Hi Perryman,
I'm not sure why the architects didn't render the pools with colour. I agree it was a bit silly unless the council messed the architects around with their deadline to the point that they didn't have time to complete the renderings. I know 3d modeling is time consuming, where I used to work they did lots of them.

I don't think it's ethical for us to do work for free that a paid architectural practice is doing on a current job. We aren't visualisers, were designers. The design is important, not the pictures. They are essential to show the design, but it's not what we do. They are just part of the process.

We are more than willing to create 'what if' design solutions to show how we can improve the appearance of local businesses (like we have for the likes of Kente), how we can improve empty shops or for campaigns like the Cinema in Crystal Palace. We like doing it and want to raise the design of shops as an issue locally. We're amazed at how Forest Hill Town Centre hasn't really capitalized on the Horniman which brings a flood of visitors to the area. If you go to Westfield, the area around it is still shabby and people stay in Westfield 'inside the castle walls' because no-one has done much to attract people outside. Same thing with Forest Hill. It should be a really nice, vibrant, engaging, friendly, villiagy place to be. And as much as I see East Dulwich being slagged off, it does tick most of those boxes and is a thriving high street so it must be doing SOMETHING right. Yet it still has betting shops, kebab shops etc.

Look at the surveys I posted in the Sydenham town forum and Virtual Norwood. No-one said they went to Sydenham or Forest Hill from other areas. Sydenham was described more often than not as 'shabby', which is a shame as there are some great local businesses trying really hard.

Do traders organisations and our town centre managers get together with other areas such as from East Dulwich, Penge, Crystal Palace Sydenham (and possibly Peckham) and share ideas, knowledge? Has a survey been conducted for how and where people shop, if they go to one area and not another and why? If so I haven't heard of one. All these areas can learn from one another.