Several houses in Lee have brightened up the area with some fantastic Christmas lighting displays. Below are a few – but if you know of any which we have missed, please send a picture to Leemanorsociety@gmail.com
Lee is all lit up!
ANOTHER name blunder!!
You wouldn’t believe it, would you? The new Morrisons Daily on Burnt Ash Road has a huge poster in its window saying “Proud to serve the community of Lee Garden.” Garden, not Green.
You might not have noticed it yesterday because it was partially hidden behind the flower buckets at the front. But today it’s impossible to miss.
The assistants in the shop – which is a franchise – told us the sign was installed by Morrisons head office. “Nothing to do with us,” they said.
We have asked Morrisons to explain the blunder. But coming on top of London Square’s bizarre (and short lived) naming of the Leegate development “Blackheath Gate”, we are starting to wonder if these big companies bother to find out anything about the areas where they do business.
Morrisons Daily opens on Burnt Ash Road
The new Morrisons Daily has opened, festooned with balloons, in the premises previously occupied by the Lee Off-Licence. It’s open from 7 AM to 11 PM daily.
At first glance it seems to be well stocked with basic essentials, including fruit, vegetables and flowers, as well as selling fresh bread, croissants and pastries. We will be interested to receive feedback from shoppers.
It ‘s also offering hot food like bacon and sausage baps, and has a coffee machine. Let’s hope the new competition doesn’t affect the existing business which have been there for many years: the newsagents and convenience store opposite and the café next door.
Coming soon to Lee – the pillar box of the future
Lee is set to get at least one of the new style futuristic post boxes which are being rolled out nationwide.
The boxes are modified so as well as taking letters, they also take small parcels up to the size of a shoebox. Parcels go in a new drop-down drawer that opens when you scan in a barcode. They are solar powered and equipped with a 4G aerial to validate the barcodes.
Only newer boxes installed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, which have a jutting out aperture, are suitable for conversion.
Matt Proctor, a member of theLetter Box Study Group, says only a handful of local boxes in Lee are likely to be converted., However, one on Effingham Road at the junction with Wantage Road has already been sealed up prior to the changeover.
He says other local potential candidates for conversion include:
- at the bottom of Lee Terrace
- on Lee Road (near Priory Park)
- at the Old Tigers Head junction (near the Post Office)
- Woodyates Road
David Ford has asked Royal Mail for reassurance that the “heritage” post boxes – installed under the reign of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII – will be preserved. Lee Manor has several heritage boxes including a Victorian one on Handen Road, and Edward VII ones on Southbrook and Micheldever Roads.
Matt Proctor says that although these older pillar boxes are not listed, there is an agreement between Royal Mail and Historic England that they should be kept.