The Nuxley Navigator ends.

Recently I was talking to someone who was visiting Erith from Charlton. I showed her around the Erith Riverside Gardens, and the view of the River Thames. She remarked that it was amazing that more people were not aware of the gardens and the stunning horizon to horizon views that can be seen. I feel that the river is an under used asset locally. More on this subject further on in this weeks update. Who says I don't plan these things?

It has been brought to my attention by a reader that the long - ailing News Shopper local paper and website may be under new difficulties. The News Shopper is part of a larger media group called NewsQuest, which is in turn part of an American owned media corporation called Gannett. News has recently broken that Gannett is in talks with a rival media group called MNG Enterprises about a possible takeover. In a report in the Press Gazette, a spokesperson from the National Union of Journalists was quoted as stating that gannett was:- "being pursued by the most predatory of vulture capitalist corporate raiders who are far distant from the needs and responsibilities of a modern media company”. Gannett owns USA Today and hundreds of local newspapers in the US, as well as Newsquest, which is the UK’s second largest regional publisher and has been expanding its portfolio in the past year. Newsquest’s daily titles include the Herald titles and The National in Scotland, the News and Star in Cumbria, the Northern Echo, Bournemouth Daily Echo, Oxford Mail, and Isle of Wight County Press. It also owns a number of local weekly newspaper series in London, including the News Shopper and Bexley Times. MNG is owned by New York hedge fund Alden Global Capital. It publishes about 200 newspapers in the US including the Denver Post, Boston Herald and San Jose Mercury News. Federica Bedendo, of the National Union of journalists said:- "The the union is really concerned about what the potential acquisition would mean for local newspapers in the UK. Journalists within Newsquest already think this company has hit rock bottom and the prospect of being acquired by an organisation that’s renowned for cost cutting and job slashing isn’t going to do anything to benefit our titles or indeed our working conditions. We already operate on a shoe-string, morale is at an all-time low, stress levels are through the roof and we lose more and more talent each day due to the way that Newsquest operates. What angers us most is that Newsquest is financially in a very enviable position compared to other publishers, yet its top bosses seem to be prepared to do anything for profit. NUJ members are being driven away from the newspaper industry by these money-chasing operations.” What do you think? Do you have any insight into what is going on? Please feel free to Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com in complete confidence if you have some inside information. 

I have an apology to make to the person who sent me an Email on Friday afternoon with a follow - up query to the piece I wrote last week about the Violet Club nuclear weapons which were constructed at Woolwich Arsenal in the 1950's. I have accidentally deleted your Email - could you please resend it and I will get back to you? In my defence I get well in excess of 120 Emails each and every day, and on rare occasions mistakes such as inadvertently deleting a valued message can, and do occur.

You may recall that back in November 2017, I wrote a piece about a new private bus service which was then about to commence. The service was aimed at residents of parts of Upper Belvedere, Northumberland Heath and Erith. The bus service was to operate on weekdays only, and run between Harrow Manorway outside of Abbey Wood Station, and Carlton Road in Northumberland Heath. The service was somewhat inappropriately called The Nuxley Navigator - as previously covered, "Nuxley Village" does not exist - it is properly named Belvedere Village, or Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere. The roads that the new private bus service covered were as follows:- Towards Abbey Wood Station (mornings only) - Carlton Road, Brook Street, Parsonage Manorway, Swaylands Road, Matfield Road, Stream Way, Bedonwell Road, Orchard Avenue, Bedonwell Road, Glenview, West Heath Road, Brampton Road, Knee Hill, Harrow Manorway. Towards Erith (afternoons only) - Harrow Manorway, Knee Hill, Brampton Road, West Heath Road, Glenview, Bedonwell Road, Orchard Avenue, Bedonwell Road, Stream Way Matfield Road, Swaylands Road, Parsonage Manorway, Brook Street, and Carlton Road. The Crossrail service which was meant to be opening at Abbey Wood Station at the end of 2018, and many of the roads covered by The Nuxley Navigator were not covered by any existing bus service. The Nuxley Navigator featured a reserved seat and, in London, standard rides were £2.40, though the introductory price was £1.60. A standard bus fare is £1.50. Chariot was supposed to work by being pre-bookable but with predetermined stops, similar to a bus route. The real reason for the service was to connect the Erith Quarry housing development with Abbey Wood Station. The developers of Erith Quarry are aiming the new development primarily at second or third time buyers who want larger, family sized houses - for people who intend to "put down roots" in the area. In order to attract middle class professional people into the local area, they needed so show that there were good commuting connections into London - something that The London Borough of Bexley has historically lacked. The fact that we have no DLR or Tube services in the Borough has been a factor that has discouraged some people from moving into the area. Providing a purpose built mini bus link between the Erith Quarry site and Abbey Wood Station was supposed do much to convince people that they should move into the area, as housing is significantly cheaper than in other parts of London, and the commuting issue was intended to be at least partially answered by The Nuxley Navigator - even if the name of the new bus service was inaccurate. Fellow local Blogger and "proper" journalist Darryl Chamberlain of the excellent 853 Blog has broken a story which I am using with his full permission. Darryl discovered that Chariot - the company behind both the Nuxley Navigator and the Shooters Hill Shot private bus services is to pull out of the market on Friday the 25th of January. Back in October I reported that:- "The problem has been that 1) Crossrail has been significantly delayed, 2) Erith Quarry has not yet opened, and 3) there is very little local awareness of the private bus service. On top of this, it is a bookable service, not a "hop on, hop off" service as per a normal bus ride. Lastly the service can only be booked via a mobile phone app, and one cannot use Oyster cards. The lack of passengers on the Nuxley Navigator is, I am led to believe, causing the operator, Chariot, and their sponsor, Ford to consider closing the service". My prediction turned out to be totally correct, and the service to to close before the end of the month. I have had reports from readers that The Nuxley Navigator was a very patchy service, with often only one mini bus on the entire route, and very few people used it - a local source (who wants to remain anonymous) told me that she had seen people trying to use their Oyster card on the service, and being annoyed when they could not. I feel that Chariot - and their sponsors car and van producers Ford - have really dropped the ball with this one. The announcement on the Chariot US website reads:- "Today, we have important news to share about Chariot services. Following significant consideration, we have decided to close the Chariot operation. Friday, January 25th is the last day we will offer service on commuter routes in the U.K., and Friday, February 1 will be the last day we will offer service on our commuter routes in the U.S. We will cease all operations across the US and in the UK by the end of March. In today’s mobility landscape, the wants and needs of customers and cities are changing rapidly. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause Chariot’s riders and our enterprise customers. We are committed to ensuring our customers are aware of the decision and have time to make alternative transportation arrangements. We are truly grateful to our commuters, enterprise customers, and partners for your support over the past five years. Chariot was built on a commitment to help reduce congestion, ease the commute and improve quality of life in cities, and since our start, we have provided our customers with more than 3 million rides. In addition, we helped Ford build their mobility business, and their experience with Chariot continues to inform their mobility efforts and design decisions for the future. In addition to our customers, our priority during this transition is to ensure we support our employees. We are thankful for their hard work and dedication to bringing Chariot to where it is today". No doubt once - eventually - Crossrail / The Elizabeth Line opens, and the Erith Quarry development is fully up and running with residents, some other transport operator will take over the route, when there is actually a chance of attracting paying customers to it. The whole Nuxley Navigator / Shooters Hill Shot project has been an utter shambles. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Another transport related story; work has begun to increase the number of Thames Clipper ferry terminals on the River Thames. A new terminal is being constructed at Silvertown, on the North banks of the Thames - by the end of this year a derelict jetty will be replaced by a 427ft public promenade stretching far out across the river, with a cantilevered timber roof and a public viewing deck, as well as docking stations for Thames Clipper boats offering services to Canary Wharf in 14 minutes. Journeys to London Bridge will take 26 minutes, while Waterloo will take 34 minutes. Silvertown is already served by Pontoon Dock DLR station, but for many commuters a short boat trip is a welcome alternative to starting the day on a packed train. What this will mean for the long proposed use of Erith Pier as a stop for the Thames Clipper service is currently unclear. Back in September 2017 MBNA Thames Clippers carried out series of test voyages into London from Gravesend and back. Public reaction to the experimental service was extremely positive, and the CEO of the Clipper company, Sean Collins said in an interview at that time:- "The trial has been a total success so far, passengers have been asking a lot of questions to find out when a permanent service could be up and running and how much it will cost. These questions are the reason we are running this trial, I set up this company 18 years ago, and two years later people were asking me about a Gravesend service, the only reason we haven’t done anything sooner is because we’ve been working on other projects across London. We need to set out a full business case, it could take up to two years to start up a service, it would be great to see it stop at other places, such as Erith, Greenhithe, Dagenham and Thurrock." Since September 2017 things have been very quiet, and no official announcements have been made. In the intervening period, some questions have been asked about the practicalities of running a service from Erith Pier. As previously mentioned Erith Pier does not project straight out into the river, in the way that for example Southend Pier juts out into the Thames Estuary. Instead a majority of its length is in a "dog leg` that runs parallel to the shore line. There is also a short spur that projects out to the left side of the main part of the pier. The spur is where I am of the opinion any free floating pontoon would need to be located. Whilst the central channel of the River Thames at Erith is more than sufficiently deep for large ocean going vessels to navigate, the sides of the river are actually rather shallow, and dry out at low tide. A free floating pontoon would enable a Thames Clipper ferry to dock despite a low tide. It would require some extensive alterations and re - engineering of the pier spur. I know that Morrison's supermarket - who own the pier, are not keen on it being used as a ferry terminal, as they don't want commuters using their supermarket car park, but if enough pressure comes to bear from local government, Transport For London, The Mayor of London's office and our local MP, Teresa Pearce (who has backed the use of Erith Pier for a ferry service for a very long time), then things may happen. Bearing in mind the growth of Erith as a residential area, and the relative paucity of public transport links into central London that currently exist, it would seem to me that a regular ferry service to and from London is a "no brainer". What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Local resident Doreen Ives has submitted the following story:- "Vet's Club Scrabble group. We had a very successful first meeting of our Scrabble group on Friday 11th January. Everyone who came along enjoyed the challenge of the games and the jovial company.  If you like playing this stimulating board game then you are very welcome to join us. The group meet at the Veterans Club in Park Crescent just behind Christ Church Hall. Parking is easy so no worries there. To be a member of the Veterans Club will cost you £20 a year and you then have access to participating in all the many leisure activities on offer there, for a charge of £1.50 per session. Alternatively you can participate in activities as a non-member at a charge of £2.50 per session. At the Scrabble group we have tea/coffee and biscuits halfway through the two hour session, all included in your fee.  The next session is on Friday 8th February 2pm-4pm". 

