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ORPINGTON: Boris Johnson reopens high street

10:30am Tuesday 20th July 2010 in


BORIS Johnson officially reopened Orpington High Street this morning by planting a commemorative tree.

Crowds filled the streets to watch as the London mayor made a speech before the planting took place in the high street at the junction of Homefield Rise, outside Barclays Bank.

Mayor of London planted a commemorative tree at the reopening of Orpington High Street. Picture by Nathalie Whittle

The reopening comes six months after works began in the High Street.

Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I would like to congratulate the council for what they have done.

“As I was walking through people were saying why is it so important to beautify the pavements in this way.

“Not everybody has given this a complete thumbs up but I think it is brilliant.

“The reason is because we have got to invest in the things that will make London and Orpington competitive in the long term.

Mayor Boris Johnson spoke of Orpington's survival at the high street reopening event. Picture by Natalie Whittle

“When I look around this great crowd, you behold their natural physical and intellectual greatness.

“It is no wonder that the idea of natural selection floated into Charles Darwin’s mind.

“It is nothing less than a Darwinian struggle for survival.

“Orpington has come up with a response to the great predatory sabretooth tiger that is the Bluewater shopping centre.”

Boris Johnson was joined at the ceremony by his brother Jo, the recently elected Orpington MP.

Boris and his brother Orpington MP Jo Johnson made the reopening a family affair. Picture by Natalie Whittle

Other dignitaries at the event which was hosted by the mayor of Bromley Councillor George Taylor included Bromley Council’s leader Cllr Stephen Carr.

The ceremony came almost a year to the day of Bromley Council staging an exhibition about its planned improvements.

This ran in the The Walnuts shopping centre from July 21 to July 25 last year.

Comments(29)

Excalibur says...
11:36am Tue 20 Jul 10

Boris is either the world's greatest comedian or was as high as a kite............“W
hen I look around this great crowd, you behold their natural physical and intellectual greatness......It is no wonder that the idea of natural selection floated into Charles Darwin’s mind".
He said all that with a straight face in Orpington High Street?!!! Chav-town?!!! I bet the local flabby, mustachioed, tattooed, tracksuit wearing chav birds loved that. On second thoughts they probably didn't understand a word!

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MrSpencer says...
12:20pm Tue 20 Jul 10

I was unsure at first but I must admit the workman have done a great job. The new flower beds at the south end look fantastic and as a whole the high street is much improved. The new wider pavements do make a big difference it was nice on Saturday to see people sitting outside Costa's etc enjoying the sun, although the area behind Dorothy Perkins where Sainsbury’s is located could benefit from the same treatment.

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orpington25years says...
1:18pm Tue 20 Jul 10

In response to Excalibur, you obviously don't know Orpington that well, I have lived here for 25 years and I admit there has to be changes, but the minute they try to improve it its people like you who are never happy, how dare you insult everyone who lives in Orpington, you are probably one of the flabby, mustachioed, tattooed, tracksuit wearing chavs yourself!
Orpington is much better than any neighbouring towns and if you don't like it, my advice for you is to move.

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Dartbored says...
1:49pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Now they've finished in Orpington, could they send the builders to Dartford High Street? We could do with some pavement "beautification" (and a bit more besides...)

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MrSpencer says...
1:53pm Tue 20 Jul 10

I have to agree with Orpington25 years. I live in the Knoll about 5 minutes walk from the high street and it’s a beautiful place. Excalibur obviously doesn’t know Orpington. Some people are just inherently negative, I find its best to ignore them.

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Orp Boy says...
2:59pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Excalibur

While you sit behind your laptop like the cyber warrior you are looking down on the world wondering how come everyone isn’t as great as you have you noticed what a sad lonely life you are living. While it is great to have an opinion most would find someone who has an opinion about every article in the news shopper history quite boring.

Do you bore friends and family with what you have posted every day?

Do you think anyone even cares what opinion you have on every subject?
Jack of all master of none comes to mind when I read an opinion by you.

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J4mes says...
3:35pm Tue 20 Jul 10

The Improvements are welcome and they can only add to what is already a great high street. I agree the new planting at the war memorial end does look really good. Hopefully trade will benefit from all this.

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Excalibur says...
4:03pm Tue 20 Jul 10

The high street may temporarily look pretty, but the in-breds that roam the streets in their velour tracksuits, wife-beater vest tops and diamante jewellery don't. Sitting out in the streets of Orpington drinking a coffee and watching the wildlife waddle by on their way to MacDonalds and Primark isn't exactly going to get the crowds flocking in. Give it six months and the place will have reverted to type.

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porkpie says...
4:11pm Tue 20 Jul 10

How long before some drunk chavs breaks the tree in half ? or were it's planted starts been used as an ashtray, and in general smash the place up ! It's good to do urban regeneration, but it's keeping it like that. Good luck

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danbriant says...
4:15pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Errr aint the highstreet still like buggered because of the buses etc?
Or have they now made it so buses can go both ways.........

