Five stars.

You may recall that last week I wrote a fairly detailed piece on the Ring range of internet enabled "Smart" doorbells, and how they were very easy for malicious people to hack. Following this article, I was contacted by local technologist and software developer Miles, who is the owner of several Ring devices, as well as a large number of other pieces of fairly cutting edge technology. I was expecting him to rebuke me for exaggerating the level of risk involved in using the technology, but in fact quite the opposite turned out to be the case. Miles writes:- " I spotted your comments on the Ring doorbell and thought I'd drop you an email. I believe the general populous does not appreciate just how insecure IoT (Internet of Things) devices actually are. As you know I do like a gadget so I own quite literally tens of these device performing all kinds of tasks from motion sensing, smart switches, thermostats, cctv etc etc. Each and everyone typically runs an embedded distribution of linux, usually BusyBox - most with the default credentials left enabled. Given how cheap microprocessors are these days, each device is actually quite capable, probably faster than a computer you bought fifteen years ago. As you mentioned, once one of these devices are on your network they have free reign to do whatever they want - somewhat akin to locking a burglar inside your house. I bring this up for two reasons, firstly most of these devices are produced in China - not exactly our closest ally and the second, botnets. Often IoT devices are used to create absolutely huge 'botnets' for denial of service attacks against all sorts of targets. With just about everything becoming "internet enabled", it strikes me as we're opening ourselves up to a world of pain. Even as a technologist I'm not even sure what the solution is, or how to protest yourself without going to extreme measures (blocking the devices from accessing the internet, moving them on to a different network or VLAN etc etc). They are inherently insecure. Imagine the personal information you retain on your computer, passwords, images, bank statements, old contracts etc - all it would take is one of those devices to become compromised to take this information and go to town. Identity theft would be a walk in the park, it would be trivial to open up lines of credit etc. I don't know if you remember, Mr Jeremy Clarkson was arrogant enough to post his bank account number online assuming it could not be abused - not long after he was quickly signed up for regular donations to a charity. On a similar vein of thought, I found it curious how willing people are to share their personal information on Facebook. When you consider the likes of Cambridge Analytica, manipulating, or worse, threatening people has never been so easy". My own philosophy of computer use is - 1) Never store anything online that you cannot afford to lose. 2) Assume everything is insecure, or potentially so. 3) Keep - and test - backups. An untested backup is not a backup. 4) Don't use social media - it is the modern equivalent of a bear pit, and potentially bad for your mental health. 5) If an online service is free, then you are the product. Of course your mileage may vary, and the guidelines above are my own personal ones; as always, I abide by the principle of "if it works for you". I often hear people complaining about government organisations such as GCHQ, or the US equivalent, the NSA holding too much information on private individuals, when in reality the likes of Facebook, LinkedIn, Amazon and Google hold far more personally identifiable data on individuals than any government. What do you think? Email me in confidence at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Head chef Louisa Budds at the Bookstore Cafe, run by not for profit group The Exchange, located in the old Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road, Erith has got much to celebrate. Not only has the very first health inspection of the kitchens and restaurant area got an outstanding five out of five stars on the "Scores on the Doors" hygiene standard, but on top of this award, the Bookstore Cafe is rated as the number one food venue in the local area on Trip Advisor, as voted for by customers. The poster above gives some details of forthcoming events to be held in the old library - click on it for a larger view. The venue will be closing over the Christmas holidays to allow the staff a decent break before the commencement of business in the New Year. The Bookstore Cafe, and The Exchange will close on the 23rd of December, reopening on the 15th of January 2020. There are big plans for the Bookstore Cafe over the next couple of years, all of which will become apparent in due course.

You might not realise it, but Erith was home to one of Britain’s best loved comedians – the late Linda Smith was born and raised in Erith, and attended what was then Erith College. Linda Smith would have been 61 years old this year, had she not died as a consequence of ovarian cancer at the age of 48. She had an entire line in Erith jokes, which to be honest were spot on, but ended up being believed by people unfamiliar with the town, and have ended up creating a lasting bad impression. For example, when talking about Erith’s teenagers she said “People knock ASBOs but you have to bear in mind they are the only qualification some of these kids are going to get”. Most famously she also said “Erith isn’t twinned with anywhere, but it does have a mutual suicide pact with Dagenham”. In describing Erith she said:- "So that's my home town, and I come from a perfectly ordinary working-class family; and in fact, I didn't really meet middle-class people until I went to university. It was quite a shock, really. People were saying things like 'Well, I was always going to end up doing English, because I was brought up surrounded by books - brought up in a house full of books'; and I'd think 'Yes, so was I; but they were full of Green Shield stamps'. I suppose we could have swapped them for books, but we had our eye on a twin-tub".

As people gear up for Christmas, the whole thorny issue of gifts and gift wrapping comes up. I have a major issue with gift wrapping paper for Christmas presents; due to the treatment much of the paper receives during production, it cannot be recycled, and is especially bad for the environment, as the only way to get rid of it is to put it in landfill, or to burn it. What I have chosen to do is rather than wrapping Christmas presents, I will be giving them in sparkly gift bags, which can be reused, year after year. As I have previously written, this is also the reason that I don't send Christmas cards, as I believe them to be ruinously bad for the environment - wood and rags are pulped to make the cards, energy is used to print them, fossil fuels are used to transport them to the shops, electricity and gas are burned to light and heat the shops, then once they are purchased, more fossil fuels are used to deliver the cards around the planet, then after a few days they are discarded, and many cannot be recycled, due to the plastic or wax derived finishes that many cards have. I can understand the practice in the past, when an annual card sent to friends and loved ones would be a form of annual communication when you might otherwise not hear from them, but nowadays this is far from the case; instant worldwide online communications mean that from my perspective, Christmas cards are consigned to the past.

