The opening.

The photos above were taken by me on Thursday evening at the official opening of the new MW Solicitors offices located in the refurbished former Yates Wine Lodge building in Mayplace Road West, Bexleyheath. You may recall that I recently wrote about the history of the landmark building, and the fact that it had laid empty and seemingly abandoned for many years. I was happy to see a local company take the building on, and sensitively convert it into bright and airy office space. MW Solicitors invited me to the opening event, which was attended by Bexley Mayor Peter Reader, and Lady Mayoress Irene Reader, and also by Bexleyheath and Crayford MP David Evennett, as you can see from the photos above - please click on any for a larger view. MW Solicitors had relocated from a smaller office above some shops further along Bexleyheath Broadway, but the new, much more prominent location seems to be working well for them already; I was told that the level of "walk in" enquiries from potential new clients had increased dramatically since the new high profile office opened at the beginning of March. You can see their website by clicking here. 

It would seem that Bexley Council is quietly investing in property in order to try and boost its coffers. A reader who wishes to remain anonymous has sent me several documents that show Bexley Council agreeing to purchase a number of properties around the borough. Their plan seems to be to invest in the businesses in the buildings in the short term, and in the long term to redevelop the existing building structures to create more housing. You may recall that when I wrote about the proposed new Lidl store in Fraser Road Erith, on what is now the Atlas Industrial Estate, I mentioned that the adjoining Wickes DIY store lease had been bought by an unknown buyer; it turns out that the buyer was Bexley Council. I am in possession of a document regarding the proposed purchase which says of the Wickes site:- "This transaction is seen as a strategic acquisition that would provide the Council with the freehold interest in a significant site and bring other regeneration advantages in the borough. The property was advertised for sale with a closing date of 12th March 2018 and the Council made a non-binding offer for the freehold". The document then goes on to say:-" The rationale for the purchase aligns with the Council’s growth strategy and offers the opportunity for Council intervention to kick start and dictate the need for quality redevelopment in Erith. In the short term, rental income from the site will meet the Council’s financing costs. In the longer term if the site is redeveloped the Council will ensure the site is developed to high quality design standards, bringing a step change in the built environment in the town. This will help to drive further high quality developments across the town centre. In addition the Council will be able to ensure the site is developed appropriately, bringing the right tenure mixes and commercial uses which should serve the local community and attract a new demographic to Erith. The Council is committed to delivering meaningful and sustainable regeneration in Erith and owning the site would give the Council flexibility to drive redevelopment when the time is right in partnership with a developer or as part of a future joint venture". Well that would seem to be clear enough. In a second document that I was sent by the same anonymous source, it would seem that Bexley Council have also purchased the freehold of the Job Centre in Bexleyheath Broadway. The document concerning this purchase states:- "This decision relates to the purchase of a property in an important location at 186-194 Broadway in Bexleyheath. This transaction is seen as a strategic acquisition that would provide the Council with the freehold interest in a significant site close to Bexleyheath Town Centre and bring other regeneration advantages in the borough". The document then goes on to say:- "The freehold extent of the site and premises to be purchased is outlined red on the appended plan and extends to 0.138 hectares (0.348 acres). The premises comprise a 4 storey purpose built office block believed to have been constructed in the 1970’s. The premises currently provide approximately 22,500 sf (2090 sq m) of office and ancillary storage space together with some parking. The premises are currently let to a central government provider under an existing lease terms and are used as a Job Centre. The premises have the benefit of planning permission for conversion to residential use and to add another storey to provide a total of 59 units. It is intended that the existing occupier should be retained in the premises in the short term, following acquisition and that there will be a project to assist the relocation of the Job Centre service to another part of the borough. The premises