The Peckham Society, with Peckham Vision, has written to candidates for Mayor and Southwark/Lambeth Assembly candidates to ask:
“If you are elected, will you come to Peckham so that we:

• can introduce you to Peckham’s historic town centre,
• discuss how to ensure the protection of the historic buildings is well integrated into the plans for the tram project,
• discuss how to utilise the protection of these historic assets to lever in external heritage funding for their rehabilitation and the regeneration of the town centre? … “

Read more …

Peckham Vision has submitted initial comments for the PAAP (Peckham Area Action Plan): “It often appears that the town centre is conceived only as a long narrow linear shopping street, with relatively isolated opportunity/development sites. But there is the potential for viewing this area around Rye Lane Central in a very different way - as an integrated matrix with old and new buildings interlinked with open pedestrian spaces.” Read more and…

Southwark News reports: ‘A Freedom of Information request has revealed that the depot for the Cross River Tram could end up just off the Old Kent Road.

Transport for London (TfL) had been reluctant to release the alternative sites which could park up to 48 trams, after an inspection of the favoured Peckham site stated that it should not house all the trams and that inspectors “..were not convinced that the site is the only feasible option for a single or principal tram depot.”.

The response to campaign group Peckham Vision showed that a site on Ilderton Road, near Millwall’s ground The Den, could be an alternative to the Peckham site and is so large it could house all the trams.

This week Brian Paddick, the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor, has also released plans to place an alternative tram route along Old Kent Road which will roughly follow the route of the current 453 bus to Deptford, and will connect with the Cross River Tram at Waterloo. Read more …

Southwark News tells the story of the Bussey building: “Tucked behind Rye Lane is one of Peckham’s best kept secrets, a building that was once part of the area’s thriving industrial past, and is now part of the most controversial issues regarding the new tram that could run through it…The Bussey building became one of the premier cricket bat makers in the country … Legendary cricketer WG Grace’s favoured willow was from the factory, and he would often be seen wandering along Chadwick Road … The modern building … is still a functioning operation .. It houses a cosmopolitan bunch of businesses that thrive in the solid structure …The roof has an amazing view of not just Peckham but most of London, and Peckham Vision feel this may be an ideal spot for a rooftop restaurant. Read More …

Southwark News 10th April 2008

The long awaited Peckham Area Action Plan (PAAP) consultations by the Council have started. For briefing on some town centre issues see:

• Alternative Vision for Rye Lane Central
• Council’s Plans
• Historic Peckham

The Council are asking for comments by 25 April on their vision paper ‘Future Peckham‘.