I cannot thank enough the readers who supply me with information for my stories; without the input from you, the Maggot Sandwich would not be the beast that it is today. the contributions - many anonymous, really help to keep readers informed of what is going on in the local area. Although the area covered by the blog is a little imprecise, it basically covers from Plumstead, following Eastwards along the banks of the River Thames to Crayford, and as far North as Bexleyheath, although if a particularly interesting subject crops up from beyond those geographical boundaries, it is fair game. This week a reader sent me information about the recently published plan for the expansion in use of the River Thames for both passenger and freight traffic. It makes for very interesting reading, and although the references to Erith Pier are slight, it does show that the pier is still being considered for passenger traffic use in the future, as you can see from the lower of the two graphics that are shown above - click on either for a larger view. A summary of the detailed report reads as follows:- "The Thames is London’s greatest natural asset and has become an iconic symbol of the city around the world. Two millennia of history, culture and heritage can be found on its banks from Hampton Court Palace, through to the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, Greenwich and Canary Wharf, once the site of working docks and now one of the most important financial centres in the world. The river is a vital part of city life and an important part of its transport network. London is a growing city. Its population is forecast to increase from around 8.9 million today to 10.8 million within 25 years, generating six million additional trips on the city’s transport system each day by 2041. The London Passenger Pier Strategy sets out the Mayoral and Port of London Authority’s (PLA’s) vision for the role of piers in supporting London’s growth, particularly in east London. It aligns to the objectives in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy and PLA Vision for the Tidal Thames. This includes a PLA target to double annual river patronage to 20 million by 2035, reducing the number of journeys made by car and supporting healthy lives by promoting more walking and cycling. New piers served by extended river bus services will make the river a prime transport mode choice in east London where they can support new developments, homes, jobs and growth. The river can offer an alternative to car use while freeing up capacity on other public transport modes. This strategy focuses on the key challenges that river services face and the role of London’s passenger piers in overcoming them. Much of London’s future residential growth will take place along the Thames in east London with an estimated potential for 350,000 new homes and 370,000 jobs to be created across Inner and Outer east London and the Isle of Dogs over the next 25 years. River services can become a principal public transport mode to serve these developments, like Barking Riverside, supporting the aim of achieving a shift away from car travel. Traditionally, passenger piers on the Thames have been purely functional for the management of river passengers: ticketing, queueing, embarking and disembarking. There is, however, great potential to enhance the customer experience at piers though adopting the Healthy Streets Approach, ensuring piers are accessible for all and improving integration with the wider transport system. Careful management of commercial development at piers, where suitable conditions such as high footfall prevail, also provides opportunities to enhance the customer experience. In the current economic climate it will also need to be supported by a business case showing that the development offers an acceptable return on investment while delivering its core purpose of increasing passenger journeys and improving customer experience". You can download and read the complete, detailed 56 page report by clicking here. Unfortunately there is very little mention of Erith Pier in the document, but just enough to confirm that TfL and the Mayor of London's Office have not completely forgotten about it. One must also take on board that the involvement of the Mayor of London's Office and TfL in respect of river based activities to date has not been great; indeed quite the opposite could be said of their work regarding the replacement Woolwich ferries which are still not functioning as advertised due to a number of factors, including at least one possible design defect. There have been an almost constant series of mechanical and electrical breakdowns, labour strikes and other disruptions to the service, which the public was erroneously told the introduction of the new ships would prevent. There have been several problems with the new service; the ships are run by electric motors powered by diesel generators, and the new automated docking system is also powered by electro magnets. The diesel generators have so far proved far less reliable than predicted. On top of this, the electro magnetic docking system only seems to work properly when there is little wind or tide affecting the movement of the ferries as they dock. Anything less than perfect conditions causes the ferries to bounce on the docking mechanism, and fail to make a secure contact. I have read reports that the new ferries, despite their new technology, are actually far harder to operate than the old 1960's models that they replaced. On top of this, there are a series of ongoing labour disputes between the ferry crews and the management of the service; at the time of writing these are unresolved. Indeed, the excellent 853 Blog is reporting that Woolwich Ferry workers will hold another one-day strike on the 19th of December in a dispute over pay. Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for the service, which carries 20,000 cars and 50,000 passengers each week between Woolwich and North Woolwich, but it is currently run by contractor Briggs Marine. The service has already been halted by 10 days of strikes this year. You can read the full report on the continuing staffing problems with the Woolwich Ferry by clicking here.

The two photographs above were taken as screen captures from a silent, 8mm colour cine film taken of the old Erith Town Centre, just before the demolition engineers moved in to flatten the Victorian structures to make way for the hideous concrete monstrosity that locals had to endure between 1973 and around a decade ago. The demolition of the old Erith was an act of cultural vandalism that the town is only now starting to recover from. The photos above show the last day of trade for L.B Stevens - Master Butcher, filmed on Saturday the 27th May 1967, just before the shop was shut for good and demolished. By the look of things, the immaculate shop, with Len Stevens in his bow tie, spotless apron and straw hat was a real credit to the area. If the vandals had not come in and demolished things, I do wonder if Stevens the Butcher would still be running today? With the increase in popularity of traditional suppliers, Erith could have become a haven for foodies. I am also completely certain that Mr. Stevens would not have shut up shop early just because he could not be bothered to wait until closing time. A lesson that Erith Morrison's could do well to learn, when they close their salad bar at around 7pm, even though the store remains open until 10pm! You are more than welcome to contact me by Email at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

I have written in the past about the woeful sound quality and limited range of the DAB radio deployment in the UK. Low bit rates and often mono audio plague many radio stations that broadcast on the legacy digital radio format. Many stations and multiplexes still broadcast in the old DAB format, rather than the newer and more efficient DAB+ format. In a role that may well be followed by other broadcasters, RTE in Ireland are the first national broadcaster in the world to close down their DAB transmitters. They have to cut their annual budget by 60 million Euros, and the market penetration of DAB in Ireland has been so low that they cannot justify the expense. They are also getting rid of 200 broadcasting staff and engineers. The far newer DAB+ is an upgrade to the original DAB specifications, which uses a more advanced audio codec plus better error correction. It is, in theory, around three times as efficient as the old DAB that we are used to. That means better quality sound – and hopefully fewer mono stations – without the undersea gargling noises (caused by very low bit rate reception in poor signal areas) that some listeners are plagued by. The technology behind DAB means that it is possible to mix DAB and DAB+ services on the same multiplex – a set that doesn't understand the newer stuff will just ignore it. We don't yet know what programming the DAB+ channel on the new multiplex will carry; It may indeed be so compelling that owners of older sets will be motivated to replace them – unless they can just listen to the same station in a different way, such as online or via television using a set top box or Smart TV. So, while it is great news that DAB+ has finally come to the UK, I can't help thinking that it is too little, too late. Without a bold shift of more stations to DAB+, it is never going to gain much traction. Existing channels will likely be too scared of losing customers to switch, and so digital radio will continue for many channels as it is today: overwhelmingly mono and sometimes a bit too glitchy. I feel that an opportunity is now being wasted, as many people who listen to digital radio do so in ways other than DAB already. Streaming content via the web of 4G or 5G wireless data are very common – indeed some radio stations now receive more listeners via streaming than they do in other more traditional transmission methods. The excellent Radio Seagull from the Netherlands is a prime example of this.

