Caught in the act.

Events surrounding Electricity House and the African Church which operates out of the building have taken a bit of a turn this week; despite not having obtained any form of planning permission from Bexley Council, the church have now stepped up building work on the former snooker hall part of the building, and have been knocking out the first floor windows - you can see the new windows in the upper of the two photos of the building above - click on either to see a larger version. One local observer noted that "Over the last few days you may have noticed exterior walls being painted white?  Yesterday, the cowboys began knocking out the upper floor windows, Brick chippings and shards of glass were flying all over the pedestrian walkway. No thought for any Health and Safety precautions or for people visiting the shops in the parade underneath! I know that the Council received some complaints from shop owners and the public yesterday, but there seemed to be very little interest or concern in getting the work stopped on a Friday afternoon. so duly they are back there again today carrying on with a few ladders cordoning off the dangerous areas. Oh, and a man stood below with a broom ready to sweep up the debris. It is madness!  Surely, there must be some rules and regs about this sort of thing? Clearly our Council don`t care, if any one gets hurt, they just let them do what they want, and keep turning a blind eye!" Bexley Council have issued a number of enforcement notices against the church, but they seem reluctant to take any direct action. One of my contacts tells me that "The Council took a step back in their intended Enforcement action because Pastor Ogedengbe had appointed a solicitor to fight her battle which has left them running scared after she also branded Bexley Council`s legal team as being "Racist". You know, the tiresome defence attitude, rather than just accepting that there are certain rules and regulations when it comes to the planning requirements of this land. She considers herself above the authorities and only answerable to her God". As detailed in previous editions, it is known that the original Redeemed Christian Church of God that occupied the former tyre warehouse portion of Electricity House was wound up, and a new organisation called the King's Gen Foundation has now taken over. It is my understanding that the new church group is being operated by exactly the same people as before, and that the name change is purely an administrative move to try and avoid enforcement actions by Bexley Council. There are also some serious concerns about the use the building is being put to; Pastor Ogedengbe has been widely promoting a "Parents R US Conference" on Saturday the 11th November from 9am-5pm. She also says in her videos that the place will be open "all night long" inviting anyone who cannot afford a hotel, and wants to stay the night for a sleepover at the venue on the night before the conference. This conflicts with the fire regulations and the building usage permissions. Bexley Council are aware of this planned overnight event; time will tell as to what they will actually do about it. I have also been informed that certain other official organisations are now involved in the Electricity House / former snooker club issue. Due to some sensitivities with their investigations, I had better leave it at that for the current time; I am sure that I will be able to write in more detail in the not too distant future. It seems to me that the operators of the church - whatever name it is currently using, are fully aware that they are playing fast and loose with the planning regulations, but think they can bulldoze through the rules with a combination of bravado and false accusations of racism. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

It is pleasant when I get to publish some really good new, as it does not seem to happen nearly often enough.  As many of you will already know, news broke on Wednesday morning that Bexleyheath Police Station has been saved - it is now no longer under threat of closure. Both our local MP's strongly opposed the closure proposal, and interviewed in The News Shopper, Teresa Pearce MP said:- "I am delighted that Bexleyheath Police Station has been saved. Closing the station and moving the front counter to Sidcup would have directly impacted upon my constituents, and I opposed the proposals in the strongest terms to the London Mayor Sadiq Khan. As with any change on this scale, our community has voiced genuine and passionate concerns. Through the consultation process, the police have listened to those concerns and where possible and operationally viable, revised their plans accordingly." David Evennett MP said:-"This is really good news and I am glad the London Mayor listened and dropped his proposal. It is a real victory for local people and common sense". One person who in my opinion has done more to save Bexleyheath Police Station than anyone else is Dana Wiffen, the Chairman of Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association, who has campaigned tirelessly to retain the site. The next task he will be undertaking will be to try and increase the number of Police officers serving in the Borough. It is now well known that the local crime rate is up, and the best way to combat this is to have more trained officers available to investigate and prevent crime. I am unsure of how this will pan out; I know that London Mayor Sadiq Khan needs to save money, but cutting back on law and order is very unlikely to be a vote winner.

Do you recognise the person in the photo montage above? Click on it for a larger view; the illegal moped rider was filmed on the 28th October riding the wrong way down Holly Hill Road in Upper Belvedere - a one way street - in addition to riding the wrong way, he was minus helmet, and the moped appeared to have no registration plate, and was thus very likely stolen. Car dash cam footage was sent to me by a regular reader who wishes to remain anonymous. It is great to catch a criminal in the act, and to get clear images of the offender in action. Copies of the still images along with the video have been sent to the Police. A message from Dana Wiffen of Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association regarding recent Police action against local illegal bikers:- "Two success stories. Cory’s have been working with Transport Police, Safer Neighbourhood Groups and landowners to try stop the anti-social biker gatherings taking place outside their facility in Norman Road. On Sunday 22nd October a coordinated police operation saw the arrest of 17 people involved and the seizure of 16 motorbikes and 2 quad bikes. It is hoped that this will send a message to other such anti-social bikers that this behaviour will not be tolerated. Cory’s have also received a commendation from the Metropolitan Police for their support of police teams while they were carrying out a search for evidence in securing a conviction and for providing protection to police teams while they were carrying out their tasks in a potentially hostile environment. This award which is normally reserved for police courage and is only issued a handful of times each year is to be presented to Cory staff in the near future".  This is excellent news; pressure needs to be kept up on the illegal bike gangs. At present this seems to me to be the number one local policing priority - to stamp out the threat from the illegal moped / bike gangs. I have noticed over the last week that the number of illegal riders on the streets seems to have dropped considerably. Whether this is a direct result of the Police action is currently unknown; it may be that the gangs are "laying low" for a while - hoping to go back to their criminal and anti social behaviour once the heat dies down. The Metropolitan Police released a report last week that stated that the latest statistics showed a 25 per cent reduction in the number of powered two wheel bikes stolen in the last six months to the end of September. There was also a 24 per cent fall in the number of reported moped related crimes over the same period, and rising arrest rates and convictions of prolific offenders. The Met revealed it was using tactics successfully deployed by the Trident gangs team to respond to scooter offences, targeting moped thugs for other offences if possible. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said in a recent interview:-“We know that our criminal cohort committing crime on scooters also carry knives, have links to networks who handle stolen property and who deal drugs. So if you are a persistent phone thief - using a scooter to commit your crimes - and we can prove your involvement in other offences, such as drug dealing, you will be arrested. This is where the public can help us. I want to mobilise communities, to channel their outrage as part of a joint effort to make our streets safer. Look after your belongings, follow our security advice and tell us about the people who are responsible for crime in your communities and help us tackle them.”

Transport enthusiasts have been getting excited, as one of the new British Rail Class 345 trains has been sighted in the sidings at Abbey Wood Station. I understand that it is to be based at Abbey Wood Station for a series of tests of the new rail lines, signalling and safety systems.  I know that people have been photographing the new arrival, which will be around for some time, or so I am told.

Many local radio stations have been running adverts recently that promote interest in the possible changes to the electoral boundaries. There has been much controversy around the possible move - the main idea behind the proposed changes is to make the number of electors in each constituency roughly equal, which is currently not the case. Local MP for Erith and Thamesmead Teresa Pearce said in an interview with The News Shopper that:- "It seems unlikely that these proposals will go through with the Conservatives reliant on the DUP for a parliamentary majority, and the DUP have been clear that they do not support the proposals for Northern Ireland. Personally I was disappointed to see that Thamesmead is proposed to be split across two constituencies – Thamesmead is one community which faces so many challenges and I believe would be better served with one MP for the whole town. Nevertheless it is important that as many people as possible participate in the ongoing consultation around the proposals to ensure that our communities are appropriately represented in Parliament.” David Evennett, the MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford said that:-"I am very disappointed at the revised proposals of the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Bexley, as they do not heed community interests or the views expressed by local residents. To not recognise the borough’s major town of Bexleyheath in the name of a constituency cannot be right. I very much hope the Boundary Commission will reconsider their proposals in the final stage of the review.”

You may recall that two weeks ago I featured a promotion on an event to be held by The Association of Bexley Charities '78. The event has now taken place, and local charity activist John Salt sent me the two photos taken at the event, which you can see above - click on either for a larger version. The three people in the lower of the two photographs are from left to right, John Wilkinson, Deputy Mayor, Peter Hickson, Honorary Life President of The Association of Bexley Charities ’78 and Carol Wilkinson, Deputy Mayoress. John Salt writes:- “The Association of Bexley Charities ’78 held its Autumn Fair in the Geddes Place United Reformed Church hall, Bexleyheath, on the 28th October. There were 12 stalls selling a wide range of goods, including Christmas cards, calendars, cakes, jams, jigsaw puzzles, model railway items, jewellery, knitted goods, children’s toys, handbags, shoes and books.  The event was very well attended by more than 100 people. The Deputy Mayor of Bexley, John Wilkinson and the Deputy Mayoress, his wife Carol, also supported the event and spent more than an hour meeting the stall holders. The event was a great success, raising more than £800.”

