A Route Too Far? Should residents of Westcombe Hill be worried? WestcombeNEWS See page 7. Free to 3800 homes, in libraries and some shops May 2019 No. 4 A community newspaper commended by the London Forum of Amenity & Civic Societies WN Cleaning up our river Reporter Thames21 is the voice for London’s waterways. working with communities to improve rivers, and canals for people and wildlife. Thames21’s London Rivers Week takes place May 25–June 2. For information about volunteering, and action, please go to thames21.org.uk/londonriversweek PHOTO: THAMES21(c) hat could be better than a gentle * It campaigns to get meaningful change, include the forshore as well, probably Wspring-time stroll along the such as Break The Bag Habit . near the Morden Wharf building. That Thames Path in Greenwich? * Thames River Watch trains Londoners would have to take into account the Well, it could be better, certainly at to collect crucial data on foreshore issues mentioned earlier.” low tide, when one can see the amazing plastic involving more than 1,000 Stephanie Baker adds: “There’s a amount of rubbish – especially plastic – volunteers to date, including students. lovely campaign to make Londoners that is strewn on the foreshore. Last year, Thames21’s River Watch think carefully about their choices and A series of river cleans along the Programme, in partnership with Tideway, waste disposal – it’s called For Fish’s Thames and its tributaries revealed that the company building the new Thames Sake, Don’t Leave Litter and uses the more than 80% of litter found in the sewage tunnel, won a highly prestigious hashtag #ffsldn. I believe it was started Thames, and 78% on its tributaries, was Dragon Community Partners Award, less by a student at Greenwich University. made up of single-use items such as than a week after it released new data There’s a large sign about the campaign metal drink cans, food packaging and revealing how the summer heatwaves on the Greenwich Peninsula; ironically I plastic drinks bottles. contributed to more plastic litter in the found it around the corner from a lot of Over 60% of litter would disappear river. construction waste along the Peninsula.” from Thames basin if we moved away from single-use items, say the waterways So, what’s happening in Greenwich? charity Thames21 and the Marine Patrick Ives, chairman of the East Conservation Society. Greenwich Residents Association, told the WN : What is Thames21? “One of the things we’ve organised Thames21’s vision is to put healthy is a spring and autumn clean-up of the rivers at the heart of community life. The Thames Path near the golf driving range. idea is to reconnect people to nature by There is a planted area there that hasn’t helping them enjoy, protect and enhance been very well looked after. their local rivers. On its website it says: “Last year we also included a river “Whether it’s the Thames or one of its clean-up of the Ordinance Draw Dock by many tributaries, we offer inspiring ways the Intercontinental Hotel. Another is Construction traffic: Correction for communities to get down to their planned soon. RBG were at pains to point out that the Some of you will have read the item in local riverbank. Thousands of volunteers “We have been thinking about a fore - above trunk roads are the only ones April’s WN under Newsbriefs (page 1) help us rewild rivers, canals and other shore clean-up for some time but there approved for construction traffic and concerning construction traffic for the stretches of open water, and protect them are issues with that. Tide times have to inappropriate use of other routes is not Silvertown Tunnel. every year. be looked at, access to the foreshore in permitted . We regret this was a misinterpretation of “Our aim is to rebuild the relationship our area is somewhat lacking in places, the document which the Royal Borough A Construction Traffic Management between communities and their rivers.” and there may be liability issues. We of Greenwich (RBG) have since clarified. Plan will set out the measures required haven’t looked into any co-ordination The ‘corridors’ around the trunk roads to manage construction traffic. What does Thames21 do? with Thams21 yet but that may be the A102,A2, A2213 and the A20 reflect the Link to documents below: Thames21 has a four-pronged approach: way forward. The Great British Spring areas that could be affected by the noise, http://committees.