Number 92 Editor: Deborah Williams May 2015 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT This will be my last Report to you all as Chairman, because our Constitution obliges every Chairman to relinquish the role after 5 years, and my stint came to an end last November. We thought we had found a new Chairman, but unfortunately his commitments prevented him from taking up the role. In the meantime, I, as Acting Chairman, and Niel Redpath, Vice-Chairman, will combine the role. If any member of the Society is interested in taking this up, please do let me know. Reflecting on my time as Chairman I can say that I wish I could have achieved more. For example, I would like to have increased both the membership of the Society as well as the activities which we offer to our supporters. In both of these aspects I think we are frustrated by our somewhat antiquated Membership List, and by the fact that we can communicate with only a small part of the membership electronically. I know that many of you do not have – or wish to have – e-mail but it is the way forward. Out of some 600 Society members, we can write to only about 150 of you by e-mail. Throughout my time I have been supported by a loyal and helpful Committee. They have all contributed both their time at our monthly Committee meetings as well as their varied expertise, and I publicly thank them. It came as some surprise to me, when I first began to attend meetings of the Committee, to hear how much development was happening in the Borough on a daily basis. Much of the Committee’s time is occupied in studying the month’s planning applications – and frequently objecting where necessary. From time to time we also invite developers and architects to present their plans for major developments to us in person. One of the first that I listened to was from Phil Stride of Thames Water who, in 2010, first outlined to us the need and the plans for a massive sewage tunnel under the Thames, which later came to be known as the Super Sewer. FULHAM SOCIETY SUMMER PARTY, Monday 20 July 7.00-9.00pm The Society will hold its Annual Summer Party on the lawn at Fulham Palace, by kind permission of the Trustees. Tickets are £15.00 each and members may bring up to 4 guests. An application form for tickets is enclosed.

2

The Society joined others in trying to prevent one of the main shafts for this massive project being sited on a brownfield site in Carnwath Road, but without success. Other major building projects with which I have been involved have included the Earls Court regeneration, the ‘new’ Sainsbury’s and flats in Townmead Road, the sale of Fulham Town Hall, the re-building of the Parsons Green Club, the massive development of apartment buildings in Imperial Road, and the proposed new stands for both Fulham and Chelsea Football Clubs. Then there was the new Racquets Centre at the Hurlingham Club to which we objected because it was to be built on Metropolitan Open Land, the closure of the Fulham Palace Garden Centre, a defeat of the proposed sale by the Council of Clancarty Lodge in South Park, and the introduction into Fulham of Polo In The Park and so-called Boris Bikes. Also, during my time we witnessed a complete reorganisation of the management of Fulham Palace, and we thrilled at their success in winning two bids for Lottery money; I also chaired 2 Hustings Meetings, in 2010 and 2014, at which the representatives of all the political parties who were fielding candidates in local Council elections addressed members of the Society; and the Society now has a spanking new website thanks to the efforts of Committee member Caroline Marston. So, farewell and thank you for your support and encouragement during my 5 years as your Chairman, but it is not quite ‘goodbye’ as I remain Acting Chairman and a member of the Committee. FULHAM SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting took place on Thursday 20 November 2014. It was chaired by Lord Carrington, a Vice-President. Following the meeting, Professor Mark Brearley of the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design, London Metropolitan University, gave an interesting talk entitled ‘Where is London going?’ This year the AGM will be held on Tuesday, 17 November 2015, at Lady Margaret School at 7.00pm.Any member wishing to propose a motion at the meeting must give at least 45 days’ notice in writing to the Honorary Secretary. MEMBERSHIP The Annual Subscription for 2015/16 became due on 25 March 2015. The Hon Membership Secretary, Dr. Carol Blanks, asks Members not paying by banker’s order to please check that they have paid up-to-date. It is requested that, where possible, payment is made by banker’s order, as administration is made simpler and the cost to the Society is thereby reduced. Please ask for the relevant form: Dr. Carol Blanks, 64 Rivermead Court, Ranelagh Gardens, SW6 3RY. plumblanks@gmail.com. As mentioned by the Chairman, the Society still yearns for Members’ email addresses. If you have not already done so, please would you send this information to the Society at info@fulhamsociety.org REMEMBRANCE On Tuesday 11 November 2014, in commemoration of the start of the First World War, a special Remembrance Service was held in the courtyard of St. John’s Church, Walham Green. It was conducted by the Vicar, Rev. Mark Osborne, and was attended by our M.P., Mr. Greg Hands, the Deputy Mayor, the Chairman and members of the Fulham Society, members of the

