelsea and Charlton (the Labs, and their friend Charlie the Staffie having a frolic on the Common this morning.


If anyone has got any pictures of their 'best friend' and they want their doggie immortalised on the Plumstead Puppies website. Then please e-mail them to me, with a few details names, breed, likes/dislikes etc. and they will forever be a part of the world wide web. My e-mail is sibonetic@hotmail.com.

NOWHERE TO EAT

Read this comment over on

Plumsteadshire

'Last night there was a mouse in my house and I didnt fancy eating in but there was nowhere for me to pop too locally so I starved (literally)..'

Don't think Plumstead Common is quite as bereft of eating places as the writer suggests, got a suggestion for anyone who doesn't fancy cooking, one night, who wants good food, a friendly atmosphere, excellent service and somewhere that doesn't break the bank. That is the Capital Noodle Bar, 42-44 Plumstead Common Road. Don't be put off by the slightly care worn exterior, as new signage is about to go up, they are just waiting for the carpenter.

Inside it is spotless, not just the dining area, but throughout (I checked the council's latest inspection report) and they once again received the council's food hygiene award in December 2006, something not all local establishments have got.
The service is excellent, Yen (the manager) and her team will quickly and efficiently bring you what you want from their extensive menu, but don't be bound by that as they are quite happy to bring what you want, the way you want it. I, being a devout carnivore always insist on no peas or carrotts in my Curry (mixed meat is my favourite).
Yen (very much in charge)
Don't worry about the location, right next to the Barnfield Estate, I have been going there every week for the last 3 years without incident, and anyway it is very popular with the local constabulary!!
They have an excellent range of Side dishes, I particularly like the Spicy Chicken Wings, but be warned, it is best to share, as you get loads for £3.30. All the main courses can come with Noodles, Vermicelli, Ho Fun, or Fried or Steamed Rice. as well as the aforementioned Curry, the Singapore Fried Vermicelli is excellent. If you fancy something a bit different, especially on a cold day, try one of the main course soups, I guarantee you won't need a starter as they are huge and come steaming hot. Main courses are £3.30-£3.80 including rice etc. They do take away orders, but not home delivery (020 8855 8668) but my advice is to eat in as the atmosphere is great and it has got to have the widest range of people from all sections of our community eating there. As for drinks it is fully licensed, but I go for the excellent freshly squeezed fruit juice (£1.50) and Chinese Tea (as much as you want at 80p per person!).
As the weather is great, if you live anywhere around the Common it is a lovely walk to get there, try it, I am sure you won't be disappointed. If you live nearer the High Street, don't despair as The Red Lion Noodle Bar right on the High Street, is just as good and run by Yen's sister!! with the same menu,but a few yummy extras (such as the deep fried Crab's Claws) and they have seats not benches!!

If anyone else wants to recommend somewhere local to eat, I would love to hear about it.

Because they clean

graffiti rather well!!

NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The power of the internet (perhaps), only 2 working days after my post, (and only 1 day after writing nice things about the Council), and lo and behold shabby, decrepit, but Graffiti FREE garages, so well done to GC and Cleansweep, who were hard at work at 8.30 this morning. Am just waiting for PCEG to give me my tin of paint!! To help keep them this way.

Because some things
they do rather well!!

Am new to this blogging thing, but have done a few posts now, and was looking though what I have written and got a bit concerned that some of it was a bit too negative. Thought I might be coming across a 'ANGRY' of Plumstead Common. I also thought that, what with a link to

Greenwich Watch

on my blog and some of the comments I have made, people might mistake me for an obsessive Council hater. The reason that I have Greenwich Watch as a link is two fold. firstly they very kindly put a link to my blog on their site and secondly, as we do live in a one party state in Greenwich it is a good outlet for an alternative point of view.

Greenwich Council has only ever been controlled by Labour and that concentration of power has dangers. I do not make this as an anti Labour comment, but a general one. look how power corrupts it it stays in the same hands too long. Margaret Thatcher got so out of touch with reality that she introduced the Poll Tax, New Labour's obsession with ID cards looks like doing the same for them and Ken Livingstone (who I really admire) will, if he stays as Mayor for too long, eventually raise tax rates so high that no one will bother to work, because he is addicted to spending.

Nevertheless just because power corrupts, it doesn't mean that everything goes bad (with the possible exception of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe!!). Margaret Thatcher's Government which I personally loathed with a passion unmatched by anyone before or since, did brilliant undogmatic work in controlling the Aids epidemic, the effects of which can still be seen today in the relatively low infection rates found in this country. New Labour has guided this country to the longest period of uninterrupted growth in its history, a period in which every other major industrialised country has had a recession. And Greenwich Council..................Well to get to the point, I resolved to write about what the Council does well.

So this got me thinking, I need to write about things I have some experience of, being that I do not have children, am fortunate enough to be working and earning enough not to need benefits, and I buy books rather than borrow them! This gets me down to I walk and drive round the borough and I get my bins emptied. About the same time as I was musing away to myself I was getting ready to do the ironing while watching a few episodes of 24 on DVD.

So I turned on the TV and caught most of

Tonight with Trevor McDonald

It was rubbish, sorry it was about rubbish, and was actually rather good. This got me thinking that my experience of the council waste collection service is actually 1st class.

I have lived her for 20+ years and to my recollection they have never missed a collection. If I have more rubbish than can be fitted in the bin they have always taken it all away without complaint. They have never asked for money at Christmas. They still collect general refuse weekly, despite having introduced 2 weekly recycling collections. The recycling is really easy as it all goes in one bin so no one has an excuse not to do it.

When I see programmes like 'Tonight' and hear of experiences of people living in other Boroughs like Croydon (where the Refuse service sounds like it is run by the Gestapo, but with the efficiency of a failed state, and the recycling system seem to have been thought up by the people who write the instruction leaflets for cheap electrical goods).

I say thank you Greenwich Council for a Rolls Royce service and long may it continue.

GRAFFITI

Graffiti seems to be on the up at the moment, took this pic this morning while taking Chelsea and Charlton for their morning constitutional. Its the Garages at the back of Heavitree Road, by the Tennis Courts.



I know that PCEG perform sterling efforts in painting over these 'tags', (think that is the correct term), but the problem currently seems to be overwhelming. However overstretched the council claim to be I really think they should be more on top of the problem. Especially in this instance, as it is their garages which are the eyesore!! As far as I can tell only one is actually in use, and the rest are in an advanced state of disrepair.

I am fed up with the council on the one hand saying, and I quote 'Greenwich has this year set one of the lowest Council Tax increases in London' and on the other saying they have no money to do anything. Either they should spend my money more efficiently, or for god's sake put up the council tax, so they have got the money to improve the area and deal with problems like Graffiti. Just letting things slide, only encourages the vandals. What's the point of a low council tax if the place is going to rack and ruin?

I have got one suggestion, how about pulling down the garages an replacing them with a Cafe on the Common!!

Now if I was to leave it there, someone (probably from PCEG) would get back to say that this is a community problem and what am I doing about it, and they would have a valid point. So I have resolved to pull my finger out and have already downloaded my application form to join PCEG and will send it off today. If you want to do the same then you can find the form at the end of their most recent newsletter, just click here

PCEG Newsletter

NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The power of the internet (perhaps), only 2 working days after my post, (and only 1 day after writing nice things about the council), and lo and behold shabby, decrepit, but Graffiti FREE garages, so well done to GC and Cleansweep, who were hard at work at 8.30 this morning. Am just waiting for PCEG to give me my tin of paint!! To help keep them this way.

Chelsea loves the Common almost as much as she loves food!!!