Manor Park Refurbishment Update

I've just received this email announcing that another on-site meeting has been arranged:

I write to advise you that following the degree of interest, but also the confusion over the current planning application (DC/05/61385) for the refurbishment of Manor Park, a Drop-In session has been arranged for the Thursday 9th March 2006, between the hours of 3pm and 7pm.

The Drop-In session will be held at the Manor Park Site Office, 22 Weardale Road, SE 13.

Members from the Environment Agency (applicant), the Parks Manager and the Planning Department will be in attendance to answer questions and explain aspects of the application.

Ward Events Update

One new event and one change:

Sat 25th March Good Shepherd Table Sale - tickets £8 from Margaret 020 8473 1800
Sat 24th June Good Shepherd Summer Fair

Knowledge Base Q & A

You'll probably have noticed a new link on the right hand sidebar to Knowledge Bank Q & A which is an attempt to set-up a community resource that over time, and if people join in will hopefully:

• make your local representatives better informed and more effective at their job
• result in better more responsive services
• and save us all money.

So, how does Knowledge Bank do that? Quite simply by sharing our expertise!

Almost immediately after the by-election last March 2005 I realised that even though I'm no spring chicken and I've had a varied working life, there were many casework issues that I could really do with some help with, and that's where you out there in the community come in. Knowledge Bank Q & A is a blog, and on it I'll be posting questions from myself and my Lib Dem colleagues on Lewisham council in the hope that someone out there will be able to provide an answer. It's that simple, but don't let the simplicity fool you, if we all work together on this we'll have a very powerful tool which could revolutionize how effective our community can be in its dealings with Lewisham council.

The first questions are up so why not take a look and give it a try? You can post anonymously, to the blog, or directly to the councillor that's asked the question.

And thanks for your time and hopefully your contributions in the future!

(And if you get a taste for this why not join the Leepedia Forum where you can discuss ward issues in depth?)

Manor House Gardens User Group Needs You!

Do you use and enjoy Manor House Gardens? Many of us do, but few it seems are willing to join and support the User Group, which is a great pity because it's the ideal way for us to communicate our ideas and concerns to Glendales, who are responsible for maintaining the gardens, and the Council's Parks Department. It's certainly far better, in my opinion, than each of us doing this individually. There are only four meetings a year, including the AGM, so could you spare a little time to get involved?

At the AGM in July the Group will need a new Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and Membership Secretary. Could you take on one of these roles? If you'd like to know more about the Group and what you would be committing yourself to why not come along to the next meeting on Wednesday the 5th of April at Northbrook school between 8-10pm.

Hope to see you there!

Are you "Angry of Lee Green" ?

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Baz Wines Licensing Application

Here's a licensing application from neighboring Blackheath ward that may be of interest:

Baz Wines of 392 Lee High Road, Lewisham SE12 8RW have applied for a variation/new licence under the Licensing Act 2003 as they:

Wish to be open Monday – Sunday selling alcohol at 07:00 – 23:00.

The four criteria under which you can support or object to this application are:
Prevention of Crime and Disorder
Protection of Children from Harm
Public Safety
Prevention of Public Nuisance

The address to write to is:
The Licensing Team, 2nd Floor Laurence House
1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU

Please could you ensure that any representations reach the Licensing Team by 24th March 2006.

Update

You can also email the Licensing Team

Dacre Park dual parking restriction confusion

A constituent wrote to me recently about the confusion surrounding the dual restrictions in force by the school in Dacre Park. I have to agree with him, it is confusing, and I had to visit the site twice before I worked out what was going on. Basically you have a single yellow line residents parking only/pay and display CPZ overlaid with the school zig zags and there is one signpost that shows the dual restriction signs together, but only one. Strictly speaking this is just outside my ward in Blackheath but I've asked if the signs could be inspected and dual signs installed at the Lee High Road end, or better still if the dual restriction information be included on one sign so that it is more obvious that both restrictions are in force?

Update 24/2/2006:

I received the following update today:

I have asked the Parking Implementation Team to review this sign to see if it can be worded more clearly.

Hopefully we'll get clearer signage and fewer people will get parking tickets as a result.

New manager for the Station pub

I've just heard that the new manager of the Station pub in Staplehurst Road takes over on the 3rd of March, her name is Diane Spence and I am sure she would love to see you all in the pub!

