Tomilyn

Squatters take over closed Catford Mews cinema - The Greenwich Wire Squatters have taken over the closed-down Catford Mews cinema, five months after it closed suddenly after a row over unpaid rent. The venue has been empty since late October after Really Local Group, ...

@greenwichwire.bsky.social has been covering the saga of Catford Mews thoroughly: greenwichwire.co.uk/2025/04/02/s...

And @salamandernews.org the Filigree development: www.salamandernews.org/lewisham-fil...

#londoncinema

A cinema is coming to Lewisham centre, at the long troubled development of the Filigree, the council announced. The original cinema chain set to use the venue went out of business during construction. Curzon at Goldsmiths closed since pandemic, and Catford Mews in 2024, this will be Lewisham's only.

Our petition has got 30 more signatures this last week- please sign and share if you want a healthier A2 in New Cross. We got an upcoming meeting w gvmt and more community support we can show the better!
www.change.org/p/make-the-a...

#newcross #tfl

Last night there was a vigil for the first cycling fatality of the year on London's streets. I was there. Here are some thoughts (no paywall).

If this strikes a chord with you, please comment on the post and share.

open.substack.com/pub/nedboult...

Friends of Irene, cycling advocates, neighbours and politicians gathered this evening to mourn and speak out on the urgent need to fix this dangerous stretch of the A2 outside NXG station, where a woman needlessly lost her life. Powerful to see a large group on a rainy Friday night.

Give New Cross the streets it deserves | Salamander News Tomilyn Hannah Rupert calls for immediate action to transform the Amersham junction from a deadly highway into a healthy street.

I'm tired of having to walk my cycle the last block home, playing frogger trying to cross the street, and reporting broken bollards. New Cross deserves healthy and safe streets.

My op-ed this morning: salamandernews.org/give-new-cro...

@salamandernews.org #Lewisham #london #tfl

Meanwhile the pavements of Blackheath are hemmed in by railings giving deference to cars and creating an unpleasant pedestrian environment. No celebrity petition to fix that as a solution for declining high street trade!

Blackheath: Lewisham defers decision on controversial plans for station car park Officers had recommended Acorn's plans to build 45 homes on the site, but after four hours of debate, councillors on Lewisham's planning committee unanimously agreed to defer their decision.

Can't believe Labour's candidate for Lewisham mayor defended not building homes on a carpark next to a rail station as "making sure that what is built doesn't damage something precious along the way."
It's a car park. In a housing crisis.

@salamandernews.org
www.salamandernews.org/blackheath-l...

Wild that debating homes over a car park is viable. Especially literally next to a rail station, and only 5 stoeies tall max. Meanwhile actual towers going up on Old Kent Road, one of the most polluted areas of the capital with no rail or tube. Clearly celebrity voices have more weight than equity.

The pedestrian experience trying to reach Deptford Bridge DLR, three pedestrian islands and a lake. Let's hope any redevelopment of Lewisham College site on the left comes with a road diet

Cold blow lane tunnel pedestrianised! A healthier school run Cleaner air and lower emissions Safety for cyclists and pedestrians

Absolutely delighted to share the news that Cold Blow Lane tunnel has been permanently pedestrianised!

A huge well done to the parents and residents that campaigned for this - it has been a long time coming.

Now do Lewisham Way

Wonder at the maths of selling off los of their buildings to lease this one/the council's faith given the last minute plug pulling of schemes before

Old Kent Road: new link to Cycleway 62 at Ilderton Road | Salamander The new segment brings the prospect of safe cycling from Rotherhithe to Peckham a bit closer. It is surrounded by high density new development of the Old Kent Road opportunity area.

There's a new link to Cycleway 62 at Ilderton Road/Old Kent Road.

The prospect of cycling safely from Rotherhithe to Peckham just got a little bit closer.

@tomilyn.bsky.social @lewishamcyclists.bsky.social

www.salamandernews.org/old-kent-roa...

A pole in the middle of a new cycleway

The Southbound cycleway ends in a shrub, with barriers for cyclists just beyond

Love a new cycleway, but there might be some design flaws...
On #IldertonRoad in #Southwark a part of Cycleway 62 that will stretch from Peckham to Rotherhithe.

That'd be a nice surprise! Can't imagine they can justify lowering the levels of what little 'affordable' housing they've included, in an election year too.

Council houses on site were demolished 15+ years ago, and has sat vacant since. Considering it's transport location (ten minute walk to New Cross Gate and Queens Road Peckham stations, and same to future planned Bakerloo site), makes sense to increase height, but not to have left rot for so long.

In July 2025, an application for the Besson Street Redevelopment scheme was submitted to vary the description of the consent by removing the references to height (3-12 stories) and # of units (324).
The council is now seeking to amend, w drop-in session planned on 20th to introduce changes.

Cracking up at the fake restaurant in architectural renderings for a new tower on Old Kent Road printed on the hoardinds being called Bourgeoisie (and a "Starcups" next door). Subtlety is dead.

Not sure how much open air dining is going to be taking place on one of London's most polluted roads...

This cycle link has been officially launched today by the council!

Spent last night plotting some of the Amersham Gyratory Action Group's next steps to make NX streets safer over pints and alcohol free wine @theshirkersrest.bsky.social . Get in touch if you're interested in getting involved in our advocacy efforts!

Early stage plans for purpose-built student housing at former New Cross delivery office Landowner Northhold is in pre-application discussions to redevelop the former Royal Mail delivery office at 199-205 New Cross Road, to provide 137 student bedrooms.

Unsurprisingly, it's likely to be more student housing. @salamandernews.org has the details.

www.salamandernews.org/early-plans-...

Looks like we'll be hearing about a planning application in for the old Post Office building at 199 New Cross Road soon...
It's the unusally modern facade in the Hatcham Park Conservation area along New Cross Road.
(Photo from Google Street view)

Got an automatic response that it's closed for submissions, either website or response might be out of date?

Passenger incident this morning resulting in the suspension of DLR between Stratford and Canary Wharf and Polar and Canning Town

People cycling safely in Southwark on Cycleway 4.

Southwark Council is consulting on the Lower Road cycleway scheme – part of Cycleway 4 and a vital safe cycling route for us in Greenwich.

engage.southwark.gov.uk/en-GB/projec...

Survey closes 14 December.

Lewisham's cycleway network has trebled in size (or has it?) Transport for London hailed the increase in cycleways in Lewisham, but large parts of the "new" routes already existed.

TfL trumpets the trebling of cycle lanes in Lewisham over the last three years, but local cyclists aren't likely to notice a huge difference, with most improvements occurring before December 2022.
www.salamandernews.org/lewishams-cy...
@salamandernews.org

"Everything, in the house, awaits the return of people who no longer exist."

The Palace on the Higher Hill, by Karim Kattan, translated by Jeffrey Zuckerman

Unproven and "unbelievable": why is Lewisham rolling out Roadvent? The council plan to install the innovation at a highly polluted site near a school or nursery, but Salamander found no real-world evidence that it works.

Why is Lewisham rolling out unproven expensive 'tech'? Filters built in roads to suck out car pollution, by a one man shop, w/o scientific evidence

Excellent story from @dorothystein.bsky.social on @salamandernews.org

www.salamandernews.org/unproven-unb...

#greenwashing #pollution #lewisham

Surrey Canal station is considered a "critical enabler of 8,400" new homes.

But developers aren't waiting.

@tomilyn.bsky.social finds a new neighbourhood forming ...

www.salamandernews.org/surrey-canal...