Phoenix Attain Housing Association Status

The Housing Association Registration Committee has approved the application by Phoenix. Phoenix, which is now an approved Housing Association, should be taking over council owned properties in the Bellingham, Downham and Whitefoot area on the 3rd of December.

A report was approved by Mayor and Cabinet on November 14th, and a report is awaiting approval at the next Full Council.

If Full Council approves the report, the Stock Transfer can take place and Phoenix can get on with the job of meeting its promises.

The programme of works include a focus in the first two years on replacing doors and windows.

Shroffold Road Bus Update

Residents have been working alongside their Downham Councillors for some time now to lobby Transport For London so that we can have a bus service go along Shroffold Road.

With a Doctors Surgery at the top of a hill, many elderly and disabled residents find it hard to attend appointments. Impossible to walk up for some, residents are resorting to paying for expensive taxi's, or in some cases, missing their appointments all together because they can't get a lift from friends or family.

Cllr Simon Carter said "Having a bus service go up Shroffold Road would make a huge difference to the lives of many residents in Downham. We want TFL to come and speak to residents themselves, so they can explain directly their reasons for objecting to our proposals."

Liberal Democrat Councillors are currently trying to organise a meeting. Residents will kept informed of any progess we make.

Mayor Spends £800,000 On Advertising

Liberal Democrat Members sitting on the London Assembly have discovered that London's Mayor is about to spend £800,000 of tax payers money on advertising. The news comes just as the race for London Mayoralty, with elections next May, starts to hot up.

London Assembly Member Mike Tuffrey, leader of Liberal Democrats at the GLA, said: "The Mayor had failed on his promise to cut crime by 50% by the end of his second term, and his shameless propaganda on the rates could instead have paid for extra police on the streets."

The news comes as a top officer, Detective Superintendent Barry Norman, head of the Met's Violent Crime Directorate, warned that we should expect an "upsurge in violence".

Downham Cllr Simon Carter said "It's ridiculous that we have the London Mayor spending so much money on advertising Safer Neighbourhood teams for the second time in the year. The money could be spent on extra police who could have a real impact on crime."

Consultations

Lewisham Council is currently undertaking six consultations on a variety of topics, from its regeneration policy to traffic calming measures at Grove Park.

To see a list of the consultations and take part, visit this website.

Alternatively let your local Councillors know how you feal. Councillor contact details can be found here.

Are you a local group in Downham or Whitefoot?

Lewisham Council currently has grants of up to £1000 to give to local, community based group in Downham or Whitefoot.

If you are such a group you can contact the neighbourhood management team on 07725 785716 or email shelley.mckowen@lewisham.gov.uk for further information and an information pack.

Green Man Appeal Lost

News has just been received that the appeal against the council's decision to reject a planning application has been lost. The application was for flats on the former Green man site on Bromley Road. This means the councils decision to reject the application still stands.

Green Man Appeal

An appeal has been lodged to overturn Lewisham Council's decision to reject a planning application for the former Green Man pub.

If you wish to send any comments regarding this application, please send them to:

Ms Ruth Strange, The Planning Inspectorate, 3/14 Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN.

Correspondence must be receieved by April 30th.

67 Years for a Decent Home

Lewisham Council has come under severe criticism from Lib Dem Housing Spokesperson Councillor Brian Robson over the news that it will take 67 years for it to meet local social housing needs.

Responding to facts uncovered in Parliamentary Questions asked by London Liberal Democrat MPs, Cllr Robson commented:

"A child born today on Lewisham's housing waiting list should not potentially have to wait until they are retired before they get a decent home."

"Lack of housing wrecks lives. This news is a tragedy for the thousands of families stuck on Lewisham's housing list, with no prospect of getting re-housed any time soon."

"This comes hot on the heals of the Labour Mayor's broken promises on decent homes by 2010, and the shocking Audit Commission report on the Council's housing service. It's clear that Labour has no grip on the real housing problems of this borough."

Tudor Livesey Sports & Social Club

Tudor Livesey Sports & Social Club, of 225 Perry Hill, Catford, SE6 4HD, has applied for a NEW/VARIATION Premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.

Specifically, they have applied for a change to vary sale of alcohol, live music, recorded music, performances of dance, and provisions of facilities for dancing to;

11:00 – 24:00 Monday – Thursday,
11:00 – 02:00 Friday - Saturday,
and Sunday 11:00 – 22:30.

and late night refreshment to;

23:00-24:00 Monday – Thursday,
23:00 – 02:00 Friday – Saturday.

and Christmas Eve to operate until 02:00 and New years eve 36 hour rule applies.

Any representations you would like to make on this licence should be made on one of three points below:

1. Prevention of Crime and Disorder.
2. Protection of Children from Harm
3. Public Safety
4. Prevention of Public Nuisance

Please could you ensure that any representations reach town hall by 1st May 2007. The address to send a letter to is:

2nd Floor Laurence House,
1 Catford Road,
London,
SE6 4RU.