why bother to restore Peckham town centre's historic buildings?

[Eileen]

In the last year, the work that some local people have been doing for years through local community groups, most recently Peckham Vision and Peckham Society, has resulted in new public investment into Peckham town centre of over ?12m for the next 5 years or so. There will be a huge transformation of the area round Peckham Rye station, and in other parts of the town centre historic buildings as well.

There is a lot of work to be done to enable anyone who lives or works in Peckham and surrounding areas who feels connected to this area to get involved. Helping local people to be well informed about all this is a critical step to getting effective engagement in these exciting developments.

Peckham Vision http://www.peckhamvision.org has a license from Network Rail to hold a 3 day exhibition on all this in the next few weeks in the partially restored Old Waiting Room in Peckham Rye Station. This is a very rare chance to get into the space we can usually only peer at through the window on Platform 3. It is a unique opportunity to immerse ourselves in this atmospheric space, learn more about Peckham?s buildings and past, and find out about hopes and plans for Peckham?s future.

We hope that the information can help to stimulate some discussion on this forum about the facts, the issues, and the potential benefits of this kind of work, and what we need to do to make sure we get those benefits.

volunteer opportunities as stewards for the exhibition are still available. If you can spare a few hours during 2- 4 August to help, please do email OWR exhibition [email protected]

But do please make sure you drop in to it at sometime so we can have a lively informed discussion on the forum about the issues before and afterwards.

The details for the exhibition are here: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?6,925191

For more information:

http://www.peckhamvision.org

http://www.facebook.com/PeckhamVision

email us at [email protected]

follow us -

[Eileen]

I managed to get a banner about our historic Peckham into the images of the Olympic Torch relay event and onto the web! Helped of course by the fact that our relay runner in Peckham was the top Bollywood star Amitabha Bachchan. See here http://goo.gl/6Jvh1 and here http://goo.gl/M2mVO , but I missed the chance to give the weblink http://www.peckhamvision.org !

It was great though as I went with 6 banners and found 5 local people really keen to hold them up. It was a warm feeling seeing the people in the procession acknowledging and responding well to the signs. I doubt though that the Bollywood star knew where he was or able to take in such things!

But we have made a link between this global event and our historic High Street. The torch passed most of the key historic buildings on the High Street and we are scouring the web for any good film or stills which show both in one shot. So if anyone comes across anything please let me know via [email protected]

The restoration of these buildings along with the restoration of Peckham Rye station and the redesign of the public spaces around it are major projects for Peckham over the next few years. So I hope all reading this, who are here during 2-4 August, can drop in to see the exhibition and find out why this is all so important.

It would be great to have some comments about these matters in the EDF before we go into the exhibition and to continue the discussion afterwards on the Forum.

[Eileen]

Hi folks ? am sad that no one has entered any comment in response to this topic. Was hoping for some exchange of views before the exhibition starts tomorrow Thursday. But let's hope many EDF people come so we can have a good exchange of thoughts afterwards.

Exhibition opens in the Old Waiting Room, Peckham Rye station, 5pm tomorrow 2nd August and then at 7pm opening talks for background, what it is all for, and a slide show with our historical expert Benedict O?Looney. Also drop in on Friday 1pm to 9pm, or Saturday 11am t0 3pm. See first post above for exhibition details.

This is a great opportunity to be inside this still publically inaccessible place so you can help us all think of what role we can nurture for it in the revitalisation of our town centre.

[mynamehere]

I have heard very impressive things about you in conversations with Barbara S. I would recommend to those in charge of regeneration on Southwark Council that they use groups like yours and Living Streets and London Cycle Campaign (there are many others but these as examples) as equal partners when they plan the future of urban areas.

I'll help with pleasure.

[RosieH]

Hi Eileen.

I think what you're doing with Peckham Vision is great.

What would you like us to discuss?

[mynamehere]

Does anyone know what the long term plans are for the Peckham Multi Storey Garage? I know Frank's is there summers but what's planned long term?

[Eileen]

mynamehere Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Does anyone know what the long term plans are for

> the Peckham Multi Stoery Garage? I know Frank's

> is there summers but what's planned long term?

Ah - a very good question at the heart of one of The Challenges that our exhibition is bringing to light. Do please come to the exhibition to see what it says about such complex matters and so we can work together to get a better result than leaving it the unimaginative forces that swirl around public authority planning combined with narrow minded silo-like property development.

I am now immersed in last minute preps so not able to respond in detail just now to the comments now made. Thank you all for contributing. That gives me good heart that we can get a good discussion going. More during or after the exhibition.

And if you are around over the next few days, do spare half an hour at the least to drop in and see something of what is going on here.

PS and if you want to be even better briefed on the overall issues, and/or hear our very own inspiring Benedict O'Looney on the historical architecture, we have one timed session Thursday at 7pm.

[hpsaucey]

HI there. I was given a leaflet outside the station, which said that there is a fair/some stalls etc. on one of the days. I've already lost the leaflet. Can you remind me when this was happening? Is it Saturday?

Cheers

Helen

[Eileen]

hpsaucey Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> HI there. I was given a leaflet outside the

> station, which said that there is a fair/some

> stalls etc. on one of the days. I've already lost

> the leaflet. Can you remind me when this was

> happening? Is it Saturday?

>

There is a timed session with a couple of talks,one illustrated with slides, at 7pm Thursday 2nd August. The rest of the times, see below, it is drop-in with guided tour of exhibition displays if needed, and other things going on relevant to an old waiting room including refreshments...

