Centrepieces.

Construction work of the Erith Baths development, adjacent to the Erith Riverside Gardens, seen in the drone photograph above, nears the end. Practical completion on the residential development is scheduled for the 31st December; in reality it will probably be a couple of weeks later, due to the Christmas and New Year holidays. The properties are intended to be for shared ownership - part buy, part rent; this is intended to keep them affordable for people on average incomes. However, in doing some research for this article I have found that a median price two bedroomed apartment in the main block would have an overall cost of £310,000. The minimum purchase share of such an apartment will be 35 percent of the overall cost - £108,500. To be eligible for this, a single purchaser will need to have an income in excess of £48,000 a year, or a couple will need a joint income of £43,000. On top of this, the 65 percent rental share of the agreement will add a further £462 per month to the bill. As well as this, a monthly service charge of £225 - £241 will be added, along with a £30 a month rental fee for a parking space - or a one - off outright purchase payment of £10,000. If this was not enough, the apartments come with a 250 year leasehold, which has a ground rent of £100 per year. This to me does not in any way sound affordable. If you would like to refer to the price list and buyer requirements, then please click here to see the complete cost breakdown of all of the apartments; unfortunately information regarding the town houses behind the apartments does not appear to be available at the time of writing. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The photos above were taken on Friday afternoon in the former Carnegie Library in Walnut Tree Road. A charity art exhibition, followed by an auction of the exhibits is currently taking place. Art is to be sold at auction on Saturday the 1st December, produced by members of the Centrepieces mental health arts project. Hosted by The Exchange. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 3pm, prior to the auction of the exhibits next Saturday, The Exchange say of the exhibition:- "Join us for the 18th Annual Exhibition and Auction of artwork created by artists from Centrepieces Mental Health Arts Project. The event raises money to help keep the organisation running, with 50% of sales going to the artists who are members of Centrepieces, all of whom have experienced mental health problems. This year’s Auction will take place at The Exchange on Saturday 01 December, with previewing times to be advertised leading up to the auction. Advanced bids can be made if people are unable to make the auction date. Centrepieces was founded in 1999 by a group of artists with mental health issues, living in Bexley and the surrounding areas. Originally established with a £5,000 Millennium Award from the National Lottery, Centrepieces was for many years supported by the Crayford Centre, which was part of the local mental health services. It moved in June 2014 to new premises in the Lodge at Hall Place in Bexley, financially supported by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. Today, Centrepieces consists of 120 artists, many of whom volunteer to help run the project. Centrepieces exists to promote mental health recovery through the arts, creating opportunities for people to take part in art activities, and to exhibit and sell their work; it also tries to promote a better understanding of mental health in the wider public". This is the first public event to be held in the former library, which is currently undergoing conversion into a community centre / arts hub and bar / cafe operated by The Exchange. In December there will be a series of "Pop - Up Cinema" events - more on this next week.

As regular readers may be aware, I keep a close eye on the activities of Havering Borough Council, the London borough on the opposite side of the River Thames to the London Borough of Bexley. Havering is a borough with a very similar geographic layout, an almost identical population demographic, and very similar challenges to Bexley, but it seems to me that Havering seem to do far better in terms of management of resources than Bexley do; it has just been announced that proposals for what is likely to be one of the biggest road and pavement improvement programmes of any London borough have been published this week -  in direct response to what residents say is a major issue. In the 2019/20 budget proposals Havering Council is setting out plans to spend £30 million over the next three years on resurfacing roads and pavements and fixing potholes. This will be a significant increase on the current (2018/19) budget of £3.2 million. The proposed investment in improving Havering’s roads and pavements will see approximately 7.5 miles of roads being resurfaced, that's equivalent to the distance between Romford and the Olympic Park at Stratford, as the crow flies. In addition around 1,000 potholes will be repaired each year. Around 8.8 miles of pavements will also be resurfaced, that’s more than double the distance of the Grand National. The £30m proposed investment comes on top of a multi-million pound investment in sport and leisure facilities in 2018/19 which has already seen the Sapphire Ice and Leisure Centre open in Romford, with a new leisure centre and swimming pool due to open in Hornchurch in 2020. As part of the budget, Havering plans to maintain a weekly refuse collection for residents even when some councils have moved to a monthly collection. Around £250,000 has also been earmarked to improve CCTV to improve community safety. Councillor Damian White, the Leader of the Havering Council said in a recent interview:- "People told us that the quality of care and support for vulnerable people is incredibly important to them – we are protecting spend in that area. People told us that they are worried about the quality of roads and pavements – we are investing significantly to improve them. People told us that, even though we have less crime than most London boroughs, they are worried about safety after dark which is why we are planning to increase investment in better CCTV. People told us that the quality of refuse collection is important – we are one of a minority of councils to retain a weekly collection when others have moved to a fortnightly or even a monthly collection. This is a council that listens to our residents and acts in their best interests.” A somewhat different and refreshing approach when compared to Bexley Council.

Last July I wrote a fairly extensive article on the rather sensationalist leaflet which had been posted through the doors of residents of certain roads in Erith and Slade Green. The leaflet was a reaction to the proposed Bexley regeneration consultation project, which made local headlines last year. You can read the original article by clicking here. Since then, the person(s) behind the leaflet and the website Slade Green Together have been silent - the last update on their website is dated the 21st July 2017. Thus far none of their lurid claims have come to pass, and it has become increasingly evident that the sensationalist leaflet campaign and the website were nothing more than some well - meaning scaremongering. I think that whilst we always need to be vigilant against the more strenuous activities of Bexley Council, in this case the reaction was somewhat disproportionate. The problem is, next time some proposal comes from the council that does not chime well with the local population, there is the danger of a "cry wolf" situation arising.

The critically panned Queen biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" has, as I predicted, defied professional reviewers to take over $411 million on a production budget of $52 million - a remarkable performance. The film is still showing in cinemas, so the gross takings figure is set to increase. It will also do very well when released on Blu Ray and DVD, along with online streaming. The Blu Ray and DVD releases with include around 25 minutes of footage cut from the cinema release - including songs missed from the Live Aid performance which ends the movie. I predict that the physical copy sales of the extended film will be very high indeed. If you have not already seen the movie, I would strongly recommend it.

