Roses.

The recent rain has done much to help restore the brown and shrivelled grass in the local area; the photo above shows how the bowling green at Crayford Bowls Club in Avenue Road Erith, has already begun to recover from the recent drought.

The opening of the mystery shop in Erith that I had promised to cover in this issue is being delayed due to circumstances beyond the shop owners control. It will now be opening on Tuesday; I will be covering this in depth, with a series of photographs. The identity of the mystery store will remain until the next update. I had a total of eight people guess the location of the new shop - five got it wrong, and three answered correctly. More next week.

Following my article on the poor level of customer service that I have encountered in the Erith branch of Morrisons, I have had a further unsatisfactory experience in the last week; on Monday evening I visited the supermarket branch at just before 7.50pm to do a small amount of shopping. I had intended to purchase some salad items from the salad bar, but when I approached it, the salad bar staff were just finishing the process of emptying the salad containers and cleaning the bar. Nothing was available for sale, and it was still ten minutes before 8pm - two hours and ten minutes before the supermarket closed. Naturally there was no manager available for me to speak to, so I had to leave my displeasure unrecorded. After my comments last week, long time Maggot Sandwich reader Patrick sent me the following Email, which I reproduce with his permission:- "I wholeheartedly agree with your stance vis a vis the ubiquitous self-service checkouts now prevalent all across the retail sector. I too, out of principle, will not use them. I have often been encouraged to use these machines by staff members whilst waiting in the queue for a manned checkout. I simply insist that if I am going to use them, it is only fair that Morrison's (Sainsbury's, Tesco. Asda, etc, etc) pay me the going rate, and offer the same discounts as their 'other staff' enjoy. This response is usually met with a sullen shrug of the shoulders, and the departure of said staff member sloping off to harass some other customer. Another of my pet beef's is the tendency of many checkout personnel to indulge in banal, seemingly pointless, conversations with customers, thereby adding to the delays. On a slightly different tack with regard to Morrison's, I experienced their corporate thought processes many years ago before they decided to spread their tentacles southward and try to take on the 'big boys'. I was a long distance HGV driver and had occasion to make a delivery to Morrison's depot in Wakefield (if memory serves). I was delivering a number of large boxes containing white goods. On opening the rear doors of my trailer and man-handling the first box down onto the floor of the warehouse, the 'jobs worth' supervisor ordered me to stop, as he was not prepared to accept the goods. On politely asking why he was doing that, he said the boxes were not up to Morrison's standards. I pointed out that the boxes were clearly in good order, and undamaged. However, he said his refusal was because the boxes were 'too dusty'. As I had a return load already waiting to be collected once this delivery had been made, I was in a bit of an awkward position. He then said I would have to take the boxes back. I then jumped up onto the back of the trailer with a piece of cloth and proceeded to clean the dust off the boxes. However, he was still adamant that he would not accept delivery. He finally relented, when I pointed out that the boxes were now clean, and once I returned them in that state, he would have some serious explaining to do, he grudgingly accepted the delivery. It seems to me that attitudes have not really changed. Morrison's still treat their staff, customers and suppliers with total contempt. But, to be fair, that attitude permeates throughout much of that sector". Do you concur with Patrick's view, or do you have other experiences? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Some very good news; the Erith Street Kitchen event will be returning on Friday August the 17th. The mini food festival had its first appearance recently on the paved area between Erith Riverside Shopping Centre and Morrison's car park. Around 200 people attended the last event, this was despite it having very little in the way of publicity. Stalls as before will include those selling Italian and African food, along with ice cream, candy floss and various kinds of drinks. As before there will also be live music. I am really glad that the food festival is returning, and will be popping long to the event, which will take place between 4pm and 9pm on Friday the 17th. Hopefully the event will gain some momentum and become a regular feature. 

A message from Mark Deveney - Chairman and owner of Erith Town F.C:- "Having taken over Erith Town FC over in May 2017, it was always my ambition to take the club back to Erith. The club still had one year left on a ground sharing deal at VCD Athletic so finally 18 months later we played our first competitive game at Erith Stadium in over five years. The 1-1 draw with Glebe on Monday, drew a crowd of over 170, which was over double our average attendance last season. The ethos of our football club is to bring the Erith community into the club and to make everyone feel part of Erith. When I visited other clubs last season, it is clear there is no community spirit or an understanding of life outside their grounds. It’s clear Erith is a very changing community with an ever growing diversity. Erith Town FC is here to open up our club to everyone in the area. We have set up a Youth section and currently have 3 sides at U10, U12 & U14 age groups. It is our intention to provide football for all the community, at all levels and age ranges. From toddlers to girls / womens sides to walking football. We are a very ambitious club, but also a very family friendly club and want everyone who comes to The Dockers feel welcomed and most importantly valued. If you would like to come along or would want to bring a group to a match please feel free to contact me. Up The Dockers!" Mark can be contacted directly via this Email link. Alternatively you can send any message for him, to me to forward at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

Further to my recent article on "wee mileage" - there is a campaign to address the issue of a lack of public toilets. Over the past two decades the number of public toilets in the UK has slumped by more than a third (39 percent), according to responses to freedom of information requests, as local councils’ increasingly squeezed budgets lead to mass closures. The total has fallen from 3,955 in 2000 to 2,414 this year, according to data submitted to the British Toilet Association (BTA) by 266 councils in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In England alone, the average council runs only 15 public toilets, with each having to serve an average of more than 12,500 people. The London Borough of Bexley features very much on the bottom end of these figures. A new campaign called "Use Our Loos" - which is designed to encourage businesses to make their toilets available to non-customers. Each participating outlet will be encouraged to have a sticker on display so the public can easily spot a business happy for people to use its toilets without necessarily being a customer. The scheme is similar to a model encouraging businesses to offer free water refills to non-customers. The Refill campaign aims to break the stigma around asking for water for free even if customers have not purchased anything else.

Mystery surrounds the former Belvedere Police Station in Nuxley Road, which has been empty and unused for some time now. Initially the building had been put up for sale as a going concern, but now it has been purchased by property developer Greencourt Property Group - a company that specialise in redeveloping old public buildings such as schools and police stations. As expected, the developers turn the old buildings into residential apartments - or demolish the structures and start from scratch. 

