Posts from old forum ...

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Blushingsnail
Joined 21-12-2005
Posted on Thursday, 03 May, 2007 - 05:48 pm:


Came across this in the other place.

Planning application to demolish 6-8 London Road (the Red Cross shop and Pizza Hut) and replace with one building (one retail unit and 5 one-bedroom flats). The Red Cross shop used to be Sainsbury's (many decades ago) and still has a mosaic 'door mat' at the entrance with the old Sainsbury's logo. The proposal is to retain the existing shop front and mosaic, and turn in into an enlarged retail unit by taking some of the space from the back of the Pizza Hut unit. The Pizza Hut frontage will be replaced with a new front in the same style as the Red Cross shop but will be used for the entrance to the flats.

http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSLPagesDC/ac olnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultD etail&TheSystemkey=50125

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Ooperlooper
Joined 28-06-2006
Posted on Thursday, 03 May, 2007 - 08:26 pm:


While on the topic, is there any way for them dispose of rubbish in some way other than giant 'paladin' rubbish bins on the pavement right in front of the shops? They uglify the high street rather a lot at the moment, in my opinion. A few more trees or container-grown plants wouldn't go amiss around that area either (assuming they are suitably looked after - unlike the some of the planters in front of the station at the moment). We might not be able to do much about the station as it belongs to Southern, but there's no reason why the council couldn't improve the area around it a bit more, is there?

Planning application sounds okay to me. Fewer premises and more people in the area should be a good thing, eh?

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Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 04 May, 2007 - 07:54 pm:


This sounds the way to go for high street modernisation however its still the demoliton of a listed building hence hopefully this will be scrutinised carefully. Just as an aside, which shop used to be a Woolworths?

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Davidwhiting
Joined 07-12-2003
Posted on Friday, 04 May, 2007 - 08:12 pm:


MacDo's

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Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Sunday, 06 May, 2007 - 12:34 pm:


Related planning note: there's a notice on one Blockbuster's windows referring to an application for a betting licence from William Hill. Could they be moving and expanding? I only had a quick look at the notice.

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Djnever
Joined 09-04-2006
Posted on Tuesday, 08 May, 2007 - 01:51 pm:


How many betting shops does a place need? Surely one is enough. Is it me or do Bookies always seem to get excellent high street positions. I reckon Blockbusters would make a great site for the in-demand coffee shop/ bar, would be a shame to see it wasted.

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Jalapeno
Joined 13-10-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 09 May, 2007 - 07:54 pm:


The notice in Blockbuster is dated 17th March. There is no mention of what is to happen to Blockbuster. Does anyone know if they are moving out? I thought this area was supposed to be on the rise. The last thing we need is a double fronted bookies on the high street. Can the Forest Hill Society make an objection?

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Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Wednesday, 09 May, 2007 - 09:59 pm:


People who go in betting shops tell me that there are usually 3 till positions taking bets to every one position paying out winnings. Bit of a clue there for the punters! But they still bet!

What are the odds on Blockbuster becoming a betting shop?

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Roz
Joined 17-03-2005
Posted on Thursday, 10 May, 2007 - 05:54 am:


It is possible to object however only for reasons of change of use class , or something specific to the application if it is deemed to contravene policy, not just because of an oversupply or dislike of more betting shops- unfortunately. There is another issue of a (gaming?) licence which is another kettle of fish so this may be more helpful- can any councillors/former councillors shed more light on this?

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Anotherjohn
Joined 06-05-2005
Posted on Thursday, 10 May, 2007 - 09:25 am:


I'll try to help.

I think the existing use class for the video shop is A1 and the proposed use for a betting office would be A2(?).

The premises, a double unit, No.7-9, is flanked by an estate agent (A2) and a public house (A4).

This part of Forest Hill is designated as being within the Core Shopping Area of a District Centre so the proposed change of use would be contrary to the Council's Policy STC 4 (a) below as it would create a parade of - BANK - ESTATE AGENT - DOUBLE UNIT BETTING OFFICE - PUB - all non-A1 use premises.


STC 4 Major and District Centres - Core Shopping Areas
Within the Core Shopping Areas, as defined on the Proposals Map and listed in Table STC 1 below, the Council will strongly resist any change of use involving the loss at ground floor level of Class A1 shops. The following factors will be taken into account when considering exceptions:
(a) whether the proposal harms the overwhelming retail appearance of the shopping frontage, with an over-concentration of non-retail uses (normally 3 non A1 uses together and 70% maintained in A1 use);
(b) whether the proposal will generate a significant number of pedestrian visits; and
© whether the proposal uses vacant units (having regard both to their number within the Shopping Centre as a whole and the Core Area and the length of time they have been vacant).

