HERNE HILL SOCIETY EVENTS At Herne Hill United Church Hall, at 7:30 for 7:45pm, unless otherwise stated. Sunday 2 September: “Heritage Trail Part 2” Guided walk by Robert Holden. Meet at Herne Hill Station at 2:00pm. Wednesday 12 September: HERNE HILL JUNCTION “My Life in Show Business, Part 2 - The Santa Years” by Robert Holden Detailed analysis and modelling now been completed for a number of alternative designs Wednesday 10 October: for the Junction. These are: the proposals “Murder by Chloroform? The Trial of recommended by the Project Board (Option Adelaide Bartlett” A); moving the slip road four metres further by Robert Flanagan towards the Junction (Option B); moving the slip road twelve metres further towards the Wednesday 14 November: Junction (Option C); and there being no slip “The Story of Bankside” road, but a left turn only lane for vehicles by Len Reilly, Lambeth Archives going from Norwood Road into Dulwich Road Wednesday 12 December: (option D). Silver Anniversary Readings The results of the exercise show that Option D by members of the Society will not improve pedestrian safety and will reduce the capacity of the Junction to handle at present. The level of vehicle saturation will vehicle flows, leading to longer tail-backs than increase to 117%, leading to greater tail-backs than at present, with all the consequent impact on the environment, pedestrian comfort and safety. Option B will result in a smaller pedestrian island, reducing its capacity to handle crowds people at large events and the scope for high quality landscaping. Less effective site-lines will reduce vehicle and pedestrian safety. And the resulting slip road curvature will require a potentially dangerous ‘negative’ camber or an inconvenient step up for pedestrians going to and from the park. continued on Page 2 1 Junction from Front Page Option C will provide less scope for introducing or improving pedestrian crossings; and inadequate site-lines and reverse road cambers will compromise vehicle safety. The residual small island will neither provide scope for landscaping improvements nor to improve pedestrian access to the Park. Roads will continue to dominate the area. Option A provides the most benefit in terms of improving bus flows, pedestrian and cycle safety and the scope for landscaping the Junction and Park entrance. It offers the best site-lines for drivers and pedestrians; facilitates the introduction of pedestrian crossings at all roads; enables the slip road to be set at the same level as the pavements (shown to slow vehicle speeds and improve pedestrian safety); gives a pedestrian island that can be landscaped in a character sympathetic to the park thus providing an attractive ‘bridge’ between the junction and park. Its simple shape and clutter free design allow for free movement with optimum visibility for both vulnerable road users and vehicles. CLEANER, GREENER SAFER Option A gives the best balance between the Under Southwark’s ‘Cleaner, Greener, Safer’ needs of Park users, pedestrian, cyclist and programme, individuals and groups can make vehicle safety, bus priority and accessibility, proposals to their Community Council, bidding for the environment, regeneration, local residents money to fund projects that will help make and businesses. It has received overwhelming environmental and safety improvements to their backing from Herne Hill residents and traders. local area. Our MP, Tessa Jowell, our GLA member Val In each of the past two years, we have put in a bid Shawcross, all Herne Hill Ward Councillors, to repaint and refurbish the Croxted Road railway Village Ward Councillors as well as traders bridge. Unfortunately we were not successful, representatives have expressed their strong partly because the cost of the project would have support. taken too large a slice of the available budget. Our bid for 2007 is more modest. We have proposed This is the best chance for years to get the that Dulwich Community Council agree the funds Junction improved, and to reverse the to erect a Community Notice Board in Half Moon continuing decline of Herne Hill centre and Lane. The cost would be up to £2,500 for a good Norwood Road. If we lose this opportunity, the quality design that fits in with the character of the Junction will stay unchanged for many more area. years – a blight on Herne Hill, its residents and A community notice board would be of great its businesses. benefit, both to the Society and to the many other Next Steps local organisations in Herne Hill. It would help us Detailed landscape design is well advanced. The all to reach a wider public, promoting greater planning application for the changes to the park community awareness and involvement, and boundary will be submitted to Lambeth Planning increasing support for activities and initiatives designed to improve the quality of life of Herne very soon. Some details have still to be resolved, Hill residents. including the scope for straight-across as opposed to staggered pedestrian crossings (we are strongly in Decisions on applications are likely to be favour of the former); negotiations over widening announced in October. Brockwell passage; and discussions with London We would welcome ideas for Society bids for Buses over eliminating bus movements in side 2008. streets. 