3

British Legion holding banners, a representative Chelsea Pensioner, pupils of St. John’s C.of E. Primary School, and a large congregation. In the tradition of the spectacular display of ceramic poppies in the Moat of the Tower of London, the school-children laid their own hand-made ceramic poppies round the Memorial Mulberry Tree, planted on VE Day 1946,.while those too young to construct the flowers placed their drawings of poppies instead. A young girl bugler sounded Last Post and Reveille very professionally. It was most moving. Alas, the sad irony of the occasion: even during the Two Minutes Silence, as the gathering stood with bowed heads, the traffic continued to roar past down North End Road… WORLD WAR 1 VCs In August 2013, Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, announced that, in order to honour all the recipients of the Victoria Cross in the 1914-18 War, commemorative paving stones would be laid at their birth-place. This was to “honour their bravery, provide a lasting legacy of local heroes within communities, and enable local residents to gain a greater understanding of how their area fitted into the story of the First World War.” During the war, a total of 454 Victoria Crosses were awarded to UK-born citizens, and 174 to servicemen who fought for Britain but were born overseas. Here in Hammersmith & Fulham there were 3 recipients of the prestigious medal. The Commemorative stone for Corporal Edward Dwyer was laid on May 20 at the war memorial outside All Saints’ Church, Fulham. Commemorations for the other two recipients will be held in 2016. The three were – Corporal Edward Dwyer - King’s Royal Surrey Regiment. He was just 19 years old when the Germans tried to reclaim the strategic advantage point of Hill 60 near Ypres, Belgium in April 1915. Under a shower of grenade bombs, Dwyer climbed to the parapet of his trench to launch grenades back at the enemy, and earlier in the day he left his trench under heavy shell fire to bandage a wounded comrade. Dwyer was later killed in action at Guillemont on 4 September, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, the war's bloodiest encounter in which one million soldiers were wounded or killed. His medal was presented to the Regimental Museum in 1962. Sergeant Charles Edward Spackman - 1st Battalion, the Border Regiment. On 20 November 1917 at Marcoing, France, the leading company was checked by heavy fire from a gun mounted on a position which covered the approaches. Sergeant Spackman realised that it would be impossible for the troops to advance and went through heavy fire to the gun, where he succeeded in killing all but one of the gun crew and then captured the gun. He was also awarded the Military Medal. Although born in Fulham on the 11 January 1891, he died in Southampton on 6 May 1969. Lance-Sergeant Frederick Palmer - 22nd Battalion, the Royal Fusiliers. In February 1917, Lance-Sergeant Palmer assumed command of his company when all his officers had become casualties, north of Courcelette in France. Having cut his way, under point-blank fire, through wire entanglements, he dislodged an enemy machine-gun and established a "block". He then collected some other men and held the barricade for nearly three hours against seven determined counter-attacks. While he was fetching more bombs an eighth counter-attack was delivered, threatening the advance of the whole flank. At this

