Focus
Lewisham Central & Hither Green
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The Lewisham Lib Dems don’t
just turn up at election time.
We work all year round for you.
We keep in touch through regular
Focus newsletters, door to door
surveys and hold regular
surgeries for local people.
Recycling targets set to be missed
Recycling rates in Lewisham have fallen
further. Labour-run Lewisham council told the
public that 22% of waste was being recycled
and composted. However, the latest figures
from April show just 14.26% is in fact being
recycled.
Labour-run Lewisham was already in the
bottom 20 councils in England, before this
‘discrepancy’ was uncovered. “This means
the amount they have been telling us has
been recycled has been over-estimated in the
past,” says Cllr Chris Maines, Lib Dem
prospective Mayor.
James Jennings says “Labour promised to
improve recycling rates and they have failed.
Local people want to get recycling but the
Council leadership have not done enough.”
“Recycling targets are missed, targets to
improve local homes are missed and our
taxes keep on rising. Lewisham’s Labour
leaders have failed us too many times. Voters at the election next year,” added Councillor
will have an opportunity to deliver their verdict Dave Edgerton.
Pollution action needed now in town centre
Lewisham Central ward has some of the highest
mortality rates in Lewisham. The area also suffers
from appalling air pollution, according to data
James Jennings added "The Labour Council admitted
obtained by Cllr Andrew Milton in a recent question
only this year nitrogen dioxide levels in Lewisham
to Lewisham Council.
centre are too high. Fast action is needed to ensure we
"Liberal Democrats have raised this issue over the all have cleaner air to breathe.”
Hither Green landmark Kids Corner saved
The local Lib Dem team Tam Langley , Cllr
Dave Edgerton, Cllr Andrew Milton, & Max
Calò celebrate the decision not to redevelop
Hither Green landmark Kids Corner
Lib Dems - Working for you all year round
Autumn ‘09
The Lib Dem team are campaigning to
improve recycling rates in Lewisham.
Under Labour the recycling rate has
fallen to amongst the worst in the whole
of England.
years, including the need to increase green space and
trees in the town centre" says Andrew.
An application to redevelop the art deco
landmark Kids Corner has been rejected by
Lewisham planning committee.
Max Calò says “There was strong local
support to preserve this landmark. The local
community have come up with some
imaginative ideas to get this building back into
use and regenerate the shopping parade.”
Right Decision
Tam Langley says “Rejecting redevelopment
was the right decision. I joined Max Calò and
the team collecting petition signatures.
Residents have told me how much they like
this art deco landmark.”
Find out more about the campaign to get the Kids
Korner building turned into an arts and community
centre email: maxcalo@nicepeople.co.uk
Current numbers of Co
uncillors in Lewisham
Stay updated with our email
newsletter LC-focus@
lewishamlibdems.org.uk
Councillor Surgeries 1st (St
Swithin’s) & 3rd (Lewisham
Library) Saturdays of month.
Fine targets not fine
Consumer watchdog Which? has
criticised Labour-run Lewisham for
unfairly issuing parking fines. Which?
found that in breach of government
guidelines the Council issues targets for
issuing tickets and fining motorists.
Earlier this year the Labour-run Council
also failed to pass on the VAT cut for
parking costs.
The Lib Dem team campaigning for
fair parking charges
Costly failure on housing
Lewisham’s Labour Mayor is set to break
another promise. In 2006 he promised that all
council homes would be improved by 2010.
However three times more homes are
classed as ‘not-decent’ today.
Promised future improvements are under
threat. Labour announced they will withdraw
‘Decent Homes’ money from failing
management organisations like Lewisham
Homes – the Council’s ‘Arms Length
Management Organisation’ (ALMO).
Conservatives struggle
Conservative voters angry with the failure of
the Conservatives in Lewisham have been
switching to the Lib Dems.
The Conservatives have had a string of poor
by-election results in Lewisham. At the last
local election they only held on to 3
Councillors whilst the Lib Dems, the official
opposition to Labour won 17.
At the Council Chamber the Conservative
Councillors regularly back the Labour Mayor,
instead of holding him to account. They even
choose to sit with Labour in the council
chamber and supported Labour’s increase in
council tax by 2.5% this year – making
Lewisham council tax the highest in inner
London. To great surprise they also failed to
support the Lib Dem tax freeze proposal.
Only the Lib Dems can beat Labour here!
Working for Lewisham Central
Chris Maines and the Lib Dems have been fighting plans to
close the Tesco side (platform 4) exit from Lewisham station.
Labour Ministers will decide on this issue. James Jennings
(left) says “Commuters need this exit.”
