The Auction.

The photos above (click on either to see a larger version) were taken yesterday at the very first event to be held in the former Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road, Erith since it was taken over by local arts, heritage and community group The Exchange. As covered in the last update, the former library has been open every day for the last week to allow viewing of the 230 art works on display. The works had been created by members of the Centrepieces mental health arts charity. Founded in 1999, Centrepieces is a registered charity which helps adults in their mental health recovery through art. The organisation’s work centres on an effort to improve the confidence, well-being and self-esteem of people suffering with mental illness, while offering an opportunity to build a social community and promote a better understanding of mental health to the wider public. Centrepieces provides the resources for people to participate in art workshops and activities, and to exhibit and sell their artwork. Running regular workshops, which encompass art practices from sculpture and painting to mask making and photography, they are committed to providing their artists with the tools and the environment for creative expression. Yesterday the exhibited artworks were put up for public auction to raise money both for the artists themselves, and also for Centrepieces. I was in attendance, as were a large number of people, some of whom had travelled from as far away as Colchester in order to attend and bid for items. The former library restoration is very much a "work in progress" with most of the first phase refurbishment efforts being focused on the lower ground floor, and on the (now completed) replacement of the roof of the building. Phase two of the restoration will concentrate on the main library space on the ground floor - where the exhibition and auction took place - and on the upper floor which used to contain the Erith Museum, and the private apartment that once housed the Chief Librarian and his family. I don't currently have the total amount of money raised by the event, but I think it will be substantial, as many works were sold, and some even became the subject of a bidding war. A very successful event, especially considering the absolutely foul weather on the day. 

The whole situation in regard of Electricity House and the two major occupants of the 80 year old building has taken a new and intriguing twist. Extremely reliable information has been passed onto me from a regular anonymous local source. The former Bright Steps children's nursery - forcibly closed after it lost its Ofsted licence to operate after a child was smacked by a member of staff, and the owner of the nursery covered this up by deleting CCTV recordings in a subsequent Police and Ofsted investigation - is now up for commercial rent, as can be seen on the estate agents website. As well as this, the contentious P2 Events Centre - located in the former Erith Snooker Centre in the upper floor of the same block, is also up for rent, after efforts to market the venue for social and business meetings seem to have fallen flat. The P2 Events Centre has attracted unfavourable attention due mainly to the misleading photographs and information presented on their slick website. If you look at the middle of the three photographs above - click on any of them for a larger version - you will see the image of the main hall portrayed of the P2 Centre from their website. The lower of the three images is the actual hall - image taken from the estate agents' website that are trying to rent out the facility. As you can see, reality is markedly different from the image portrayed on the P2 Events Centre website. I get the feeling that many potential customers were attracted by the glossy (but entirely false and very misleading) images on the website, but when they came for a viewing, their hopes were brought crashing to the ground when they saw the dismal reality of the run down and scruffy venue. As I have said on more than one occasion in the past, I am strongly of the opinion that the owners of both facilities in Electricity House are playing a very clever game. I do not believe for one instant that either the nursery or the events centre were ever intended to be viable business propositions; instead I feel that their owners have been carrying out a sophisticated "land grab" on the now end of life 1930's building, so that when it becomes the target of a compulsory purchase order by Bexley Council, the owners can claim that due to the investment that have put into the old building, their compensation should be considerably greater that the norm for such a building. Basically they have spent pennies on making the P2 Events Centre look like a viable business, but in reality is it nothing but "smoke and mirrors" to try and deceive Bexley Council when it comes to deciding compulsory purchase remuneration. Incidentally, information has recently come to my notice that Bexley Council are indeed quietly approaching the various lease holders in Electricity House with regard to buying out their leases prior to compulsory purchase of the old building, which is a prime site for redevelopment. If the owners of the nursery and the events centre can get sitting tenants into the building prior to any compulsory purchase negotiations, this will undoubtedly strengthen their bargaining position with the council.

A press release from local organisation The Exchange:- "The Exchange are pleased to present a three week Pop up Cinema and Grotto Bar in the former Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road, Erith. They will be sifting through the library bookshelves for cinematic inspiration; poetry, classic literature, short stories, comics and graphic novels will get the big screen treatment. Films include Black Panther, O Brother Where Art Thou, Beauty and the Beast, Persepolis, Pulp Fiction, The Muppet Christmas Carol and Its a Wonderful Life.  Tickets are £4 for Adults; £2 for under-16s.  The accompanying Grotto Bar is being created using decorations donated by local company James Glancy Design; the menu includes a tasty selection of festive drinks and snacks including mulled cider, mulled apple juice and spiced nuts. For more information and to book tickets, visit: www.theexchangeerith.com/events"

Two weeks ago I wrote at some extent about the problems with the deployment of smart energy meters in the UK, and how the project was in danger of failure. Since I wrote that piece, additional information has come to light, which means a follow - up article. Parliamentarians are set to haul civil servants in for a grilling after the National Audit Office (NAO) confirmed the UK will miss its 2020 smart meter rollout target, piling an extra £500m onto the cost of the £11bn project. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) underestimated how long it would take to implement the infrastructure and technical standards for the second generation of Smart Meters (SMETS2).  Smart meters come in two forms at the moment, SMETS1 and SMETS2. SMETS1 is the get-it-up-and-running basic specification. Most of these meters are operator-specific, a bit like having your mobile phone handset locked to a particular network, and, as the NAO noted, nearly 950,000 of these have already lost their smart features as a result of customers changing supplier - if you change your energy supplier, a vast majority of SMETS1 meters become dumb meters, just like the one it replaced. Full functionality came with the SMETS2 standard, which supported all of the data-broadcasting features that were supposed to make smart meters a viable economic prospect in the first place. The audit office's report stated:- “Significant technical delays resulted in the first SMETS2 meters only being installed in July 2017, over three years later than first planned. In their absence, energy suppliers have installed 12.5 million SMETS1 meters, 7.1 million more than the Department’s planned 5.4 million. Pressing on at full speed to get SMETS2 units installed by 2020 “is putting increasing timetable pressure on the programme” according to the NAO, risking “cost escalation and/or technology being rolled out before defects have been addressed". The NAO calculated that savings to consumers will now be less than £18 per year. Ten years ago, when the Cabinet Office was pondering whether to commit the country to the £11bn project, that per-household benefit was supposed to be £23 by 2020. A meeting is scheduled to be held on the 9th January where a Parliamentary committee will question senior civil servants as to whether the 2020 completion date for the smart meter project will have to be extended due to the failure of take up of the meters by the general public. I get the feeling that this story has plenty of time left to run. 