Last week the results of an extensive survey were published, and the results make for somewhat disturbing reading. Three quarters of US Facebook users unaware their online behaviour gets tracked; whilst the survey covers Facebook users in the US and not the UK, I think that the UK results would be very similar, if not almost identical. The US survey found that most Facebook users have no idea that the advertising business compiles data profiles of their online activities and interests, according to research conducted by the non-profit Pew Research Center. That is not altogether surprising given that Facebook appeals to people disinclined to concern themselves with the minutiae of digital technology, which is to say most people. It is worth recalling that a decade ago, Google representatives stopped people on the street in New York City to ask "What's a web browser?" and almost no one could answer correctly. The finding nonetheless underscores the privacy cost, unrecognised though it may be, of relying on an ad platform for media and messages rather than wrestling with the complexity of self-administered communications software. After surveying 963 US adults last year between September 4th to October 1st, Pew researchers found that 74 per cent of Facebook users said they were unaware the social advertising business tracks their traits and interests. Facebook makes such data available to users through the "Your ad preferences" page, but about half of the survey respondents didn't like what they saw once they were made aware of their data trail. Fifty-one per cent of those surveyed said they were not comfortable with Facebook compiling this information. It seems doubtful however such unease will translate into account cancellation. Expressing discomfort in a survey is easy and doesn't necessarily correlate with willingness to abandon Facebook. A study published late last year found "the average Facebook user would require more than $1,000 to deactivate their account for one year." The Pew survey says 88 per cent of Facebook users found data about themselves in their advertising preferences page. Of these individuals, 59 per cent said the data reflected actual interests while 27 per cent said the data either partially or fully misrepresents them. The disconnect between Facebook's categorisations of people and the way they see themselves is also evident in the context of the political designations and racial/ethnic "affinities" the social data business applies to users. About half of survey respondents had been assigned a political label by Facebook. Of those labeled liberal, conservative, or moderate, 73 per cent agreed with their designation while 27 per cent said assigned political classification was not accurate. Reports of misclassification came more frequently from self-described moderates (36 per cent) than they did from those calling themselves liberals (20 per cent) or conservatives (25 per cent). What the results would be in the UK are unclear, but I strongly suspect that they would be very similar. It seems that worldwide, many Facebook users either don't know about the fact that the giant corporation extracts information about them, or that they plain just don't care. 

An article by guest contributor and transport enthusiast Dana Wiffen. Dana writes:- "Here is short piece on the double decker train, with a good news update and 2 photos, some Erith commuters might remember seeing this train normally on platform 2 or 3 of Charing Cross Station at around 6pm. I travelled on it many times between 1970/71 when it was removed from service. This experimental EMU (electric double decker train) came into service in 1949 running on the Dartford to Charing Cross line mainly on the Bexleyheath Line. Two sets of 8 cars were built and their seating capacity was 552, really a split level train the half upper deck enabled additional passengers to sit but with no door and poor ventilation as the small upstairs windows did not open, there were not popular especially in the summer. Following an attack on a woman that was kept in the upper section by the attacker, a female only carriage was introduced on the service to reassure female travellers. With additional weight, height and poor cornering these handsome looking trains managed to be kept in service until 1971, sadly only 2 carriages survive today they seem to have been left and not restored by the owners as heritage railways are  reluctant to take them for use as passenger carriages because of the additional weight and height. The photos above show an old picture of the double decker train in service (courtesy of John Kennett) while the other photograph (courtesy of Keith Littlewood) shows one of the two remaining carriages no 13004  in poor condition at the Northampton and Lamport Railway in 1994, it has since been moved to the Northampton Ironside Railway. This is one of only the two cars that survive today the other 13003 is in sidings at Sellinge in Kent. Good News;-Bullied EMU Double Decker Train no: 13003 has recently been purchased by a group that want to restore the two remaining carriages, they are called The Bullied 4DD Group, and there aim is to start work on this train at Sellinge, Kent  as soon as possible, where it has been in a siding since 1999. They will continue to try and purchase 13004 from the owner, their attempts so far have been unsuccessful" Fascinating stuff; In addition, I gather that the ventilation of the upper deck was by constantly running electric fans, as the windows couldn't be opened. The train was higher than other trains so care had to be taken which routes to use it on. The Dartford routes were ideal and no alteration had to be made to the  track and bridges. Bearing in mind many people smoked on trains back then, the fug on the upper deck must have been terrible, especially in summer. The other problems with the double decker train was that the seats were cramped, hard and uncomfortable, and the time taken to get on and off the double decker carriages was significantly longer than with a conventional train. Other European countries successfully deploy double decker trains, but they are fully air conditioned, there is no smoking, and comfort is considerably better; they also tend to be deployed on longer distance routes, rather than suburban "start and stop" journeys. 

