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Archive for August, 2011

What’s at the end of those advertising blimps/balloons

20 Aug


I’ve never found a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow but I have managed to spot what is at the end of those blimps/balloons they use for advertising. This one was tethered in Kennington Park taking up a large chunk of space about the size of Claylands Green. Presumably Lambeth get paid for this and the advertisers must get something out of it but I’m not sure how effective this particular one is. What does ‘MRF’ stand for? Given England was playing India perhaps it was the Madras Rubber Factory -an Indian tyre manufacturer or, perhaps, MRF cricketbats. Presumably its not the Movement for Rights and Freedom – a Bulgarian political party or one of numerous other abbeviations to be found on the internet (:-)

 
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Posted in Local events, Parks and green spaces

 

Royal Family visits Oval

20 Aug
Royal family visit the Oval

Royal family visit the Oval

Free-view cricket at the Oval

Free-view cricket at the Oval

An ancient Chinese proverb offers the following advice:

“If you believe everything you read, best not read.

I was very impressed by the ‘Royal family’ setting an example today by arriving at the Oval cricket ground on foot. Presumably they had tickets unlike a fortunate few who get a good view of the grounds from a local roof terrace.

What is it with the English cricket team these days…to keep on winning like this is simply not cricket is it (:-)

 

 
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Posted in Local events

 

Latest Northern Line Extension consultation closed

12 Aug

Hopefully everyone who wanted to make comment on the proposed Northern Line extension did so as the consultation is now closed (see the official website for latest news).   Unfortunately the request to make a running count of comments received on their website was not taken up so we can’t be sure how successful the second consultation has been. Lets see what difference it makes to the outcome.

 
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Posted in Local developments, Local events

 

St George Wharf Pier arrives

11 Aug
St George Wharf Pier - one day to go

St George Wharf Pier - one day to go

St George Wharf pier

St George Wharf pier

The posts for St George Wharf pier have been in for a while now so I had almost lost interest. Luckily, I happened to spot a bit of action yesterday and,no sooner that you can explain what VNEB OA is about, the pier was up today. We all want to see the river used more so lets seehow this water taxi service works out.

PS Any similarity between the St George Pier posts and the two at the Spring Gardens entrance is a coincidence… I think.

 
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Posted in Local developments

 

Safe streets?

09 Aug

Safe in Wyvil Road after riots

Safe in Wyvil Road after riots


Sainsburys petrol station-pump damaged by arson

Sainsburys petrol station-pump damaged by arson

Firstly my sympathies to those affected by the recent violence in Clapham and elsewhere. It was tempting to go out last night looking for a good photo but I thought it better to follow police advice and stay away. Fortunately, there seemed little local damage but there was some evidence if you looked for it.

The safe [make up your own tabloid headline] was in Wyvil road this morning looking worse for wear.   Sainsbury’s is in the background and their petrol station was shut due to arson damage-a pump had been destroyed.

 
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Posted in Road safety and transport

 

Not a cycle path

07 Aug
Not a cycle path

Not a cycle path

I’m in two minds about attempting to close off paths to cyclists like this one off Wheathsheaf Lane.  Most cycling  fatalities and serious accidents occur on the main roads  (The ‘no cycling’ sign at the entrance to the Wheatsheaf Lane had been turned around). 

Presumably a cyclist injured a pedestrian at some point hence the number of barriers.  On the other hand if you go to the expense of installing these, best to make sure cyclists can’t simply cycle around them.  It might have been better to have have a properly delineated cycle area and a half width barrier to stop people walking straight out of their garden into the path of a bike or replace the path designed to slow bikes down.  This path is not much narrower than the very busy pedestrian/cyle path by Royal Vauxhall Tavern,

 

 
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Posted in Road safety and transport

 

Vauxhall Society walk 7 August 2011

07 Aug

 

 

As I promote Vauxhall Society Walks on the ‘Local Events’ page I thought it would be worth actually going on one.

Today’s walk took 2 hours and focussed on musical heritage  If you want to know how the likes of Handel, Freddy Mercury,  Bob Marley, Tommy Steele, Ian Drury and others are connected to the area then this is definitely worth going on.  The walk is free but those attending (7 today) are encouraged  to make a donation of £3 to the Vauxhall Civic Society who organise it.  The guide today was Aly Mir – a pr0fessional guide  who does this particular walk for free  (see  http://walksonthewildside.net/  for more of his guided walks).

Given the walk was about musical heritage, it was interesting to note how many times we were ‘serenaded’ by music on the way around starting with music from one of the clubs near Royal Vauxhall Tavern (originally a music hall).

 

 

 

 

 
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Posted in Local events

 

Wheatsheaf Community Centre – a hidden masterpiece

06 Aug
Wheatsheaf Community Centre

Wheatsheaf Community Centre

Wheatsheaf pub -community centre behind

Wheatsheaf pub -community centre behind

As I was out about today I happened to see local councilor Jack Hopkins coming out of the Wheatsheaf Community Centre-the grade II listed building behind the Wheatsheaf pub on South Lambeth Road. Couldn’t resist a quick look around -what a pleasant surprise. This is probably one of the best community halls you will ever see. They are planning a website so I must promote it when it is up and running. Built in 1896 as a mission hall meals used to be served to the hungry. It became a paper factory for a while but eventually fell back into public hands and now serves the local community.

 
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Posted in Local developments

 

New mode of transport -Tour buggies

06 Aug
Clapham Road Tour Buggies

Clapham Road Tour Buggies

Clapham Road Tour Buggies

Clapham Road Tour Buggies

 

Someone was out and about enjoying themselves today. There were three tour buggies on the Clapham Road today -they look fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Posted in Road safety and transport

 

Clapham Road entrepreneurs

06 Aug


Who said entrepreneurship was dead? I was delighted to come across some local residents in Clapham Road having a sale. Of all the things to find, there was a beautiful caligraphy set-I may spend a lot of time on computers but it always pleasure to practise my uncial or gothic hand.

Now that Furnire Aid South Thames have moved out of Offley Works, the community will have to find some other way of getting rid of unwanted furniture etc. Sales like this may be spontaneous and take a little personal courage but they are the best form of reycling …and you can earn some money in the process.

 
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Posted in Local events, Road safety and transport

 
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