4

critical moment, although suffering from extreme exhaustion, he rallied his men, drove back the enemy and maintained his position. He later achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant. When his battalion was disbanded, he joined the Royal Flying Corps as an observer. After the war, he went to Malaya, where he set up his own business. After the outbreak of the Second World War, he returned to England in 1940, arriving just in time for the Battle of Britain, and re-joined the Royal Air Force. He achieved the rank of Wing-Commander, and was mentioned in Dispatches at the end of the war. 100 NEW KING’S ROAD The hoardings round this flattened site proclaim the advent of ‘one and two-bedroom boutique apartments and penthouses’. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines ‘boutique’ as a small shop selling clothes or accessories, but today it is a euphemism for a large building crammed with too many small rooms, where one may place a pied à terre- just -. The poster illustrating the forthcoming construction confirms this: a five-storey building higher than, and with no relationship to, the surrounding buildings, similar to the unedifying edifice it is to replace. As there is no mention of integral parking, local residents will muse gloomily on the increased congestion of cars in their streets. New construction on the site commenced in April. When the two majestic plane trees were destroyed during demolition, it was promised that they would be replaced by smaller ones in front of the new premises. However the new plans bring the building to the edge of the pavement, so any trees would be sited on the public walkway, an obstruction to pedestrians and a possible sightline hazard for drivers on the New King’s Road. All in all the prospect seems unpleasing. FULHAM FOOTBALL CLUB We have reported several times on the proposed re-development of Fulham Football Club. To recap, the Club applied some time ago to be allowed rebuild its Riverside Stand in order to increase the total capacity of the Club from 25,700 to 30,000 seats. It was proposed to reconstruct the stand to accommodate the new seating, a hospitality suite, and 4 residential units.There was considerable local opposition, not least from The Friends of Bishops Park, who were alarmed at the prospect of thousands more fans surging in and out of the Park on match days, as well as from the sailing clubs based on the opposite bank, who anticipated a loss of wind. We were also intrigued by the objection that the new stand might, because of its height, interfere with the long-protected view of St. Paul’s Cathedral from Richmond Hill. However the plan received the consent of the Council in July 2013, as well as subsequently by the Mayor of London. It only remained for approval by the Port of London Authority. This was because it was proposed that new Thames Path would wind around the back of the stand and encroach upon the river. The PLA did indeed give its approval, and issued a River Works Licence on 30 January, apparently after “extensive consultation”. One of the key considerations was the Club’s commitment to the opening up of the river walkway along the Thames on non-match days. It will also make a contribution of £600,000 to the restoration of Bishops Park, plus an annual contribution of £40,000 per year for 10 years for on-going maintenance of the Park. It only remains for the Club – currently languishing close to the bottom of the Championship – to decide whether it can afford the expense and luxury of a new stand.

5

WEST LONDON RIVER GROUP

The River Thames is London’s largest public space, instantly recognised but rather underused and undervalued. This may partly be because there is no single body responsible for it. The Port of London is responsible for what happens on the surface but, as it is tidal, it is ultimately owned by the Crown.

The West London River Group is one of the many groups that try to keep track of issues that affect the Thames and its immediate environment, and the Fulham Society has a representative on the committee. It was formed in 1996 by those concerned that the river was at risk from neglect, misuse and insensitive development. Its members are the societies and other community groups on or near the river between Kew and Chelsea.

The WLRG is led by volunteers and has no staff and no money of its own. Its purpose is to provide a forum where its members can develop and pursue common objectives in relation to the river. It issues a newsletter twice a year in which local community groups can publicise planning applications or changes that affect their section of the river.

It campaigns for policies and projects that lead to a better use of the river, and will support the objections of local communities to large planning applications that could affect the river and its immediate environment, such as Fulham Football Club’s application for planning permission to build their new stand some 11 metres out over the river. It will support the objections of local societies, for example the Wandsworth Society’s objections to the proposed erection of pontoons at Putney Pier for the provision of 13 houseboat moorings, and its criticism of the extension – yet again – of the restrictions on Feathers Wharf.

One of the first activities of the Group was to raise the money for the preparation of a strategy for this stretch of the river. It took a leading role in the setting up of a steering committee, and is represented on it. The Thames Strategy – Kew to Chelsea was published in June 2002 and has detailed recommendations for riverside development. It was hoped this would lead to practical improvements along the River, inevitably small scale as finance would have to be found for each project. The day-to-day management of TSKC and the identification and coordination of its projects is led by the strategy coordinator, Ruth Hutton (020 8753 2507, ruth.hutton@lbhf.gov.uk). She works two days a week and identifies appropriate projects, funding sources and assists with bids. One of her advantages is her ability to work across borough boundaries and with a variety of river-related bodies.

Funds have come from a variety of sources such as local boroughs, some from the highways budget, some from Section 106 money, the PLA and organisations such as the Western Riverside Environmental Fund (WREF) and Viridor Credits through the Landfill Communities Fund.

