My old colleagues on Lewisham’s Labour Group have revamped their website.
On their Proud of Lewisham page they say:
We’re proud because Lewisham represents whats best about Britain – that our tolerance, respect and diversity make our borough a great and strong community to live in. We know we need to work hard to maintain and develop our community, and that people want to feel safe and proud of the areas they live in.
People often say, we want more of a sense of community, and Labour in Lewisham agree. We want to build a strong sense of identity so that our community is strengthened by a common bond. Thats why we make a great effort to get behind those who do make a difference, and go the extra mile to bring people together, whether its our citizenship ceremonies, our celebration of Lewishams armed forces, our work with young people and community groups, or the local assemblies – all across our borough people are getting involved and making a difference.
There’s lots of content carried over from the old site (with the added extra of an RSS feed) and the promise of a blog too (though no RSS for that at the moment).
Someday I Will Treat You Good 
I think they might need to ask people if thats really how they feel or perhaps visit some of the less desirable areas. Its geat that they are trying to be positive but im not sure its accurate.
We’re proud because Lewisham represents whats best about Britain – that our tolerance, respect and diversity make our borough a great and strong community to live in. We know we need to work hard to maintain and develop our community, and that people want to feel safe and proud of the areas they live in.
It’s be a bit strange if they didn’t feel proud of the borough, or accentuate the positive, but you’re right the reality is a bit more complex.
As far as I’m concerned, they can over-egg it as much as they like so long as someone agrees to stop grafittiing our streets with bright yellow pictures of dogs pooping. Talk about ‘bang goes the neighbourhood’ – they wouldn’t do it in a nicer area.
I have a vague feeling we’ve had various discussions about the dog-poo stencil before, Oink, and certainly when I asked council officers about it their response was that they had significantly reduced the amount of poo that owners failed to pick up.
I have mentioned it once before, you’re right. They just appall me – I walk past several to get to the station and I just can’t believe they are there. Until now, I had kind of hoped they were ‘vigilatee’ works – I’m astounded that they are actually council approved. I think they’re a real insult to residents.
Sorry, don’t mean to rant. They just get my goat.
Maybe I should pose next to one like you with your shopping trolley… That would make a good blog entry.
I’d certainly link to it. 🙂
How do the values expressed on the website square with the Mayor’s decisions re the Excalibur (prefab) Estate in Downham, where residents wish to retain their properties. The council has told residents they vote for demolishtion or the properties will be forcibily demolished. Granted the Mayor has united the community against his decisions, but I don’t think that’s what they meant on the website.
http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/topstories/display.var.1357376.0.residents_calling_for_prefabs_to_be_saved.php
Recently in the New Cross area council residents voted against stock transfer, but it is likely the Mayor will divide the community by working with those who chose stock transfer. In 2000 council residents rejected external management yet that’s what the council went on to introduce by chopping up areas into ‘for’ and ‘against’ or is that divide and rule?
Another example is Forest Hill pools where the public were consulted the Mayor took a decision to refurb and then 2 years later without consultation changes his mind and throws in demolishing another additional historic building and selling off an open space.
Bringing it back to the subject, be it housing, education, hospitals the local council has less influence and seems at odds to expect local people have more involvement. Yes local people can decide at micro level if they want trees and park benches etc but the option to have a community school has been removed.
Regarding Local Assemblies good idea, I understand these are regarded as ‘polictical’ and since March 18th there will be no more till after the London Mayoral election. This means only 2 ward assemlies out of 18 will get their ‘priorities’ on this years council agenda.
Now for the good news, following the raid by police on Benden House, 3 month closure orders on two flats have been granted.
Oink: Maybe you could suggest the dogs go for a walk in Brockley, where there is an outbreak of dog poo. At the moment local residents have ben putting up posters.
By the way could it be Banksy works for the council?
Oink lol very funny and i agree they wouldnt put them in a “nicer” area.
…our citizenship ceremonies, our celebration of Lewishams armed forces…
Lewisham is seceding, Andrew?
Always a possibility James. 😉
I like the dog poo stencils. They don’t cause any damage, and they’re an imaginative way of reminding irresponsible dog owners to clean up after themselves. Anything is worth a try to combat the growing problem of dog jobbies.
My name is Jim Blackender I am a tenant on the Excalibur Prefab Estate Catford SE6 1RP, a very unique Historic Estate,
As tenants we are trying to highlight the difficulties we are having trying to save our historic estate from the bulldozers
The Decent Homes Standard has given councils the golden opportunity to write off vast amounts of housing stock as non decent and transfer their stocks to housing associations who build in its place high density housing estates.
The Excalibur Prefab Estate is the largest of its kind now left in Europe.
Europe values its war time history, we on the estate think it’s time we did too.
Stock Transfer. Whether stock transfer will go ahead on the Excalibur prefab estate will depend on a ballot of the tenants of this estate.
The Ballot is due in April 2008. (Now postponed till Oct 2008) But we have been told by Lewisham council (in writing) if we vote yes, the stock will be transferred to London & Quadrant, and the estate will be demolished, and if we vote no to stock transfer, the estate will be put forward for a regeneration scheme, Lewisham council will select a housing association of its choice, and the estate will be demolished, so not really a choice at all is it?
Just a greedy grab for land, what happened to democracy?
A grab for land and a multi- million pound deal will be done
-at the expense of our history.
English Heritage has submitted an application to the
Department of culture media and sports
But things seem to take so long, I worry this estate will be demolished before the DCMS makes it decision.
If the London borough of Lewisham has it way this Historic estate will no longer exist, and in its place will be another inner city housing estate, and another piece of history gone forever.
My point is, I used to be proud of Lewisham, but bullying blackmail and intimidation, by LBL the mayor and L&Q on those who oppose stock transfer is shameful and sick.
And all in the name of housing, sad
dont know how the smiley face got above should have read 2008
see the Excalibur web site
http://www.freewebs.com/jim-blackender/