The Herne Hill Society is made up almost exclusively of people who live in SE24. So we are as keen as anyone to conserve what is best about Herne Hill, and improve it for the benefit of all residents, traders and visitors. Indeed that's what we are here for.
Recently, there have been a number of shop closures; and of course our oldest and biggest pub, the Half Moon (now an Asset of Public Value) is still closed. Fuller's now plan to reopen it later this year, subject to planning consent. They do not intend to have a live music and entertainment venue but to run a gastropub with some hotel accommodation on the upper floors.
There is a very active 'Save the Half Moon' campaign, with another demo and live music planned for this weekend.
The principal object of public ire has been the Dulwich Estate, educational charity and significant landowner in our area. Some say a classic story of 'greedy landlord' against the small people. But is it really that simple?
We wrote to John E. Major, Chief Executive of the Dulwich Estate, with our concerns about rent rises and received this reply from him dated 26 February 2016. We think it's worth reading. Whether or not you agree with what he says, there's another side to every story.
You can also read our letter to John Major of 22 February 2016.
Under the 'Community Roadwatch' scheme, a new partnership programme between the Met Police and TfL, two PCSOs from Southwark's Safer Transport team joined me and Jeremy Leach, chair of the Southwark branch of 'Living Streets', on a monitoring and recording exercise on Herne Hill, which is in the 20 mph speed zone.
At the junction with Holmdene Avenue, using a speed gun we monitored all vehicles travelling in a south-bound direction. In a two-hour period, more than 30 were recorded at speeds over 25 mph.
Although Community Roadwatch doesn't enforce the law, those vehicles identified as exceeding the speed limit can expect to receive an advisory letter from the police. The scheme is designed to support the police by making us all aware of the dangers of travelling too fast on London's roads.
Thanks to Lauren Revell from the Southwark Safer Transport team for arranging this, and to Uzzi and Sid, the two officers braving the cold.
Simon Taylor
Although outside what could be considered as Herne Hill, the proposal for a major development at the so-called Higgs Triangle at Loughborough Junction is very much on its borders and therefore of concern to Herne Hill residents. The scheme is for a major residential development, providing almost 150 flats (57 of which would be “affordable”) as well as office and light industrial use, in five blocks ranging between five and 10 storeys. The site is bounded by railway lines on two sides, with Herne Hill Road to the east and Coldharbour Lane to the north.
The scheme met with an unfavourable reception from local people. Opposition to it was organised by the Loughborough Junction Action Group and they had support from Dame Tessa Jowell MP and local Councillors. The principal concerns were that the scheme was misconceived, since it pre-empted Lambeth’s Masterplan for the Loughborough Junction area, that the housing density was too high (and could be even higher if office use was not taken up – as seems probable), that the consequences on local services and infrastructure had not been sufficiently considered and that the consultation process had been inadequate.
The Herne Hill Society was asked by the Loughborough Junction Action Group to support them in their opposition to the scheme. The Society has done so and, particularly thanks to the work of David Taylor, who heads the Society’s planning group, submitted detailed objections to Lambeth on the planning applications.
On 25 November 2014 the applications came before Lambeth’s Planning Committee at Lambeth Council and they were refused. The decision went against the recommendation of the planning officers whose independent report argued in favour of the development. It remains to be seen whether the developers will appeal.
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