Chronicle 40p Where Sold Sidcup & Bexley T h e Vo i c e o f S i d c u p Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE 26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre DECEMBERwww. bexleychronicle. com December...   [More]

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T h e Vo i c e o f S i d c u p
Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE
26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre
DECEMBERwww.
bexleychronicle.
com
December 2008
W.
UDEN & SONS LTD
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
The Family Business that still offers
a personal service.
Est 1881
SIDCUP
64 High Street, DA14 6DS
020 8300 2002
*24 Hour Service
Branches also at: Eltham, Petts Wood, Biggin Hill,
Dulwich, Forest Hill, New Cross & Camberwell
DOUBLE GLAZING
REPAIRS
Free estimates • Free advice
New Double Glazed Windows
supplied at trade prices
PHONE FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
0208 302 8858/07932 670329
Misted &
Broken
Sealed
Units
Replaced
Window Hinges • Window Handles
• Window Locks • Door Locks
• Door Handles • Door Hinges
• Letterboxes • Spyholes
Rizon, the Bahrain-based executive
jet company is bringing its unique
product offering to Europe.
It has
selected London Biggin Hill Airport,
UK as its operating base and parent
company Rizon Group Holdings has
secured an 80 year lease on land at the
airport where it is in the process of
constructing a new $20 million dollar,
13,000 sq m hangar and ramp area.

The build is advancing according to
schedule according to Rizon Group
Holdings CEO, William (Will) Curtis.

The Bahrain-based executive jet company is
positioning for some dramatic expansion over
the next 18 months.
A second Hawker 900XP
will join its existing fleet mid 2009.
Three
Bombardier Challenger 605’s are due to enter
service imminently, the first in December
2008, with the following two due in March
2009 and November 2009, respectively.

Rizon has also entered into a co-operative
deal with undisclosed partners to re-engineer
five CRJ200 airliners to a specification similar
to the Challenger 850.
“These versatile and
spacious aircraft, which are less than 10 years
old, will cost us well under $14 million ready
to enter service by September 2010,” says
Curtis.
“We see a high demand for cost
efficient group travel solutions and these
aircraft will be ideal, both in the GCC and
Europe.
” At least two of the aircraft will be
based at Rizon’s planned new London Biggin
Hill Airport, UK facility.

The converted CRJ’s will be equipped with
16 seats in a traditional mix of arm chair,
conference grouping and divan, with
exceptional baggage capacity and a maximum
range of 3,200nm.
With full seats and baggage
range is expected to be well over 2,200nm.

Fresh overhauls will be conducted on the
engines during overhaul and paint and interior
will be identical on all five aircraft.
A full
modern IFE system is to be included in the
specification, along with an Airshow 4000
system.

“Depreciation is likely to be minimal during
our tenure and we should be able to put these
aircraft, which will be more or less identical to
the Challenger 850, into service at a very
appealing price point,” says Curtis.

Rizon currently runs charter services in the
Middle East, a region which saw a 40% growth
in private aviation last year.
It also runs charter
services to Asia, China, India, Russia, Africa
and Europe.

At the end of December last year, Rizon
ushered in new ownership when the company
was acquired by Ghanim Bin Saad Al Saad, a
Qatari national who is chairman of the Barwa
MORE AIRCRAFT
OVER SIDCUP
Continued on back page
Bring the children along to the high street in
Sidcup to meet Father Christmas and his helpers
on the 11th December.
He lands at about 11 am
if Santa Airways is on time.

He will be greeted by a live band playing at
various places long the high street with Christmas
carols being sung by the choir from Merton Court
school.
The French market opposite and
alongside the police station will be open from 9
am until late with a demonstration of exotic Arab
dancing at about 1-30 pm.

The Demelza Trust and Bexley Councils
Neighbourhood Team will be giving away gifts
from the stand in Nisbett Place alongside our
Neighbourhood Policing Team.
Look out for the
Bob Hope promotional squad who will be telling
visitors to the high street about their annual
pantomime and the Green Train which promotes
open green spaces in the borough and London.

On the 13th December readers can enjoy a
fantastic Hungarian Christmas Concert and carols
at St.
John’s church, Church Road, Sidcup.

Exceptional entertainment by the Sidcup
Symphony Orchestra.
Starts at 7-30 pm sharp.

Tickets from 020 8300 3268 then the following
day on the 14th December take the family to the
carol service at 4 pm also in St.
Johns church at
4pm.

Lots to see and do so make sure you visit the
high street on the 11th December.

Sidcup lights up
Tandoori RestaurantFully Licensed and Air Conditioned
Open 7 Days a week for lunch & dinner
169-171 Station Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 7AA
Reservations: 020 8300 0777 / 020 8300 2527
(Est 1978)
Moonlite
Entertainments
Chart Hits Party Night
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Wednesday 31st December
Dance the night away with attractive Top
Female DJ ‘KERRY’ spinning all
the UK’s favourite Chart Hits
from the 70’s to 2008
FREE ENTERTAINMENT FOR DINERS
Usual Top
Quality Menu
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
FROM MANAGEMENT & STAFF
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
FROM MANAGEMENT & STAFF
  [Less]

Dartford Council supports Normandy Veterans Dartford Borough Council is to provide financial support to local veterans wishing to revisit the site of the D-day landings in 2009. The borough has several veterans...   [More]

Dartford Council supports
Normandy Veterans
Dartford Borough Council is to provide financial
support to local veterans wishing to revisit the site
of the D-day landings in 2009.