It was reported last week that The Financial Conduct Authority are finally taking action against companies such as Brighthouse and Perfect Home - "rent to buy" companies which charge customers small amounts each week, from just £3.50, but customers often end up paying back up to three times more than an item is worth. The FCA is also considering banning the sale of extended warranties by BrightHouse and Perfect Home, which could save consumers up to £7.7million per year. BrightHouse's Black Friday sale promotion promises customers its “best deals ever” - but its PS4 bundle with FIFA 19 and Assassins Creed costs more than three times more than buying exactly the same product from Curry's. The APR interest rate Brighthouse quote for the deal is 99.9 percent. I was reading an article recently, in which Karl Dayson, an academic who specialises in the study of affordable finance said that “I can think of no better marker of social deprivation than having a Brighthouse store open in your area”.  If you have not heard of the BrightHouse  stores before, let me explain. Brighthouse are a chain of retailers specialising in household goods such as furniture, washing machines, televisions and cookers. Their unique selling point is that you can purchase goods on credit with no deposit, and with very low weekly repayments. The store is designed to appeal to young families – the aisles between goods on display are wide enough for a child’s buggy to be wheeled easily along them. BrightHouse offer credit to those who would otherwise be unable to qualify for it – mainly people on benefits. This all sounds great – helping those otherwise unable to afford the basics of a home to get what they need. The downside of it is the eye wateringly high interest rates that BrightHouse charges. Several debt charities have expressed dismay at the high charges. A basic washing machine that costs £399 in Curry's will cost £1,560 from Brighthouse, albeit broken down into “affordable” £10 weekly payments at an interest rate of 69.9 percent APR. Just like the notorious pay day lenders, the poorer you are, the more you pay for goods and services. Debt advisor Anne Young, who has advised many former Brighthouse customers said “These companies are preying on people who cannot afford to go anywhere else. I do think that they are robbing the poor, when you look at their prices. They are charging a ridiculous amount for goods you can buy on the high street for a third of the price”.  To give an example, a small television which costs £99.99 in Argos would cost a total of £606.84 paid over a total of 156 weeks. BrightHouse argue that their TV is covered against malfunction and accidental damage over the course of the repayment period, but this needs to be set against the fact that you could buy six similar televisions for that amount of money elsewhere. BrightHouse claim that if you can find an identical product anywhere on the high street, that they will match the price. This is actually quite difficult, as BrightHouse have a lot of “own name” brands, such as Baird; these are simply not available anywhere else; they also include a number of options that other retailers on the high street don’t, and the pricing structure is so bewilderingly complex that direct comparison is rather difficult. They plan to open another four hundred stores to add to the 288 that they currently operate, which are usually located in areas with high levels of poverty. The demographic for BrightHouse customers is fairly straightforward; a majority are women between 26 and 45 years of age; they earn less than £13,000 a year, and around fifty percent are receiving at least part of their income in the form of benefits. You can really view BrightHouse as a cross between somewhere like Argos and loan company – and its’ customers are overwhelmingly people who do not qualify for a credit card or score too lowly for a conventional, lower interest loan. The kind of goods that the company sells (furniture / consumer electronics) do tend to depreciate over the course of the loan period, to the point that by the time the loan is fully paid off, the goods are essentially worthless. On top of this, BrightHouse have a policy of repossessing goods if payments are not met, even if the customer is only one or two payments away from completing the purchase. Normally a court order is required to repossess goods when more than a third of the credit payments have already been met. BrightHouse have a nasty habit of sending round bailiffs without such legal niceties – exploiting the fact that many of their customers are ignorant of the law. All in all, BrightHouse succeed because they can – their target customer does not qualify for a loan from a conventional source, and is not aware of low cost resources such as credit unions. They rely on the customer being sucked in to the colourful, brightly lit and shiny shop with the promise of low repayments, even if they do end up paying for what seems like half a lifetime. The appeal of the “here and now” rather than waiting and saving to buy from a store that offers no credit, but a consequently far lower purchase price is something that BrightHouse encourage – many of their customers have little academic education, and don’t necessarily realise that they may only be paying back a tenner or so a week for their flat screen television, but doing so for several years means it is costing them a pile more money than it should. In my opinion, BrightHouse operate a legal business; whether they operate a moral one is open to debate. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

One subject that is allied to the piece on BrightHouse is the whole vexed subject of people on a low income who have a very large flat screen television. Some academic studies have been carried out on the subject, and the results have been actually quite surprising. It has been noted for some years that wealthier, middle class people tend to have fewer televisions in their houses, and they tend to be older models with smaller screens.  The reason for this is thought to be that middle class people generally spend less time watching the television, as they are likely to attend theatre, cinema, sports and the arts, as well as eating out and socialising on a regular basis. The television is regarded as an incidental item. Researchers found that people with lower incomes tend to be more home – centric; their social lives are more likely to revolve around their living rooms and the television; they tend not to go out much, and when they do, it is more likely to be local to them – to a friend or neighbour living nearby. Thus they place a far higher value on items for the home like a large television or games console, which is their principle source of leisure and entertainment. This certainly seems to make sense – and would no doubt drive the Daily Mail into a frenzy should it come across the story.  I suppose that there are exceptions to this though;  the world has changed greatly in the last decade or so; fast broadband connections mean that all sorts of media content can be streamed to the home; you no longer need to go to the inconvenience of a cinema visit, when you can see the movie in full HD quality in the comfort of your own home. I personally have little time for the theatre, and all of the hassle that it entails. I do like a live gig every so often, but nowadays it has to be something really special to entice me out of Pewty Acres on a cold and wintery evening.