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/d • It runs education programmes. Clean is on until about the 22nd of April. pollution and other impacts of the con - • Thames21 helps communities reclaim Last year’s spring time clean-up, which ocuments/s72370/Appendix%20A%20- struction traffic on these roads. They have %20Proposals%20for%20Neighbourhoo their rivers through rewilding projects included the draw dock, was part of this. been identified as areas for mitigation d%20Enhancement%20funding.pdf cleaning rivers and reducing flooding by “This year we will organise some - measures – NOT as alternative routes. creating rainscapes and reedbeds. thing fairly soon for that and it might < < Newsbriefs > > The Westcombe Society Blackheath Girls High School. told the WN : “Due to the combina - Blackheath Halls The extended and refurbished tion of good work by Peninsula Community awards Annual General Meeting school was reopened on May 2nd. ward Councillors, Matthew Tim Barnes Friday May 17th at 7.30 pm with addresses by Caroline Pennycook MP, residents and the Rev Robert (“Tim”) Yeager in The Centenary Room, Criado-Perez OBE and Cheryl very quick work of the Council’s The Charlton Society Blackheath High School for Girls, Vanbrugh Park Giovannoni, CEO, GDST . Legal Services Team, I can con - by kind permission of the Head, firm that no permanent closure NHS staff shortages Good news for rail passengers will take place.” Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Mrs Carol Chandler-Thompson Network Rail’s proposal to close A petition opposing the plan Trust faces serious staff shortages. the foot crossing over the freight attracted 600 signatures in 24 Some are leaving because of Your chance to hear what’s going on - and to elect a new committee. line to Angerstein Wharf has been hours. Brexit; others for other reasons. withdrawn. Across the UK there are 100,000 Guest speaker: Travellers from the Fairthorn Greenwich Civic Awards unfilled vacancies in the NHS. At 100 years after (some) women won the vote, Jane Grant will give a talk on the Road/Gurdon Road area, and The full list is now available: all present 19% of NHS medical staff part women in Greenwich & Lewisham played in the campaign – Victoria Way will be very relieved, well deserved. It includes : are from overseas . with free booklets! + Wine & Nibbles. for this route provides quick access Lifetime Achievement award to Westcombe Park Station. John Kemmis The Botticelli Madonna Nominations for new members of the committee needed. Cllr. Stephen Brain (Labour and Roden Richardson in Ranger’s House isn’t a copy – Members only – but new members can join on the night! Co-Operative, Peninsula ward) Arts and Entertainment Award it’s the real thing! See page 4. COMMUNITY WESTCOMBE SOCIETY AGM 2019 Great new local support service WEST CO MBE N EW S 7.30pm on Friday 17th May 2019 in the Centenary Room, Julie Friedeberger Blackheath High School for Girls hen my husband was discharged All editoriAl correspondence to : Wfrom QEH last month after neville Grant , Editor AGENDA surgery, it was our good luck to be [email protected] 1. Welcome and apologies for absence referred by the hospital physiotherapist to the excellent new Age UK Greenwich Tel. 020 8858 8489 2. Approval of, and matters arising and Bromley Bridging Service. from, Minutes of 2018 AGM All MAteriAl to Be sent to : I was given the phone number of [email protected] 3. Reports from the Chair, Maria Harris, the lovely lady who runs * Events Sub-Committee, the service, and I called her, not deadline for the June 2019 issue: * Environment Sub-Committee, knowing what to expect but hoping there 16th May * Membership Secretary, would be some support. I was feeling environment editor: Maggie * Editor of the Westcombe News isolated, frightened, and at sea with my Gravelle 4. Treasurer’s Report and presentation new caring responsibilities, and Maria’s sub-editor: Annie Grey of audited statement of the accounts calm, friendly voice was a lifeline. roving reporter: Vivienne Raper the year ending 31/03/2019 For an hour she listened, and talked me discharged from hospital, to enable them to reporters: The community – that 5. Election of Officers clearly and sympathetically through the regain confidence and independence in means you! difficulties I was already experiencing; and their home environment. and to prevent 6. Charity of the year 2019-20 by the end of our talk I felt less alone and readmission to hospital. environMent coMMittee emily norton All queries and 7. A.O.B. better able to cope with them. It’s a flexible service, geared to the needs The Bridging Service supports of its users: it can provide staff to stay with comments to: 020 8853 2756 8.Guest speaker: 100 years after (some) vulnerable adults and older people in the a client for a 24-hour period and assist [email protected] women won the vote, Jane Grant will boroughs of Greenwich, Bromley and with domestic and daily living tasks; do give an illustrated talk on the part distriBution emily norton and Bexley for the first 24 hours after being risk assessment; and give guidance and women in Greenwich & Lewisham volunteers. More volunteer distributors emotional and psychological support.