West Greenwich Gets Even Posher...
...not.
Angie has just told me we will be getting a Pound Shop in the beautiful arcade that houses Somerfield and The Wimpy Bar. Apparently it will be in the old video store.
I just wrote, then deleted, a whole sarcastic passage about how charming it will be and how disappointed I am there isn't a strip club and an amusement arcade to go with it. Actually, it isn't very funny. How come developers are only too happy to tear down old, interesting buildings (for example the Stockwell Street warehouses - ok, not pretty, but fascinating) and yet ignore the one area that could be bulldozed with very few tears shed? A nasty grim, grey concrete monstrosity, which if its grotty old carpark doesn't look like a ghost town out of a western is only because the litter beat the tumbleweed to it, full of abandoned shops and desolate-looking offices, surely it would be in everyone's interests to just buy-out the few remaining tenants and rebuild something worth having?
It's rare you'll ever hear me calling for a demolition - but in this case I would say good riddance. Greenwich deserves better than this apology for a shopping arcade.
Angie has just told me we will be getting a Pound Shop in the beautiful arcade that houses Somerfield and The Wimpy Bar. Apparently it will be in the old video store.
I just wrote, then deleted, a whole sarcastic passage about how charming it will be and how disappointed I am there isn't a strip club and an amusement arcade to go with it. Actually, it isn't very funny. How come developers are only too happy to tear down old, interesting buildings (for example the Stockwell Street warehouses - ok, not pretty, but fascinating) and yet ignore the one area that could be bulldozed with very few tears shed? A nasty grim, grey concrete monstrosity, which if its grotty old carpark doesn't look like a ghost town out of a western is only because the litter beat the tumbleweed to it, full of abandoned shops and desolate-looking offices, surely it would be in everyone's interests to just buy-out the few remaining tenants and rebuild something worth having?
It's rare you'll ever hear me calling for a demolition - but in this case I would say good riddance. Greenwich deserves better than this apology for a shopping arcade.
posted by The Greenwich Phantom at
14:22
14 Comments:
Well it will go nicely with E'mmah the old flower shop on Greenwich South St, it will be sellig lingeries and clubwear!!!! Onwards and upwards Greenwich ;-)
I agree, knock it down it is an absolute eyesore.I'm sure its not long for this world anyway looking at the amount of development in Greenwich. Perhaps they could turn it into stables for the olympic equestrian events in the park then into artist studios after?
I agree it is an eyesore, but what are the alternatives? Another block of luxury apartments? Another soul less overpriced 'independent retailer' that has no community involvement or spirit?
It's alright saying knock it down, but we should think about the consequences. Surely it's better to have an abandoned shop filled rather than empty and if it was bulldozed, knowing Greenwich council it would remain derelict for years ala the hospital in East Greenwich anyway.
The Greenwich community extends beyond young professionals and affluent families, so who are we to judge the opening of a pound shop? It must have a market.
I for one love pound shops. They are an amazing treasure trove of tat. C'mon chaps, where is your salt of the earth spirit? :)
Can it be as bad as the new terrible shoe shop that's opened up on the high street though?! At least the pound shop will be stuck in the horrid concrete hell which can be ignored as much as possible being set back from the road (I'm all for it being knocked down!) but the awful shoe shop is right in a prime position! It doesn't do much to make one proud of one's home!
You have a point Lalas. Pound shops can be a wonderful thing. We just have so many tat shops already in Greenwich - I noticed a new one in Trafalgar Road only yesterday.
I don't really see any huge problem in creating flats and offices on the site of the shopping centre - after all, that's what there is already. And surely, surely nothing that was created could be any worse than what's there already? Perhaps retail outlets on the ground floor and flats and offices above - as now, more or less, just nicer.
There needs to be a balance, not everyone living in Greenwich is loaded. We need the Sommerfields and the Stitches and Daughters. Greenwich needs to retain its charm and and sense of community and that doesn't mean a homogenous rich banker community - sighs as the house prices rise and rise ;-)
Yeah but just because you don't have much cash doesn't mean you want to live in a shithole, surely. A perfect opportunity, if the council really wants to help, to insist on some decent social housing in an area of Greenwich most of us only dream of.
I think you would be pushed to see Greenwich as a 'shit hole' as you lovingly refer. It is clear by your comments you've never really been on your uppers and I like the fact that Greenwich has a place for everyone. You can't just eradicate something because it offends your eye - the worst kind of gentrification. Not everyone can afford to shop at M&S - there are many older residents who have to eke out a meagre pension and shop regularly at Sommerfield, use the dry cleaners and shop at the charity shop.....
I believe the emerging Haddo estate is catering for the 'social housing' market.
Believe me. I've been there.
I don't think it's anything against cheaper shops like Somerfield, but more about the actual building? It really is a disgrace and I'm sure Somerfield would prefer to be in a nicer building? And if they were perhaps they might have employees that are capable of being helpful and pleasant!
Well I went into Somerfield and the assistant that served me was a delight and very helpful. I think I be pretty stroppy if I was in a poorly paid job :-)
Let's face it the site will not be demolished anytime soon - there are residents who live above the motorcycle shop. The council are doing their best to move out less well-off families out of council flats in Greenwich; rehousing them in Thamesmead (quite depressing place) and sell off the properties to private tenants/buyers
Perhaps the council should get Bottoms up to clean up the mess around their site - permanently boarded up window and a deluge of pigeons.
That shopping area really is ugly but West Greenwich needs to keep Somerfield (rubbish though it is) as there are few places for basic grocery shopping in the area. Personally, I'd get rid of that awful car park, plant a few trees there and use the space as another market
The parade of shops in Greenwich High Road is the absolute pits. Since ANOTHER change around in Somerfields their 'express check-out' is slower than ever. And some idiots are still queueing in the wrong place!! As for the 99p shop - tatty! They couldn't even be bothered to paint the outside properly. It needs a complete face-lift. Many elderly people live in the area and can't all get to Lewisham. Do we need a bike shop and Bottom's Up?? NO!!!
Going further along Greenwich High Road how about the pavement outside 'The Auctioneer' - I don't think the morons who use the pub realise that those little boxes on the walls are meant to be for their ciggie butts. The pavement is covered in butts, sometimes broken glass and vomit! Why can't they manage to vomit BEFORE they leave the drinking hole!!!???
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home