The borough has several veterans from the
Normandy landings and the grant will support a
return to the north France coast to commemorate
the 65th anniversary of the landings
The decision to offer support, through the Kent
branch of the Normandy Veterans Association,
follows the withdrawal of financial support by the
government for overseas visits after the 60th
anniversary in 2004.
Jeremy Kite, Leader of
Dartford Borough Council, says we should all
remember the sacrifices of past wars and
commemorate those who fought for our
freedoms.

“We’ve stepped in to support our veterans because
we find it completely unacceptable that
remembrance should have what seems to be a
‘best before date’.
The Normandy Veterans
Association does a marvellous job for our old
heroes and this is a small way in which we can
repay them.
”
Fatal collisionThe police are investigating a fatal collision on the
A20 London bound carriageway on Friday 7th
November 2008.

It happened near the McDonalds takeaway
restaurant on the Swanley by pass around 03.
00.
A
silver BMW was in collision with a green Ford
Escort, which was broken down and stationary at
the time.

Due to a previous collision in which a blue
Peugeot collided with the central reservation part
of the slip road was coned off.
The LAS attended
and took the 22 year old driver of the Escort to
Queen Mary’s hospital but he later died.

He has since been identified as Siddharta
Gauchan of Charlton Village.
A post mortem on
Monday 10 November at the Princess Royal
Hospital, Farnborough gave cause of death as
multiple injuries.

The driver and passenger of the BMW suffered
minor injuries and were seen by LAS but not
taken to hospital.

The 20 year old male driver of the BMW was
arrested at the scene and later bailed to return on
29 January ‘09 pending further investigation.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses to the
incident.
The number to ring with any
information is 020 8285 1574.

Chronicle 40p
Where
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T h e Vo i c e o f S w a n l e y
Swanley & Dartford
Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE
26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre
DECEMBERwww.
bexleychronicle.
com
December 2008
CARROLL CARPETSDomestic & Commercial Flooring Specialists
• Competitive Rates • Free estimates • Free Fitting
FREEPHONE 0800 317452New Showroom open 6 days.
11-13 Station Road, Swanley, Kent
All types of Carpets• Vinyl • Laminates • Wood Flooring
Gareth Johnson has accused the Government
of betraying the motorist when the new
Dartford Crossing charges came into force on
15th November.

As from that date local residents could apply
for a controversial ‘ discount’ scheme.
As there
is an initial fee for the discount Dart Tag, local
residents will only benefit if they make a large
number of crossings in a year.
It will not help
local residents who use the crossing just a few
times.

Gareth Johnson said: “ It is not a discount
scheme that is needed but the total scrapping
of the Dartford Crossing tolls.

The tolls were due to be scrapped in 2003
when the bridge had been paid for.
Instead,
local residents have had to endure the cost,
congestion and pollution.

Instead of changing the charging structure of
the tolls, the Government should have used
this opportunity to scrap them completely.
The
changes signify the completion of this
Government’s betrayal of the motorist in
Dartford.

Tolls have been scrapped on two bridges by
Gordon Brown’s Constituency as he felt it was
unfair for motorists to pay for the crossing
several times over! Well if it is unfair for
Gordon Brown’s constituents then why is it
OK for Dartford’s residents to still have to pay?
The tolls on the crossing are yet another form
of taxation levied, by this Government, on the
motorist and another example of this
Government making life just that bit harder for
us all.

The crossing is Dartford’s icon, but instead of
it improving our quality of life and opening up
the local area, it places a financial drain on local
businesses and residents, pollutes the
atmosphere and clogs up local roads.
It’s time
that we saw an end to the tolls on the Dartford
crossing”.

• Bexley Council made a half-hearted attempt to get
some relief for residents as did local MP David
Evennett and Derek Conway.
Readers will largely
have been unaware that a consultation process had
been organised and no results were published.
Ed
LABOUR BETRAY
MOTORISTS
DOUBLE GLAZING
REPAIRS
Free estimates • Free advice
New Double Glazed Windows
supplied at trade prices
PHONE FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
0208 302 8858/07932 670329
Misted &
Broken
Sealed
Units
Replaced
Window Hinges • Window Handles
• Window Locks • Door Locks
• Door Handles • Door Hinges
• Letterboxes • Spyholes
Stag Arts
Complex SavedSevenoaks District Council agreed to transfer
the Stag arts complex to Sevenoaks Town
Council as part of a long term lease agreement.

Following careful evaluation of the proposals,
the full Council decided to hand over the Stag
to Sevenoaks Town Council on a 25 year lease.

Initially Sevenoaks District Council will enter
into a short term lease allowing the Stag to open
early in the new year.
The long term lease will be
agreed thereafter.

Sevenoaks Town Council submitted a detailed
proposal and business plan to operate the Stag
that includes setting up an independent charity
to manage the complex based on the successful
model used by East Grinstead Town Council to
run the Chequer Mead Community Arts
Centre.
The current facilities would be retained
and no significant building works would be
necessary, minimising disruption to the arts
community.