Fingers crossed!

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Thomas
Joined 14-03-2007
Posted on Thursday, 10 May, 2007 - 09:28 am:


I spoke to the people in the shop a few weeks ago - the plan is to reduce the size of Blockbusters and allocate the freed up space to the bookies. Not great news, but could be worse, and hardly surprising given market trends (with more people renting DVDs over the internet, or watching pay per view films on TV).

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Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Thursday, 10 May, 2007 - 04:02 pm:


Mmm. This sounds like a plan for the eventual closure of Blockbusters to me. The internet is competition because of the range it offers, so halving the amount of dvds they have on offer at Blockbuster hardly indicates a future business plan! Given the difficulties of offloading a retail property as big as that, and the restrictions regarding the kind of retailer they can sell to, they seem to be going for the 'split it in half and get rid of two bits separately' strategy (not an official term, btw!). I'll give Blockbusters a year. Btw, do we know which shop will actually occupy the pizza hut/red cross combo property?

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Bigjulie
Joined 09-04-2005
Posted on Thursday, 10 May, 2007 - 11:49 pm:


Btw?

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Sherwood
Joined 30-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 11 May, 2007 - 09:15 am:


By the way?

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Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Friday, 11 May, 2007 - 10:35 am:


indeed.

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Dommy
Joined 27-05-2004
Posted on Friday, 11 May, 2007 - 01:14 pm:


Like ordering DVDs or watching films over the internet it is easy to bet / gamble on line and with better odds than a high street bookie. Might be good news for 'For Your Eyes Only'...

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Theotherbrian
Joined 28-03-2005
Posted on Saturday, 12 May, 2007 - 09:19 am:


Oh good! - another bookies - just what we need!

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Forester
Joined 04-02-2006
Posted on Saturday, 12 May, 2007 - 10:38 am:


I'll be pleased to see the back of Pizza Hut if this goes through. The bikes on the pavement are a real menace.

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Nevermodern
Joined 09-02-2007
Posted on Saturday, 12 May, 2007 - 11:10 pm:


The planning application is from William Hill, though, isn't it? So I don't imagine it'll be *another* bookie's. Won't they be relocating their existing one to the new premises? At least it'll be a little smarter than the current eyesore...ish?

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Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
Posted on Monday, 14 May, 2007 - 06:29 pm:


It's the free market dummy! Whilst all of us are going on about how we dislike bookies and want some nice delis, it is shame that this site doesn't attract those who go to betting shops and give their views on why they patronise them (and kebab shops, pound shops, cheque cashing shops etc).

I thought BTW was 'back to work'.

Oh, I've just realised that I am on the premiership site. Whoops

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Anotherjohn
Joined 06-05-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 15 May, 2007 - 08:05 am:


Yeh, that's it, I need to edit my other thread - SHOP TO LET - cos there ain't no takers for a posh little cafe-latte pattisserie.

It's right next to a Pound Shop and a proper caff - so, amusement arcade anyone?

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Loca
Joined 20-09-2007
Posted on Thursday, 20 September, 2007 - 06:33 pm:


They have now reapplied after the first application was objected.
see link for more info. I think it's a good thing and will be an asset to FH.

http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSL...PgeResultD etail&TheSystemkey=51428

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Michael
Joined 04-03-2005
Posted on Friday, 21 September, 2007 - 12:50 pm:


I attended the council amenities panel (which discusses planning applications in conservation areas). We agreed that the improved designed fits better with the surroundings and is an improvement to the street scene by filling a gap above the shops.

There was one concern that I expressed, that had not been taken into account from the FH Society objection to the first planned development, and this concerned refuse services. At present the shops have a massive bin in front of the shop, right on the high street. With the addition of three residential floors on top more waste will be generated and not provision has been made for waste storage (or bicycle storage). In a conservation area, and at a key location on the high street, extra industrial bins in front of the shop are not a reasonable solution for this development.

I hope that the developers can find a solution to this issue and wish them success with the development.

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Loca
Joined 20-09-2007
Posted on Friday, 21 September, 2007 - 12:59 pm:


Yes agree Michael,
I know that the apartments above the Barclays bank on London road had a compressor installed by the developer to deal with this. Is there not space at the back of the development for Bins?