Now for the weekly local safety and security reports from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly the report from Barnehurst ward:- "Good news for Barnehurst residents, again no burglaries to report. In fact it's almost been three weeks since the last burglary. We have had two incidents of vehicle crime. On Monday 2/12/19 in Hilary Close victim returned to find two flat tyres to his vehicle. At Parkside Parade, Northend Road on Saturday 30/11/19 victim had parked a vehicle for fifteen minutes, on returning to the vehicle victim found a window smashed and a mobile phone stolen. We are pleased to report Hillingdon Road, Westfield Road, Midfield Avenue, Beverley Road and Eastleigh Road are now all covered for Smart Water. Our next community contact session will be held at a slightly later time of 04.00pm in Barnehurst Golf Club on Tuesday 17th December 2019. Hopefully this later time is more convenient for some residents so we look forward to welcoming some new faces". Belvedere ward:- "We have suffered a few burglaries over the last week. We had one on Picardy Road, between 1630-1730 on Wednesday 27/11/2019 where the front door damaged via a tool and entry gained. Jewellery was taken. On Thursday 28/11/2019 between 0820-1740 on poplar Mount a glass pane was smashed on the rear door to gain entry. The thieves stole some jewellery and left the upstairs in a mess. On Friday 29/11/2019 on Stanmore Road between 0700-1920 a similar method was used with the rear door having its glass smashed and entry gained. Nothing was taken that we are aware of at the time of writing. Also on Friday 29/11/2019 around 1920 the victim returned home and believed the burglars were inside. They escaped via the rear door, which had the glass smashed. This is also believed to be the entry point. Nothing known taken at the time of writing. On the Saturday 30/11/2019 at 1637 the victim was disturbed in her bedroom by a female who claimed that the front door was open. This happened on Waterfield Close. The female was escorted out of the house and told not to come back. She then asked for some money for the electric meter. This was declined. Police were called, the female was then seen to knock at other addresses on Waterfield Close and beg for money and head towards the bus stop on Yarnton Way. The female is described as being white, aged 25-30 years but looking older, shoulder length brown hair, 5'2 in height wearing a three green quarter length parker jacket and a grey tracksuit. She had an English accent. Apparently a female with a similar description has been seen begging in Erith Town and Morrison's at Thamesmead. There has also been reports that a female has been doing door knocks on various roads around the borough asking for money for the electric meter. PC Mark has conducted two interviews this week in relation to cannabis he found on two males on Ruskin Road. Both have admitted the offence of Possession, one being just 17 years old. The adult was given a fine and the youth was referred to the young offender team". Bexleyheath ward:- "On Friday 29th November between 6.30-7.15 a house was burgled in Belvedere Road. Owners left around 6.30. Neighbours noticed alarm sound and alarm flashing and alerted the police. Entry was gained from the back by breaking the glass door but seems they left from the front and left the front door opened which was also noticed by neighbours. Due to Neighbourhood Watch and a street Whatsapp group owners were notified straightaway and they came back, but unfortunately the two bedrooms had already been searched the burglars. A bag and jewellery were stolen. Friday 22/11/19 1230 Theft of mobile phone from unattended handbag Broadway Bexleyheath. Thursday 28/11/19 2000 – 29/11/19 0108 Theft of Motor Bike Church Road. Friday 29/11/19 1625 Theft of Purse whilst shopping in Card Factory – 2 x Eastern European Females knocked into lady and shortly afterwards her purse was missing. Friday 29/11/19 2210 Grove Road vehicle stolen by person being threatened. Friday 29/11/19 1915 Burglary Belvedere Road jewellery and cash taken entry gained by smashing rear patio door. Saturday 30/11/19 0355 Midhurst Hill - Attempted Burglary fence broken in garden and also neighbours believed alarm disturbed them. Sunday 1/12/19 1445 Cafe Nero Broadway, a handbag taken off of chair as victim stood to put on coat. Sunday 1/12/19 1300 – 3/12/19 0750 Attempted Theft of Motor Vehicle Gravel Hill Close. Monday 2/12/19 1130 – 1330 Purse taken from bag whilst shopping on Broadway unknown which store. Monday 2/12/19 1000 – 1800 Burglary Latham Road jewellery taken and entry gained by hinges being removed from the back door".

Crayford ward:- "BBNWA attended the Crayford Waterside Gardens Christmas Festival on Saturday 30th November. The lighting was atmospheric, the public were cheery and the carol singers sung beautifully. Residents from the borough stopped by the Neighbourhood Watch stand and chatted, discussed local Neighbourhood Watch topics, received advice and information, and some registered to be coordinators for streets that currently don't have a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in place. The Mayor of Bexley and her husband also stopped by the Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association gazebo. It was a great day and a fantastic way to begin this festive season! Just one burglary, but still one too many! A TV and other items were stolen from a property in Halcot Avenue on Thursday 28th November between 16.45 – 17.20, no other details are known at present. All other crimes are motor vehicle related. A catalytic convertor was stolen off a black Toyota Prius whilst parked at Hall Place car park on Thursday 28th November between 10.45-13.00. An attempted theft of a catalytic convertor from a Ford Transit whilst parked in Swaisland Drive (rear of Crayside shops in Crayford Way) occurred between 18.10 on Wednesday 27th November and 7.25 on Friday 29th November. A white Ford Transit YG12NVO was stolen from Watling Street between 20.30 on Wednesday 27th November and 09.30 on 28th November. A grey BMW 1 series with three hooded occupants was seen on CCTV to break in to a container using a battery operated saw at 00.55 on Friday 29th November at Optima Park, in this instance they didn't get anything. A red Toyota Yaris with the number plate LV03BJU was stolen between 22.00 on Thursday 28th November without keys from Hillside Road. Between 22.00 on Monday 2nd December and 11.00 on Tuesday 3rd December a window on a blue Mini Cooper was smashed. We attended the Crayford Winter Festival on Saturday afternoon and gave out several Met Trace packs. The following is a response received from TfL when I requested an update recently about changes to routes 428 and 492. “We are currently in the process of reading through and analysing each of the large number of comments made during the consultation. Once this analysis is complete we will publish a Consultation Report detailing how the consultation was run and what responses we received. We will also publish our responses to the issues raised once they have been fully considered. Whilst this is happening the routes will remain as they are. Given this delay any changes will not be happening in January 2020; we will confirm any date when we announce our final decision.” Our next community contact session is on Wednesday 11th December at Crayford Library between 14.00-15.00".

Erith ward:- "Two vehicles have been stolen in the last week. A moped was stolen from West Street between 1745 and 1820 hours on Sunday 01/12/2019. A locker was broken into between 6pm and 8pm on Monday at Erith Leisure Centre, keys to a car taken and the vehicle stolen. Both incidents are currently ongoing investigations. Erith SNT are starting a Smart Water property marking scheme at the Quarry this coming week and then on to other areas. For more information, please email the team.  PCSO's Mark and Adam from each team, were invited to the Slade Green Seniors Cinema Club Christmas event on Monday 02/12/2019 at Slade Green Community Centre where over 90 residents from both wards had drinks and lunch with the Mayor of Bexley and Sir David Evennett, before the residents all sat to watch A Christmas Carol". Northumberland Heath ward:- "This week the team have been following up on a number of reports of a black male, approx. age 27 years old, the male has been allegedly approaching women in the Northumberland Heath area, mainly along Bexley Road. He is engaging in conversations of a sexual nature, making the women feel uncomfortable and scared. If you have any information on similar incidents, please contact the team and let us know. We have had numerous reports of ASB in Bronte Close. The team are in the process of gathering CCTV footage, it is believed that some of the youths involved are local residents. The team will soon be visiting home addresses, the local authority will also be notified as this could constitute a breach of tenancy. Unfortunately we have had a number of crimes this week as follows:-Monday 30/11/19 overnight between the hours of 00:00-07:45 hours a set of number plates were stolen from a black Ford Fiesta on Matfield Road. VRM – LR57 LSN. Wednesday 1/12/19 overnight between 23:00- 09:04 hours a vehicles window was smashed and cash stolen, the vehicle was parked on Frinstead Road. Tuesday 2/12/19 Burglary on Colindale Road at approx. 18:50 hours, 3 suspects disturbed, entry via kitchen door that was left ajar. Thursday 4/12/19 Burglary on Bedonwell Road between 18:10 – 20:05 hours. Entry via forced rear doors".