The Town Council has said that it is looking at
the possibility of relocating its Tourist
Information Centre within the Stag.

Sevenoaks District Council would pay the
Town Council a grant of £100,000 a year for the
first five years of the lease agreement, £50,000
towards the running of the theatre and £50,000
towards youth outreach provision.

Cllr Elaine Bracken, the Council’s Cabinet
member with responsibility for the arts, says:
“Sevenoaks Town Council has put forward a
detailed proposal and business plan to reopen
the Stag early in 2009, which is great news for
the local arts community and for Sevenoaks.

They have a vision for a vibrant community
facility, but I would stress, if it is to succeed, the
whole community will need to give its backing
and support to the theatre and cinema
programme to ensure it remains viable in the
years to come.
”
Now taking
bookings for
Christmas
and New Year
TAKE AWAY SERVICE AVAILABLE
Telephone 020 8298 9233
258 Sherwood Park Avenue Sidcup.
Kent
Tandoori RestaurantFully Licensed and Air Conditioned
Open 7 Days a week for lunch & dinner
169-171 Station Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 7AA
Reservations: 020 8300 0777 / 020 8300 2527
(Est 1978)
Moonlite
Entertainments
Chart Hits Party Night
NEW YEAR’S EVE
Wednesday 31st December
Dance the night away with attractive Top
Female DJ ‘KERRY’ spinning all
the UK’s favourite Chart Hits
from the 70’s to 2008
FREE ENTERTAINMENT FOR DINERS
Usual Top
Quality Menu
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
FROM MANAGEMENT & STAFF
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR CUSTOMERS
FROM MANAGEMENT & STAFF
  [Less]

Charles Hawkes, a landlord, put more than a dozen tenants at risk by failing to fit fire doors or ensure that fire alarms were working, was fined £2,800 at Woolwich Magistrates Court following a successful...   [More]

Charles Hawkes, a landlord, put more than a
dozen tenants at risk by failing to fit fire doors or
ensure that fire alarms were working, was fined
£2,800 at Woolwich Magistrates Court following a
successful prosecution by Greenwich Council.

In total, pleaded guilty to 17 offences, relating to a
three-storey house in Glenluce Road, Blackheath,
which is converted into 12 separate rooms, each
let to one or two tenants.

Mr Hawkes’ first offence was failure to obtain a
licence for a house in multiple occupation, which
landlords are required to do under the Housing
Act 200
Other offences which the Council brought to
magistrates following an inspection by
environmental health officers in February 2008,
related to:
• The fire alarm system being inoperative
• Fire extinguishers which had not been inspected for four
years
• A lack of fire doors to the individual flats/rooms
• Lack of gas safety certification, electrical installation
certification, fire alarm or emergency lighting certificates
• Cracked ceilings
• Cracked WC pan
• Worn and dirty carpets
• A dangerous, poorly guarded balcony
Maureen O’Mara, Greenwich Council’s cabinet
member for Neighbourhood Services, said,
“Landlords have a legal and moral duty to ensure
their tenants are not put at risk, and the law gives
local councils powers to take landlords to court
where we consider they are not fulfilling their
duties.
Our approach is to offer advice in the first
instance to enable them to put things right.

Where, as happened in this case, landlords fail to
take that advice, we won’t hesitate in using our
powers and bring those landlords to court.
”
The court heard that since the action was
launched a further inspection has taken place to
ensure that the hazards have been removed,
remedial works carried out and safety regulations
complied with.

Hawkes was also ordered to pay the Council’s
costs of £1939.
37.

• Private tenants concerned about disrepair can contact
the Council’s Residential Section on 020-8921 8100, or
visit www.
greenwich.
gov.
uk/housing
40p
Where
SoldT h e Vo i c e o f T h a m e s m e a d
Thamesmead & Erith
Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE
26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre
DECEMBERwww.
bexleychronicle.
com
THE FRONT PAGENewsagents and Much More.
.
.
.
.
.

Excellent selection of
Christmas Cards available
Newspapers Magazines, Stationery,
Confectionary, Tobacco, Travel
Passes, Photocopy Fax Services
Full Post Office Service Available
Unit 2 Joyce Dawson Way, Thamesmead Town Centre
Tel/Fax 020 8310 7119
December 2008
NHS & Private Dental Care
Vijay Vithani Dental Practice
12 Joyce Dawson Way Thamesmead Town SE28
Ring for details: 020 8311 9400
LATE NIGHT AND SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE
Twinkle, twinkle little star
oh how white your teeth are
Call in and ask us about our teeth whitening
Got a story?
The Chronicle wants it!
Email: newsdesk@bexleychronicle.
com
020 8302 6069
DOUBLE GLAZING
REPAIRS
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New Double Glazed Windows
supplied at trade prices
PHONE FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
0208 302 8858/07932 670329
Misted &
Broken
Sealed
Units
Replaced
Window Hinges • Window Handles
• Window Locks • Door Locks
• Door Handles • Door Hinges
• Letterboxes • Spyholes
Landlord put his tenants at risk!
Chronicle
Gareth Johnson has accused the Government of
betraying the motorist when the new Dartford
Crossing charges came into force on 15th
November.