Now for the weekly safety and security reports from the various wards that make up Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "On Thursday 26th October 2017 at 10.51pm a vehicle was found ablaze by the garages at the rear of Grove Road. London Fire Brigade attended and believe this was a deliberate fire caused by suspects unknown. Local residents informed London Fire Brigade that fireworks were being set off prior to their arrival. On Friday 27th October 2017 between 04.00pm and 04.05pm a mountain bike was stolen from a garage in Manor Way. The garage had been left unattended for five minutes with the garage door closed down but not locked. The bike in question is a giant mountain bike, model AT X2, orange in colour with gold hand grips, and was in perfect condition. If found please call 101 or your local policing team on 0208 721 2577. On Friday 27th October 2017 in Taunton Close a window was smashed. This Incident relates to an ongoing issue where youths are targeting property’s in Taunton Close. The timings of these Incidents vary from 06.00pm to midnight. Police have carried out a number of patrols at various times with negative results. Barnehurst Golf Club have since erected a wired security fence in the hope this will deter the youths in future and protect the property’s in Taunton Close. Additional ball collections are also being carried out at the driving range with the last collection being at 10.00pm. Halloween proved very busy with a large number of calls coming in from all over the Borough. Barnehurst Officers are aware of the criminal damage made to a number of vehicles in Martens Avenue and Old Road. We are in the process of gathering all of the Information together regarding these incidents. Please join us at Barnehurst Golf Club on Thursday 16th November 2017 at 1.00pm if you wish to discuss any of the issues mentioned or have any other matters you would like to raise with us. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter @MPSBarnehurst". Belvedere ward:- "At this time of the year with Halloween and Guy Fawkes there is often a rise in anti-social behaviour. As such, the team have been working later shifts over the last week and have been participating in the Met-wide ‘Autumn Nights’ initiative to tackle such issues. The team were working on Halloween and very few issues were reported to police on 31/10/2017 around the ward. However, PC Green did arrest a male while working with colleagues from Crayford ward. The male was seen by officers riding a stolen motorcycle which had been taken the night before from Sidcup. The bike was seized by police and taken for forensics to be done, meanwhile PC Green stopped a person matching the description of the rider. After confirming this was the same person, he was arrested for theft of motor-vehicle, driving while disqualified and handling stolen goods. PC Holmes was working with colleagues across the borough and searched a male for articles to commit criminal damage as well as responding to numerous calls of ASB (Anti Social Behaviour) around the borough. PCSO Worrall conducted thorough foot patrols across Belvedere with no issues to report. On 30/10/2017 the team were again working late and located a stolen motorcycle. The bike was found on Clive Road but sadly was badly damaged with identifying markers such as the registration plate and chassis numbers being removed. The bike had been stolen a couple of weeks before. If you have any information as to who stole or was using this bike, please contact the team or Crime Stoppers. On 27/10/2017 PC Green was working with other officers as part of Autumn Nights and stopped a couple of youths who were causing ASB. These youths were taken home and parents informed as to their conduct. The Erith team have also been provided with their details should they be linked with any other ASB issues in the area. PC Holmes has been working on crime investigations as well as the above issues and has circulated more images of shoplifters through our identification unit. These images will be shown on social media shortly. Some images may be displayed in the stores as well in a bid to reduce offences. PC Green has also been working further on the issue of vehicle ASB and last week 15 people were arrested driving dangerously with 15 vehicles being seized by police. Surgeries and Events: The team were in the Co-op, Nuxley Road on 01/11/2017 and spoke with numerous residents and gave advice relating to crime prevention. There will be a street briefing on Saturday 4th November at 3pm on Nuxley Road relating to ASB in the area – please come along to attend and speak with the team. Our next surgery will be in ASDA on 16/11/2017 at 5pm". Brampton ward;- "Two Burglaries in Shakespeare Road and Pickford Lane - both rear access , nothing stolen at the first address but jewellery and cash taken at the second 1 x Theft A victim had dropped her purse in Dunwich Road and this was found in the morning empty of cash 1 x Common Assault in Long Lane 6 x Criminal damage to motor vehicles 1 in Rydal Drive a vehicle had tyres slashed and the rest in St Audrey Avenue on Halloween youths that caused havoc on the night kicked off wing mirrors I have also been on local aid on Operation Autumn nights that included patrolling Brampton ward hotspots for Burglary and Anti - social behaviour Four youths were stopped and searched on Halloween in Pickford Lane and before they could commit criminal damage along with Christchurch and Barnehurst officers we seized 55 eggs, 1 bag of tomato sauce and 2 rolls of kitchen paper , I will be visiting the homes of the youths as they lived on our ward and speaking with parents/guardians . I attended the Bexley Pensioners Forum as well during the week and took questions on behalf of the station , a lot of those were regarding the closure of Bexleyheath Police Station to which we have been informed that it will now stay OPEN".  Christ Church ward:- " We have had one burglary this week in Windsor Road between 1800 hours on the 29/10/2017 and 2100 hours 30/10/2017, where the rear French windows were forced and £900 worth of jewellery was stolen. Please see www.met.police.uk for crime prevention advice. We did have a theft of a motor bike from the alleyway between Primark and the old Pizza Hut (28/10/17 at 1415 hours). Sadly there has been two incidents of elderly ladies being targeted for theft of handbag, one occurred on 26/10/17 at 1100 in Card Factory and the other was in Morley’s on the same day at 1140. Our Town Centre Team are aware and are keeping an eye out whilst on patrol. Please do warn neighbours, family and friends of keeping their property safe whilst out and about. Do not let anyone distract you and ensure you can see your bag at all times. If going to the bank do not carry large sums of cash about your person or in your bag. We have visited Avante Care Home to meet other residents from Cedar Ward, and give crime prevention advice. Due to the nature of this time of year we have been tasked with Anti – Social Behaviour patrols and all the car parks and open spaces have been patrolled. We have been engaging with the youths we have come across and discussed Halloween with them to try and prevent vulnerable people being targeted. The team has been very busy over Halloween and a dispersal order was in place on 31/10/2017 to cover Halloween. Five youths were dispersed from the area and not allowed to return until 1200 hours 01/11/2017. Russell Close – Street Briefing this is in connection to anti social behaviour in the alleyway linking to Arnsberg Way. The whole close was leafleted and  four residents came and discussed their issues with us. Patrols will be carried out to deter the youths from congregating there who are causing ASB".  Crayford ward:- "It has been a busy week around Crayford Ward as for most of us are busy patrolling - on foot, in a vehicle and using the motorcycle and speaking with many people. There was a burglary at the top end of Station Road in Crayford on Saturday 28th November. It happened between 14.00-14.45 while the owners were out. Entry was made by removing a large pane of glass from a patio window and the exit point was the front door. Among items stolen was a large, very heavy safe containing a large amount of Asian gold as well as other items and documents. It would have taken at least four strong people to remove the safe and a van would have been used. it Is a very busy road, if anyone saw anything, please get in touch. On Sunday 29th October it was reported that a motorcycle had been tampered with, possibly with a view to being stolen, this happened in Sainsbury car park in Crayford between 14.00-14.20. A bag was stolen from a vehicle parked in Crayford Industrial Estate on Friday 27 October between 14.00-14.05. On a more positive note a motorcycle stolen in Sidcup overnight on Monday was recovered in an alleyway near Station Road on Tuesday afternoon and a Male who ran off it was arrested and taken to Plumstead Police station. Another motorcycle stolen from an address in the Kent police area was also recovered at the top of Station Road and returned to its owner".  Erith ward:- "We have carried out a lot of late night Halloween patrols around Erith. There was a bike-marking event on the 27/10/17 in which 5 bikes where marked. The next bike-marking is Wednesday 8/11/17 Erith Base at 2pm. 2 x Street briefing just off West Street and at Erith Pier Road base. We have changed a lot of our patrols to Late shift patrols to cover Erith later at night. PC Brown and PC Cousens set up a dispersal zone all around Erith for almost a week and have been policing this by issuing dispersal notices out to help tackle ASB. Twitter @MPSErith for latest updates on Events and bike marking". Lesnes Heath ward:- "Burglaries - On Thursday 26/10/17 between the hours of 05 : 30 pm and 07 : 35 pm a residential burglary occurred in King Harold's Way; Between the hours of 04 : 30 pm on Friday 27/10/17 and 10 :30 am on Monday 30/10/17, another residential burglary occurred in King Harold's Way. Home crime prevention - Check you have closed and locked all your doors and windows before leaving your property. If you have UPVC doors and windows double lock them with keys to secure them properly. Leave some lights on if it will be dark before you get home. Install low wattage ‘ dusk to dawn ‘ outside lighting. If you have a burglar alarm remember to activate it. Residents with shared drives consider installing motion activated lights, CCTV covering the driveway and maybe install gates to help prevent access to the rear /side of properties. Protect your important property, register at: https://www.immobilise.com Motor vehicle crimes - Between the hours of 04:00 pm Saturday 21/10/17 and 08:45 am Sunday 22/10/17 theft from motor vehicle Coralline Walk. However the incident was not reported until Thursday 26/10/17; Between the hours of 07 : 00pm on Monday 30/10/17 and 08:00 am on Tuesday 31/10/17 a moped was stolen from a property in Woolwich Road. Check your home security - Have you locked your doors and windows? Did you know that your vehicle is like a shop window? If you can see ANY property left on view then so can a thief. Take it with you". North End ward:- "One vehicle broken into this week in Crescent Road, baby pushchair and monitor stolen from the boot. We attended Slade Green Big Local Community Safety day last Saturday and had a Crime Prevention table giving out various crime prevention leaflets to many residents. On Halloween late patrols were carried out in the ward. There were less ASB related calls than usual but we still ended the evening with 2 cannabis seizures, 9 Stop and searches and 3 stop and accounts". Northumberland Heath ward:- "On Thursday October 26th we held our quarterly Ward Panel Meeting and our priorities for the next three months will be focusing on anti-social behaviour in general. A CBO (Community Breach Order) was issued to a youth who has persistently caused anti-social behaviour in and around Northumberland Heath. This CBO has the power to arrest this individual if he continues to act in an anti-social manner. One burglary on Thursday October 26th in Penhurst Road which took place between 2.30pm – 7.45pm. Entry appears to have been gained via the next door neighbour’s garden and access to the property was through the kitchen window. where cash and jewellery were stolen. There has been criminal damage to a property in Avenue Road this week where a traffic cone was thrown at a window causing it to smash. Thankfully no one was injured. Also a window in Brook street was smashed on Monday October 30th and a theft of a mobile phone at the Pantiles on Tuesday 31st October. An unattended trailer was stolen from a rear driveway in Northumberland Heath on Wednesday of last week between 12.30 – 1pm. Halloween was a busy night for the team in the earlier part of the evening, where a large group of youths caused damage to a property in Dickens Close, a number of eggs were thrown at the doors and windows. The group had made off when police arrived however three youths were stopped and searched in Byron Park. On the whole there were less calls to the team regarding Halloween anti-social behaviour than in previous years. The next drop in Police Surgeries will be held in the Library in Mill Road on Thursday November 2nd and Thursday November 9th both at Noon". Thamesmead East ward:- "Bayliss Avenue - Criminal Damage to Motor vehicle - a smashed windscreen; 27/10/17– 21:30hrs Centurion Way - Theft from Motor vehicle over the weekend employee noticed the diesel cap being off and a wet patch next to the offside of the vehicle. Diesel stolen; 28/10/17 1900hrs Holstein Way – Theft from Motor vehicle Victim left his vehicle parked locked following morning at around 0850 hours and he noticed that his number plates were missing; 28/10/17 21:00hrs Redbourne Drive – Criminal Damage to internal mail box has been damaged flap ripped off bent left on the floor; 31/10/17 07:10hrs Binsey Walk Ix2 Burglary derelict properties. Crime Prevention Motor vehicle crime • Don't leave items on show it is an invitation • Keys and ignition fobs should kept safe and out of sight and reach – the most common ways to steal a car or van is to take the keys or ignition fob, either when left in the vehicle or from your home through burglary. Try not to keep your keys in an obvious place such as the hallway or kitchen. • Fit an alarm or immobiliser if your vehicle does not have one.  Consider using a gear stick lock".

The end video this week is a short interview with Jane Murphy of Bexley Brewery. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The petition.

