One of the priorities identified by the Lee Green Local Assembly is provision for young people in the ward.   You might remember that the assembly coordinating group has set up a youth survey to get young people’s views on our area. 

Working with the Youth Service, we’ve also managed to arrange for the Rolling Sound bus to visit Lee Green over the next three weeks.  The Lab is a state of the art music, photography and design suite installed on a fully customised bus. Young people can use professional multimedia equipment on their doorstep for free.

We’re hoping The Lab’s visit will give young people in Lee Green a flavour of the sort of thing that can be offered, and also give them the opportunity to complete a youth survey.

The bus will be visiting two locations over the three weeks:

Leybridge Court Estate (just off Eltham Road, behind the Leegate Centre):

• Wednesday 15th, Thursday 16th and Friday 17th April
• Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd and Friday 24th April
• Wednesday 29th, Thursday 30th April, and Friday 1st May

Manor House Gardens:

• Saturday 18th April
• Saturday 25th April
• Saturday 2nd May

The team will run three sessions each day – from 12-2pm, 2.30-4.30pm and 5pm- 7pm.

It’s all absolutely FREE – so do head along!

It’s a while since I’ve blogged about the Lee stock transfer – the estates who said a massive yes to changing landlords from Lewisham Council to Broomleigh Housing Association late last year.   That doesn’t mean things haven’t been happening behind the scenes!

Broomleigh and the Council are currently discussing the fine details of the transfer.  If all goes according to plan, hopefully the transfer will take place at the end of June this year.  Obviously there’s a chance this could take longer, but I know staff at Broomleigh and the Council are working hard to keep things on track.

Village Court in Blackheath and the Orchard Estate (soon to be Orchard Gardens) near Tesco have already transferred to Broomleigh.

Apologied for the lack of posts recently – I’ve been snowed under with a busy few weeks at work and Council in the run-up to Christmas.

Just a quick note to say that it’s my surgery this Saturday (20th) from 10am until 11am at the McEwan Centre on Leybridge Court.

I’m expecting to be joined by a member of our local Police Safer Neighbourhood Team, so if you have any concerns you’d like to raise with me, or the police team, then do pop along.

I can’t quite believe I’ve left it a week before writing about this, but I’m delighted to say there was an a massive yes vote for a change of landlord by residents on the Leybridge and Newstead estates.

Residents on the Leybridge Court and Newstead Road estates in Lee Green have been working with Broomleigh Housing Association on plans to improve their homes and regenerate their estates. The plans to transfer the homes to the not-for-profit landlord have been put to the vote and the result was an 86% vote in favour by tenants on the estates.

This is an overwhelming vote in favour of change.  The Mayor noted the results of the ballot at a meeting last Wednesday night and has asked council officials to begin negotiations with Broomleigh. If all goes to plan, the transfer should take place in June next year.

The transfer will result in new kitchens and bathrooms for tenants and bring to an end years of neglect of these estates.  There’ll also be new services like anti-social behaviour wardens.   This is really good news and great credit must go to the Tenant & Resident Associations on both estates who kicked off this process and kept pushing for these improvements.  I’m really pleased that residents have backed these positive proposals, and we’re really looking forward to working with residents and Broomleigh to make them a reality.

The problems at Merridale have been rumbling on since residents were evacuated way back in February this year.

Lewisham Homes, who manage the block on behalf of the Council, have now sent us an update:

There has been a slight delay from the original programme, caused principally by the time taken to determine the best way to deal with the boiler flues when the brickwork is replaced.  We have asked the designers to give particular attention to that issue as it is critical to maintaining heating and hot water for the residents during the course of the works.

 

The works have now been specified and the project is out to tender.  The tender return date is 10 October 08 and we hope to be able to appoint the successful contractor about 6 weeks later following completion of the leaseholder consultation process.

 

We will hold a public meeting shortly after that process has been completed, to introduce the residents to the contractor and to explain the processes and programme for carrying out the works.

 

It is anticipated the site set up will take place in December, and the works will commence in January.  The works are expected to take sixteen weeks to complete.

 

The scaffolding is now in the final stages of being adjusted, and the buttress scaffolding has been removed.  This will enable the road to be used once again.  Once we have received all of the necessary paperwork, we will be able to instruct the contractors to use the scaffolding to deal with the pigeon infestation.

As you might be aware, I’m enthusiastic about the package of improvements residents on the Leybridge and Newstead estates have negotiated with Broomleigh Housing Association.    The improvements will only happen if residents vote YES to transfering their homes from the Council/Lewisham Homes to Broomleigh.

With the ballot just a few weeks away, the resident steering group are keen to raise awareness of the great deal on offer – and the need to vote YES!    So with this in mind, there was a fun day on the estate today, complete with BBQ, face painting and a bouncy castle.

Thankfully, the weather held up, and everyone present seemed to have a great time.   Broomleigh staff were on hand to answer any questions, and I was particularly impressed to learn about the caretaking and estate services Broomleigh are planning to offer.   Everyone I spoke to seemed enthusiastic about the improvements on offer – but the residents aren’t taking anything for granted and know they need to say yes to stock transfer to make these improvements reality.

So – good weather, Open House, a Fun Day and Sunderland beating Boro 2-0.   All in all, quite a good day!