Forest Hill Does NOT need a gym. Nor did it need a tattoo shop (that shut down) or dodgy "property" shops where dodgy dealings go on (we were informed by the police of all sorts of nonsense happening in one of the plots which ran as a games shop) - Forest Hll is still run down and needs a serious lift! We need somewhere we can buy fruit, veg perhaps, bring FH in as a community ... perhaps a fishmongers. a butchers ... a deli to suit all not just a niche market ... When Forest Hill Pools opens back up, there will be health and fitness opportunities there surely ...? Then we'll have another empty building. People need to get their business ideas right for the area not hit and miss again ... the impression the picture gives is one of "downmarket". Dare I say chav?

Yes, damn that new gym with sauna and steam room, crowding out that deli/fishmonger/butcher's shop that would've, obviously, moved in to the old MacDonald's site if the gym hadn't got there first (!)

I can't see how anyone could argue that an active and positive business on the high street, one that will encourage visitors and footfall in neighbouring commercial premises, could possibly be a bad thing. Especially when the property is currently derelict and serving no purpose whatsoever.

Nevertheless, agree entirely about how nice it would be to have local independent foodstores along the lines of greengrocers, a butcher, a baker, and so on. Maybe one day... But, of course, people would have to actually use them in order for them to survive - no point lamenting the loss of Provender et al. when the only reason they shut up shop was because people chose to shop elsewhere.

Most businesses set up to make money, where there is a perceived market, rather than for atruistic reasons. Hence we have kebab shops, bookies, pound shops etc and now gyms. Go to Peckham and you will find two dozen shops selling fresh food, as clearly people shopping in Peckham want to purchase these items from independent stores (and obviously a very different socioeconomic group to our friends on Lordship Lane). Even Sydenham and Penge have a half decent high street. How much is because of the nasty junction on the South Circ, and that cars are given the priority I don't know. We can keep hassling the local authority individually and through community groups, or wait for the East Dulwich ripples to come further South. Sadly wish lists don't really make a difference. There's been loads of discussions in the past on this subject, and HTG (can't believe I am saying this) but down a far better argued view on high streets and the market place somewhere in the archives.

Well happy to be proved wrong!

Sammiji - your post is ridiculously mis-judged!

You want to prevent a chav culture - dont we all- but to think the places you want will suddenly open is stupid without the clientele.

First you get the right people in - young proffessionals and families.
What attacts these people are the following in no particular order:

1) Decent Supermarket - we have Sainsburys
2) Gyms - I know this may sound strange to you - but we're moving into a culture where people actually want to look after themselves a bit and look and feel good.
3) Decent pubs and restaurants - we have 1 good pub - the Dartmouth Arms and the restaurants are nothing more than average. Room for development
4) Decent Schools - someone care to comment?
5) Decent transport links to London - the tube is coming.

To get what you want you need the above in place and the rest follows. Would you open up a decent butchers or bakery next to Forest Hill Launderette? Absolutely not! To me London Road is nothing more than a place where people queue to get on buses or go to Sainsburys at the momment! A gym would improve things no end and bring opportunities to exiting businesses and new ones.

Well when I moved to the area in the early 90's there used to be a bakers just where you suggest and a deli just past Sainsbury's. A butchers where the bookmakers is and a fruit and veg stall next it.

"Young professionals (one f) and families" are you suggesting that the working class are all chavs. If you want to live somewhere like Dulwich or Kensington and Chelsea then move

Newbie
Yes I agree some people seem to think top shops should come to FH when we have generally not used enough before.
I recall at least two greengrocers , gents outfitters , two bakers , a number of grocers even the undertakers seem to have left.
Niche shops like the bra shop and tatoo parlour do not generally help. In fact the tatoo parlour gave a very down market image.
I agree Dartmouth Arms OK although a bit pricey. The All in One is good for food and drink .
Not sure what FH needs to do to attract the distribution outlets required. We could not do it in the boom times so much harder now.

Katie One - sorry about the spelling mistake but I have a job and do not have time to proof all read my posts!

Where do I mention anything about the class system?! Funny how you can spot my spelling mistake but completely fail to understand the point I was making!

I have a full time job too. But I am sicj and tired of reading posts on this board about wanting Forest Hill to become like East Dulwich and attracting the right sort of people. I have lived in Forest Hill fo 22 years and would not live anywhere else, I love the mix of people and I certainly would not look down on someone or think myself better then them, and if I have misunderstood yuo then I apologise but what else could people possibly mean about "attracting the right sort of people to the area" if they do not have a problem with the people already there?