Do use Google Maps to find your way around? It seems that the very popular mapping service is having an unexpected effect on place names. The effect has initially taken place in the USA, but as with anything of this nature, where it starts in America, the rest of the world will usually follow. For decades, the district south of downtown and alongside San Francisco Bay was known as either Rincon Hill, South Beach or South of Market. This spring, it was suddenly rebranded on Google Maps to a name few had heard of: the East Cut. The peculiar name immediately spread digitally, from hotel sites to dating apps to Uber, which all use Google’s map data. The name soon spilled over into the physical world, too. Estate agent listings beckoned prospective tenants to the East Cut, and news organisations referred to the vicinity by that term. The swift rebranding of the roughly 170-year-old district is just one example of how Google Maps has now become the primary arbiter of place names. With decisions made by a few Google cartographers, the identity of a city, town or neighbourhood can be reshaped, illustrating the outsize influence that Silicon Valley increasingly has in the real world. How Google arrives at its names in maps is often mysterious. Some appear to have resulted from mistakes by researchers, re - branding by real estate agents, or just outright fiction. Before the internet era, neighbourhood names developed via word of mouth, newspaper articles and physical maps that were released periodically. Google Maps, which debuted in 2005, is updated continuously and delivered to more than one billion people on their devices. Google also feeds map data to thousands of websites and apps, magnifying its influence. In May, more than 63 percent of people who accessed a map on a smartphone or tablet used Google Maps, versus 19.4 percent for the Chinese internet giant Alibaba’s maps and 5.5 percent for Apple Maps, according to comScore, which tracks web traffic. Google said in a recent article that it created its maps from third-party data, public sources, satellites and, often most important, users. People can submit changes, which are reviewed by Google employees. This echoes the local issue residents of Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere have had the people erroneously calling it "Nuxley Village" - a place name that was made up by estate agents from outside the area with no knowledge of the real name. It concerns me that Google Maps may well end up increasing the number of erroneous and downright wrong names ascribed to places, and end up making the situation worse than it currently is. 

Regular readers will recall that over the years I have written at some great length about local businessman, inventor and somewhat morally dubious character Sir Hiram Maxim. It is now well documented that in addition to inventing the automatic machine gun, the sprung mouse trap, and the fire sprinkler, he also constructed the first heavier than air flying machine, several years before the Wright Brothers. Whilst researching Sir Hiram Maxim, I came across the story of another pioneering aviation engineer, whose story is much less well known, but just as fascinating. Patrick Young Alexander (28th March 1867 – 7th July 1943) was a British aeronautical pioneer fascinated by the possibility of heavier-than-air flight. He was an enthusiastic balloonist and he was also particularly active in meteorology. He performed many meteorological and aviation experiments, designing and building his own equipment. He travelled widely, visiting Australia in his youth and later making many visits to the USA — crossing the Atlantic at least fifty times. Alexander was born and brought up at Hern Villa in Belvedere, and later lived in both Sheffield and Bath. His mother was Harriotte Emma and his father was Andrew Alexander from Scotland. He had an elder brother, John Edmond. His father, Andrew Alexander, was a civil engineer of some standing and a mechanical engineer. He was interested in aeronautics and was a founder member of The Royal Aeronautical Society in 1866. He presented some papers to the society including "Power in Relation to Weight in Aerial Navigation". In 1875, he went to see Thomas Moy's Aerial Steamer at The Crystal Palace. This machine had many interesting design features and may have achieved a brief hop into the air; accounts vary. That year, Andrew Alexander became manager of the Cyclops works of Charles Cammell and Company in Sheffield, where he worked on the improvement of armour plate for warships. In 1878, Patrick Alexander, doubtless encouraged by his father, built an elastic driven model aeroplane of the Penaud type. In the late summer of that year, Patrick was taken by his father to see the Paris Exhibition. One attraction was irresistible: the enormous hydrogen balloon of Henri Giffard, which was capable of taking 52 passengers at a time on a tethered ascent to 500 metres (1,600 ft). The experience left a deep impression on Alexander, then 11 years old. When Andrew Alexander left the Cyclops works, the Alexander family moved from Sheffield to Bath and Patrick decided on a career in the Merchant Navy. On 1 April 1885, just 3 days after his 18th birthday, Patrick Alexander signed as an apprentice Merchant Navy officer. The very next day he sailed upon the Minero, a barque of 478 tones bound for Fremantle in Western Australia, a distance of 12,500 miles (20,000 km) in a vessel powered only by the wind. Sixty days into the journey, while aloft helping with the sails, Patrick lost his grip and fell. As he hit the deck, he broke his leg. The ship was still three weeks away from port and there was little that could be done other than to strap Patrick into a bunk for the rest of the journey, letting the leg heal without expert attention. The Minero had left England with a crew short by one member. At Fremantle, two of the crew jumped ship, possibly encouraged by rumours of gold being found in the desert; replacement crewmen were hard to come by and only one could be found. The Minero set sail for Cossack and Port Walcott some 1,000 miles (1,600 km) to the North, seeking a cargo, probably of wool and pearl shell, for the return to London. Patrick was getting about with the aid of a crutch and, given the shortage of crew, he was helping as best he could. On 10 August, in rough weather on a wet and slippery deck, Alexander fell again and re-broke his injured leg. He was taken to Victoria Hospital at Geraldton. The Minero returned to London without him. Patrick returned to England; despite treatment, it was clear that his injuries would leave him lame for life. Due to his disability, he chose to come ashore, and pursue other interests. In 1893, Patrick Alexander ordered a balloon of 100,000 cubic feet (2,800 m3) capacity from Percival Spencer. At the time, C.G. Spencer and Sons' largest advertised balloon was of 80,000 cubic feet (2,300m3) and when it was made it attracted much public interest. Capable of lifting 12 passengers, it was one of the largest balloons yet made. Alexander named her the Majestic. In 1894, Patrick took it to Germany where he conducted scientific ascents that excited interest among German scientists and the lay public, as well as that of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Ever since the first balloon ascent by the Montgolfier Brothers in 1783, it had been realised that for balloons to be really useful, they had to be navigable. Patrick Alexander applied his mind to this problem of airship propulsion. In 1893 and 1894 he filed a number of patents. His ideas included reciprocating oars and an adjustable-pitch propeller that resembled a pair of fans. One patent includes a means of heating the gas in the balloon envelope by using piped steam, the steam pipe also served to support the balloon in the shape of a parachute in the event of the balloon being burst or punctured. None of Patrick’s ideas ever came to anything; but throughout his life, he never lost faith in the practicality of airships. Patrick Alexander was very interested in the development of heavier-than-air flying machines. Early in the 1890s, he travelled to Germany to meet Otto Lilienthal who was experimenting with gliders, and he continued to study ideas from a wide variety of sources. Patrick was in contact with Octave Chanute and others experimenting with flight. In the USA, sometime before 1903, Patrick visited Samuel Pierpont Langley whose successful models had attracted much attention. At Christmas 1902 he visited the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk. On hearing that Patrick Alexander was planning a return trip to the USA in October 1903, the Wright brothers, not known for welcoming interruptions to their work, said they would be happy to meet him. However, Patrick missed a crucial telegram and never received their message. Patrick must have been most disappointed to have missed the opportunity to witness the first flights of the Wright Flyer on 17 December 1903. Sadly at the age of fifty, his inheritance gone, Patrick Alexander spent the remainder of his life at The United Services College, Windsor, where he taught students the basic principles of aeronautics. He would also hold model flying competitions for the students in the park, watched by the Eton College boys. A young apprenticed carpenter boy, who lived in the same road as Patrick Alexander, started the ‘Windsor Model Aircraft Club’. The boy was very keen at making propellers and testing them on model airplanes he built and flew in the park.  The boy later became to be known the designer of the Hawker Hurricane fighter - the backbone of the RAF during the Battle of Britain -  Sir Sydney Camm. Patrick Alexander died on 7 July 1943, almost penniless — having given most of his money away. Today, he is not well known; having failed to make any singular, lasting contribution to aviation, and there being just a few modest memorials to his name. His primary contribution to the history of aviation was that through his tireless efforts, many journeys, writings, public speeches, and generous donations he was responsible for collecting and disseminating ideas across nations and continents without which development in the field would have proceeded more slowly. He was a generous man — generous with his time, his intellect and with his money. An inheritance and his business ability made him wealthy, but financial success meant little to him, and he ended up giving almost all of his money away. He was driven by native curiosity and ambition, and yet he was always supportive of the efforts of others, often making generous financial contributions, and was not jealous of their achievements. Patrick Alexander was buried in a small churchyard in Windsor. Ironically his headstone faces the flight path from Heathrow Airport.

