Fire.

I took the photo above - click on it to see a larger version - last Saturday afternoon. It shows the bus halt outside the front entrance of Erith Riverside Shopping Centre. The green discolouration on the tarmac was caused by the use of liquid absorbent granules. After carrying out some investigation, I was able to discover what had been going on. Earlier that day a bus entered the halt with an engine fire. The fire brigade were quickly on the scene and extinguished the fire, and then spread the absorbent granule material over the area to soak up the spilled diesel and engine oil from the bus's fire damaged motor. I know that locals have been questioning the reliability of local bus services recently. This bus engine fire may be a part of a larger problem. As I have previously reported, I was a passenger on a Woolwich bound 99 bus at the end of October, when it stopped in Erith town centre for a change of drivers. As is often the case during these changeovers, the drivers had a chat; I happened to be sitting in the seat nearest the front of the bus, opposite the drivers cab, and was able to hear the conversation quite clearly. The two drivers were bemoaning the fact that the buses they drove were breaking down far more regularly than in the past. They both agreed that the reason for this was down to penny pinching by the bus operator, Arriva. Apparently buses used to have a minor mechanical service every week, but Arriva had recently instructed their engineers to carry out the minor service on a monthly basis to save on parts and labour costs. This the drivers agreed was the main cause for the increase in mechanical breakdowns. I can only report on the overheard conversation and cannot guarantee its veracity. If the reduction of maintenance on Arriva buses is correct, then I wonder if it could have been a contributory factor to the bus engine fire last week? Comments to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The Port of London Authority are proposing three new cross Thames ferry services, which would include one between Thamesmead and Barking Riverside. It said an electric ferry service carrying pedestrians and cyclists was feasible between North Greenwich and Isle of Dogs, the Royal Docks and Charlton and Barking Riverside and Thamesmead. The Port of London Authority commissioned the study in with the Thames Estuary Growth Board as part of an action plan to deliver the Thames Vision 2050, which aims to maximise the economic, social and environmental potential of the tidal river between Teddington and the North Sea. All three proposed routes are near major development areas that suffer from poor or non - existent north-south connections. Each of the southern piers would be within a 15-minute bike ride for more than 100,000 Londoners. The report said a ferry link would cost between £120m and £132m – a third of the cost of a bridge.