The striking photo above was sent to me by a reader who prefers to remain anonymous. It shows the view out over the River Thames from one of the apartments above the Erith Riverside Shopping Centre, complete with an accompanying rainbow. The photo was shot from above the Erith Riverside Fish and Steak Restaurant - a lovely venue with some great food. The problem, as I have stated before, is that the restaurant is very under - used. I was talking to a reader last week, and he and a small group of friends visited the restaurant on a recent Friday evening - apart from his group, the place was empty, at what many would consider to be potentially their busiest time. It would seem that the fish and chip takeaway side of the business is doing adequately, but the sit down restaurant business is struggling - I have walked past on multiple occasions to see the place empty at times when one would expect it to be bustling. It is a great shame, as my own experience eating in the Riverside Fish and Steak Restaurant was extremely good. I think part of the problem is that Erith residents don't go out to socialise in the town in the evening. If they want to go for a drink and something to eat, they go to Bluewater, Dartford or Bexleyheath - the evening socialisation culture just does not currently exist locally. It does not help that Erith town centre does not have a pub worthy of the name - The Running Horses in Erith High Street is a shadow of its former self that struggles on with a small handful of customers, as I have written about at some length in the past. If a new owner would come along and invest in the run - down establishment, I feel that it would do much to reinvigorate the place, but I don't see this happening any time soon.

Now for the weekly local safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly a report from Barnehurst ward:- "One crime of note to report this week which is a burglary. On Thursday 15th November in Westfield Road between 12.30am – 6.30am. Suspect(s) have entered a semi-detached property whilst the occupiers were sleeping. Tool marks were discovered on the front UPVC porch door and the suspects have used the wheelie bin belonging to the property to aid climbing into the back garden, the rear French doors were found to be open. Property taken was a bag containing an iPad and personal documents. It is believed that suspect(s) were looking for the keys to the car parked on the driveway. If you are able, try and store all wheelie bins in the back garden, consider using a padlock and chain to secure to a fence or wall away from the house. Traditionally burglaries increase country wide this time of year, with Christmas approaching and the darker nights. Let's not make it easy for them. Secure your property as best you can, always double lock UPVC doors and windows. The team will be happy to pay you a visit to offer crime prevention advice. We will be holding a series of street briefings over the coming weeks to reach as many people as possible in regards to crime prevention. Invites will be delivered by the team a couple of days prior to the event informing residents of time and location. Please follow us on twitter @MPSBarnehurst for all the latest updates and crime prevention advice". Belvedere ward:-"After our recent ward panel meeting, it was decided that the team will be concentrating our efforts around burglary, road safety/ traffic and also ASB (Anti-Social behaviour) offences. This week the team have been making enquiries in relation to the recent burglary in Lower Road, calling at neighbouring properties in an effort to gain CCTV images of those responsible. There were further burglaries on the ward at the start of the week, on Sunday 18th in Heron Hill and Monday 19th in Ripley Road. PC Holmes has assisted officers from the neighbouring Erith ward in dealing with an assault in Erith Town centre and a shoplifter in Erith shopping centre. The team attended a strategy meeting with Bexley Council in relation to a troubled youth who lives on the ward. This was a positive meeting with various plans put in place to assist and provide support to the youth and his family. As a follow up to the recent warrants undertaken by the team, PC Holmes this week interviewed 3 people in relation to drugs offences. All three gave full admissions and were given cautions". Bexleyheath ward:- "We have had a burglary reported that happened on Monday 19/11/2018 along Dorothy Evans Close Bexleyheath, a rear window was smashed to gain entry to the property. Also, on Tuesday 20/11/2018 – there was another burglary reported along Latham Road Bexleyheath with little information. We have had received information recently that one resident had heard a bang at the front of their property and had noticed a male running away early hours in the morning. If you do notice any suspicious behaviour, please make sure Police are called.Saturday 17/11/2018 – There was a report of theft along the Broadway Bexleyheath. Saturday 17/11/2018 – Theft from motor vehicle along Highfield Road Bexleyheath. Items taken from inside the vehicle. There was an arrest made for possession of cannabis in the Marriott Car Park, also a vehicle was stopped with no insurance. The team conduct regular hi-visibility patrols. Also patrols are conducted in the car park areas and the Broadway to reduce anti-social behaviour including Martens Grove Park. We also attended the Christmas Tree Lights being turned on along the Broadway recently. If you do wish to pass on information to Police then please contact Crime Stoppers on 0800 555111. Please do not hesitate to contact us via Twitter, Facebook, email and the ward phone. Remember, in an emergency please dial 999 and 101 for non-urgent reporting". Crayford ward:- "We are sorry to report there has been an increase in burglary in the Crayford area this last week. Between 19.30 on Friday 16th November and 18.30 on Monday 19th November a burglary occurred at Hall Place Crescent. The property had been locked and secure and entry was made via a rear bedroom window, an untidy search and unknown at this stage what may be missing. On Monday 19th November between 11.00-16.00 entry was made to a property in Crayford Way by smashing a rear patio door, items had been disturbed within the property, it is believed the suspect (s) were disturbed. There have been two burglaries in Green Walk. The first occurred between 07.00-20.25 on Monday 19th November, the victim came home to find the kitchen window open and signs of entry, rooms had been disturbed but at the time of reporting it was unclear if anything had been stolen. The second occurred between 07.30 on Friday 16th November and 07.30 on Tuesday 20th November, the victim came home to find a front window open, entry was via the rear kitchen window and jewellery was stolen. Please make your home look like someone is at home, lights on, timer lights, 'fake TV', radio on are just a few suggestions. Ensure windows and doors are securely closed and locked. Maybe consider having CCTV or a burglar alarm installed. For more information please look at www.met.police.uk. A silver Honda 125 was stolen from a rear garden in Marden Crescent overnight on Thursday 15th November. A large quantity of food items were stolen from Greggs on Friday 16th November at 14.40. The suspect was described as a white Female wearing a burgundy track suit and she had a baby in a pram with her. Body panels, front number plate, front grill and front bumper were stolen from a van parked in Glebelands between 20.45 pm Thursday 15th November and 06.30 on Friday 16th November. A silver Citroen Berlingo LV68KPE was stolen from the forecourt of Wilmoths Citroen Dealership in London Road, it was noted that the keys had been stolen too, they had been in the showroom. On Friday 16th November number plates ML09UPV were stolen from a vehicle parked in Mill Place. The correct vehicle they should be attached to is a white Vauxhall Combo 1700. There have been many reports of anti-social behaviour by youths in the town centre, riding bicycles at people and traffic, throwing stones, taking what is not theirs, abusive and intimidating behaviour. This is not acceptable and we would like to identify these young people to make their parents aware. We are also reviewing CCTV and will refer these youths for intervention once identified". Erith ward:- "Burglary on Bexley Road. A male entered front door and stole cash, we have spoken to all residents in this area and gave them some advice. We have been working with Bexley collage and have some joint plans for later in the year. Remember people have started Christmas shopping so if you have, make sure you do not leave items on show when you leave the house and overnight or even in your car. You will see us in Erith High Street a lot in the run up to Christmas so make sure you say hello. Crime this week - Criminal Damage U£500 Tuesday 30/10/2018 Butler Drive - By unknown suspects smashing Victims vehicle rear window. Shoplift <£200 Thursday 15/11/2018 16:25:00 Erith High Street - Suspect hit victim on the legs with a walking stick due to being annoyed with his playing; Theft of cycle Friday 16/11/2018 Avenue Road - By unknown suspect(s) removing pedal cycle from venue without consent of owner; Making off Saturday 17/11/2018 15:36:00 Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way; Burg Res Friday 09/11/2018, Lower Road – entered through back door and items stolen; C/Dam Vehicle U£500 Saturday 17/11/2018 Park Crescent; Shoplift <£200 Saturday 17/11/2018, Erith High Street – goods taken; Criminal Damage U £500 Wednesday 20/11/2018 West Street – car window smashed; Theft Thursday 21/11/2018, St Johns Road - Unknown suspects have climbed through an open window and conducted an untidy search whereby property have been taken. Our next Contact Session is Wednesday 28th November 1300 - 1400 at Costa Coffee, Erith. Feel free to pop along".