One product I have not been able to purchase in Morrison's - or indeed any other supermarket recently is my favourite soft drink - Rose's Lime Juice Cordial - which is the oldest manufactured soft drink in the world. The cause of the disappearance of this long established and well known drink has only recently become clear; the mystery behind Rose's Lime Juice Cordial shortage has been solved as the company confirmed there has been a fire at its factory. Coca Cola, which owns the brand, confirmed to the press last week that production had been temporarily suspended in a public apology to customers. It is hoped that supplies of the famous drink will return to normal within a few weeks. Roses's Lime Juice Cordial is not just refreshing and delicious - it also has a considerable history. In 1753, James Lind discovered that consuming citrus fruits cured people affected by scurvy, a disease rife throughout the navy. Captain James Cook adopted his suggested solution of a daily ration of lemon or lime juice to all sailors during his long expeditionary trips. This proved highly successful with a hugely reduced death rate. From 1795, it became normal practice throughout all long voyages within the Royal Navy, for sailors to receive a daily ration of lemon or lime juice. This quickly gave rise to the nickname "limeys" amongst non-British sailors, which arises in the early 19th century. The preservation of the fruit juice was usually done through the addition of 15 percent rum. Lauchlan Rose of Leith (1776-1857) patented a method to preserve citrus juice without alcohol in 1867. He had realised that preserving the juice with sugar rather than alcohol opened the product up to a far wider market - indeed it became a favourite and a market leader in several Islamic countries as a result. The first factory producing lime juice was set up by Rose on Commercial Street in Leith, Scotland in 1868. This was located adjacent to the Old East Dock built during the Napoleonic War. This aided both the supply of limes (which do not grow in the UK), and its proximity to what was then Scotland's principal harbour for the Royal Navy. The limes at this time largely came from Dominica in the West Indies. In 1893, Rose purchased plantations there to ensure his supply. This was further supplemented by plantations from Africa from the region now called Ghana. In 1875 the company had grown so much that it built and moved its headquarters to new premises in London (though still retaining its Leith production). In 1940, during The Blitz, it moved its headquarters from the London docks (a key German target) to St. Albans. After the end of World War II, the company saw its market share in the UK grow. In 1957, Schweppes acquired the company and operated it in the UK until it purchased Mott's in 1982. Cadbury Schweppes merged the operations of the two brands in the United States and Rose's US products became domestically produced. In the United Kingdom, Rose's Lime Juice Cordial is manufactured and distributed by Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd. In New Zealand, the label states it is made under "the authority" of Schweppes Holdings Ltd by Coca-Cola Amatil (NZ). It also bears the notation that Schweppes Holdings Ltd holds a Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth II as manufacturers of Schweppes and Rose's soft drinks. The majority of limes are now sourced from Mexico and Peru. UK and Canadian production remains close to the original recipe, avoiding artificial preservatives and using sugar rather than corn syrup. Hopefully it will be back on the supermarket shelves in the UK within a short time, as I am missing it!