Now for the weekly local safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "We are pleased to report there have been no burglaries for the past week however there have been three incidents of vehicle crime. On Friday 04th January 2019 there was a theft of motor vehicle in Eversley Avenue. This vehicle was stopped and recovered on the M25 after being followed by Police. Two occupants were detained, passenger was dealt with for possession of drugs and the driver dealt with for theft of motor vehicle and possession of drugs. On Friday 11th January 2019 victim returned to his vehicle to find the door ajar and a small amount of change taken. There was no damage to the vehicle. In Grassmere Road on Thursday 10th January 2019 between 10.00am and 01.00am a vehicle was broken into and photographic equipment taken. Barnehurst officers carried out a routine patrol to Cheviot Close on Wednesday 16th January 2019 and came across white Ford transit van parked and unattended in the garaged area. Police checks revealed this vehicle had been stolen from Sidcup and was therefore recovered. This area of Cheviot Close is highly patrolled by Police. The team met with the Barnehurst ward Councillor yesterday to discuss council related issues on the ward, one being the delay with the proposal from Orbit to install a bollard at the entry point to the garages in Cheviot Close, we hope this issue will be resolved soon as this will deter unwanted visitors from dumping rubbish and stolen vehicles. Barnehurst team will be at the Barnehurst Golf Club on Thursday 24th January 2019 at 11.00am. Please join us to discuss any matters of concern in and around the ward". Belvedere ward:- "We have had no burglaries reported on the ward over the past week. We had a theft of number plates from a Hyundai car on St Thomas Road overnight on the Sat 5th into the Sun 6th January. On Friday 11th, Monday 14th and Wednesday 16th the team visited St Augustine's Primary school and gave a road safety talk to years 1-5. The children were very engaging and seemed to take on board the safety message. A kitchen knife was found by the estate manager at Lesnes Abbey Woods on the 15th. The knife has been seized and will be destroyed". Bexleyheath ward:- "Below is a quick glance of the burglaries/attempted burglaries that have been reported: Sunday 13/01/2019 - Burglary at North Street Bexleyheath, garage was broken into and items taken as well as motorbikes. This was over a two day period; Monday 14/01/2019 – Burglary along Long Lane Bexleyheath. Access was via the kitchen door and entry was gained; Thursday 10/01/2019 – Attempted Burglary along Tudor Walk. Side window was smashed and the suspect was disturbed; Saturday 12/01/2019 – Rochester Drive, suspect tried to gain access to property by attacking lock. Seems to have happened overnight; Tuesday 15/01/2019 – There was a report of a theft of motor vehicle along Martin Dene; Thursday 10/01/2019 – Two suspects had tried to break a lock of a motorbike at the civic offices and they were disturbed; Wednesday 09/01/2019 – There was a report of criminal damage to motor vehicle along the Broadway; Friday 11/01/2019 – A theft from motor vehicle was reported along Rydal Drive Bexleyheath. There was a report of a theft of purse on the Broadway whilst the victim was walking along, this was on Wednesday 09/01/2019. Also in WH Smiths along the Broadway there was a report of suspects stealing money, cards and other personal items and cards being used. This was reported on the Monday 07/01/2019. A purse was also reported stolen from a bag in Primark Bexleyheath on the Wednesday 09.01/2019 at about midday; Thursday 10/01/2019 – A mobile phone was report stolen from the victims pocket whilst in the Broadway area. There was also a report of two cash machines on the Broadway at Barclays Bank, where skimming devices were used. So please be careful when using the machines, if the there is anything unusual please do not use the machine and advise others not to use and inform the bank or the Police as soon as possible. Please be careful who is around when using the machines and always shield what you type on the keypad. The team are regularly conducting targeted patrols for burglary and anti-social behaviour. Also there was stops made in the ASDA car park in Bexleyheath, this was in relation to vehicles with drives causing anti-social behaviour. The team have been delivering free smart water kits to areas of the ward that have been identified that are at a higher risk of being burgled. So far last weekend they have delivered 115 kits on the ward and more shall be delivered soon. Also it seems that youths are re-appearing along Iris Avenue causing ASB. If there is any issues, please call Police on 101 or 999 where appropriate. If you do wish to pass on information to Police then please contact Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111. Please do not hesitate to contact us via Twitter, Facebook, email and the ward phone". Crayford ward:- "On Monday 9th January between 21.00 - 21.30 a coke can was thrown at an address in Swale Road causing the glass in the door and to the side to be smashed. The can was retained for forensics. On Wednesday 9th January between 01.00-7.00 an iPod was stolen from within a white Citroen van whilst parked near to 160 Maiden Lane, this is the junction to Beech Walk. Between 15.40 on Tuesday 8th January and 20.10 on Wednesday 9th January a front number plate GK57 OSF was stolen from a vehicle parked at the top end of Iron Mill Lane, this plate should be on a silver Toyota Yaris. A theft from a blue Ford Transit occurred overnight between 18.00 on Wednesday 9th and 06.00 on Thursday 10th January whilst parked in Maiden Lane junction with Barnes Cray Road, the items stolen included power tools, it is not known how the vehicle was entered as no damage was done. There have been multiple incidents of shoplifting from the smaller shops in Crayford Road recently, always the same suspect, believed to be aged between 30-40 years, white male, medium build. Although small items are stolen it is having an impact on the local businesses. If you know who this person may be please let us know. Between 18.00 on Sunday 13th January and 8.30 on Monday 14th January, three tyres were deliberately slashed on a silver C180 Mercedes whilst parked in Iron Mill Lane towards Thames Road. Between Saturday 12th and Monday 14th January three large batteries were stolen from vehicles parked on the Acorn Industrial Estate. Incidentally, 32 batteries used to light up traffic lights were stolen from the rear of a white Fiat van whilst parked close to McDonalds in Crayford on Tuesday 15th January between 20.00-20.15. The suspects would have needed a vehicle to remove these items as they are the size and weight as car batteries. We will be at the Ellenor Hospice shop in Crayford Road on Wednesday 23rd January between 12.00 and 13.00 if you would like to come along to say hello or for crime prevention advice". Erith ward:- "We have our ward panel meeting this week, I will give a rundown update in next week's update. No burglaries over the last week, but a theft of and from motor vehicles is still on the rise. I have been out trying to sign up some more NHW members, at this time it looks as if I have 7 new people that are interested, their info will be passed to the NHW office as they all would like a little bit more information regarding the role". Northumberland Heath ward:- "A fairly quiet week on the ward in relation to crime. We are pleased to say that we have had no burglaries reported to us. One theft from two vehicles belonging to the same person in Beechfield Road. This took place overnight on the evening of Sunday January 13th between 11pm and 6.20am on Monday January 14th.Vehicle one was on the road outside the house, a window was forced open entry was gained but nothing was taken. The second vehicle was parked on the driveway and the rear bar was pulled off with the lock. Seats were pulled down and the plastic cowling under the steering wheel was pulled off and wires were left exposed. A child's scooter was stolen from the boot but was later found in the porch of a neighbour's house. One theft from motor vehicle in Nurstead Road again on Monday January 14th between 6.45pm and 6.40am the following morning. Some loose change was taken, and the glove compartment emptied. Last Friday the team executed a search warrant for drugs in Northumberland Heath and have continued to stop and search individuals either seen, or believed to be using drugs. Several cannabis seizures have been made over the past week. The next drop in Police surgery will be held in the Library in Mill Road next Wednesday 23rd of January at 2pm".  Slade Green and Northend ward:- "Sadly there was an aggravated burglary at 1.30pm on Wednesday 16/01 in Slade Green Road. 3 men in balaclavas and with a large knife have forced entry into an address and demanded that something was handed over. The 'something' was unknown to the scared victims and after a quick search the suspects fled into Rainbow Road. Fortunately there were no injuries. Response officers arrived quickly but an area search proved to be negative. The investigation is ongoing as to who may be involved and reassurance patrols and visits will be carried out by ourselves this week. If you have any concerns, please let us know so we can give any necessary reassurance wherever needed. Only one other crime of note to report in the last week. Criminal damage to motor vehicle occurred around 1230pm on Sunday 13/01/2019 in Canada Road whereby the victim's car was scratched and damaged. Good news: After good intelligence received from a resident, 3 stolen vehicles have been found and recovered in and around Hollywood Way in the last week. One of the vehicles had a large sword inside among other items. Investigations are underway in regards who is involved in this suspicious activity and we are working with the relevant Housing Association to get these issues stopped. Extra patrols will be ongoing on the estate and it will be flagged as a ward promise at our residents panel meeting next week. Our new watch is now up and running in Larkswood Close. We will let everyone know when any future watches are set up". Thamesmead East ward:- "Distraction Burglary - Parkway Sunday 13/1/19 between 9:10pm – 9:20pm two males have presented themselves as plain clothes police officers to gain access into the property taking a number of items; Theft - The Link Bazalgette Way Thursday 10/01/19 between 5:45pm – 6:30pm Suspect/s have entered unlocked changing room and stolen 3 mobile phones; Criminal Damage to Motor Vehicle Lensburt Way Sunday 13/1/19 between 10pm – 10:45pm. Suspect/s have snapped of both wing mirrors and bent windscreen wipers; Theft from Motor Vehicle - Parkway Thursday 10/01/19 between 6am – 615am Suspect has stolen victims vehicle registration plates; Good News - What started off as a low level noise complaint between neighbours turned into a challenging situation for the team. After conducting extensive research working with multi-safeguarding agencies the male is being given the appropriate medical help and support needed". West Heath ward:- "This week the ward has had no reported burglaries. There has been theft from motor vehicles in Gipsy Road and Lansdowne Avenue both overnight on Fri 11th - Sat12th January. The team took part in a Burglary reduction initiative with other teams from Bexleyheath delivering free Smartwater kits to residents. Smartwater is a solution used to mark property. Each bottle has a unique chemical make- up that is registered to a specific address making any stolen items traceable. The kit comes with Smartwater stickers for your windows. Smartwater is available through your Neighbourhood watch at a discounted rate and we encourage you to contact the NW office for details. We had a successful ward panel meeting on Saturday 12th January which was well attended. The new Promises for the next three months are Burglary, Motor vehicle crime and ASB around drugs. Remember you can follow us on Twitter for more frequent updates. Our next Community contact session will be on Tuesday 22nd January in Hadlow Road Welling at noon followed by Plymstock Road on 30th January at 2pm".

