Thamesmead.

I recently wrote an article about the proposed extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Thamesmead. In that article, I expressed the opinion that I would not hold my breath as to whether the project would actually go ahead, due to problems with both planning, and more importantly funding. It would appear that I was incorrect, which I have to say in this instance pleases me greatly. In an announcement last week, the two main project sponsors, Transport for London and the Greater London Authority have said that the construction of new track and two new DLR stations at Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead Waterfront, including a new tunnel under the River Thames to link Beckton and Thamesmead would have substantial benefits for the area. According to research that they have undertaken, the scheme would cost approximately £1.5 billion. As I'm sure many people will be aware, this figure is in my opinion likely to go up substantially, as happened with the Elizabeth Line project. The DLR extension would bring additional benefits, including the construction of up to 30,000 new homes, in excess of 10,000 jobs and would also deliver £15.6 billion in economic growth to areas that are substantially deprived at present. The report also stated that a majority of the finance of the construction would come from loans taken out by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London, whilst it is said that the government would also contribute a substantial portion of the cash needed to build the extension. The report also stated that if the extension project got planning approval, construction of the extended line should begin in 2029 and open for travellers by 2033. Both Beckton and Thamesmead have much in common, they are both substantially brownfield sites, they suffer from high unemployment and very poor public transport. It had been hoped that the projects would also include an extension to Abbey Wood station to link up with the Elizabeth Line, but it would appear that this has now been dropped from the plans. The reason for this has been stated due to the large increase in costs and environmental concerns that this would cause. Nevertheless, if the project does get to the green light, it should be a major boost to the local area and provide a direct link into central London from Thamesmead. Currently residents have to travel by bus or car to Abbey Wood station, where they can pick up the Elizabeth Line or the overland train into central London. This can add a substantial amount of time to a commute, and also an increase in travel costs. One of the main reasons that Thamesmead has struggled with growth since its inception has been that the original designers of the town expected that nearly all of the residents would own cars and drive everywhere, so they did not give much thought to the use of public transport. In fact, the incidence of private car ownership within the town is substantially lower than the national average, making the improvements to public transport a high priority in order to encourage both economic and social growth. For more information about the proposed Docklands Light Railway extension, you can click here for their official website.

Opposite what historically was the Anchor Bay Farm - now the Frobisher Road housing estate on Manor Road, Erith, was (and still is) a terrace of cottages which date back to 1861. Behind these and the on the banks of the River Thames is a parcel of land on which nowadays you can find the Abbey Car Breakers, City Batteries (formerly Vinton Metals) and EMR - European Metal Recycling. All three organisations use land that used to be occupied by an absolutely massive factory operated by The British Fibrocement Works. The factory - which was the largest of its type in the UK, manufactured cement items which were reinforced and made fireproof by the addition of Asbestos fibres. This company manufactured Asbestos cement sheets under the "Fibrent" name, used for walls and ceilings, and produced slates for roofing. The company expanded its operation beyond the original site, which previously had been an iron works, to incorporate land to the south, this of which was formerly occupied by Anchor Bay Farm and a large brick works. You can see an aerial view of the factory from February 1939 above - click on the image to see a larger version. You can see a number of other aerial photos of the factory and surrounding area by clicking here. Nowadays the production of Asbestos containing products is banned by international law, due to the highly toxic nature of the material. Much of the Asbestos used in the British Fibrocement Works was originally mined in Ukraine. Parts of the factory buildings still exist today. 

The building in the photo above, which was taken back in 2020 (click on it for a larger view) it was located in Wheatley Terrace Road, Erith.  It was demolished three years ago. It formed part of the storage area of Abbey Car Breakers, but it once was the engineering machine shop for the British Fibrocement Works. This was where the Asbestos fibre reinforced cement manufacturing machinery was repaired and maintained, and also where specialist tools were made. Now the area is exclusively industrial, but at the time the aerial photo was taken, it was actually also residential, with houses directly opposite the factory, and around the corner in a road which was called Rumford Place, which sadly no longer exists - the houses in Rumford Place were badly damaged during World War 2 bombing, and were subsequently demolished. British Fibrocement Works carried out a lot of contracts for The Admiralty; indeed, they had an exclusive contract for the supply of Asbestos insulation and fire protection for Royal Navy vessels for several decades. All of the submarines, and pretty much all of the surface vessels refitted at the huge Royal Navy dockyard at Chatham in the pre and post World War 2 era, up until the early 1970's used large quantities of Asbestos, both as pipe insulation, and for fire – proofing. Many of the civilian and military personnel were exposed to Asbestos dust during engineering works. As is now well known, exposure to Asbestos particles over time can cause Asbestosis, as well as several types of cancer. Nationwide there are nearly five thousand asbestos-related deaths a year (about half of which are from Mesothelioma). The Medway area, which includes Chatham Dockyard, is in the UK’s top four for asbestos related deaths. A total of 104 people died from Mesothelioma in Medway between 2006 and 2010. This is way above the number one would expect from such as geographically small area. I understand that several legal cases were lodged by former Chatham Dockyard workers with the Ministry of Defence over Asbestos related illnesses allegedly caused to people working there in the past. I ought to make it abundantly clear that the dockyard (now a popular museum and film location – it is regularly used by the producers of “Call the Midwife” to stand in for 1960’s Poplar, and the producers of films including Sherlock Holmes – a Game of Shadows, Les Miserables, Children of Men, and The World is Not Enough have used the place as a location) is absolutely not now an Asbestos or radiation risk. The dockyard makes for a fine family day out, with plenty to see and do for all ages. It even has an excellent pub / restaurant in The Ship and Trades, run by Shepherd Neame. You can read about the Chatham Historic Dockyard Museum here.