Now for the weekly safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "Sadly we have a couple of crimes to inform you about this week. Both Incidents took place in Beechcroft Avenue. One of which was a burglary which occurred on the 05/08/2018. Suspects took a wallet from inside the property and a Black Transporter Volkswagen Van was taken from outside the property, registration number MF64 MYG. Point of entry is unknown however the property was fitted with an I Ring door bell and this activated at 00.47, this was the time the victim believes the suspect entered the property. The other Incident involved a White Mercedes registration number PF62 AEJ being taken from the driveway in Beechcroft Avenue. The victim was still in possession of the keys. Unfortunately nothing was seen at the time of these Incidents. On 08/08/2018 whilst Barnehurst ward officers were out on patrol they discovered a stolen vehicle. This vehicle was stolen overnight from Bridge Road and was found stripped of most parts. Forensic opportunities were discovered, scenes of crime officers attended, samples retrieved and submitted to the laboratory. We await results from the lab. Our next community contact session will be at 11.00am at Barnehurst Golf Club on Tuesday 14th August 2018. Please come along to discuss any issues you may have". Belvedere ward:- "The team have recently been receiving reports of Anti-Social behaviour in Wilton Road involving street drinking, littering and general rowdy behaviour from groups of males gathering in the street. It appears that the males may be frequenting betting shops in Wilton Road. After having spoken to residents and businesses in the area, we are working with both Bexley and Greenwich Council and officers from Greenwich borough in an effort to put a stop to this issue. The team have also recently assisted an elderly resident in Lower Belvedere who had been visited by what are suspected to have been rogue traders. The male had been requested to pay a large sum of money for work that had not been done to his property. This has been reported to Police, and also the Trading Standards office. The team will be making efforts to patrol the area to identify any possible suspects over the coming days / weeks. Should anyone have witnessed these males in the Coptefield Drive area, please contact the team on 0208 721 2050. PC Holmes issued a male with a Section 59 warning on Tuesday 7th August after he had been seen driving dangerously in Erith Road, having overtaken a learner driver on the wrong side of the road and very nearly colliding with a traffic island. The team were able to establish the home address of the male after completing checks on the vehicle registration number and paid him a visit that evening. Our next community contact session takes place on Friday 17th August from 4pm at Belvedere Library on Woolwich Road". Bexleyheath ward:- "06/08/2018 – Report of a theft from motor vehicle along Latham Road. Items were taken from car boot whilst victim was in car; 07/08/2018 – Theft from motor vehicle reported in ADSA car park. Number plates stolen; 05/08/2018 – Theft from motor vehicle reported at the Bowling alley car park . Number plates stolen; 06/08/2018 & 07/08/2018 – Theft of motor vehicle. Vehicle was taken without consent of driver along Erith Road. We have had a burglary that had been reported between 07/08/2018 and 08/08/2018 along Garden Avenue Bexleyheath. Entry was gained from the front of the property. Personal items taken and also a vehicle. The team are conducting targeted patrols around the ASDA car park off Graham Road because of issues with vehicles / ASB. We have also had reports of youths riding in the streets in and around Ethronvi Road causing ASB and causing danger to themselves and others". Crayford ward:- "We have been very fortunate in not having many crimes of note to report this week. There was a burglary on 2nd August at 4.45am in Iron Mill Lane. The resident's dog was barking and the burglar was disturbed and dropped the bag that he was about to leave with. He gained entry through a door believed to have been locked, there were tool marks around the frame. Between 22.00 on 4th August and 8.50 on 5th August a vehicle was criminally damaged in Green Walk, the rear window was smashed but it is not believed that anything was stolen. We have been out and about patrolling some of the 'out of the way places' in a bid to deter anti-social behaviour. We have also been looking out for some of our residents who have struggled with the heat as I'm sure you have too and have heard about many kind gestures and care, especially for our more senior residents. Also, a big thank you for all the offers of cold drinks while we have been out! Our next community contact session will be on Wednesday 15th August between 11-12 at the Ellenor Charity Shop in Crayford Road. Please come along if there is anything you wish to discuss or simply to say hello". Erith ward:- "Theft of Motor vehicle - Motor Bike stolen from Holly Hill Road Erith overnight from 4/8/18 23.45—08.40 hours on the 5/8/18; Crim damage to Motor vehicle - Steering lock damaged on motor bike outside Parkspring Court Erith". Northumberland Heath ward:- "No burglaries reported to us over the past week. The team are continuing to focus on anti-social behaviour following reports from local businesses in Northumberland Heath. We are working hard to identify and deter those responsible, referrals are being made to the anti-social behaviour unit and home visits will be conducted in due course. Stop and searches have been conducted this week and PC Smith has dealt with a male in possession of a cannabis joint using a Community Resolution. The Pre School at St .Paul's Church Mill Road reported criminal damage to a Wendy house which took place over last weekend. One theft of Work Transit van in Avenue Road On Friday evening August 3rd. The vehicle contained a number of work tools. Thankfully the vehicle was found on Sunday August 5th in Manor Road and was taken to Charlton Car Pound". Slade Green and North End ward:- "Two empty properties were broken into on the Boundary Street estate last Wednesday evening. The suspects were after the water tanks from the flats but police arrived. The suspects ran away but one was caught with the aid of the police helicopter and after interview we wait for a charging decision. The Boundary Street estate is due for re-development next year and has a high percentage of empty properties. All residents will be moved out by March 2019. We are working closely with Orbit Housing to try and ensure that the empty buildings and flats do not become targets for crime and ASB. A delivery driver had his van stolen at 1530 last Thursday. He was making a drop off at the shop on Northend Road, left his van running with the keys inside and the van was driven away. Please do not leave your vehicle insecure at any location no matter how short a time you are going to be there. On Monday afternoon 06/08/2018 we saw a motorbike riding dangerously up and down South Road back and forth from Erith. The rider was showing off but we could only manage to get a partial number plate reading. On Tuesday 07/08/2018 during a routine patrol, PC Mark saw the exact same bike parked close to Morrison's. Enquiries were made and it turned out to be stolen from a burglary in Dartford. The bike has been recovered and sent for forensic tests. An ongoing neighbour dispute has led to PC James and PC Mark interviewing 2 suspects this past week. Both have admitted the offences and a charging decision awaits. Further to this, Bexley Council have issued the family with behaviour warning letters and Orbit Housing have served a notice stating they will be seeking possession of the house for constant ASB issues. A lot of hard work by PC James has helped to get the eviction process moving. This is another example of excellent partnership work with other agencies. The next Community Contact Session is Wednesday 15th August at Slade Green Library, 12midday until 1". Thamesmead East ward:- "No burglaries to report this week, but want to make you aware of vehicle crime that has occurred. Monday 30th July, between 1100 and 1600 hours, a car was stolen from Kale Road. On Monday 6th August, at around 1000 hours, a vehicle was broken into outside Duxford House, Wolvercote Road. Driver's window smashed and purse stolen. Please try not to leave valuables on show, when vehicles not occupied, even for a few minutes. Between midnight and 0400 hours on Tuesday 7th August, a car was stolen from outside Masham House, Kale Road. Good piece of proactive work by officers during the early hours of Tuesday 2nd August. A vehicle was stopped, Yarnton Way, and subsequently searched. Cannabis found, and the three occupants arrested. Investigation continues. On Wednesday 8th August, the team, in partnership with the National Crime Agency conducted a Search Warrant at an address in North Thamesmead. This proved to be a successful day of action to combat crime, as three arrests were made for money laundering/proceeds of crime and immigration offences. The team will be at the The Link, Bazalgette Way, on the 14th August, between 2-3pm. If you are in the area, come and see us". West Heath ward:- "From Neighbourhood Watch Member - New Road:- "During the early hours of yesterday morning (Wed 8th August), a rare 30 years plus old English pink rose plant (established large plant / bush) was dug out and stolen from my front garden. Clearly it's somebody who knows what they are and may well be a local or somebody scouting gardens". From Neighbourhood Watch Member - Kipling Road:- "On the morning of Wednesday, 01 August, we had a man knock at our front door asking if we wanted any work done in our garden – tidying up, trimming shrubs and trees etc. He said that he was coming back the next day to do our neighbour's property and a number of others in the street. However, nobody appeared on Thursday 2nd or Friday 3rd and we have not heard that other neighbours on the street have booked any work – or had any callers to their property. The man was aged mid to late-thirties, average build, black hair and moustache. We will keep an eye out and report any similar incidents".