The end video this week features vintage photographs and film footage taken in and around Erith, Crayford, Welling and Bexleyheath, mainly in the 1950's, and is of some considerable historical interest. do give the video a look. 

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Atlas One.

The images above - click on either for a larger version, show a leaflet that has been posted through the front doors of residents of parts of Upper Belvedere, Northumberland Heath and Erith. The bus service will operate on weekdays only, and will run between Harrow Manorway outside of Abbey Wood Station, and Carlton Road in Northumberland Heath. The service will somewhat inappropriately be called The Nuxley Navigator - as previously covered, "Nuxley Village" does not exist - it is properly named Belvedere Village, or Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere. The roads that the new private bus service will cover are as follows:- Towards Abbey Wood Station (mornings only) - Carlton Road, Brook Street, Parsonage Manorway, Swaylands Road, Matfield Road, Stream Way, Bedonwell Road, Orchard Avenue, Bedonwell Road, Glenview, West Heath Road, Brampton Road, Knee Hill, Harrow Manorway. Towards Erith (afternoons only) - Harrow Manorway, Knee Hill, Brampton Road, West Heath Road, Glenview, Bedonwell Road, Orchard Avenue, Bedonwell Road, Stream Way Matfield Road, Swaylands Road, Parsonage Manorway, Brook Street, and Carlton Road. The Crossrail service will be opening at Abbey Wood Station at the end of this year, and many of the roads covered by The Nuxley Navigator are currently not covered by any existing bus service. The Nuxley Navigator features a reserved seat and, in London, standard rides are £2.40, though the introductory price is £1.60. A standard bus fare is £1.50. Chariot works by being pre-bookable but with predetermined stops, similar to a bus route. The real reason for the service is to connect the Erith Quarry housing development with Abbey Wood Station. The developers of Erith Quarry are aiming the new development primarily at second or third time buyers who want larger, family sized houses - for people who intend to "put down roots" in the area. In order to attract middle class professional people into the local area, they need so show that there are good commuting connections into London - something that The London Borough of Bexley has lacked up until now. The fact that we have no DLR or Tube services in the Borough has been a factor that has discouraged some people from moving into the area. Providing a purpose built mini bus link between the Erith Quarry site and Abbey Wood Station will do much to convince people that they should move into the area, as housing is significantly cheaper than in other parts of London, and the commuting issue will be at least partially answered by The Nuxley Navigator - even if the name of the new bus service is inaccurate. On Bank Holiday Monday I Emailed Chariot to let them know of a couple of errors in their flyer, which I felt that they should be notified about. If you examine the flyer above closely, you will no doubt spot that there are a number of inaccuracies and factual errors on it. The leaflet refers to "Lessness" instead of the historically correct "Lesnes" or the also correct and more contemporary spelling of "Lesness" - this is a fairly minor issue when compared to the other one - which regular readers will be aware of. The promotional leaflet repeatedly to "Nuxley Village" - which of course does not exist. The correct name is Belvedere Village, or Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere. The name "Nuxley Village" is a fiction created by Estate Agents who know nothing of the area, or its history. The name "Belvedere" has been in existence since at least 1235AD, when the first details of it were recorded. The name Nuxley was sometimes spelled Naxley, which in turn is a corruption of Knocksley, meaning a small hill. Nuxley Road was originally named Bexley Road, until March 1939 when it was renamed as Nuxley Road, which it remains to date. There is no record of Upper Belvedere ever having been named "Nuxley Village", and parish records for the area date back to 1235 AD, and survived the reformation, when ownership of the parish was transferred from Lesnes Abbey to the owners of Parsonage Farm (on what is now Parsonage Manor Way). During the late 19th century, Parsonage Farm was owned by the Vinson family, who were at the time rich and powerful enough to issue their own trade tokens (a kind of informal local currency). There are records that beer houses such as the Fox, and full pubs such as the Eardley Arms took trade tokens for payment for food and drink until sometime around 1900. The farm buildings, which were  constructed in the Middle Ages (principally to provide food and drink for Abbot and Monks at Lesnes Abbey) lasted until the end of WWII, when it was used to house an auxiliary fire station. After the war the building was so derelict it was demolished. Thus, the name “Nuxley Village” is a construct – a fictional creation of local estate agents who have no knowledge of the history of the area. Upper Belvedere has been so called for at least the last 783 years, and the thoughtless action of a handful of ignorant house peddlers is not going to change facts any time soon. What do you think about the whole situation? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

Earlier last week I was sent the historical photo you see above - click on it for a larger view. The photo was taken some time in the late Victorian era - probably around 1898 - 1899; Businessman William Cory had been seeking a way to avoid high wharf charges when bringing coal from colliers which sailed down the North Sea from Tyneside and into the Thames to be unloaded at Erith. Cory came up with the idea of unloading the colliers in the middle of the Thames, and trans - shipping the coal onto barges and lighters, thus avoiding the wharf fees that taking the coal directly ashore would bring. In order to do this, he bought and converted an old salvage vessel called the Atlas One, which you can see above. I was a hodge podge of part ship, part steam powered, floating industrial estate as can clearly be seen. It was part of the original inspiration for the modern "Steam Punk" movement (more on this later - who says I don't plan these things?) Atlas One was very successful, and let to the creation of Atlas Two and Three, all of which operated on the Thames around Erith for several decades, until shortly before the outbreak of World War One, where they were broken up and sold for scrap. I would imagine that the river front at Erith must have been quite an experience in the late Victorian era; smoke from innumerable coal fires and ships' boilers, along with the smell of raw sewage being pumped downstream from Crossness, and the general pollution that filled the Thames at the time must have created an absolutely terrible stink. I do know that on one occasion some years prior to this period, a young Queen Victoria was being taken on a guided tour of Cambridge, as she walked on a bridge over the then heavily sewage polluted River Cam, she saw pieces of paper on the surface of the water, when she asked her guide what the papers were, her quick witted guide tactfully replied- "They are notices saying that it is forbidden to bathe, your Majesty!" Quite. 

The third Crossness Steampunk Convivial is due to take place on the 1st of September. More on this popular annual event later on in the update.

I have had messages from several readers enquiring about the building work that is currently being undertaken in the South Eastern end of Morrison's car park in James Watt Way, Erith. After some enquiries, I have discovered that there is going to be a new car washing facility - you will be able to leave your car whilst you shop in the supermarket, and when you return it will have been washed and valeted. I also understand that there will be some kind of tyre replacement facility, though the details are still somewhat vague and sketchy. I have heard that locals have complained about the noise from the existing car washing facility located parallel to Crescent Road, next to the Morrison's petrol station. Apparently the loud hissing noises from the car wash have been disturbing local residents both early in the morning and late at night. On another Morrison's related note, the supermarket chain have done one of their periodic headline - grabbing stunts; last time it was giant Yorkshire puddings containing pizza fillings. This time it is an absolutely gigantic full English breakfast, served in their cafe's. The giant breakfast consists of 19 pieces, including three rashers of British bacon, three British pork sausages, three hash browns, two half slices of fried bread, two fried eggs, two half tomatoes, two black puddings, baked beans and sliced mushrooms. Priced at £6, the fry-up has eight items more than Morrisons’ standard big breakfast and is double the size of some other supermarket cafe offerings. I think that Morrison's is making a mistake with this food offering; I feel that they are sending out entirely the wrong message in this age of obesity. Still it has done exactly what it set out to do - get the supermarket chain lots of column inches in both newspapers and online.