may also be required to assist other Council regeneration plans. The Council will be able to realise residential development opportunities for the site as required in the future. The financial details of the proposal and cost implications are contained in the Exempt Appendix. Initially the income from the existing letting will provide an open market rent that will meet the Council’s borrowing costs. In the longer term the Council will be able to make use of the premises as required and have the option to develop out and recoup the purchase price either from the sale of the residential units following a conversion of the block or by disposing of the premises". The document summary states:-"The growth, regeneration and strategic benefits of acquiring this site create a strong argument for the Council to acquire the site and premises in order to retain the Job Centre in its current premises in the short term and to enjoy the benefit that the investment opportunity affords. This, together with the financial case is considered to outweigh the risks outlined in the financial implications". It would seem that Bexley Council are being quite clever; the financial grant they get from central government has been reduced substantially over the last few years, and the council have been forced to make cutbacks accordingly. By buying the Job Centre, they are able to then charge The Department of Work and Pensions rent for the building, thus clawing back some money indirectly from central government in the short term, and then by redeveloping the site, they can not only make money from the sale of any residential properties subsequently constructed on the central Bexleyheath site, but they will also be able to charge council tax to the residents. Bearing in mind the current Job Centre building is coming to the end of its useful life - it was refurbished a few years ago, but this has done little to disguise the fact the building is worn out and does need to be replaced. My concern is that where will any replacement Job Centre be located? Although the current building is end of life, I am worried that Bexley Council would choose a less well situated location for the relocation. Westminster House is easily reached by many different bus routes that service all of the borough, and thus the Job Centre can be reached by those using public transport. Any new location needs to also be well served by public transport. We saw from the debacle that was the proposed closure of Bexleyheath Police Station to be replaced by Marlowe House in Sidcup, that the main barrier to this was the relatively poor public transport links from the North of Bexley that would have effectively stopped many people from accessing the Police. Thankfully this information was used to good effect to stop the closure of Bexleyheath Police Station - which is centrally located and easily reached by public transport from all parts of the borough. I just hope that any replacement Job Centre is not located "out in the sticks" in order to keep costs down. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Bexley Council has announced that the level of illegal fly - tipping is increasing, especially in the North of the borough. There were 174 fly-tipping incidents in January, an increase from 144 in December. The number has also risen when compared to January 2016 and January 2017. One area that has been especially hit hard by criminal rubbish dumpers is Ray Lamb Way on the Slade Green Marshes. Things have become so bad that local residents and the management of the nearby Erith Yacht Club have demanded a meeting with Bexley Council representatives at the site of the very worst of the fly tipping. As you can see in the photo above, the road had been actually blocked by fly tippers, who drive along the road, then raise the load area of their tipper van so that the waste carried in the back drops out onto the road surface. As well as being completely illegal, it is also dangerous to other road users. The on - site meeting is scheduled for Wednesday the 11th of April at 11am at the junction of Ray Lamb Way and Ness Road. Hopefully an action plan can be put together to combat these criminal fly tippers. More on this story next week.

The Association of Bexley Charities '78 is holding a Spring Fair at the United Reformed Church, Geddes Place, Bexleyheath DA6 7DJ (near the Broadway Shopping Centre) on Saturday 14th April 2018 from 9.45 am  - 1.00 pm. Local charities will be selling, amongst other things, CDs, DVDs, Jewellery, Books, Cakes, Jams, Model Railways, Collectables and Children's Games. Stallholders will include Alzheimer's Society, Bexley Branch; Bexley Downs Syndrome Group; Bexley Smile; Cats Protection, Bexley and District Branch; The Children's Society; Demelza Hospice Care for Children; Motor Neurone Disease Association; Dementia Carers Group, Greenwich and Bexley.