The end video this week is a new piece of drone footage taken over Erith Pier. It gives a very good idea as to exactly how large the pier is - by far the largest pier on the River Thames. Hopefully more news as to the potential sale of the pier by Morrisons to a currently unknown third party will be released in the very near future. 

The Street Kitchen.

I took the photographs above on Friday evening - click on any one for a larger view. The event was the first Erith Street Kitchen Food Fair. I arrived not long after the event started, and people were beginning to turn up. There were a number of stalls selling a variety of foods and drinks, along with a chap with an acoustic guitar who was singing. I spoke to a number of the people who visited the event - they were pleasantly surprised by it, as they had been walking past and stumbled on it. There were a number of stalls selling everything from alcoholic ice cream, Italian Gnocchi, African food and even a candy floss stall, which proved very popular, especially with children. I have to admit that my only criticism of the food fair was the lack of publicity prior to the event. If I only just knew about it shortly before it took place, how would most local people get to find out? There was very little promotion or publicity, which was a shame. Fortunately the location of the event meant that it attracted a lot of passing attention, and also meant that people returning home after work, who had got the train from London would come across the fair on their way home, or on their way to Morrison's supermarket. I spoke to a lady from Bexley Council who was involved with the organisation of the event, and she told me that they had been leafletting commuters at Erith Station (more on the station shortly) for three days prior to the event, but it would have been nice to see a few posters in and around the town centre. She also told me that they plan to make a Street Kitchen Food Fair a regular occurrence - maybe once a month. I would heartily welcome such a move, as long as the council give the events the appropriate level of publicity and support. I was also told that the re - relaunch of Erith Market is now not likely to happen; the previous half hearted attempt only lasted a few weeks. Last September local arts, heritage and education group The Exchange carried out a public consultation regarding the future of Erith Market; the feedback that they gathered was summarised as:- "The Market needs to be on a weekend to ensure enough people are able to attend it; it needs a better location than the unsuccessful attempt in Morrisons car park; it should have a variety of stalls as it can’t compete with cheap shops in Erith on price alone; it should offer more than just shopping – e.g. music, workshops, activities for children, street food – a real day out. The Market could include opportunities/subsidised stalls for non established traders e.g. teenage market, free stalls for local entrepreneurs, car-boot stalls – maybe we trial it with a Christmas market. To compete with other markets it would be great to become a destination market – need something unique to do this". It would appear from what I was told that the council have now abandoned any attempt to restart the market, which, if it is true, is a real shame. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Bexley Police have started a crackdown on the users of Nitrous Oxide. The gas, which is inhaled, has become a popular recreational drug over the past few years. According to the latest Global Drug Survey, Nitrous Oxide – or laughing gas – is now the seventh most popular drug in the 50 countries surveyed. Just over half the UK respondents said they had tried the drug at some point, and 38 per cent said they had used it in the last year, making it more popular in the UK than any other country. Nitrous Oxide is a colourless, sweet tasting gas that has been used recreationally since the late 18th century, most notably by Sir Humphry Davy, former president of the Royal Society. Medical use was established in the early 20th century and Nitrous Oxide remains an important anaesthetic, tranquilliser and painkiller, used by dentists, obstetricians and sports doctors. Indeed, many members of the public will have experienced the effects of Nitrous Oxide themselves without realising it. The popularity of recreational use of Nitrous Oxide is unsurprising. It is legal in many parts of the world, it is cheap and it reliably produces a short-lasting euphoria as well as heightened senses and a slight feeling of disconnect from the body and is often used as a drug at concerts, nightclubs and festivals. As one can see, the desired effects would be a quick little “pick me up” but continued usage causes major damage. Physically, Nitrous Oxide is not considered an addictive drug; psychologically it is because it mimics other narcotics. It is a very quick high which usually causes intense repetitive behaviours in its users. Users of this drug will continue to try to get more and more high, which again, in turn, creates major issues. Purposely making the human body pass out or by cutting circulation of to the brain does not only kills brain cells but can creates numbness in extremities, vitamin B12 deficiencies, suffocation, and it can even lead to death. If a person is to stop breathing, even for a short period of time, it also affects the central nervous system which includes the brain, brain stem and spinal cord. Death typically occurs in people who highly abuse Nitrous Oxide. They continue to chase their first high and try to inhale more and more gas. If death does not occur from doing this, it can cause severe brain damage due to asphyxia. There have been statements made about how the effects on the body after going on a Nitrous Oxide binge and then not doing it for a while, can be similar to the withdrawals that someone may experience if they have not smoked marijuana in a while. There may be bouts of nausea, impulse to want to do Nitrous Oxide again, headaches accompanied by lethargy, and just an overall feeling of achy joints and weakness. Nitrous Oxide can be combined with other drugs to alter the effects. Availability is affected by national laws but, generally, where the drug is available it is either dispensed from large canisters or small bulbs (“whippets”), into balloons, which is then used to inhale. Because Nitrous Oxide has legitimate uses in the food industry (to make whipped cream, for example), it can easily be bought from online retailers such as catering companies. However, according to the Global Drug Survey, people are increasingly using the dark net to buy it. Long-term and heavy-use of Nitrous Oxide can lead to vitamin deficiency, amnesia and anaemia as a result of the inactivation of vitamin B12 in the body, although the incidence of this is unknown. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause tingling and extended periods of numbness in the fingers, toes and extremities which can last for hours or days. More severe cases can lead to numbness and difficulty walking, and the risks are heightened in people who are already vitamin B12 deficient. The misuse of Nitrous Oxide in and around the London Borough of Bexley is widespread - empty canisters and balloons can be seen strewn in the gutters of many local roads - as you can see in the photo above - click on it for a larger version. 