Now for an article from guest contributor Dave Collings:- "I thought that you and your readers might be interested to know about the closures of the Pop In Parlours in the Borough. (Now called Well Being Centres). There have been several of these providing a valuable service to our older population for many years. The number of parlours have sadly dwindled and the last 3 are being closed this week. Age UK Bexley used to run these parlours in property owned by Bexley Council. The people attending the parlours only discovered this month that the closures were imminent. Meetings were arranged by Age Uk Bexley and well attended by the consumers. The decision had already been made prior to these meetings and there was no flexibility regarding the closure date. As well as providing a much needed resource for the  older community, the closure has had a serious effect on the clubs that hired rooms in the parlours. Age UK Bexley assured one of the clubs that this would not affect the room hire and we would be invoiced as usual in the new year. Fortunately we checked this with Bexley Council to find that in fact the buildings will be closed and no longer available for hire after the end of December 2018. They stated that they had only recently been told that Age UK were withdrawing from the buildings. Clubs that have been running for many years may be forced to close as it is not easy finding alternative venues for evening and weekend activities. This will have serious repercussions for the North Kent Radio Society who have met at the Graham Road, Bexleyheath facility for over 30 years". A fascinating insight into the local situation; it would seem that Bexley Council have taken a very narrow - minded view on closing these community assets. Whilst I understand that the Age UK centres have not been getting the amount of use that would justify them continuing as dedicated meeting places for retired people, it does seem that the needs of other community groups that have historically shared the buildings has been overlooked. There is a solution, which to date has not yet been communicated to the clubs and community groups in the borough. That is, why not transfer your meeting place to the former Carnegie Library in Erith? The Exchange welcome community groups and clubs to use the newly refurbished building as their meeting place. In many ways it has much more to offer than the old well being centres - subject to discussion in individual cases, of course. A declaration of interest here; I am a trustee of The Exchange, so I do have a direct involvement in the matter. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Following my article last week on the response to the Bexley Council Growth Strategy document by residents of Slade Green, I have had the following response, which I publish in full. "Re your article about the Bexley Growth Strategy draft consultation (you say 'the proposed Bexley regeneration consultation project') ... you talk about more 'lurid' claims not having come to pass, but omit to say that quite a lot of residents in Slade Green wrote in to respond to the consultation on the draft and that Bexley toned down what was in the draft when they published the actual Strategy. You also fail to mention the role played by Bexley's officers, who contradicted each other at the various public consultation events (some within my own hearing at the consultation event in Slade Green) with some telling Slade Green residents that there would be compulsory purchases and some saying there wouldn't be. (Despite local residents groups asking several times, I still haven't seen a straight answer to that, perhaps you might be able to extract an answer from someone?) Despite the toning down the Strategy still calls for 8000 new homes in Slade Green with a high street (strategy states 'of similar size and function to existing centres such as Northumberland Heath and Bexley Village'), offices and mansion block housing close to Slade Green station in areas where there is currently low rise housing (see page 30, pages 110-112). The area around Crescent Road still falls in the 400m radius area for 'Urban High Density' mansion blocks in Erith (see pages 107 and 108). (Here I must note some bias on my part - my mid-terrace house in Slade Green sits well within the area the strategy says will be mansion blocks). The Strategy doesn't go into much detail on Crossrail, you have to realise just what is implied by the 'dedicated infrastructure' referred to (page 86) and dig around to understand that that is new tracks alongside the existing tracks. I think it will be difficult to have two extra tracks between Abbey Wood and Dartford and avoid an impact on housing. (I participated in several weeks of the Public Inquiry into the proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange this summer and note that no-one from the GLA or Dartford disputed claims by the appellant that their freight trains would not interfere with the running of the proposed Crossrail extension because Crossrail would be on dedicated tracks)". Some interesting and enlightening information; if any other reader has a view on the Growth Strategy, then please contact me via Email in confidence - hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Proposals have recently been published relating to the possible local listing of Erith Town Hall - pictured above - click on the image for a larger view. Bexley maintains a Local List of buildings and structures that have been identified as positive elements within the local environment due to their local historic or architectural significance. Locally listed buildings are of local significance, as opposed to national significance. They are heritage assets that contribute to our understanding of the borough’s past and inform its present character. They add to the quality of the local environment. Buildings on the Local List are not subject to additional statutory controls, but their conservation and enhancement is an objective of national, London-wide, and local planning policy, and therefore is a material consideration when determining planning applications. Erith Town Hall opened on 2 June 1932 and is of historic importance locally in that it provided services for the locality as part of the Erith Borough Council (and formerly Erith Urban District Council). Erith Town Hall remains an attractive and prominent landmark building located within Erith Town Centre and retains the original Council Chamber. The building is the only remaining purpose-built Town Hall within the borough. It is currently utilised for some of the statutory functions which are provided by The London Borough of Bexley. Personally I find it somewhat surprising that the building has been proposed for a local listing, as it is my understanding that one of the prime conditions for local listing is that the building in question should be substantially unchanged since it was constructed; this cannot be said of Erith Town Hall, which had an additional storey added (the raised roof level) in the early 1990's. I also am aware that the Council are looking to dispose of the building, now that its main function - as the centre for council tax and housing benefits has been merged with Bromley, Erith Town Hall is now somewhat underused. It also makes me wonder that the cost of converting if for another use - for example as a hotel, might be greater than the cost of demolishing it and replacing it with an entirely new structure. As mentioned earlier, Electricity House, which is directly opposite, is of a similar vintage, and is already being targetted by Bexley Council in an attempt to buy out the leases prior to an expected compulsory purchase order being sought. I would not be at all surprised if the council refuses the local listing application in order to make the old town hall as attractive as possible to a developer. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

At long last, it may finally come to pass that Erith Station gets step - free access to the London bound platform. Local MP Teresa Pearce has been campaigning for years on the issue. The fact remains that if you are a wheelchair user, or a parent with a heavy pram or buggy, it is not possible to take a train towards London from Erith. You have to go on the Kent bound platform to Dartford Station, then change there to pick up a London bound train. This means you go three stops in the opposite direction, only to then come back on yourself. Apart from the inconvenience this brings, there is the added expense of what should really be an unnecessary journey. You can see Teresa's campaign website for step free access to Erith Station by clicking here. As you can gather, the campaign has been running for seven years now, and only in the last couple of days has anything positive come of it - better late than never I suppose.

