Lewisham Central Hither Green

Yesterday, Damien, Stella and myself attended the launch of the Hither Green Traders Association at the new Cooper Locke Gallery Cafe in Hither Green Lane.

It was a fantastic launch with members of the local business community, our Safer Neighbourhoods Team, residents of Hither Green and other community organisations including the Hither Green cinema group.

It’s fantastic that local businesses are working together to improve Hither Green Lane and are now able to lobby collectively to secure improvements from our Council.

More information on This Is London.

Sometimes the actions of bureaucrats beggars belief. As reported by the excellent Brockley Central blog, TfL plans to remove various pedestrian and signal crossings across London. This is apparently part of a grander scheme to improve traffic flow across London.

My gut reaction, and I confess I need to look at the proposals in a lot more detail, is one of anger. How is a push to encourage people to cycle and walk in their local areas compatible with speeding up traffic flow?

Many people have complained to me about the lack of safe road crossings in our area. I couldn’t agree more with their concerns, and I think TfL’s policy direction is wrong-headed.

Here is the list of crossings to be removed in our area:

Torridon Road and Hither Green Lane, Hither Green.

Hither Green Lane and Duncrieve Road, Lewisham.

Amongst a total of 4 to be removed in our borough.

We will be making representations to TfL urgently.

The Hither Green Community Association have organised a brilliant range of events for Hither Green Week alongside the Saint Swithun’s Music, Art & Drama Festival.

We’ll be chatting with local people at the Spring Fayre 2010, outside the Clock Tower at Meridian South this Saturday 22 May from lunchtime. There will be stalls, music, food, and plenty of entertainment. Hope to see you there.

To view the whole schedule click here.

UPDATE 27 May: Well! What a success. The local press have praised Hither Green Week, see here. What a testament to the hard work of the Hither Green Community Association and St. Swithun’s Church.

You may remember that last month we reported that an Alternative Health Centre had opened in Hither Green. We are pleased to report that having opened just a couple of weeks back, the Health Centre has taken off with a number of weekly classes in yoga, pilates, meditation and alexander technique. Many additional therapies have also recently been added and now include massage, acupuncture, nutritional therapy, homeopathy and counselling. We would encourage readers to get behind all our local businesses and the Gatehouse is certainly a valuable addition to our community. For more information please visit the centre’s website www.gatehousehealth.com or call 020 8698 0309 to inquire about the offers.

The Hither Green Community Association have organised Christmas Carols at the Clock Tower on the Meridian South Development in Hither Green. The event begins at 1pm this coming Saturday, 19th December and refreshments including Mulled Wine and Mince Pies will be available for what promises to be a very special event.