The conversion of the accommodation space above The White Hart pub in Erith High Street has now been completed. There is one three bedroomed apartment on the first floor, and two, two bedroomed apartments on the second floor, which have now been advertised for rent. You can read about the three bedroomed apartment by clicking here. You can read about one of the two bedroomed apartments by clicking here. You can read about the other two bedroomed apartment by clicking here. All three flats are very expensive by Erith rental standards, but they do seem to have been constructed and finished to a very high standard. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Following the welcome news last week that the back street pub The Volunteer in Bexleyheath is reopening now under the private ownership of a group of local shareholders, who will operate the pub as an independent entity. Some rather less than welcome news has come to light last week regarding what used to be an excellent community pub in Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere. The Fox has been the subject of a shooting incident over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Reports say that two men wearing balaclavas entered the pub on the evening of Saturday March the 31st, one of the couple produced a semi automatic pistol and fired a shot. Nobody was hurt. Understandably the pub visitors were shocked, and many rushed to get out of the building; shortly thereafter armed Police arrived, but the gunmen had vanished. Many years ago I used to be a regular at The Fox, and then it was a well run, quiet and respectable pub where there was never a hint of trouble. Unfortunately over the years the pub has changed hands several times, and each time it seemed to become less well managed, and the clientele has changed. I have had reports in the past from several readers saying that they have witnessed drug dealers carrying out transactions quite openly in the gents toilets. In fact one anonymous witness did suggest to me that the drug dealing was so blatant that he suspected that not only must the pub management be aware of it, but that they might even be in on it. I could not possibly confirm or deny this, but the fact that a former Fox regular could tell me that he no longer felt safe in the pub due to the amount of illegal activity taking place in the establishment does make me wonder.  The gunmen who fired the shot in the pub I would guess have some kind of dispute with persons known to frequent The Fox. I have not been in the place for a couple of years now, and this confirms my own feelings that I will not be returning for the foreseeable future. If you have any information regarding the shooting incident and alleged drug dealing in The Fox, please contact me; any information will be treated in the strictest of confidence, and you can remain completely anonymous of course. 

This week sees the 20th anniversary of the founding of Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association - though it was not called that name back then. Chairman of the association Dana Wiffen has written the following guest article about the formation of the group:- "Back in 1993 a small group of local residents in the Belvedere area decided to start up a Neighbourhood Watch Group in Bexley, which included Mike Clinch, Linda Barnes, Ray Hudson and Ray Darsey, the latter two are still on the committee today. This small band of people together with various Ward Bobbies as they were called then, started to recruit NW members which became known as street Coordinators. With the support of Bexley Police and Bexley Council they were given an office in Bexleyheath Police Station and a Council paid a part-time staff member to help run the office, when the staff member was withdrawn by the council NW was given the opportunity to apply for funding for their own part time staff member, which is Claire Tack. By 1998 they had grown to a reasonable number of around 300 members and the then committee decided to apply to become an Association. As Bexleyheath Police Station recruited more officers NW were asked to move to Belvedere Police Station and remained there until 2012 when the MET decided to close the police station and sell the building, at this point NW's future was unsure but when we were invited to move things gradually improved. So Bexley Neighbourhood Watch moved back to Bexleyheath and were given a small office, by this time recruitment was rising fast mainly due to the increase in crime and the gradual reduction in the number of police officers. Over the last few years they have expanded also setting up several non residential watches to combat crime in different areas, these include ShopWatch, HoundWatch, PlotWatch, FaithWatch & HorseWatch, all with the exception of HoundWatch like up the various groups of Shops, Allotments, Places of Worship & Stables to ensure they are aware of crime in their areas, while HoundWatch a police idea was set-up to recruit dog walkers to report anything suspicious while they are walking their pets. At the moment we have a healthy committee number of 12, we also have office volunteers that work to keep the office running Monday to Friday sometimes between 9am-3pm as the workload of our growing membership seems to dictate. We are still attempting to recruit a sign putter upper as our previous volunteer has retired after 6 years". 