As from that date local residents could apply for
a controversial ‘ discount’ scheme.
As there is an
initial fee for the discount Dart Tag, local
residents will only benefit if they make a large
number of crossings in a year.
It will not help
local residents who use the crossing just a few
times.

Gareth Johnson said: “ It is not a discount
scheme that is needed but the total scrapping of
the Dartford Crossing tolls.

The tolls were due to be scrapped in 2003 when
the bridge had been paid for.
Instead, local
residents have had to endure the cost, congestion
and pollution.

Instead of changing the charging structure of the
tolls, the Government should have used this
opportunity to scrap them completely.
The
changes signify the completion of this
Government’s betrayal of the motorist in
Dartford.

Tolls have been scrapped on two bridges by
Gordon Brown’s Constituency as he felt it was
unfair for motorists to pay for the crossing
several times over! Well if it is unfair for Gordon
Brown’s constituents then why is it OK for
Dartford’s residents to still have to pay?
The tolls on the crossing are yet another form of
taxation levied, by this Government, on the
motorist and another example of this
Government making life just that bit harder for
us all.

The crossing is Dartford’s icon, but instead of it
improving our quality of life and opening up the
local area, it places a financial drain on local
businesses and residents, pollutes the
atmosphere and clogs up local roads.
It’s time
that we saw an end to the tolls on the Dartford
crossing”.

• Bexley Council made a half-hearted attempt to get
some relief for residents as did local MP David Evennett
and Derek Conway.
Readers will largely have been
unaware that a consultation process had been organised
and no results were published.
Ed
LABOUR BETRAY
MOTORISTS
Bacon slams
Gateway quangos
Gareth Bacon, Bexley Assembly
Member, has slammed government
handling of the Thames Gateway
regeneration project.

In an exchange with Boris Johnson at Mayor’s
Question Time, both men agreed that there was
a need to get a grip on the funding process and
to end the quango culture that has plagued the
delivery of regeneration in the region.

The House of Commons Public Accounts
Committee Report of October 2007 stated:
“Major sites are being delayed due to lack of
joined up infrastructure.
For instance the
building of 9,400 homes in Barking Riverside is
reliant on further transport infrastructure.

Gareth Bacon AM said: “£7billion has been
invested in the Thames Gateway since 2003, yet
up to 2005 only 24,000 new homes have been
built.
This is simply not good enough.

“We will fail miserably to meet the promised
total of 160,000 new homes by 2016 unless
something is done to ensure that the 66 quangos
that administer the project, pull together a
strategic vision for its future.
There must be a
strong emphasis on achieving outputs”.

• The combination of a lack of cash and a new bridge
south of Tower bridge spells disaster for the whole
Gateway project.
Ed
  [Less]

Greenwich has one of the highest ranking mortality rates in London for asbestos related disease. Between 1981 and 2005 there were a total of 119 asbestos related deaths in Greenwich placing the borough in the top...   [More]

Greenwich has one of the highest ranking
mortality rates in London for asbestos related
disease.
Between 1981 and 2005 there were a total
of 119 asbestos related deaths in Greenwich
placing the borough in the top five for asbestos
hotspots in London.
In the same period there
were 104 deaths in Lewisham, ranking it ninth
overall for mortality from asbestos.

To tackle the rising death rate from asbestosrelated diseases, the Health and Safety Executive
(HSE) has launched a campaign, Asbestos: The
Hidden Killer, which is running throughout
October and November 2008 to educate today’s
tradesmen about the danger that asbestos presents
to them.

Figures issued by the Health and Safety
Executive have revealed that every week, 20
tradesmen die from asbestos-related diseases, and
this number is set to increase.

Steve Coldrick, Disease Reduction Director at
the HSE explained why a major campaign has
been launched to raise awareness of the real risk
that tradesmen face, “Exposure to asbestos is the
biggest single cause of work-related deaths, with
around 4,000 people a year dying from asbestosrelated disease.
The overall number of deaths is
rising because a large number of workers who
have already been exposed to asbestos dust
around 40 years ago will go on to develop
mesothelioma, a terminal cancer or other asbestos
related diseases.
”
Tom King, 64, is one tradesman who, after
exposure to asbestos through his work as a
carpenter in Greenwich, contracted
mesothelioma, a form of cancer.
His family were
devastated.
His son, Russell, said: “It’s a family
business that we run, and so my dad’s such a big,
central part of our lives and his illness has affected
the family massively.
”
Even today asbestos presents a real and relevant
risk to plumbers, joiners, electricians and many
other maintenance workers.
Asbestos may be
present in any building constructed or refurbished
before the year 2000, and it is estimated that
around 500,000 non-domestic buildings could
contain asbestos.
These buildings all need repair
and maintenance work from time to time and
when the asbestos fibres are disturbed e.
g.
by
drilling or cutting, they are likely to be inhaled as
a deadly dust.

1,000 (25%) of the 4,000 now dying each year
are tradesmen and while the number of deaths in
traditional industries has plateaued, deaths in
trades continue to rise.

