Crime on the Thorpes

At the AGM we will be discussing the recent rise in burglary and street robbery in the neighbourhood. Although this remains a low-crime area we all need to take extra care and be on our guard. At the same time, the Metropolitan Police are considering closing Sydenham Police Station, home of three local Safer Neighbourhood Teams, and relocating them to Catford. The Thorpes Residents Association committee are very concerned about this possible closure and urge all residents to sign the online petition at:
www.ipetitions.com/petition/save-sydenham-police-station

Money Shop application refused!

Lewisham’s planning officers have refused permission to turn 59 Sydenham Road –  the former House of Curtains premises at the corner of Sydenham and Queensthorpe Roads – into a Money Shop. 
The application has been refused on the following grounds: “The proposed change of use to Financial and Professional Services (Use Class A2) would result in the loss of retail floorspace within a designated core shopping frontage, detracting from the range of retail services available within the defined district centre, which would have an adverse impact upon the vitality and viability of the area, contrary to Policy STC 4 Major and District Centres - Core Shopping Areas in the adopted Unitary Development Plan (July 2004).”
The Money Shop is a cheque cashing and payday loan company with 350 stores across the UK.

Thorpes Attic Sale

The Sydenham Mosaic Project is organising a Thorpes Attic Sale to refurbish the Naborhood/Sydenham Centre on Sunday 12th September from 15 &amp 52, Bishopsthorpe 2pm-5pm and from Silverdale Hall, Silverdale 2.30-5pm.

You are invited to ‘Find a Bargain’... Furniture, tables, chairs etc from various periods, Fine Edwardian Doors, Vintage and Designer label Clothes, Vintage linens, Antiques and bric a brac, recent books, new unwanted gifts, good toys.

Also ‘Anyone for Tea?’

Plants and a Thorpe ‘rustic’ tea from 52 Bishopsthorpe. Attic and ‘Ritz’ tea from 15, Bishpsthorpe and Attic and home-made cake sale from Silverdale hall.

An invitation to support our Town Centre (it is suggested that cheque books may be handy!).

Earlsthorpe Mews 'Live In It' Campaign

The “Live In It” campaign has been set up by residents from Earlsthorpe Mews who are concerned with the appalling state of Sydenham Mews (the name for both Queensthorpe & Earlsthorpe Mews), the alleyway that runs parallel to Sydenham Road behind the shops. “Mews” is a rather grand name for what is an unlit, largely unpaved, rubbish-strewn alley. The root cause of all the problems associated with the mews is that it is unregistered land (the Land Registry has no details of ownership) and the council refuses to “adopt” it. Therefore the alley is left to its fate and has become a sanctuary for fly-tippers, drug-takers, drunks, burglars and vermin. As Sydenham Mews is within the Thorpes CA, and with the proposed enhancements to the High Street, the “Live In It” campaign hopes that all stakeholders (residents of Earlsthorpe & Queensthorpe Roads and residents and traders of Sydenham Mews) will get involved in our campaign. Please visit: www.sydenhammews.blog.com for further information.