With that, we neatly segue into the weekly local safety and security updates from the aforementioned Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "Update for the wonderful ward of Barnehurst: Unfortunately we have had two crimes of note reported this week, the first an arson to a motor vehicle. On Tuesday 27th March at 2.30am police received a call via the fire brigade to a car on fire in Halcot Avenue, the vehicle a black Audi TT was believed to have been deliberately targeted whilst parked in a small car park in the street The second is a burglary which occurred in Mayplace Road East on the 3rd April between 1pm – 2.30pm. Suspect (s) have forced open a front wooden door to a semi detached property causing damage to the frame and have stolen a purse containing cash and credit cards from inside. It is possible that the suspects were disturbed as one of the occupiers was asleep upstairs after having worked a night shift. If you have any information about these or any other crimes please contact the Barnehurst policing team or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Our next drop in session will be at Barnehurst Golf Course on the 11th April at 11am. Join us for a chat about any local issues that may be concerning you. As always follow us on twitter @MPSBarnehurst and Facebook at Barnehurst Police for local news and crime prevention advice". Belvedere ward:-"This week we have assisted both Erith SNT and Northumberland Heath with follow up visits to victims of crime and also assisted with a weapon sweep around that Northumberland Heath recreation ground after a recent incident in Brook Street. We have continued with our regular patrols of the Belvedere Park estate and are in the process of speaking once again with the management company of the site to help in making the area a safer place for residents. This comes after recent damage to several doors within Moyle House, where we found communal doors once again unsecured, allowing anybody access from the street. We would urge residents of Belvedere Park to ensure that communal areas are secure when entering or leaving buildings. If you witness any suspicious behaviour, please let your local Policing team know. There was a burglary on Friday 30th March in Erith Road, whilst the residents were away from their home. This investigation is ongoing, however the team have visited the residents to provide support and advice. We are now in spring and are anticipating the rise in nuisance motorbikes again around the Norman Road area. If you start to see off road bikes on the roads or large groups gathering in this area please report it via the contact methods below. We have been made aware of anti-social street drinking again in Picardy Street. If anyone knows who these people please contact us. Otherwise if you are experiencing an issue with this behaviour then please report it direct to us, via our website www.met.police.uk or by calling 101". Brampton ward:- "Brampton has not had a Burglary now for 2 weeks which is good news. We have however had: 1 x ABH in Long Lane , the victim was head-butted and kicked in the face investigation ongoing; 1 x common assault in Franklin Road; A making off without payment in Long Lane; 2 x Public order offences in Bristow Road and Rydal Drive. The team whilst searching an area came across motorbike that was shown to be stolen this has been taken to a South London vehicle pound and will be forensically tested for any evidence to identify a suspect. We have had a message via NHW regarding unknown persons knocking on doors and asking trivial questions and then leaving. Brampton have had no other incidents reported to us, and as stated earlier no Burglaries in over 2 weeks now". Colyers ward:- "In the past week Colyers have had one burglary where items were stolen from a room in a House of Multiple Occupancy in Frinsted Road sometime between Friday 23rd and Thursday 29th March whilst occupant was away. There was also a theft from a dwelling in Edinburgh Court overnight 29th -30th March where a purse was stolen from a guest staying with their friend overnight. And on the 1st April a front door was criminally damaged with paint, this has been investigated and arrest has been made. The good news is we have not had any reports of motor vehicle crimes for the 3rd week running and we thank you for your continued vigilance in keeping your cars secure. On the ASB front Colyers have been busy visiting parents and issuing Community Protection Notice warnings to youths seen and stopped in Hampton House which is our ASB hotspot. Our patrols continue and seem to have calmed things down". Crayford ward:- "There has been a marked increase in theft from motor vehicle and vehicle interference in Crayford in the last week and there is a strong possibility that the same individual is responsible for most of them. At about 03.00 on 29/03/2018 in Woolbrook Road, a white male was seen on CCTV to use a device to unlock a grey