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Hi, I’ve lived around LJ for 3 years now (Milkwood Road, and now Flaxman Road) and its nice to see this site so hopefully there can be some sort of community (online or otherwise) that doesnt revolve around fried chicken. I think the main things I wonder about are:
- are we going to get some traffic lights at the junction of Loughborough Road and CH Lane?
- is the pavement outside the station going to be fixed?
- what the hell is happening to the Green Man and The Warrior?
- can we have some public bins please, for all the chicken bones and polystyrene food trays?
- how do we get rid of that horrible revolving advert board outside the station?
That is all
Hi all
The Eastern Tree on Coldharbour Lane is planning a ‘community’ night on 8th October. They’ve planned it in collaboration with two local residents, I understand, to create an event where local people can meet and get to know each other. There’s a small poster on the door of the restaurant with the details – if I remember correctly it’s £10 a head for as much as you can eat. We use this restaurant regularly, it’s a really friendly local restaurant with good food so I would encourage everyone to support it and this great opportunity.
Thanks for the putting up the photos of Ruskin Park – and the earlier ones of Elam St Open Space, which is a place I’ve become very fond of over 10 years of walking through it every morning with children on the way to school, watching the old pond slowly dry out, the mock-Japanese bridge crumble, and the trees change colour with the seasons. Although it does now have the fitness equipment (complete with slightly alarming 2D figures lurking just inside the gates – what are they for???) it isn’t officially a ‘park’ and was so long neglected that I had the feeling no one cared about it at all. It isn’t in a very reassuring place and seems to be a favourite haunt for people with fighting dogs, but neither dogs nor people bother anyone else and it does have some very beautiful trees, not to mention now some interesting reeds and stepping stones to play on in the latest attempt at a bog garden where the pond used to be (presumably there must be some water there somewhere, though why and how much is anyone’s guess). For those who don’t know it, it runs beside the railway line, between Gordon Grove and Lilford Road. Worth at least one visit a season I’d say.
Camberwell Post Office
Hi there. great site by the way, lovely to see a community get together!
I was wondering if anyone has had any hassle at the Camberwll Post Office? I have to go there regularly and I finally sent a letter of complaint in about the staff and the conditions. If you have had a similarly bad experience then please complain. Without boring you too much the response I had was that they will look into the abuse I recieved there. I think they place has become almost institutionally run down and the staff have given up to the point where they view the customers as the enemy. Its very frustrating as the brixton one is almost as bad. I have started to go to Blackfriars now instead.
I’m looking forward to a walk in Ruskin again soon after seeing the photos and hearing Trista enthuse! I have one or two Ruskin photos on my website:
http://www.conormasterson.com 8th pic in ‘People 1′ and 1st pic in the ‘Music’
gallery.
best
conor
Some of the LBJ residents may be interested in a new internet resource for gay people and their friends, http://www.gaycamberwell.com
We set up this resource to bring together information about all the great things happening in the Camberwell area and to help people socialise locally… and we extend as far as LBJ (particularly fond of the Red Gate Gallery). We have a calendar of local events (gay and of potential interest to gay people or others), reviews, a blog and messageboard. We hope you find it useful! And if you know of any relevant events in the area, do let us know.
You can subscribe to receive noticifation of planning applications within 500m of a postcode at http://www.planningalerts.com
Chris
LB should be the epicentre of regeneration. It connects Herne Hill, Brixton, Camberwell and Kennington, all areas are way ahead in terms of regeneration. All it needs is someone to turn The Green Man or Warrior into a pub like The Cambria and the whole area would take off.
Also, what is happening with that pathetic bit of hedge in the central grass with the advertising boards around it. What is the point of it?, we need a large tree or a sculpture and some plants to make it a focal point. Are there no gardening groups or urban gardeners to take it over if the council won`t?
Great idea, Anna Noble (although I can’t think of the bit of land you are talking about?)
If the council isn’t interested, perhaps a local group should take control? I’d definately be up for a bit of guerilla gardening, and I reckon I know another 4/5 people who would be keen to join. We would need direction though – none us has any gardening know-how.
Is there anyone else with gardening expertise reading this blog who’d be up for managing this project?
This website could be a good starting point http://www.guerrillagardening.org/
I know the plot of land you mean. Anna, it’s diagonally opposite the Green Man, on the junction of Milkwood and Coldharbour. It’s where the row of houses along Coldharbour Lane stop abruptly. It’s a rectangular piece of land with advertising hoardings around it and a surprisingly well kept bit of grass but nothing else. I would be well up for doing something with it. Guerilla Gardening is the solution!
Anna, Anna and Stefan
I would be very keen to be involved with getting that space filled with plants! Would it be possible to plan a meet-up to discuss how it should be done, what to plant where, and contacts that could help with guidance? I would suggest the Cambria, as I think that currently it is the closest pub (lamentably). My guess is that since we are already 4 people interested, one or two more could be critical mass (for the first stage!). That leaves the question of the what (plants/compost/tools etc) and how. I could provide access to knowledge, I think, as well as my own two hands.
Any one up for this? If we managed to get stuff in there at the end of the month, it could be blooming by March/April!
Just to make sure – is this the space?
