Cuts, cuts and more cuts

Big reductions in government funding will mean Lewisham council has to cut spending by £60m over the next three years. That's a huge chunk of funding. The council has stressed that this level of saving cannot be achieved by simply cutting out waste and becoming more efficient. It will involve big changes to the more than 700 services the council provides - everything from schools to pest control. It will mean raising charges for many and abandoning others altogether. Councils across the country are already reducing jobs, and cutting spending on school meals, meals on wheels services, the arts and leisure centres.

What should Lewisham do? For example, the council spends £113m a year on providing social care for adults because of age, ill-health or disability. It's likely that budget will have to be cut. Should the council simply reduce the number of people receiving these services?

Lewisham is running a consultation programme - Our Lewisham, Our Say - from July to October, seeking the views of residents on how the council might meet the challenges it faces.

On September 6 the Ladywell Assembly will be holding a special session on the spending cuts. Cuts on the scale envisaged could dramatically affect our neighbourhood, especially if they lead to higher unemployment and stop all funding for the sorts of improvements Ladywell needs. Make your voice heard   TonyM


Ladywell Assembly.
Monday 6 September 7-9pm
St Andrews Church Hall
Brockley Rd SE4 2SA
What do you think the council should do to reduce its spending?

What railings?

You may not have noticed but sections of the guardrailings along Ladywell Road have been removed - courtesy of Lewisham council. Below the first guarded responses from a random survey of customers at Oscars cafe.

John: "I hadn't noticed."

Paul: "I use the high street all the time, usually accompanied by my three young children. Initially I thought removing the railings would make it more dangerous. But that's not the case. The street seems safe and it looks a lot better."

Simon: "I didn't think it would make much diffference - but its great! It opens the place up."

Shirley: "I'm not sure. I think the road is a bit dangerous."

Hal: "I'm agnostic. Let's see."

What do you think? Let's hear your views.

So farewell . . .

A great Ladywell landmark is no more! The Adhesives Specialities building has finally bitten the dust. The demolition squad move in - and completed its work in double quick time. One can't help feeling the developer was in a bit hurry because community efforts to save the building were gathering pace. Its disappearance is a great pity! It may have been pastiche Art Deco from the 1980s (hence no listing) but it added a bit of colour - even flamboyance - to the neighbourhood. What will we get in its place? More boxy, characterless flats?  TonyM

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