And you thought A2 was a big sheet of paper…

From Sue, on Betfred’s reapplication to open another betting shop on Deptford High Street.

If you don’t want any more betting shops in Deptford, take a look at Sue’s letter here, then write your own, and email it to planning@lewisham.gov.uk.

You’ll probably know that when Lewisham Planning turned them down in June, they appealed to the government Planning Inspectorate, who also turned them down (in August). Originally they were asking for the condition on the premises (that it was A2 Financial Use for a Building Society only) to be lifted to include Betting Shops. The Inspector agreed to lift the condition and then applied a new one – so that the present permission for the premises is now ANY A2 FINANCIAL USE EXCEPT AS A BETTING SHOP.

They have since reapplied to Lewisham to have this altered to include Betting Shops, claiming that it is unfair to judge them based on the behaviour of the clientele outside other betting establishments.

This application can be found on the Lewisham Planning Portal here and their covering letter is in the Documents section here.

Drummer on the Heath – video

Just in case you haven’t read enough comments on this already :)

Just don’t go in the attic…

Nice idea for a spooky evening at the Blackheath Conservatoire:

The Vanishing Point’s launch event on Saturday October 29: a seedy evening of suspense at the Bates Motel (19 Lee Road, London, SE3 9RQ) for a pop-up, immersive and interactive screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho alongside the most terrifyingly innovative short films from local directors.
Guests are invited to make their reservation online at http://www.thevanishingpoint.org.uk and Reception will be open for checking in at 7.30pm. For guests’ enjoyment, the motel will have a FREE BAR for the evening, with our house pianist on the grand piano, and then what? music? whispers?
“We all go a little mad sometimes. Haven’t you?”

Probably better than their original plan to screen Ghostbusters, much as I love it.

Hoping that the local film-makers have used the creepy cave-face deep below Blackheath to conjure up something terrifying!

Hortus and Chickens

Saw the chicken in the window of Hortus, and couldn’t help but think of this:

http://thebloggess.com/2011/06/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles/

I’m sure it’s full of whimsy too.

(If your internet service provider doesn’t allow you to look at this website, phone them up and ask them why not).

Blackheath Fireworks 2011

Lewisham council have added a page detailing which roads will be closed this year during the fireworks (which I have never seem – thanks Dad!)

Greenwich council are still being mean and refusing to fund the fireworks, as mentioned on 853blog a while back.

The fireworks display is on November 5th at 8pm, and admission is free.

Oh, and for some reason there’s a Blackheath Fireworks twitter account. It doesn’t do much except go “Whoosh” every so often (nothing wrong with that though). I’m guessing it’s not official, judging by the profile page…

Drummer on the heath again

In what is becoming a regular appearance at weekends, the drummer was back on the heath again today (thanks for the photo from Twitter user @spannarama

Electric cars that can’t be plugged in…

Since the mysterious addition to the car park in September last year, it seems that the electric vehicle charging point hasn’t been getting a lot of action:

Is year of the electric car driving to a dead end?

Take the example of the London borough of Lewisham (pictured) where the council has put in a dual charging point only to hastily remove it over a ‘hiccup’.

The council, through a contractor, placed the charging point on the wrong side of a car park in the busy shopping area of Blackheath in south London – away from the electricity supply.

About two months ago the point was originally installed with markings reserving one space next to it for an electric car.

However, today while the charging point has been moved to the other side of the car park to get power – the reserved parking signage has not.

Sounds like a bit of a cock-up, but nothing that can’t be resolved with some paint-stripper and a can of brilliant white… Has anyone actually seen a car being charged in the car park?

Rush hour

Packed #southeastern meatwagon train:

“Guys, I don’t know how you do it, but can you move down, otherwise my boss will sack me.”

Everyone moved.

Drummers and drumsticks

A couple of photos from flickr user Beglen. Great shot of the litter left on the heath outside the Princess of Wales pub – apparently all cleaned up now. That light can make anything look vividly beautiful. And a random drummer on the heath. Enjoy the sunshine!