Thanks to local businesses showing their support for safer streets in NX! Our petition is still live and collecting signatures: change.org/p/make-the-amersham-gyratory-safer

The Mayor has published the passenger numbers and revenue stats for the first ~3 months of the BL1 #Bakerloop bus service between Waterloo and Lewisham in response to an #MQT question from @hinabokharild.bsky.social

Back from a week in Bordeaux, and impressed by all the urbanist transformations. Plenty of streets pedestrianised in last decade, more cyclists than cars, and cycle lanes to match. And the brownfield sites of Bastide-Niel transformed with some quite strikingly well designed housing.

If you use the (pedestrianised but grim) Cold Blow Lane, respond to this survey. Some volunteers trying to get funding to improve it: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #nxgate #se14

In response to our campaign, TfL has said this road isn't a priority for changes because it isn't dangerous enough. People attempting to cross it feel otherwise. And so does a long history of collisions. We need action for New Cross. #visionzerolondon #newcross #lewisham

TfL highlights New Cross Road as one of the top potential corridors for cycling in London and highest priority for improvements (see felt.com/map/TfL-Stra... map). Dangerous junctions, collision history and highest potential for cycling - yet nothing done for decades. @lewishamcyclists.bsky.social

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.

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.

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

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

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

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...

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.

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!

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)

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

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.

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

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...

Construction on the A2 today effectively demonstrates how much safer Amersham Road feels w a bit of redesign. Construction is mostly on white marked lines where vehicles not allowed, but when just paint cars speed through dangerously. Today they slow! @london.gov.uk and @lewisham.gov.uk take action!

A nice day to admire the Royal Naval Allotments in New Cross #newcross #londongardens #allotments

My article up on @salamandernews.org about why Blackheath Station Carpark is a perfect brownfield site for new homes, & an example of the pressure and opposition Lewisham faces at even gentle density increases, despite housing crisis www.salamandernews.org/blackheath-s... #Blackheath #housingcrisis

Car dependency is not the answer for our climate- and this doesn't even account for tire particle pollution!

"I smiled blackly through the windscreen, my mind on the neon lights of the West End. That illuminated cemetery." Enter Ghost, by Isabella Hammad

Lovely existing 4 and 5 story buildings in Blackheath, & carpark where millionaires launched a celebrity campaign saying building a 5 story building and 3 story townhouses would ruin historic Blacheath...(don't worry, the farmers market wouldn't go in the development). What's Jude Law so afraid of?!

Really enjoyed this thoughtful piece of reporting on the eviction of small businesses in Elephant and Castle at @londoncentric.media. Retaining businesses was one of the regeneration promises, but backdated electricity bills used to wiggle out of the deal www.londoncentric.media/p/elephant-c...

A treat to visit a similarly urbanism minded friend in Dublin, and get new cycle & pedestrian infrastructure and freshly planted street trees pointed out on a sunny weekend walk.

Please to have a new piece of fiction out with The Table Review today! Second in my series of short stories set around Overground Stations, this one starts on the CS4 with very length waits at traffic signals. thetablereview.org/2025/09/18/s... #shortstories #booksky #litmags

New story @salamandernews.org about cycle lane in Deptford: despite not opening till November, it is already abuzz with journeys. It connects to the C4 and C10, and could form part of 'Lewisham spine' cycle path www.salamandernews.org/deptford-chu... #londoncycling #cyclinginfrastructure #deptford

UK could raise nearly £2bn by taxing SUVs in line with European countries, study shows

Offered to be a cycle buddy to a colleague and neighbour who's nervous but curious about commuting by bike, with strike as perfect opportunity to break the routine and try. Alas, the lift being out at Greenwich foot tunnel still has put her off, as we would have to carry bikes several flights.

I wrote up a few of the excellent options for #openhousefestival and some bonus sites not listed. Surprising how few participating sites there are in Lewisham, despite a lot of great architecture. Still, grab your cycle and see some very cool self-builds.

Today Lewisham Council has cancelled planned part-time pedestrianisation of #Deptford High Street, focusing instead on graffiti removal.

"Life had been unkind to her, but I didn't come to this country to be a parable, an example or comparison. I didnt take the long journey to be put in a museum for English people to come to remind themselves that life could be harder." The Seers by Sulaiman Addonia, an absolutely transfixing text

The London Assmebly @londonassembly.bsky.social invited a panel of experts in late July to discuss funding options for infrastructure (i.e. Bakerloo extension) that don't require a grant from Central Gvmt. I report brainstormed solutions @salamandernews.org www.salamandernews.org/bakerloo-lin...

What a thrill to see Sofrito performed at Greenwich Theatre last night as part of Deptford Scratch! Amazing team that made Ayesha and I's script come to life, and another sold-out show.

Love, loss, and parsley. Come see my play Sofrito next Sunday at Greenwich Theatre, part of The Albany's very fun Deptford Scratch Night. It's showing alongside 5 other excellent shorts. greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/deptf... #Greenwich #Londontheatre #newwriting #southlondon

New article out! Could this long boarded up stretch of New Cross finally see change? Goldsmith's Vision of becoming open to the community with an enterprise hub permanently shuttered. #newcross #goldsmiths

"for whatever reason, in that concrete coffin of a room, curtain drawn across the door, across the day, no company but for the occasional tiny arms of those portentous twins next door - I'd watched and watch and watch this man buy and sell and buy and sell" Goodlord by Ella Frears is fierce + great

New article up. This time on the disappointing Healthy Street Scorecard results: Lewisham has dropped several places and falls behind everywhere but school streets. Particularly grim on cycle casualties! Time to do better.

So pleased Spfrito got its first review and a positive one at that! "Deft" and an "admirably light touch and just the gravity needed" Come see it in August at Greenwich Theatre!