Ruth has had some successes and Hammersmith & Fulham have benefited from her work. The Friends of Bishops Park and the TSKC worked together to secure a funding grant of £40,000 from Viridor Credits to make landscape improvements along the river frontage in Bishops Park. This contributed towards removing the old rotten toe-boarding, resurfacing the footpath with a more flexible path surface, and painting the historic railings. The TSKC worked with the Friends of Furnival Gardens and successfully bid for £20,000 of funding

6

from WREF to plant new trees and guards and a new native hedge in the park. It worked with the Carrara Wharf Residents group to obtain £10,000 towards raised planting beds to deter antisocial behaviour along the river and make this section of the towpath a more attractive place to visit. New historical interpretation panels have been installed by Hammersmith Bridge and in Bishops Park and consideration is being given to further boards at Broomhouse Dock and Willow Bank.

Outside the borough, projects have been undertaken in Wandsworth, Richmond and Hounslow. A popular project was the improvement of a section of the Mortlake Towpath in Richmond with a permanent granite surface to help prevent large puddles from forming after high tides and rainfall, which often left the path impassable. Recently Ruth has attracted over £64,000 from the Landfill Communities Fund, distributed through Viridor Credits, to support much-needed improvements to the Thames Towpath between the Leg of Mutton Reservoir and Hammersmith Bridge.

She is always happy to receive suggestions for similar projects that could improve the river area.

MURAL IN THE UNDERPASS

As part of the repair to Putney Bridge last summer, the tiles in the subway running under Putney Bridge to Bishops Park were removed. This included the tiled mural of the rowers. They were not of any great quality but they were much nicer than mere plain white tiles and made the underpass a more welcoming and friendlier place.

Although the underpass is on the Fulham side of the bridge, it is the responsibility of Wandsworth Council. There are damp issues that needed to be rectified before it could be retiled and the plan is to retile in plain white tiles. The work is currently being undertaken.

It would have been good news if the mural could have been replaced but there was not time to find a design or to raise the necessary funds.

PANORAMA OF THE THAMES

The Panorama of the Thames is a fascinating project that will show the changes to the banks of the River Thames from Richmond to Westminster over the years since 1829. It can be seen at http://www.panoramaofthethames.com. The first section was uploaded on 22 September 2014. The authors, John Inglis and Jill Sanders, have made a careful digital restoration of the

7

60-foot long panorama published by London bookseller, Samuel Leigh (1780-1831) in 1829. This depicts 15 miles of the river upstream of Westminster at the end of the reign of George IV. They have annotated it with descriptions and history of the riverside landmarks. There is information about the waterway, landscape, buildings and people who lived and worked on the banks of the river at the end of the Georgian era.

The Home page gives you the option of looking at the Georgian or the current views (once there you may find it useful to read the help notes). The 1829 panorama is fully online. The contemporary panoramas are being published in phases. They will show the architectural variety, the palaces, bridges, islands, parks, and gardens, with information on every interesting feature.

Contemporary Hammersmith is already online. There are two sets of photographs for Hammersmith, one black and white set commissioned by Hammersmith Library and taken by Fox Photos Ltd on 16 June 1958, the other taken in 2014 especially for the project.

Fulham is not yet available. The Georgian river is there but funding is needed before a contemporary Fulham panorama can be created. In 1829 Fulham’s riverside was fringed by meadows and market gardens with some fine villas and country cottages. Fulham Palace and the Hurlingham Club remain today but little else remains the same. The authors are looking for help from locals with knowledge of Fulham history and landmarks. They are also seeking funding for this Fulham section and would appreciate any donations to their work. The contact email for more information is jill@panoramaofthethames.com .

FULHAM PALACE WINS HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND SUPPORT Fulham Palace Trust (FPT) is delighted to announce that it has received initial support* from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Discovering the Bishop of London’s Palace at Fulham project, which will restore the Palace’s Tudor quadrangle, Great Hall and gardens. The first round pass was awarded by the HLF at a committee meeting on 12 March. Development funding of £119,000 has also been awarded to help FPT produce detailed plans in order to make a second round application to HLF in summer 2016. If this is successful work will begin on site in spring 2017. Fulham Palace is a site of incredibly strong heritage merit, boasting over 1,300 years of history. In the last 10 years it has been transformed, with the support of HLF and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, from a derelict and rarely visited site into a partially restored historic house and garden with a growing following in the local community. In this next phase the Trust will be working to complete the restoration of the Palace, open up new areas to the public and provide interpretation, exhibitions, events, training, and new roles for volunteers. Alongside this, the organisation’s viability will be improved through increased income and reduced energy costs. The total project costs are anticipated to be £3.45 million and HLF will be contributing just under £2 million if the Trust is successful at round two. FPT has 18 months to raise £1.45 million in order to make sure the project goes ahead. Commenting on the award, Fulham Palace Trust Chief Executive Siân Harrington said: “We are so pleased that the Heritage Lottery Fund is as enthusiastic about Fulham Palace as we

