Current Issues:
Blackheath Assembly

Lewisham Council intends that local assemblies should be a new way of working in which residents can decide how to improve their area.

How do local assemblies work?

The Council has as its stated intention:

• Each ward in Lewisham has its own local assembly - anyone who lives, works or studies in the ward are encouraged to attend
• These friendly, relaxed meetings will take place four times a year
• They provide open discussion and debate about what matters in your area
• They intend to deliver real action to solve the issues raised
• Should demonstrate the community working together with the Council to make real change
• Meetings will be chaired by a councillor and supported by a coordinator employed by the Council

The process has involved a series of meetings from mid 2008 to February 2010. During the process the following key priorities have been identified as candidates for Blackheath

1.  Traffic in Blackheath Village
2.   Parking
3.   Drinking culture and licensing issues
4.   Litter and graffiti
5.   Lack of facilities for children

The Society has welcomed the opportunity to focus on issues like traffic, since it has has already engaged with Lewisham Council in pressing for a review of the 20 mph Zone, introduced some years ago.

The Assembly also proved to be a forum for voting on the disbursement of funds for local projects. Within this, the Society was successful in securing £600 from the assembly for a bench at the bus stop in Tranquil Vale.

A new series of Assemblies is due to start from July 2010.

More information on the Assembly process is available on:

www.lewisham.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy