Dulwich Society contribution to planned works in Dulwich Woods:
The Dulwich Society’s Executive Committee has agreed to give just over £6000 to the London Wildlife Trust’s wide ranging programme of upgrading works in Dulwich Woods. The Society will contribute towards the installation of chestnut conservation fencing to an area on the slope at the entrance to Dulwich Wood from Cox’s Walk, as well as funding a part of the programme for the removal of invasive species. In addition, there will also be financial support for two guided walks in the Woods each year for the next three years.
Dulwich Society Supports Local Inclusive Cycling Charity
The Dulwich Society has donated £1,000 to local inclusive cycling charity Wheels for Wellbeing (WfW) for the purchase of a recumbent tricycle. Dulwich Society Chair Ian McInnes presented the cheque to Wheels for Wellbeing’s Director Isabelle Clement at the Herne Hill Velodrome, where the charity holds weekly cycling sessions for disabled and older people.
“This donation will make a real difference to the disabled and older people who cycle with us at the Herne Hill Velodrome” said Isabelle Clement. “We have a wide range of cycles at the session to ensure that anyone can cycle with us, but we did not previously own a recumbent tricycle. Recumbent tricycles are really popular as they do not put pressure on the knees in the same way a bicycle does, but still give the user the same exercise and freedom from cycling! The new bike will enable us to get more local people active and we are really grateful to the Dulwich Society for their generous support.”
Wheels for Wellbeing reach over 200 individuals a year at their cycling sessions at the Herne Hill Velodrome, and welcome anyone who faces barriers to cycling. It is an award-winning charity supporting people of all ages in south London to enjoy the benefits of cycling, regardless of any physical or mental barriers they may experience.
The award-winning charity offers:
- Regular inclusive cycling sessions at Herne Hill Velodrome
- Our Herne Hill sessions are every Monday 11am - 1.30pm (10.30am - 12.30pm during school holidays) at the Herne Hill Velodrome (104 Burbage Road, SE24 9HE)
- Outreach sessions across Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham and Croydon
- A wide range of two, three and four-wheeled cycles for use during sessions
- Advice and support
Wheels for Wellbeing leads the Cycling for All network in London; a Sport England-funded project increasing cycling opportunities for people of all ages and abilities.
Planning
The construction of retro-basements remains popular. Six are due to start shortly, two in College Road and one each in Dulwich Village, Frank Dixon Close, Gilkes Crescent and Court Lane. There are two new houses underway in Frank Dixon Way and another will start shortly in Frank Dixon Close. In Gilkes Crescent, a substantial extension and remodelling of an existing detached 1920s house has resulted in what appears to be a new house - it is very different in appearance from the original and there will no doubt be differing views on how well it fits in, or doesn’t fit in with the other houses in the street.
The application for a new house in the grounds of Oakfield, 41 College Road, the house on the corner with Dulwich Common, was opposed by the Society, not because the revised design was not acceptable (in fact it was rather good), but because such development would set a precedent. There is pressure in several areas in Dulwich for both old, and relatively new houses, on large plots to be demolished and the site redeveloped with two new, and much larger properties. The house next to the railway bridge across Alleyn Park is one, and one or two residents in Alleyn Road are looking at possible redevelopment in their rear gardens - with access from South Croxted Road. At the corner of Half Moon Lane and Sunray Avenue a planning approval obtained two years ago, for a single ‘eco-house’ is now likely to be three townhouses.
The new house on the corner of Turney Road and Boxall Road is now complete and is a considerable improvement on what was there before. A few metres along Boxall Road, the application for two houses in the back garden of No 60 Dulwich Village has also now been approved - another case of backland development perhaps - but one might argue that this particular road in the centre of the Village could do with some improvement. The Society has also asked the Council to look at the refuse storage problem here - the small front yards of all the houses are full of plastic dustbins, surely there must be a better way.
Roof extensions remain popular - although several residents still try to ignore the Estate’s clear guidelines on the size of new dormer windows. The proliferation of new ‘garden buildings’ and ‘garden offices’ is also sometimes a concern particularly where gardens are small and applicants are not always fully appreciative of the potential impact on their neighbours.
50th anniversary of Conservation Areas:
The Civic Amenities Act of 1967, sponsored by Duncan Sandys, encouraged the setting up of conservation areas throughout England. The Dulwich Village Conservation Area was one of the first, being designated in September 1968 - it was extended in 1971 and more recently in 2005. The Gardens Conservation area in East Dulwich and the Dulwich Wood Conservation area followed in 1988, and the two smaller conservation areas, Stradella and Winterbrook Roads, and the Sunray Estate, were designated in 2000 and 2009 respectively.
Conservation area status is not just restricted to buildings. Open spaces, cemeteries, a historic street pattern or local centre can have just as much architectural or historic importance.
Former Holmhurst (46, Half Moon Lane)
Southwark Council is in the process of converting this building to a residential facility for Southwark residents with severe learning disabilities. Planned completion is this April and it will be run by Optima Care (www.optimacare.co.uk). Ten flats, together with supporting communal catering and social facilities, will be created, and 10-13 men will move in gradually - with the aim of reaching full occupation by August.
The Council’s aim is to help the residents to develop the skills to live safely and as independently as possible in the neighborhood. They will stay for a few years, in transition to independent living, and they will be supported around the clock by a team of professional staff - drawn from the local community where possible. Changes to parking arrangements and the building exterior will be minimal.
School Building Works
Not only will building work on the new Charter School East Dulwich start later in the year but all three foundation schools also have works ongoing. Alleyn’s School’s new classroom block replaces the old Lower School building at the front of the site and the new JAGS music School is now on site. Meanwhile Dulwich College has begun work on an upgrade of the main Barry Building (now nearly 150 years old). Essential refurbishment works to the exterior have started and will continue until January 2018. It includes terracotta repair & replacement, brick replacement, stone replacement, comprehensive cleaning and repointing, waterproofing works at high level, the overhaul & refurbishment of some windows, & temporary roof repairs to the North and South block. Internal upgrading of the 40 classrooms in the building will follow and be carried out between March 2017 and July 2018
Between January and July this year the College is also constructing a new link block between Orchard House and Old Blew House on Dulwich Common. It will contain a new Common Room for the Junior boarding house which occupies the two historic properties.
Electric cars come to Dulwich
Despite objections, the Council has approved points in Townley Road (5), Ruskin Walk (3), Pickwick Road (3), Eastlands Crescent (3) and Crescent Wood Road (3). The plans for the Estate controlled College Road and Hunts Slip Road were withdrawn - as was Woodwarde Road. The decision notice says ‘any planning consent granted should not be taken as approval to proceed with works on site. Prior to implementation it is necessary to follow the Council’s constitutional process for approval of traffic order changes. Changes to traffic regulation orders will be subject to separate approval by the Community Council for the area as well as the statutory process for order making.
Southwark Council's Transport team have also said that the current information is inadequate (which begs the question as to why the schemes were approved) and that any forthcoming design and access statements should include a parking stress survey and details of usage levels for similar facilities in the area.
Love West Dulwich competition
During December and January, ‘Love West Dulwich’, an alliance of West Dulwich businesses, invited entries from artists of all ages and experience with a connection with West Dulwich to submit artwork celebrating the spirit of the area. The winners were judged by a panel including Helen Hayes MP and representatives from Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Dulwich Society. The aim of the competition was to help create a clear, cohesive sense of visual identity for West Dulwich, celebrating the spirit of its local community and culture with the aim of installing up to 50 two metre banners featuring the winning artworks on lamp-posts throughout West Dulwich in May 2017 as part of this year’s Dulwich Festival.