Westhorne Avenue Road Works Alert

I've just received notification of road works affecting Westhorne Avenue:

Starting Wednesday evening Thames Water / TfL will carry out essential maintenance / emergency works in Westhorne Avenue for 2 or 3 days. This will entail operating a contra-flow traffic system such that both east and west bound traffic will use the existing westbound carriageway. These works will take place just east of Alnwick Road on the stretch of the A20 between Burnt Ash Hill and Clifton's Roundabout at the junction with Sidcup Road. Local diversions will be in place for traffic wishing to turn right into or out of Alnwick Road.

It is likely that these works will cause considerable congestion in the area and because of the likely impact information is being put out on both the BBC and local radio as well as utilising nearby variable message signs and internet pages on both Lewisham's and TfL's web sites.

Should you require further details please contact TfL Network Assurance Team on 0845 850 2621

Ward Events

Coming up in Lee Green ward:

Tues 14th February Deadline for questions for Transport Liaison
Thurs 16th February Lee Dancers Good Shepherd, 7:30 - 9:00pm
Sat 18th February Climate Change Exhibition, Riverdale Centre, 10am - 4pm
Tues 28th February FUSS meeting, Parish Room, Good Shepherd, 7pm - 9pm
Sat 11th Mar Cllr Paul Bentley's Advice Surgery, Good Shepherd, 10am - 11am
Thurs 16th March Lee Dancers Good Shepherd, 7:30 - 9:00pm
Sat 18th March Good Shepherd Quiz Night and Fish 'n' Chip Supper 6pm
Wed 5th April Manor House Gardens User Group Meeting, Northbrook school, 8pm - 10pm
Sat 8th Apr Cllr Paul Bentley's Advice Surgery, Good Shepherd, 10am - 11am
Thurs 20th April Lee Dancers Good Shepherd, 7:30 - 9:00pm
Thurs 18th May Lee Dancers Good Shepherd, 7:30 - 9:00pm
Sat 10th June Good Shepherd Summer Fair

Cllr Bentley's surgery is held in the Parish Room of the Good Shepherd Church in Handen Road. This location was chosen because it's located centrally in the ward, there's excellent disabled access and good parking.

Meetings of the Friends and Users of Staplehurst Shops (FUSS), Manor House Gardens User Group, Lee Manor Society and Manor House Library User Group are open to everyone in the community.

Lee Dancers meet at the Church of the Good Shepherd 7:30 - 9:00pm
£3 a session (first free) - under 16s £1
Email for more details or just come along on the night!

For Quiz Night and Fish 'n' Chip Supper tickets contact Elizabeth
Tickets, including entry and full portion of fish and chips £10. Half portions and entry £5.

If you have an event you'd like mentioned on Leepedia Lite just email me the details

Planning application 17-19, Northbrook Road

I believe this is the third planning application to be submitted for 17-19, Northbrook Road in the last year. The first two applications were heavily contested and planning permission was refused. I haven't yet seen these new plans so can't comment on the current proposals but if you're interested the plans should be available in the reference section of Lewisham library. Here are the details you'll need:

Application Number: DC/06/61558/X
Registration Date: 18 / 01 / 2006
Ward Name: Lee Green
Location: 17-19, Northbrook Road, Lee Green, SE13 5QT
Proposal: The demolition of the existing extension at the rear of 17-19 Northbrook Road SE13 and the construction of a two storey extension to provide 2, one bedroom, self-contained flats, together with four off-street parking spaces, six bicycle parking spaces and associated landscaping and alterations to existing flats within the building. (Please note amended description).
Case Officer: Julia Robins

If you would like to comment on this application please send an email to planning including the Application Number, your name, address, comment and reason for interest by 15 / 03 / 2006.

Café Rouge & Cave Austin Licensing Applications

Here are two licensing applications from neighboring Blackheath ward that may be of interest:

Café Rouge at 16-18 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath have applied for a
variation/new licence under the Licensing Act 2003 as they:

Wish to be opened Monday – Wednesday 09:00-01:00, Thursday – Saturday 09:00-01:30 & Sunday 09:00-23:30.
The sale of alcohol Monday – Wednesday 09:00-00:00, Thursday – Saturday 09:00-00:30 & Sunday 09:00-23:30.
The sale of late night refreshment Monday – Wednesday 09:00-00:30, Thursday – Saturday 09:00-01:00 & Sunday 09:00-00:00.

Current Licence
Provision for late night refreshment and sale of alcohol.
The times the licence authorises the carrying out of licensable activities
10.00 – 00.00 Monday to Saturday
12.00 – 23.30 Sunday

Cave Austin at 7-9 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath have applied for a
variation/new licence under the Licensing Act 2003 as they:
Wish to be opened Friday & Saturday 10:00-02:00 selling alcohol and regulated entertainment in the basement only.