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Luisa says...
4:15pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Hello Orpington Fans,

We think the high Street looks fab and we know the business will benefit from their new high street. If you would like to be kept up to date with Orpington news and offers, please email
orpingtonone@london.
newsquest.co.uk
News Shopper

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The Original Ranter says...
4:16pm Tue 20 Jul 10

I'm afraid I'm with Excalibur. I lived in Orpington until about 10 years ago and have been dismayed at its downward spiral for the last 30 years. The improvements are merely cosmetic. To see the pinnacle of human evolution though get yourself down to Maidstone town centre or any of the Medway Towns any day of the week, especially when it is very hot! Nice!

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Erastus says...
5:08pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Boris The Spider is simply going through the politcial motions in order to further his career.
He doesn't give a stuff about Orpington, just like he doesn't give a stuff about the many other issues that affect us all on a daily basis.
I make no apology for advertising my latest blog. which you will find in the 'Opinion & Blogs' section. It concerns an elderly couple who have been separated by Bexley Council after 66 years of marriage, simply because they are old and infirm.
My blog is called, 'THE ELDERLY: No reward for growing old' and I humbly ask you to read it and leave a comment.
I know that many of you don't read - or comment - on my blogs because you think they are a wind-up. I assure you that this blog is definitely NOT in that category and that you will most definitely NOT be shot down in flames if you leave a comment.
Growing old is something that affects us all, so I would be extremely grateful if you could take a minute to read the blog, the subsequent comments and - hopefully - leave your own views.
Thank you.
Erastus

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Erastus says...
5:44pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Flies are supposed to be frightened of spiders.
Johnson's flies don't seem to be frightened of anybody, particularly the female of the human species.
Boris is most certainly an arachnid to be wary of. A white headed spider hungry for new prey, including the good folks of Orpington.
I bet he wishes he had eight legs to get over instead of his two podgy, Tory, cycling ones.

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Erastus says...
5:52pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Dartbored wrote:
Now they've finished in Orpington, could they send the builders to Dartford High Street? We could do with some pavement "beautification" (and a bit more besides...)
Sense at last.

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Dartbored says...
8:20pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Erastus wrote:
Dartbored wrote:
Now they've finished in Orpington, could they send the builders to Dartford High Street? We could do with some pavement "beautification" (and a bit more besides...)
Sense at last.
The thing is Erastus, if you look back over my "Dartford" posts I've never actually disagreed with your observations. I'm originally from SW London, lived in Bexley for some time and then moved to Dartford 3 years ago. I can, therefore, laugh (objectively) at the negatives of Dartford. What I disagreed with, and what annoyed me most, was the vitriolic abuse spouting from you and a number of other posters. Practically everywhere in SE London and North Kent has it's problems (as evidenced by the grim headlines on this site over the last few days) - but your immature slating of an entire town was out of order and I'm afraid any respect I did have for you has now been lost. Anyway, back to Boris, Orpington and Darwinian natural selection.....

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typecastboy says...
9:51pm Tue 20 Jul 10

Well it all looks very nice, but as someone on here has already said, no doubt within no time at all the horrible chavs and pikeys in the town will destroy it and graffiti on it. I have lived in the Orpington area for 18 years, and in that relatively short space of time it has changed. I know in the 50s it was a nice village type town, but since the Crays were built it was the beginning of the end. The place is just full of fat people wearing leggings. Probably one of the busiest social security offices around too, as most of the locals don't seem to ever go to work, or have a wash. I feel sorry for the decent people who live in the town, because there are so many undesirables.

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MrSpencer says...
9:38am Wed 21 Jul 10

Typecastboy – I am fairly new to Orpington I moved from Sidcup about 3 years ago to Broxbourne Road. I’m sure a lot of places have changed over the past 18 years but as a resident I can honestly say there aren’t any undesirables where I live.

News Shopper reported on the theft of an Aston Martin in our road a while back and we were all warned to not to keep our car keys in the hall way, but this could have happened anywhere. I find it to be a fantastic place to live, I have a tennis club on my doorstep, great train station with 8 lines so getting to Central London is a doddle and the streets are green and pleasant. I couldn’t ask for more.

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J4mes says...
10:46am Wed 21 Jul 10

I don’t believe the high street has any more chavs than Sidcup, Bexleyheath or Bromley for that matter. Unfortunately “chavs” as you call them are a typical feature of any high street these days. This still doesn’t detract from the fact that it’s a good high street with some useful shops and nice restaurants. Its doing better than most…….has anyone visited Sidcup high street recently? I was shocked to find it only has a few shops still trading.

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ricksrants says...
11:32am Wed 21 Jul 10

Orpington has come up with a response to the great predatory sabretooth tiger that is the Bluewater shopping centre.