Northumberland Heath ward:- "The team have been conducting violent crime disorder patrols throughout the weekend, specifically targeted in hotspot areas across Erith. This has been a proactive and preventative initiative by Bexley Police and not in response to any specific intelligence or incident in the area. During the patrols, PC Smith from the North Heath team arrested an elderly male, who had struck a young child with a walking stick in the Riverside Shopping Centre. This matter was fully investigated and the male was reported for common assault and he has received a Community Resolution as a result of this. We also spent much of the weekend patrolling through Northumberland Heath's current ASB and crime hotspot area's. In all of the areas patrolled, late into the evening's all appeared well. We have unfortunately had a few incidents of note reported this last week. Residential burglary in Mortimer Close on 17/11/2018 between 12pm - 10pm. A glass panel at the rear of the property has been smashed and entry gained. An untidy search of the entire property has taken place and mainly jewellery items and some cash has been stolen. Attempted burglary in Avenue Road on 17/11/2018 between 4:30pm – 8:30pm. An attempt has been made to force entry to the side door of the property. The house alarm which sounded appears to have disrupted the offenders and no entry was gained. Two further burglaries have also been reported in Brook Street and Eastry Road but both appear to be of a civil dispute in nature and no property appears to have been taken. A van has been broken into and tools stolen from within on Frinsted Road at some points between 19th – 20th November.  A suspicious incident of robbery / GBH has also been reported to have taken place in Hind Crescent on 18/11/2018 at approximately 12:30am. If you have any information in relation to any of these incidents please report this to the police and continue to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour or activity you see. . I would like to also remind you that the Bexley SNB/ BCSP public meeting on ‘tackling violent crime' is being held at King Henry School, Avenue Road on 29/11/2018 between 7pm to 9pm". Slade Green and Northend ward - no reports this week. Thamesmead East ward:- "Good News Story - On Thursday 15/10/18 PC Nana came across 2 youths with 2 motorbikes the two males made off, leaving behind one bike they were unable to get started. Also left at the scene was personal property belonging to the suspects these have been sent to forensics. On Friday 16/11/18 Working in partnership with Peabody wardens 2 stolen bikes were recovered victims updated. Wednesday 14/11/18 between 10pm-2am Theft of Number Plates Kale Road; Friday 16/11/18 Burglary Turnberry Close between 5-9pm Entry through rear UPVC door; Saturday 17/11/18 between 10pm-11am Theft of Number Plates Kale Road; Tuesday 20/11/18 between 3am-12pm Criminal Damage Hinksey Path to fence panel". West Heath ward:- "During the week commencing 14th November we have been working with our neighbouring teams to carry out high visibility burglary patrols across our three wards. The ward has had one attempted burglary - in Leckwith Avenue on Wednesday 14th November at 0430 hours. The house alarm was activated whilst the residents were sleeping. On Wednesday 14th November between 0529 – 0530 hours in Axminster Crescent a vehicle and keys were stolen, entry was gained via an insecure door. Between 1955 – 2015 on Friday 16th November in Lodge Hill patio doors to the property were smashed, an untidy search was conducted and jewellery stolen. In Leckwith Avenue on Monday 12th November between 0500 – 1430 hours a vehicle had its windscreen smashed. Between 0100 – 0430 hours a vehicle was stolen in Gypsy Road, no keys were taken. Our next community contact session will be on Friday 30th November in Brampton Road between 3 – 4pm. We look forward to speaking to you about any issues which may be of concern to you".