A story that I featured some time ago looks like it will be coming to fruition. Regular readers may well recall that I wrote about the potential sale of the old Erith Council Offices a while back. The offices have been little used since Bexley Council merged several outsourced administrative functions such as housing benefits and council tax with Bromley Council, and these have been relocated away from the Erith site. Now there is very little activity on the historic Erith office location, and I have it on good authority that Bexley Council are now looking for a buyer for the site for redevelopment. Whether this would mean demolishing the 1930's building (the upper of the two photos above - click on it for a larger view), or possibly converting it for another use - highly likely to be apartments, is not yet known. Money allocated to the redevelopment of Erith by the London Regeneration Fund would almost certainly be used to aid this. It is also distinctly likely that any developer looking at the Council Offices site would also be interested in the Electricity House site, directly opposite (the lower of the two photos above - click on it for a larger version). As I have reported previously, most of the building work that has been recently carried out on the building by The Redeemed Christian Church of God has been done illegally, without any form of planning permission. Last July I reported that the Snooker Centre that had been located on the upper floor of Electricity House had been sold to an unknown buyer for £305,000. The snooker club was the single biggest occupant of Electricity House, and paid £28,000 a year in rent for the premises. with the existing lease with the snooker club lasting until 2047. It turned out that the church had bought out the snooker club, evicted them from the premises, and then proceeded to illegally convert the snooker hall into a convention centre. Complaints were made to the Council about the illegal changes being made, and the amount of noise and disruption that were being caused. It seems to me that The Redeemed Christian Church of God are going ahead with the works with the opinion that by the time that Bexley Council Planning Department get around to taking out any form of enforcement work, it will be a "done deal" and they will be allowed to keep the illegal changes to the building. I think there may also be rather more to this than meets the eye. The people behind the Erith branch of The Redeemed Christian Church of God are not stupid; I am pretty certain that they are fully aware that the whole of the Electricity House building has got to the end of its useful life, and that it is only a matter of time before Bexley Council slap a compulsory purchase order on the place, then sell it for redevelopment in the same was as the old Council Office site on the opposite side of the road. By carrying out the modifications and a improvement works - illegal or not, they are adding value to the decrepit building, and thus securing for themselves more money when it is sold. Incidentally, there may be more devious works going on in Electricity House than I had originally thought; a very well placed and reliable informant tells me that The Redeemed Christian Church of God - Praise Embassy Limited, based in Electricity House, Bexley Road, Erith, was officially dissolved and struck off the Companies Register on Tuesday of last week. Instead a new church group, called The KingsGen Foundation has now taken over. The original leader, Pastor Ogedengbe - is still advertising on Facebook and Eventbrite, and a huge church conference is scheduled at the former snooker club on the eleventh of November. It would seem that the church have done what many dodgy businesses have done in the past - closed down and opened up again under a different name in order to try and avoid the numerous legal cases that are stacked against them. I know that a group of local residents, other interested parties, and the former snooker club manager have at least two court cases currently in action over the activities of the church group - whatever name it tries to hide under. Bexley Council also have concerns over the building work which has been going on without any form of building control or planning permission. I get the feeling that this whole situation is going to come to a head in the very near future; it could prove to be interesting to observe. My source tells me that the court cases are almost certainly going to go against the church group, but as to what kind of action will happen if this does happen is currently unknown. More on this story in the weeks to come.

The Association of Bexley Charities '78 is holding an Autumn Fair at the United Reformed Church, Geddes Place, Bexleyheath DA6 7DJ (near the Broadway Shopping Centre) on Saturday 28th October 2017 from 9.45 am  - 1.00 pm. Thanks to John Salt for the information.

The above photo shows the Chairman of Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association Dana Wiffen (left), Joyce Sutherland (right) and Gareth Bacon, London Assembly member (centre).  The photo was taken yesterday as a petition was handed to the London Assembly protesting at the proposed closure of Bexleyheath Police Station. Upon receiving the petition, Gareth Bacon said:- "This petition shows a growing concern from Bexley residents, particularly among elderly and vulnerable groups, about the Mayor’s plans to close this vital community asset. Residents are right to question the logic of moving police services away from the centre of the borough, further from the reach of many for reporting crime. It will also result in the loss of other community and crime prevention benefits that a permanent police presence brings. We need to consider how this change will impact local communities in Bexley, as well as seeking assurances on how it will affect response times in the borough. I fully support this petition and will be handing it to the Mayor.”

Local specialist sports car maker Caterham Cars have got two very good reasons to celebrate. The company, which has its factory in Kennett Road, Crayford, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this week, and is also celebrating its highest number of car sales this year. Although it has not yet released the final numbers, it has announced that its sales this year have exceeded six hundred of their high performance, hand built sports cars, more than the previous record which has stood since 1996.

I don't get to report good news as often as I would like. This week it is great to be able to confirm that the former Barclays Bank on the corner of Plumstead High Street and White Hart Road in Plumstead, which, due to some incompetence on the part of Greenwich Council, was due to be converted into yet another unwanted betting shop, has now had a reprieve. Betting company William Hill’s plans for a new betting shop were rejected by Greenwich Council on February 17, but approved on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate. In its report on the decision in July, the Planning Inspectorate said that the council’s “abject and repeated failures” in its reasoning behind rejecting the application led to the decision being overturned. There was a concerted and very active campaign against the creation of another betting shop in an area already infested with them, and a very large petition was drawn up. It looked like the betting shop was a "done deal,", but in a surprise announcement last week, William Hill announced that they were pulling out - for now. In an interview with the News Shopper, a spokesperson from William Hill said:- "We were granted a license on appeal but the decision was taken not to take it up and that’s a basis taken in the UK as a whole. There isn’t an appetite for betting shops all of the UK now. Our expansion has slowed. There is all kinds of legislation and things coming, which means we are cutting back on the amount of betting shops.” The rather impressive Gothic building had been refurbished less than a decade ago, and from what I understand it is in pretty good condition both inside and out. I would not be at all surprised if William Hill put the former bank on the market for some developer to turn into flats. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Did you know that we have a major engineering company that holds a Royal Warrant that is based locally? I certainly did not. In fact, whilst I had heard of the company, I had no clue that it was based in Bexleyheath, just off the Broadway. The prominent office HQ of the prestigious company is hidden down a little used side road called Banks Lane, next to the former Bexleyheath Job Centre and Pradas bar and grill. Not the kind of place you would necessarily expect a widely respected organisation such as Apex Lifts to be based. Apex Lifts have their head office in Bexleyheath, and their manufacturing, repair and training facility in Sidcup, so they are most definitely local. They describe themselves thus:- “Founded by Arthur Jenchner over four decades ago, the Apex vision is to create a positive impact on the lift industry; offering lift maintenance, servicing, manufacturing, modernisation and training services throughout London, Greater London and the South East. Current MD Warren Jenchner continues to lead the company into the future, combining the latest technology with British craftsmanship to construct and maintain the top lifts and escalators in London. With Apex, you’ll receive a customer-tailored, proactive service, 24/7. Our manufacturing and training facilities in Sidcup, South East London, are fully fitted with state-of-the art machinery, so we can manufacture and repair lift parts to the highest degree of tolerance, and ensure excellence and quality assurance in everything we do. We don’t just manufacture and repair lifts – the Apex Training Academy was established in 2011 to train the next generation of highly skilled engineers”. Apex Lifts hold a Royal Warrant from H.M The Queen as Manufacturers and Suppliers of Passenger Lifts. A Royal Warrant of Appointment is a mark of recognition of those who have supplied goods or services to the Households of HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh or HRH The Prince of Wales for at least five years, and who have an ongoing trading arrangement. The Monarch decides who may grant Royal Warrants. These are known as the Grantors: HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales. The Royal Warrant is the document that appoints the company in its trading capacity, and is granted to a named individual, known as the Grantee. The Warrant gives the Grantee permission, and responsibility, for the display of the relevant Royal Arms in connection with the business. Today there are around 800 Royal Warrant holders representing a huge cross-section of trade and industry, from individual craftspeople to global multi-nationals. They are united by a commitment to the highest standards of service, quality and excellence. Almost all Warrant holders are members of the Association.