Now for the weekly local safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly a report from Barnehurst ward:- "Barnehurst has suffered one burglary in the last week. This burglary occurred in Edendale Road on Tuesday 27th November 2018 between midnight and 06.00am. Entry was gained via the front UPVC door which had not been double locked. Coats were taken off the bannister on ground floor and items taken. It is believed suspects were looking for keys to a high value vehicle that was parked on the drive way. We cannot stress enough the importance of double locking your front door and if you have an alarm please set it every morning / night. The Barnehurst team posted six hundred letters to property's inviting residents to a street briefing in Westfield Road. Approximately one hundred residents attended and crime prevention advice was given with regards home security. Our next community contact session has been cancelled due to change of shifts, please see next week's alert for updates". Belvedere ward, From a Neighbourhood Watch Member - Abbey Road:- "Around 10 am a neighbour who lives on an elevation saw from her front bedroom window a man walking slowly down the alleyway (leads to Laymarsh). ‘He was looking from left to right and then peered over the fence into the garden of the 1st house. Then he walked back along Abbey Rd, turned into Shortlands Close and returned with 3 other men. They all walked back into the alley and started peering over the fence, at which point I opened the bedroom window and shouted 'Oi!' and they all immediately pulled their hoods over their faces and walked back to Shortlands Close - making obscene gestures at me. Shortly after they'd disappeared from sight they reappeared in a white unmarked Transit van and drove off towards Abbey Wood. The 1st man to appear yesterday was tall, red haired and wearing black tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe down each leg, a sweater and something with a grey hood and a yellow hi viz jacket. The other 3 who appeared later all looked much the same as each other I'm afraid and I can't recall anything distinctive other than that one of them seemed to be all in grey. The van was parked out of sight, not on the main road, but when it appeared after they'd all rushed off with their hoods pulled up. A family member was fairly sure that he could see them inside. It was a scruffy unmarked white Transit van with a ladder on the roof and although it was almost out of sight by the time he took the photo the reg no looks like either ND59 XGM or NO59 XGM or even XGN'. We have had no other reports of any other suspicious activity however as it is darker earlier we are all being vigilant". Bexleyheath ward:- "We have had two reports of burglary on the ward. One was reported along Lynsted Close Bexleyheath. Entry was gained via the front door of the property. The other was reported along Latham Road Bexleyheath, entry was via the rear kitchen door window. Regular burglary patrols are conducted by the team. There has been three reports of mobile phones being stolen along the Broadway on the Monday 26/11/2018 & Tuesday 27/11/2018. Two were stolen from pockets and one from a handbag that was placed on a pushchair. The team conduct regular hi-visibility patrols. Also patrols are conducted in the car park areas and the Broadway to reduce anti-social behaviour including Martens Grove Park. As a result a group was stopped in the cinema car park. One was arrested for possession with the intent to supply. Also another male was arrested for possession of drugs. Regular patrols are conducted by the team along Gravel Hill because of children running out on the road causing a danger. Team is liaising with school officers on the borough. Our next drop-in surgery is on Friday 7th December between 2pm and 3pm at Café Nero on the Broadway. Please feel free to drop by. 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. If you are after crime prevention advice, please look at the Met Police website which has lots of information that you may find useful. Remember in an emergency please dial 999 and 101 for non-urgent reporting". From a Pinnacle Hill, Bexleyheath, Neighbourhood Watch Member:- "I have had a report from one of my watch members. Earlier this month while a mother and her adult daughter (the ladies) were in a shop in Bexleyheath, they were subjected to a 'bag dipping' by two Eastern European looking women in their thirties (the women). One of the women dropped an item on the floor next to one of the ladies. While that lady helped the woman pick up the dropped item, the second woman took the lady's mobile phone from her bag. Luckily, she had felt a tug on her bag, and soon became aware that her mobile phone was missing. When the women were challenged, they remonstrated saying that the missing phone must be in the ladies bags. A call was made immediately to the missing phone and it rang from where it had been placed on a shelf in the shop. At this the two women made off running from the shop. The phone was recovered. These events bear the hallmarks of professional 'bag dipping' style pickpockets. The purpose of placing the phone on the shelf was to ensure that no one had seen or noticed what they were doing. Only finally to have taken it when sure no one had. Everyone should remember, not only when shops are busy and crowded, but at all times that pickpockets work together and do more than just bump and distract to steal people's belongings". Crayford ward:- "Here is our news for this week. Just to let you know, I'm away next week, it may be an idea to email John Cullingham, Scott Gardiner or Chris Murphy directly to remind them to do the update!! Sadly, another week where burglars have been out and about. On Wednesday 21st November between 02.00 - 6.30 a house in Wyatt Road was entered through the front door. It was believed the door had been locked and secure. Keys to a Citroen Relay van were stolen and used to steal the van parked outside, other items stolen included cash, driving licence, mobile phone, power tools and credit card. On Monday 26th November between 00.20 and 06.00 a house was entered through the porch door and internal front door of a property in Barnes Cray Road. After a messy search, keys, a watch and handbag were stolen as was the grey Audi Q7, number plate LX15 NBY that was parked outside. It is believed the vehicle has since been involved in a local incident in Welling. The cards have been used but now cancelled and some items from the vehicle have now been recovered. There was an attempted burglary in Shearwood Crescent between 02.00 - 03.00 on Tuesday 27th November. The owner heard a noise near the door and opened it and scared off the prospective burglar. On 13th November the front and rear number plates were stolen from a red Hyundai Sovereign V8 auto whilst parked in Barnes Cray Road. On a more positive note, a prolific shop lifter who frequents Crayford was arrested, charged and taken to court this week and sentenced to four months in prison. Two dangerous dog warrants were executed this week, one dog was seized pending further investigation. Please don't be a needless victim of burglary, lock your doors and windows are locked when you go out and ensure your home is secure when you retire to bed". Erith ward:- "Good news - no Burglaries this week in Erith, bad news we have been hit hard with theft from motor vehicles. Please make sure you fully remove any items from your car when you lock it up at night. Don't leave anything on show. Date for you to note Friday 30th November - This Friday we will be in the Blackberry Patch Orbit office from 7pm. Feel free to pop in if you need to speak to us about anything. Theft of MV 21/11/2018, Thanet Road - By suspects by taking the vehicle without the consent of the owner; Shoplift <£200 21/11/2018 Matalan Retail Ltd; Theft from MV 22/11/2018, Neptune Walk - vehicle entered via unknown means and searched; Theft from MV 24/11/2018 James Watt Way - By suspects forcing entry to van and stealing equipment; Theft from MV 23/11/2018 Morrison's, Pier Road – no more details at this time; Theft from MV 24/11/2018 St Johns Road - Unknown suspect has unscrewed both front and rear VRM plates; Theft from MV 24/11/2018 James Watt Way - By suspect by using an unknown object to smash a window then taking the property from within; Shoplift <£200 08/11/2018 Farmfoods Ltd, Pier Road; Theft of MV 26/11/2018, Avenue Road – car taken; Theft from MV 27/11/2018 Windrush Court, Erith, – Car broken into smashed window and messy search". Northumberland Heath ward:- "The team have been conducting patrols through Northumberland Heath's current ASB and crime hotspot areas. In all of the areas patrolled, all appeared well. PC Smith from the North Heath team conducted an arrest enquiry in Frinstead Road, one male was arrested for shoplifting offences. We have unfortunately had one incident of note reported this last week: Residential burglary overnight between 26th-27th November in Frinstead Road. Entry was gained through a side entrance into the property, car keys stolen from inside the property and then the vehicle was stolen from outside. If you have any information in relation to any of these incidents please report this to the police and continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour or activity you see".