Further to my prediction in the summer that the Metropolitan Police were about to change their strategy when dealing with motorbike and scooter criminals, an announcement was made on Friday in this respect. Normally I never feature stories that have made the national news, as there is no point in duplicating information from other, more professional sources, but in this case the story was actually broken locally, and historically only later became of national importance. It just goes to show that something that originally started as a local crime and anti social behaviour issue centred around Thamesmead, Abbey Wood, and Lower Belvedere but now creates interest nationally. In an interview published by Time 107.5 FM on Friday, the following information was made public:- The head of the Met’s Operation Venice Team says they will be pursued even when they ride dangerously and discard their helmets. Moped crime has been in the headlines after a spike in the last few years. Police say there’s been a large reduction with 44 percent fewer moped crimes January 2018 to October 2018 than the same 10 months of 2017. There was also a 38 percent drop in moped thefts in the same period. Police say moped crime can happen at any time of the day or night. Victims are often targeted as they come out of tube stations or at transport hubs. Thieves also snatch handbags, high-value watches, and other items. Police are using a range of tactics across Greater London to tackle offenders, including DNA "Smart Water" forensic tagging and the use of automatic tyre deflation devices. Commander Amanda Pearson said: “There is a perception that if you remove your helmet or fail to stop for police when requested to do so we will not take any further course of action. This is untrue. The public quite rightly expects us to intervene to keep London safe. Our highly trained police drivers weigh up the risks and decide upon the most appropriate tactics in those circumstances.  Offenders on mopeds and motorcycles who attempt to evade the police are making a choice that puts themselves and others at risk. So our message is clear: we can, we will and we do target those involved in moped and motorcycle crime at every opportunity.” Footage released on Friday by the Met shows the tactics that specially trained drivers are able to use to reduce the need for pursuits and prevent injury occurring to offenders and members of the public. You can see the results in the video embedded below. Metropolitan Police drivers successfully ramming scumbag illegal scooter and motorbike riders off the road - something that they should have been allowed to do a very long time ago. I just wish they would adopt best practice from the Brazilian Police. In parts of Brazil, If an illegal bike rider does not come to a halt immediately upon order, the Police ram the bike off the road, then reverse back over the rider just to make sure the job is properly done. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

The Pilgrim ferry.

Back in the 1980's, the Ford ferry from Lower Belvedere to the Ford car plant in Dagenham was in regular use; I can recall that several school friends had relatives who worked at the massive automotive factory, and who used to do the twice daily commute across the River Thames to go to and from their place of work. The ferry became a minor local landmark that had started back in 1933 when the Ford works was a relatively new creation. It used to make up to fifty trips across the river every day; each trip would take a little less than ten minutes, and many commuters found it to be invaluable. Ford paid the ferry costs, and the free trip was considered a perk of the job for Ford workers who lived on the South side of the river. When Ford ceased to make complete cars at Dagenham back in 2002, they converted the factory to make engines and gearboxes which were then transported to other Ford factories around Europe to be installed into vehicles made elsewhere. Ford senior management then decided that in order to cut costs, they would terminate the contract with the ferry operator. There was a great deal of opposition to this move, and it took a further two years, and a court case before the ferry service stopped running in February 2004. A free bus service was subsequently laid on by Ford, which had its pickup point in Nuxley Road, Upper Belvedere. This bus service then used the Dartford Crossing to get to Dagenham, and was regarded by its users as slow and unreliable when compared with the ferry service. Now the Ford factory employs far fewer people than it did in its heyday, and it does not dominate the local area in the way that it once did. Things may well be changing in the next couple of years though. There are plans, now well advanced to create the largest new film and television studio in the United Kingdom for many years in Dagenham, and construction work is due to get underway in 2019. In an article broadcast on Time 107.5 FM, it was announced that "The largest new film and media studios to be built in the UK for decades will be constructed and operated in Dagenham by Pacifica Ventures in partnership with Media Content Capital. Barking and Dagenham Council Leader Darren Rodwell said: “I take great pleasure in announcing Pacifica Ventures in partnership with MCC as our preferred partner. In the face of fierce competition, Pacifica Ventures – MCC emerged as the clear winner based on their track record and commitment to making the film and television studios a cultural and community asset for the borough, for London and for Britain’s film industry. The complex will be an exciting new visitor destination too – an east end epic – that will create thousands of quality jobs and educational opportunities in a huge range of disciplines. I am confident that it will make Barking and Dagenham more famous for films than Fords.” Dana Arnold, CEO of Pacifica Ventures, said: “We are thrilled to partner with Be First in the creation of a world-class film and television production complex that will become the pride of Dagenham and Greater London.” Sasha Shapiro, Managing Director of Media Content Capital, added: “We are excited to be making our London production home at the brand-new Dagenham Studios.” I understand that around four thousand jobs will be created in the new studio, and this will once again mean that people living in Bexley will need to travel across the Thames if they secure a job at the new studio. In an ideal world, construction of the much discussed proposed Lower Belvedere to Rainham river crossing would be under way, but there is serious doubt over whether this project will actually ever see the light of day. Also, the land which used to be the site of the old Ford ferry jetty and car park have now been built on, so it would not be possible to reinstate the old ferry service. One thing occurs to me; as you can see in the photo above, which shows a commemorative plaque in Erith Riverside Gardens that many local people are completely unaware of (hint - it is located on the wall adjacent to the wooden jetty which reaches out into the River Thames). It occurs to me that since the old Ford ferry cannot be resurrected, and the Belvedere to Rainham river crossing is unlikely to happen, an alternative way is needed to cross the Thames for the workers at the forthcoming Dagenham studio. It seems logical that the historic Erith to Rainham Pilgrim's Ferry could be restarted - either from the existing wooden jetty, or from a floating jetty attached to Erith Pier. It would be a shame that local people would be excluded from working at the forthcoming Dagenham studio due to a lack of cross river connections - as we all know, the Dartford Crossing grinds to a halt a couple of times a week at a minimum - besides which, we need to be encouraging alternatives to car use. what do you think? Would restarting the Pilgrim's Ferry with a modern vessel be something that would attract you to apply for a job at the new Dagenham studio? Leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Some good news; The Volunteer pub in Bexleyheath, that has been closed since December, is shortly to re - open under a new collaborative ownership. Fourteen local people have invested a total of £100,000 to buy out the pub lease and to refurbish the somewhat run down interior of the pub, which is located on the corner of Church Road and Queen Street. It has been under - invested for many years, something that is sadly becoming typical of what little is left of our local "back street boozers". I have to admit that when I visited the pub a few years ago, under the old ownership, my welcome was strongly reminiscent of the famous scene from the classic film "An American Werewolf in London" when the two American tourists enter the country pub filled with hostile locals. I am sure that now The Volunteer is under new ownership, that will not be an issue in the future. I wish the group well, and I hope to visit and review it some time after it reopens on the 7th April. 

