Sign the Petition to help save the Ladywell 'Playtower', our crumbling Victorian gem

The Ladywell Baths in its heyday

Frustration has been building in Ladywell for years over Lewisham Council's shoddy custodianship of the Ladywell Baths (a.k.a.'The Playtower'), a fine Victorian building much valued and appreciated in Ladywell and far beyond (not least by the Victorian Society) but, sadly, in sorry decline over the last few decades.

Though the Council spent money a few years ago to weatherproof the building there is no real evidence that it is taking the urgent and concerted action required to safeguard the building in the long term.

The Ladywell Village Improvement Group has this week launched a petition in an attempt to demonstrate the level of public interest in this matter and to press the Council into more demonstrable and meaningful action.

Please sign this petition and give it maximum publicity by circulating this message/weblink to your friends (whether in Lewisham or beyond), posting it on Facebook, tweeting etc.

If we get 8,000 'signatures' by the time the petition closes in February we will be able to secure a debate in full Council.

LVIG

Ladywell Christmas Market just over a week away!

More marshals are still needed on the day.  Please volunteer now to do a short shift and make this community event our most successful yet.

Ladywell Christmas Market - Sat 5 Dec 10am-4pm MARSHALS NEEDED

You’ll find more than the usual Christmas cheer at Ladywell Christmas Market, with the sights and sounds of a traditional Christmas fair offering beautiful gifts for all the family from local artists, makers, craftspeople.

With foodie treats, gourmet gifts, mulled wine and mince pies, there’ll be something for everyone in the whole community. And it will be more than a market – we will be keeping you entertained with carols, choirs, musicians and dancers!

But it can’t happen without marshals.  We need people to don a hi-viz jacket and help keep the public safe, marshal stallholders, give out information, sell raffle tickets and pick up litter. Marshals get a complimentary glass of mulled wine and a mince pie for their efforts! If you can offer even just one hour of your time, we would be eternally grateful.  Please email ladywellxm@gmail.com

Ladywell Christmas Market is organised by volunteers from the local community, and takes place along the shopping parade in the centre of Ladywell (Ladywell and Algernon Roads).  The market is sponsored by Sebastian Roche estate agents, and it couldn’t happen without their kind generosity.

Ladywell Christmas Market is going to be great, so come on down!

Robert Sheppard

Ladywell just keeps getting better!

A busy life makes it hard to post to this blog as often one might like, and the three items below are a little late, but all demonstrate continued momentum in the improvement of Ladywell since the major streetworks brought the place to a grinding halt, and nearly bankrupted local businesses, in 2013.

Our excellent new 'mural' (presumably not really a mural unless its on a wall?) screening the
derelict garages site on the corner of Malyons Road (see blog item below).

 . . and there's evidence of work going on at 40 Ladywell Road
where we hope a new restaurant will open in 2016



. . . and 251 Algernon Road looks to be in the final stages of a major exterior refurb!

So lots of positives, even on a rainy November lunchtime, to add to anecdotal evidence that various of the newer local businesses seem to be going from strength to strength with clear evidence of loyal and appreciative clientele.

We very much hope for positive news in the coming months in relation to the neglected local asset that is the Ladywell Baths ('Playtower'), recently listed by the Victorian Society as one of the country's top 10 Victorian/Edwardian buildings at risk.  Come on Lewisham Council!

Robert Sheppard

 

St. Mary's Art & Music Festival - 10-17 October