Slade Green and Northend ward:- "A burglary took place at some time between Saturday 30/11/2019 and Monday 02/12/2019 in Lydia Road. The victims were away at the time. Entry was made by smashing the rear patio door window after climbing into the back garden using a wheelie bin. Jewellery was taken. An attempted burglary took place around the corner in Springhead Road on Saturday evening, again, the rear patio door window was smashed, entry was not gained. This is the 4th incident in the past few weeks in the same area. Patrols are being made in all the alleyways that link in to all these roads. CCTV footage from various residents have shown a male trying car door handles between 4am and 5am on Tuesday 02/12. This took place in Rainbow Road and the new development at Egerton Place which is Richmer Road and the dead end part of Slade Green Road. All of the information and footage was sent to us by N.Watch coordinators in Rainbow Road and after a successful meeting with PCSO Mark and Claire from N.Watch, residents at the new development will be setting up a new watch in the next few weeks.  Mark attended the Slade Green Big Local Christmas event on Saturday 30/11/2019 where there were many attendees enjoying ice skating, various stalls, raffles, reindeer and Santa's Grotto. If you look closely at the attached picture, the Santa looks slightly familiar!!  PCSO's Mark and Adam from each team, were invited to the Slade Green Seniors Cinema Club Christmas event on Monday 02/12/2019 at Slade Green Community Centre where over 90 residents from both wards had drinks and lunch with the Mayor of Bexley and Sir David Evennett, before the residents all sat to watch A Christmas Carol. Our next CCS is on Monday 09/12/2019 from 11am at the café in Forest Road. At 6pm on Sunday 08/12/2019, St Augustines is holding their Carols by Candlelight service. Everyone is welcome to join in singing Carols and listen to the readings. Mark is honoured to be reading the 6th lesson of the service". Thamesmead East ward:- "Burglary - Monday 2/12/19 Walsham Close between 9:30pm – 4:30am suspect/s entered property through front door which may not have been secured as no forced entry seen. Property taken a handbag containing bank cards Driving licence and a notebook containing passwords. It has since come to notice that the cards have been used at 4 different locations. Wallet containing partners bank card and Oyster card also taken. Vehicle Crime - Saturday 30/11/19 Kale Road between 8pm – 10am Victims tyres have been slashed by suspect/s unknown for the third time in under 2 weeks. Good News - PC Nana arrested a female on suspicion of handling stolen goods. Recently there were reports on social media about a female knocking on doors in the Thamesmead and Belvedere areas. If anyone has CCTV or has been a victim of her actions please ring 02087212049". West Heath ward:- "No burglaries have been reported to us over the last week. On Wednesday November 27th between 11am – 5.50pm in Longleigh Lane a front door to a property was damaged and entry gained. An untidy search was conducted and a gold necklace was stolen from a bedroom in the house. Theft of a number of items from a garage in Dryhill Road between Saturday November 2nd and midday on Monday November 3rd. Two high value Jet Ski's a sewing machine and other items were stolen. Theft of number plates from a black Honda Civic parked in Seaton Road overnight on Monday December 2nd 10pm – Tuesday December 3rd. One attempted theft/motor vehicle interference in Woolwich Road Saturday November 30th – Sunday December 1st at 8am. The owner of the vehicle discovered the driver's side door lock had been drilled out. Nothing appeared to have been taken and a screwdriver was found by the vehicle. Last Friday the team spoke to pupils at a local primary school about the role of a Police Officer/Police Community Support Officer. The children got to ask lots of questions and try on pieces of uniform. A great time was had by all".

The end video this week is a historical look at Plumstead and Woolwich; it is a montage of old photographs taken from the late Victorian age until the 1940's. Do give it a watch - many locations are easily identifiable today. Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Cowboy builders.

The photo above shows the ground works that have been carried out to prepare the old Erith Riverside Swimming Baths site for redevelopment as a new residential site consisting of 12 mews houses and 55 apartments overlooking the River Thames. The workers clearing the site had a bit of a shock - their instructions were to level and grade the site ready for the foundations of the new structures to be dug. It had been assumed that the site was clear. It soon became apparent that this was actually far from the case. When the old swimming pool was demolished, the workers at the time were instructed to remove all construction materials from the site; it turns out that they did something far easier; in a giant equivalent of lifting a rug to sweep dust underneath it, the demolition workers just knocked down the building and used the rubble to fill the hole left by the drained and empty swimming pool itself. It would seem that something in the region of seventy percent of the construction material thought to have been carted away during the demolition process is still currently on site! This is going to add time and money to the site clearance programme. I wonder if any recourse or compensation can be sought from the historical demolition company for doing such a shoddy and half arsed job? It would seem that cowboy builders can affect large commercial developments as well as individuals.

Malcolm Knight of the excellent Bexley is Bonkers blog has been writing about the changes that Bexley Council have been making to the rules governing the use of Bexleyheath Broadway. A Public Spaces Protection Order has been imposed. This somewhat drastic measure is apparently designed to combat perceived anti-social behaviour. According to the Bexley council press release, the order prohibits “behaviour in a manner which causes, or, is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to another person. The  riding of pedal cycles, skateboards, roller blades, hover boards or other similar devices within the restricted area in a manner which causes, or is likely to cause, harassment, alarm or distress to another person, and the playing of any type of ball games in the designated area". According to the Council’s own documentation, Failure to comply with the PSPO without a reasonable reason for doing so is a breach of the order and a criminal offence. Significant and/or persistent breaches of the order could lead to a fixed penalty notice being issued or a summons to court. The charge for receiving a fixed penalty notice is £100, which would be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days. All individuals breaching the conditions of the order would be monitored by a range of agencies to provide other necessary support and interventions. Council staff will take action to try to manage the risk that any young people who receive a fixed penalty notice gain a criminal record without fully understanding the potential of their actions”. This all seems somewhat draconian, and rather reminiscent of the kind of social policies employed by Kim Jong Un in North Korea. Civil rights group Liberty say:- “Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) are broad powers which allow councils to criminalise particular, non-criminal, activities taking place within a specified area. Unfortunately, we have frequently seen them used against the most vulnerable in our society, the homeless.  PSPOs are also being used to limit freedom of speech and the right to protest. PSPOs simply fast-track vulnerable people into the criminal justice system – rather than divert them away from it”. I get the feeling that this is a direct response to the recent riot amongst gangs of school age children that took place in Northumberland Heath, and that made the national news. Whether such an order is actually required is another point entirely. It seems to me to be an over – reaction, and a case of “doing something because we can do” – not because they actually need to. It does rather seem to me that it is going down the path of the infamous “Not the Nine O’ Clock News” over zealous policeman sketch, where a dim, racist and vindictive copper is being hauled over the coals by his boss, for repeatedly arresting the same man for “offences” including – “walking on the cracks in the pavement, possession of an offensive wife, wearing a loud shirt in a built up area during the hours of darkness, urinating in a public convenience, and looking at me in a funny way ”. I understand that the PSPO concept is shortly to be tested in court. Liberty and other similar organisations are keen to challenge the legality of the sweeping conditions that PSPO’s can impose. I get the feeling that once again we may encounter the law of unintended consequences. Time will tell. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Maggot Sandwich readers of long standing may recall that quite some time ago I explained why I refused to take advertising on the blog. One of the reasons I cited was that I did not want to be at the thrall of an advertiser or sponsor, and thus be muzzled as to what content I wrote. It would seem that my feelings on the subject have now been crystallised after a report from The Advertising Standards Authority specifically targeting Vloggers (video bloggers) who have been promoting commercial products and using product placement in their videos, for which advertising agencies and public relations firms have been financially rewarding them for. Whether The Advertising Standards Authority actually have any power over Vloggers is debatable; many are based outside of the UK, and other may be based in the UK, but use platforms that are hosted outside of the UK. I suspect that the ASA are having a bit of a “fishing trip” to see who they can scare into submission. I think that in many cases their words may prove to be an empty threat. I get the feeling that the ASA don’t really have much of a clue as to exactly how video services such as YouTube actually operate. Whilst a file may be uploaded from an I.P address in the UK, it may end up being hosted on a server in the USA, Japan or a host of other locations, from which it is then “broadcast” to viewers via the World Wide Web. Which country is legally responsible for video content? The country from whence it was uploaded, or the country that hosts the video files? Users may upload files using a proxy, mirroring the upload to a third location anywhere in the world – The Advertising Standards Authority would need the resources of GCHQ to track activity of this nature, and I cannot see it ever happening. I think some clueless Whitehall Mandarin is blowing off steam over something that they really don't have a handle on. Let’s see what happens.

