The Blackheath Village Library Users Group are organising a petition which we hope as many as possible will sign. This can be signed at Blackheath Station on Saturdays and at the Farmer’s Market on Sunday mornings in coming weekends. There is also an online petition that you can sign at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-our-blackheath-village-library.html

1.Blackheath Assembly. Monday next, 19th July, at 1930 in St Matthews Academy. A chance to air your views in the presence of local councillors;

2.Public meeting specific to the library: Date - Wed 28 July Time - 7pm Venue - Leemore Centre, Clarendon Rise Lewisham London SE13 5ES. Conveniently located 1½ miles from Blackheath Library. This is the communication we received indirectly about this meeting:

"Dear Colleagues,

As those involved and interested in your local assembly, we were very keen to invite you to a public meeting which has been called to discuss Blackheath Library.

As you may know a number of proposals are being presented to the Mayor as part of Lewisham's overall budget savings process, and a number of these affect the Library Service.

We have therefore arranged a public meeting to discuss Blackheath Library on Wednesday 28 July at 7 pm, to be held at the Leemore Centre, Clarendon Rise Lewisham, SE13 5ES.

We hope as many of you as possible will be able to join us.

Best wishes and thank you,

William

William Godwin
Manager, Executive Director's Office
Community Services Directorate
London Borough of Lewisham

020 8314 6951 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 8314 6951      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Members may also be interested to look at the Mayor's Commission on Libraries and Learning
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/204407A6-30BF-49DC-AD3A-88698000E8A7/0/MayorsCommissionLibrariesLearning.pdf
which includes the following regarding our library:

"Blackheath is the busiest neighbourhood library, with a
committed book focus. Last year it was host to a Richard & Judy
book event. On 2 floors, the upper meeting/exhibition space is
also regularly used, particularly for local art exhibitions.
Accessibility is an issue at this library, with steep stairs the only
access to the 1st floor. Despite this, the space is used by a
wide range of users including U3A."

For more details www.lewisham.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/ElectedRepresentatives/Councillors/LocalAssemblies/BlackheathAssembly/

Now, the Lewisham Public Accounts Select Committee proposes saving £860,000 in 2011-12 by shutting five libraries, including that in Blackheath Village. The proposals are on p13 of http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/75CFC698-9B19-49F2-9BC0-6A00E4B473D3/0/b2316da012594642b08ae433ad3d15cbItem4_Financial_Survey_And_Savings_Appendix1_130710.PDF

BVRG Position

The BVRG committee is opposed to the closure of the Village Library. It is a much-loved and much–used amenity for many local people, especially local children and those less able to make the trek to other libraries. Councillor Maines pointed out that this is Lewisham Council’s only presence in the Village, excluding schools.

Action

The BVRG committee has already met two of the three newly-elected councillors (Cllrs Maines & Bonavia; Cllr de Ryk had a prior engagement). There was general agreement that it was important to make opposition felt as early as possible. Many of our members have said to us that once there is a “consultation”, the decision has already been made.

The decision is ultimately one to be made by the Mayor, so we would encourage members to contact him (he has a website at http://www.mayorsteve.co.uk/ and his email address is steve.bullock@lewisham.gov.uk) and also your councillors and Heidi Alexander, the Lewisham East MP (website: http://www.heidialexander.org.uk/; email address: heidi.alexander.mp@parliament.uk). Please copy us at bvrg@bvrg.org.uk on any correspondence.

We asked the Councillors to obtain accounts and other information regarding the library, so that we can engage in constructive discussion with the council whilst maintaining our opposition to closure. We intend to work with other local organisations including the Blackheath Society and the library users' group, in addition to councillors and the MP.

What They Said Before The Election

Members will recall that, before the election, we put several questions to candidates, including their support or otherwise for the Village library (see our news entry here )

The question was:
“Many residents remember 1999, when the council attempted to close the Village library. Can you assure us that the Village library will remain open, and be adequately funded?”