It would seem that the official opening of the new Abbey Wood Crossrail station has been delayed for a month, according to Malcolm Knight of the excellent "Bexley is Bonkers" blog. Malcolm lives very close to Abbey Wood Station, and is able to keep a close watch on proceedings there. Malcolm has recently observed that the official station opening was set for 23rd October, but by mid September it had become clear that this deadline was not going to be met. It is now unclear exactly when the official opening is actually going to take place, though for most users of the station it will actually make little difference - on a functional basis, the station will continue to operate as it has done throughout the reconstruction process. You can read more about the current programme overrun situation on the Bexley is Bonkers blog here. 

Sarah Batten of Erith based arts commissioning group The Exchange has made the following announcement:- "Join representatives from Bexley Council, The Exchange and Robin Lee Architects for a drop-in event to discuss the future plans for Erith’s Carnegie Library on Thursday 26 October. The event will take place at the Carnegie, and attendees will have the opportunity to discuss the phased repair and renewal project that is due to start this year, and the future use of the building. We look forward to seeing you there! Event details:- Location: Erith's Carnegie Library, Walnut Tree Road, DA8 1RS. Date:- Thursday 26 October. Times:- 12 - 7.30pm". I will be visiting after 4pm, so do come over to say hello if you see me.

Now the weekly safety and security reports from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association:- Barnehurst ward:- "Unfortunately we have had two burglaries reported this week, the first on the 12th October in Long Lane, Bexleyheath where at 5.30 pm two males described as being white, 6’ tall, large build, short hair wearing long sleeved shirts forced entry through the front door of a detached bungalow, they were confronted by the elderly occupier and walked out of the venue, thankfully no property was taken and the occupier is safe and well. The second is a non-residential burglary which occurred overnight on the 14th October at the Mini Market in Parkside Parade. Entry was gained to the rear storage area by suspects forcing open two doors, one being a substantial metal door, a crow bar was left at the scene. £6000 worth of alcohol was stolen as well as £2000 in chocolates and sweets. The alcohol included Bottles of Grey Goose and Smirnoff Vodka and bottles of Jack Daniels. If you are offered any cheap alcohol especially those listed, then they could be and are probably stolen, If it’s too good to be true then it normally is. Remember there is an offence of handling stolen goods and you may commit this offence should you purchase any goods offered. If you have any information or are offered any items then please get in touch or if you prefer contact Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. There has been an increase in theft and attempted theft of mopeds and motorbikes, please make sure that your bike is properly secured, ideally using a ground anchor, good quality chain and an alarmed padlock, for up to date crime prevention advice please visit the Metropolitans police main web page.  In the run up to Halloween and fireworks we are be increasing ASB patrols in the ward and across the borough, if you have any information about who is causing issues in your area please e mail us in confidence at Barnehurst.snt.@met.police.uk As always we are on Twitter. Follow us @MPSBarnehurst to find out what your team are up to". Belvedere ward:- "The team were in and working late over the weekend. On Friday PCSO Worrall located 2 males known to the local team who were in a car in the back of Victoria Street; PC Holmes and PC Green joined PCSO Worrall and considering recent reports of males using the area to use drugs searched the males and the vehicle. Some cannabis and numerous nitrous oxide canisters were found and one male was issued with a Cannabis Warning. On Saturday evening the team were out again searching for people committing crime in all the hotspots and lesser used areas of the ward. The team spotted 3 males trespassing in Woodside School and as such detained the males and searched them looking for items they may have been using to break in or do damage to the school. No such items were found, however cannabis was again found on one of the males and he was issued with as Cannabis Warning also. On Wednesday the team attended Little Lambs nursery, Albert Road and met with staff and the children to introduce ourselves and engage with the children. The visit was thoroughly successful and we have been invited to attend some of their upcoming events. PC Holmes has been investigating thefts of post in the Belvedere Park Estate after recent reports. If you have any information that may assist with the investigation then please contact the team – if you would like to remain anonymous you can pass any information to CrimestoppersUK. PC Green has also referred a family on Elstree Gardens to the ASB prevention team and will be working with the council to reduce the issue of ASB in the area. Upcoming Surgeries: The next crime surgery will be at the Library, Upper Belvedere on 27/10/2017 at 2pm”. Christchurch ward – message from a Neighbourhood Watch member:- “I've just been informed of an incident in my parents road Woolwich Road/Nursery Avenue. On Tuesday night a lone man was seen to pick up bricks from the drive of a house, then randomly (it would seem) smash car windscreens, this is the school end to the corner of Nursery Ave. The same man was seen again 11pm Wednesday evening, this time with another man, also attacked random cars. The description is vague, a white man with beard possibly aged between 25-35 and wearing hoodie top”.  From the Safer Neighbourhood Police team:- "There has been a burglary in Standard Road entry gained via forcing back window and jewellery taken from property. This happened on 16/10/17 between 1715 and 1835 this is just as it is starting to get dark. Please ensure that there are lights on in your properties and it appears as if someone is home. Please visit the Met Police website for additional crime prevention advice on burglaries. There was a motorbike stolen from the alleyway next to Primark on the Broadway on 14/10/17 at approximately 1500 hours, if anyone saw this please contact police to give descriptions of suspects.  There has been several incidents of items thrown at cars over the past week including a firework, please be vigilant when driving as these incidents have occurred on smaller roads off of the Broadway. Most of them have happened late in the evening or overnight on driveways. Unfortunately this time of year sees an increase in anti-social behaviour leading up to Halloween. Please speak to any young people in your family and discuss the implications of such behaviour to get the message out to everyone. As you can appreciate it is very distressing for persons to have their property damaged unprovoked and this impacts on their daily lives for example not being able to get into work. This can also include eggs thrown at vehicles and people, if an egg does hit your windscreen please do not use your wipers as they will smear it preventing you from seeing through the windscreen at all. Continue onto a safe place if you can do so and wash the eggs off. There was a fight outside McDonalds on 13/10/17 at 1735 hours involving school children, no-one was hurt and my colleagues were very quickly on scene. If you have any concerns then please raise these with the council under the Public Space Protection Order which covers the Broadway. We have seen a few dippings of purses, phones and handbags this week and given the lead up to Christmas thieves will be looking out for easy targets. Please, Please make sure that your bag is safe and your purse is safely tucked away. I still see many members of the public with open handbags and bags on the back of buggies, and I always speak to them and advise them to close the bag. Be aware of your surroundings and who is near to you. An over the body bag which is in front of you is the safest type with a zip or clasp entry, ensure your money/purse is safely stored away before leaving any shop too". Colyers ward:- "There were no reported burglaries on Colyers Ward between 12th October 2017 to 18th October 2017. There were 2 reported thefts of motor vehicles during the same period. The victim left his vehicle outside his address in Northumberland Way Erith between 9th October and 13th October 2017 and unknown suspects have stolen the vehicle a blue Yamaha registration K607 HEV. The victim still has keys to the motorcycle. The victim indicated that his vehicle was stolen from outside Becton Place, Erith. He left the vehicle at the location on 17th September 2017 and on his return from holiday on 18th October 2017 discovered that the vehicle, a red Honda Accord registration L146 HKM, was gone”. Crayford ward:- “The crimes of note this week have been attempted burglary, burglaries, robbery of a mobile phone and arson of a motor vehicle. On Tuesday 17 October at approx. 21.00 in Green Walk, a resident noticed males looking at the cars on his drive, shortly after they attempted to gain entry by kicking the front door. The resident chased after about six males aged about 16-18 years but they got away while he was calling 999. On Thursday 12 October at approx. 12.05-12.20 there were two distraction burglaries at Claston Close within a block of flats. In each instance the male said that there was a water leak and asked that items be removed from under the sink. In the meantime he and possibly an accomplice took small items and cash from each elderly lady’s home. On Friday 13 October at approx. 15.45-16.00 a twelve year old child was robbed of his mobile phone whilst near to the allotments in Crayford Way. He was robbed by school children in school uniform and the phone was smashed and left at the scene. Officers from our team worked closely with Christchurch team and Kent officers in a traffic operation on Wednesday 18 October, many vehicles were stopped and drivers spoken to/given words of advice. Anti-Social behaviour continues to be an issue, five children have been identified from incidents at Smyths Toy Store and two have now had home visits to discuss their behaviour with them and their parents”. Erith ward:- "Erith Safer Neighbourhoods are pleased to report that over the last week there has been no reported burglaries across the ward, however this time of year does traditionally see a rise in Burglary offences so we ask that you always close windows and lock your doors when leaving your house. If you have a multi-point locking system always lift the handle and then key lock which engages the locks securely making it extremely hard to force open. Across the ward 3 motor scooters have been stolen in addition to 1 car and 1 van. If you own a scooter or motorbike secure it using strong chains or approved bike locks and try to lock your bike to a fixed object. Also consider using motion activated lights to cover the area where the bike is parked as thieves would prefer to stay in the dark and not risk being seen. This week we have responded to complaints from shopkeepers in the Town centre regarding young people causing Anti-social Behaviour. We worked in plain clothes and uniform and have successfully identified the individuals involved, so far there has been no further problems. Further action is being taken against those involved and we are working closely with the town Centre security and management to prevent future issues. We have also completed talks at Trinity School speaking to students studying Public services. There was a large number of questions asked by the students about not only the role of a police officer but some good questions about how we engage with the community and how we work with partner agencies.  We have a drop in surgery at Starburger at 2pm on the 27th October 2017 so if you would like to speak to us then please pop along. We also have a free bike security marking event outside the front of our office in Erith town centre on the 28th October also at 2pm. if you have a bike bring it along, we can mark it so should you be unfortunate enough to have it stolen, if we find it we can then restore the bike back to you”. Lesnes Abbey ward – report from a Neighbourhood Watch member:- “Please be aware, at about 17-30 this evening my wife saw 2 young boys of about 11 and 12 years old enter the front garden of a house in Fossington Rd and stole a children's bike from the front garden. When she shouted after them they ran off with the bike. My wife has informed the residents of the theft. One boy appeared to be of mixed race with swarthy skin, the other was white with fair wispy hair. Please make sure that bikes, toys or any other items are not left in yours, or your neighbours front gardens. Please do not leave tools or ladders out in your back gardens as the can be used to gain entry your house or garden sheds”. North End ward:- "Starting with good news, 2 arrests have been made made after some good Intel received. No further details at this time due to ongoing investigation. We attended Slade Green Big Local Stakeholders conference where good links were made with many other partner agencies, plus another resident has agreed to help out with N.Watch in Rainbow Road. 5 Vehicle crimes have been reported in the last week, 3 Theft of Motor Vehicle and 2 Theft from Motor Vehicle. One of the vehicles stolen was recovered soon after it was taken thanks to an installed tracker. A dumped moped has been recovered by us in Whitehall Lane which was being ridden around the field by a group causing ASB. Reports of dangerous parking outside of our schools has led to extra gate patrols but with no further incidents to report at this time. Extra patrols in Daleview after increased reports of ASB in the stairwells”. Northumberland Heath ward:- "There was a burglary in Horsa Road last Thursday October 12th at approximately 6.50pm. A tool was used to access the property via the front door. The suspect was disturbed and left without taking any property. Please ensure your UPV doors are locked securely. We have had reports of Motorbikes in and around Bexley Road riding dangerously, and a youth was seen laying over the bonnet of a car in Hurst Road on Saturday afternoon when it drove away at speed. One report of Criminal Damage to a Motor Vehicle last week in Brook Street. The driver was approached by a group of several motorbikes who proceeded to kick the driver door and kicked the wing mirrors off the vehicle”. Thamesmead East ward:- “No burglaries to report this week, Vehicle crime reports see below, During the early hours of Thursday 12th October a vehicle was stolen from Kinder Close, and a vehicle was interfered with, Courtland Grove. A male was arrested for Handling stolen goods, after being seen trying car door handles in the Fieldfare area. When searched a Satellite Navigation unit was found on him, enquiries continue. PC Pruden has been at court this week, where a male has found guilty of Actual Bodily Harm. (A result of extensive CCTV enquiries)”.