The picture above may look familiar - and that is because I have used it before - I am recycling some second hand photons; it used to pretty much sum up Christmas in parts of Erith to a tee; the bus shelter even looks passingly similar to one almost opposite Pewty Acres. Nowadays the town is changing in such a rapid way that I feel that it is the very last time I will be credibly able to use the image, even in a satirical context. Erith is changing for the better in so many ways. As many readers may already know, I don't send Christmas cards, for a number of reasons, mainly as I think them redundant now that much of the world is now online, and via social networking, Email, Twitter and a host of other services, people keep in contact all year round, not just via a once a year bit of printed card. Cards use a huge amount of natural resources, both in their production and transportation, and generally get shredded or dumped after the annual festivities. I think we really need to move on from them. Think of this as my virtual season's greetings.

I know many regard me as a grumpy old curmudgeon when it comes to the Christmas festivities; and I suppose I am to an extent. I suppose having no children does mean that I don’t see the holiday from their perspective. For the most part it is a period for me to endure, rather than enjoy. I am not saying that the festival is a complete anathema, but it sometimes feels that way. One thing I really detest is the journey home from work on the couple of weeks’ before the Christmas break. One invariably encounters “amateur drinkers” who have been on a boozy Christmas lunch; not able to hold their drink (or to know when to stop before the effects impaired their actions) they generally make the lives of their fellow commuters insufferable, even if it is just by sitting close by and breathing alcohol fumes over their fellows; I have to say that when in the office, either in Canary Wharf or Watford, my habit is to start early and finish early. In doing this I avoid the worst excesses of those suffering from a Yuletide surfeit of Dizzyade. I feel sorry for fellow commuters that have to travel later in the evening – I have been there in years past, and it is not pretty!

You may have noticed that the Maggot Sandwich has been published rather earlier than normal this week; this is for a very good reason; This afternoon I will be attending a private screening Of the new Star Wars film “Rogue One”, and I won’t be around when I normally make the latest edition go live at around 1pm. In a tradition that stretches back as far as this time last year, mega Star Wars fan and all round good egg Nav Bhamra organises a private showing of the latest movie in the Star Wars franchise, with any profits being donated to worthy causes. I will feature photos taken at the event on the update next week.

The effects that the sudden and very unexpected closure of Northumberland Heath based double glazing company PJ Plastics continue to be felt. It would seem that there are a number of creditors who have lost money due to the failure of the company – individuals had given substantial deposits for windows and doors that will now not be delivered. One person, who wishes to remain anonymous wrote:- “We have just become a victim of PJ Plastics' demise. Having ordered a very large double-glazed window for our dining room at the end of September, and paid the deposit, we were looking forward to having the work done in the New Year. But, on a trip to North Heath post office, I noticed their shop across the road looked eerily empty. Closer investigation revealed the notice in the window advising of their closure. I feel particularly aggrieved because only six weeks had elapsed between them banking our deposit and then posting their notice of closure. Surely any financial difficulties they had must have been known to them when they accepted our order. Needless to say, we have received no communications from the company or the liquidators and I suspect they will have preferential creditors who will be given first options on any assets they have. This probably means we will lose our deposit and become a victim of fraud. My wife contacted the liquidators but they weren't particularly helpful. She also contacted her bank as she paid the deposit using her debit card. It is possible she may get her money back but they make it harder than it is for credit card payments. 'Twas ever thus! The silly thing is that if PJ progressed our order and built the window it will be of no use to anyone else. We put that to the liquidator suggesting the situation might be resolved but they did not get back to us”. This is a situation that I expect is quite widespread; if you have suffered as a result of the failure of PJ Plastics, do drop me a line – it can be in complete confidence, should you so wish. People should not have to suffer as a result the poor management and financial fragility of a vendor. Ironically as a previous customer of PJ Plastics myself, I am covered by my FENSA warranty – something not available to customers who have not had their goods delivered. The implications for a relatively small independent local company going bust can be far wider than many might imagine.

On a related subject, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Erith branch of Cash Generator has now closed for good; US-owned Cash Generator plans to close all but a handful of branches and make hundreds of staff redundant, according to a claim from company insiders. The Erith branch is one of the first of a total of 68 branch closures. It is the latest in a string of lenders to scale down after being criticised for charging sky-high interest rates. A Cash Generator worker said in a recent interview: “We have moved away from offering loans to people on benefits, which was regarded as irresponsible lending. Now we have been told that stores not making a profit will be going.” Sister company Cheque Centre pulled out of the payday lending market after criticism by financial regulators. Both firms are owned by American loan giant Axcess Financial. The Financial Conduct Authority brought in rules last year capping how much lenders can charge. Since then, the number of payday lending shops has fallen from 1,400 to under 500. Earlier this year Wonga, Britain’s biggest online lender, revealed losses of £80 million following the clampdown. Cash Generator were notorious for huge markups on second hand goods they bought from cash strapped people, then sold on to other customers on a tight budget. A fairly typical example of the kind of customer service can be read from a disgruntled customer who writes:- "The Guarantee they offer here means nothing as they will just accuse you of dropping the item or whatever they need to say to make it your fault not theirs!. The consumer rights act 2015 also means nothing it would seem as when I returned a not fit for purpose, #Lenovo PC (PC screen doesn't light up!) to them on 19th October less than 24 hours after leaving the shop with it, the staff member laughed at me, and refused to repair replace or give me a refund of my £119.99 payment.  We also rang the manager direct and she flat out refused too!, preferring instead to accuse us of dropping it when we haven't, and their is no evidence or marks on the product to warrant this.  Not only that but come to think of it the item had no CE markings, or PAT testing label on it, And was sold to me with a 2 pin foreign plug attached to a cheap looking, 3 pin UK adapter! I am sure that alone is a breach of some consumer law or other!.  I am very disappointed at this shops non - existent customer service, they are liars.  I hope to prove it in court too!, my home has CCTV which shows I never dropped it getting it from my car, and the street I walked down and car park are covered, I shall instruct my solicitor to obtain footage from the CCTV operator.  I hope they get a massive fine for breaching consumer rights and the manager and staff members involved get what they deserve (sacked).  They have let down the Cash Generator Brand, And damaged my customer confidence in them I shall never recommend or shop there again". Quite. I view the likes of Cash Generator and Cash Converters in exactly the same light as Brighthouse - organisations designed purely to exploit the least well off in our society. I am glad that Cash Generator have closed down in Erith, and hope that they all rot. No loss at all.

Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association have just issued the following warning to local residents:-  "We have been made aware that burglars are targeting Bexley in the run up to Christmas. We are asking our volunteers to be extra alert and to note any suspicious persons or vehicles in your areas and to report this activity to us straight away. These thieves are gaining entry by smashing in back doors which must create some noise. If you hear what could be a burglary in motion please report it to police on 999; if you see suspicious activity such as persons hanging around or vehicles parked that are not familiar, please report this with full details such as date/time/registration number of vehicle and description of person(s) directly to us at Neighbourhood Watch. We will ensure it goes directly to the appropriate police department. Police Patrols are going to target the A2 slip roads in an effort to combat this increase in theft, which is thought to be by persons from outside of the Borough".

The photo above shows Erith High Street in 1910. By the look of it, the photo was taken in the Spring / Summer and on a Saturday afternoon, due to the number of men one can see standing around chatting. Back in those days of large families and small houses, the men would be told to stay out of the house until meal times. Working hours were long, and it was quite normal to go to work on Saturday mornings - one of the reasons football matches usually kick off at 3pm or thereabouts nowadays - a historical hangover. The only building in the photo above that still exists is the Cross Keys Centre, which you can just see in the centre distance. Everything else was demolished back in 1966 when the town centre was redeveloped - a move that many locals regret to this day.

Newly opened Erith gym Fit4Less has got off to a very good start. Pre – opening member registrations were the highest of any gym in the franchise chain, and since then the number of members has reached full capacity. I understand that monthly renewal levels are very high, and word reaches me that the place is already so successful that Josh Waters, the owner is in negotiations with Bexley Council about expanding into the vacant industrial unit next door. Bearing in mind that until Josh and his team took the corner unit opposite Erith Health Centre, it had been unoccupied and ignored since the building was constructed. It is now interesting to hear rumours that a couple of other businesses are showing an interest in taking the unit next to Fit4Less, after they have seen the success that the gym has already experienced. I think that especially bearing in mind the financial investment (not to mention risk) that Josh has put into the building, he should most definitely have first option on the adjacent unit. Erith town centre is finally opening up at night – not only is the gym open until late, but also the newly opened Riverside Fish and Steak restaurant opens until 11pm in the week, and midnight at the weekend. The whole pattern if town centre usage is now changing as it no longer becomes empty and barren after 6pm, as was the case for many years. I suspect that this pattern will continue to change and evolve, as other businesses realise that there is both life and customers after the retail shops close for the evening.

I am trying to discover more about a very colourful and larger than life character who lived in Erith during Victorian times; his name was Robert Austen, but he was more popularly known as "Robert the Devil" - he was an exhibitionist and showman, and I understand he had a strong man act that sometimes toured around North Kent and beyond. He had a couple of party tricks. He often drank in the pubs on Erith river front, and was notorious for betting other drinkers a pint of ale if he could swim across the River Thames from Erith to Coldharbour Point in Havering, Essex and back - which he invariably did. As I have previously written, the currents and undertow in and around Anchor Bay make this one of the most lethal stretches of the Thames for swimmers, and why most people who enter the river end up getting fished out by the Police or RNLI as corpses. It would appear that Robert Austen was a very strong and confident swimmer who could repeatedly challenge this - (although I would hazard a guess that he timed his swims for slack tide). On top of swimming the river, Austen would permit a man to break a granite kerbstone over his chest with a sledge hammer - for the price of a gallon of beer! More information if you have it please.

Do you remember that back in 2004 Coca Cola released a bottled water product called Dasani? The UK launch of Dasani is now taught in business schools as to how not to launch a product, and when you have launched it, what not to do when the launch does not go as planned. The problem was that Dasani was actually filtered tap water from Sidcup, where Coca Cola then had a bottling plant. Close similarities were seen with the "Only Fools and Horses" episode "Mother Nature's Son" where Del and Rodney sell tap water as "Peckham Spring" bottled water.  Bearing in mind that Peckham and Sidcup are only a few miles apart, the press picked up on this with glee. The video below tells the whole story of how the American Coca Cola executives completely mishandled the situation and made things worse than they already were, mainly due to not understanding British culture and slang phrases - as you will see in the short explanatory video below. It makes for fascinating and quite amusing viewing. Please feel free to leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Erith Christmas Tree Festival 2015.

This weekend marked the 2015 Christ Church Erith Christmas Tree Festival and Winter Fair. The idea behind the Christmas Tree Festival is simple, but very clever. Local companies, organisations and individuals sponsor a tree - this costs £30 per tree if you decorate and personalise it yourself, or £35 if the organisers decorate it for you. The money raised is split between the church and local charity, the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. Up to eighty trees are on display in the church, and it makes an amazing spectacle. Entry is free, though donations are always welcomed. Visitors come from a long way to see the festival. and for many locals it is a sign that Christmas is really on the way.

It sadly looks like gang - related violence has hit Erith again; both the News Shopper and the London Evening Standard are reporting that there was a shooting in the early hours of last Friday morning at a house in Crusoe Road, Erith, where a A 47-year-old man was found suffering from a gunshot wound to his arm and was taken to hospital by ambulance. Detectives from the Trident and Area Crime Command are investigating - which makes it sound like it could well have been a gang related incident. Violent crime throughout Greater London has been on the decline for the last couple of years, but this attack, along with the recent murder in Slade Green of former soldier Terry Wiggins who was stabbed to death in Lincoln Close on the 17th November, really are showing that serious violence and death is not far away after all. 

