I think George might want to give me a slice of cake and a coffee when he reads this...
But before I reveal why, I want to express my view.
I personally think that Kente could have done more to re-create the original window, but I suspect that the barrier was cost. I expressed my disappointment on this site in May 2009 and I wrote to Lewisham Council to see if the premises are in the conservation area. They wrote back and said it was not. Based on this response, I believe they have no ability to bring an action against Kente. I actually support not taking any legal action in this case. I see little point in making an issue of it now. Lewisham Council knew for months that the window was being changed and did nothing to prevent it. They sat back and let it happen. Even when I complained they said they had no issue with what had been done. The failure to re-create the window was wrong. However, the fault lies with Lewisham Council who should have decreed that this should be done when building work started. The blame should not rest with George at Kente.
I posted this on this forum on 20 May 2009, regarding 'The old Chemist next to HSBC':
My letter stated:
Complaint Re: 16 Sydenham High Street (formally Machray Chemists now Kente)
I am writing to complain about the removal of the shop frontage at the above address. A beautiful and intact 1930s shop window that was an asset to our highstreet has been removed and replaced with a characterless modern frontage. This is dismaying considering the fact that there are many empty shops on the high street with modern frontage that could have served the requirements of this business.
This is a link to some photographs of the original shop:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrind ... 025965041/
I have a number of questions I would like you to answer please:
1. Is this building/shop part of the Sydenham conservation area?
2. Was this glass/frontage protected i.e. listed?
If the glass/frontage was listed/protected/part of a conservation area:
1. Who was responsible for ensuring that a protected frontage/glass was not removed?
2. What action is Lewisham council/the conservation department taking against the person responsible for removing the glass/shop frontage?
On 21 May I made this post, detailing a response I got from the planning dept:
The message:
I am writing this email in response to your complaint about the removal of the shopfront at the above-mentioned site, I have been down to see the replacement shopfront and can confirm that what they have down (typo - done) is similar to what was previously there. As such we the Council consider these changes to be acceptable and will not be enforcing against it.
Furthermore the property is not Listed and does not fall within a Conservation Area as per the questions in your email.
I hope that this clarifies the situation with regards to the above-mentioned property and should you any further queries regarding this matter please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Regards
Jody Solomons
Planning Enforcement