Slade Green and Northend ward:- "Three vehicle crimes to report in the last week. On Thursday 22/11 at around 10pm, a van was deliberately set on fire in Frobisher Road, CCTV footage from a phone has so far been inconclusive in identifying anyone involved. Overnight on Saturday 24/11 a car window was smashed in Jenningtree Road and a similar incident happened overnight on Sunday 25/11 in Whitehall Lane. Nothing taken in either incident and enquiries are ongoing. An empty flat in Frobisher Road was broken into sometime last Thursday 22/11 and the water tank was taken along with taps and other fixtures and fittings. The relevant Housing Association are aware and have secured the property. Last Friday there was a large fire at a tyre place out on the Industrial Estate of the marshes. We assisted LFB for over 5 hours with the road being closed at Ray Lamb way which caused a standstill for traffic all the way back to Erith town centre for the whole time. This was due to LFB discovering gas canisters inside a shipping container at the location and all safety measures had to be taken. The road re-opened at around 4.45pm and it took around an hour to get all the traffic back down onto the estate. We attended the St Augustines Christmas Fair last Saturday and gave crime prevention advice to everyone that attended. On Sunday, we assisted Belvedere SNT with the annual Guru Nanak Sikh parade through parts of Erith and Belvedere. The event went without any issues except the usual disruption to traffic for several minutes as the parade passed. This coming week PCSO Mark is attending Peareswood Primary School to do some reading with the pupils. On Saturday it is the Slade Green Big Local Christmas Fair at St Augustines church hall starting at 11am and we will be in attendance with Mark doing a stint as Santa from 1pm". Thamesmead East ward:- "No Burglaries this week but the Thamesmead East Ward has been subject to a rise in car crime. Criminal Damage to Motor Vehicle - Grange Crescent on Saturday 24/11/18 between 3pm – 26/11/18 8am Tyre slashed/stabbed and punctured by persons unknown; Leatherbottle Green Sunday 25/11/19 between 5:50pm-7pm Both wing mirrors smashed; Glimpsing Green Sunday 25/11/18 between 5-6:30pm Concrete block thrown onto bonnet of car causing damage; Wolvercote Road been cut open, nothing taken from vehicle; Wolvercote Road Monday 26/11/18 between 6:30pm -28/11/186:30am Window smashed money taken unknown quantity; Parkway Monday 26/11/18 between 8:25am-5pm Brick thrown through window by unknown person; Fieldfare Road Monday 26/11/18 between 7:50pm-8pm Suspect unknown smashed passenger window of victims vehicle. Theft From Motor Vehicle - Southmere Drive Saturday 24/11/18 between 6pm-10am Indicator cover stolen; Lensbury Way Sunday 25/11/18 8:30pm-8am Window smashed car manual stolen; Hartslock Drive Saturday 25/11/19 9:30am-12:30 Various documents stolen from vehicle including victims Passport; King Fisher Close Wednesday 28/11/18 between 6:30am-6:50am Sat Nav, phone and wallet taken from victims vehicle. The next meeting will be Tuesday 11th December at Lakeside Medical Centre in Yarnton Way between 1-2pm". West Heath ward:- "Over the last week on Wednesday 21/11/18 a car's wing mirrors were damaged in New Road SE2. There was a residential burglary in Brampton Road in the early hours of Monday 19/11/18, resident woke to find their back door had been forced open but nothing taken. Sometime between 0945-1450 hours on Monday 19/11/18 there was a second burglary in Brampton Road, the rear patio doors were smashed and an untidy search conducted and jewellery and vehicle stolen. There was another burglary in King Harold's Way sometime between Sunday 18th - Tuesday 20th November. While the occupants were away, entry was gained via the dog flap and items taken. In the early evening around 1745-1800hrs on Sunday 18th November there was an attempted burglary in Abbotts Walk. The occupant heard a loud bang and on investigation found a male in their doorway and the glass panel of the door smashed. The male ran off on seeing resident and 3 males were seen running off. On Tuesday 20th November a vehicle was stolen in Gipsy Road without the keys being taken and in Lansdowne Road on Friday 23rd November between 10pm and midnight items were stolen from a car. We have been made aware there may be a possible scammer in the King Harold's Way area. Two males, claiming to be builders working nearby, and noticing damage to residents roofs and offering to look in the loft. Once in the property the males spray a wall while the occupant is distracted then offer to repair the roof for an exorbitant fee. Due to the recent rise in burglaries on the ward the team have increased our high visibility burglary patrols both on foot and mobile CCTV patrols. We now have keys to the alley gates in target areas and have been patrolling the rear alleys and are stop and searching any suspicious persons".