Sir Robin Wales, the Mayor of Newham has been getting a lot of press recently; he believes a crossing – either a bridge or a tunnel – at Gallions Reach should be built sooner rather than later. In a recent interview with The Wharf newspaper, he warned the crossing needed to become a reality as quickly as possible to tackle the predicted increase in traffic in the area and help create thousands of jobs. His call comes after Transport for London (TfL) started a public consultation on the potential usage of a new crossing between Beckton and Thamesmead. It forms part of the Mayor of London’s idea for thirteen new Thames crossings between Imperial Wharf and Dartford. TfL has said the earliest a new crossing at Gallions Reach would be completed would be 2025 and it is planned to introduce a toll on any new crossing to help towards covering the cost of building it. But Sir Robin is unimpressed at how long this could take. He said: “Finally the Mayor of London has listened to our calls that a crossing at Gallions Reach is much needed by our residents and businesses and vital to the regeneration of East London. We have been fighting for years for a river crossing for different modes of transport to help tackle congestion and open up the economic growth in this part of London. It is bitterly disappointing that we could have to wait another decade before any crossing is finished. It is infuriating that our residents and businesses will be penalised for years of under investment in east London by having to pay to use any new crossing when those in west London are not charged. We will be pushing for fair reductions and concessions for local people.” There is a degree of polarisation of opinion regarding the necessity of extra river crossings; Latest estimates have London’s population growing by 1.5 million in the next 15 years, with South East London already taking on vast new housing developments - Erith alone has Erith Park, Tower Hill, the proposed redevelopment of the former Riverside Swimming Baths site, and the large development on Erith Quarry. Proponents of the scheme believe more road links linking the north and south banks should be built sooner rather than later to accommodate the extra traffic this would bring. There is also a discrepancy between crossings in the West and East of London – there are twenty six Thames crossings between London Bridge and Kew Bridge to the west, while there are only eleven from Tower Bridge to Dartford Crossing in the East. I have mentioned the proposals to build either a bridge or a tunnel that would link Lower Belvedere with Rainham in Essex on several occasions before. Both options have plusses and minuses. There are a number of factors to consider if building a bridge at Belvedere:- 1) It would be close to major working wharves and would therefore require a high and long span, which could increase the cost to be similar to the cost of a tunnel at Belvedere. 2) Pedestrian / cycle facilities could be accommodated, although users would be exposed to poor weather. 3) Being further from the London City Airport, there is more flexibility on the type of structure that can be built than at Gallions Reach. Conversely a tunnel would have its own issues:- 2) It could be a similar cost to a bridge. 2) It would have little or no impact on shipping. 3) It potentially has less of an impact than a bridge on local properties and the future development of the area, particularly after construction. 4) It would be less susceptible to poor weather than a bridge. 5) A pedestrian and cycle tunnel could be considered less attractive to users than a bridge. You may recall that I discussed the positives and negatives of a new river crossing between Lower Belvedere and Rainham in Essex back in April of last year. The tunnel I proposed is purely my own thought, and is not intended to reflect on any of the other “official” transport solutions which are currently being proposed. My suggestion, provisionally entitled “The Arthur Pewty Memorial Tunnel” would stretch between the Ferry Lane roundabout, South of Rainham town centre and the A2016 Bronze Age Way / Picardy Manor Way roundabout in Lower Belvedere. In effect, this would connect the A13 and Rainham in South Essex with the A2 and M25 via Bronze Age Way, and the South Circular via the A2016 Eastern Way towards Woolwich. This coincidentally is pretty much the same route that the the official crossing solutions (both tunnel and bridge) would take. It could also have the added bonus of connecting Rainham and Belvedere railway stations via a regular bus service through the tunnel. My vision would be of a structure very similar in size and scope to the existing Medway Tunnel which links Strood with Chatham in Kent. The Thames tunnel would use the same kind of immersed tube construction that the Medway Tunnel does – that is, sections of prefabricated tunnel sections are sunk into the river, joined together, then the water is pumped out. This relatively new method of construction is well suited to shallow and medium depths of water, and creates tunnels which are both very strong and relatively cheap to construct. Unlike the Medway Tunnel, I would hope that the Lower Thames tunnel would permit the use of bicycles via a raised cycle / walkway kept physically separate from the vehicular traffic. As previously indicated, by the time any tunnel of this nature had been constructed (which I understand normally needs an Act of Parliament) the level of harmful pollutants emitted by vehicles will be far lower than the levels now, and many of the cars may well be zero emission via either conventional batteries, Hydrogen fuel cells or possibly even LENR (Low Energy Nuclear Reaction) power, if one is somewhat on the optimistic side. This would not be the only new link needed across the Thames South of Tower Bridge; I suspect that the proposed Gallions Reach crossing will probably go ahead in some form or another, despite the traffic having to run through a housing estate and close by a large residential nursing home on the South side of the river. The Bexley Against Road Crossings campaign website do list some other alternatives, some of which are pretty clever and well thought out. Their only weakness is that they concentrate on using public transport to move people, but the act of moving large amounts of freight is not addressed. Whatever solution is eventually employed, the movement of bulk freight will have to also be taken into account. 

As many readers may already know, I don't send Christmas cards, for a number of reasons, mainly as I think them redundant now that the Western world is now online, and via social networking, Email, Twitter and a host of other services; people keep in contact all year round, not just via a once a year bit of printed card. Cards use a huge amount of natural resources, both in their production and transportation, and generally get shredded or dumped after the annual festivities. I think we really need to move on from them.  I know many regard me as a grumpy old curmudgeon when it comes to the Christmas festivities; and I suppose I am to an extent. I suppose having no children does mean that I don’t see the holiday from their perspective. For the most part it is a period for me to endure, rather than enjoy. I am not saying that the festival is a complete anathema, but it sometimes feels that way. One thing I really detest is the journey home from work on the couple of weeks before the Christmas break. One invariably encounters “amateur drinkers” who have been on a boozy Christmas lunch; not able to hold their drink (or to know when to stop before the effects impaired their actions) they generally make the lives of their fellow commuters insufferable, even if it is just by sitting close by and breathing alcohol fumes over their fellows; I have to say that when in the office, either in Canary Wharf or Watford, my habit is to start early and finish early. In doing this I avoid the worst excesses of those suffering from a Yuletide surfeit of Dizzyade. I feel sorry for fellow commuters that have to travel later in the evening – I have been there in years past, and it is not pretty!

Rumours have surfaced every so often about the future of Erith Morrison’s supermarket; last year a story did the rounds that the store was to be sold off to Aldi or Lidl, but when the claim was investigated, it came to nothing. I get the feeling that this story was prompted by the fate of Waitrose at Dartford, which closed with the loss of 120 jobs. It later became an Aldi outlet, and seems to be doing well now. On Monday the London Evening Standard published a worrying article in their City pages. They said that the “Big Four” (Tesco, Asda, Morrison’s and Sainsbury’s) supermarkets all continue to lose market share, with Morrison’s suffering the worst losses. A market analyst company called Exane BNP Paribas  has been looking into the situation, and has come to the conclusion that the solution for Morrison’s would be “better retailing and less space – this means that carve – ups and disposals / closures are more likely over time, and Morrison’s are the prime candidate”. The analyst thinks that with Aldi and Lidl eating into Morrison’s market share “something has to give”.  It thinks that a merger with Sainsbury’s would make some sense for Morrison’s, but thinks the supermarket chain is more likely to retreat from London and the South East, and return to its roots in the North of England. Last month Asda boss Andrew Clarke said that he expected some form of industry consolidation to cope with the rise of the German discounters, but Sainsbury’s boss Michael Coupe also said that he thought such an action as unlikely, as it would leave any resultant merged company with too many retail stores. Whatever the result, it does start to sound like the Morrison’s supermarket at Erith may be under some kind of threat – a real worry, bearing in mind I understand it employs around five hundred full and part time staff. The town needs a large sized supermarket, and indeed, the Erith Morrison’s store was one of the first the Bradford, West Yorkshire based company opened in the South, back in 1999. I recall being served by the then company Chairman, Sir Ken Morrison, on the day the Erith store opened. The supermarket definitely forms an integral part of the contemporary DNA of Erith, and any changes would have wide ranging implications. I really don’t want to set any hares running, especially on the basis of a single story in the Evening Standard, but it would seem that the supermarket sector is in real disarray at present; changes look like they are indeed happening, and Erith may not escape them. It is all early days, but I will be keeping tabs on this story in the months that come.