The end video this week is the first of an occasional series featuring videos shot in and around Erith by a company called Shootmedia, who have been commisisoned by London and Quadrant Housing Association to highlight some of the notable features of the local area; this week the spotlight falls on Erith Playhouse - the largest - and entirely volunteer run - theatre in the Borough. Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The Belvedere Beach.

It would seem that Bexley Council have taken on board the recent protests by residents of Slade Green and parts of Erith in regard of the Bexley Growth Consultation proposal that I featured a couple of weeks ago. It looks very much like the council regard themselves as "being caught on the back foot" following the rather inflammatory protest leaflet that was delivered to the letter boxes of a large number of roads potentially allegedly affected by the proposed changes. As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, the lurid claims made in the leaflet have now been investigated, and I have come to the conclusion that they are for the most part pretty far – fetched. I have had private words with a number of people involved with the Bexley Growth Consultation proposal, and off the record it has been said that it is pretty much a “sticking a finger in the air” exercise at present, and that a lot of the suggestions included in the report will never see the light of day, and those that do may not happen for decades. The protest leaflet looks like a classic piece of scare mongering - a case of "never let the facts get in the way of a good story". The new Council leaflet has a wording that definitely reflects the concerns that have been voiced by concerned local residents who have been persuaded by the original inflammatory leaflet that their houses are only months away from being compulsorily purchased and then bulldozed, which could not be any further from the truth. I think the underlying reason for the level of panic is due to the understandable insecurity of many Slade Green and Erith residents. Many are not wealthy, and don't feel that they have any real say in local events. Historically the North of the London Borough of Bexley has been the industrial / manufacturing heart of the area, and where the less privileged members of society tended to live. If one looks at the demographic breakdown of the borough, the Northern areas of Erith and Slade Green shows a higher than average number of residents receiving benefits, and / or being paid the National Living Wage. The people feel disenfranchised, and completely out of control of their local environment. I think this is the reason for the very strong protests at the perceived changes in the original, poorly worded Council proposal document. I do think that whoever created the original protest document may have done so with the best of intentions, but the end result has not been very constructive, and has worried people unnecessarily. The website of Slade Green Together have a far more measured and realistic analysis of the Bexley Growth Consultation proposal, which you can read by clicking here. There has been a major setback to the Bexley Growth Consultation Plans in their current form - and a great victory for the campaign to preserve Crayford and Slade Green Marshes. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has vetoed the proposed massive 149 acre rail marshalling yard, warehousing and a bridge over the River Cray. The development had been approved by Bexley Council (no surprises there) but blocked by Dartford Council - who share administration over the marshes. In a letter to Bexley Council, Sadiq Khan said: “Having now considered a report on this case, I do not consider the proposal would achieve the modal shifts from road to rail freight within London envisaged within my Draft Transport Strategy, and therefore there are not demonstrable benefits for London which would outweigh the loss of London’s Green Belt. I direct you to refuse planning permission, under the powers conferred on me by article 6 of the above Order. The proposal is inappropriate development in the Green Belt and very special circumstances have not been demonstrated which would clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm.” A significant portion of Bexley's regeneration plans were centred around development of the marshes, and the associated construction in and around Slade Green. I get the feeling that much of these plans will now need to be substantially revisited following the decision of the Mayor of London, which overrides that of the individual boroughs by statute. 