Work is about to begin to improve Erith Station, which until now has been largely overlooked in the refurbishment work to the stations on the North Kent Line. Whilst the work is welcomed, it still will not include a passenger lift for the London bound platform - something that has been requested and campaigned for nearly a decade, with no result. The announcement from Bexley Council says:- "Works to improve access to Erith station and to enhance the forecourt and building will begin on 23 July and last until early autumn. The improvement work will not affect passenger train use, and has been timed to coincide with the school summer holidays, to minimise inconvenience to residents. The majority of the work will take place in the station forecourt area with the public space opened up to increase pedestrian and vehicle access.  There will be new seating, trees and shrubbery plus more bicycle racks which will be more secure. The existing heritage lights which are a key feature on the station building, which is locally listed, will be restored and brought back into full use. Traffic and pedestrian access may at times need to be restricted to enable the works to take place.  Diversions will be fully signposted. The improvements at Erith station are being funded by London Borough of Bexley and the Mayor of London. The aim is to create an active town centre that can make the most of Erith’s unique setting by the River Thames". So when are we getting a lift? Bexleyheath Station has a lift which is not needed, as there is already step - free access to both the London and Kent bound platforms, something that is not available at Erith Station. 

You may recall that last week I published part one of an article by guest writer Miles on the subject of electric vehicles, their practicality, and the the proposed creation of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure within the London Borough of Bexley. Here is part two of the article, and it makes for fascinating and thought provoking reading. Miles writes:- "The media have performed an excellent job casting the electric vehicle as nothing more than an inconvenience yet this couldn't be further from the truth, modern EVs are almost indistinguishable from normal cars bar several key differences, torque, charging, maintenance and finally, Silence (with a capital S). There’s nothing comparable to an EV accelerating off the line, unlike internal combustion cars (ICE) torque is immediately available at all rev ranges, this translates into show stopping, almost supercar like acceleration, overtaking manoeuvres become far safer and is always guaranteed to put a smile on your face. With no gears you can creep along in traffic, stop and start with no noisy engine ignitions, and when it is time to put the pedal to the metal, pure and constant acceleration is delivered thanks to the gearless drivetrain. Let's look at charging, as that's always a hot topic. If you own an EV you've got to know your ABCs - Always Be Charging. When you have an opportunity to charge, whether that be at home, work, shopping etc - plug in. Depending on your car, and charger type you'll get anywhere from 100-350 miles off range in an hour.  What's more, a significant number are free to use - I write to you now sitting in the Lidl parking lot in Bexleyheath not having paid a penny…. OK, ok I had to buy a pint of milk. One huge benefit of EVs is you can leave your car charging overnight meaning you wake up to a full tank of petrol, well electricity, but you get my meaning; In fact there’s a significant population of EV drivers who simply never use public chargers. Statistically speaking in the US the average daily distance driven is less than 30 Miles. If your battery range is 2-300 miles, it’ll only be on rare occasions you need to use the public charge network. Whilst this may not suite the travelling salesmen of old, for the majority of us it's ideal. Now it's not all sunshine and roses, whilst there are tens of thousands of chargers around the country we will need vastly more - it's not much fun waiting for a charger to free up! EV owners can even be their own worst enemy by overstaying at a charge bay despite a fully battery; Thankfully the community have come up with two solutions, charge sharing by allowing other drivers to unplug your car, and at more disputed locations, an idle charge to encourage a prompt return for the car. It's also becoming increasingly common to see drivers prioritise the cars with the least range to charge first which is great to see in action. Another frustrating aspect of charging is the sheer number of different providers, each with their own phone apps, cards and subscriptions. Thankfully the tide is quickly changing as the government are pushing for simple contactless payments - already offered at many stations. Faulty chargers and ICEing bring this section to a neat close. Unfortunately it is not uncommon to find a faulty charger - thankfully the excellent EV community built ZapMap, a crowd-sourced website & mobile app that gives you the real-time status of all EV charges throughout the UK. With a bit of forethought you can generally avoid wasting time at faulty or busy chargers. ICEing - the deliberate action of parking in an EV charger by a normal car - is a particularly irritating event, akin to parking your car at a petrol pump and going off to do the weekly shop.  Often this appears to be out of malice, or some sort of entitlement but thankfully it is reasonable rare. Most chargers tend to be placed with ANPR systems which will automatically issue a ticket if the vehicle is not parked in the correct location. With that out of the way, let’s talk maintenance or more precisely, there lack of! An EV has vastly less moving parts than a typically car which drastically reduces the number of components that need maintenance or can fail. Your yearly service involves topping up the washer fluid, wiper blades, maybe a coolant check if you’re a high miler and a quick check of the 12v battery - annual service intervals become almost pointless. Brake pads tend to last significantly longer as regenerative braking - braking that is provided by the motor and simultaneously recharges the battery - means it’s entirely possible to drive without using the brake at all! Simply put, the majority of service requirements can be carried out at home saving you a small fortune each year". Some very thought provoking issues covered by Miles; part three of his essay on electric vehicles and the practicality of using them will be published next week; please feel free to leave any comments or other feedback below. Alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The photo above was sent to me by a reader a couple of weeks ago; due to pressure from other content it is only now that I have been able to publish it. The photo (click on it for a larger version) shows a large freighter ship coming in to moor at Erith Pier. It was apparently taken in around 1968. As I have written in the past, one of the most underused and overlooked assets that Erith has is the pier. Erith Pier is the longest pier on the River Thames. It was originally constructed for commercial use for the unloading of goods from cargo ships that used to moor at the pier. Most of the cargo were large reels of blank newsprint from Scandinavian paper mills for what was then Fleet Street and the newspaper printers. Erith Deep Water Wharf provided many local jobs for years, but as container ports such as Tilbury took over, the wharf became less popular with shipping companies, and it was closed down – it remained empty for a number of years. Back in 1998 work started to convert the former wharf into what is now Morrison’s supermarket and the aforementioned pleasure pier, which opened to the public in 1999. Nowadays it is a pleasure pier, and somewhere well worth a visit in the warm weather. In my opinion it is one of the little known gems of the River Thames. 