Conjecture as to what business would occupy the ground floor, former bar area of the refurbished White Hart building in Erith High Street has now come to an end. The speculation had included it becoming an Indian restaurant, or alternatively a Gelato parlour. Both of these turned out to be incorrect. The place is actually going to be an African restaurant and bar. I don't currently have much in the way of details, but by the look of the place, it is going to be a little more upmarket than the existing K's Spice African Restaurant in Pier Road. There is certainly more than enough business for two restaurants in the town. I do have one reservation, however. As I have written in the past, the proliferation of African restaurants in Erith, Plumstead and Woolwich has been noted, but they seem to restrict their advertising and publicity to within the African community – they don’t seem to make any efforts to encourage other customers to try them out. Back in the early 1960’s a large number of men migrated to the UK from mainly Bangladesh and Pakistan. Initially they opened small cafes to cater for their desire from food from home. Never people to miss the main chance, some of the more entrepreneurial of them realised that they were sitting on a huge, untapped market of British people who were used to a fairly bland diet, and who might well find the novelty and diversity of a foreign cuisine a real attraction – as most definitely turned out to be the case. The food served in what became the high street curry house might not have resembled what you would be served in a respectable family abode in Lahore, as the dishes were tweaked both for the relatively untutored British palate, and were also made easier to make in large quantities with cheaper ingredients. By this clever tailoring of the food to appeal to the British, many curry house owners went on to earn vast fortunes, both from restaurant chains, and the later move into chilled ready meals, tinned curry sauces and a plethora of other “Indian” style comestibles. The market in the UK alone is now worth hundreds of millions of pounds per year. It strikes me that the African restaurants could take a similar approach – tweak the menu to appeal to the Brits (who nowadays are a lot more open to experimentation than back in the 1960’s) and welcome them in – the tills might then start ringing. To be honest, it may be difficult for the independent African food outlets to gain a toe in a more general market, as big business has already seen the gap. You might be wondering what chain already sells African food? Nando’s – it is marketed as “Piri Piri” style food, but it is basically a watered down version of Southern / West African cuisine. For example, what Nando’s call their “Spicy Rice” is called “Jollof Rice” in Nigeria and much of Africa in general. Nando’s has been an astonishing success in the UK – it is one of the fastest growing food brands, and it has an amazingly high brand value and level of recognition. Unlike many fast food outlets, it has fan sites and even has a UK wide website for reviewers.

It is now almost exactly ten years since work initially began on what was to become an illegal nightclub based in an empty and unused warehouse unit in The Europa Industrial Estate in Fraser Road, Erith. Efforts to covertly convert the dilapidated and abandoned warehouse building began many months before it was due to open to the public, almost certainly in an effort to operate "under the radar" of the authorities. I am happy to say that I had a small part in getting it closed down. Back in November 2008 GC’s Nightclub opened in an old and abandoned industrial unit in The Europa Industrial Estate - the historic photo above shows the place just before it opened for the first time. The club had no fire certificate, insurance, drinks licence, or indeed any form of legal standing. The shady people behind it hid behind an obscure law which states that unlicensed premises can be used to hold entertainment events up to twelve times per year. The law was intended to allow youth clubs and scout / guide troops to hold cabarets and pantomimes in their village halls without needing to get council approval. Unscrupulous operators pervert and misuse the law to set up "pop - up" nightclubs in old and often unsafe buildings; they set up the club, then just before opening to the public, they apply for planning permission and an entertainment licence. In most instances, this prevents the council from closing them immediately – they have to wait for the often lengthy legal process of licence approval / denial to go through. In the meantime the club operates with virtual impunity – usually over the Christmas period. The owners know that they have no realistic chance of getting their application approved, and this really is not the point – they get to open over the lucrative Christmas period, only to close up shop as soon as the licence application is thrown out. They then disappear without paying any bills. This is exactly the situation that nearly happened with GC’s Nightclub, but so much negative publicity was generated via both the Maggot Sandwich, and the News Shopper that the venue only opened for three nights before the operators pulled out. It was just as well, as I understand the place was full of blue asbestos, the wiring was condemned and it had no fire escape. The operators disappeared as suddenly as they had appeared, leaving unpaid suppliers, and nothing has been heard of them since. I am all for new leisure and entertainment facilities in the local area; there is very little to do in and around Erith in the evenings at the moment (though this is soon to change), but they need to be legal and safe, and GC’s was neither. Relics of the abortive GC Nightclub can still be seen in Fraser Road, if you look carefully; the black plastic "GC" sign still hangs over the double doorway, though all other evidence of the short lived and illegal club has now long gone.

