Any more for any more?
So what are your general thoughts about the present state and future development of Southampton Way? Many of you added some excellent comments. They are posted individually in the comments section of this post.
posted by TommyD @ 2:12 pm
25 comments
25 Comments:
Desperately in need of some TLC. A decent supermarket. Presco is horrible; only use it if absolutely desperate. Costcutter, is a bit limited the people are nice and it's at least clean - but nowhere to get fresh food - all tinned rubbish. The tram route would be fantastic but I fear too much politicking will delay it for years.
What can be done about the appalling service of the 343? Drives me mad whenever I need to use it - I can't believe the tram is postponed again - how depressing!
Instead of concentrating on getting a supermarket and CCTV, I think there should be discussion about how we can make Southampton Way a show area of renewable energies (solar panels on every south-facing roof) and exemplary provision for cyclists and pedestrians, restrict the car traffic, and make it nicer to live in, not only nicer to shop in - we don't want any more traffic there already is! How about a Home-Zone?
Southampton Way feels unsafe - particularly at night. The area feels uncared for and neglected. It would be nice to see it pick up a bit as there is a big contrast between the line of shops on Southampton Way and the line of shops on Camberwell Church Street.
The congestion caused by traffic around the junction of Commercial Way Road needs to be looked at. A lot of drivers use it as a short cut, but the flow of traffic is hampered by people who just don't know how to drive properly. Perhaps traffic lights or a one way system needs to be put in place.
I live on St Giles Road and there are specific issues facing this street, namely the lack of speed controls on a road accessing public park (Brunswick Park) where there are large numbers of children playing every day. It is only a matter of time there is a child killed by speeding cars. Moreover, at the end of 2005 St Giles Road became two way, giving access to and from Peckham Road. This has only served to make the street a rat run, increasing traffic and noise volumes and also increasing the risk of the original point relating to children being at risk.
Councillors have really let us down by the Tram delays. 10 years is simply not acceptable.
I do miss the chemist that was there before (it was on the corner of Rainbow Street now a barbers).
We should form a community action group
Actions groups... get residents together and get them talking, share views etc
I think Coleman Road should be made one way. We constantly have issues with drivers driving right up to our door which is 4 m off road and damaging our paved front. I would willingly build a brick wall to stop this, but feel it would cause more congestion and problems. A one-way system would also assist getting to the bus stop during the school run when I have on six occasions been forced into someone’s garden in order to avoid delivery drivers and inconsiderate school mothers driving their kids to school. We did raise this with Labour and Lib Dems during the elections but have hard nothing since. Also is it me, or do other people feel the 343 is a poor service? I have to wait 20 minutes to get a seat in the mornings 8-8:30 if I can get on at all and I get on opposite the dry cleaners on Southampton Way going into town. There should be more buses during this time. If I tried to get on at Cottage Green it would be impossible!
How can I get involved? Are there any resident groups that are meeting to discuss ideas?
Info on elmington - http://www.cabe.org.uk/default.aspx?contentitemid=452&aspectid=23 info on aylesbury - http://www.southwark.gov.uk/YourServices/RegenerationSection/AylesEstateRegen/ - no doubt you already know all about this. I've been patching together an ultimate map of the area. There could be a few copyright issues as it's pieced together from web accessed detailed OS plans. I'll gladly send you a copy though if you'd like. It’s probably quite a big file though
Community policing. Would also like to see the people who own/lease the George Pub chucked out so that somebody can open a good, local, friendly boozer (like The Rye Hotel or Gairloch Arms). Also can we get rid of the graffiti on the street corners of dogs and dog crap i.e. that which was sprayed on by the council? It'd ugly, intrusive, partonising and a waste of time and money. If this is the council's attempt to show the residents that they 'care' it falls way short of the mark
The closure of New Church Road and rerouting of the 343 has caused nothing but misery to the occupants of Southampton Way.
Am wondering if the council are being so strict in what they will allow re planning permission that they are discouraging development?
Congratulations to you Tommy. You are quite right Southampton Way is the Key. There are also some traffic issues (rat runs for example, that need to be tackled) but the shops and faculties are most important.
I believe that the regeneration of Southampton Way largely depends upon the rebuilding of the many derelict sites. Many of these sites have been derelict for over twenty years. Now the main unavoidable eyesores have been been pulled down (the many estates in the area), I feel a few smaller scale demolitions are in need. This would help pull in new businesses and develop a much needed sense of pride in the local community.
I definetely think the one way system at the Wells Way junction should be removed and re-designed, maybe the Mayor and TFL might want to take a look at that one...
Also in my opinion the only reason a Pub property gets threatened with demolition is if it has not been run properly in the past - The Bricklayers Arms could be a fine establishment but if the reason to demolish it is because 10-15 years ago it was a tough place to manage then that's wrong -because things are changing and there are many properties around Southampton Way that with the community's support would improve drastically and serve a valuable function - I'm not a religious person but I think it would be wrong to demolish the Old Chapel - it's a period building that adds character to the area, if it were refurbished and maybe if the church extended it a little out at the back it could serve as a youth club/community/artists space - all these amenities are vital in Camberwell and sadly lacking since Thatcher did her dirty work in the 80's...
Private enterprise can't do this alone - a card shop, even a hardware shop, would fail here because it is a shopping choice for no-one outside the immediate area. Yet the post office is a really well-used resource, there's the College and the new children's centre on Tower Mill Road. Perhaps there are ways that the council could encourage social enterprises in some of the void properties (even on a temporary basis) - a cycle repair shop, for example, with a training role; a drop-off point for veg box, mail-order and other delivery services (it would need a roster of people 'sitting in' - ideal roles for someone retired and sociable), and then people could pick up their orders in the evening). A drop-in crafts club for children. Such things would bring more regular visitors to the area. Also, there could be more work done on pedestrian and cycle routes leading between Peckham Road and Burgess Park, perhaps some signage. I often encounter lost students looking for Southwark College.
I think that you have identified most of the major issues with old or abandoned sites but some of the new builds have not always been of the best quality. For example the new houses on the corner cut-off by Wells Way church. This building is a hideous design and has not been properly finished.
I have lived here for 11 years and feel that the area has, if anything deteriorated in that time. At least we used to have a local chemist on the corner of Rainbow Street and Southampton Way.
It really is a bit of a dump, isn't it? It's not a safe area, particularly for 'soft' targets like the elderly and/or infirm, and it feels distinctly dangerous after dark
The derelict properties make me annoyed - just to clear these up and replace them with decent housing would make a real difference.
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