Bellenden Residents' Group (BRG)

Just where Rye Lane and Peckham Rye meet at the junction with Nigel Road, there are some attractive terraces of three storey buldings. This terrace has bricks with a rosy glow, and a pleasant curve on the terrace. If only it had been cleaned up on the front before the Renewal Scheme ended, its attractiveness would have had much more beneficial effect as part of the entrance to Peckham town centre. Of course the ubiquitous street furniture clutter is well in evidence in this view.

The car park used to have an awful old broken surface. I always like to see the fresh unbroken and clear surface now, on that mad rush to the station to catch a train. I also really like the wide expanse of sky that that car park lets us enjoy. The Council is intent in its Peckham Area Action Plan (PAAP) of removing this car park and having large buildings there that would block the sky, and lose us that feeling of space. It is also an important car park for town centre visitors, that would be lost. Unlike the multi-storey car park it is very well used.

For two or three years the BRG arranged carol singing by local residents at the station one evening near Christmas. It was really enjoyable to be singing together, and it was wonderful to see rail travellers' weary expressions change to uplifting smiles. Quite a number stopped to join in... It was a great feeling of community spirit all round, in the ticket hall we all know so well from scurrying through to and from trains.