The Greyhound to Close!
Maximum of 3%Dutch Cow wrote:So about 3% of Sydenhams population (2001 Census) have signed a pettition, thats interesting, I would have expected more.
I would bet there are quite a few who do not live in Sydenham. Especially when friends and family are being asked to sign.
Reminds me of the Vote in the House of Lords when they introduced the Poll Tax...........they dragged anyone in to get it voted through ........one Lord was on his death bed
But he thought it was only fair he paid the same tax as his servants 
Well the Greyhound is now shut. The question is therefore now what we can do with the site. This means full community involvement. There used to be something called planning for real - a process where the locals were invited essentially to start with a blank piece of paper and set out what they wanted on the site and an idea of how it would look.
From my standpoint it needs to be -
1. A good design, modern and environmentally friendly, not an attempted pastiche of the surrounding buildings.
2. To act as a gateway.
3. Good amenity space.
4. A good qulaity bar/restaurant- not necessarily a gastro pub but the sort of place that does high quaility fast food.
5. A good mix of sizes of flat including larger social housing units.
6. Keep the row of trees, but manage them to ensure their ongoing health
As an aside did anyone see gardeners world last night? It showed how in Europe they manage high quaily green developments with quality planting and amenity space. Lets aim high!
That might be asking a lot but as I said a long time ago, this is the biggest brown field site we have and done well could be a huge boost to the regeneration of Sydenham.
From my standpoint it needs to be -
1. A good design, modern and environmentally friendly, not an attempted pastiche of the surrounding buildings.
2. To act as a gateway.
3. Good amenity space.
4. A good qulaity bar/restaurant- not necessarily a gastro pub but the sort of place that does high quaility fast food.
5. A good mix of sizes of flat including larger social housing units.
6. Keep the row of trees, but manage them to ensure their ongoing health
As an aside did anyone see gardeners world last night? It showed how in Europe they manage high quaily green developments with quality planting and amenity space. Lets aim high!
That might be asking a lot but as I said a long time ago, this is the biggest brown field site we have and done well could be a huge boost to the regeneration of Sydenham.
Last night on passing through E Dulwich we noticed that the East Dulwich Tavern was rammed inside and out. And to then arrive back in Sydenham to the closed Greyhound seemed very sad. It seems to me that the Greyhound is very similar in size and situation (on the roundabout), albeit here and not there... so why are they taking away a very viable business and local facility; the demand for which will only grow as surrounding areas overspill this way? Seems crazy to me and a real shame. The car park would make a fantastic green space... dream on... But if it is all to be replaced then I think Simono has the right idea.
nork1 is exactly right.
There is no reason for this not to be a successful pub but the sad truth is that in the short term the developers can make more money by cramming as much housing on the site as possible.
That's why we're not going to get anywhere by appealing to the developers good natures (if they have them). The pub needs official protection, that's the only way it's going to get saved. There is a slim chance that can happen if local people kick up enough of a fuss.
There is no reason for this not to be a successful pub but the sad truth is that in the short term the developers can make more money by cramming as much housing on the site as possible.
That's why we're not going to get anywhere by appealing to the developers good natures (if they have them). The pub needs official protection, that's the only way it's going to get saved. There is a slim chance that can happen if local people kick up enough of a fuss.
We can stop this from happening!!the greyhound
i saw this bbc article from aug 2005
- The closure of Bedminster's Albert Inn - renowned for its weekly folk and jazz nights - comes as a campaign is launched to protect pubs.
New research by the Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) suggests 26 pubs are being closed every month for redevelopment.
Camra is starting the community pubs foundation to help save local pubs.
The Albert is being demolished to make way for an apartment development.
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Plus ca change.
We have gained a cafe but lost a pub. Is there no way an old (and pretty) pub can be the focal point of a new development of houses? Radical I know, but people do like to socialise, especially now there's no village hall or church to go a-courting. The Dolphin is nice but I don't like the walk uphill afterwards.
- The closure of Bedminster's Albert Inn - renowned for its weekly folk and jazz nights - comes as a campaign is launched to protect pubs.
New research by the Campaign For Real Ale (Camra) suggests 26 pubs are being closed every month for redevelopment.
Camra is starting the community pubs foundation to help save local pubs.
The Albert is being demolished to make way for an apartment development.
-----------------------------------------
Plus ca change.
We have gained a cafe but lost a pub. Is there no way an old (and pretty) pub can be the focal point of a new development of houses? Radical I know, but people do like to socialise, especially now there's no village hall or church to go a-courting. The Dolphin is nice but I don't like the walk uphill afterwards.
There's going to be an item about pub closures on The One Show tonight on BBC1 at 7pm.
Also an interesting article on BBC website at http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6946194.stm .
Note the paragraph about planning permission and "viability test".
Also an interesting article on BBC website at http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6946194.stm .
Note the paragraph about planning permission and "viability test".
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Muddy Waters
- Posts: 137
- Joined: 2 Oct 2004 17:05
greyhound
I'm concerned about the potential loss of an important building at Cobbs Corner - a landmark building, which has been there since 1874, within which is a beautiful tiled entrance hall, with mosaic floor and lantern ceiling and a carved relief which states the building is the Greyound Hotel, and which is threatened by demolition.
I'm not interested in who used the building, what social class they represent and speculation as to where they might live. This is petty niggling and becoming far too personal.
If you wish to continue in such vain please start another thread on Town Cafe.
Thank you
I'm not interested in who used the building, what social class they represent and speculation as to where they might live. This is petty niggling and becoming far too personal.
If you wish to continue in such vain please start another thread on Town Cafe.
Thank you
I am beginning to despair that Sydenham ain't the place I thought it was. I feel disallusioned to think that the locals allow an icon like the Greyhound to be demolished and are more concerned about whether they're getting slagged off than actually doing something to save a local treasure.
Greg, stone-penge, nork1, goonerchamp – you are so good at protecting your own reputations - are you any good at protecting the Greyhound? wanna take-on a bulldozer?
Re: greyhound
I agree. Personal abuse is not welcome here especially when it is used to disrupt an important topic. I have moved the increasingly off topic posts to a Town Cafe thread for posterity.Muddy Waters wrote:I'm not interested in who used the building, what social class they represent and speculation as to where they might live. This is petty niggling and becoming far too personal. If you wish to continue in such vain please start another thread on Town Cafe.
Now can somebody volunteer how the petitions are going and what plans there are to present them to somebody?
Admin
Group hug everyone?
I for one am rather surprised at just how much powers the owners seem to have to knock down the Greyhound now that its closed. Whilst I'm a bit sceptical as to what good the petition will do we don't have many other options left when it comes to influencing the future of the site. Perhaps we should be raising this with our Councillors and our MP too?
I for one am rather surprised at just how much powers the owners seem to have to knock down the Greyhound now that its closed. Whilst I'm a bit sceptical as to what good the petition will do we don't have many other options left when it comes to influencing the future of the site. Perhaps we should be raising this with our Councillors and our MP too?
As of Friday August 17 there are 950 signatures on the petition opposing the demolition of the Greyhound. You can sign the petition at the Kirkdale Bookshop, Floorzone, Well Being, Makepeace Chemist, The Pharmacy, Smart Chaps, Paulro's, the House of Curtains and Milanos coffee shop. The Sydenham Society will present the petition to the Mayor when the council meets in September.