I thought this thread was about improving Forest Hill? I agree that a lot of peoples expectations are probably unrealistic right now given that we are in the middle of a recession but surely you'd rather see thriving businesses in the area as oppose to empty dwellings and fast food joints?

"First you get the right people in - young proffessionals and families"

What patronising, elitist rubbish is this? How we promote inclusive commuties. Common decency prevents me saying any more.

Dear lord - I have caused quite a debate amongst the Forest Hillers with my initial despair at the idea of a gym in FH! Though still not keen, if there is a facility for relaxation, some kind of chilling therapy ... (need to read the website describing the gym again) perhaps massage etc too then that would be good. Get rid of the tatty paper shop with plastic toys outside (do we need anymore paper shops?) or at least help the people who run it invest in something better for their business, the fried chicken shop, the shut restaurant, that used to be there next to Abbey National ... the countless cruddy dodgy shops dotted around Forest Hill dragging their heels then we may have something great. I don't think FH has to be as yummy mummy as East Dulwich (we need to keep the FH character!) but that place is buzzing with businesses that are thriving with demand. It's somewhere people want to go.
As Blockbusters went to the moon too ... then hopefully there is more scope for other things - instead of the then planned betting shop that was kicked into touch as far as I know after loads of complaints(making what would have been 3 in total!)
Sydenham High St is also in line for a complete revamp so fingers crossed!

For some we are already attracting exactly the young professionals and families that certain people believe will make Forest Hill better. For others, the demographics of Forest Hill have changed little from 30 years ago, when my parents moved to the area with their young family.

In my opinion Forest Hill and Honor Oak continue to attract exactly the right mix of people - young, old, black, white, rich, poor, and middle income. The only problem we have is that with such well balanced demographics it is difficult to have back to back coffee shops, high end food stores, and boutiques or back to back pawnbrokers and fried chicken establishments. We continue to have a mixture of both.

I envy the shops in East Dulwich but also those in Catford. With a busier station than both of these district centres, and more (tube) trains coming soon, I am stilll annoyed that we do not have more shops thriving on the high street.

Hi

I am thinking really hard and putting a business plan together to open a new creative space for artists and designers to display there work, hopefully the creative people on Havelock Walk would love the opportunity of displaying there work in a shop space. (Let me know Havelock Walk Creatives) there will be a private viewing in the evening and then the general public can view during the day occasional late night opening, etc I want to ask your opinion the people of Forest Hill wether you think I will be wasting my time or do you think this will be good for the area, and most importantly will you use the space and spend money.

I am also a designer at the moment I work in Soho and i would like to use the space as a design studio, I will design business cards, corporate identity, menus, logos everything really, is this something that will be used as well.

Let me know what you think.

Every time I pass it, I think it would be fab if the old Capitol cinema (now the Wetherspoons) could be turned back into a functioning cinema again. Something like the Ritzy done in Brixton would be great - where you can enjoy a drink in the bar beforehand and you can become a 'member' and get discounts on cinema tickets. I reckon it would be good for pretty much everyone in the area - teens, families, couples, etc.. as the nearest cinemas aren't really all that handy.

(I'm sure this has already been discussed somewhere on this site, but I couldn't find it on a quick search)

What does everyone else think?

Sounds good in theory but doubt it would pay. What would happen to the all day drinkers who frequent the Capitol now.

Newcomer,

Completely agree - would be lovely to see the Capitol as a cinema again - beautiful building and a great shame it's currently occupied by JDW (though at least it has been sensitively preserved and is not derelict).

Unless I'm mistaken (and I know that there are sometimes screenings at Catford theatre), I can't think of a single cinema in Lewisham Borough. Great shame. One in Forest Hill (though struggling to think of where one could be put, if not in the Capitol) would be great for our sad old high-street!

Hoping that 'families' move into an area isn't really elitist, given that most people will have have grown up in some kind of family. Encouraging families is fairly similar to encouraging people in genereal.

'We need to attract families of different multi-ethnic backgrounds and of differing levels of socio-economic resources'.

Better?

Well Reverend your comments are very socialists but very true to the ideals of the original church ( or I believe so ) . I thought you would be suggesting we need another Church.

I agree all sorts welcome ( but not too many tatooed chavs if possible please ).

I agree we are all raised in a family of sorts. Ideal of course mother and father plus about 2 children. Any more a drain on the planet.

Happy New Year