8

are, and shares our ambition to widen access and appreciation of the Palace’s rich and eventful history and horticulture.” Sue Bowers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, Fulham Palace Trust has previously completed two successful projects which restored and explored the heritage of the Palace and its gardens. We look forward to seeing their completed plans for the next exciting chapter of Fulham Palace’s heritage story and to create a sustainable future for the popular site.” *About the Heritage Lottery Fund: Heritage Grant applications are assessed in two rounds. A first-round pass is given when HLF has endorsed outline proposals and earmarked funding. A first-round pass may also include an immediate award to fund the development of the project. Detailed proposals are then considered by HLF at second-round and as long as plans have progressed satisfactorily and according to the original proposal, an award for the project is confirmed. From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife, we use National Lottery players’ money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about. www.hlf.org.uk

EVIDENCE OF ROMAN SETTLEMENT ON SITE AROUND THE END OF FOURTH CENTURY

A coin discovered during an archaeological dig at Fulham Palace is proof of an ancient Roman settlement on the site. The coin, which dates from the reign of Arcadius in AD 388-402, was unearthed as part of a dig in the Walled Garden performed prior to planting an orchard of apple trees. Found at about a metre below the surface, the coin, although not particularly rare, is evidence of a settlement here probably from the end of the Fourth Century to the early Fifth Century.

Along with the coin, Roman brick, tile and 142 shards of pottery were retrieved, including a pot lid.

A Fulham Palace spokesperson says: "The Roman material recovered throughout the excavation is largely indicative of a late Roman settlement, and hints at the former presence of a substantial Roman building on the site. After being fully assessed, all the finds from the

9

Orchard Archaeology Dig, including the Roman coin, will be returned to Fulham Palace, where they will become part of the Museum’s collection."

As part of the ongoing restoration of the Walled Garden, a new apple orchard was planned to reflect the historic orchards that grew at Fulham Palace. As Fulham Palace is a Scheduled Monument, special permission was granted from English Heritage requiring that each location where a tree was due to be planted was excavated by professional archaeologists. Some 47 pits in total were hand-dug, leading to the historic finds. Each pit has now been planted with a tree. Fulham Palace is rich in archaeological remains, having been occupied during the Neolithic, Iron Age and Roman periods. Since the 1970s, numerous archaeological digs have taken place there. For more details, visit the Palace website www.fulhampalace.org IMPERIAL ROAD GAS SITE The planning application for the ‘decommissioning’, in other words, demolition, of the five disused gasholders on the site has been filed with the Council by National Grid and consent has been granted However, thanks to public support for retaining the large gasholder – No 7 dating from 1877-1879 beside Imperial Road –the one whose framework is still standing and visible from the road, demolition of this particular gasholder will not be permitted until a full planning consent has been given for the whole site. Not a very satisfactory position, but better than immediate demolition. National Grid has appointed Berkeley Group as its development partner. This is a common structure in the property development sector, where an owner teams up with an experienced developer. As companies in this sector go, Berkeley is by no means the worst, so if we have to have these developments, we are relatively lucky that Berkeley is involved. The next step, which will probably be some time away, is for the developers to come up with their ‘master plan’. The first master plan we saw before Berkeley was involved was only a ‘footprint’ plan, showing the layout. We commented on this in earlier discussions. At that stage, the developers were non-committal about height of buildings, affordable housing etc. So, it is a question of ‘wait and see’. We are also very anxious that there should be a reasonable amount of commercial use of this site to replace the many small businesses and studios already there. HURLINGHAM WALK Members might have noticed that construction work has started on this redevelopment by St George (part of the Berkeley Group) on the corner of Carnwath Road and Broomhouse Lane, opposite the drawdock. The buildings are up to three to four storeys in the first phase of the redevelopment. PARSONS GREEN CLUB The site is now cleared and construction will start soon on the building, comprising accommodation for the sports club and its manager and residential units. The houses along Sulivan Road are nearing completion

