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Mill Pond Working Party

Volunteer clearing foliage.

Volunteer clearing foliage.

Another couple of working parties were held on Monday 8th and Sunday 14th February. The water level was helpfully low enough for the bolder volunteers to get onto the island and cut back some of the rampant vegetation. Also a very large of golf balls were recovered from the muddier areas! It is hoped that these may be recycled and perhaps some limited funds can be generated. The less bold were able to get on to more accessible areas and remove rubbish and foliage washed there in recent high flows.

We are only too aware that soon we will have to stop work on the island to allow birds to nest.

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Mill Pond working party

Cutting back hedge.

Cutting back hedge.

On Sunday 4th October Thames21 led the first working party of the autumn. Previously we were constrained by nesting birds. About ten volunteers cleared some undergrowth from paths and other key areas. Also the water level was temporarily lowered to increase water speed and so help to clear some silt around the weir. The next working party will take next month.

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Bromley Council to sell off parts of Civic Centre.

St.Balise Well & Lake

St.Balise Well & Lake

Newsshopper has reported that L.B.Bromley plans to sell large parts of their Civic Centre. While aware that this is mentioned in the Bromley Town Area Action Plan (BTAAP) we remain concerned at the implications to the associated public open space Bromley Palace Park, including retaining public access. This is a delightful place with a number of officially listed features. We will continue to campaign to retain this quality park for public use.

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Mill Pond Review

Weir, Mill Pond

Weir, Mill Pond

On Sunday 13th September several members, and local people, attended a site meeting to discuss comments made by various parties, including the Environment Agency, to the latest Thames21 plan for the restoration of this historic former mill pond, off Glassmill Lane, BR2.

Topics covered included pollution control, water flow & flood control, a revised weir, and biodiversity. Thames21 are aiming to finalise project proposals and estimated costs by year end. In the meantime working parties will be arranged to maintain and tidy up existing vegetation, etc pending the project implementation.

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A ‘Lost’ Hero Commemorated.

W.K.Howell plaque & reaths.

W.K.Howell plaque & wreaths.

On Friday 4th. September family of Private William Kitchener Howell attended a brief ceremony to commemorate his death in southern Italy exactly 72 years before. They came from as far afield as Australia, as well as other parts of London to witness the unveiling of his name plaque, recently installed on the War Memorial, Martins Hill. Private Howell had earlier been missed off this list of WW2 casualties, although he was a Bromley lad. He served as a member of the West Kents, with whom he had previously fought in north Africa, but was detached to the SAS at the time he was killed in action. He is buried in the War Cemetery in Bari, southern Italy.

Deputy Mayor & family at ceremony

Deputy Mayor & family at ceremony

The Deputy Mayor, and two members of the SAS Association were also present to lay wreaths and pay their respects to this soldier, now at last properly commemorated alongside all those others from both world wars.