The end video this week shows one of the two new Woolwich ferries before it was delivered to the UK. You can see the vessel on trial in Poland prior to its journey to Woolwich. Both ferries are now in place, and undergoing further end user acceptance testing on the River Thames before they go into service early in the New Year. 

The Carnegie Playhouse.

It would appear that someone in Upper Belvedere has taken a marked dislike to the proposed plans for the redevelopment of the former Belvedere Police Station in Nuxley Road. It has come to my attention that an anonymous person has been posting leaflets through the letter boxes of Belvedere houses highlighting what they perceive as the faults in the proposed redevelopment. Their main areas of concern are that the proposed apartment block to replace the former Police station will be five stories high, and it will have insufficient parking for the residents of the block. The anonymous individual obviously feels strongly on the subject, to have gone to the expense and trouble to print and deliver leaflets around the local area; what does concern me is that they have not included any contact details on the leaflet - it is not possible to respond to the individual who has posted it. You can read the leaflet by clicking here. Personally I don't have very much of a problem with the proposed design of the apartment block - it is a very generic design, similar in many ways to the Erith Baths development on the corner of Walnut Tree Road and Erith High Street - of which I am also fairly ambivalent. I think the anonymous protester has some valid points, but to be honest, the existing former Police station building is not exactly pleasing to the eye - it was built for function rather than form, and now that the function has ceased, it has little purpose as it stands. The developer needs to make a return on their investment, and the housing density may be higher than should be desired - I am not an expert on the subject. I suppose my surprise is that the relatively minor issues of design and specification would cause someone to get so upset that they would start a leafletting campaign - to my mind there are far more weighty issues to get concerned about. Replacing one minor local eyesore with another is hardly the most pressing of issues - it is happening all over the country after all. The fact remains that the land the former Police station stands on is now worth far more than the current building, and it would be impractical to refurbish or modify the current structure, so it must be replaced. The objector goes on to ask a rhetorical question as to where locals will go for a GP visit once the Cairngall Medical Centre (diagonally opposite the former Police station site) will go after the scheduled closure of the practice. It is my understanding that the Belvedere Medical Centre in Albert Road has more than sufficient capacity to take all of the former Cairngall patients. As previously mentioned, I had been a patient at the Cairngall Medical Centre since birth, and I recently transferred to the Belvedere Medical Centre very easily indeed - all you need to do is fill out a form and return it to the new surgery - they then write to you confirming your change of GP - all very straightforward indeed.

My article last week on Fireworks and the current state of the law has provoked quite a bit of reader feedback. One regular reader, and occasional contributor who chooses to remain anonymous writes:- "I just thought I would take up your offer of contacting you regarding your piece on fireworks. I have to say I am in 100 percent agreement with your view that they should be confined to professional public displays. I would just add that if firework displays are really wanted at private parties (weddings, birthdays, etc) they should only be allowed to be carried out by a certified professional, trained in all aspects of their use, and in all safety matters. I have been banging (no pun intended) on about this subject for many years. Seemingly, sad to say, to deaf ears. The usual response being that I am just a miserable old git who has forgotten what it's like to be a child. That may be so, but I have never forgotten some of the unnecessary injuries suffered by children (and others) who have been scarred for life, or even blinded by fireworks, or bonfires, over the years. When I was a child, we made our guy about a week or so before November 5th and tried to coerce cash out of stressed looking commuters leaving our local train station in the evening. However, any cash we could manage to force out of them invariably went on sweets, and not fireworks. These were usually provided by Dad, and he would never let us touch them. Only he would set them off, mostly, one at a time in the back garden. Nowadays the explosions, on a par with a First World War barrage, start around mid-October as a precursor to that American travesty, Halloween. The cacophony then drags on through Guy Fawkes Night, which now should be called Guy Fawkes Week. It continues on through Diwali until it reaches its climax when New Years Eve arrives. As a young teenager I, and my equally stupid friends, would cause all manner of mayhem with, mainly, banger type fireworks around the streets of Erith, and Slade Green. The only excuse I can offer is that we did not know any better. We were lucky that none of us suffered any major injuries, although there were a few minor mishaps. Looking back, it seems incredible to me that adults, who supposedly wished no harm to their own, or other people's children, should countenance the selling of such explosives to kids. Yes, we all know that there was, and remains, an age limit for the purchase of such items. However, we also all know, that those laws have always been flouted. Were such deadly items only to be the preserve of qualified professional people, there would still be the enjoyment, and excitement of firework displays. But without the heavy risks of serious injury. Of course, even at organised events, there is always the possibility of something going wrong. However, that is rare, and allows compensation to be sought in cases of negligence. There is no such recourse to law for the 10 year old who blows his hand off, or the 12 year old who gets blinded by the illegal use of fireworks". Another regular reader who contacted me was Nick Hair, the landlord of The Kentish Belle micro pub in Pickford Lane, Bexleyheath. He wrote:- "On Halloween itself a group of 30 youths stood outside the Kentish Belle and let off fireworks. Some, like multiple-shot rocket sort of things, were left in the road which began firing in the direction along the floor of the Co-op and therefore at the feet of commuters walking home. We immediately called the Police who spent the next 4 hours (they all finally stood down at circa 22:30) in 3 vans, 3 police cars and 1 unmarked car looking for groups to disperse them. A separate incident (albeit relevant) involved a gang of oiks on bikes cycling down residential streets kicking peoples’ car wing mirrors off - not at all useful. The reality is that whilst I am yet to say I wish to see fireworks banned outside of displays, the singular point we can all agree on is that it’s about education and respect for the fireworks’ capabilities and dangers. Parents who give children fireworks (or anyone over 18 buying them and then giving / selling them to kids) are the problem". so there you have it - views on fireworks from two prominent local residents.