Who is he kidding, unless he means it can be used as a toilet for the big cats.

Did they hide away the Neanderthals and 14 year old mothers when Boris arrived?

Orpington is full of pound shops and empty premises.

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typecastboy says...
12:46pm Wed 21 Jul 10

Mr Spencer, I'm happy for you, that you are satisfied with what you see as a nice place to live. Yes, many parts of Orpington are nice, including Knoll and most of Orpington South, but when you get to the other end of the High Street, things turn bad. You only have to look at some of the people walking around the high street, most of whom you can tell, have never done a days work in their life. Also, did you know, that Orpington has the highest amount of Travellers in a town outside of Ireland? Unfortunately, these so called Travellers don't travel, they infest the town with their anti-social behaviour and crime. Get rid of them, and the town may improve.

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Locked and Loaded says...
1:11pm Wed 21 Jul 10

typecastboy, go careful with what you say about the caravan dwellers. My comment got deleted because I mentioned them by their common name. You are right though they have always infested the high street.

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MrSpencer says...
1:14pm Wed 21 Jul 10

typecastboy wrote:
Mr Spencer, I'm happy for you, that you are satisfied with what you see as a nice place to live. Yes, many parts of Orpington are nice, including Knoll and most of Orpington South, but when you get to the other end of the High Street, things turn bad. You only have to look at some of the people walking around the high street, most of whom you can tell, have never done a days work in their life. Also, did you know, that Orpington has the highest amount of Travellers in a town outside of Ireland? Unfortunately, these so called Travellers don't travel, they infest the town with their anti-social behaviour and crime. Get rid of them, and the town may improve.
I think you mean St Mary's Cray? I don't think Orpington has a traveller’s site?

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typecastboy says...
7:08pm Wed 21 Jul 10

Of course I do, but St Mary's Cray is part of Orpington.

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Peckhamboy says...
8:46am Thu 22 Jul 10

Yes the High Street has been much improved but seem to have overlooked the turnings off the High Street like Knoll Rise, the bit where the old road meets the new has been badly finished. With all the big stores moving to the Nugent Shopping Centre and beyond think money could have been spent better else where, like repairing pot holes ......

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GGG says...
1:22pm Thu 22 Jul 10

As I've said before revamping Orpington is akin to putting lipstick on a pig. Retailers will NOT suddenly start to relocate to Orpinton on the back of the council planting half a dozen daffodils on the pavement, the major chain retailers are only interested in the large schemes which are an attractive destination for shoppers ... like the glades, bluewater and even the Nugent Shopping park. High streets have long been dying and Orpington is a prime example - all the decent retailers left years ago (if there were ever actually in the town?). What a waste of taxpayers money.

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J4mes says...
5:28pm Thu 22 Jul 10

GGG - The money came from the sale of the Tesco site at the south end of the high street, £2Million of the £22Million paid to the council was used, no taxpayers was money spent. Lots of decent retailers in the town i.e. Dorothy Perkins, New Look, Boots, Game, Perfume Shop, Argos, JD Sports etc etc. What kind of retailers do you want in a high street? Gucci? Prada? I think you are a tad unrealistic the high street is a local shopping destination not the West End. All in all it looks great.

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typecastboy says...
6:34pm Sat 24 Jul 10

Has anyone seen the lovely decorating shop down the far end of the high street? It's lovely, absolutely beautiful wallpaper, but it's in the wrong place. I'm sure it won't last, should be in Bromley really, or maybe even Green Street Green, down the **** end of Orpington High Street is not a good place for such a lovely shop.

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missopinion86 says...
10:58pm Sun 1 Aug 10

Reading through some of your comments, some I agree with, some I just don't! First off, some people obviously need to be more educated on the difference between a "chav" and a "travellor". I live in St Mary Cray, near Star Lane, and I have had no problems with the people on the site. I agree that the new pavements in the high street are nicer, and wider, as I have a pram and I often get flustered to think that I am in people's way as I'm walking into the high street. But, what can Boris do for the shops that are run down, or just not there anymore? How long has it been said that the old Sainsbury's site is going to be converted, but is still sitting there empty?? How many more shops are going to close down??

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More News stories


Mayor of London planted a commemorative tree at the reopening of Orpington High Street. Picture by Nathalie Whittle Mayor Boris Johnson spoke of Orpington's survival at the high street reopening event. Picture by Natalie Whittle Boris and his brother Orpington MP Jo Johnson made the reopening a family affair. Picture by Natalie Whittle

Mayor of London planted a commemorative tree at the reopening of Orpington High Street. Picture by Nathalie Whittle

Mayor Boris Johnson spoke of Orpington's survival at the high street reopening event. Picture by Natalie Whittle

Boris and his brother Orpington MP Jo Johnson made the reopening a family affair. Picture by Natalie Whittle



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