Over the past couple of weeks, Bexley Council has been getting their domestic waste collection contractor to fix a sticker onto the lid of every households non-recyclable waste bin. The sticker, which is quite often haphazardly and carelessly stuck onto the bin in a wonky and very slapdash manner, is designed to remind householders that food waste is to be stored in the separate food waste caddy and not in the non-recyclable bin prior to collection. I've had some considerable feedback from local residents regarding this enterprise, and much of it has not been encouraging. The general consensus is that the stickers are patronising, condescending and unnecessary, and the waste collection contractors take little if any care of how they fix the reminder stickers to the green bin. Some have been so annoyed with this undertaking that they have removed the unsightly stickers from their bins. Personally, I do wonder how much the design, production and deployment of these stickers has cost Bexley Council, and whether they will actually recoup the cost in the form of recycling savings. I fully appreciate the sentiment behind the reminders, but I feel that Bexley Council have taken a somewhat high-handed and prescriptive approach. It seems to be all stick and no carrot. It is also treating local residents as if they are irresponsible concerning their use of the recycling bins, which in many cases I feel is not an accurate reflection of the situation. It has also annoyed a substantial number of people, which seems to be counterproductive. I know that Malcolm of the excellent Bexley is Bonkers Blog has taken exception with local waste collection services in the past. I have to say in this instance I have to add my own voice to his. I get the feeling that somebody in the waste management department of Bexley Council had the idea without doing sufficient research, and taking due consideration of the possible negative effects. It seems to be another case of the law of unintended consequences. 

The historic photo above (click on the photo for a larger view) was taken in Erith High Street in July 1969, very shortly before the old high street shops were demolished to make way for the much hated brutalist concrete shopping centre. The bus in the photo was operated by the coach and transport company Margo's, whose head office was located at 45, the Broadway, Bexleyheath. The pictured bus is an ex Southdown Leyland Titan PD2/12 with Northern Counties bodywork built in 1955 and acquired by Margo's in 1969. It is great to see an unusual shot of old Erith; I know that I am far from the only local resident who regrets the passing of the old town centre - though I was too young to remember it; my only terms of reference are historic photographs such as the one above. My own feeling is that if the planners had sympathetically restored the old town centre instead of demolishing it, we could now have a tourist attraction similar to Whitstable, but located on the banks of the River Thames. One only has to look at the excellent work that international management consultancy the Aleff Group have done to conserve and restore the Cross Keys to imagine what it would be like if the whole of the old town had been so sympathetically curated.

There are strong indications that three local bus services may have their routes changed,  their frequency reduced, or even completely withdrawn. The services 96, 428, and 492. Currently all three call at Darent Valley Hospital and the Bluewater Shopping Centre. There is a distinct possibility that all three bus services may be drastically reduced in number, or forced to terminate in Dartford Town Centre, or in a worst case scenario be completely cancelled. The reason for this is that these bus services travel in a dedicated bus lane between Dartford and Darent Valley Hospital. This bus lane is owned and operated by Kent County Council, whereas the buses are operated by Transport for London. The Council charge TfL a fee to use the bus lane, and they intend to increase these charges substantially, which TfL say would make the bus routes uneconomic. For many local residents who need to attend appointments at Darent Valley Hospital, these bus services are vital. Car parking at the hospital is extremely expensive, if available. Many of the patients do not drive and are reliant on public transport. If these bus services terminate at Dartford, are reduced in frequency or completely cancelled, elderly and vulnerable people may not be able to travel for hospital treatments. Many are on low incomes and could not afford the cost of a cab fare. Conversely, residents of North Kent wishing to travel into South East London would find it increasingly difficult to do so. The 96 bus service runs between Woolwich and Bluewater, calling at Plumstead, Welling, Bexleyheath, Crayford and Darent Valley Hospital, terminating at the Bluewater Shopping Centre. The 428 bus service runs between Erith and Bluewater, calling at Slade Green, Crayford, Dartford and Darent Valley Hospital. The 492 bus service runs between Sidcup and Bluewater, also via the hospital. A suggestion that occurs to me is that as many shoppers also use these three bus services in order to visit Bluewater, perhaps the management of the shopping centre could help subsidise the Kent County Council bus lane fee, as it would be in their financial interest to do so.

The end video this week returns to the subject of Thamesmead; it is a twenty minute black and white documentary filmed and transmitted by the BBC in 1972. it features a series of interviews with both Thamesmead residents, and the architect that was responsible for the brutalist concrete design of the place. It also is a valuable piece of social history from 54 years ago. Please feel free to send any observations and comments to me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.