We learned a lot from Tony Burton (an expert in community engagement and local planning) about the aims and benefits of neighbourhood forums, the experience of those who had achieved a forum in their area and what’s required to establish a forum.
The results of the potential neighbourhood area mapping exercise were that the large majority favoured an area which included all four quadrants of the Lee Green cross roads, taking in all three wards and Greenwich borough as well as Lewisham. A minority favoured restricting the neighbourhood area to the Lee Green ward boundary.
A meeting will be arranged with Lee Green Assembly working group members with a view to addressing the differences of opinion about the forum that were expressed at the meeting, referenced above.
In response to feedback received at the meeting we will maintain the momentum generated so far and arrange a second meeting involving the wider community; we will be in touch about this soon.
Like | Dislike | Want to change |
Green spaces, parks, gardens, trees | Traffic and pollution | Forgotten town centre, not a focal point for community |
Local people, vibrant mixed community | Factions, community not working together, lack of co-ordination | Unimaginative plans for Leegate with nothing for young people, no affordable housing |
Long history of local community based organisations | Can be isolating, lack of community | Scale of plans for Leegate, |
That people care | No clear local identity | Run-down, empty buildings that could be used by community |
Well-kept front gardens, low-rise residential area | Disjointed town centre | Get rid of scruffy garages next to carwash |
Friendliness and good networks | No tube link, current disruption of buses and trains in SE London | Better communication and trust between local community groups, proper democracy available to inform and interest |
Proximity to Greenwich and Blackheath | Leegate, empty scruffy buildings, dense high over-developed areas | Lack of information on what is available to us |
Easy to walk to, access to useful mixture of shops | Lack of decent shops, poor lighting | Assembly to take responsibility for all things local |
Quiet neighbourly roads | Graffiti, yobs, cyclists on pavements | Bigger community centre with better paid staff |
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