Long time, no blog. To no small degree a result of the fact that not a lot's been going on in Worcester Park. M&S have left and taken they're expensive ready-meals with them and Mr Devine has cleared out another shop but other than that all's been quiet. The Hospice charity shop has opened, the previously rumoured restaurant hasn't and nobody's owned up to being interested in the ex-camping shop at the top of the hill.

My blogless state may also have something to do with the fact that I've been on holiday AND got a Sky HD box installed so I'm enjoying the World Cup in all it's HD glory (the BBC games anyway).

There has, however, been some news and rumour on Central Road yesterday which Mrs Brinkster picked up on. Apparently the leading bidder for the empty M&S shell is now Kwik-Fit so the site may return to its former purpose. Also the guy who runs the seasonal shops is allegedly going to jack it all in, close the shops and become a cabbie! That would leave three more empty shops.

On a darker note there was mention that the police were investigating an "unexplained" death in Worcester Park but when someone went over to the little police 'kiosk' on Central Road they declined to comment. I have no idea what they're on about but will pass on anything I find out.

First time I've been into the new format 20six and it doesn't seem too bad (yet)

For reasons too complex to mention last night found myself and Neil were in search of a Worcester Park pub to watch the Holland v Argentina game last night.

We discounted the North End Tavern (too dull), Rumours (too smoky) and the Hunstman's Hall (not wearing body armour) and decided to give the Cazbar a shot. It was nice and quiet so we settled down on the leather sofa to watch the game with a pint of Grolsch (as they didn't have Heineken) to help the evening pass more smoothly. It has to be pointed out at this stage that we were both wearing orange and had with us our "Hup Holland" Heineken hats, by virtue of the Brinkster Clan's recent outing to the low countries. They're a bit hard to explain but if you go here you'll see what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G5NsngCh0w&search=Heineken's%20nieuwe%20hoed

I'd learned the words to "Hup Holland Hup" and the "Wilhelmus" but we got there just as they kicked off so mercifully spared everyone that particular pleasure. Suitably attired we watched the game, but the 0-0 draw meant there wasn't much to shout about. On another evening we might have made use of the pool table but as it was the large number of TVs guaranteed that we could see what was going on even when the pool playing locals were wandering round in front of the big TV. We had lots of friendly comments from the folks in the Cazbar, so with Holland through to the next round we might head back there for the next game. Seemed alright, not sure I'd want to try it on the weekend. 

Perhaps stories of Worcester Park's retail demise are premature. Sutton Council's website has provided the following morsels:

Application No: A2006/55952/FULArea/
Location:1-15 Central Road Worcester Park KT4 8DN
Proposal:Erection of a single storey rear extension, alterations to elevations, installation of new shopfronts to front and rear, provision of an ATM machine and plant and refuse enclosure.
Applicant:Sainsbury plc

Application No: A2006/55953/ADVArea/
Location:1-15 Central Road Worcester Park KT4 8DN
Proposal:Display of an internally illuminated letter sign.
Applicant:Sainsbury plc

Full document is here 

Seems like Sainsbury's plans are taking shape. No more Golden Arches, safe to say, but it could have the effect of putting Costcutter under pressure. I know they've put together an anti-Sainsburys petition. Hard to know what to call on this one!

If anyone thought the Huntsmans' had a bad reputation then spare a thought for the residents of Stoneleigh, who've had their badly behaved local immortalised on the BBC News site:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/southern_counties/5129494.stm
"A pub in Surrey has been shut down after a crowd of about 200 people clashed with police following England's World Cup match with Sweden.
The violence happened on 20 June outside The Stoneleigh Inn, in Stoneleigh Broadway, near Epsom. A 24-hour closure order was issued on Sunday, which was then extended by magistrates until 17 July when the pub's licence will be reviewed."

Who'd have thought it of Stoneleigh, eh?