In a story that I feel is going to run and run ad infinitum, the plan to extend Crossrail / The Elizabeth Line from its terminus at Abbey Wood and along through Belvedere, Erith, Slade Green and Dartford then down to Ebbsfleet, an area where 15,000 homes are planned, seems to have got some official backing. Transport analysts have identified that once fully operational in December the Elizabeth Line will carry 200 million passengers a year, and boost the economy by £42 billion, according to TfL. The line will hit 41 stations across a 60 mile stretch running through the city, taking passengers from Abbey Wood to Paddington in just 28 minutes. Teresa Pearce MP said in an interview with the News Shopper that:- “C2E will deliver transformative growth to part of South East London, Bexley and Kent. It is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to tackle the poor connections to London and Kent that have held the area back for so long – evidenced by the fact that Bexley is one of the few boroughs without metro style tube or train services”. Extending Crossrail is an important (if not a foundation) factor in supporting Bexley Council’s growth strategy, which focuses on regenerating the North of the borough to build thousands of new homes, centred around having the Elizabeth Line and additional river crossings built. In another interview with the News Shopper, Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said: “What we are asking for is the Department for Transport to finish the job they started. The Crossrail project has been successful, but it stops approximately 10 miles short of High Speed 1, which is clearly an unsatisfactory situation. If Crossrail were to be extended out to Ebbsfleet and to High Speed 1, it would open up a whole range of opportunities for anyone using that service and give a huge boost to the local economy.”

A report was published last week that confirms something that many locals have known for quite some time. When comparing average house prices, distance and time taken to commute into central London, combined with local satisfaction levels have show that Erith has come fourth in the UK as a town which residents are happy to live in. The top three are 1) Purfleet, 2) Waltham Cross, and 3) Cheshunt.  Then comes Erith, which scored highly in the report, for the following key reasons - With a journey time into London of 38 minutes, average house price of £276,515, season ticket price of £2,016 and satisfaction ratings of 7.77, the town is considered one of the best for commuting to the capital. The opening of the Erith Quarry housing development will only accentuate this situation. Incidentally I have heard a rumour from an impeccably reliable source that the well known Erith Construction company, who have their main offices in the old Job Centre building in Queen Street are currently looking for new and expanded office space. I understand that they are contemplating demolishing the old offices and constructing some high - end apartments on the site. Some years ago the old and long closed Pop In Parlour was sold to an anonymous buyer. I have been reliably informed that the buyer was the Erith Construction Group, and that in order to get planning permission to construct the new luxury apartments on the old Job Centre site, they would need to also build some flats for affordable rent; my understanding is that the old Pop - In Parlour will be the location of the affordable flats. If you have any additional information regarding this, then please feel free to either leave a comment below, or Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com.

Bexley council, like many others, has been fighting illegal fly tipping for years; unfortunately it never seems to really get a proper grip on the serious issue. It may well be worth the powers that be in Bexley council taking a leaf out of Havering Council's books, as they seem to have been able to take decisive and effective action against fly tippers on their side of the river. Havering Council has stamped out large-scale fly-tipping in the borough’s most notorious hotspots for organised rubbish dumpers. Fly-tipping in the area has seen a major decline since a joint operation, involving officers from Havering and Newham Councils, Environment Agency, police and HMRC Officers, which targeted a site on Aveley Road on 20 December. Since the raid on the premises, there have been no further incidents of large-scale fly-tipping in the area and the actions taken by the Council appear to have disrupted a well-organised and illegal waste operation. The reduction in organised environment crime has saved Havering Council around £50,000 in fly-tip clean-up costs since December. The area had become the target of large-scale fly-tipping of industrial waste. The fly-tipping was occurring practically every night and was well-organised environment crime. Following local intelligence, a vehicle yard in Aveley Road was suspected of being the base for the vehicles involved in the fly-tipping activity. A planned raid on the premises saw five vehicles including cars and a skip lorry being seized on suspicion of illegal waste activity. Three of the vehicles were later destroyed. Havering Council has crushed a number of vehicles linked to a traveller incursion and fly-tipping. Environment officers seized the vehicles after fly-tippers dumped a pile of household and building waste in the park in November last year. Investigations to track down the fly-tippers  are on-going. In an article on the Havering Council website, Councillor Osman Dervish (pictured above - click on the photo for a larger view), Cabinet Member for Environment, said:- “Fly-tipping is a serious crime which has a detrimental effect on residents, businesses and the local environment. Each year we’re left with an unnecessary clean-up bill of around one million pounds. This is money which could be better spent on critical frontline services and improving the lives of our most vulnerable residents. The Council would like to thank all the residents and businesses who are helping us to tackle this common threat, by coming forward with vital information. We ask everyone to continue to report any suspected fly-tipping to help us drive out organised waste gangs from Havering .” I feel that this aggressive, proactive approach to criminals who fly tip should be copied by Bexley Council, as it seems to be very effective indeed. What do you think? Leave a comment below, or alternatively Email me at hugh.neal@gmail.com. 

