If you’ve left Lee Green up Dermody Road and over the railway bridge to Hither Green Lane in recent weeks, you’ve probably seen (or smelled!) the leak that’s been running down the hill from the junction at Courthill Road lately.

The good news is that following pressure from my Lib Dem colleague who represents that side of the railway line, Cllr Andrew Milton, the leak is to be fixed.   The bad news is, it’s going to mean closing Hither Green lane between Courthill Road and Ryecroft Road from Tuesday.

Andrew has the details of the closure here.    Of course, it’s also going to mean the 181 and 225 bus need re-routing - again, Andrew has the details here.

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!

After a bumper crop of events in July, things now seem to be winding down as people go off on holiday.   This is the latest list from E-Focus.

The next meeting of FUSS is at 7pm on Tuesday 19th August at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Lewisham Homes will have a ‘Summer Roadshow’ on the Northbrook & Cordwell Estate (off Northbrook Road) from 10am until 1pm on Friday 22nd August. This is part of a series of roadshows being held across the borough. Activities at the roadshows include DJing, beat boxing, drama workshops, football, film, sculpting, face painting, bouncy castles, and jewellery making. Suitable for ages eight years old and over

The next meeting of the Lee Manor Society is on Wednesday 3rd September at 8pm. There is no meeting in August.

During the summer holidays, Creative Fashion courses for ages 7-12 and 13-16 are being run at Stark Gallery, 386 Lee High Road. Courses costs £5 and you can book on 020 8265 3833 and get further details here.

The Lee Manor Society are opening the Ice House in Manor House Gardens on the first and third weekends of each month until the Open House Weekend of 20th and 21st September. Opening hours will be 3pm to 5pm.

The Thirst Friday Café: There’ll be coffee, cake and good company between 9.30 and 11.30am every Friday at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Handen Road. Why not come along and bring your friends!

You can find details of Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi classes at the Stark Gallery on Lee High Road at their website: http://www.starkgallery.com/yoga-classes.html

If anyone knows of anything else going on, do let me know.

New homes have been built on the site of the former Lee Station Yard - the road now known as Glenmere Row.  One of the conditions of the planning permission was that a plan was submitted for future maintenance of the embankment (including slope stability measures).

The Council has now received a revised scheme involving re-grading of the slope.  A meeting is being held to discuss the plans at 7.00pm on Monday 28th July 2008 at the show house 11 Glenmere Row, first house after the Block 1 flats.   I’ll try and make it along.

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!

As you might be aware from the media, Council workers belonging to the Unite and Unison unions are going on strike tomorrow and Thursday.    The Council have said they’re expecting a low turnout here in Lewisham, but some services will be disrupted.

Locally, the nursery at Hither Green Primary School will be closed, though the rest of the school will be open as usual.   As far as I know, the other local schools are open as usual.

Thursday is of course bin day in Lee Green, and I’m told there will be a limited refuse and recycling service running - though understandably managers can’t predict the level of disruption until the day itself.    Unison have also advised the Council that there may be picketing at the Old Road depot.

There will also be reduced staffing on the Council’s call point service, so don’t be surprised if you have to wait longer than usual on the phone…