Range Rover and Black Audi, searching the two cars and making off when the security light came on. This road is on a quiet estate and the resident has made their own enquiries and it is clear that this male also walked up to other vehicles as he was captured on home CCTV around the estate. Similar offences have occurred in other parts of Crayford. Overnight between 22.00 on 28/03/2018 and 07.00 on 29/03/2018 a grey Audi A4 was searched but nothing stolen in Hillside Road. Between 16.00 on 30/03/018 and 05.00 on 31/03/2018 a Citroen Berlingo was broken in Crayford High Street. A quantity of company tools and a bag of personal clothing were stolen. Interestingly, between 15.00 on 29/03/2018 and 18.00 on 02/04/2018 a white Volkswagon Transporter had a side door damaged and a quantity of cordless drills were removed and a pile of jackets left in the vehicle not belonging to the victim. On 28/03/2018 a group of males were seen on cctv in Iron Mill Lane stealing a ladder, although it was not locked away it had been out of sight. On 30/03/2018 at approx. 23.30 a male was walking through an alley leading from Shearwood Crescent to Thames Road when 3 males approached him and tried to steal his mobile phone. One suspect had a knife and the male received a small cut and was treated by ambulance colleagues but declined going to hospital. A young male was walking along Heath Road on 30/03/2018 at approx. 19.30 when an unknown MALE ran past him snatching £30 he was holding in his hand. He wasn’t injured and no threats were made but it was a timely reminder to keep anything valuable out of sight of the opportunist thief. On 28/03/2018 between 12.00 and 12.15 a Jaguar was seen on cctv being damaged by an unknown implement taken from nearby whilst parked at the rear of Crayside Dental Studio. The male was seen running off toward Swaisland Drive. Youths were seen climbing on scaffolding at Town Hall Square and 4 of the 8 youths have been identified by name and their parents will be advised of their dangerous and anti social behaviour. A motorcycle stolen from Beech Walk in November last year was located by Crayford and Brampton officers in Bristow Road down an alley way. It had been covered up and the number plate was broken where the suspect had attempted to disguise it. Other than minor damage to a light it was in good condition and the owner has been notified. We have been issued our personal tablets now and I have sat in the library this afternoon typing this and was able to speak with several residents whilst here". Erith ward:- "We hope you all had a good Easter Holiday weekend. It is half term at the moment, we will be out in Erith town centre most days, keeping an eye on any groups of kids hanging about in any ASB manor. Below are some crimes from the last week of note. Attempted residential burglary on 26/03/2018 Christchurch Avenue - Somebody has attempted to force entry. Making off 28/03/2018 Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way, - Suspect filled vehicle with fuel and made off without attempting to pay. Criminal damage to a vehicle on 29/03/2018, Bullbanks Road - Unknown Suspect has thrown a ball bearing through the back window of the victim's vehicle while it was parked outside her home address. Making off on 30/03/2018 from Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way - unknown suspect has filled up with petrol and then driven out making no attempt to pay Shoplift >£199 on 27/03/2018 at Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way, - By suspect entering the store early in the morning as the shifts are changing over and then filling a trolley and leaving the store with £169.17 worth of goods . Stopped in the car park and brought back to the store. Aggravated residential burglary on 02/04/18 in Glendale Road - Approx. 8 suspects smashed the front bay window and broke through the front door of Glendale Road, Erith. Residential burglary on 02/04/2018 in Grovebury Close - the victim returned home to find her door open and all internal doors open and items missing. Other theft 03/04/2018 Matalan, Pier Road - attempted shoplifting. Burg-Bus/Com 03/04/2018 Ocado Operating Ltd, Church Manorway - the victim had his phone stolen from within a security cabin and was kicked in the back. Victim was told he would be stabbed (No knife seen)". Lesnes Abbey ward:- "On Friday 30/03/18, from 1:00pm to Saturday 31/03/18 8:00am number plates were taken from a vehicle parked near Deluci House on the Hurst Lane estate SE2; Between the hours of 1:00pm on Saturday 31/03/18 and 12:00pm on Sunday 01/04/18 a motor vehicle was stolen from outside an address in Abbotts Walk, Bexleyheath; During the early hours of Monday 02/04/18 a vehicle ,locked and secure whilst parked in Wolvercote Road was broken into. Other News: After the local council elections on 3rd May, The ward boundaries will then be split up, Lesnes Abbey ward will go and you will be with different wards. Once these have