Friends of Ladywell Fields to meet this Weds 22 June - ALL WELCOME!

The Friends of Ladywell Fields (a.k.a. the Ladywell Fields User Group) writes:

"Please come along to our meeting at 7.30pm this Weds 22 June in the Gallery at the rear of the Ladywell Tavern.  Just get your drink at the bar (if you'd like one!) and walk on out the back and head into the Gallery.  We'll be upstairs.

"There's plenty to talk about this time - not least the Council's proposal to work in partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association to upgrade the tennis courts, with users being required to purchase a key fob to gain access.  Andy Thomas, the Council officer with responsibility for sports, will be present to provide more information and answer questions.

"This meeting is also a great opportunity to raise issues direct with Glendale, the Council's longtime parks contractors, with whom we in Ladywell Fields have historically had a very good relationship."

Robert Sheppard

Love Ladywell Fields?

For more information on the likely discussion topics see http://ladywellfields.blogspot.co.uk

Robert Sheppard

Do you use and love Ladywell Fields?

If so, do you want to get more involved and join the small team that stands up for the interests of Ladywell Fields and all those that use it?  See more at http://ladywellfields.blogspot.co.uk/

The LVIG Team

59 Ladywell Road 'arches' space up for sale

Those beady-eyed bloggers at Brockley Central have spotted that this space, facing onto Ladywell Fields, which to outward appearance has been vacant for years, is currently being marketed by Hindwoods commercial estate agents.

The premises has the following permitted planning uses - A3 Restaurants Cafes Snack Bars, B1 Offices and Light Industrial, B8 Storage and Distribution and/or B8 Warehouse and Trade counter.  It comprises four adjoining vaults underneath Ladywell Road and "has the potential for an opening adjacent to Ladywell station platform" (though I'm not quite sure how that would work).

The marketing bumph says of the area "has benefited from significant investment and redevelopment including the construction of several hundred homes, major infrastructure works, new community facilities, pedestrian areas, cycle routes and open spaces which has increased the appeal of the area.  The University Hospital Lewisham, Lewisham Council and Ladywell Fields College occupy landmark offices nearby with Ladywell Fields and the Ravensbourne River providing an attractive local environment."

A CGI in the marketing pack shows the premises as a restaurant, which in principle would be a welcome addition to the area.   Rumours persist however of a possible microbrewery, also something that would be welcomed I think.

Robert Sheppard

A little humanity in a crazy world

On Monday local resident Cath Miller wrote "Hello. I am currently in a Lewisham Hospital ward overlooking Ladywell Fields and enjoying looking out onto the Park each day. In the bed next to me is a woman who has terminal cancer and keeps looking out for signs of Spring bulbs. I wonder if it might be possible to make her happy and put some e.g. crocuses in pots along the river so they can be seen from the Hospital ward?  She only has a few days left in here and our window is 5 down on the right from the bridge between the Park and the Hospital. Thank you."

A number of kind residents responded within hours and now there are blooms aplenty visible from the Hospital.  Thank you to all those people, and to Glendale for facilitating this.  See the full story on the Ladywell Fields Facebook page.

Robert Sheppard

LVIG lodges objection to 59 Ladywell Road planning application

The Ladywell Village Improvement Group has lodged an objection to the application to add a further storey to the 'Rivoli apartments' building on Ladywell bridge.  It's understood that both the Ladywell Society and the Ladywell Fields User Group have also lodged objections on similar grounds.
The LVIG Committee

River Clean-Up in Ladywell Fields - Sunday 16 November

Ladywell Fields User Group - get involved!

The Ladywell Fields Park User Group will meet as follows.

Tues 2 Dec 2014 (AGM - to be held at the Gallery, r/o the Ladywell Tavern, Ladywell Road)
Tues 31 March 2015
Tues 30 June 2015
Tues 29 Sept 2015
Tues 1 Dec 2015

Meetings will always start at 7.30pm and the venue will be booked/publicised closer to each date - but likely either to be the Ladywell Tavern (Gallery), the Environmental Education Centre (in the Park), the hut at the Adventure Playground (in the Park) or The Town Hall, Catford.

If you're a regular user of the Park and have the skills and interest, please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk to put yourself forward for election, at the 2 December AGM , for the position of Chair, Secretary or Treasurer as the current incumbents, Tony Rich and Robert Sheppard, have been undertaking these roles for 10+ years now and will be happy to pass over the reins.

 

Robert Sheppard

Ladywell Fields Café plans clarified

The Ladywell Fields User Group reports that the Ladywell Fields café is to be refurbished by the Jimmy Mizen Foundation (10,000 Hands) on the basis of the plan shown here (Option 3 from the feasibility study of 2 years ago).

The current Park Keeper's office will become the kitchen, freeing up the whole of the current café space for indoor seating. The works should start in June and should take no more than 6 weeks. The café will accommodate up to 20 people, seated, and will be furnished with secondhand wooden furniture. The work of local artists will be showcased on the walls.

Robert Sheppard, LVIG Secretary

New Operator for Ladywell Fields Café

The Ladywell Fields User Group reports that 10,000 Hands (the Jimmy Mizen Foundation) has been chosen to run the Ladywell Fields café and undertake its refurbishment.

Apparently the building works to improve the café facility will begin this Summer.

Get out on Mothering Sunday, 30 March

Ladywell Fields progress

Many of you are, doubtless, users of Ladywell Fields and will have been following with interest progress on the 'Parklands' improvements to Ladywell Fields, now scheduled for completion this April.  For recent photos (some of variable quality - apologies!), or to become a friend of Ladywell Fields on Facebook, see www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=48838&id=100001380559134&l=7979cffe22.  A lot has been achieved in a short time and there's a lot of bare soil at present, but this should green-up naturally from now through to the Summer.
Robert Sheppard

Progress in the park

Work on the Parklands project which will bring about major improvements to the middle and southern parts of Ladywell Fields (from the end of Malyons Rd right down to Catford), has started. The £1.2m project, funded by LDA/Thames Gateway, will involve river renaturalisation, landscaping works and extensive tree planting and will provide new riverside features, play facilities, an event space, some new pathways and bridges, refurbished tennis courts and better signage. See the up to date master plan on the council's website and pictures of the work so far at the Ladywell Fields User Group Facebook page

Construction of the new adventure playground is also progressing. This should be fully up and running by the autumn. Robert Sheppard

Want to see improvements to the streetscape in Ladywell? Come and give your views...

LVIG has commissioned designers to look at possible improvements that could be made to the streetscape in Ladywell Village. After a first consultation with the local community at Ladywell train station earlier this month, the designers have produced an initial set of proposals. We'd love to hear your comments and suggestions for how the streetscape in Ladywell can be improved, as well as your thoughts on these initial ideas.

Ladywell Village existing roads and pavement layout:

LVIG is holding a further consultation in Ladywell Fields on Sunday 16 May from 10am-1.30pm, outside the café in the northern field. We'd welcome your feedback at this event and the designers will be on hand to discuss your ideas and thoughts on the initial proposals.
 
Ladywell Village possible new road and crossing layout A:  

 
 














Ladywell Village possible new road and crossing layout B:

LVIG will be holding further public consultations over next couple of months as the project develops. We'll keep you informed of the dates and locations of these, though if you are unable to attend and wish to have your say, please leave your comments and suggestions on this blog or email ladywell.info@googlemail.com