I have commented on several occasions as to how the feedback function on the News Shopper website seems to be either somewhat broken, or more likely, unmoderated. The sheer number of facile, ill considered and downright rude comments that appear under many of the news items is of concern to me. Not only do the authors of some of the comments seem to leave their opinions on most if not all of the stories that have comments enabled, but it appears that they try to appear "funny" when in reality all they do is annoy the reader. Regular comment contributors include "Gypo Joe" and "I think you will find I am correct" - all they do is grandstand and try and annoy other contributors in a completely pointless way. There is also a strong subtext of racism in some of the comments - one regular contributor repeatedly writes "hit them with a stick, then deport them" about any issue he or she comments upon. I fully realise that the News Shopper has very limited resources nowadays, and that the reporting staff do not know the area well, as they are not locally based. You may notice that screen captures from Google Street View are widely used to illustrate stories, as the paper no longer has a staff photographer. 

Now for the weekly safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "Good news again for Barnehurst as we did not have many crimes. Due to a local resident being in possession of cannabis they were issued with a Penalty Notice for £90. The Barnehurst ward officers did a ward patrol with Mayor Bishop and Councillor Jackson, which was very successful as local issues were discussed. Please join us for our community contact day on Wednesday 25th July at 11am at Barnehurst Golf Course. We will discuss any ward issues that you have and we will also provide residents with crime prevention advice". Belvedere ward:- "There was a report that a gun was discharged on 03/07/2018 in Victoria Street and then subsequently in Grosvenor Road, around 23:00. No one was hurt as far as we know. However, we are conducting a fresh appeal for any witnesses. The immediate surrounding area was canvassed with leaflets but if anyone has any information please can you contact the Crime Team on 0208 247 4602. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously. We have received reports of youths hanging around the undercover area of The Chestnuts, Bedwell Road. They are reportedly being noisy, leaving litter and using cannabis. We have patrolled this area more, searched some of them and moved the youths out. We will continue to patrol. If they do not take heed of the warnings other actions will be looked into to curb this nuisance. There is a persistent beggar in Nuxley Road, white male, white hair, white beard, 50-55 years old. He is causing a nuisance with his behaviour. We have spoken to this male and moved him off. We will continue to do so and, same as the youths above, will look to a long term solution if he doesn’t leave off. There was a burglary at the new builds on Caldy Road, 13th into the 14th July. Building materials including copper piping were stolen. If anyone has any information please contact the team on 0208 721 2050 or belvedere.snt@met.police.uk. Or Crimestoppers as above. Our next drop in surgery will be on 27th July between 11:00 and 12:00 at Asda Café". A member of the public in Upper Belvedere made the following rather disturbing report:- "I wanted to make people aware of a group of beggars that are targeting the area of Nuxley Road primarily from the bench outside the Co-Op, and occasionally although less often from the bench outside Sainsbury's, or the bench across the road from there, outside the Estate Agents. This has been going on for approximately two weeks, with usually (until yesterday) one person present, being one of two individuals who appear to work in 'shifts' from between three or four o'clock in the afternoon until 11 o'clock when the shop closes. One is very well turned out, with white hair and a white beard, approximate age mid-fifties to early sixties, slim-ish build, the other bald and more scruffy-looking, although not exceptionally scruffy, sometimes having a black or dark-blue haversack with him. Last night however, it was all a bit more sinister than usual. The white-haired man was there and as I approached the door of the Co-Op he directly moved to block my way and asked 'for a spare few pounds'. There were also three others with him, younger men, whom I had not seen before, and who moved to form a semi-circle behind me. I found this highly intimidating and changed direction to pass the white-haired man and hurry toward Sainsbury's intending to enter and ask for help if they followed. When I looked back they were all looking at me but not following, so I hurried up Albert Road and returned home via a long route avoiding Nuxley Road. I did not do my intended shopping as I could not have emerged from either shop without being seen by these men and I was concerned about them approaching me when I was encumbered by shopping bags". Bexleyheath ward:-"14/07/2018 - Criminal damage to motor vehicle reported at Gravel Hill Bexleyheath. Car window smashed; 13/07/18 – 15/07/18 – Criminal damage to motor vehicle along Palmer Crescent Bexleyheath. Drilled hole in lock to gain access, but access not gained; 15/07/2018 – Theft of mobile phone at ASDA Bexleyheath; 16/07/2018 – Theft of motor vehicle by means unknown at Albion Road Bexleyheath; 14/07/2017 – Criminal Damage to motor vehicle at Watling Street; 14/07/2018 – Theft from person at Broadway Bexleyheath. We are holding our next contact session on the 25th July between 10 & 11am at Café Nero along The Broadway Bexleyheath. We have had a theft of moped, however it was fitted with a tracker and because it had been reported so promptly to police it was found and returned to its owner. Please be careful of your property when out and about in public, do not leave phones, purses, wallets on tables as these are easy for thieves to take. Be aware of bogus callers and people dropping cards/leaflets through the door, if you need gardening/building work doing please do seek references from neighbours or friends. Yesterday 18/07/2018 – The team had helped with a knife arch operation by McDonalds Bexleyheath. This was to target knife crime and also as part of the stay safe during summer campaign. If you do want to pass on information to Police then please feel free to contact Crime stoppers on 0800 555111. Other means of contacting us are Twitter, Facebook, email and the ward phone as per above. For crime prevention advice, please look at the Met Police website which has the information that you may find useful. Remember, in an emergency please dial 999 and 101 for non-urgent reporting". Crayford ward:- "We are pleased to report that