You may recall that I broke a story back on the 28th of October, that the Bright Steps children's nursery located at 33A Bexley Road, Erith (see the photo directly above - click on it for a larger version) had lost a legal appeal to the withdrawal of their licence to operate by official regulator Ofsted. The nursery had been closed after a member of the public witnessed a staff member smacking a child. Ofsted and Bexley Police immediately launched an investigation into the incident, which involved examining CCTV security video recordings made in the Bright Steps nursery. It was eventually established that the owner and operator of the nursery, Mr. Saula Ogunkoya had deleted the video footage in order to cover up the assault. The Judge, when summing up the case, said:- "We find as a fact that:- (i) the Appellant failed to identify risks of harm, issues of health and safety, and to implement appropriate and safe child-handling practice; (ii) the Appellant repeatedly failed to manage children’s behaviour appropriately; (iii) the Appellant repeatedly failed to meet the requirements in relation to child protection procedures and safeguarding; his approach to the investigation into CO in 2016 and the allegation in 2018 is indicative of an inability and/or an unwillingness to learn from past mistakes and to prioritise the needs of the children in his care; (iv) the Appellant has historically and repeatedly failed to meet the learning and development requirements of the EYFS; (v) the Appellant failed to ensure the suitability of staff, specifically his sister CO in 2016; (vi) the Appellant failed to notify Ofsted of the police investigation into CO in 2016 and delayed suspending her; (vii) the history demonstrates that the Appellant is unable or unwilling to sustain compliance with requirements imposed by the regulations. (e) We find that the Appellant has been untruthful both to the Respondent, the Police, the Tribunal and all others involved in the investigation of the incident on 3/1/2018. His failure to co-operate mirrors his unwillingness to co-operate in November 2017. His lack of integrity and his failure to work openly and in collaboration with the Respondent results in the sad conclusion that he is not suitable to provide nursery provision. We therefore dismiss the appeal and there shall be no order as to costs". A very clear message from the court in relation to Saula Ogunkoya's suitability to operate a children's nursery. I, along with many local people had considered the matter now closed, but evidence has emerged over the last few days which gives further cause for concern. Not only is the former Bright Steps nursery website still up and active, it still incorrectly states that the nursery has Ofsted registration - which you can see by clicking here. More worryingly, a new website has gone live within the last week, which names a new nursery on the same site at 33A Bexley Road, which is about to open. The new nursery is called The Carnegie Playhouse - you can visit the website by clicking here. Contacts with Ofsted confirm that no application for a licence has currently been made by the operators of The Carnegie Playhouse, and the new websites' use of stock photo images rather than actual photos of the real site, along with a very suspicious recommendation"- "Yasmin loves being in the care of Sarah – I have noticed such a difference in her behaviour and the way she interacts with other children since being with her at the weekends. She has gained so much confidence" - bearing in mind the new nursery has not yet opened, how could such a favourable reference have been solicited? Additionally no details relating to the supposed nursery manager "Sarah Carnegie" can be located; I suspect that the person is entirely fictional, taking their surname from the nearby former Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road.

 I have Emailed the contact address for The Carnegie Playhouse, asking the following questions:-

1) Can you please let me know your Ofsted registration number?
2) What certification and insurances do your staff have, and have they got enhanced DBS checks?
3) What connection do you have with the former Bright Steps nursery, which until recently was based in the same premises?
4) Do Mr Saula Ogunkoya or Dr Chris Ogedengbe have any connection whatsoever with The Carnegie Playhouse?

At the time of writing I have not had a reply from The Carnegie Playhouse. I have strong suspicions that The Carnegie Playhouse is an underhand attempt to rebrand and relaunch Bright Steps. If my suspicions turn out to be correct, then this action could well prove to be illegal, as Saula Ogunkoya has been legally disbarred from running children's nurseries. If it is a genuine new group attempting to launch a new business, then they are going about it in a very opaque and deceitful manner. Either way, this story will no doubt develop over the weeks to come; I will update readers when additional information becomes available. If you have any information on the subject, then please contact me as a matter of priority - any information you can supply will be treated in the strictest of confidence. You can Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

A final update from local resident and amateur historian Roy Hillman, who has been undertaking research into local men who served in the First World War, and who have been commemorated on the Slade Green war memorial. Roy writes:- "We’re pleased to say that one of the trickier service records of men on the Slade Green War Memorial has been resolved, that of Leonard Dudley. Leonard was born Leonard Whiffen (sometimes Whiffin) in 1887, the son of Eliza Jane Whiffen. Eliza was brought up at 1 Farm Cottages, Slade Green (her father was a farm labourer) and as a teenager Eliza worked as a servant in the household of George Davis, a boot maker at 3 Crayford High Street. She was 21 when she gave birth to Leonard. By now Eliza’s parents are living at Killicks Cottages in Slade Green, next door are the Dudley family and in 1889 John Raven Dudley marries Eliza and they move into Norfolk Cottages, Hazel Road, Slade Green. A number of half brothers and sisters for Leonard follow - Eliza, John, Alfred, Walter, Annie, Arthur, Charlotte, Lucy, Cyril, Ethel and Edith plus 1 other - and at various times the family moves to other houses in Hazel Road – first 8 Castle Terrace and then Garden Cottage (which was probably No. 51 as the census record has it between No. 49 and No. 53). By 1901 Leonard has taken the Dudley surname and is working locally as a brick maker. He joins the Royal Garrison Artillery as a Gunner quite a while before World War 1, in 1908, and in 1911 he is garrisoned in Hong Kong. Unlike many professional soldiers he managed to survive the early years of the war. We're not sure how they met, but he married his wife Rosalie in 1916 at St James Church on the island of Jersey. Early in 1918 he received gunshot wounds to his back and was discharged from the army in February 1918, after which he returned to England. Sadly he never recovered from his wounds and died on 13th September 1918 and was buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey".