Labour response

“Decisions about the future of Blackheath Library would ultimately be one for the Mayor of Lewisham to take but should we be elected as local representatives, we would want to see Blackheath Library remain open with adequate funds. We recognise that Blackheath is one of the busiest local libraries in the borough and that it fulfils an incredibly important role in our community – both educationally and recreationally. We are aware of no plans which would threaten the future of the library – should any plans emerge we would fight to protect this vital local service. Having recently attended a Blackheath Library User Group meeting, we are aware that many people would like to see improvements in the library – extended opening hours, better computer facilities and a lift to name just a few. We would like to explore the ways in which these improvements could be brought about”

LibDem response

“As with many decisions in Lewisham, the future of the Library lies with the Mayor. We have no plans to close any library, but should the library come under threat from another party, I would certainly fight to keep it open - I think community venues like libraries play a really important role in keeping communities connected. I've certainly enjoyed the art exhibitions at the library. Furthermore, as a former Lewisham teacher, libraries can be a very helpful resource, and a rare quiet space, for students to learn.

We also want to see the library network developed to meet modern demands. This would include improved ICT provision, better networks between libraries, and ensuring the book stock reflects local demand.”

Meetings This Week

Lewisham Council has not gone out of its way to publicise the proposed closure. The cuts are on the agenda for the Public Accounts Committe meeting at 7pm on 13th July in the Civic Suite, Catford. This is open to the public, but members of the public may not speak. The next day, 14th July at 6pm, the cuts are on the agenda for the Mayor's cabinet in the Civic Suite. Members of the public may speak at this meeting, but only if they have notified Kevin Flaherty on 020 8314 9327 beforehand. For more details see http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/CouncilAndDemocracy/CouncilMeetings/

As well as the formal AGM, the evening will include presentations by Nick Sales, the BVRG chair, and an open discussion on current issues facing the village.

Come and have your say on licensing, planning, trains, police, social events, traffic - whatever is concerning you about Blackheath.....

All Welcome - free admission - wine & nibbles!

See you there!

The Crown pub
“The construction of a single storey extension to the side, alterations to the front and rear elevations including the installation of extract ducting to the rear of The Crown PH, Tranquil Vale SE3, together with associated landscaping and construction of front boundary with railings, ranging in height between 1-2 metres.”
http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSLPagesDC/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=59746

No last date for comments given, but posted on 4th May, so 30 days would be 1st June.

9 Independents Road
(Next to the medical centre behind The Railway pub, opposite side of the track to Collins Street)
“The demolition of 9 Independents Road SE3 and the construction of a part five/part six storey building to provide 2, three bedroom, self-contained maisonettes, 11, one bedroom and 7, two bedroom self-contained flats.”
http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSLPagesDC/acolnetcgi.exe?ACTION=UNWRAP&RIPNAME=Root.PgeResultDetail&TheSystemkey=59658

No last date for comments given, but posted on 28th April, so 30 days would be 26th May.

Please copy any emails in respect of the above to bvrg@bvrg.org.uk

Letter from Bridget Prentice MP regarding recent meeting with South-Eastern. Two more carriages for the 08.48 to Charing Cross from May 2010, but no other changes despite the local reaction to the December 2009 timetable.

The above image may be a bit difficult to read, so here is the text of the letter:

"I am writing to update you from my end on the above matter, after Heidi Alexander, Nick Raynsford, Alex Grant & I met on 24th March with Charles Horton, Managing Director of Southeastern and Mike Gibson, the company's Public Affairs Manager.

We are pleased to say that Mr Horton and Mr Gibson informed us that, in light of the monitoring of services that has been carried out, the 0848 weekday service from Blackheath to Charing Cross will have two extra carriages from May 2010, which should ease the overcrowding on it. Southeastern will also be monitoring the 1630 weekday service from Victoria to Dartford to see whether additional carriages are needed.

The next opportunity for a review of the timetable will be in 2014, and at this stage Southeastern will restore any services it needs to.

I also wanted to let you know that at the meeting we asked about the instillation of a lift at Blackheath station and were informed that work should start shortly on this. We also raised the issues surrounding the side gate at Lewisham station, and were informed that Southeastern has raised our concerns with Transport for London and is currently waiting for a response.

If there is anything else that you think I need to know about this or any other matter again, please contact my office again. I will do everyhting I can to help you.

Yours sincerely

Bridget Prentice MP"

LETTER ENDS