Borthwick Wharf

A recent ad hoc meeting in Twinkle Park took place to alert local heritage campaigners that Borthwick Wharf has commenced its demolition programme. The Edwin Cooper cold storage wharf is a fine example of early 20th century brick building. The site could have been a spectacular conversion with similar potential of Tate Modern. Sadly Greenwich Council planning department and every ruling authority above it have granted the demolition of the building to a developer who will replace it with bland apartments. The whole story is quite long and complicated and for reasons of propriety I will wait until I can recount the exact truth before publishing any further details. Suffice to say that the decision represents a gross setback for both the conservation movement and modern 'regenerationists' who advocate reusing old buildings.