In a move that many long - term readers may see as supremely ironic, The local studies and archive centre located on the upper floor of Bexleyheath Library has just won a national accreditation. Bexley’s Local Studies and Archive Centre has been awarded Archive Service Accreditation. The service has met defined national standards relating to management and resourcing, the care of its unique collections and what it offers to its wide range of users. In an interview with the Bexley Times,  Councillor Peter Craske said:- “Local people are proud of the borough and its past and the centre works with people if all ages to help them appreciate our rich culture and history. The team’s passion and enthusiasm is clear to anyone who uses the service or visits the centre and I am delighted that their hard work has been recognised". Those readers with a long memory will recall that I highlighted the threat to merge Bexley local / historical records with Bromley back in October 2013; you can read what I wrote at the time by clicking here. It is instructive to note how Bexley Council can go from wanting to close the archive facility less than four years ago - albeit to a storm of protest, to now taking credit for the unit now being awarded a prestigious accreditation now. Craske and his cronies seem to underestimate local people who recall how the councillors acted back in the day. It would appear in this case the council now wish to take credit for saving something that they actively tried to destroy. 

You may recall that a couple of weeks ago I asked if anyone knew what had happened to renowned local fisherman Dave Pearce, who had been the last commercial Eel fisherman on the River Thames. I was extremely surprised to get an Email from the man himself - it turns out that he is a long time Maggot Sandwich reader. Dave writes:- "How I became the last eel fisherman by Dave Pearce. Fishing was in my blood; my great grandfather. Owned several fishing boats fishing out of Erith in the mid 1800s,  and a wet fish shop. Skip a generation. My two uncles. Ron and Bill Dott both well known in Erith. took up fishing. Bill fishing and Ron making gear and repairing it. The boats. from a early age, 3 or 4 I was always with them - boats and fishing was my life. I loved it; at a young age Ron and I built the Harry Boy a 35 foot trawler that I fished in the Thames, regularly landing fish in Erith. One day I saw someone eeling in long reach  had a chat with them and thought I'd have a go - that was 1990 ish  and I did OK. I had a mate with me called Gary Cochran - we both liked the life - you had to, as it was dirty hard work with odd hours. We fished 6 days a week and too the eels to Billingsgate on a Tuesday morning. The season was from April till end of November always glad to pack up by then as  the back usually hurt by then, but after a few weeks I couldn't wait to start again. When I started there were 12 teams eeling between Tower Bridge and Canvey Island. They gradually packed up or retired, but I still loved it I also got to work at The Natural History Museum doing fish surveys. About 2010 I started to slow down eel fishing  and doing other work still on the river that I love. If you see a red workboat going past Erith it's probably me. I would say about  2014/5 I packed up eel fishing. Very sad time I was probably the last fisherman out of Erith. In those years I learned a lot about eels and the river of no use to anyone but me. Never say never! I still own a fishing boat, got my nets, and I am still licenced to fish eels. One day one day I hope to wet a net again . I could go on for ages about  the good days I well remember and the bad days I sooner forget. but I guess I have said enough already, so over and out. Dave Pearce". Excellent stuff, and really fascinating reading; I hope to see Dave back out in his little work boat soon. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The controversial Belvedere Beach play area in Woolwich Road, Upper Belvedere opened on Thursday of last week. It takes the place of the incredibly popular and well used Belvedere Splash Park that was closed down two years ago after much wrangling and anger from local residents. A campaign was set up to preserve the Splash Park, but Bexley Council chose to ignore the overwhelming opposition to the park closure. The Belvedere Beach is a sort of compromise; some of the features of the old park have been retained, but the overall new park layout is substantially different; what the children and their parents will make of the Belvedere Beach remains to be seen. In a not unexpected move, local Councillor Peter Craske (remember him from earlier?) said in an interview in the News Shopper that "Belvedere Beach is a tremendous landmark that will be here for years to come. Both contemporary and unique, children of all abilities will be able to take part in themed, imaginary play, and with the on-site facilities, families can now stay and play for longer. The new playground will also be open all year round and is yet another reason to come and visit our fantastic borough. I am looking forward to the opening next week and hope to see lots of people there!" Craske seems to turn up for the opening of an envelope, so I suppose the comments are really just to be expected. Upon the opening, he was quoted in the News Shopper as saying:- "I’d like to thank all those involved in this project for everything you have done to turn what was an idea on a piece of paper into reality, creating something unique - not just for Bexley but beyond that too. Without the funding from Cory Environmental Trust, strong team work and creativity that everyone involved has shown we would not have a playground of this incredibly high standard that is opening well ahead of schedule and in time for the school holidays. I'm so proud of what you have all achieved". He really does seem to be everywhere. If you have visited the revamped park, do let me know what you think of it. Does it live up to the hype?

The photo above shows a fly tipped fridge / freezer which was illegally dumped in Hind Crescent, close to the entrance to The Urgent Care Unit at Erith Hospital. The person who took the photograph noted that the fridge / freezer was right in the middle of the footpath, and anyone with a visual disability might well trip over it and possibly injure themselves on the sharp and rusty exposed metal. I know that I am far from being alone in wanting far more rigorous enforcement of fly tipping; the discredited company Kingdom Services supposedly enforcing the litter ban in Bexleyheath Broadway might be more productive if they were to patrol the streets of the borough to catch and prosecute the commercial fly tippers. Whilst much of the UK suffers from problems of this nature, the issue in South East London and North Kent seems to be especially bad.

Local arts and design commissioning group The Exchange invited proposals from practitioners with ideas to transform London’s longest pier in Erith into a piece of art for the period of the Totally Thames Festival 2017 in September. 75 artists, designers, architects, performers and creatives submitted ideas to use this newest and most unique public art space. Submissions came from all over the world and the quality was exceptional. The judging panel – that included The Exchange, sponsors Orbit and Wates Residential, local artists Guy Tarrant and Gary Drostle, The Decorators (responsible for Erith Lighthouse), Totally Thames, and the Port of London Authority – whittled the list down to four applicants. These four final ideas were then put out to public vote, that was collected online and in Erith Library, which finished on Friday. Julia Snowdin’s ‘Changing Sails’ aimed to work with the community to decorate ships’ sails that would hang around the pier; The City Art’s Doctors proposed to create listening posts, shaped like clay pipes, which would project stories of Erith; Oliver Palmer wanted to recreate Callender’s Cable Works Brass Band with a sound installation and performances; and Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs proposed to create urban auricles that would amplify the sounds of the Thames and industrial Erith. The result of the public vote will be published on Monday. More information can be found by clicking here. The piece will be installed by 6 September, to tie in with the Totally Thames Festival and the Erith Lighthouse project. This will be a major cultural and social event in Erith - something that we have not had before; I for one am very excited by the various projects and will be covering them in some extensive detail - watch this space.

