Image talk:Beckton Alps.jpg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The photo by Peter Land (which I presume is of the old East Ham Utd ground), this area became a golf-driving range, and latterly West Ham Utd FC's contribution to the community - a floodlit facility for youth-footballing schemes. The Beckton A13 Flyover now takes up a lot of the ground that had been used up for allotments. It is a pity that the Norwegian company intending to build a 'real' snow-dome on the Alp pulled out of its commitment (something about wanting to include a casino on the site as well?): Beckton has now a pitiful scar on its landscape, an eyesore to rival that of Battersea's four smokestacks. The view from the top of the Alp was majestic, now ruined. It is sad that so much destruction can go unchallenged ...

London Boro of Newham bid to rent Building 1000 some 2 or 3 years back, but were knocked-back for their offer being too low. 3 years on, and Standard Life have relented, apparently because so little interest had been generated in the building. It does represent value for money for the LBN Council-tax payer, as several disparate properties (and their associated rents) have been consolidated into one - cheaper to rent/run - building. Another 3 similar buildings have been planned further east along Berty dock, towards the architecturally interesting UeL campus. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 208.125.25.41 (talk) 19:13, 17 October 2007 (UTC)

The photo was taken in April 1973 from the side of the A13, approx grid ref TQ 427 821, looking a bit east of SE. I also have a shot looking more to the left, showing the northern cliff edge. Looking at the aerial photo on Google Maps I would say all the allotments shown are now in the flyover bank. From what I remember there was not even the old single-carriageway flyover when the photo was taken. There was also a much larger area of allotments to the west, now built over. This was before the North Circular south from Woodford and Royal Docks Road were built. I don't think the works was making gas by then. The Alps stretched from the A13 and Outfall Sewer down to Winsor Terrace and were surrounded by high fence and a 'moat' full of foul looking water - I had ideas of getting a photo from the top but thought better of it. The gas works was vast, occupying most of the area south of the Outfall between the A117 and the river, as far south as Cyprus. It had two large piers in the river and originally a rail link running SW across the allotments to Custom House Pterre 15:38, 18 October 2007 (UTC)