Jill Morrell, Head of Public Affairs at the British
Lung Foundation said, “Sadly, for many who have
been exposed to asbestos dust it’s too late asbestos-related diseases have a long latency and
therefore creating awareness for the future is very
important.
”
Chronicle
Blackfen & Eltham
December 2008 T h e Vo i c e o f B l a c k f e n & E l t h a m
40p
Where
Sold
Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE
DECEMBERwww.
bexleychronicle.
com 26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre
W.
UDEN & SONS LTD
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
The Family Business that still offers
a personal service.
Est 1881
ELTHAM
51-53 Passey Place, SE9 5DA
020 8850 2868
*24 Hour Service
Branches also at: Petts Wood, Biggin Hill, Dulwich,
Forest Hill, Sidcup, New Cross & Camberwell
Council
stunned by
bridge decision
Greenwich Council has reacted with shock to
the news that the Mayor of London has
scrapped the proposed Thames Gateway
Bridge.

Cllr Chris Roberts, Leader of Greenwich
Council, said: “The cancellation of the
Thames Gateway Bridge despite the
overwhelming support of Londoners and
London boroughs which would have benefited
from the crossing is a truly shocking position
for a Mayor of London to take.

Of particular regret is that the Mayor has
elected to avoid any discussion about these
schemes with Council leaders directly affected
by his decision.
Letters have gone unanswered
and meetings when arranged are routinely
cancelled without explanation.

Continued on back page
Gareth Johnson has accused the Government of
betraying the motorist when the new Dartford
Crossing charges came into force on 15th
November.

As from that date local residents could apply for
a controversial ‘ discount’ scheme.
As there is an
initial fee for the discount Dart Tag, local
residents will only benefit if they make a large
number of crossings in a year.
It will not help
local residents who use the crossing just a few
times.

Gareth Johnson said: “ It is not a discount
scheme that is needed but the total scrapping of
the Dartford Crossing tolls.

The tolls were due to be scrapped in 2003 when
the bridge had been paid for.
Instead, local
residents have had to endure the cost, congestion
and pollution.

Instead of changing the charging structure of the
tolls, the Government should have used this
opportunity to scrap them completely.
The
changes signify the completion of this
Government’s betrayal of the motorist in
Dartford.

Tolls have been scrapped on two bridges by
Gordon Brown’s Constituency as he felt it was
unfair for motorists to pay for the crossing
several times over! Well if it is unfair for Gordon
Brown’s constituents then why is it OK for
Dartford’s residents to still have to pay?
The tolls on the crossing are yet another form of
taxation levied, by this Government, on the
motorist and another example of this
Government making life just that bit harder for
us all.

The crossing is Dartford’s icon, but instead of it
improving our quality of life and opening up the
local area, it places a financial drain on local
businesses and residents, pollutes the
atmosphere and clogs up local roads.
It’s time
that we saw an end to the tolls on the Dartford
crossing”.

• Bexley Council made a half-hearted attempt to get
some relief for residents as did local MP David Evennett
and Derek Conway.
Readers will largely have been
unaware that a consultation process had been organised
and no results were published.
Ed
LABOUR BETRAY
MOTORISTS
Asbestos death rate high in Greenwich
Call free 0800 163 186
53 The Oval, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9ER
5 Lessness Ave.
, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5SH
*Winter Specials*
on Alternators, Batteries
& Starter Motors
Heavy Duty
Batteries for all
makes of vehicles
in stock
Batteries for
every make of car
BRAKE DISCS
AND DISC PADS
AT LOW PRICES
58-60 Well Hall Road SE9 6SH
Tel: 020 8850 1357 Fax: 020 8859 6043
Email: info@alans-of-eltham.
co.
uk Web: www.
alans-of-eltham.
co.
uk
Mattresses
New Beds, Divans
New Wardrobes
New Pine
Tables & Chairs
• Second Hand Furniture
• House Clearances
• Removals
• Landlord Furnishing
Gemini Metal Bed
Frame Double
only £109
Oakridge 2 Door
Wardrobe only £280
Oakridge 3+2 Drawer
Chest only £159
Pamela Single Pine Bed
only £79
Sheraton Double Bed
Frame only £249
  [Less]

A year ago Bexley Council secured over £1m from Transport for London under the Local Implementation Plan Funding to invest in Belvedere Village but the residents and businesses voted against the scheme presented...   [More]

A year ago Bexley Council
secured over £1m from
Transport for London under
the Local Implementation Plan
Funding to invest in Belvedere
Village but the residents and
businesses voted against the
scheme presented by the
Blackfen & Lamorbey
councillor Peter Craske.

The consultation on the final plans closed on
30 September and the Council state results
from showed 106 people voting for no
improvements and 95 people were in favour.
A
petition with more than 500 signatures on it,
stating people did not want change, was also
taken into consideration.

Craske said: “This scheme would have
represented the first major investment in the
Village for decades and the plans were intended
to improve the area to secure its long term
future as an important local business centre.

Throughout the project we’ve listened to
local people, including organising a public
meeting for people to come along and have
their say, and amended the plans to take their
views into account.

When people opposed making Albert Road
into two-way traffic, or opening access through
the car park from Albany Road to the Village,
or a new footway in Streamway, we dropped
these elements completely.

When people said that too many parking
spaces would be lost, we put the spaces back.

In our final plans we proposed replacing the
street lights with brand new and much better
ones, additional CCTV cameras, resurfacing
the roads and pavements to a far higher
standard, planting new trees and introducing a
new zebra crossing.