Now for the weekly local safety and security reports from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "The Barnehurst Team are pleased to report there have been no burglaries on the ward this past week. We continue to remind our residents to ensure all doors are double locked by lifting the handle and turning the key. Having a low front boundary may steer burglars away as they will not want to be overlooked. Make climbing difficult by using trellis and spiky plants to the sides and rear boundaries. A gravel driveway can prevent a silent approach and where possible wheelie bins and recycle boxes should be stored away to prevent them being used as a climbing aid. With the summer holidays approaching we urge residents to speak to family and trusted neighbours when going on holiday to ensure wheelie bins are taken in on collection day, post is pushed through letter box and where possible lights are turned on and off and curtains drawn. If you do not wish to discuss your plans of being away from home there are a number of crime prevention gadgets on the market which can be useful whilst you are away on holiday. Over the past week the only crime reported was one of criminal damage to motor vehicle in Parkside Avenue which occurred between the 23/05/18 at 11.00am to 24/05/18 at 10.00am. After parking the vehicle the victim returned and found a crack to a rear window and a dent in the roof of the vehicle. The victim believes this was caused by a rock that was found by the vehicle. Thank you to the residents who joined us at Barnehurst Golf Club this week. Our next date is scheduled for Tuesday 5th June 2018 at 11.00am so please come and meet the team to discuss any matters you need raised". Bexleyheath ward:- "Our next contact session is going to be at the NHW AGM at Geddes Place between 7.30pm and 9.30pm, just to make you all aware. Another reminder, as part of Bike Week we have been invited to be a part of this initiative which is on Saturday 9th June along the Broadway between 10am and 2pm. Where be lots of stalls etc. and we will have our bike marking stall as well as the MSC holding a recruitment stall. There is no charge for this so please pop along if you are available with your bikes and get them marked, feel free to mention to others who may not get this information. As usual we are continually patrolling the ASB areas on our ward at various times which includes open spaces, car parks and areas you have informed us of. We have had various reports of ASB around the ward involving, youths in Martens Grove Park, drugs and involving motorbikes and cars. We have had recently had a report of an attempted burglary on the 28/05/2018 along Haslemere Road Bexleyheath and a residential burglary reported on the same day along the Broadway Bexleyheath. We have had two arrests along the Broadway last Wednesday. One was for criminal damage and another for obstructing Police. Also there was another arrest for shop lifting at LIDL including assault on Police and shop staff. A motorbike had been reported stolen on the 29/05/2018 from the Broadway Bexleyheath Any NHW members that now come under our team because of the new ward boundaries. Please feel free to make contact with us so we are aware to help aid communication".  Crayford ward:- "Thankfully, there have been no residential burglaries this week but please don’t become complacent. Keep your home totally secure when you leave it and close all downstairs doors and windows when going upstairs, even for a short time as burglars are usually opportunist. The same for being in our back gardens during lovely weather, keep all front windows closed and front doors locked and secure. You would be amazed how often we have knocked on doors, front windows wide open and can actually see the family playing and enjoying a BBQ in their garden, so easy to climb through an open downstairs window, please don’t become a victim of this type of crime. Crimes this week has mainly been vehicle related. On 21st May between 09.30-10.00 a white Ford Transit was broken in to at Stadium Way. A laptop, water pump and clothing were stolen. On 22nd May at 23.35 the victim was returning to his Toyota Prius parked at Church Hill, where he saw a Male by his car, heard a shattering sound and saw the Male run away, he realised that his work PDA was visible on the dashboard. On 21st May it was reported that the Green Ford Transit school minibus at Shenstone School had been interfered with and all the associated pipework to the Diesel Particulate Filter had been stolen. Overnight 21st May to 22nd May a lorry parked up overnight at Acorn Industrial Park was broken into whilst the driver was asleep in his cab, the doors were left open and boxes had been removed. Between 16th May and 24th May the premises of Thames New Services at Thames Road were broken in to, the locks were forced and then changed and fly tipping also took place, no CCTV at the location. On 25th May at 1.30 a resident was woken by noise in the street, saw two youths who then kicked the wing mirror off a silver Citroen Saxo. A white Vauxhall Corsa was stolen from outside Lyles Court between 10.25 on 21st May and 09.00 on 24th May. A neighbourhood Watch member in Woodside Road reported last week that a house there was raided by armed police. It can be confirmed that the suspect was followed home where he was intercepted and arrested by specialist officers, a large scale search was made of the address and items of interest removed. A Male was found collapsed near McDonalds on Saturday and Crayford officers assisted him. It became apparent that he was wanted for a breach of a court order, he was arrested, conveyed to hospital to be checked over before being taken in to custody. The team have issued two mobile phone tickets this week and assisted with the recovery of a stolen vehicle". Erith ward:- "Bike marking was carried out marking almost 20 bikes across Erith. More NHW area have been set up including 2 new ones in Erith Park, a part of the ground we have only just started to cover so this is very good news. Some Contact Session dates for you: Thursday 7/6/18 – Erith Library 2pm, Thursday 14/6/18 – Erith Library 3pm. Feel free to pop along and speak to us". Northumberland Heath ward:- "Over the last week the team have been assisting colleagues from Northend with a large scale operation in Darent Industrial Park. A number of businesses were checked simultaneously resulting in immigration arrests, stolen vehicles were recovered and a premise was closed down. The team have also been busy conducting stop and searches which have resulted in several cannabis warnings being issued. We are pleased to announce that there have been no residential burglaries reported to us yet again over the last week, which is great news .One commercial burglary at the BP garage in Bexley Road. A water compressor was stolen from an external cupboard in the car wash, the door was forced to gain entry. This took place on Monday May 21st between 5pm – 6pm but was not reported until Thursday May 24th. Following the warrant which was executed in Brook Street earlier this month, police have now concluded the investigation. As a result we have issued three fixed penalty £90 notices. One theft of a transit van in Hengist Road overnight on Wednesday May 30th. One report of criminal damage to a fence in Parsonage Manorway on the evening of Sunday 27th May. The team have been assisting the Erith ward with patrols and stopped five males who were initially stopped when officers saw a cannabis joint on the ground next to them. During a search for drugs, a large knife was found along with other property of interest to police. The group of males are known to police and a full investigation is now under way. Further updates regarding this will follow. The next drop in Police Surgery will be held at the library in Mill Road Erith on Thursday June 7th at noon". Slade Green and North End ward:- "Overnight last Weds/Thurs, 23/24 May, 2 vehicles were broken into. A wallet was stolen from a car in Leycroft gardens and a phone stolen from a vehicle in Bridge Road. Please try and remember to remove all your valuables from your vehicles when you are home for the night. Please pass this on again to all visitors to you. If anything valuable is on display, there is unfortunately a high chance it may get stolen. A child's pushbike was stolen from a communal area in Agate Court, Rainbow Road on Sunday evening. Details are still a bit sketchy at this time as it was reported a day after the event but it seems the owner gave chase but we don’t know if the bike was recovered. Any further updates will be sent out accordingly. No other notable crimes to report in the last week". Thamesmead East ward:- "Burglaries - On Wednesday 23/05/18 at 11:20 pm a shed burglary occurred in Harrow Manor Way, items to the value of £600:00 were taken. Crime Prevention: First off, check that your insurance covers the contents of your shed or outbuildings from theft. Lock it, hide it or mark it. Don’t give them the opportunity or the tools to commit a crime. Lock everything away securely. Tools can be locked inside a locker or box or secured with a chain. Secure your bike to the ground or a lockable stand within a locked shed or garage. Visit Sold Secure to search for ground anchors and other locks designed to fix to floors and walls. It’s always worth draping an old sheet or blanket over the top of mowers or bikes to keep them covered from view. Invest in a garage door stop. Although it might sound like stating the obvious, never leave your garage or shed door unlocked if you’re not around. Property marking your items is advisable and some tools can be painted with your name or postcode. Forensic marking is also an option and you can register some items on the Immobilise website for free. For more information visit Immobilise and our detailed page on property marking. Motor Vehicle Crimes - Between the hours of 06:45pm on Friday 25/05/18 and 05:00am on Monday 28/05/18 a motor cycle which had broken down was stolen from a lay-by on the Eastern Way. Have a Say event - Tuesday 05/06/18 between the hours of 2:00pm and 3:00pm the team will be attending The Link Bazalgette Way. An opportunity for members of the community who prefer face- to – face contact, to speak with a Dedicated Ward Officer".

The end video this week shows some of the events that took place at last years' Crossness Steampunk Convivial, as the next event was mentioned earlier in this update - I do plan these things. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Major Turp.

Work to renovate and repurpose the historic old Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road is now fully under way. As you can see from the photo above, which I took last week, the scaffolding has now been fully erected, and now covers the entire building. I have been told that the first priority of the workers is to take off the current roof (which has been patched up over the years and is not in a great condition), then to put on a temporary roof, and then later replace the temporary roof with a bespoke new one, which will be designed to last a minimum of 25 years. My reliable source also informs me that the builders have also had a window survey done, identifying the repair need in advance of window repairs being carried out. Dealing with these two elements will make the building watertight, something that has not been the case for several years. When I visited the Carnegie Library during the open day last year, water was coming through several windows, and a couple of trees were actually growing inside the building! It is sad that the building has been neglected for over a decade, but at least now that is finally being put right. I will be covering the refurbishment of the old library in greater details in the months to come. 

Approval has now been granted for the new privately run bus service that I have written about previously. The bus service will operate on weekdays only, and will run between Harrow Manorway outside of Abbey Wood Station, and Carlton Road in Northumberland Heath. The service will somewhat inappropriately be called The Nuxley Navigator - as previously covered, Nuxley Village does not exist - it is properly named Belvedere Village. The roads that the new private bus service will cover are as follows:- Towards Abbey Wood Station (mornings only) - Carlton Road, Brook Street, Parsonage Manorway, Swaylands Road, Matfield Road, Stream Way, Bedonwell Road, Orchard Avenue, Bedonwell Road, Glenview, West Heath Road, Brampton Road, Knee Hill, Harrow Manorway. Towards Erith (afternoons only) - Harrow Manorway, Knee Hill, Brampton Road, West Heath Road, Glenview, Bedonwell Road, Orchard Avenue, Bedonwell Road, Stream Way Matfield Road, Swaylands Road, Parsonage Manorway, Brook Street, and Carlton Road. The Crossrail service will be opening at Abbey Wood Station at the end of this year, and many of the roads covered by The Nuxley Navigator are currently not covered by any existing bus service. The Nuxley Navigator features a reserved seat and, in London, standard rides are £2.40. A standard bus fare is £1.50. Chariot works by being pre-bookable but with predetermined stops, similar to a bus route. The real reason for the service is to connect the Erith Quarry housing development with Abbey Wood Station. The developers of Erith Quarry are aiming the new development primarily at second or third time buyers who want larger, family sized houses - for people who intend to "put down roots" in the area. In order to attract middle class professional people into the local area, they need so show that there are good commuting connections into London - something that The London Borough of Bexley has lacked up until now. The fact that we have no DLR or Tube services in the Borough has been a factor that has discouraged some people from moving into the area. Providing a purpose built mini bus link between the Erith Quarry site and Abbey Wood Station will do much to convince people that they should move into the area, as housing is significantly cheaper than in other parts of London, and the commuting issue will be at least partially answered by The Nuxley Navigator - even if the name of the new bus service is inaccurate.