10

ALBERT WHARF A planning application has gone in for a proposal to build a concrete box over the cement works, with a block of flats on top. The river walk would be continued, but there would be a very large number of steps to raise the walk over the open loading area for the concrete factory. It appears that lifts would be provided at either end for those unable to use the steps. The Society is very concerned about this proposal and has presented its objections to the developer. SAINSBURY’S The residential part of this is now ‘topped out’ and partly occupied with a concierge/reception on Townmead Road. The exterior of the new store in the form of a huge glass frontage is taking shape. The new super Sainsbury’s store is due to open on 13 May. CHELSEA CREEK This is the residential site inland from Imperial Wharf. It is dominated by a 25 storey parallelogram-shaped residential block which is nearly topped out. The Society did express its concern about the height of this block which is visible a considerable way inland. The lower level housing rises to 6 or 7 storeys and includes two extensions of the Creek in the form of wharves, with boating access. Berkeley claim that 60% of the land area will be open space and that 30% will be ‘affordable’. We understand that of the units built so far, all have been sold. The shocking statistic is the price of the units sold and the origin of the buyers. A one-bedroom apartment is £900,000, three- bedroom £2-3 million and if you want one of the penthouses, it costs £5 million plus. This is in marked contrast to the terrace houses in Sands End where a full sized unit of three to four-bedrooms would probably be under £2 million. On Berkeley’s own admission, most are overseas buyers who apparently only occupy the units for two months a year. This reinforces the Society’s deep concern over the changing and unwelcome nature of our community. On one side, re-development is generally welcome, particularly of disused industrial sites, but on the other side, we are rapidly losing our sense of community. Not only do we have these ‘gated’ communities, like London Square in Farm Lane and the proposed redevelopment of 100 New King’s Road by Munster Road, but we have these huge ‘cities’ resembling the sort of community that might be built on the moon. We nickname these ‘dead cities’. Unfortunately we can protest as much as we like, but we, even as the leading amenity society in the Borough, are relatively powerless and we are losing the war. We can and do win small skirmishes and maybe even a battle, but not the war. The following appeared as a leader on the opening page of THE WEEK magazine, Issue 1016, published on 4April, 2015. It is reproduced here with kind permission of the magazine and its Editor, Caroline Law. As we said, when writing for permission to reproduce it in the Newsletter, everything in it chimes with what we in the Society feel about the cliff-faced blocks of flats being constructed along the Thames and so often left as a desert with very few active inhabitants. In her reply, she commented that what is going on in London – by the

11

Thames in particular, but all over – is deeply depressing and reflects so badly on the tendency of local councils to make critical, irreversible decisions according to revenue considerations. THAMES TIDEWAY TUNNEL (“SUPER SEWER”) In the last Newsletter we described the Blue-Green Infrastructure (“BGI”) which is an alternative to Thames Water’s huge and very expensive plans for the above. Last year, applications were filed for Judicial Review of the Decision by the 5 Inspectors of the Examining Authority who, after an exhaustive review of the issues, had decided to approve Thames Water’s plans. The applications were lodged by the London Borough of Southwark, the Blue-Green London Plan, by an individual resident Mr. David Percival, and by the recently formed Thames Blue-Green Economy, which is a broad group of independent experts including engineers, politicians, lawyers, economists, financiers, journalists, architects, landscape architects, climate change scientists, public health advisors and environmentalists. Their claim was that a cheaper, quicker, lower risk, and more sustainable solution to dealing with London’s excess rainwater could be implemented and effective immediately, without waiting another 10 years, and that Thames Water’s proposed project was nothing but “a 19th century solution to a 21st century problem” and would turn fresh rainwater into sewage at vast public expense and environmental damage. The Government challenged the applications, for having been made a day after the expiry of the six-week period in which challenges can be made, according to the Planning Act 2008 and, after several hours of argument and a lunch break, Mr. Justice Ouseley decided that they were indeed out of time. The following day the judge also rejected the challenges by Thames Blue-Green Economy and Mr. Percival for not being arguable. So, dramatic scenes in court, and a reminder to us all to be very careful about judicial deadlines. A spokesman from Southwark Council said this was "a complex legal case which was argued for four hours by QCs", adding: "Unfortunately the judge disagreed with our lawyers’ interpretation of the legislation and court practice rules." Leader of Southwark Council,Peter John, said: "We will now go back and look at our options, take advice from counsel and make a decision on our next steps." THAMES WHARF London & Regional Properties have submitted a planning application for the redevelopment of Thames Wharf, which many people seem to be under the impression is in Hammersmith, when in fact it is on the northern extremities of Fulham. The current tenants, architects Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, are moving to the Leadenhall Building, which is widely known as

