LFUG meeting next Tuesday 29 Sept - draft agenda

 

The draft agenda is as follows: 

1. Resignation/Appointment of Secretary
2. Communications and possible apppointment of a Comms Officer
3. Skanska lighting works, including some lights replaced but still not working
4. Public WCs by the cafe - yet again the cafe operator needs to live up to their contractual obligations
5. The weir - still breached and secondary river channel not working properly as a result.  When will repairs be undertaken?
6. Mullalley temporary depot site by Doggett Road - new litter bins to be installed as 'quid pro quo' for disruption
7. Water mains leak at Malyons road bridge - reported several months ago but no action as yet, but it remains a slip hazard
8. Barratt's latest 'Catford Green' planning application
9. Safeguarding new tree plantings
10. Stand for the Ladywell Arena
11. Mopeds using the Park
12. Park railings in poor condition - what are Glendale's contractual obligations in this regard?
13. Clean-up issues - the micro-site nature reserve (near the basketball court) needs attention, as do the riverbank areas around the bridges between the hospital and the Park
14. Miscellaneous maintenance issues - please email ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk if you have suggestions for additional agenda items (n.b. Glendale have confirmed they will be represented, by Paul Turner, at the meeting)

See you there!

 

Robert Sheppard

Come along to Ladywell Fields meeting on 29 September

The Friends of Ladywell Fields (a.k.a. Ladywell Fields User Group) will meet at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29 September, in the Gallery r/o Ladywell Tavern.  Just walk into the pub, buy your tipple, and come on through the back of the pub, into the yard then turn right into the Gallery building.

 

More information, including advance notice of any agenda items, will be posted here - on or around 21 September.

 

Robert Sheppard

Secretary, Ladywell Fields User Group

Park issues raised at last night's meeting

At its meeting at the Ladywell Tavern yesterday evening, the Ladywell Fields Park User Group considered a wide range of issues in and/or affecting the park.  We were grateful to have Paul Winters of Glendale in attendance.  Here is a summary of the issues discussed.

 
• Barratts will soon be submitting a further application for the Catford Green (Catford Stadium) development which will include an additional storey on the buildings facing the park at the north of the site.  It was agreed that LFUG should object if the revised proposals had a significantly worse impact on the Park than those already approved.  It was agreed that Barratt’s proposals for the boundary between the development and the park needed to incorporate measures to prevent vehicular access into the Park.
• Discussions were underway between the Council, Environment Agency and Volker Fitzpatrick about the possibility of using large ‘arisings’ from the Lewisham Gateway project to repair the weir.
• Inconsiderate cycling in the vicinity of the cafe and down the diagonal path from Ewhurst Road in the south field remained a problem.  The ‘blind’ corner at the park entrance with Bourneville Road was also a hazard.
• Anecdotal evidence suggested that the reduction in Park Keeper presence (from 5 to 2.5 days pwk from 1 April 2015) had resulted in increased litter problems - though clearly this was not the fault of the part-time Keeper.  The Group hoped that in time more park users would get to know and recognise the new keeper and establish a more personal relationship. 
• Paul Winters undertook to attend to a number of issues in the south/middle fields as follows – (i) he would initiate more regular collections of rubbish from the regularly overflowing bins; (ii) he’d get the bowser to water drought affected trees - alongside the diagonal path and in the orchard - during July and August; (iii) he’d check for wobbly benches; and (v) he’d look to take action against the scooter that had been riding over the curly bridge most mornings c.7.00am.  He indicated that he was happy for people to call him on 07710 620661 to report issues needing urgent attention.
• After Paul left the meeting two further issues were raised relating to the south field – (i) the robinia cut down halfway up the diagonal path was again sprouting and its spiky branches were encroaching across the path – so the stump needed to be poisoned; and (ii) the surface of the children’s play area needed inspection and repair - it was especially bad under the large ‘scales’ item of equipment.
• Nick Pond, the Council’s Ecology Manager, to be asked for two more buckets to facilitate watering of the most vulnerable orchard trees during the Summer.
• The Bubble Theatre had an event in the Park on 8 July – see http://www.londonbubble.org.uk/page/rivers-and-people1/
• The Group agreed it would be useful if Tony and Robert took up Glendale/LBL’s offer of going with them on one of their periodic contract inspection visits of the Park.
• It was agreed that LFUG should do more to engage/involve young and newer park users to best ensure it remained representative and relevant.  The dates of future meetings (Tues 29 Sept and Tues 1 Dec 2015) should be widely publicised and well in advance.
• People had been spotted fishing in the vicinity of the curly bridge.  Is this permitted?
• Volunteering - (i) a further orchard workday/open day had been arranged for Sunday 2 August; and (ii) a Thames 21 River Clean-Up should be arranged for the Autumn.

These matters will be followed-up over the coming weeks.

 

Robert Sheppard

Next Ladywell Fields meetings on 23rd March and 22nd June

The Ladywell Fields User Group (aka the Friends of Ladywell Fields) will meet on Wednesdays 23rd March and 22nd June, as per usual at 7.30pm in the Gallery r/o the Ladywell Tavern.  Hope to see you there!

AGM update

At its well-attended AGM on Tuesday 31 March, the Ladywell Fields User Group re-elected Tony Rich and Robert Sheppard to serve for another year as Chair and Secretary respectively, and was pleased to elect Caroline Cupitt as Treasurer.

 

Issues discussed included the adventure playground, the breach in the weir, inconsiderate (and dangerous) cycling, and the impact of the Catford Green development on the Park.  The introduction of the (this!) new Ladywell Fields website was widely welcomed.

 

The notes of the AGM will be posted here shortly.

 

The User Group will  meet next on Tuesday 30 June, when we'll start with a short walk through the Park.

 

Robert Sheppard

Come along to join in important discussions about Ladywell Fields' future

The Ladywell Fields User Group (aka Friends of Ladywell Fields) will meet in the Gallery r/o the Ladywell Tavern at 7.30pm this coming Tuesday 31 March.

 

You will find the agenda here.

 

Please come along.  After dealing with election of officers (we don't have any new nominations but Tony Rich and Robert Sheppard have agreed to continue, if re-elected, as Chair/Treasurer and Secretary respectively) there will be a discussion about the challenges ahead as the Council and Glendale scale down parks management services and support.

Ladywell Fields User Group AGM Tues 31 March - please come along!

The LFUG Annual General Meeting will be held at the Gallery r/o the Ladywell Tavern at. 7.30pm on Tuesday 31 March.  Please come along!  Buy your drink at the bar and enter the Gallery via the 'beer garden' (yard) at the rear of the pub.

 

If you are potentially interested in standing for election to the position of Chair, Secretary or Treasurer, please email your interest by Sunday 22 March to ladywellfields@yahoo.co.uk.  The current Chair and Treasurer, Tony Rich and Robert Sheppard, are more than happy to stand aside if suitable, committed candidates come forward to take over.

 

Robert Sheppard