On September 7, 1940, we stood in the street looking down the Thames at Woolwich as the docks were bombed.

The whole river seemed to be ablaze. We watched the fighters above us and everyone cheered when one of ours shot down an enemy plane as they fought in the blue sky.

It was a beautiful September afternoon but the skies darkened with flames and smoke.
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I think this was the first major bomb attack on London.

I don't recall feeling frightened, it was all so strange to a nine-year-old child, but I still think of those who died and the brave people who coped with wartime conditions.

Joan Walton Shrublands Dereham

THE expansion of the Thames Gateway has been backed by English Heritage.

At a meeting of planners and decision-makers last Thursday, members of the government-sponsored organisation challenged the perception of the Thames Gateway as a barren industrial wilderness, and championed north Kent's heritage.

While expressing qualified backing for Government plans for expansion, the organisation warned investment in communities should not be forgotten.
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English Heritage chief executive Simon Thurley said: “The Thames Gateway is a vibrant and historic region with far more to offer than brownfield sites.

“Industry is a dominant feature, but our new research into its historic environment has revealed a wider hidden heritage. It is, and will be, a great place to live.”

The expansion will see 20,000 houses built across the region by 2016.

A SIX-LANE bridge carrying up to 5,500 motorists an hour has been given the go-ahead.

Transport for London (TfL) agreed plans for the Thames Gateway Bridge, which will span the River Thames between Thamesmead and Beckton, at a board meeting last week.

The £450 million project, due to open by 2013, will be funded by £200 million of Government-approved loans and tolls.
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Car tolls will be set at £2 twice that of the M25  Dartford Crossing. Residents of Bexley, Greenwich, Newham and Barking and Dagenham the four boroughs nearest the bridge will get a 50 per cent discount.

Project director Michael Clarke says an electronic tolling system using cameras, similar to the congestion charge, will be developed.

But Bexley has major concerns about whether that level of tolling will discourage through-traffic in favour of local journeys.

Transport Cabinet member Councillor Daniel Francis also told News Shopper the tolling system would have to be flexible enough to be changed quickly if it proves unsuccessful.

And he is still worried about traffic flow on the bridge and the ability of local roads to cope. “We have major concerns about Knee Hill and about the roundabout at Erith town hall to be able to cope, as well as roads such as Brampton and Picardy Roads,” Cllr Francis said.

TfL plans could include speed humps and traffic signals on local roads leading onto the dual carriageways.

The bridge will include lanes for 20 bendy buses an hour in each direction, attracting up to five million passengers a year, with a link to the proposed  Greenwich Waterfront and East London Transits.

Reduced journey times will mean an additional 1.2 million people will have access to jobs within 45 minutes of Thamesmead.

But environmental campaigners fear pollution. Darren Johnson, the Green Party's London mayoral candidate, said: “Wealthy Central London benefits from less congestion and better public transport, while the people of east London are promised more congestion, more pollution, more traffic accidents and more noise.”

TfL still has to get planning permission from Greenwich and Newham councils. Jenny Bates, chairman of Greenwich and Lewisham Friends of the Earth, said: “The fight is far from over.”

Cambridge win a controversial 150th Boat Race, ending two years of Oxford dominance.

A PROPOSAL to build a multi-million pound extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) under the River Thames has been given the green light.

The £145 million project will expand the DLR by 2.5km from North Woolwich to Woolwich Arsenal, where a major new interchange will be created providing links to Woolwich town centre and national rail and local transport.

Transport Minister Tony McNulty announced last week the Government will support the scheme, in which bored tunnels will be constructed under the Thames.
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The project is a continuation of DLR's current extension, due to be completed by the end of 2005, from Canning Town to London City Airport and the planned King George V station in North Woolwich.

Greenwich Council leader Councillor Chris Roberts says a DLR station at Woolwich Arsenal will help fulfil Woolwich's promise to be a major town centre in the Thames Gateway.

He said: “The improved transport services are part of a wider regeneration plan which includes such key developments as the Royal Arsenal and White Hart Triangle sites, attracting more businesses to the area and bringing greater prosperity.

“Extending the DLR to Woolwich will also provide better links to job and travel opportunities in the City, Docklands, east London and to London City Airport.”

The Government says the project will bring 56,000 additional jobs within 40 minutes of Woolwich town centre.

It claims the project will act as a catalyst for economic and social regeneration on both sides of the river.

Construction is due to begin in mid-2005 and be completed by the end of 2008.

DLR Ltd is expected to fund the extension using the Private Finance Initiative and will select a “concessionaire” to design, build and maintain the scheme on its behalf.

RESIDENTS are being given the chance to voice their opinions on plans for local open spaces and the riverside in Kew,  Mortlake and Barnes.

Drop-in sessions on the open spaces strategy to help Richmond upon Thames Council develop their improvement plan for local parks, open spaces and the riverside have been organised to invite suggestions from the public.

At the first meeting the Tow Path Audit from Kew Bridge to Beverley Brook will be on display.

The towpath is important to residents on both sides of the river not only as part of the Thames path and a nature conservation area but because of its outstanding views.

Angela Kidner, chair of the Environment Trust, said: “The Environment Trust is committed to promoting the understanding and enjoyment of the river and its paths as well as the conservation and maintenance of its unique natural features throughout the borough of Richmond.

“The Tow Path Audit is a demonstration of the benefits that can be achieved by local groups working in partnership to help the local authority to develop strategies for the management of this wonderful but demanding natural asset.”

Roger Weston, chair of the Thames Strategy said: “The Thames Strategy - Kew to  Chelsea recognised the importance of the towpath and listed a number of projects associated with it.”

The meeting will take place tomorrow (Saturday) at the Power Station Youth Club, Mortlake High Street from midday to 4pm.

Wheelchair access is provided. Everyone is welcome and a kids corner and refreshments will be available.

The council is responsible for maintaining more than 100 parks, open spaces, commons and woodlands which attract around five million visitors a year. In addition it manages 35 playgrounds over 70 sports pitches, six cemeteries and 16,000 trees.

All the action as Cambridge claim a controversial win in the 150th Boat Race.

A SLEEP IN' protest staged over a possible increase in night flights at Heathrow Airport was joined by Susan Kramer, Lib Dem prospective parliamentary candidate for Richmond Park.

The protest took place outside the Thistle Hotel in Victoria last Friday where the Department of Transport were holding a consultation exercise about night flights at which no residents directly affected by their plans had been invited to speak.

Susan Kramer said: “It is ironic that airlines are putting beds on their planes to allow long haul passengers to get a good night's sleep, whilst showing a total disregard for the rights of people living under the flight path to have the same privilege.

“Sleeping is a basic human right. It is about time that the government and the aviation industry wake up to this fact and take some notice of people living under the flight path.”

Richmond upon Thames Council is bracing itself for a fresh battle. They say the government is planning to continue the existing night flights regime for at least another five years.

And they plan to carry out a consultation this spring on future night flying restrictions.

Although the government's view is that a ban on night flying is impractical, Richmond council will continue to press hard.

Night flights could increase and bring more misery for people living under the flight paths, the council fear.

The government is considering scrapping the existing limit on numbers and moving to a quota system based only on the noise certificate of the aircraft.

This would allow airlines to operate more night flights without going over their noise quotas by using the quietest planes.