Now for the weekly safety and security updates from Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association. Firstly from Barnehurst ward:- "On several occasions a man has been seen lurking in the bushes close to the children's playground in Martens Grove park. Upon investigation (after he has left the scene) a bottle of Vodka has twice been found hidden in the bushes. The Neighbourhood Watch office have informed the Barnehurst Safer Neighbourhoods Police Team. Excellent news again for Barnehurst ward with no crimes of note reported for the fourth week running, long may it continue We are aware of reports of mopeds and quad bikes being ridden in an anti-social/dangerous manner around Marden Crescent, Mount Pleasant Walk, Hall Place Crescent and surrounding roads. The local policing team are actively investigating these reports to identify offenders. Please contact the Barnehurst Team if you have any information regarding this matter. Please join us for our community contact day on Thursday 5th April at 1pm at Barnehurst Golf Course. We will discuss any ward issues that you have and we will also provide residents with crime prevention advice". Brampton ward:- "We start this week with the good news of having no Burglaries on the ward . We have had a Theft from Motor Vehicle in Ambleside Road where an unknown suspect has stolen rear lights and the spare wheel from a vehicle. A vehicle passing through the ward was stopped by officers on Pickford Lane and the occupants were arrested for possession with intent to supply class B drugs, investigation ongoing. An unknown male stole a basket full of shopping from the Co–Op Brampton Road. A male was interviewed under caution by the team regarding allegations of Harassment, he was served a Community Protection Notice and given conditions not to contact victims. Are you aware of the boundary changes from when Brampton disappears after the local elections? The boundaries will then be split up and you will be with different wards. Once these have been decided we will let you know".  Christchurch ward:- "We have had one report of a burglary over the last week. On the 19/03/2018 a vehicle was stolen from outside an address along Lewin Road Bexleyheath and the keys were taken from inside the property. Over the last week we have had three reports of Robbery on the ward. Brief details: 22/03/2018 – Two victims were approached by a large group of females and one male. Force was used to take phone from one of the victims and had attempted to take other victims bag. This was along the Broadway Bexleyheath; 23/03/2018 - Outside McDonalds in the Broadway, the suspects had approached the victim and had threatened them with violence and items had been taken; 25/03/2018 – Outside the bowling alley Bexleyheath. The suspect had approached victim with a pair of pliers and had asked what was in their bag. The suspect had punched the victim as would not show what was in their bag; On the 22/03/2018 – There was a report of a purse being taken while it was left unattended at the library. Also in the 21/03/2018 a mobile phone was taken from the victims pocket whilst on the Broadway; On the 24/03/2018 – There was a report of a theft from motor vehicle. Number plates were taken from the vehicle whilst parked along Market Place Bexleyheath; On the 23/03/2018 There was an incident outside Pure where injuries were sustained and the matter is being investigated. Thank you to residents who have contacted us with information/CCTV relating to recent burglaries/crimes. Asda car park complaints have been received regarding vehicle ASB. If you notice any issues please contact 101 or 999 accordingly". Colyers ward:- "On Tuesday evening, staff at the Red Barn pub in Barnehurst Road called the police after a group of youths, some wearing white masks, chased some boys down the road who then went into the pub for help. The police arrived promptly and conducted an area search for the group and spoke to members of the public and workers in the adjacent shops. Contrary to reports on social media, there were no knives involved and there was no trouble inside the pub itself. With Easter just days away, the Easter Bunny isn’t just bringing a plethora of chocolate eggs to Colyers Ward, but also good news on the crime front. For both burglaries and motor vehicle crime, we have received zero reports in the last week which is fantastic news. Vigilance is the key here and we thank you all in your efforts in making things difficult for thieves, while we continue in our efforts of prevention. The main issue on the ward currently, continues to be the ASB/Drug problems at Hampton House. Work continues at the location, with intelligence reports collated and partnerships with both the ASB Panel and L and Q Housing to try and reach a solution. In the last week a stolen bike has been recovered there, as well as several stop and searches and one cannabis seizure. The good work continues. Have a great Easter from all at Colyers Ward SNT!" Crayford ward:- "On 22/03/2018 between 06.00-11.00 the front and rear number plates were stolen from a white Vauxhall Panel van outside 109 Maiden lane. On 21/03/2018 between 19.30-20.00 youths caused criminal damage to a fence in Dale Road On 20/03/2018 between 19.35-19.50 a grey Peugeot 308 was keyed in the car park at Sainsbury's whilst the owner was in the store. On 22/03/2018 at 16.00 Crayford officers saw a male acting suspiciously and attempting to evade police at Optima Park near Thames Road. There was a strong smell of cannabis from the vehicle and the occupant was searched and issued a community resolution. On 25/03/2018 at 02.30 a Male was seen on CCTV breaking in to two vehicles parked on a drive in Bascombe Road, the Male stole a set of car and house keys from one vehicle. Number plates were stolen from a vehicle parked at Crayford BR Station on 26/03/2018 between 14.10-19.30. On 25/03/2018 at 14.10 there was an accident on London Road between a car and cyclist, it is believed the cyclist was pulling a wheelie and there was an altercation that was amicably resolved. It was reported that girls were seen fighting on 26/03/2018 at 15.30 after school. We have seen a reduction in reported crime this week so have used our resources effectively to have additional patrols in the Crayford area. We would like to wish our residents a happy Easter break and a gentle reminder that if you are going away to be sure to lock your home securely and make it look like you are at home to deter any unwanted callers. We will be at the Ellenor Charity shop in Crayford Road on Wednesday 4th April between 11.00-12.00, please come along and say hello, it would be lovely to see you". Erith ward:- "Due to recent events in Erith town centre over the last few weeks, which involved groups of youths fighting we are putting in place a dispersal zone on Thursday 29/03/18 from 1400 to 1800, which will be policed at them times and groups of kids will be asked to leave. Some crimes from the last week: Residential burglary on 25/03/2018 19:30:00 in Galleon Close. An unknown suspect entered the property and stole a PS4 from the kitchen. There was another residential burglary on 27/03/18 from a property in Erith Road, a tool was used to gain entry to the front door and jewellery was stolen. An attempted residential burglary took place on 26/03/2018, in James Watt Way. A suspect(s) unknown attempted to gain entry to property by removing door handle. On 23/03/18 there was a theft of a mobile phone in Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way. There were two incidents of shoplifting #1. took place on 27/03/2018 in Iceland Foods Plc, Town Square .#2. took place the same day in Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc, James Watt Way - The suspects involved with the Iceland shoplifting have been caught and found in possession of goods".  