Join us for our AGM - 21 July, 7.30pm, St Mary's Centre

It's that time of year again - LVIG would like to welcome everyone to our Annual General Meeting where, in addition to an update on our recent work, we'll be voting in officers for the coming year.

It's on Wednesday 21 July at 7.30pm in the St.Mary's Centre, Ladywell Road, London SE13.

LVIG welcomes new blood to the Committee! If you are interested in standing for election to one of the officer posts (we currently have seven Committee members and try to spread the work between us), please e-mail ladywell.info@gmail.com for a nomination form. We know there are a huge number of people with the right skills and experience in Ladywell - from creatives to accountants, perhaps you'd like to be on the press and communications side, or maybe as Treasurer, or you'd like to offer your informal help with events?

Completed nomination forms must be received at 120 Algernon Road, London SE13 7AW or

emailed to ladywell.info@gmail.com by no later than midday on Monday 19 July 2010.

An agenda for the meeting will be posted here shortly....and soon you'll see our latest newsletter drop through your door.

And finally, a plea from us all to help water the planters in the village. While some are thriving thanks to frequent watering from residents and businesses, others are not looking so good. We invite you to be as green as possible - why not bring your bathwater down in a watering can?! One LVIG committee member did!

Your Assembly: what's important to you for 2010/2011?

We've been contacted by Lewisham Council, seeking views on the local area assembly priorities for Ladywell. It's an important time of year as local residents put forward ideas for spending, plus topics and areas which need addressing.

Ladywell's current agreed priorities are:

1. Local shops
2. Playtower
3. Streetscape and environment
4. Lack of youth and community facilities
5. Anti social behaviour and crime

The Council has produced a survey to find out how these may still fit with local feeling, and you can find it here:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ladywellpriorities

For the full story and details of how to contact the Council, click on 'comments' below

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

And the winner is....

Question Time came to Ladywell on Wednesday 21 April, courtesy of LVIG. 

The five parties contesting the ward - Labour, LibDems, Greens, Conservatives and People Before Profit - put up candidates and representatives to be quizzed by members of the local community in St Mary's Centre on Ladywell Road.

With LVIG chair Tony Major offering a passable - though slimmer - imitation of David Dimbleby, the evening provided the parties and people of Ladywell a chance to discuss the issues that matter to them. 

Questions covered housing, schools, derelict properties, support for local businesses, planning, the conservation area, local assemblies, the role of Lewisham's elected Mayor and, yes, even your bin collection.

The party reps - Michael Rutheford (Conservatives), Max Calo (LibDems), Vincent Davis (Labour), Helen Mercer (People Before Profit) and Sue Luxton (Green) - battled over policy differences and sought to promote their priorities for Ladywell. 

For Sue there was a clear democratic deficit in the borough because of the power of the Mayor, while for Helen it was big business and Portakabins in our schools that should be the focus of our anger. Michael insisted we should have the right to elect a police chief, while Max supported community ownership of the PlayTower. Vincent defended Labour’s record in the borough and the role of local assemblies.

Points were scored and lines were muffed, but all the candidates favoured the modernisation of Gordonbrock school, now delayed by an injunction from Brockley Society, and backed a brown bin “kitchen waste” service in the borough. These were rare moments of agreement.

The winner.....was LVIG, for arranging the hustings and for putting itself at the centre of the debate on the issue that matter to the people and businesses in the neighbourhood. 

Ladywell's very own Question Time - come and meet your council candidates

Do you want to know what each political party has in store for Ladywell ward?

LVIG has arranged for candidates from the Conservative, 'Community Need before Private Greed', Green, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties to come and be quizzed by Ladywell's residents.

The event is open to all and will begin at 7.30pm on Wednesday 21 April at

the St.Mary's Centre on Ladywell Road, SE13.

Please note - if you are attending and have a question you'd like to ask, please register it by midday on Tuesday 20 April, along with your full name and address, by e-mailing ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk. Priority will be given, on the night, to questions submitted in advance and we will try to fit as many questions in as time allows.