there have been no burglaries during the last week. The team have conducted several mini traffic operations around Crayford at different sites during which the following offences were dealt with: 1/One vehicles for no insurance (which was seized and taken to our police pound); 2/Driving without a test certificate; 3/Driving not in accordance with a licence; 4/Driving whilst using a mobile phone; 5/The team discovered a suspicious vehicle yesterday that had been parked in a residential parking space in Buckley Close, it later transpired that had been stolen locally three days before. The happy owner was contacted at the scene and will be able to collected it from our car pound shortly. We have also carried out foot patrols covering the open space areas of our ward (Biggs Hill), this has resulted in a lot of drug paraphernalia being found, many stop and accounts and one male being searched under section 23 Misuse of Drugs Act after trying to avoid police officers in this area". Erith ward:- "Erith has a new DWO added to the ward being PC Kidson. Pleased to announce that no burglaries have been reported. Most crimes reported are those involving motor vehicles/bikes: Theft of motor vehicle – Alford Road on the 11th July 2018 – Black Yamaha stolen from outside home address; Theft of motor vehicle – Lowry Close on the 11th July 2018 AJS Sorvio Stolen overnight outside home address; Vehicle interference – Larner Road – on the 12th July 2018 – Citroen C4 Car broken into and searched no damage caused to motor vehicle – Chandler Drive – on the 14th July 2018 – Merc. Chevrolet – Young boys in street damaging vehicle; Theft of motor vehicle – Alford Road – On the 16th July 2018. Overnight outside home address; Theft of Motor vehicle – Lower Road – On the 18th July 2018 – Direct Bikes – 3 boys stole bike from front garden; Theft of motor vehicle – West Street – On the 18th July 2018 – Honda – Stolen outside home address overnight . All those were Moped/ Motor bikes. All shifts for the week have been changed to late shift to battle ASB in St Fidelis and West Street. Coffee with cops shall be taking place on the 25th July at Costa Coffee at 12pm – come alone for a chat and crime prevention advice". Northumberland Heath ward:- "The team are delighted to report that over the last week no burglaries have taken place on our ward. Sadly, one report of motor vehicle theft in Parsonage Manorway which took place on The evening of Thursday July 12th. The vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s side and the barrel lock was damaged. A Sat Nav and a number of high value electrical power tools were stolen. PC Dan Young conducted a school talk regarding violent crime to year five and Six pupils at Northumberland Heath Primary School . Following a stop and search conducted by PC Tom Smith a male is to be issued with a £90 fine for possession of cannabis. The next Coffee With Cops event will be held at Noon on Tuesday July 24th at the Sunshine Café in Parsonage Manorway. All are welcome to attend". Slade Green and North End ward:- "We have unfortunately had 3 reported theft of motor vehicles in the last week within 2 day. On Weds 11 July at 11pm a car was stolen from outside Grange House, on Thursday 12 July in the afternoon vehicles were stolen from Canada Road and Duriun Way. No broken glass was found at any of the thefts but please be aware that although this is unusual to be so close together, we cannot be complacent. If you would like any vehicle crime prevention leaflet, please let us know. On Wednesday last week 2 positive stop and searches were made by Mark and James with cannabis found, confiscated and warnings given. PC Mark and PCSO Mark attended the Slade Green Big Local community fun day in Whitehall Lane on Saturday. Although it was very hot we had a good time speaking with many residents and speaking with stall holders etc. Dana from Neighbourhood Watch managed to get quite a few people signed up for new watches and Hound Watch. He basically used dog biscuits to bribe anyone he saw with a dog and got them signed up that way, a great way to do it! Towards the end of the event, Mark and Mark delivered letters to residents of Whitehall Lane as their new watch is now all set up and running. We have a CCS (Community Contact Session) on Weds July 25th from 11am at Slade Green Library. PLEASE NOTE that this weeks CCS on Thursday is at Forest Road café NOT the library as stated in last week’s update although you may see this too late. Apologies in advance if you go to the library and we aren't there". Thamesmead East ward:- "Burglaries - No burglaries this week. Motor Vehicle Crimes - 10/07/18 A motor vehicle parked outside of Oakenholt House, Hartslock Drive, was damaged between 630pm-1pm Thursday 12/07/18; 12/07/18 A motor cycle parked on a driveway Redbourne Drive was stolen between 3pm-4pm. The motor cycle which had a tracker fitted had been activated; 12/07/18 Number plates were stolen from two vehicles which belonged to the same owner in Fleming Way between 11am-2pm on Friday 13/07/18; 14/07/18 Vehicle parked in Leatherbottle Green between 10pm-11am damage caused by scratches made to driver and rear passenger door by persons unknown; 15/07/18 Theft from Motor vehicle Maran Way between 4pm-830am vehicle broken into wallet stolen from inside. Good News - The team attended two events over the week-end, celebrating the 50th Birthday of Thamesmead which took place in Southmere Park and Emmanuel Baptist Church, Yarnton Way hosted a family funday, which included a BBQ. PC Pruden assisted Belvedere DWO officers when he was called to a female who was self-harming in Picardy Road, on arrival the female was seen running in and out of traffic screaming she wanted to harm herself while making cuts to both her arms with a broken bottle. Eventually the female was calmed down and taken to QE Hospital for her injuries and left in the care of doctors". West Heath ward:- "There was 1 reported burglary on West Heath between 11/07/18 and 18/07/18. On 12/07/18 the victim on Cumberland Avenue Welling left the porch door opened and coats were taken from inside the porch door. The coats were then discarded at a nearby location and reunited with the victim. There were no reported motor vehicle crimes during the same period. There was however a reported robbery in Elmstead Crescent Welling where the victim's necklace was taken by a known suspect. Investigation is ongoing. West Heath Ward had their first ward panel meeting and we continue to recruit Ward Panel members as well as Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators".

The end video is a very nice piece of high definition aerial drone footage taken over Erith Yacht Club - do give it a watch - leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.