Forest Hill Regeneration.
We have had a new Town Centre Manager, Julie Sutch, since early this year. At a meeting on September 22nd she provided an update on developments over recent months. Her mandate area has now been extended from Forest Hill and Sydenham to include Bellingham, Downham and Honor Oak but, following on from her predecessor, she has kept her eye firmly on the Forest Hill town centre developments. A Business Working Group is already in place, which meets quarterly to discuss ways to improve the area in collaboration with the Council. This is in addition to the monthly meeting of the Forest Hill Traders Association.
We are advised that twenty new businesses have opened recently in the catchment area of London Road, Dartmouth Road, Perry Vale, and Stanstead Road. Some are established businesses relocating from other areas that presumably see Forest Hill as an area on the up. These businesses are varied, and include such units as a fancy dress hire shop, an organic food shop, and a Chinese medicine outlet. There are now only nine available units left for let in Forest Hill, a vast improvement on five years ago. However, we understand that the old Tesco store premises next to the Post Office, which have been empty for several years, are scheduled to become a betting shop. From the number of council grants being made, it is also evident that the upper floors of the retail units are being refurbished for residential lettings, thus also contributing to a revitalisation of the town centre area.
The work on Sainsburys has been completed and the new store opened on 8th December, coinciding with the switching on of the town centre Christmas lights
There has apparently been a major problem with fly tipping in the town centre. In the new year it is proposed to have a 'Clean up day' in Forest Hill, when it is intended to get businesses and residents to take a pride in their town centre and work together for one day to clear away the rubbish and graffiti. Interested residents can contact Sam Kirk at the Council on 020 8314 2076 to become part of a Street Leaders Team.
David Otway