1 July (Part 3) - It’s too damned hot!
It’s just too hot to wade through the 150 minutes of yesterday’s recording of
the Places meeting so here’s a few snippets from elsewhere before I make my
weary way to the Audit Committee meeting.
Lesnes Abbey playground arson
There is now little doubt that the burned out slide will be replaced and the
morons who did the deed will have cost the local taxpayers more than £100,000 as
well as depriving Belvedere’s children of a summer of fun - as if the closure of
the Splash `Park wasn’t enough deprivation.
Better news is that police have made it clear to a number of interested
residents and councillors (and me) that they have a good idea of who the culprits are and ten of
them have been arrested. Advice from the CPS is awaited. So exceptional work
from the Thamesmead and Lesnes Safer Neighbourhood Teams.
The Belvedere Splash Park
Whilst the success of
the Save Old Manor Way playground group may have put more
pressure on a severely cash strapped council, a commercial rescue as advocated
by Conservative General Election candidate, Anna Firth, is still a distinct
possibility. The traditional playground across the road from the Splash Park is
not a lot of use on a day like today. Not a bit of shade anywhere.
The Charlotte
From Crayford comes news that the Charlotte public house
where councillor Geraldene Lucia-Hennis reigns
supreme, is up for sale. Not had time to check that one out, but if true,
where will councillor Sharon Massey go when she feels the need for
oil covered flesh?
Crossrail
The preparations for the North Kent line diversion is going ahead at an amazing
rate, the old station site has been excavated to a considerable depth (Photo 1),
and apparently filled in again. The water table has proved to be a problem even
during dry spells.
The reinforced concrete track bed now extends almost to the western end of the existing platforms and a path has been cleared to just beyond the Lesnes Abbey footbridge to the east.