crossroads

SE1 - The Flyover

2019 ticks over to 2020. At a bit of a crossroads, locally and nationally and, probably, internationally. Should we believe in the optimism, allow a type of Stockholm-Syndrome to wash over us and take the easy route, or remember the many lies we've been told? To get back some sort of balance, we need to sort out an effective opposition to this thing (I don't think they really know) we have on the government benches at the moment. In an early post I said it was a conspiracy mindset, and whatever else that that entails, that allowed Brexit to take hold. I also said it was an act of self-harm, and so a cry for help. This may still be true - people saying they voted Brexit/Conservative (more specifically Johnson) to 'shake things up' - but the xenophobia behind much of the rhetoric is clearly much more of a driving factor than I thought. There are reports of seeing more people feeling emboldened in these sorts of views now, thinking (rightly or wrongly) the government is on their side. It is this hate - and fear and whatever else that brings with it - that has allowed Brexit to really flourish as an ideology, a cult. The 'national desire to be heard' reasoning was maybe too generous. People voted, perhaps, not so much against Corbyn (though obviouly they did) but for Johnson. I think honesty will allow us to see that it simply comes down to wanting to follow, to be told what to think and not have to think and be told that you're exceptional, one of the gang, trusting in a leader. It may be why so many religious believers support this type of politician too. There is scary talk of us being in an age of the 'strong-man', and even in a post-democracy - terrifying, hopefully an over-reaction. But Johnson succeeded where supply teacher for the public schoolboys May who was - you can easily imagine Francois and Rees-Mogg sniggering - never could. And so, depressing as it may be, let Labour not be too lofty in their ideals - for the moment at least - in appointing their leader. Johnson and the rest are likely to be most cowed by Starmer, and for them - and apparently much of the the electorate - the posturing does count for something. Don't waste any more time allowing Johnson to think he really is king, dictator, just freely in charge of everything. That's not good for any leader of a democracy. Labour should give the job to Starmer and just get on with it. Get it done, as some might say. Perhaps Philips could be a challenge to him, but I dont think any of the others still in the running could. Not that Starmer is a bad person for the role anyway; surely he'd surround himself with a diverse group of ministers to challenge the untrustworthiness and apparent paucity (though some more is being spoken about now than just Brexit) of this government's current pledges, and seemingly he's already prioritised leaving no doubt about eradicating all anti-Semitism. What has been reported - that people said they would have voted Labour if Starmer was leader - is something I heard too. Labour are just going to have to fight dirty, else the tactics used by the Conservatives will probably continue to trump any idealism. As when Labour members in clips from the time apparently wanted Blair as leader (ahead of Prescott and Beckett) because he 'looked good', if Labour want to avoid irrelevance and to be an opposition the government won't just dismiss, the thinking probably has to be similarly cynical. 

There is room for optimism of course, a few reasons at the moment actually and not just the ones our PM wants us to trust him with (I'd like to but can't; Johnson lies...). One reason is this: someone I know who's proven to be very perceptive about things over many years, says the first 'big shock' will be in 6 months. People will realise it's maybe not what they were promised, that there are too many lies, and that is a bad thing but unsustainable. 

So much feels like 'we shall see'. 

The photo is of the flyover at the Bricklayers' Arms, SEI, London, pretty much joining the Old and New Kent Roads. A double exposure on Kodak colourplus 200 with my old Canon EOS 3000N. 

When I Grow Rich

'Would you mind please going back to Shoreditch?' reads the graffiti in New Cross, though in more robust language. Although it can't mean me, I keep this in mind when taking the 78 from outside Asda which in quite a quick journey from the Old Kent Road goes to that strange other place. My destination is actually Whitechapel (for the gallery's Paolozzi exhibition) a little before the final stop, but this is still a trip showing yet again that there are always two sides to wherever you are in London.

Making the right turn the 78 makes in this direction at the Dun Cow, there is the distant hope (or 'finger up to the rest of the country' as some see it) of The Shard. A reminder of where we are, in more than one way. It appears in the distance over a building site / industrial land or something, the tape around which suggests it's going to be something to do with tourist accommodation.

Tower Bridge Road starts to feel like you've moved somewhere else. Premier Inn is already along here. Small flats with smaller balconies that house a chair over the traffic are here, and they must cost a fortune – not sure how much but as the really posh ones around the corner were originally going for £17,000,000 they're probably in the 'unaffordable' bracket too. And along Tooley Street, the office of Southwark Council – apparently, much to their annoyance, caught themselves between the two worlds they straddle, and seemingly, for now anyway, much preferring to shake hands with those on this side of the bridge.

Behind the Tower Of London pop up buildings including the walkie-talkie (20 Fenchurch Street, with SkyGarden), the gherkin (30 St Mary Axe), the cheesegrater (Leadenhall Building) next to Lloyds – all the structures with silly names. Alien to the tower, but all symbols of power really, and the comparing of contrast and similarities between the old and new, value and cost, culture and commerce are...well, obvious I guess, but unavoidable.

And soon after Whitechapel. E1. The mix of workers leaving their office buildings for a break and, um, fresh air, and students mean there seems to be more smokers around here than elsewhere. It's funny how you notice that now.

