Back again: Proposed live music and events venue in Charlton to be decided

Plans for a live events space in Charlton are to be heard again next week after a prior hearing was postponed. The operator seeks to open a 5,000 capacity venue at the former Stone Foundries site.

There was some amusing objections before, such as the venue causing a crush at Charlton station (really?!?) with the Met Police and Southeastern objecting as Charlton station is not staffed each evening.

The obvious response to theat obection is just why is a busy inner London station left unstaffed every evening?

Charlton, like most stations on the line, is barely staffed most of the day as well. What does that say about Southeastern railway and in particular the Metro routes serving densely built up areas of the capital?

We all know most Southeastern Metro stations are unstaffed most of the day and it’s a doddle to travel without paying. No staff at stations; no staff on trains.

This objection just make it starkly clear what a threadbare network is is. Still, instead of staffing stations the thought seems to be just have nothing interesting going on as it might bring more people to stations.

WTF

So how does the local station cope with many more people when Charlton FC play at home? Well, some staff have to put on. So be it. Woe betide we have another venue offering live events in the area.

As for Charlton station and its not just events that may means more than skeletal staffing. You just know the station will be left unstaffed much of the time even when new homes are built nearby in the future. Forget the new venue. This goes way beyond that.

It happens time and again at SE Metro stations. See Deptford, Crayford, Greenwich, Plumstead and many, many more areas.

Right now in Chartlon another housing plot has started comprising about 200 homes on Eastmoor Street. Plenty more are proposed.

The old estates near Woolwich Dockyard such as Morris Walk and Matyone Grove are being rebuilt with a big increase in homes. That has not resulted in terms of extra staffing at nearby stations.

It doesn’t matter though. The obvious question of why busy stations are left unstaffed in growing south east London towns wont be asked at the meeting next week. Not now, not next month nor next year. It’s been the de facto standard for many years.

Expect the latest plan for a live venue to be rejected as dealing with any of the bigger issues is far too hard.  Easier to just block it. Sod people having a good time, extra employment and attracting people to the area.