News from the South Do These Benches Have Sutton's Least Attractive View?
This cluster of seven benches can be found at the northern end of the Beddington Industrial estate, close to Therapia Lane tram stop. The site has a particularly miserable ambience and a particularly unattractive view. But is it genuinely Sutton's least scenic place to sit?
AI While specific benches in the London Borough of Sutton with notably unattractive views aren't widely documented, certain areas may offer less scenic seating options. Benches situated near industrial zones, busy roadways, or construction sites might provide less appealing vistas.
And yet many people must endure this grim panorama because the evidence is all around. I counted a dozen large Coca-Cola bottles and at least fifty Guinness empties liberally scattered across the surrounding grass. I guess the litterers come from the adjacent factories, showrooms and tram depot, maybe at lunchtime or more likely after hours, huddled in their hoodies to chat and vape with their workmates. Outdoor drinking is a lifestyle choice played out across London, not just here in Sutton, but what is that miserable backdrop they're all staring at?
AI The grey industrial buildings are part of the Heidelberg Materials Ready-mixed Concrete Croydon facility. This plant supplies ready-mixed concrete for various construction projects, ranging from major developments to residential applications like foundations, driveways, garages, and patios. The facility is strategically located near key roads, including the A23, A232, A235, and Purley Way, facilitating efficient distribution within a 12-mile radius.
Don't all rush.
News from the East What a Silley name!
Silley Weir Promenade is a ridiculous name for a street. It stretches underneath the viaduct at Gallions Reach DLR station forming a pedestrian plaza along the front of a fresh batch of flats. This underwhelming expanse of public realm must have looked great in the artist's impression but in real life boasts a few scant saplings, some slabby benches and an utter minimum of so-called 'play equipment' for any small kids unfortunate enough to live here. But why on earth is it called Silley Weir Promenade?
AI The name "Silley Weir" likely references a historical or geographical feature, such as a weir (a barrier across a river) that may have existed in the area. However, detailed historical records explaining the exact origin of the name are not readily available.
But it can't have anything to do with a weir because this is a former brownfield site by the Thames. Could there perhaps be a more estuarine reason for the inexplicable choice? Search harder won't you?
AI Silley Weir Promenade in London E16 is likely named after the engineering and shipbuilding firm R. & H. Green & Silley Weir, which played a significant role in London's maritime industry. This company was involved in various projects, including the construction of housing for shipbuilding workers, such as the Jubilee Crescent cottages built in 1935.
Ah them. At the height of their business R&H Green & Silley Weir's dry dock had 3000 employees engaged in ship, boiler and marine engine repairs and tanker cleaning, I've since discovered. By contrast the local shops on Silley Weir Promenade employ maybe 20 people doing nails, pilates and raw wine vintnering, most of whom probably know nothing about the name either.
News from the North Heartbreak Cup Result Fails To Dent Scarf Sales
You walk out of Arsenal tube station on the day of a big cup tie and what faces you is a flapping red stall selling scarves, caps and woolly hats. The hats probably don't sell so well in summer. Look closely beneath the personalised knitwear and you may also spot some very red bears. The scarves were of course flying into punters' hands during the heady optimism of the pre-match build-up, when Arsenal's fans still believed the team had a god-given right to thrash their midtable Mancunian visitors, but alas the game didn't go like that.
AI Arsenal fans are expressing a mix of frustration, disappointment, and concern following the team's FA Cup exit against Manchester United. The match concluded with a 1-1 draw, leading to a penalty shootout where Arsenal was defeated 5-3. Key moments contributing to the discontent include Kai Havertz missing a crucial penalty during regular time and again in the shootout, and the team's inability to capitalize on their numerical advantage after United's Diogo Dalot received a red card.
The smell of burger and onions was also very much in the air, partly because fans love a greasy bellyful before the match but mainly because various entrepreneurial local residents have hired out their tiny front gardens to small shacks dispensing cheesy chips and grilled meat. Appetites were far less hearty after the match as supporters reflected on the utter shame of being despatched in the third round.
AI Overall, the FA Cup defeat has left Arsenal fans feeling disheartened and anxious about the club's trajectory, with many calling for significant changes to reverse the current slump.
Selling scarves outside football stadiums is always a risky economic proposition. Hang on, are you sure Kai Havertz missed two penalties?
AI Apologies for the earlier confusion. Upon reviewing the match details, Kai Havertz missed a crucial penalty during the shootout in Arsenal's FA Cup defeat to Manchester United. Additionally, during regular play, he missed two significant scoring opportunities but did not take a penalty.
News from the West New Neighbourhood Heralds Greener Cleaner Renaissance
This colourful sign has recently been attached to a lamppost on a street in Sutherland Avenue, West Ealing. welcome to THE DRAYTONS, it says, a cleaner greener neighbourhood. 'The Draytons' sounds like some posh suburb or upmarket New England hideaway but I've never heard the term used about this part of W13 before. What's going on?
AI "The Draytons" is a well-established neighborhood in West Ealing, offering residents a blend of historical charm and modern conveniences. This neighborhood is characterized by a mix of housing types, such as terraced and semi-detached houses, as well as flats.
That's not true though, that's just your best guess, you've made that up. What if I asked you to go away and think about the question again?
AI While the term "The Draytons" might be used in real estate listings or by locals familiar with the area, it's not universally recognized or widely used as an official neighborhood name by everyone. It’s more likely to be a colloquial term used to describe the cluster of streets around Drayton Gardens, Drayton Avenue, and Drayton Green in West Ealing.
Well that's more honest but it's still purely speculative. This community brand plainly exists because it appears on a sign, so I'm going to ask you to go away and search more carefully to find the information you should have uncovered in the first place.
AI The Draytons' Community Association (DCA) is a local residents' group in West Ealing, London, serving individuals living in the Draytons and Manor Road areas. The DCA's primary purpose is to foster a sense of community among residents and to address local issues collectively. This includes organizing events, providing a platform for residents to voice concerns, and engaging in local planning matters. For instance, the DCA has been involved in responding to Ealing Council's draft local plan, particularly concerning proposed developments in West Ealing.
We got there finally. And while I doubt anybody outside Ealing genuinely cares, the important lesson is that AI doesn't generally get things right first time. Often the initial answer is generic, speculative or plain incorrect, yet presented as fact. Asking for a second opinion ("are you sure?") often generates a much better answer, and a third opinion better again, eventually providing the answer we should have been given in the first place. Never take an AI response for granted without checking.
AI ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.
If we sleepwalk into a world where everyone accepts AI's first answer as plain fact we are all screwed.
