I grew up there
We were one of the earlier families to move there - 1971.

Far from being 'slum relocation', initially it attracted a lot of young, professional or skilled worker families. It was only later, when it still had units to let, that Bexley Council asked other London Boroughs to send anyone on their waiting lists (meaning we got all the problem families). Fantastic time and place to be a kid, and I wouldn't have swapped it for the world.

By the time we left there in 1983 though, with the promised tube link never having materialised, problems evident in some of the earlier housing stock and new people moving in, things really were stating to change for the worse. Went back a few years ago... seemed another world from the one I lived in when I was there.

Oh and given Gallions Reach is just the name of that bend of the Thames, I can understand why there are places on both sides of the river named after it.
(Capo, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 12:20, 1 reply)

RE: I grew up there
I was born down the road in Erith and that has certainly changed alot since I was a kid. As with you I wouldn't change it for the world and had a fantastic time growing up. Town planners have a lot to answer for :)

And Gallion's Reach makes more sense now. An "urban-village" is a bit of an oxymoron in my book :)
(skintagain, Tue 3 Nov 2009, 12:46, closed)