The photo above shows the current state of the redevelopment of the former Erith Riverside Bath site on the junction of Walnut Tree Road and Erith High Street; one of a number of housing developments currently in progress in the local area - click on the photo for a larger view. Following my article on the redevelopment of the former tram shed site adjacent to the London South East Colleges Bexley (yes, I know it is a dreadful, convoluted name) site last week, I have had a handful of readers making negative comments about the level of housing is being built all over The London Borough of Bexley; I merely report the news - I don't make it. It would seem that quite apart from the residential developments currently in progress that I have reported in the past, there are plans sponsored by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan for more housing. A consultation is currently taking place in respect of this, which is running until the 2nd of March. The part of the Greater London plan that affects The London Borough of Bexley contains the following proposals that may well cause concern for existing residents. In the draft plan, the Mayor of London proposes several measures to address the capital’s housing crisis, including: Increasing the borough’s housing targets four-fold, from 446 units a year to 2,145. Increasing the amount of housing coming from small sites, mainly in Bexley’s residential areas around stations and town centres, eight-fold from around 110 units a year to 856. Introducing a presumption that small housing developments (up to 25 units) will get planning permission, with considerations limited to privacy, heritage, biodiversity and safeguarded land such as green belt. Removing housing density ranges so proposals are considered individually, but recognising that the existing character of residential areas will need to change. Pressing for zero parking on developments in places considered to have good public transport, such as Bexleyheath town centre and Abbey Wood station. The draft plan also includes a range of other policies, in a bid to produce an integrated economic, environmental, transport and social framework for the development of London. The final version of the Bexley Growth Strategy, which forms part of the Greater London Strategy was published by Bexley Council on Thursday of this week; it is a sizeable document, which will take some considerable examination and study. I have taken a good look at it, and I am of the opinion that it contains a number of erroneous fundamental suppositions and basic flaws. Take a look for yourself and formulate your own opinion - you can download the PDF of the final version of the Bexley Growth Strategy document by clicking here.

You may not be aware, but the 13th of February has been declared World Radio Day by UNESCO. UNESCO’s Executive Board recommended to the General Conference the proclamation of World Radio Day, on the basis of a feasibility study undertaken by UNESCO, further to a proposal from Spain. Radio is the mass media reaching the widest audience in the world. It is also recognised as a powerful communication tool and a low cost medium. Radio is specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief. There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobile phones and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today. A wide consultation process started in June 2011, carried out by UNESCO. It included all stakeholders, i.e. broadcasting associations; public, state, private, community and international broadcasters; United Nations agencies; funds and programmes; topic-related NGOs; academia; foundations and bilateral development agencies; as well as UNESCO Permanent Delegations and National Commissions. Among the answers, 91 percent were in favour of the project. The objectives of the Day will be to raise greater awareness among the public and the media of the importance of radio; to encourage decision makers to establish and provide access to information through radio; as well as to enhance networking and international cooperation among broadcasters. The consulted stakeholders also proposed ideas for the programme of celebration: extensive use of social media, annual themes, a dedicated website enabling virtual participation, special radio programmes, radio programmes exchange, a festival involving key partners, and so forth. You can read more about UNESCO World Radio Day by clicking here.

Robert Turp was an officer in the British army during WWII. After Germany’s surrender, he was part of an army weapons intelligence team called MI-10 that travelled the British occupation zone examining captured German armaments. He was later the First Defence Attache to South Korea. After leaving the army, he purchased a firearms manufacturing and reconditioning workshop in Bexleyheath, just behind Bexleyheath Broadway; he later added an office in the City of London. He also had a warehouse in Belgium, where he stocked items that would have caused him legal  problems with the authorities in the UK. Usually just known as “Major Turp”, in particular he sold weapons around Africa, developing something of a knack for supplying newly-independent nations on the continent. His arms company was called International Ordnance, and was registered in Jersey. The photograph above shows him in the Bexleyheath workshop posing with some of the weapons that he sold - click on the photo for a larger view. On a more grim note, he also had a knack for exploiting corruption in these new countries. He was attributed the quote “where arms are concerned, the newer and blacker the country, the greater the graft.”. This did not go unnoticed and in 1966, a petition to P.M. Harold Wilson suggested Britain ban private arms dealers entirely; with Major Turp specifically cited by name as an example why. Major Turp’s most public moment came when he refused to sell guns to 1970s Rhodesia. While he received accolades, his decision was rooted less in morality and more in self-interest: it appeared at the time that Britain and Rhodesia might come into conflict, and he was concerned about criminal charges that might be brought against him if guns he sold ended up used against British troops. Turp’s final notoriety came in 1992. A German arms dealer at the Sheraton hotel in Sofia, Bulgaria contacted Turp and inquired if he’d be interested in brokering a sale of weapons grade plutonium; presumably to Iraq. Turp declined and notified British authorities. A shady and morally dubious figure, he was a minor local celebrity who many would rather have not existed. Turp wrote a "tell all" book in 1972 which he called "Gun Runner" - about his life as an international arms dealer who based himself in Bexleyheath. There are indications that Robert Turp had some input into the design of "Project Babylon" - the Iraqi super gun that was being built for Saddam Hussein by renegade gun designer Gerald Bull, until he was murdered. Gerald Bull was assassinated outside his sixth-floor apartment in Brussels on March 22, 1990, by two assassins who pumped five 7.65mm bullets from a silenced gun into his neck and back and then escaped. It was believed that this was the work of Mossad who feared Bull’s super gun could be used against Israel using chemical and potentially nuclear projectiles. It has since been revealed that senior Israeli intelligence officials have claimed responsibility for the assassination, something that almost never is admitted. In 1985 Bull had been given the long-hidden designs of a legendary German super cannon of World War I. Called the Kaiser’s Paris Gun, it had been fired with devastating effect. At the war’s end, the Germans had dismantled it and hidden the plans. According to Robert Turp, Bull also had reconstructed British reports on two captured Nazi super guns of World War II, including the so-called “V-3,” envisioned by Hitler as a terror weapon to be used against England with the V-1 buzz bomb and the V-2 rocket. Built on the French coast, the V-3 was destroyed by RAF bombers before it could be used. Robert Turp said he and Gerald Bull spent long hours discussing the reports on the Nazi designs. It is thought that the Iraqi super gun design was based on the WWII German V3 gun plans which Turp had uncovered during his time in military intelligence just after the war.

Last week I wrote in some detail about the refurbishment of the former White Hart pub in Erith High Street, with "before and after" photos of the restoration work that has been carried out on the building, which is in a conservation area. In the piece I wrote that the building was owned by The Wellington Pub Company - an organisation with an excellent reputation for turning around problem pubs; in the last week I have learned from a reader that this is no longer the case. I have been reliably informed that The Wellington Pub Company sold the freehold title to the White Hart back in 2016, and that it may well have been sold on a second time since. It is not known who the current owner is, and tracing them via Bexley Council is proving difficult. If you have any inside knowledge regarding this, then please do let me know - you can stay anonymous, should you so wish. Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com with any information - many thanks in advance.