A report was published last week that highlighted the security loopholes and outright failures that can be found in the cash till machines used by most high street banks. The cash machines, more correctly termed Automated Teller Machines, or ATM's can be hacked in many ingenious ways. In order to understand this, a basic understanding of how an ATM works is required. An ATM consists of two main parts: cabinet and safe. The cabinet (main body) contains the ATM computer, which is connected to all the other devices: network equipment, bank card reader, keyboard (PIN pad), and cash dispenser (the dispenser itself is in the safe, but the connector is not). The cabinet is practically unprotected, with only a plastic door secured by a trivial lock. What's more, manufacturers usually use the same lock for all ATMs of the same series. Keys for these locks can be purchased easily online, although attackers can also pick them or drill through the flimsy plastic. The safe is more robust, being made of steel and concrete, and contains only the cash dispenser and cash acceptance module. The computer usually runs on Windows, in a special embedded version designed specifically for ATM use. Only administrators should have access to Windows; other users should not have such access. This is why user-facing applications run in kiosk mode. These applications provide all necessary functionality to the user: this is the interface that we see during normal ATM use. To do its job, the application must communicate with ATM peripherals: get card information from the card reader, obtain user input from the keyboard, and send commands to the cash dispenser. This communication takes place using XFS (eXtensions for Financial Services), a standard for simplifying and centralising banking equipment control. With XFS, a hardware manager makes an API (Application Programming Interface) available to all Windows applications and forwards requests to devices. Commands to each XFS-connected device are sent via the corresponding service provider (device driver).  An ATM never decides to dispense cash all by itself. When processing a transaction, it contacts the bank's processing centre. This connection is either wired or wireless (for example, via a mobile data network). It is important to secure the connection against data interception. In most cases, software or hardware Virtual Private Network (VPN) clients perform this task. So that is the basics of the ATM operation; now what of the exploit that have been found by crooks? Well the security report found that when their team of ethical hackers were let loose on some typical high street ATM units, they found that 15 were found to be still running the long unsupported Windows XP. 22 were vulnerable to a "network spoofing" attack where an attacker connects locally to the machine's LAN port and conduct fraudulent transactions. Such an attack takes around 15 minutes to complete. 18 were vulnerable to 'black box' attacks where an attacker physically connects a device to the machine and tricks it into spitting out cash. Positive notes these attacks can be carried out in about ten minutes with aftermarket computer boards (such as a Raspberry Pi). 20 could be forced to exit out of kiosk mode via a USB or PS/2 connection. From there, an attacker could access the underlying Operating System of the machine and execute additional commands. 24 had no data encryption in place on the hard drive, allowing an attacker who had access to the drive to pull any stored data and configuration info from the machine. In general, the research found that, for the most part, the protections used by ATMs to prevent theft and tampering were more or less superficial, and anyone who really wanted to get into a machine could often do so in under an hour. "More often than not, security mechanisms are a mere nuisance for attackers: our testers found ways to bypass protection in almost every case," the researchers said. Since banks tend to use the same configuration on large numbers of ATMs, a successful attack on a single ATM can be easily replicated at greater scale. One of the top recommendations the report made to banks is to harden up the physical security of the machines themselves. By physically securing the cabinets to lock away access to the inputs and compute hardware of the machines, many of the techniques used in the study could be thwarted. Additionally, the researchers recommend banks keep on top of logging and monitoring security events on their networks. At this year's DEF CON hacking conference one researcher explained how he'd approached banks about flaws in their ATMs, only to be told such things weren't possible. It was only when he told them he was going public with the research that the flaws were fixed by the banks.

Now for the weekly local safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "Two crimes of note to report this week both are burglaries which occurred to neighbouring properties in Parkside Avenue on Friday 9th November between 6.20pm and 8.15pm. Access was gained to both properties via an alleyway running along the at the back giving access to rear gardens. Entry to the first property was by suspect(s) forcing open a substantial wooden door, an implement similar to a crow bar would have been used. The house was searched but no property is believed to have been taken Access was gained to the second property next door by suspect(s) smashing a glass panel in the rear UPVC door a thorough search was conducted resulting in extensive damage within and a large quantity of cash and jewellery was stolen. We believe that this property was specifically targeted and the first property potentially entered in error. Please take time to check the security at the back of your property make access to rear gardens as difficult as possible, Think about how you would get into your own garden if side gates etc were locked and then make it as difficult as possible, plant spiny/prickly bushes against walls and fences, do not leave bins against walls or near gates as these can be used by suspects to climb over. Consider security lighting and install an alarm. The team are more than happy to pay you a visit and give advice regarding preventative security measures, just contact us and we will make an appointment to see you. The team received a commendation last week presented by our new SE BCU Borough Commander Chief superintendent Dobinson. The award was acknowledging our work in regards to an animal welfare warrant we conducted earlier this year in conjunction with the RSPCA which resulted in the closing down of a puppy farm and the rescue of 34 dog 18 cats and 9 puppies and dealing with the horrific scene of animal cruelty. A big thank you to the RSPCA who have now successfully prosecuted the persons involved one of which is still awaiting sentencing after having been found guilty this month. As always, please follow us on twitter @MPSBarnehurst for all the latest crime prevention advice and to find out what the team have been up to". Belvedere ward:- "Over the course of this week, PC Holmes and A/PS Green have interviewed a female in relation to supplying Class A drugs. A bag of white powder and drug dealing paraphernalia were recovered from a warrant we conducted at an address at the beginning of this month. We are sending the drugs to the lab to be identified before any charges are brought against the female. PC Holmes and PCSO Worrall issued a Harassment Warning to a male that has been abusing staff at Corals, Picardy Street. If his behaviour continues then he may be arrested and charged with harassment. We will continue to monitor the situation. There have been two burglaries on the ward, both on Wednesday 7th November – in Lower Road and also Carrill Way. The team have visited both locations to offer support, reassurance and crime prevention advice to the victims and neighbouring residents. PCSO Worrall discovered a stolen vehicle in Hattersfield Close which had been taken from an address in Bexleyheath. The vehicle has been recovered by Police and is currently being examined. Finally, we have received reports of possible drug dealing around Albert Road. If anyone has any information or sees anything suspicious then please get in contact". Bexleyheath ward - from a Neighbourhood Watch member:- "On Monday morning, when I went to get into my car, I found that someone had stuck matchsticks in all of the tyre valves, and they were all flat. The BBNWA office says that this would be classed as vehicle interference and should be reported to the police". Crayford ward, from a Neighbourhood Watch member:- "I just wanted to raise awareness of 3 in their twenties behaving in a suspect way today at 7:35 between Crayford station and Sainsbury's, in the block of flats area. They stopped in front of me and one approached me with the line 'it might sound embarrassing, but your fly is quite low' the other two were trying to stop me from moving forward. They got interrupted in their intentions by other people coming from behind me, so I quickly moved on. I thought I may raise this just in case anyone gets hurt".