A story was published in the Bexley Times last week which I understand has annoyed many people, and I can fully understand why. Despite a London-wide focus on the behaviour and a spate of moped-related acid and knife attacks earlier this month, Detective Inspector Dawn Morris has said police cannot always pursue every suspicious moped rider. “Our officers have to consider whether chasing after a suspect is always the safest thing to do, or if it could endanger the public, officers or the suspect, In those cases we tend to request support from a police helicopter, or lay down puncture strips, which let down wheels slowly to prevent any accidents. While we may not always make an immediate arrest after an incident, these types of criminals don’t tend to want to dump their vehicle and walk the 10 miles home after using them, so we’re developing a picture of where they are and how we can stop them by basing our patrols in the correct areas. We are also working with the public to show them how to better protect their bikes by making them more secure with better locks and using traceable liquids like SmartWater so bikes can be identified as their own under an ultraviolet light. We are also monitoring websites to see if anyone is trying to sell the stolen vehicles online.” Police say the rising concern of stolen bikes and mopeds can be linked to incidents of robbery and violence in the borough, with the vehicles also used to snatch phones from victim’s hands as riders drive past. I feel that one comment made by Detective Inspector Morris is most telling; Her line:- "Our officers have to consider whether chasing after a suspect is always the safest thing to do, or if it could endanger the public, officers or the suspect" (my emphasis). I think the senior Police officer is fundamentally misreading the mood of the public when it comes to moped and motor cycle related crime. The Police already acknowledge that the illegal moped riders deliberately do not wear helmets as they are fully aware of the Police "Rules of Engagement" that prohibit officers from chasing un-helmeted riders as the illegal riders might crash and hurt themselves. The criminals are laughing at authority. Feedback that I have received is pretty much unanimous - the Police need to change their policy, chase the criminal scumbags, and if required, ram them off the road, and if as a consequence a few crooks get injured, then so be it. I know, as I have previously mentioned, that Dagenham and Redbridge Police are dropping the Met - wide non engagement rule, following a radio debate I took part in on Time 107.5 FM on the 3rd of July, where the Borough Commander of Dagenham and Redbridge Police stated that they were about to trial a new policy of engagement, that, if successful would very likely be expanded to cover all Metropolitan Police areas. Whilst I doubt a change in pursuit policy would deter the hardcore moped criminals, the thought that they might be taking their next meal through a drip might deter many. Secondly Detective Inspector Morris is largely mistaken in thinking that mopeds are sold online after being used in criminal activity; from what my sources tell me, after being used, most stolen motorbikes and mopeds are broken for spare parts, which are then sold on, as the parts are far harder to trace than whole vehicles.  On top of this, moped crooks are getting wise to vehicles fitted with immobilisers - recently they are starting to rip off the immobilisers on certain models of Vespa scooter, and then wire in their own, hacked immobiliser unit which then allows them to start the vehicle and illegally ride it away. The stolen bikes are then used in muggings, car jackings, illegal drug deliveries and most publicly, in the recent alarming spate of acid attacks. Gangs such as Bike Life TV UK also stage illegal "rides" around places including Thamesmead and Lower Belvedere, as I have written about in detail in the past. What do you think? Should the Police institute a tougher policy on bike crooks, or are things fine as they are? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

A further Police related story - you have none for ages, then two turn up together. I am surprised at how many local people are unaware of the threat of closure to Bexleyheath Police Station. It has been proposed that Bexleyheath police station is sold off and services moved to Sidcup. This has been vigorously opposed by MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford David Evennett.  The proposal is to close and sell off Bexleyheath Police Station (which has already lost its custody suite and cells) and move everything to Marlowe House in Sidcup, right on the far South of the Borough. This would leave the entire borough with only one fully active Police Station. What also concerns me is that if Police make an arrest say in Lower Belvedere, they then have to go all the way across the Borough to Sidcup in order to get the felon processed - which could take them off active duty for several hours. This definitely sounds like an idea that has not been properly thought through - I feel the law of unintended consequences coming into play once again. I do appreciate that nowadays the Police are lot more mobile than they once were, and don't all sit in the Police station waiting for a 999 call to come in, then all run out Keystone Cops style, but the message this sends to crooks is a poor one.

A message from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association:- "Can everyone remember that with the summer comes the unwanted door knockers touting for Gardening / tree pruning work, Roofing/guttering cleaning , and Driveway work. These cold callers are usually in unmarked transit vans and not in any kind of company uniform but you may see them slowly driving around looking at houses. Likewise, they will often put a card through doors if nobody answers when they knock, but can I just remind everyone to please look out for their elderly neighbours as these are often the easy target for chancers, and that if you haven't personally called anyone or don't actually need the work done, don't answer the door but if you do DON'T be talked into having any work done". Reports from a Neighbourhood Watch Co-ordinator in Barnehurst reads:- "Two reps from Safe Style UK Windows knocked on my door and said they were doing work for a neighbour and offered me a quote. They were a bit pushy, but I agreed to have a quote from them. Soon afterwards, another neighbour said they were calling further down the road, saying I was having work done by them, as if in recommendation. I cancelled my appointment but would caution others that they are at least guilty of misrepresentation". From The Colyers Safer Neighbourhood Team:-"There were 2 reported burglaries, 1 commercial burglary in Erith Road on 24th July. Suspect forced entry via a glass panel in the early hours of the morning. Cosmetics and food were stolen. Suspect identified by CCTV and arrested. Investigation ongoing There was also 1 attempted burglary on the morning of the 19th July in Edendale Road where an attempt to enter by forcing the kitchen window. Entry was not gained and nothing was taken. No CCTV or witnesses. There have been 3 thefts from motor vehicles this week. One in Badlow Close on the morning of the 19th July where a lock was forced and a bag stolen from the foot well of the car. There was no CCTV and no suspects were seen. Another was in the early hours of the 21st July in Cumbrian Avenue where the wheel trims were stolen from a vehicle. There were no witnesses or CCTV and no viable leads. Lastly there were some number plates stolen from a car in Northumberland Way sometime between the 18th-21st July. There was 1 criminal Damage to a vehicle in Larner Road overnight between the 12th-13th July where a known suspect poured paint on the victims vehicle due to an alleged parking dispute. Investigation ongoing. Our next surgery is on Thursday 27th July in the Community Centre, Blackberry Patch, Badlow Close at 6pm". A report from the Erith Safer Neighbourhood Team:- "There has been an increase in theft of number plates in Erith we are trying to get hold of some security screws that will hand out to local residents that request them. We had a successful ward panel meeting with a record turnout and Jerry Martin was voted in as our new chairman. We are going to increase patrols in the area - that was brought up from the meeting – more on this to follow". 

The ending video this week shows one of the newly installed cycle path barriers on the Thames Cycle Path at Abbey Wood, close to Thamesmead; apologies that the video is in vertical / portrait format, but that is how it was supplied to me by a long - time Maggot Sandwich reader who chooses to remain anonymous. It is most definitely worth a watch, and really highlights how council tax payers money has been wasted in a poorly planned and even more poorly executed piece of very expensive street furniture. Give the video a watch, and either leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.