Cascade, the news journal of Community Action Southwark, writes in the August/September 2008 issue: “The first-ever South City Radio broadcast from the Bussey building took place on Saturday 19 July. The broadcast programme with a panel and a paricipating public audience had a lively debate on Peckham’s contribution to London’s cultural life, and the natural organic growth of cultural life in the part of the town centre in and around the Bussey building… ” Read more…

The London Assembly Transport Committee held a seminar on 9th September about the cross river tram (CRT) and how it could be progressed. Peckham Vision submitted comments which highlighted three points:

1. TfL’s plan to locate the CRT depot in Peckham town centre will destroy self-generating renewal. There needs to be a full public review now of all the potential CRT depot sites to examine the full regeneration impacts.
2. Mid-Southwark needs improved transport. There should be an early new dedicated Express Bus or Shuttle service which follows the CRT route. This would help the planning for the CRT and other improved transport for Peckham and surrounding area.
3. The CRT must continue to be a cross river tram and get across the river in its first phase to Euston and Kings X.

At the seminar Tfl revealed that the cost of the tram had increased to £1.3bn, and that there had been no money in the budget anyway for the previous cost of £800m, and that even if there were the money the date for the operation of the new tram would now be 2018. The committee resolved to push for the examination of all sources of funding to ensure that the tram project is not shelved, and will discuss this at the next meeting on 16th October.

In the meantime, as there are 10 years before there could be a tram even if TfL had the money to build it, why don’t they install a new express shuttle bus NOW on the tram route to improve our transport across the river to central London, and use it as an excellent test and demonstration of the case for the tram?

For the second year, Peckham Central features in the walks in the London Open House Weekend 20/21 September - see details from Peckham Vision and the Peckham Society below.
For an account of last year’s successful walks see Open House 2007
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London Open House Weekend
Peckham Central walks
Led by The Peckham Society

See some usually hidden parts of central Peckham: a walk between and around the recently listed Peckham Rye Station, the Bussey former cricket bat factory, the Hannah Barry Gallery, the Old Mill building, and more, all demonstrating the potential for re-using historic industrial buildings.
This is an excellent opportunity to enjoy the spectacular views from the roof of the Bussey building, see how that building and some of the adjacent buildings on the site are significant Peckham assets and have great potential for the emergent Copeland Cultural Quarter (CCQ). Visit the Peckham Vision exhibition and see the growing collection of images and plans illustrating ways in which the CCQ and the other areas around Rye Lane can become a more integrated collection of linked public spaces and
buildings.
Saturday & Sunday
20th & 21st September 2008
2.00pm-4.00pm
From 1.30pm assemble & Peckham Vision exhibition
Meet: 3rd floor, Bussey Building
Entrance through 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST

From The Londonist:
Art Preview: Catastrophe at the Hannah Barry Gallery, SE15

Artists and Peckham seem to go together like, well, cuckoos and nests, or hermit crabs and shells: they move in and customize the place to suit. First there was Area 10, and then the squat at Lyndhurst Way. And now there is the Bussey Building, a magnificent, echoing Victorian warehouse which has been colonized by up to 100 artists. Peckham residents are getting kind of attached to them, and the town centre is fighting to keep them in place rather than lose it to the TfL and a tram depot. A fact which Londonist finds both heartwarming and interesting. Anyway, head round the back to Copeland Road, and you will find that the ‘colony’ has its very own exhibition space, the Hannah Barry Gallery. And Ms. Barry is just about to co-host a new show. Called Catastrophe, it features the art of Bobby Dowler, who at the grand old age of 20 something is in fact a veteran of the new wave SE15 art scene, having been one of the founders of the Lyndhurst squat.

We haven’t been yet, but we’ve seen some of the artist’s former works: expect the unexpected, a few rough edges and an enormous amount of fun. If you like your art modern and splodgy, unrestrained and unfussy, this is a must for you.

By the way, even if you can’t get to this expo, you can at least get a flavour for the building by visiting it during Open House Weekend on the 20th/21st September. Londonist likes to share and we reckon that both the artist and the venue are ones to watch.

The exhibition opens 4th September and runs ‘til the 11th September. The gallery is open from 12 noon ‘til 6pm. You can call Hannah on 07850 639 570 for more details.

Bussey Building from nakwoodford’s flickr stream under the Creative Commons Licence.