SEnine Off the beat….
Now that the vast hordes of police have disappeared back from whence they came, and the mid-summer unrest recedes into history, SPY understands that cost-cutting in the service can resume. The Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) will bear the brunt of the cuts with four sergeants going from across the SE9 postcode area. SPY is told that the teams, currently led by a sergeant with four foot soldiers, will have to share team leaders, with one sergeant covering two areas. Apart from an occasional tendency to knock off at the wrong times and to treat complaining members of the public like ‘divs’, the SNT initiative has helped clamp down on anti-social behaviour, so SPY hopes no more cuts are in the offi ng there.
Plotting the future…
SPY learns that the council is hoping to off -load as many of its allotment sites as possible to Bands of Diggers. The motivation for this apparent act of charity is, of course, to save them the cost of looking after the plots. SPY is told that, in football circles, this is called a ‘hospital pass’.
The threat is
that, if plotters don’t go independent, their rents will double next year, for the year in succession, the consequence of which is already to be seen in increasing areas of wilderness on some sites. Perhaps if the council was to share half the savings with the digging groups, it might seem fairer. A pity that turnip- growing isn’t an Olympic sport, despite it being more interesting to spectators than the small bore clay pigeon shoot, happening over the hill in Woolwich. If there were gold medals to be had, the council would probably spend a couple of squillions creating more sites to meet demand, and call it ‘legacy’. SPY’s mate Herbaceous. having lifted a hat-trick of sweet corn championships, would be something of a national hero.
ET has landed….
Ever keen to hear of sporting prowess on our doorsteps, SPY understands that our local team Eltham Town had
Have your say, your opinion counts
teams from the age of eight and are FA Charter Standard approved. SPY has watched the expansion of the club over recent years, having rehabilitated the old Co-op sports ground and its fi ve pitches just over the road from its Footscray Road headquarters, which are also made available for free to local schools. If that’s not enough, the club also raises over £10,000 a year for cancer charities and some more for cot death research. Future expansion plans include fl oodlighting and Astroturf, SPY learns. As ever, money is needed, of course, so any local business wanting to sponsor them, now’s the time.
Journey’s End…
SPY understands that the local Enemies of Dereliction pressure group (which he chairs and is the only member) is ready to march on the old Eltham Park station in Westmount Road. The EoD have recently chalked up another triumph, with, the renovation of the old Castlewood Day Hospital on Shooters Hill. But the old station parade has been in a state of ill repute since Thresher’s moved out last year. SPY learns that Network Rail, having re-roofed it in the spring, has pencilled in early next year for further repairs with a view to re- letting the units. Local rumour has it that
another blistering year between the goalposts. Not content with lifting the prestigious Orpington and Bromley League Senior League, they also took the league’s equivalent of t h e charity shield. In a unique double, a team hosted by the club, Balden Sports, also topped the Metropolitan League, one of London’s leading amateur divisions. As well as running senior teams, ETFC runs league-topping junior
SPY@senine.co.uk
Sainsbury’s might favour the site for a convenience store. Not much evidence for this, SPY understands. Watch this space.
Given the boot?
SE9’s fl edging boot fair, in Butterfl y Lane, is soon set for a winter break, or longer, so SPY understands. The event has failed to attract the crowds and is causing some concern with the local neighbourhood because of the apparent lack of parking provision. Greenwich Council’s easily accessible planning department very helpfully informs SPY that such events can run for up to 14 days a year without offi cial permission. But if there are serious problems of traffi c or noise, the department can intervene. Good to know our council’s on the ball on that one.
Seeing a fair way…
One bonus from the smart new replacement fencing at Eltham Park South is the views it opens up of Eltham Warren Golf Course, previously a hidden world of strategically placed ponds, ditches, bunkers and rare mature trees, some of which are centuries old. SPY’s habitat correspondent learns it’s one of the few areas of grassland locally. Thank goodness the fence is green and well camoufl aged unlike the grey security railings scarring the east end of the park. Perhaps the Community Payback team could be persuaded to wave their paintbrushes at it?
Over-full house…
One of the dubious pleasures of a late night theatre trip to London is to cattle-truck conditions of the fi nal trains home from our Great Metropolis, which often sees culture vultures, late offi ce workers and sundry drunks crammed together like sardines. SPY understands from Southeastern Trains that there’s little hope of a reprieve. Their rental arrangements with Network Rail for line usage makes the cost of running extra carriages through the entire evening is said to be prohibitive.
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