The House of Lords last Monday began examining, line by line, a proposed new law that will allow Transport for London to regulate pedicabs and their drivers for the first time. Mr Guy Opperman, Minister for Roads and Local Transport, hopes Parliament will have passed the new law,which was part of last month’s King’s Speech, by next Spring. The streets of London's West End are home to a burgeoning fleet of unlicensed pedicabs, posing a growing concern for public safety and the city's iconic black cabs. These unregulated three-wheeled vehicles, also known as rickshaws, have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, offering a cheap and convenient alternative to taxis. The popularity of pedicabs has surged in recent years, with many tourists and locals opting for this eco-friendly mode of transport. However, the unregulated nature of the industry has led to an increase in unlicensed operators. These individuals often lack the necessary training and qualifications, and their vehicles may not meet safety standards. In 2019, the Metropolitan Police launched a crackdown on unlicensed pedicabs, issuing over 200 fines and seizing numerous vehicles. However, the problem persists, with operators continuing to ply their trade illegally. The safety concerns associated with unlicensed pedicabs are significant. These vehicles often lack seat belts or other safety features, and operators may not be trained in handling emergencies. In addition, the lack of insurance coverage leaves both passengers and pedestrians vulnerable in the event of an accident. A recent study by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) found that pedicabs are involved in a higher proportion of accidents than other modes of transport. The study also highlighted the lack of safety training for pedicab operators, which can contribute to accidents. The unregulated nature of the pedicab industry also makes it difficult to enforce safety regulations. Without proper licensing and registration, it is challenging to identify and sanction unlicensed operators. However, their lack of licensing and safety standards has raised serious alarms among authorities and industry stakeholders. Mr Opperman said in an interview in the London Evening Standard after a fact finding trip to the West End to check on the pedicabs that:- “There was a very large collection of pedicabs at various locations. They were blocking the pavement. They were clearly creating obstruction. Clearly they’re uninsured. They’re unregulated. You can’t be sure who is driving them. There are widespread reports… of massive overcharging. This is an anomaly that needs fixing. We were given examples of people being quotes £20 and then being charged £200, and people being quoted £15 and then, when they get to the destination, the driver saying, ‘No, I said £50’.” Pedicabs have escaped regulation due to a loophole in London’s taxi laws. They are the only form of public transport not regulated in the capital, meaning pedicab firms, drivers and vehicles do not need to be licensed and there is no control of fares". The unregulated nature of pedicabs has led to a host of safety concerns. Without proper licensing and training, pedicab drivers may lack the necessary skills and knowledge to operate their vehicles safely, putting both themselves and passengers at risk. Additionally, the absence of standardized safety equipment, such as seat belts and helmets, further heightens the potential for accidents. The growing presence of unlicensed pedicabs has also caused friction with the city's black cabs, who have long held a monopoly on licensed street transport. The black cab industry argues that the proliferation of unlicensed vehicles undermines their business and poses a threat to public safety. In response to these concerns, calls for regulation of pedicabs have intensified. Transport for London (TfL) has acknowledged the need for action, stating that it is "considering the best approach to regulate pedicabs in London." Because the current bill has Government support and is a “narrow” bill that focuses just on pedicabs, it has the best chance to date of becoming law. This would allow TfL to charge for licences, regulate fares, impose speed restrictions and carry out background checks on pedicab drivers. TfL would also be able to seize pedicabs that broke the law and issue penalty fines. It is unknown how many pedicabs operate in London but research by the House of Commons Library said estimates varied between 200 and 900 vehicles. TfL data shows there were 24 incidents reported over the last five years about driver conduct and road obstruction, and six sexual offences. In 2019 there were 13 collisions that resulted in injuries. It has been stated that some of the pedicab owners are believed to be acting as a front for money laundering criminal gangs, as their business is cash only and currently unregulated. Comments too me at the usual address - hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The photo above shows Erith High Street in 1910. By the look of it, the photo was taken in the Spring / Summer and on a Saturday afternoon, due to the number of men one can see standing around chatting. Back in those days of large families and small houses, the men would be told to stay out of the house until meal times. Working hours were long, and it was quite normal to go to work on Saturday mornings - one of the reasons football matches usually kick off at 3 pm or thereabouts nowadays - a historical hangover. The only building in the photo above that still exists is the Cross Keys Centre, which you can just see in the centre distance. In 1966, Erith town centre underwent a dramatic transformation, as part of a wider nationwide effort to modernise and revitalise urban areas. The old Erith Town Centre was a mix of Victorian and Edwardian buildings, with narrow streets and a maze of alleyways. It was once a thriving commercial centre, but by the 1960s, it was considered to be outdated and overcrowded. The redevelopment project, which was completed in the early 1970s, replaced the town's traditional Victorian streetscape with a modern (for then) concrete and glass structure. The project was ambitious and controversial, and it has left a lasting impact on the town's character. While the redevelopment provided much-needed space for new shops and businesses, it also displaced many residents and businesses, and it changed the town's unique character. Some residents and businesses welcomed the redevelopment, as it brought new jobs and opportunities to the town. However, others were more critical, arguing that the new town centre had no soul and that it had destroyed the town's traditional character. The redevelopment was a move that many locals regret to this day.

Last week I featured an article discussing the future of Britain's pubs; this week I have a follow - up article explaining how unscrupulous property developers close down and buy up previously working pubs in order to demolish them or convert them into housing. A campaign group imaginatively called Campaign for Pubs, which is demanding rules that mean “any historic pub (at least 50 years old) couldn’t be converted or demolished until and unless it has been properly marketed at the independently assessed value as a pub for at least a year”. Campaign for Pubs sent a letter to the Prime Minister describing the current situation as a “national scandal that viable, indeed profitable pubs are being deliberately run down, land banked and stripped out, some left to the elements or to become a target for vandals, all so unscrupulous owners can push Councils to get their own way.” Those techniques were laid bare in the letter to the Prime Minister. One such way is pricing a pub for sale so high that only developers could afford, meaning groups or landlords who want to keep it as a pub are priced out. The letter explained: “It is the way that owners are permitted to sell pubs at hugely inflated freehold values – in other words pricing pub buyers out and making the loss of the pub inevitable; and the fact that an owner can ignore a bid as a pub, from a potential owner who wants to run it as a pub, to sell it at an inflated value for development.” It also noted that pubs with big gardens “inevitably” have a higher value to developers than publicans. The group criticised the current system which sees a lot of protection responsibility put onto the shoulders of local councils, which are often beaten down by the prospect of expensive legal bills. "Planning law isn’t strong or clear enough and in too many cases, councils don’t resist pub conversions when they face rich and greedy owners/developers going to appeal (something that is still denied to communities!), which then sees the Council hit with a legal bill they can scarcely afford," the letter said “Councils also are deceived that pubs are ‘un-viable’ simply because they are told they are by the very owners who are seeking to profit from the conversion or development.” The group added: “Developers are buying (profitable) pubs just to run and shut them down and redevelop them. There is little to stop them”. They slammed the current system which “only creates a right to bid, not the right to buy, so even if when the community group raises the money, an owner can simply ignore it – and instead sell for more money or redevelop the pub. One of the things that exposes the absurdity of the current situation is that as we lose of historic pubs to corporate greed and council indifference, there are micro pubs and bars opening in shops, showing that there is still a strong demand for pubs, yet we are losing so many historic ones unnecessarily, pubs that can and would be successful under the right ownership". This story broke in the same week that Greenwich Council has received a petition from Charlton residents to restore the White Swan pub. The petition, which has received 1,267 signatures, looks to prevent the disused 19th century pub being converted into a Tesco store with flats above - you can read the full story by clicking here. 

