SEnine Green Chained-Up Walk….


Unless the Green Chain Walk is meant to be a steeplechase, it’s in serious trouble. The walk is now padlocked in at least three different places.


Part of the problem is the cross-border relations between Greenwich Council and its neighbour Bexley.


It’s at the point the walk crosses into Bexley from Oxleas Woods that the problems begin. Walkers crossing the road at Shooters Hill are signposted through a gate and into an area of scrub alongside the BP garage. About 200 yards further on and they’re faced with a padlocked gate that only active mountaineers are able to climb over.


Crossing a stream and heading towards Plumstead, the same again, only worse, a spiky fence more than six feet high. Only the eagle-eyed are likely to spot a hole in the fence some 20 yards away.


Those seeking to by-pass the obstructions by heading through the farmyard of Woodlands Farm and following the smart signposting are similarly disappointed. A padlocked five bar gate blocks the way.


The farm claims that there are no established rights of way across the land, a view endorsed by Bexley Council. As two of the blockages are in Bexley’s area, the breach in the chain would appear to be effectively permanent.


This raises a number of questions. Firstly, why was the Green Chain Walk created on land which where there is no right of passage? Secondly, why are there no ‘detour’ signposts to assist GCW followers to navigate through a local housing estate to pick up the walk on their journeys towards Bostall Woods and Lesnes Abbey? Thirdly, what’s the point of continuing to advertise and promote a walk which no longer exists? Fourthly, why cannot the Farm and Green Chain sort this out amicably?


Don’t ring us….


Among the staff considered un- cuttable in Royal Greenwich are the Queen’s Own Press Office Regiment, a team of seven who h a v e seemingly survived the austerity purges which have hit old people’s homes, flower beds, environment centres and disabled care provision. Very low among their long list of indispensable duties, apart from promoting the unfailing excellence of our local council provision, is to provide answers to questions from timewasters like SPY. The complement of seven, about four or five more than most authorities, is sufficient to be the press complement for a medium-sized government department or major corporation.


Therefore, when SPY


asked for a copy of the consultation documents on the possible expansion of parking restrictions on Eltham, an efficiently speedy response would be guaranteed? Sadly, four weeks of phone calls and emails elicited nothing. Amazingly, SPY sorted it himself in just 10 minutes, a manoeuvre for which SPY will no doubt be severely chastised. In the bad old days, when nobody knew anything, councils didn’t employ such press staff, contact between media and council officers being rapid, cordial and mercifully unspun.


Joust in time…


Following the very successful medieval jousting display at Eltham Palace, SPY’s historic correspondent tells that the re-enactment is to be re-enacted. The joust is to take place this summer at the Palace with a large range of fun activities on a medieval theme for family entertainment. The last time it was staged, two years ago, pulled in large crowds; watch this space for details.


Turning a new leaf? SPY’s


bookworm tells him a new


chapter might be about to begin for our libraries, with the council thinking about hiving them off into a non profit-making or possibly charitable trust. A carefully-crafted statement from the council promises no cuts to


Have your say, your opinion counts


services but a need to reduce costs, a difficult square to circle. The existing staff would all be transferred to the new trust, possibly with changes to their terms and conditions. One idea is that the company which runs the local leisure centres, Greenwich Leisure Limited, might mount a takeover bid. An example being touted is Wigan, which boasts re-branding, re-marketing and a 17 per cent rise in custom since a trust was formed to run their libraries seven years ago. SPY is sure the boost to the staff’s morale from being freed from council control would be huge. But it doesn’t ensure against future cuts. Wigan Trust’s grant from the council is being cut by a quarter this year and library closures there are said to be a certainty.


Still great, after all these years..


SPY observes the enduring appeal of E Nesbit's book 'The Railway Children', written in Eltham in 1905. In the recent Olivier awards, the recent production at Waterloo Station was judged the most entertaining production in London during 2010.


Got the hump...


What a shame, SPY thinks, that after all the time and effort of planning and installing the speed hump in Archery Road that it's so low it makes no difference. It's hardly a bigger bump than the many potholes littering our streets now we're in the Age of Austerity and will have no effect on the serious speeder threatening our children's and old people's lives.


Firey's busy


The fire department were out in Passey Place when smoke was reported coming from the chimney of a local drinking tavern. SPY does know that smoke is supposed to come from chimney's but in this case the chimney itself had caught fire and the fire department and to attend to get it under control. SPY thinks a bit of housekeeping to clean the chimney would be in order.


33


SPY@senine.co.uk


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