To do this we would have needed to remove
just two parking spaces, solely to accommodate
the zebra crossing requested by traders in the
Village.
If there had been no request for the
crossing, then the number of parking spaces
would have remained exactly as it is now.

The people of the area have spoken and I
hope they will welcome my decision.

Having scrapped the plans for improvement
the Council does not plan to make any further
proposals for the Village.
I will be talking to
TfL to see if the funds can be used on any other
scheme in the borough.
”
• £1.
4m could go a long way in securing some respite
for car parking in the councils car parks - perhaps
buying car owners the first hour of parking free of
charge! Ed
Chronicle 40p
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Thamesmead & Erith
Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE
26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre
NOVEMBERwww.
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THE FRONT PAGENewsagents and Much More.
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Tel/Fax 020 8310 7119
November 2008
NHS & Private Dental Care
Vijay Vithani Dental Practice
12 Joyce Dawson Way Thamesmead Town SE28
Ring for details: 020 8311 9400
LATE NIGHT AND SATURDAY APPOINTMENTS ALSO AVAILABLE
Remember, Remember the
5th of November
Let your teeth do the “Sparkling”!
Couple
killed in
GreenwichThe police have launched a murder inquiry
following the death of a man and woman in
Greenwich.

They responded to a call at approximately
17:00 hrs on Tuesday 21 October 2008 to reports of a woman stabbed at a residential address in Frances Street, SE18.

The London Ambulance Service attended and
the 35 year-old woman was found suffering
from stab wounds to the neck.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A 35 year-old man was also found suffering
from stab wounds at the same location.
He was
taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in south
London where he was pronounced dead.

The identity of the deceased man and woman
is known but await formal identification and
confirmation all next of kin have been informed.

Officers from the Homicide and Serious
Crime Command are investigating and an incident room has been opened under DCI Will
O’Reilly.
Anyone with information is asked to
contact the incident room on 020 8721 4905; if
you wish to remain anonymous call
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Labour romp home
in Plumstead
A new Councillor has been elected
for Plumstead ward in Greenwich,
following a by election on Thursday
25 September.

Councillor Matthew Morrow, of the Greenwich
Labour Party was elected with 1318 votes and a
majority of 776 votes.

The full result was:
Adetokunbo Bailey –
Conservative Party – 542
Leonie Barron - Liberal Democrat - 195
Jessica Currie - Green Party 175
Matthew Morrow - Labour Party -1318
• The by election had a turnout of 21.
56% and was
called following the death of Councillor Kanta Patel, a
member of Greenwich Council for over 20 years.

365-369 Bexley Road, Northumberland Heath
Tel: 01322 332102
Free parking at rear.
www.
tilebox.
com
CRASKE SCRAPS
VILLAGE SCHEME
Got a story?
The Chronicle wants it!
Email: newsdesk@bexleychronicle.
com
020 8302 6069
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Air cadet Alana Copeland (16),(Douglas Rd, Welling) (St Paul’s Academy, Greenwich) of 358 Welling Squadron Air Training Corps has been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Woolwich, to undertake an overseas...   [More]

Air cadet Alana Copeland (16),(Douglas Rd,
Welling) (St Paul’s Academy, Greenwich) of 358
Welling Squadron Air Training Corps has been
sponsored by the Rotary Club of Woolwich, to
undertake an overseas expedition to South Africa.

The two week expedition will involve trekking
through the Kruger National Park,
visiting the notorious Robyn Island where
Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and a social
project in the townships.
Each cadet has been
responsible for fund raising their part of the
costs, and Alana has already undertaken bag
packing with a supermarket and a sponsored
Three Peak challenge, climbing
the highest mountains in Scotland, England and
Wales within 24 hours.
However, the credit
crunch and increasing fuel costs, have kept the
costs increasing week on week.

The Rotary Club of Woolwich came to her aid,
by sponsoring her £1,000 from their Inverliever
fund.
Inverliever Lodge was a residential centre
for the youth of Greenwich, and many residents
will have fond memories of happy holidays
and school trips to the lodge.
The lodge has since
been sold, and the proceeds held in trust.
The
trust produces a small income per year and these
funds are been used to provide residential
experiences for the youth of Greenwich and the
Greenwich Schools.

Club president Tony Maun says “What she is
trying to achieve is fantastic.
We would welcome
new applications from groups or individuals who
wish to access the fund, and those interested in
joining Rotary International”.
Contact; Rotary
Club of Woolwich, Charlton Athletic Football
Club, Floyd Rd, Charlton.

• Welling squadron is open to children over 13 from the
London Boroughs of Greenwich & Bexley, further
details from www.
358atc.
ik.
com.
or contact Flt Lt K
Cottier RAFVR(T) OC 358 Welling ATC (OC m)
07957 210 976 (Sqn) 020 8303 7379 (Activity m)
07527067235
ROTARY HELPS ATC CADET
Chronicle
Blackfen & Eltham
November 2008 T h e Vo i c e o f B l a c k f e n & E l t h a m
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NOVEMBERwww.
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com 26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre
W.
UDEN & SONS LTD
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
The Family Business that still offers
a personal service.
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51-53 Passey Place, SE9 5DA
020 8850 2868
*24 Hour Service
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Forest Hill, Sidcup, New Cross & Camberwell
Jealous Eltham
lover jailed
Georgina Clarke-Webber, 19 years old of
Churchbury Road, Eltham, poured accelerant
over her 15 year-old victim and set her alight in
Churchbury Road on 15 June 2008, following
a dispute over a boy has been sentenced to
serve ten years in prison.