The junction of West Street, Walnut Tree Road and Erith High Street, shown in the embedded Google Street View above, has been the subject of much local controversy recently. Over the last couple of years there have been repeated collisions between road vehicles at the junction, and on the 10th November a motorcyclist was seriously injured when he was involved in a collision with a BMW car. The story was covered by the London Evening Standard here. It would seem that the double lines that designate give way at the end of West Street (to the centre left of the embedded image above) have become very worn, and drivers moving from West Street into Erith High Street are not giving way to traffic coming down the hill from Walnut Tree Road, and collisions are happening as a result. The News Shopper have reported the situation, which you can read here. In typical predictable News Shopper style, there is the obligatory photograph of the lady and her daughter posed with their arms folded - which is the News Shoppers' clumsy way of indicating the people are fed up. Not exactly likely to win the Pulitzer Prize I feel.  If you have an opinion on this issue, or have information not yet in the public domain, either leave a comment below, or email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

I have frequently bemoaned social networks like Facebook, and how some people seem to publish all sorts of intimate and what one would have thought were private details about themselves. If that were not bad enough, the professional social networking site LinkedIn is now the target for organised cyber criminals. LinkedIn, which has over 400 million users globally, is a prime target for scammers looking to connect with professionals across a variety of industries, including information security and oil and gas. Scammers copy information from real LinkedIn profiles to pose as recruiters and attract new connections. Security analyst Symantec have been investigating the situation. They found that most of these fake accounts followed a specific pattern. They bill themselves as recruiters for fake firms or are supposedly self-employed and primarily use photos of women pulled from stock image sites or of real professionals. The primary goal of these fake LinkedIn accounts is to map out the networks of business professionals.  Using these fake LinkedIn accounts, scammers are able to establish a sense of credibility among professionals in order to initiate further connections. In addition to mapping connections, scammers can also scrape contact information from their connections, including personal and professional email addresses as well as phone numbers. Symantec said LinkedIn users should be very sceptical of who they add to their network.  “If you’ve never met the person before, don’t just add them. We weren’t surprised to learn that these fake LinkedIn accounts received endorsements from real users”. I would add to this by recommending that if you are a LinkedIn user, and you receive a request from someone that you don’t know, do a Google search on the person to see what you can find out about them – and if they actually exist at all. As always, be careful; once something is online about you, it is impossible to remove it. Publishing anything online is very much a one – way process.

Time Out magazine recently published a feature on London's micro - breweries, amongst which was Erith's own Bexley Brewery. They will next be open for personal visits to purchase beer directly from the source on Friday 18th December 11am-3pm, then Saturday 19th December 11am-2pm (Bar open 12pm-2pm). You can get more details from their website here.

That bastion of never letting the truth get in the way of a good story, The Sun newspaper has been publishing a very old story using a very new spin. They published a story on Tuesday morning, stating that Isis terrorists could target the wartime wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery, which is located in the River Medway. In the Sun's rather breathless style, they write:- "Crack amphibious specialists are ready to defend the SS Richard Montgomery – which experts say would flood vast swathes of the South East if its dangerous cargo was exploded by jihadists. The American World War Two ship – dubbed the Doomsday Boat – contains 1,400 tonnes of unexploded munitions and lies in shallow waters off the Kent coast. Ministers have revealed round-the-clock radar and video surveillance is watching the wreck to provide an early warning system against a devastating attack. Suspicious signs trigger alerts to the Coastguard and Kent Police, who have a specially-trained marine force. They can also call in support from the South East Counter Terrorism Unit if required. A New Scientist report in 2004 warned the ship would create one of the largest non-nuclear blasts ever seen if it exploded, causing more than £1 billion of damage. It would devastate the nearby port of Sheerness and engulf the Isle of Sheppey which is home to almost 40,000 people Experts say it would also create a “tsunami-like wave” which would sweep up the River Medway, flooding thousands more homes and ruining towns and villages. Towns like Gravesend, Canvey Island and Southend could also be badly affected. A security source said: “Terrorists could create a lot of damage for very little effort if they blew this thing up. It is no surprise the ship has been branded a ‘disaster waiting to happen." Quite. The vessel is still to this day loaded with around 1,400 tons of rather unstable high explosives. According to a BBC news report in 1970, it was determined that if the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery exploded, it would throw a 1,000-foot (300 m) wide column of water and debris nearly 10,000 feet (3,000 m) in the air and generate a wave 16 feet (5 m) high. Almost every window in Sheerness would be broken and buildings would be damaged by the blast. Back in the days when I was working for Radio Caroline, we would often make tender runs from Strood on the River Medway, out into the Southern North Sea, and the South Falls Head, where the Radio Caroline ship, the Ross Revenge was then moored, outside British territorial waters, and thus outside of the law. These trips were invariably made at the dead of night, navigating by radar and from navigational buoy to navigational buoy using good old fashioned charts and a compass. On one occasion I was at the wheel of the thirty foot fishing cruiser we were using as a covert supply vessel; we had to time our trips precisely; at that time, the Olau ferry company operated a couple of very large passenger ferries out of Sheerness. The skipper of the Olau Britannia was a great friend to Caroline, and would often go out of his way to help us. One way he gave us practical help was by allowing us to exit the Medway Estuary in the huge vessels’ radar shadow, thus hiding our activities from the authorities. I was concentrating on staying in formation with the giant car ferry, when I suddenly noticed a series of warning buoys dead ahead – I was steering the vessel straight into the wreck of the SS Richard Montgomery! Needless to say, I came around hard to Starboard, to the consternation of the skipper and the rest of the crew, who were thrown around by my sudden course changes, and we narrowly avoided a collision. I reckon if we had have hit the wreck, we would probably have been the first fishing cruiser in orbit!

The end video this week is suitably festive; it shows a music video for the charity single "Christmas Spell" which has been released to raise money for the charity Crisis, which is the national charity for single homeless people. They are dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change. The track features Erith based bagpipe master, and occasional Maggot Sandwich guest writer Chic Mackie - look out for him near the end of the song. Chick will be writing a guest piece for publication in a future addition of the blog, so look out for it in due course.