Current Licence
The times the licence authorises the carrying out of licensable activities
Regulated Entertainment (Basement)
10.00 - 01.00 Wednesday to Saturday
Alcohol
12.00 – 00.30 Sunday
10.00 – 24.00 Monday to Thursday
10.00 – 01.00 Friday and Saturday
Wednesday and Thursday basement bar only 10.00 – 01.00

The four criteria under which you can support or object to this application are:
Prevention of Crime and Disorder
Protection of Children from Harm
Public Safety
Prevention of Public Nuisance

The address to write to is:
The Licensing Team, 2nd Floor Laurence House
1 Catford Road, London SE6 4RU

Please could you ensure that any representations reach the Licensing Team by 9th March 2006.

New Tigers Head update

Enterprise Inns, the owners of the now boarded up New Tigers Head pub at Lee Gate have confirmed that the building is now up for sale. Whether it gets a new life as a pub under another brewery chain, or turns into a restaurant, or apartments is very much down to whoever buys the building.

I personally think it will be a great shame if this building just turns into apartments. We are losing community space at an alarming rate and I really do believe that with some investment and a little imagination this building could be turned into something special.

Burnt Ash Road bus lane question and answer

At the Area Forum the other day someone raised the question of whether when you were in Burnt Ash Road and approaching Sainsbury's you could legally turn left into Taunton Road as the left hand lane appears to be a bus lane. Well I've checked it out, the answer is yes you can, and here's the reason why:



Bus lanes are denoted by signs and 'Bus Lane' markings on the
carriageway and are delineated by a thick white line. If these markings
are not in place then it is not a bus lane. In the picture you have
supplied there are no 'Bus Lane' markings - and there are zig zags and
a yellow box (as opposed to a thick white line). This means that bus
lane controls are not in force in this section of road. Therefore your
constituent can approach the turn into Taunton Road and make the turn
legally.

Staplehurst paving due for overhaul - at last!

I first emailed the council way back on April 25th 2005 about the poor state of the pavement in Staplehurst Road, as this photograph shows:



I didn't get anywhere, even though Staplehurst was entered in London in Bloom, and since then I've followed it up every now and again. 9 months of persistence later and I finally struck lucky when I received the following:

Thank you for your e-mail dated 3 January 2006 regarding the damaged/loose paving between 31 and 35 Staplehurst Road.

Our Highway Clerk of Works carried out an inspection of the footway on 6 January 2006. He will arrange to have 8 sites between numbers 19 to 37 Staplehurst Road made safe. These works will be carried out shortly.

The section of footway in Staplehurst Road running between Longhurst Road and Leahurst Road has been identified for major footway works which will be carried out next financial year.

So part of Staplehurst will get the overhaul it deserves. Let's hope they have the good sense to schedule this before this years London in Bloom!

OK Cupid Politics Test

As my fellow councillors, Andrew Brown (Labour - boo, hiss!) and Andrew Milton (Lib Dem - hurrah!) have both had a crack at this US Politics Test I thought it was time to let my procrastination gene take over and give it a go myself, and here’s the result:

You are a Social Liberal (78% permissive) and an... Economic Liberal (20% permissive) You are best described as a: Socialist Link: The Politics Test onOk Cupid Also: The OkCupid Dating Persona Test

On the political personalities illustration I’m bang in the middle between Hilary Clinton and Gandhi! And for the incurably curious my despotic diktat was: "I would dictate that everyone should be encouraged to act positively at all times." Like all things drafted on the spur of the moment it has serious flaws but I hope you get the idea!

I also did the Which Superhero are you? Quiz and came out as the Hulk! So I’m between the socialists and greens - sounds pretty Lib Dem to me :-)

Bottle & Basket Licensing Application

The Bottle & Basket at 86 Ennersdale Road has applied for a new licence under the Licensing Act 2003 as they wish to be open and selling alcohol Monday – Saturday 08:00-23:00 & Sunday 10:00-22:30.

The four criteria under which you can support or object to this application are:
Prevention of Crime and Disorder
Protection of Children from Harm
Public Safety
Prevention of Public Nuisance

The address to write to is:
The Licensing Team
2nd Floor Laurence House
1 Catford Road
London
SE6 4RU

Please could you ensure that any representations reach the Licensing Team by 27th February 2006.

Any questions for Transport Liaison?

I’d like to hear from anyone who has questions relating to local buses, bus routes, bus stops, bus shelters, train services and stations, and the DLR that they’d like me to get answers to at the next Transport Liaison committee meeting in March. I need to have your questions by Monday 13th February and I’ll get back to you with the answers I get.