been decided we will let you know. Date for your diary - Have a say: On Thursday 12/04/18 between the hours 03:00 pm and 04:00 pm at THE BP Connect, Harrow Manor Way, SE2 9TA - Motor Vehicle crime prevention information packs being handed out. Any Burglary or Motor Vehicle Crime prevention information wanted, please contact the Lesnes Abbey team on the details above". North End ward:- "Only crime of note this week is another knife point robbery at Erith Food and Wine shop in The Nursery. This took place at around 7.45pm Thursday evening and money was taken by the same male who has now been there 6 times and committed 13 crimes over all. This is the first incident for a few weeks now. CCTV has been collected and the Operation around this crime continues. As the local team, reassurance visits have been made as well as patrols of the area when on duty. Neighbourhood Watch newsletters have been delivered by us to our 2 anonymous watches in Hollywood Way and Jenningtree Road. We are in the process of setting up a new watch in Whitehall Lane, watch this space. Community Contact session from 10am this Friday (6th April) at the Forest Road Café. Regular patrols have been made over the marshes by Erith Yacht Club where fly tipping and off road bike issues have become a bit more prominent again. A multi-agency walkabout is planned at this location on Tuesday 11th April to look at how all partners can tackle these issues". Northumberland Heath ward:- "We hope everyone had a lovely bank holiday weekend although the weather was not kind to us! One burglary in Brook Street this week. This took place on Thursday March 30th at 9.30am. Entry was gained by forcing a UPVC door, the frame was damaged but was left intact. An untidy search of the property was conducted and the victim is not sure exactly what was stolen at this stage, but have noticed three gold rings missing. No motor vehicle crimes reported this week. We have been informed of a particularly unpleasant telephone scam this week. The victim who lives in Plaxtol Road received a call from an Asian male stating that the victim’s wife had been injured in a car accident and was in Darenth Valley Hospital. The victim’s wife had left that morning to go shopping and was yet to return so the victim was worried for her welfare. The male stated that the victim’s wife would need need to undergo an operation to insert metal rods in her legs and this would cost £300, he also stated that the victim’s daughter was in a critical condition, but then changed his story. The male tried to obtain bank details from the victim but the victim was suspicious and ended the call before reporting the incident to police. The team are patrolling the Northumberland Heath Recreation Ground regularly following the previous anti-social behaviour with motorbikes being ridden in the park, and we are pleased to say that we have not received ant further reports over the Easter weekend. The team issued one cannabis warning to an adult in Steele Walk, and a youth is under investigation following a cannabis stop in the Recreation Ground. We are continuing to hold our drop in surgeries and they will be advertised on Twitter, facebook and by posters in local business premises". Thamesmead East ward:- "26/03/18 Criminal Damage to Motor Vehicle 1900 - 1800 Hartslock Drive victim stated that overnight someone has damaged vehicles - slashed the left hand side tyres to both vehicles; 29/03/18 Taking and Driving Away 11pm Redbourne Drive - Victim reports the car has been stolen. The car has no tracker. Missing Person: On the 30/3/18 at 10pm An 81 year old elderly lady suffering from Dementia went missing from Kale Road. The subject was last seen in person by her son, he woke up the following morning to find her missing along with her Freedom Pass. Thamesmead officers conducted an area search with no trace of the female. In the early hours of 31/3/18 Croydon Officers noticed an elderly female standing at the side of the road. The female stated to officers that she was waiting for her son. Officers conducted checks and found she had been reported missing from Bexley Borough. She was taken back to her home address and reunited with her son. PC Pruden and PC Nana attended the monthly Intelligence / Information sharing meeting with Peabody Housing about issues arising from ASB to Neighbour disputes from residents; PC Pruden attended a Community Contact Session at the Link in Bazellgette Way on 3/4/18".

The end video this week is quite timely considering the earlier news about the meeting on Wednesday to crack down on local fly tippers. Here is some video captured from a vehicle dash camera which shows a man illegally dumping rubbish by a recycling hopper located in Mariner's Walk, Off Manor Road in Erith. It is clear that the man in the video knows what he is doing is illegal, due to his reaction when challenged by the vehicle driver. It is good to see someone standing up to these criminal scumbags.