12

“the Cheesegrater” and which they actually designed. They have now been commissioned to draw up plans for Thames Wharf. Richard - now Lord - Rogers acquired Thames Wharf Studios in 1983. He converted it from the Duckham’s oil facility into offices, workshops, and housing, as well as the River Café. This is run by his wife, Ruth, initially in partnership with Rose Gray, who died in 2010. The planning application, which was registered on 12 February, includes the following:

• The retention and conversion of buildings fronting Rainville Road, providing a total of 57 residential units, as well as some office and retail space.

• Demolition of the existing buildings adjacent to the River Thames and redevelopment of the site comprising the construction of buildings with balconies (one part six-storey, one part seven-storey and one part nine-storey) plus a mezzanine.

• New access arrangements, basement car parking, cycle parking and associated landscaping.

When the practice first announced it was moving there was some uncertainty over the future of the Michelin-starred River Café. However, the planning application indicates that the River Café will remain on the redeveloped site, although it might have to close down for a while. The Fulham Society has lodged an objection to the application on the grounds, inter alia, that the buildings are too high and oppressive, that the balconies should not be allowed to infringe upon the River Walk, and that this Walk should not be made any narrower than it is already.There have also been a number of objections from residents of Hammersmith over the height of the proposed tower blocks which can be seen from Hammersmith Bridge and, it is believed, will overlook Hammersmith Mall. ICI FULHAM There are at least two French schools in Fulham: Ecole Primaire Marie D’Orliac in Clancarty Road, and L’Ecole des Petits in Hazlebury Road. This not surprising as there are a great many French people living in the Borough. However South Kensington, with its famous Lycée in Cromwell Road easily outstrips us with the number of French inhabitants. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, once recalled a meeting with France's former Prime Minister, Alain Juppé, who was Mayor of Bordeaux at the time. When Juppé told him that he had the honour of representing 239,517 people in Bordeaux, the ninth biggest city in France, Boris said that there were 250,000 French men and women in London he was, therefore, Mayor of the sixth biggest French city on earth. The figure that is most often quoted is 300,000. This is attributed to the French consulate in London but although it encompasses the whole of the UK, probably most of those French people would be in the capital. There is even a free magazine in French – “ICI LONDRES” – which contains advertisements for French doctors specialising in all types of medicine, dentists, orthodontists, gynaecologists, vets, domestic help (including nannies, au pairs, and babysitters), children’s entertainers, music lessons, restaurants, accommodation, jobs, and removal firms. But no pubs!

13

POLO IN THE PARK Friday 5 June to Sunday 7 June in Hurlingham Park. Friday 12.00 - 9.00 pm -Access after 5pm only £10 Saturday 12.00 - 8.00 pm Sunday 11.00 -7.00 pm

Friday 5th Saturday 6th Sunday 7th

Adult £30 £45 £35

After 5pm £10 n/a n/a

Child £15 £25 £10

Family £70 £130 £70

Ticket includes entry to: Grandstand (free seating, if available), Gourmet Street Food market, Champagne Lanson Garden, Mahiki Bar, Polo Bar and Garden, PIMM’s Bus and Garden, Fentimans Botanical Bar and Garden, Luxury shopping village, Kids Club, Children’s' activities (Sunday only).

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Chestertons--Polo-in-the-Park-tickets/artist/100963

FIXMYSTREET.COM – THE PROBLEM-REPORTING WEBSITE

Report any graffiti, fly tipping, potholes, broken street lights, cracked paving slabs or other environmental nuisances on https://www.fixmystreet.com. Your report then gets sent to the relevant Council. A photo is helpful but not essential. Enter your postcode, mark up the map, type in your problem and FixMyStreet will send your report to the correct council representative. If you are not sure which department in which council should be receiving your report, do not worry. As long as you know the street name or postcode – or are using a mobile device with geolocation – the site knows to whom it should be sent.