Lesnes Abbey ward:- "Burglaries - No burglaries this week. . However remain vigilant at all times. Remember lock windows and doors. UPVC front doors Lift it, lock it. Motor Vehicle Crimes - Between the hours of 10:00 pm on Monday 26/03/2018 and 08 :00 am and Tuesday 27/03/2018 a vehicle parked in Harvel Crescent which was left locked and secure had the rear windscreen wiper pulled off causing £500 of damage. A vehicle parked in Lensbury Way was stolen between the hours of 10:00pm on Friday 23/03/18 and 10:00am on Saturday 24/03/18". North End ward:- "3 vehicle crimes to report unfortunately. Criminal damage to vehicle in Craydene Road. Around 6.30pm on Thursday 22nd March, a group of males were seen to run past and damage a few cars although at this time only 1 has reported any damage. Overnight on Weds 21st March paint was thrown on a car in Rainbow Road near Sapphire Court. A vehicle was stolen from Frobisher Road in the evening of Thursday 22nd March. All 3 crimes are ongoing investigations. There was an attempted break in up at the Howbury Grange house out in the fields near Moat Lane last Tuesday evening (21st March). Luckily entry wasn’t gained and there is a good cctv image of the persistent suspect. No positive ID at this time. PC Mark Brookes-Smith stopped and searched a group of 6 males and 1 female down near to Erith Pier on Saturday afternoon after noticing a strong cannabis smell. It turned out to be a negative search but some of the group were very vocal in their disapproval in being searched. PCSO Mark Pigott attended the Slade Green Big Local Easter Market on Saturday with Louise from Neighbourhood Watch. A large number of people attended with some good contacts made along with some good information gained and lots of leaflets given out from the Crime Prevention table that Louise brilliantly set up. PCSO Mark also attended a Dementia awareness pop up event run by Orbit at one of their sheltered schemes in Belvedere. All other Orbit Schemes are invited and Mark had a good time with residents making Easter cards and decorating eggs as well as afternoon entertainment provided by a singer. A good time was had by all". Northumberland Heath ward:- "Good news this week no burglaries reported to us! Two criminal damage to motor vehicles, one in Streamway on Wednesday March 22nd between 9am – 11.20am, and one in Brantwood Avenue overnight on Monday March 26th.One theft of a motorbike in Hythe Avenue on the evening of Friday March 23rd. Coral bookmakers in Bexley Road had a window smashed by a disgruntled customer on Saturday March 24th. Police are investigating an incident which took place in Brook Street on Monday evening this week, where a fight broke out between occupants in two vehicles passing through Northumberland Heath. No further details are known at this time. We have had numerous reports of youths riding motorcycles in the recreation ground in Northumberland Heath over the last few evenings. The team have viewed comments made on social media in relation to this and have seen the images and videos uploaded. From these images we have already identified two youths, who we will be taking action against in response to this. We have already previously dealt with these two youths for ASB in North Heath. We did respond to this, and patrolled the park within twenty minutes of the call being made to us but the bikes and riders had already moved on .We are patrolling the recreation ground as often as we can and we will be conducting both uniformed and plain clothed patrols in order to identify those responsible for this anti-social behaviour. We will be requesting extra police off road motor cycle patrols of the park and will be working with the council to tackle this issue". Thamesmead East ward:- "Residential burglary between 9.05am – 4pm Fieldfare Road - Victim states she returned home to find the back gate open and someone had been in her flat, however nothing has been taken. The victim also informed police that she kept a spare set of keys in her back garden in case she gets locked out. The spare keys are no longer there; Theft of pedal cycle between 9pm – 8am Grange Crescent - Victim stated that he arrived home at 9pm and put his bike in the garden (the garden gate had a latch on it, no other locks). The garden gate was open and the bike was gone at 8am.; 24/03/18 - Theft - between 1030am – 10:49am Redpoll Way - victim was unloading, no suspects seen, two bags went missing, no CCTV. The bags contained Clothes and paperwork; 26/03/18 - Theft from motor vehicle between 8pm – 7am Mangold Way - Victim left her vehicle parked locked and secure in a communal car park area outside her home address. When she returned to the vehicle at 7am she noticed that her front and rear number plates were missing; Criminal damage to motor vehicle - between 4:30pm - 8:30am Hartslock Drive - Victim parked her vehicle in the parking bays O/S Oakenholt House, SE2 Victim returned to the vehicle to find that the front passenger tyre has been punctured. During parts of last week, the team have being patrolling parts of the ward ,conducting weapon and drug sweeps, as part of our ongoing commitment to reduce violent crime and drug dealing. Good piece of work, Officers discovered cannabis plants at an address in Thamesmead, after assisting the London Fire Brigade due to reports of a water leak at the property. No person was present. Enquiries continue to trace owner." Now for a special message from Dana Wiffen, the Chairman of Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Association:- "Bexley-NW AGM -The Bexley Borough Neighbourhood Watch Annual General Meeting takes place at Geddes Place United Reformed Church, Geddes Place, Bexleyheath on Friday 8th June 2018 at 7.30pm. All Coordinators are warmly invited to attend. We are planning to apply the same theme as last year with the first half focused on NW business and the second enabling Coordinators to network with each other as well as police and other guests. Refreshments will be available. An agenda will be sent out nearer the time. Please RSVP by replying to this email or calling the NW office on 020 8284 5537. Please remember to keep all your information about criminal/suspicious activity around your covered area coming into us, all DWOs are contributing more detailed information and we would like to mix this with plenty of information including positive feedback from you all. REMINDER - ST. GEORGE'S DAY QUIZ NIGHT Just to remind you if you have not applied yet that we are having our fund raising quiz night on Monday 23rd April 2018 - 7pm at The Conservative Club in Bexleyheath Broadway. There is a number limit and last year we were oversubscribed so don't delay! Please contact the office for tickets, they are £8.00 per person teams of 8 would be preferable but not essential, food and drink is available from the club bar.  We would like to congratulate all those ward teams that have worked hard to give informative and positive information for our members, the increased content and information that is being offered for our weekly reports, has not gone unnoticed. I am sure that all our NW-Coordinators that receive this information on Thursdays appreciate the hard work put in by the relevant DWO's in ensuring their ward reports are informative. While we need to see burglary, attempted burglary, car crime, ASB etc.. it's good to see arrest information and surgery dates as well".

The end video this week is a follow - up to the recent one showing the Erith Lighthouse pop - up restaurant, which was located initially in the Erith Riverside Gardens, and later moved to Erith Pier last year. This is a time - lapse video showing the construction of the eye - catching temporary structure. I understand that we may well be seeing more of it in the future.