The victim suffered serious burns and had to
be taken to a specialist burns unit by air
ambulance.

Greenwich’s child
poverty shame
While Greenwich councillors and staff earn
generous salaries, many reaching six figures,
55% of the children living in Greenwich are
living in or on the brink of poverty - and not a
single ward escapes destitution.
To coincide
with the release of these figures End Child
Poverty today launched 4 in 10: The End
Child Poverty London Project.
The two-year
London project aims to tackle the specific
challenges that Greenwich and London face in
ending child poverty.

Hilary Fisher, Director End Child Poverty,
said: “It is ironic that London is the economic
powerhouse of the UK and provides 20% of
the UK’s GDP yet it is failing to provide for
the hundreds of thousands of children growing
up within its limits.

“Poverty blights children’s lives.
In the sixth
richest city in the world it is shameful that this
is allowed to continue.

L I C E N S E D B Y T H E P U B L I C C A R R I A G E O F F I C E
SIDCUP CARS24 Hour Service for:
AIRPORTS
LONG DISTANCE
LOCAL
SALOON
7/8 SEATER
EXECUTIVE
020 8300 8000 • 020 8300 3300***DRIVERS WANTED***
Tandoori RestaurantFully Licensed and Air Conditioned
Open 7 Days a week for lunch & dinner
169-171 Station Road, Sidcup, Kent DA15 7AA
Reservations: 020 8300 0777 / 020 8300 2527
(Est 1978)
8pm Dinner with Cabaret £30 per head (£15 nonrefundable deposit per head) If you are celebrating
a special event we will be happy to announce it
To book, call 020 8300 2527
Thursday 4th
December 2008
Gary Glen
Christmas Show
Thursday 4th December 2008
There are 36,000 Elvis
impersonators world-wide.

England’s Gary Glen is the
most famous with his tribute
to Elvis, The King of Rock ‘n’
Roll.
No videoing please,
cameras welcome.
(DVDs of
this evening or any previous
shows can be purchased
from the video man for £10
inc.
p&p)
Gary Glen, the Management
and Staff wish everyone a
Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year
Call free 0800 163 186
53 The Oval, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9ER
5 Lessness Ave.
, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA7 5SH
*Autumn Specials*
on Alternators, Batteries
& Starter Motors
Cutting
the cost of
Winter repairs
Batteries for
every make of car
BRAKE DISCS
AND DISC PADS
AT LOW PRICES
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Your Local! NEWS • MOVIES • THEATRE • MOTORING • LIFESTYLE 40p Where Sold Chronicle Bexleyheath,Welling & Crayford T h e Vo i c e o f B e x l e y h e a t h 26 Movies20 Motoring22 Theatre NOVEMBERwww....   [More]

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com
November 2008
Special
Creative
New Menu
(only available on
Wednesday)
TAKE AWAY SERVICE AVAILABLE
Telephone 020 8298 9233
258 Sherwood Park Avenue Sidcup.
Kent
Bexleyheath pupil in line
for Prince’s Trust award
A young student from Bexleyheath who overcame
difficulties at school with help from a Prince’s
Trust programme has been nominated for a
prestigious award.

Mitchall Bylett, 16, a pupil at Oakwood School, is
in the running for Educational Achiever of the
Year at The Prince’s Trust Celebrate Success
ceremony, in London, on Wednesday 15 October.

Mitchall’s future was looking bleak; his teachers
found him moody, attention seeking and lacking
in social skills.
He had very low self esteem and
had given up on school work.
He started mixing
with people who were a bad influence and got
caught up in anti-social behaviour and crime.

Then he joined the school’s xl club.

xl offers an alternative curriculum to 14-16 year
olds who are at risk of truanting, exclusion and
underachievement.
The xl programme aims to
improve attendance, motivation and social skills.

After joining The Prince’s Trust xl club Mitchall
started enjoying school for the first time and his
work improved.
One of his biggest achievements
has been receiving a Young Environmentalist
Award for renovating the school garden.

Mitchall’s transformed his attitude and is now
30% of Bexley’s
children in
poverty!
While Bexley council are paying top staff six
figure salaries and spending millions on a new
civic centre in Bexleyheath there are more than
30% of children living in Bexley living in or
on the brink of poverty - and not a single ward
escapes destitution.
To coincide with the
release of these figures End Child Poverty
launched 4 in 10: The End Child Poverty
London Project.
The two-year London project
aims to tackle the specific challenges that
Bexley face in ending child poverty.

Figures released demonstrate the widening
divide in London, with children from the same
neighbourhoods leading very different lives.

Bexley is known as one of the wealthiest
London boroughs but pockets of deprivation
still exist.
Whilst St.
Mary’s ward has only 15%
children living on the brink of poverty, the
neighbouring ward of North End has 56%
children; these young people have significantly
worse life chances.