From PCSO Joyce Barlow of the Crayford SNT:- "Firstly, an excellent result! On Saturday 10th November, Crayford SNT ably assisted by Bexleyheath team carried out a Section 23 Drugs warrant at an address in Halcot Avenue where a large amount of drugs and cash were seized. This is an ongoing investigation. Crimes of note this week. Outside McDonalds in Crayford on Saturday 10th November at about 17.15 a male was approached by a large group of youths, they threw a drink over him, he later found that his mobile phone, a gold Samsung S7 with a cracked screen had been stolen. On Monday 12th November there was a burglary at The Marlowes between midnight and 09.00. Entry was made through the UVPC front door, the car keys and an Apple Mac computer were taken from the dining table. The car outside was stolen but later recovered locally, locked and secured. Three Males were seen acting suspiciously in the area between 4-5am. On Monday 12th November there was an attempted break in of a vehicle parked in Alcock Crescent at about 5.30am, two wing mirrors were stolen, the victim does have CCTV of the incident, it has also become apparent that two neighbours also had thefts from their vehicles at about the same time. On Saturday 3rd November between 14.28 and 14.59 a Male stole a 100kg steel beam from a business in Acorn Industrial Estate, again there is CCTV. Officers from Crayford and Barnehurst SNT were presented with commendation certificates on Thursday 8th November for assisting the RSPCA with the closure of a puppy farm and the rescue of fifty plus dogs, puppies and cats in January 2018. We will be at Beano's café in Mayplace Road East on Wednesday 21st November between 1-2pm for a community contact session, please come along and speak to us if you have any concerns you would like to discuss, we will be seated to the rear of the café". Erith ward - no reports received this week. Northumberland Heath ward:- "The team have been conducting violent crime disorder patrols this last week, specifically targeted in hotspot areas across Erith. This has been a proactive and preventative initiative by Bexley Police and not in response to any specific intelligence or incident in the area. We have also been continuing our work patrolling Northumberland Heath's ASB hotspot area's and have in the last week changed several of our shifts to have a visible patrolling presence late into the evenings. Over the last week we have searched several people for drugs and have reported three people for possession of cannabis in Mill Road, Limewood Road and in West Street, Erith. We unfortunately had a burglary committed in Byron Drive. The front door to a residential property was forced open, some property taken including car keys and the occupants car from the driveway. This incident has been allocated to a CID officer who is currently investigating the incident. Other incidents reported to police include criminal damage to a motor vehicle and theft of number plates from another vehicle. None of these incidents appear to be linked. Please continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour or activity you see". Slade Green and Northend ward:- "A male was arrested by response officers in the early hours of last Friday (16th November) after being seen trying car door handles in Rainbow Road. After enquiries were made with evidence he was further arrested for attempted burglary after being seen to try several door handles on residents' front doors. On a sad note, especially as it was discovered just before Armistice Day, the memorial plaque at Slade Green BR station has been vandalised. Graffiti has been sprayed over the plaque which tells the story of some local Slade Green heroes during WW2. We have attached the poster appealing for help with any information relating to this despicable act. 2 vehicle crimes to report, on Sunday 11/112018 between 11am and 2pm, a catalytic converter was stolen from a car in Beacon Road. On Monday 12/11/2018 between 7am and 7pm a car had its passenger window smashed and door scratched in Oak Road, nothing was taken from inside. PC's Mark and James have made more than 10 Stop and Searches across the ward in the last week, 2 of which resulted in cannabis being seized and the relevant warnings given. On Remembrance Sunday we attended the memorial service at St Augustine's in Slade Green Road and it was nice to see the church with standing room only and a really good service took place with a lovely display in the church grounds". Thamesmead East ward:- "Tuesday 06/11/18 Alsike Road 9:30 – 10:00am Theft Wallet stolen from work van; Thursday 08/11/18 Yarnton Way 9:15 – 10:00am Criminal Damage to Motor Vehicle suspect unknown has smashed rear windscreen of vehicle using unknown method nothing stolen; Thursday 08/11/18 Seacourt Road 7am – Friday 09/11/18 1:50pm Criminal Damage/Vehicle Interference windscreen smashed damage to ignition where wires pulled out to try and hot wire the car, however the car had an immobiliser. Nothing taken from vehicle; Friday 09/11/18 Dolphin Close 9:30-8am Saturday Attempted Burglary A loud noise heard between times stated victim thought it was the washing machine when leaving the house the following morning two footprints were seen on the front door; Friday 09/11/18 Leatherbottle Green 7:45pm – 21:15pm Criminal Damage to Motor vehicle. Car has been damaged by chunks of tarmac ( nearby road repairs) The tarmac has been thrown car causing dents and scratches to the paintwork on the driver's side door and to the driver's side window; Saturday 10/11/18 Manordeane Road 12pm Vehicle Interference driver's side window was smashed, and an untidy search had been carried out inside the vehicle; Monday 12/11/18 Sydney Road 08:00-20:30 Burglary victim returned home to find the property locked from the inside untidy search of house. Entry gained through the rear". West Heath ward:- "Unfortunately during this week the ward has suffered several burglaries and one attempted burglary. In Berkeley Avenue the front door of a property was forced on Wednesday 7th November between 0830 – 1930 hours no property was taken but an untidy search was conducted. On Sunday 11th November between 2300 – 0645 hours the front bedroom window was smashed in Cumberland Drive, no entry was gained into the property. Between 1630 – 0024 hours on Sunday 11th November the conservatory door of a property was smashed in Denton Road and an untidy search was conducted. In Axminster Road between 0530 hours on the Wednesday 14th November entry was gained into the property where vehicle keys and a motor vehicle were stolen. There have been four thefts from motor vehicles and one theft of a motor vehicle. In Westgate Road on Tuesday 6th November between 1900 – 0900 hours a webcam and parcels were stolen from the vehicle. Between 0130 – 1200 hours on Wednesday 7th November in Axminster Road there was a theft from motor vehicle, a radio and personal items were taken. In Woolwich Road on Friday 9th November between 1000 – 1100 hours property was taken from a motor vehicle. A catalytic converter was stolen from a vehicle on Saturday 10th November between 1600 – 0000 hours in Preston Drive. On Saturday 10th November between 2200 – 2215 in Kings Harold's Way a vehicle was stolen. Please ensure that you conceal any personal property out of sight. The team will be conducting a Community Contact Session on Tuesday 20th November at Knowle Avenue between 1100 – 1200. Please be aware of males knocking and offering building works to properties".

The end video this week comes courtesy of fellow Blogger Darryl Chamberlain of the excellent 853 Blog. He filmed the footage of the brand new Woolwich Ferry, the Ben Woollacott undergoing some early manoeuvrability tests in the River Thames at Woolwich last week. Currently there is no ferry service at Woolwich; the two new vessels are due to begin operation in the New Year, once modifications to the two landing jetties have been finished, and ferry testing has been completed.  Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.