The Ladywell Playtower has
been left derelict for many
years. Cllr Dave Edgerton
says “When I was a child I
used to use this venue as my
pool. It is a crying shame
such buildings are not being
put quickly back into use.”
The Lib Dem team
campaigned against cuts to
A & E services at Lewisham
Hospital. Unfortunately the
Labour Councillor failed to
join the campaign or turn up
to Council meetings when
the closure was discussed,
despite Labour putting him
on the Health Committee.
Max Calò and the Lib Dem
team are alerting local
residents to a parking “honey-
trap” at the George pub. The
bollards preventing people
parking on the land of the
closed pub were removed.
Those who park there have
been fined and had their cars
clamped. Dave Edgerton says
“Land owners L&Q should get
on with the development.”
The recent planning application to redevelop the old
cinema “Kids Corner” was rejected. Tam Langley says
“This is the right decision. I joined Max Calò collecting
petition signatures. Residents have told me how much
they like this art deco landmark.”
Local residents are furious at Lewisham Council's failure to act
on the nuisance caused by a garage business in the Hither
Green area. "They have known about this for months" says Cllr
Andrew Milton "but have ignored pleas from local residents'
groups and panels to work with the police to sort it out."
Your Lib Dem team work hard for our area all year
round. Get in touch if we can help.
Cllr Dave Edgerton 8691 3052
cllr_david.edgerton@lewisham.gov.uk
www.davidedgerton.mycouncillor.org.uk/
Max Calò 8690 4242
maxcalo@nicepeople.co.uk
James Jennings 07957 421919
jcuk316@googlemail.com
www.thiswaytolewisham.blogspot.com
Cllr Andrew Milton 8698 5119
cllr_andrew.milton@lewisham.gov.uk
http://20six.co.uk/andrewmilton/
Prospective Mayor of Lewisham
Chris Maines, 8297 9817
cllr_chris.maines@lewisham.gov.uk
Prospective MP
Tam Langley 07717 852191
tam@lewishamlibdems.org,uk
http://tamora4deptford.blogspot.com/
www.lewishamlibdems.org.uk
Maines4Mayor
The Council By Cllr Chris Maines
wasted £900 Lib Dem candidate for Mayor of
installing a speed Lewisham
hump in front of a
brick wall in Mercia People often ask why Lewisham's
Grove. Labour Mayor has set such a high
Cllrs Andrew Milton and Dave council tax - the highest tax rate
Edgerton tackled dumped rubbish
The Lib Dem in inner London. There was an
on the Mercator estate.
team are working opportunity this year to freeze the
to get the broken tax at last year's level. However,
bench outside with the support of Lewisham's
the Leemore tiny Tory group, Labour pushed
centre replaced. through a 2.5% hike.
Lewisham
Town Centre The Lib Dem team have uncovered high Council tax is an unfair tax
pollution levels in central Lewisham (see because it does not take into
story overleaf). James Jennings says account a person's ability to pay.
“Action must be taken to reduce the risk to During this recession council tax is
people’s health. Labour have ignored this really hitting hardworking families.
issue for too long.”
We probably all know of examples
where the council has wasted
Over 600 people have so far money, and at a time when every
joined the campaign for a safe
household is feeling the pinch.
pedestrian crossing at the Courthill
Labour should at least try and be
Road/Hither Green Lane junction.
You can back the campaign at careful with our money.
http://bit.ly/1Dtfq A small example of this waste is a
road hump in Mercia Grove - a tiny
cul-de-sac off Lewisham High
The closure of local community Street.
facilities, such as the Spotted Cow pub,
have been challenged by the Lib Lewisham have put a speed hump
just yards away from a brick wall
Dems. “A vibrant local community
at the dead end of the road. They
needs community spaces”, says
James Jennings. say it cost less than £900, but it's
just one example of wastage. And,
of course, there are the staff costs
“The entrance to Hither
Green station could be
of planning and arranging this
so much better, that is redundant hump.
why we supported the
A more serious example of
flower boxes outside the wastage is Lewisham's appalling
station,” says Cllr Dave
collection rate for unpaid council
Edgerton.
tax. It means more people get
away without paying the tax, while
Investigations by Cllr the rest of us have to pay more
Andrew Milton helped each year to make up for the
uncover a Hither Green
shortfall. And there's no excuse. In
Lane property “lost” by
Lewisham homes. It neighbouring boroughs councils
had been left empty have succeeded in improving
since 2007. collection rates. They recognise
James Jennings says how important it is to collect every
“Over 20,000 people are penny, especially during a
on the housing waiting recession. Labour have overseen
lists in Lewisham. Many a collapse of the economy
homes don’t even meet nationally and are failing with
decent homes finances locally.
Brownhill Road/South Circular standard.”
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