One of the things we funded through last year’s locality fund was a bench for the Leybridge Estate.  The Tenants and Residents Association (TRA) wanted a bench so residents could take advantage of the green surroundings of the estate, and also so residents of the Woodville sheltered housing block had somewhere to take the weight off their feet on the way back from the Lee Green shops.

I went up to Leybridge tonight for the TRA’s regular meeting and was really pleased to see the bench has now been installed - and very good it looks too.  Thanks go to Lewisham Homes and Glendale for arranging the installation.

If you’ve got ideas for this year’s locality fund, then we’d like to hear from you!

A couple of other issues raised at the TRA meeting that I’m taking up:

• Residents are concerned that the estate parking scheme isn’t being enforced properly - I’m taking this up with Lewisham Homes and asking them to speak to their contractor.
• Both the gates at the entrances to the estate have faults - again, I’ve taken this up with Lewisham Homes.

Regular readers (the one man and his dog)  will be aware of our on-going campaign to get the walls to the front of the Southbrook Road flats repaired.

Well, we’ve been successful - the walls have now been repaired as the before and after photos on the right show.

My only niggle is that the bricks aren’t the same colour as the originals(!)   I’m going to check with Lewisham Homes - presumably it wasn’t possible to find a match, or maybe they’re supposed to fade to the same colour as the others.  Either way, it’s a bit of a shame and detracts from a good job.

Next on the list is the entryphone system that we’ve bid for throught the resident-led fund.   The resident judges visited last Saturday, and I understand we’ll find out whether that part of the bid has been successul in early August, so fingers crossed!

If you’ve got a housing-related problem you think we could help with, either with Lewisham Homes or with a housing association, then do get in touch.   We don’t always succeed - but we do try!

If you live on one of the stock transfer estates in Lee Green then this is an important week.    The documents which give you details of the improvement programme residents have negotiated with Broomleigh Housing Association will be delivered to you at some point this week.  

I realise that residents might have questions about the proposals, so I’ve invited a representative from Broomleigh to attend my advice surgery this Saturday to answer any questions residents might have.   My advice surgery takes place on Saturday 19th July from 10am until 11am at the McEwan Centre (portakabin) on Leybridge Court.  No appointment needed - just turn up.

I think the deal residents have negotiated with Broomleigh is a really good one, but it won’t happen unless residents support it in the ballot which will happen later this year.  If you’ve got questions or want to know more, please pop in on Saturday.   It’d be great to see you!

The stock transfer estates are: 1 - 173 Leybridge Court, Merridale, Woodville Close, Rose Way, Silk Close, 96 and 100 Dorville Road, Kimbolton Close, Stoneycroft Close, Wildwood Close, Lucorn Close, 1-7 and 10-68 Birch Grove or 30-60 Burnt Ash Hill.

Lewisham Homes have written to me to tell me that our bid for funding for the Southbrook Road flats has made the shortlist and is through to the final round of judging.

The resident judges will be visiting the flats this Saturday to see the walls and doors for themselves.   Unfortunately we don’t know exactly what time they’ll arrive, but they’re going to give me a call when they’re on their way so hopefully I and some of the Southbrook Road residents can meet them and explain the background to the bid.

 Fingers crossed!

If you’ve ever walked down Southbrook Road, you’ve probably noticed the walls outside the flats at the Burnt Ash Road end.     Well, not so much the walls, but the lack of them - as the photo to the right shows.

We’ve made sure Lewisham Homes are aware of the problem - including through a walkabout last year - but due to tight budgets, they’ve been unable to fix them up to now.

However, the launch of Lewisham Homes’ resident-led programme has meant we might be able to secure some funding.    There’s half a million pounds up for grabs, and bids for funding will be judged by fellow residents.

Sven and I popped round tonight to chat to residents about making an application.   Every resident we spoke to agreed to sign a petition to show their support, and we agreed to sort out the forms to make a bid for the walls to be repaired.   We’re also going to expand the bid and ask if Lewisham Homes are prepared to fund entryphones for the front doors to the block.

We want the bid to have the best chance of suceeding, so we need to demonstrate as much support as possible.   I’m going to ask the Lee Manor Society and our Safer Neighbourhood Team if they’ll support the application.   If you live in the local area and support our bid then do add a comment below and I’ll make sure they’re all passed on to Lewisham Homes.

I popped over to Leybridge Court this afternoon for the opening of the Broomleigh show home on the estate.   Broomleigh have fitted out an empty flat so residents can get a preview of the improvements that are planned if residents say ‘yes’ to stock transfer.

The show flat looks great - really nice kitchen and bathroom, smart new front door, and plenty of choices so residents can personalise it (the photo shows Sule from Broomleigh showing me the various kitchen options available).   

Plenty of residents dropped in to have a look, and they all seemed really impressed with the deal that the resident steering group have negotiated with Broomleigh.

If you live on Leybridge, Merridale, Woodville or Rose Way or Silk Close do pop along and have a look.  The flat’s at 122 Leybridge Court (8th floor, blue block).   The opening hours confirmed so far are:

• Sat 31 May, 11 - 1pm
• Mon 2 June - Wed 4 June, 2 - 5pm
• Thu 5 June 2 - 6pm
• Sat 7 June 2 - 4pm
• Mon 9 June - Thu 12 June, 10 - 12

There’s also a show flat on the Newstead Estate - which I mentioned a few days ago.

As you may be aware, residents on two estates in Lee Green are developing proposals to transfer their homes from council ownership to Broomleigh - a not for profit housing association who have pledged to invest £28million pounds to improve the estates.

Residents on the Newstead Estate can now see how their home could look if they say “yes” in the ballot to be held later this year. Broomleigh have opened a show home to show residents the new kitchens and bathrooms they propose to install.

The show home is at 40M Burnt Ash Hill and will be open at the following times:
Tue 27 May - Thur 29 May 2-5pm
Mon 2 June - Thur 5 June, 10 - 12
Mon 9 Jun - Thur 12 June, 2-5pm
A show home on the other transfer estate - Leybridge Court - will open later this month.

Your councillors are supporting the stock transfer proposals which have been drawn up by residents working with Broomleigh. The proposals are far in excess of any investment the Council or Lewisham Homes can offer, and residents have received guarantees about rent levels and their rights as tenants.