THURSDAY 2nd August 5pm-9pm Opening talks @ 7pm

FRIDAY 3rd August 1pm-9pm

SATURDAY 4th August 11am-3pm

[Eileen]

mynamehere Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I have heard very impressive things about you in

> conversations with Barbara S. I would recommend to

> those in charge of regeneration on Southwark

> Council that they use groups like yours and Living

> Streets and London Cycle Campaign (there are many

> others but these as examples) as equal partners

> when they plan the future of urban areas.

>

> I'll help with pleasure.

If you would like to help at the exhibition - please come come along Thursday evening to see us and work out when you can come Friday and/or Saturday. Or email: [email protected] cc [email protected] . We still need more stewards.

I agree your comment on regeneration (principle applies to all other topics also) but it will need a systemic culture revolution in local government to enable this. I am working on that! - if you want to know more let me know and I will send a weblink to my paper.

[Eileen]

RosieH Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Hi Eileen.

> I think what you're doing with Peckham Vision is

> great.

> What would you like us to discuss?

Some possible topics:

* why are you interested (or not) in the exhibition

* what you think about restoring historic buildings in such a setting

* what the effects on the town centre (place and people) might be

* what you think of the partially restored Old Waiting Room

* what help (or not) can restoring historic buildings give to the commercial quality of the town centre

[Eileen]

mynamehere Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Does anyone know what the long term plans are for

> the Peckham Multi Storey Garage? I know Frank's

> is there summers but what's planned long term?

it is owned by the Council. So the plan is sell off and then demolition and redevelopment for mixed uses eg housing and commercial.

[mynamehere]

I would like to see an urban farm with hanging gardens and animals and still room for children and seniors and no this is not a fantasy this is what a thoughtful reality would be... dream on. See you Thursday

[PeckhamRose]

I also intend to visit and think more about it, but why - whoever suggested above - does the London Cycling Campaign need to have anything to do with it?

[david_carnell]

Probably because it's a sustainable form of transport we should be encouraging people to use by making our town centres cycling friendly.

The LCC has expertise in how to do this.

A cycle hub, for instance, would encourage more commuting by bicycle from Peckham.

[Undisputedtruth]

A cycle hub for Peckham Rye station has already been announced back in March http://www.southwark.gov.uk/news/article/705/plans_unveiled_for_cycle_hub_at_peckham_rye_station

Benny O'Looney, the architect behind Peckham Vision, is a very keen cyclist and passionate speaker about Peckham town centre. Did another excellent presentation this evening's event.

I also remember seeing members from Southwark Living street attending a previous Eileen Conn event at the Bussey building and taking part in the Queens Road Peckham station consultation as well.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

I'm sure the three local bike shops will be thrilled that another workshop will take prominence.

[Undisputedtruth]

Maybe not. There are more cyclists each year. Cycle hubs fuels demand. Growing demand needs more workshops.

[Otta]

Benny O'Looney is the best name ever!

[david_carnell]

I was aware of that UDT, having been chatting to Paul of Paul's Bikes on Bellenden Road. He seems to think it's a good idea.

I was at the talk last night too.

I have to confess, I'm not a fan of O'Looney's design plans. Opening up a piazza-style sqaure in front of the station by removing the 1930s arcade and restoring the station frontage to original glories is all marvellous stuff. However, covering the arches either side with a further frontage of glass and steel seems out of keeping. You're replacing one carbuncle with another. Could the arches not be restored too, with the original wrought iron work? Or if a fronage must be built, could it not be in London brick, rather than, as seems to be the current modern architectural trend, everything being built out of bloody glass and steel. It'll look ridiculous in Peckham.

[Undisputedtruth]

Personally I'd like to see the station frontage restored to its former glory. Last night was the first I've seen of his new design.

[Eileen]

It was the first most of us had seen as he created the images for the exhibition. It is a contribution to the local discussion we want to encourage so we together refine what would be good for there.

Thanks to everyone who came to the amazing gathering last night. We had over 200 registration entries and no doubt others who did not leave their details. And the room coped with all that and the exhibition displays and everything else!

Let?s keep this discussion going - who else was there could give some thoughts from their visit on anything that occurs to them. Please contribute!

The exhibition is open today between 1pm ? 9pm, and tomorrow Sat 11am to 3pm.

This is an unrepeatable event. Don?t miss it!

[Otta]

Haven't seen the images, but agree with David about this trend for building with glass (my office is a giant corporate nightmare of a greenhouse).

[KidKruger]

I'll be popping down mid-evening for a butcher's, I saw a picture a while back of what the old station and forecourt looked like before the buildings were put up in front. That would be a freat state to return to. Any clazed covering will surely be filled with the same chain shite like Costa. If the forecourt were created I'd hope that could be a site for community events in the future.

[mynamehere]

Personnally I loved the combination of perfect and lovingly restored old and spanking new. I see the spaces totally differently than here discussed

Here's an idea for the multi storey parking garage... me of the vertical farm idea... problem with all the frontage stall holders and rents rising as Peckham's spruced up: Turn the parking into 6 floors of stall holders for.... LESS!!! than they pay rent now? the same? What about the artists that fear for their studios and rising costs? (over heard someone talking to Eileen) Put them into the parking garage as well... plenty of space and add some fruit trees at the top and chickens and a couple of sheep for me

I am not kidding btw