Bexley Police are trying to trace two cars which have been used in criminal activity - you can see photos of similar cars in the photo above. Please notify the Police if you see a car similar to the ones above that is being used to carry out illegal activity. Now for the weekly safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. First from Barnehurst ward:- "On Thursday 25th January the Barnehurst team with the assistance of Crayford SNT and the RSPCA carried out a warrant under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. What we discovered was truly heart-breaking and distressing, Dogs were found wet, cold, matted and covered in faeces. In total we seized 34 Dogs, 9 puppies and a large number of cats. All were examined by a vet on the day and are now in the care of the RSPCA. The investigation is ongoing and we will keep you updated with any results. If you have any concerns regarding animal welfare please contact either the local policing team or the RSPCA direct. Sadly we have had an attempted Burglary reported in Bowness Road. This incident occurred on Wednesday 31st January 2018. Between 8.30pm and 8.50pm, Three white males wearing gloves and face coverings have attempted to gain entry to an address by forcing open the front door when unsuccessful they have then gone to the rear of the property onto a flat roof and attempted to gain entry via a bedroom window again unsuccessfully but causing damage to the window. Suspects were disturbed and made off into Long Lane towards Erith Road where it is believed they had a black Audi A3 (or similar) vehicle parked. Please remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to police if you believe that a crime is happening call 999 immediately. As always for updates on what the team are up to and for crime prevention advice please follow us on twitter, @MPSBarnehurst and Facebook, Barnehurst police". Belvedere ward:- "The team were joined by housing officers from Orbit Housing late last week after reports of ongoing suspicious behaviour around Lumley Close. We had been given information that cannabis may have been being stored in one of the disused garages, which are owned by Orbit. Several of the garages were opened and nothing was discovered. We continue to patrol the area on a regular basis and urge any suspicious behaviour witnessed to be reported to Police. The team also responded to an incident on Thursday evening at around 5pm involving a vehicle collision in Picardy Street which subsequently became a lengthy chase around the Lower Belvedere area involving a silver car and a black car. This incident resulted in significant damage to one of the vehicles involved. If anyone witnessed this incident or has any information in relation to this, please contact the team. We have also been carrying out extensive CCTV enquiries in and around the Picardy Street/ Gilbert Road areas in relation to this incident. On Friday and Saturday nights PC Holmes/ PCSO Worrall were joined by officers from neighbouring wards and completed patrols in the north of the borough, in areas of Belvedere, Erith, Northumberland Heath and Barnehurst. During these patrols, a group of 4 youths were seen heading away from in Ruskin Road, Belvedere who were thought to have been using cannabis at the location. Officers were able to stop and speak to the group in Upper Abbey Road. We have two meetings taking place in the coming weeks – a community contact session taking place at Asda on Tuesday 6th February at mid-day and our next ward panel meeting is taking place on Thursday 8th February at the Belvedere Community Centre, beginning at 7pm". Christchurch ward:- "We have had reports of two burglaries recently on the ward and one attempted burglary to a local business , which is a vast improvement. One within The Grove, a shed was broken into and items had been taken and was reported on the 25/01/2018 The other Within Oakland’s Road. This was reported on the 27/01/2018 and entry was gained from the rear of the property via a door. The attempted burglary was reported on the 27/01/2018 which was a local business along Princess Street. When burglaries are reported we make sure the victims are visited , deliver crime prevention advise and leaflets , Cocooning and target hardening conducted to neighbours with team contact details provided. Where possible NHW coordinators contacted. We have also had a report of tools being stolen from Woolwich Road. The items were taken whilst the property was undergoing building work, this had accrued on the 24/01/2018 A mobile phone was reported stolen on the 30/01/2018, phone was stolen from inside NATWEST BANK. Had also report of a theft, victim had their bank card and oyster card taken from their purse. This had occurred along Geddes Place on the 25/01/2018. As mentioned previously we are always very keen to increase our NHW coverage and make it as active as possible. We want to work in close partnership with you all to keep our community safe and tackle concerns and issues together, so please keep those email address coming. The team had a fantastic day when they attended the Indian Republic Day Community Building Event , at Townley Grammar School. We had the opportunity to discuss community issues and the event was attended by esteemed guests from the Council and MP’s. Our Chief Inspector also had attended the event and we was also in a position to offer crime prevention advice. One youth was recently processed for possession of cannabis when they w ere stopped within the Premier Inn car park following your concerns with ASB issues within the area . On a daily basis, the team conducts ASB patrols around the ward depending where the issues arise". Colyers ward:- "It’s been a relatively quiet week this week with 1 burglary on Monday 29.01.18 in Northumberland Way where the rear door was forced and an untidy search conducted, unknown if any items were taken and 1 theft of number plates from a car in Frinsted Road on Sunday 28.01.18 sometime between 0300 and midday. Also worth a mention is a male chased from a motorbike in Hampton House who ran on seeing officers. The male was found hiding in a nearby road hiding behind a car, the bike turned out not to be stolen and there were no offences. There was also a suspicious male in Conniston Road Bexleyheath seen paying attention to a property doing building work, possibly looking for scrap metal. Colyers Officers did 2 weapon sweeps this week in the Dell and around Ramsden Road and Frinsted Road Footpath and pleased to say nothing was found. Ward officers have also increased their patrols around the footpath between Heath Way and Northumberland Way due to reports of ASB from bikes and drugs". Erith ward:- "Erith Team carried out a weapon sweep in Compton Place which resulted in a drug find. A warrant was carried out on the ward on which we has the help from TSG (Territorial Support Group). 2 more roads where signed up for NHW. Erith team will be patrolling parts of the ward next week with one of our councillors. Patrols carried out in Erith High Street at school closing time as a lot of schools seem to meet up around the town and McDonalds area, Contacting the school and parents if needed. Action on youths riding bikes around Erith in an unsocial manner". Lesnes Abbey ward:- "Burglary - Between the hours of 10:00 am and on Thursday 25/01/18 and 10:00 am on Sunday 28/01/18 a burglary occurred in Abbot's Walk. Entry to the property was gained through the bathroom fanlight window had been smashed by means of a stone being thrown at it. A glass panel at the bottom of the back door had a part of a paving slab also thrown through. Motor vehicle crimes - On the 23/01/18 a motor vehicle was damaged outside Wyfold House, Wolvercote Road. Theft of a motor vehicle occurred outside Clewer House, Wolvercote House on the 24/01/18. Also on the 24/01/18 a motor vehicle which was parked in Manorside Close had the windscreen smashed, object believed to have been thrown from Harrow Manor Way, linked to the same area a construction vehicle on the bridge near to the train station was also damaged. On Thursday 25/01/18, early hours of the morning a motor vehicle parked in New Road had the windscreen smashed and the rear window scratched. Do you know any friends or family who reside on the Lesnes Abbey ward interested in joining Neighbourhood Watch? Please ask them to contact the NW office. Date for your diary. Police surgery on Tuesday 13/02/18 4:00pm until 05:00pm at the Bostall Library Community Group, King Harold's Way". North End ward:- "We have had two separate overnight damage to vehicles reported in Frobisher Road over the last week. One car had paint poured over it but the suspect was seen and has since been arrested, the other was scratched and dented but no clues at this time. There was also a motorbike stolen, overnight, from Slade Gardens on 30th January. We are checking the normal hidden places where bikes get dumped to see if we can recover it for the owner. PCs Mark and James have again been productive with 6 stop and searches in the last week with one cannabis seizure resulting in the suspect coming in for an interview next week. They also assisted Erith officers in two weapons sweeps in the last week with some class A drugs discovered in a wall in Compton Place. Our surgeries are now referred to as Community Contact Sessions (CCS) and these are now a chance for anyone to come along and use it as a means to report crime. They are still in the café, library etc but will have a police officer in attendance, should a crime need reporting". Thamesmead East ward:- "Good piece of proactive work this week by PC Nana and PC Moore. On Saturday the 27th and while on routine foot patrol, North of the ward, they came across a male riding a motorbike, that had been reported stolen earlier in the week. Enquiries led them to an address close by, the property was searched. Unfortunately the rider was not present. During the search, cannabis was discovered, as well as clothing. Enquiries are ongoing. On Sunday 28th, PC Pruden and PC Nana, assisted the RSPCA, in relation two horses identified to be neglected, that had been left in a small field, near to Sporting Club Thamesmead. After examination by a vet, who declared neglect, PC Pruden seized the two horses under S18 (5) of the Animal welfare act 2006, and handed them over to the RSPCA, who arranged for the horses to be transported to a place of safety. Hopefully a better life awaits. The RSPCA will be investigating, regarding any prosecution in relation to the owner(s) Between the 26th and the 29th January, building equipment was stolen from a storage area at Parkway School. The school is currently in the process of development. Any information please let us know. On the 26th January, a motor vehicle was stolen from outside an address in Mangold Way. Date for the diary, On Tuesday 13th February, between 1415 and 1515 hours, we are holding a Police surgery at The Thamesmead Library, opposite The Link. Any issues, please come and tell us. We are always interested in recruiting new Neighbourhood watch co-ordinators for the ward. Please ask your family and friends if they would like to set up a Neighbourhood watch in their road. Please spread the word to any family and friends in the Borough - they can contact us on 020 8721 2049 or Thamesmead.SNT@met.police.uk for more information".

The end video this week may be a bit of an eye opener to some readers. The video below demonstrates just how much information a mobile phone gives out during normal operation. For me personally, mobile phone ownership has more negative aspects than positives, which is the reason I don't have one. Of course your own experience may differ greatly. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.