2 THE HERNE HILL SOCIETY This is a responsible and time consuming job, but one that has had some very good results. Both Councils AT TWENTY FIVE have often responded positively to our objections and suggestions. The Herne Hill Society was founded in March 1982 at a meeting called by Patricia Jenkyns. Monica There are many active community organisations in Wood, Jane Fenwick, and Father Clements were Herne Hill that we have helped to found - Friends of among the members of the first committee, while Bill Brockwell Park, Friends of Ruskin Park and the Newton was elected the first chair. Herne Hill Forum. We have been active within the Lambeth Local History Forum and, in recent years, The first edition of the Newsletter, in April 1982, maintained a presence at the Dulwich Community included an article on changes to the traffic flow in Council. Railton Road. What’s new! In those days producing the newsletter was a scissors and glue job, in great Another of our achievements has been to produce contrast to the computer technology of today. But several winners in the Brain of Lambeth competition, throughout it has been lively and informative and, for including the late Lucien Prechner and our current those unable to get to the meetings, the way to keep in vice chair, John Brunton. touch with the society. In 2002 we became a Registered Charity. This has The first committee meetings were held in committee produced various advantages, including a useful members’ homes; but the monthly meetings were income from claiming Gift Aid. Our website enables held in the Catholic Church in Polar Walk. In internet users to browse for local news, join the September 1991 the public meetings moved to the society, ask questions and order publications. United Church Hall where they continue today. Peter In our twenty fifth anniversary year, we have been Layton, the local glassblower, Sidney Carter the poet looking back to show how we have grown and and musician, and Sam Wanamaker of the Globe developed into the active society we are today. This is Theatre, have been among many fascinating speakers thanks entirely to the voluntary hard work and who have entertained and informed us over the years. commitment of committee members over the years, Our first publications were local history pamphlets which has led to our respected and influential position written by Patricia Jenkyns, complemented by local in the community today. New members are always postcards and a series of line drawings including of welcome and there is always space on the committee the Carnegie Library and Sunray Gardens. In 2003 for people with new ideas and drive. Do get in touch. the History Group produced the Herne Hill Heritage Trail, which went on to win the Walter Bor award presented by the London Forum of Civic Societies. In 2006 we published Herne Hill Personalities, launched by Lord Lester of Herne Hill in the Carnegie Library Gallery. The Society’s stand at events such as the Lambeth Country Show is the main outlet for publication sales; but also helps attract new members. Over the years the Society has been involved in many campaigns and projects. In 1982 we were involved in changes to the flow of traffic through the Herne Hill junction; in summer 1997 we campaigned to save the Sorting Office from closure and it remained open until 2007 when, despite our best efforts, it finally shut. In 1998 we hosted a meeting to protest against Lambeth’s proposal to introduce a Controlled Parking Zone around the station. Following a local “no” postal vote, the idea was dropped. It is now being consulted upon again, and the result remains to be seen. In 1999 there was a serious threat to close the Carnegie Library and the Society supported the newly formed Friends of Carnegie Library and their successful campaign to not only keep the library open, but to increase its hours and the services offered within. Over the last twenty five years we have been actively monitoring planning applications and supporting residents in planning matters in both Lambeth and Southwark, as well as supporting conservation issues. 3 MAHATMA GHANDI ESTATE However, no firm decisions appear yet to have been made. The Society will continue to keep a watch on Lambeth has granted temporary planning permission the situation and support local residents to ensure that to re-house some of those vehicles and services from lives are not blighted by inappropriate developments the Council’s environmental fleet, that will be or land use affecting residential areas.