STATUES DAMAGED BY VANDALS RESTORED AND REPAIRED

Statues in Bishops Park and several local cemeteries which were damaged by "senseless" acts of vandalism have been returned to their former glory and returned to their rightful places following repair work. Several angel statues were beheaded and a total of nine statues damaged, during a string of night-time attacks in Margravine Cemetery, Bishops Park, Fulham Cemetery and All Saints’ Church, in October and November last year. CCTV footage reviewed by police showed a lone male attacking a monument at the Margravine Cemetery on 10 November.

14

Following the completion of repair works, the statues have recently been reinstalled. During the two-week crime spree, the Wedgwood Statues called Adoration, Protection, Leda and Grief together with a later statue, Affection, were knocked from their plinths in Bishops Park on the 28 October. The kneeling nude statue on the island in Bishops Park was also damaged. All required considerable restoration. “The reinstallation of the repaired statues is great news,” said Nigel Pallace, Chief Executive for Hammersmith & Fulham Council. “These were baffling, senseless attacks on much-loved memorials commemorating the dead.“ The Friends of Margravine Cemetery expressed their delight at the repairs. “Our angels have all been restored. Thank you very much."

Police believe the vandal, who only ever struck after dark, climbed over walls or railings to access the parks and cemeteries. Parks Police ramped up patrols following the attacks but he was never caught. Regular patrols will continue in the parks and cemeteries throughout the spring following the repairs. Anyone who sees an act of vandalism, or anyone behaving suspiciously in the borough’s cemeteries or parks, should call the police immediately on 999. Anyone with information on the attacks, should contact The Parks Police Service on 0800 3655 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. CELEBRATING FULHAM WEEK Saturday 27 June – Sunday 5 July Some highlights are displayed on the enclosed sheet. For full details of all the events look at the website: www.lbhf.gov.uk/celebratingfulham STOP PRESS – URGENT REQUEST Additional Committee Member needed with Architectural /Planning experience. If interested please contact info@fulhamsociety.org THE FULHAM SOCIETY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Officers and members elected at the AGM held in November 2014

PRESIDENT The Rt Revd and Rt Hon Richard Chartres, Bishop of London.

VICE-PRESIDENTS Patrick Ground Q.C., Lord Carrington of Fulham, Greg Hands MP, Andy Slaughter MP

ACTING CHAIRMAN David Tatham OBE, 113 Rivermead Court, SW6 3SF 7731 2621 VICE-CHAIRMAN Niel Redpath, 21 Bovingdon Road, SW6 2AP 7731 0267 HON. TREASURER Isobel Hill-Smith, 17 Doneraile Street, SW6 6EL 7736 7245 HON. SECRETARY Maya Donelan MBE, 1 Rosaville Road, SW6 7BN 3080 0655 HON.MINUTES SEC. Binky Aylmer, 16 Edgarley Terrace, SW6 6QF 7731 1939 HON. MEMBERSHIP SEC. Dr Carol Blanks, 64 Rivermead Court, SW6 3RY 7736 3736 Paul BEATTY POWNALL 107 Inglethorpe Street, SW6 6NU 7381 8318 Fiona FOWLER 69 Rivermead Court, Ranelagh Gardens, SW6 3RZ 7731 0553 Caroline GROUND 13 Ranelagh Avenue, SW6 3PJ 7736 0131 Jake HEMINGWAY 3 Mendora Road SW6 7ND 07951987326 Caroline MARSTON 17 Kempson Road, SW6 4PX 7736 5681 Adam STACKHOUSE 34 Fernhurst Road, SW6 7JW 7731 5257 Keith WHITEHOUSE 85 Rannoch Road, W6 9SX 7385 3723

15

Deborah WILLIAMS * 3 Ashington Road, SW6 3QJ 7736 1706 * Hon. Editor of the Society’s Newsletter Committee Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of each month (except August & December) Website: www.fulhamsociety.org Contact: info@fulhamsociety.org