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=51.46614,-0.102546&spn=0.001648,0.004828&t=h&z=18&msid=115949097710812937572.000462177548765477345
Hello Anna, Anna, Stefan and Elisa,
would you be interested in joining the email group for the Loughborough Junction action group? If so please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loughboroughjunction/ and click on ‘join this group’.
Trista
Hello all.
We have now been living on Coldharbour Lane near Loughborough Junction for 3 years, in one of the beautiful terraces previously owned by the dreaded John Beaumont! After two years of painstaking restoration it has finally been returned to it’s former glory. We are now in the process of writing a book on the history of our house and the area. We have found some interesting facts, such as the original name of our terrace, which disappeared many years ago – Harbour Terrace. We are hoping to get permission from the council to have a new plaque mounted on the building, so as to ensure this name isn’t lost forever. Also the Eastern Tree restaurant on the corner has a great story to it, formerly known as The Enterprise pub, which was extensively bombed in WW2. We would love to hear any information or photos anyone may have of the area, between the year the houses were built (1865) and now. Especially the early 1900’s are difficult to find out about so any suggestions would be gratefully received!
Thanks
J
Ps The guerilla gardening is a great idea – I’m in!
Would love to get your opinions on the restaurants on Coldharbour Lane – any worth a visit?
What is happening with the green man in July?
Apparently the council are taking it over as a community hub, it is part of a drive to give the area a focus, the intention is to redevelop the crossings to provide safer access. It doesn’t look like much is going on and to be honest Lambeth said they would do something last year, still no change so I have little confidence in the latest announcement. If you hear anything else then please let us know.
Hello
We are thinking of buying a house in Loughborough Junction as we have been totally priced out of Herne Hill – we have been looking there for 1.5 years with no success.
It is such a shame that LJ does not have the cafes, pubs etc around the station that Herne HIll has somehow managed to cultivate over the last few years. It does not help that there is no supermarket at all – I think getting a Sainsburys would actually really help the area (although I hate to promote supermarkets!).
The Cambria is a really good start – will anyone else follow?
I would be keen to help with any campaigning that needs to be done.
Kate E
You would think that with all the regeneration of Walworth and Elephant & Castle there would be a bump on effect to LJ.
Fingers crossed.
Al
In response to the people thinking of buying in LJ-
I could not afford a house in Brixton and so moved to LJ. I was told by the estate agent that the area was getting a Tesco in THe Green Man pub site, still waiting!. LJ is a strange place, I am amazed at how safe and quiet it is, but on the other hand it seems like a ghost town with everything shut. I am hoping it will become an extension of Brixton as oppossed to herne Hill as it has the potential to be a lot more eclectric and vibrant. I would recommend you buy a house here and wait and see!
LJ has the potential to be alot better than herne Hill as it has more of a Brixton feel about it. I don`t think it will ever be like East Dulwich or Herne Hill as it is a lot more vibrant and edgy if you know what I mean. The Cambria is an example of this!. Hopefully it is only a matter of time before things start opening up again.
Hi all,
I’m looking for someone to play tennis with on weeknights up at the courts at Ruskin Park. I’m not very good (my serve and backhand in particular are not the best) but I can play a bit and will at least be enthusiastic. Anyone keen?
Hi, Can anyone recommend a local company to convert a loft or basement in Lougborough Junction. Thanks Julia
Hi Julia,
our neighbours used a company called Absolute Lofts, who did a very good job – better than the people who did ours! I haven’t got the details but they are easy to google.
Trista
Hi
I’ve lived in LJ for about 18 months now and love the fact it’s half way between Brixton & Camberwell – perfect!
Anyway, I’ve also had an interest in LETS – the Local Exchange Trading Scheme – for ages and thought I’d mention it in case anyone else is interested. In essence it’s a local community-based mutual aid network in which people exchange all kinds of goods and services with one another, without the need for money. There’s a London-wide website you can sign up to – http://london.letslink.org/ – the more people who are interested in swapping skills the better. Plus if enough folk around LJ sign up it would be a great way to share skills within the LJ community specifically.
What is everyone’s favourite Loughborugh Junction restuarant (excluding The Cambria)? I’ve been a local resident for two years and barely tried any of them so would love to hear which places you rate.
Takeaways – #1 I’ve tried the Eastern Tree a couple of times and thats pretty good. #2 Wang Fa is bog standard Chinese takeaway but the people are nice so I always feel well disposed towards them. #4 The Indian place (Zest?) made me ill. #5 DLish is ok but overpriced and my rice ‘n peas had 0 peas. #3 Asya is a good chippy. Good battered sausages and chips are…chippy. #7 the 2 fried chicken/kebab places by the Warrior and the Green Man are just terrible. The one adjacent to the Green Man served up the worst chips I’ve ever had. They stank of smelly feet dipped in stale fat. I had 1 and was nearly sick. Horrible gristly chicken burgers too. #6 the Chinese and kebab/chippy on Millkwood Road are both incredibly ordinary.
I’ve never been desperate enough to try Control Tower or Blessed but maybe I’m missing out?
Why is there no pizza place? What about a Pizza restaurant in one of the empty pubs?. In fact what about anything at all in them!