The gallery almost marks a break along Whitechapel High Street. Right next to Aldgate East station there are plenty of office buildings heading back, but further along, towards Shoreditch, you can see the difference, for better or worse however you see it. It seems Peckham now may have taken over as the place people will love and hate and love to hate, and there are connections even here in Whitechapel – a Nags Head pub, the pub name in Only Fools and Horses, and Peckham beer in the gallery's refectory. As the website says 'The Whitechapel Refectory and After Hours are brought to you by Luke Wilson and Cameron Emirali, the duo behind 8 Hoxton Square'. Hoxton. A Whitechapel gallery serving a beer brewed in Peckham.

Coming out of the train station was a group meeting a guy dressed in character, taking a tour – the Jack The Ripper tour, of the sites of the murders. Walking to the 78 bus stop coming here I'm sure I saw a bus heading this way which was to do with tours like this, parked and leaving from the Old Kent Road gas works. Just to hammer the point home I'll say – Shoreditch and Peckham now have lots in common. One difference is we've had Only Fools... and Desmond's. Shoreditch had Nathan Barley. Maybe that will change.

It feels fortunate to so readily have this place and the exhibition within it to go to, and the beer was good too.

Enemies of the eState?

For the upcoming 'regeneration' of the Old Kent Road, more than one very reliable person has stated that the following promises and assurances have already been made by Southwark Council's regeneration team to locals affected:

- Legally, businesses are not allowed to be forcibly closed or disrupted to an extent that is harmful to the running of the business during the council's works.

- Lessons have been learnt from the damaging way the Aylesbury and Heygate projects were managed. The council does not want a repeat of what happened there, and will treat those affected with more consideration, also hearing their needs and concerns before making final plans.

- Tenants and residents will not be forced out of the area. Leaseholders will be offered new properties and part-ownership in any case where the price paid for a current home facing demolition does not meet the value of the new property. Homeowners will also keep the equivalent percentage if the value of their new property rises.

- There will be phased works, minimising stress and disruption to people's lives.

- Green space will be better utilised.

- There will only be one move where possible, for each property affected.

There will obviously be much more to say about when things get underway, and new laws regarding maximum charges and audits come into play, but it is worth noting now what the council is saying at this point - and whether they keep to their words.

London Minutes

The 'ideal' Dogme -
1) Shots should be 1, 3 or 6 Seconds - either combinations of these or all same (e.g. 20 shots 3 seconds each). 1 shot of 60 seconds also allowed.
2) As far as possible, edit 'in camera'.
3) Minimal, preferably no use of filters and non-natural sound.
4) Minimal, preferably no use of artificial light (especially set-ups) or staged scenes.
5) Should be shot in one day.
6) Try not to add a commentary, let the video speak for itself. Just show.
The reality -
1) Camera doesn't always stop exactly at whole second (and neither does real-life) so as near as possible to it.
2) 'As far as possible...'
3) Unless really enhances, but should be avoidable.
4) See 3).
5) As near as possible to same day and time.
6) At very least no spoken commentary.

#1:

So basically one-minute videos of London, aiming to just show what is happening, just hopefully give the feel of it.

Welcome

Hello and thanks for stopping by my blog. This will, as you've probably guessed, be about the Old Kent Road and especially what's happening at this important time for the area. The OKR of course has a rich history, has always been a culturally prominent place and now may be undergoing a change that will transform how the area is seen for many (many) years. Actually, scratch that – it's already been undergoing that change for a while.

This blog will take more than one view of the regeneration/land-grab (depending on your point-of-view). I've been here a few years now and of course like most here been aware of what a great part of the world we are in; the general depiction of hooligans, Del Boys and last place on the Monopoly board was something we had to sometimes fight, sometimes embrace and sometimes defend against during this time. Now we are apparently part of a 'destination' so can be proud of this – our - part of the Greatest City In The World ™ .

We are aware of course we're all supposed to post about only the good things: being here now, eating and buying. That will feature – it's not like there aren't many great things to do and this looks set only to increase in the near future. The improvement of an area will hopefully bring added benefits to quality of life in perhaps more substantive ways too. It would be dishonest however to ignore the problems that also inevitably come and if nothing else the one thing the posts will aim to be is honest. This is an area myself and others here have been a part of building up to this turning point in a part of the city we may however be increasingly distanced from. Let's hope not, but will the changes gentrify in the worst possible ways? Will people be forced out? Will we lose history and character, or keep it only for the sake of the most shallow image and as a cultural selling-point, rather than out of respect? There will certainly be some more changes, but most hope for the better and not only the super-rich.

There will also be posts about the surrounding areas. The OKR like much of SE15 is extremely well connected. Cycling, public transport or a walk can take you to an amazing variety of fantastic places and we shall also visit our neighbours, with their varying character; places like and including Greenwich, Peckham, Lewisham, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Bermondsey and Surrey Canal New Bermondsey...

Whatever is happening here, this is a blog about it, a part of the history of this historic part of London.

Thanks again for visiting, hope you enjoy it.