Hilary Fisher, Director End Child Poverty,
said: “It is ironic that London is the economic
powerhouse of the UK and provides 20% of
the UK’s GDP yet it is failing to provide for
the hundreds of thousands of children growing
up within its limits.

“Poverty blights children’s lives.
In the sixth
richest city in the world it is shameful that this
is allowed to continue.
”
Project Co-ordinator Liz Thorne said
“Educational disadvantage is a significant
driver of deprivation in Bexley.
Fantastic
initiatives have been started to help overcome
these problems but these frequently take place
in isolated pockets.
The 4 in 10 network,
NEW SCHOOL IN
CRAYFORD SOON!A packed hall at Barnes Cray
Primary School illustrated the
level of interest in the proposals
for an all age academy in Crayford
to incorporate Barnes Cray
Primary School offering fully
integrated provision on one site
sponsored by the Haberdashers’
Aske’s Federation with the Temple
Grove Trust.

Local Cllr Simon Windle welcomed
residents, parents and children to the public
meeting.
ls.

Many parents at the meeting were
supportive of the new academy and the
inclusion of Barnes Cray Primary School.

Some explained the difficulty they had
experienced finding a local secondary school
(the council pulled down a perfectly good
secondary school in Iron Mill Lane) for their
children and others said that in the past their
children had no choice but to travel across the
borough to school.
Others were keen to be
associated with Haberdasher’s Askes’
traditional ethos and good name.

Cllr Seymour encouraged local residents to
contact him and fellow ward members with
planning issues.

Cllr Seymour was enthusiastic; “It’s just not
good enough that our children have to travel
so far to go to secondary school.
Our children
deserve a local education.
I am really pleased
that Haberdashers’ has chosen to come to
Crayford.
Their involvement puts Crayford
not only on the academic map, but on the map
full stop!”
Haberdashers’ Aske’s is also consulting on its
proposals for the academy.
Its consultation
ends on 22 December.
Leaflets are available at
www.
crayfordacademy.
org or by calling 08702
250132.

The London Borough of Bexley received
ministerial approval for the project to move on
to the next stage earlier this year.
The approval
gave the go ahead for further detailed feasibility
studies into the possibility of a new academy in
Crayford.
The Council’s current consultation
forms part of this feasibility phase.

A STEP NEARER.
.
.

Laughing Buddha at Christmas
Find out why our customers keep coming back
Christmas Feast
A:- £25 per person
Every table with four or more
people will receive a free gift
Minimum order for 2 persons
First Course:
• House special hors d oeuvre
• Salt & pepper spare ribs
• Sesame prawn on toast
• Crispy seaweed
• Satay chicken on skewers
• Deep fried prawn balls
• Crispy vegetable spring rolls
Second Course:
• Crispy aromatic duck served •
with pancakes, spring onions,
cucumber, hoi sin sauce
Main Course:
• Fried king prawn with sweet
bean in xo sauce
• Sizzling fillet beef with
mandarin sauce
• Fried chicken with black bean
sauce
• Stir fried mixed vegetables with
Portuguese sauce
• Special fried rice
Dessert:
• Fresh mixed fruit
Christmas Feast B:£29.
00 per person
Every table with four or more
people will receive a free gift
Minimum order for 2 persons
First Course:
• House special hors d oeuvre
• Spicy salt & pepper soft shell
crab
• Deep fried prawn balls
• Satay chicken on skewers
• Spare ribs with mandarin sauce
• Crispy seaweed
• Crispy vegetable spring rolls
Second Course:
• Crispy aromatic duck served
with pancakes, spring onions,
cucumber, hoi sin sauce
Main Course:
• Fillet beef with xo sauce
• Kung po king prawn
• Sizzling pork chop with
Mandarin sauce
• Stir fried mixed vegetables with
Portuguese sauce
• Special fried rice
Dessert:
• Fresh mixed fruit
New Year s Eve
Banquet:- £38.
00
per person
Minimum order for 2 persons
Live Karaoke
First Course:
• House special hors d oeuvre
• Crispy seaweed
• Barbecue spare ribs
• Vegetable spring rolls
• Stuffed crab claws
• Satay chicken on skewers
• Spicy salt & pepper king prawn
Second course:
• Crispy aromatic duck served
with pancakes, spring onions,
cucumber, hoi sin sauce
Main Course:
• Fillet beef with xo sauce
• Sizzling lamb with ginger &
spring onions
• Scallops & king prawn with
asparagus in birds nest
• Stir fried mixed vegetables with
• Portuguese sauce
• King prawn fried rice lotus leaf
wrapped
Dessert:
• Fresh mixed fruit
All bookings require a deposit of
£20 per person - non refundable
For New Year s Eve lucky draw
with Prize
Lunch Buffet
Over 30 dishes
Appetisers & main dishes
£5.
90
Children under 1400 mm
£4.
00
Drinks not included
Eat as much as you can
Take away service
1st container £4.
00
Thereafter £3.
50
Eat as much as you can
Over 200 dishes
Appetisers & main dishes
£15.
90
Children under 12 years
£8.
50
No service charge
Prices inclusive of VAT
Drinks not included
198-200 Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 7BD.
Tel: 0208 303 6290 Tal/Fax: 0208 301 5702
Continued on back pageContinued on back page
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