In recent years, a curious phenomenon has been unfolding across the United Kingdom – the sudden appearance of cat stickers adorning various public spaces. These stickers, featuring a wide array of feline designs, have been spotted on lampposts, street signs, and even the side of buses, leaving many puzzled and intrigued. While the origin of these stickers remains shrouded in mystery, their sudden proliferation has sparked a wave of online speculation and amusement. The image above was taken from a shop front in Bexleyheath a couple of weeks ago. Cat stickers have also been noted on signs outside of the Bexleyheath Asda supermarket. The earliest sightings of these cat stickers can be traced back to 2017, when a few individuals began placing them inconspicuously around their neighbourhoods. Over time, the practice spread, with more and more people joining in on this feline graffiti campaign. The stickers themselves vary in style and design, ranging from simple black silhouettes - as per the photo above -  to more elaborate illustrations and animations. Some feature realistic cat portraits, while others depict cartoon-like caricatures or even mythical feline creatures. The motivation behind this sticker spree remains elusive, but several theories have been proposed. Some suggest it's a playful prank or a way to brighten up the mundane aspects of urban life. Others believe it's a form of artistic expression, a way to inject creativity into public spaces. Still others speculate that it's a social experiment, designed to gauge public reactions to unexpected feline imagery. Whatever the reason, the cat stickers have undoubtedly captured the attention of the public. Social media has been abuzz with discussions, memes, and even fan art dedicated to these mysterious felines. Some people find the stickers amusing and harmless, while others express concern about vandalism or the potential for property damage. Despite the mixed reactions, the cat stickers have undoubtedly become a quirky and endearing part of British culture. They've sparked conversations, brought smiles to faces, and even inspired some to create their own feline masterpieces. While their origin may remain a mystery, the cat stickers have undoubtedly left their paw prints on the UK's urban landscape. Incidentally the owner of the Bexleyheath business adorned with the cat sticker in the photo above has decided to keep it in place!

In the next couple of years, the Digital Voice programme will move ten million BT customers off traditional copper-wire phone lines to fibre cables that use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to make calls. In total 29 million homes must make the change by 2025. Phone numbers should not be affected by the switch, BT says. Nevertheless a substantial number of people who have had their land line phones migrated to the fibre optic VOIP solution have encountered problems. Some users report reliability issues - people phone the correct number and either get an engaged tone even thought the number being called is not busy, or they hear a ringing tone, but phone being called does not ring. Last year, regulator Ofcom raised concerns over the programme, warning BT did not have enough measures in place to support vulnerable customers in a power cut if they needed to call 999 because digital phones must be plugged into an electricity socket to work, and do not function in a power cut. Vulnerable households need to ensure they have an alternative in place, such as a mobile phone or an emergency battery pack to plug in for the landline phone. BT suspended the roll out until last summer, when it put additional measures in place. BT has started offering 'free' £85 battery packs to those most in need if there is a power cut so they do not lose contact. But batteries will not help if the internet itself also goes down because the phone relies on the digital connection. Concerned customers can demand a 'free' £80 hybrid phone that uses mobile phone signals rather than the internet. But it won't help people who live in areas with 'patchy' or no mobile phone signal. So far the VOIP installation locally has gone relatively smoothly, with much of Bexleyheath now converted to full fibre; much of Slade Green, Erith, Belvedere and Abbey Wood has still to be migrated.

The end video is a newly produced one on a subject that I have covered in the past. It tells the story of the very short lived Dartford Tunnel Bicycle Bus back in the 1960's. Comments and feedback to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.