17 November 2015
Havelock Walk Artists' Open Studios
12 November 2015
Controlled Parking Zone for Forest Hill?
The Council is holding an exhibition of the proposed CPZ at Forest Hill Library on Wednesday 18th November, 4pm- 7pm where full scale plans will be available. 
During November and December Lewisham Council is carrying out a consultation into a proposed Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in a network of streets bounded by Tyson Road, Horniman Drive, Sydenham Rise, Kirkdale, Dartmouth Road. The cost of parking in the CPZ areas would currently be:
Residents - £120 per year or £30 per year for low emission vehicles
Businesses - £500 per year
You can take part in a consultation on the proposal by visiting the Lewisham website.
10 November 2015
Library Consultation - Forest Hill Society Response
Lewisham Council are consulting over plans to downgrade Forest Hill library, together with Torridon Road, and Manor House libraries to community libraries. You can read and respond to the full proposals here.
The Forest Hill Society is opposed to these changes and you can read our full response here.
The conclusions are:
1. We are proud of Forest Hill library; the 17% increase in visitors in the last four years, maintaining book borrowing at 94% of 2010 levels, and all the additional services already provided in the building.
2. We accept that, due to cuts in Local Authority funding, there may need to be a reduction in staffing levels in library services.
3. We believe that using volunteers to support existing Lewisham libraries can be a useful way to reduce the impact of these cuts.
4. We recommend that volunteers should be used across all Lewisham managed libraries rather than only in community libraries.
5. We cannot support an increase in hours for the three remaining ‘Hub Libraries’ while staffing levels are being reduced in Forest Hill, Manor House, Torridon Road, and Catford.
6. We expect that borrowing figures will plummet in any community library, as has been demonstrated in five separate libraries across Lewisham.
7. We do not accept that the community library model is suitable for larger libraries (with borrowing levels higher than all five community libraries in the borough put together).
8. We do not believe that a community library in Forest Hill would be capable of supporting library services that are financed by other profit-making services in the space, and as a result library services can only deteriorate in the community library model.
The Forest Hill Society is opposed to these changes and you can read our full response here.
The conclusions are:
1. We are proud of Forest Hill library; the 17% increase in visitors in the last four years, maintaining book borrowing at 94% of 2010 levels, and all the additional services already provided in the building.
2. We accept that, due to cuts in Local Authority funding, there may need to be a reduction in staffing levels in library services.
3. We believe that using volunteers to support existing Lewisham libraries can be a useful way to reduce the impact of these cuts.
4. We recommend that volunteers should be used across all Lewisham managed libraries rather than only in community libraries.
5. We cannot support an increase in hours for the three remaining ‘Hub Libraries’ while staffing levels are being reduced in Forest Hill, Manor House, Torridon Road, and Catford.
6. We expect that borrowing figures will plummet in any community library, as has been demonstrated in five separate libraries across Lewisham.
7. We do not accept that the community library model is suitable for larger libraries (with borrowing levels higher than all five community libraries in the borough put together).
8. We do not believe that a community library in Forest Hill would be capable of supporting library services that are financed by other profit-making services in the space, and as a result library services can only deteriorate in the community library model.
08 November 2015
Lewisham's Writer-in-Residence Opposes More Community Libraries
Chrissie Gittins, Lewisham’s first honorary Writer-in-Residence, has written to us outlining her concerns with plans to turn Forest Hill, Manor House, and Torridon Road into Community Libraries.
Chrissie lives in Forest Hill and is currently Writer-in-Residence with the Borough of Lewisham. Chrissie has received a fellowship at Hawthornden Castle, and awards from the Society of Authors, the Royal Literary Fund, and The Author’s Foundation.
Further details about Chrissie on her website: http://www.chrissiegittins.co.uk/
8th November 2015
Dear Residents,I was very proud to be appointed Lewisham’s first honorary Writer-in-Residence by Lewisham Libraries in 2010. I write poetry for adults and children, short fiction and radio drama; I’ve lived in Forest Hill for 26 years.
It grieved me in 2011 when 5 of out then 12 libraries lost their funding and became community libraries. It grieves me now that a further 3 libraries are in danger of following the same route.
The statistics for book borrowing in the five community libraries since 2011 are very clear. Borrowing is down by an average of 74%. At Grove Park Library borrowing is down by 90%. If three further community libraries are implemented the borrowing figures for Lewisham Libraries would no doubt continue to decline.
It is inconceivable to me that an inner London borough, where over 275,000 adults and children live, work and learn, should be left with only three professionally staffed libraries.
Having a well-stocked library within a reasonable distance, with consistent trained staff, who can advise and recommend, and provide an atmosphere conducive to exploring books, is essential to a child’s learning. I grew up in a household with only a handful of books. I wouldn’t have developed my love of reading and of literature without the expertise on hand at my local library. I certainly wouldn’t have become a writer.
I urge you to make your feelings known and to fill in the Lewisham Libraries Consultation document by the 15th November.
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/libraries/Pages/Library-consultation-2015.aspx
And please sign the petition to Save Lewisham Libraries.
https://www.change.org/p/lewisham-council-save-lewisham-libraries
A comprehensive library provision is crucial to the future literacy and enrichment of the children of Lewisham.
Yours,
Chrissie Gittins
Chrissie lives in Forest Hill and is currently Writer-in-Residence with the Borough of Lewisham. Chrissie has received a fellowship at Hawthornden Castle, and awards from the Society of Authors, the Royal Literary Fund, and The Author’s Foundation.
Further details about Chrissie on her website: http://www.chrissiegittins.co.uk/
06 November 2015
Pub Crawl: Thursday 26th November
The Forest Hill Society invite you to a Pub Crawl through Forest Hill on Thursday 26th November.
Pub Crawl through pubs new and old in SE23, starting at the All Inn One on Perry Vale at 7:30pm and departing for the next venue at 8pm. Just turn up!
Sadly we cannot visit all the pubs of Forest Hill, but we have a selection to take you to, where you can purchase a variety of refreshing beverages.
This is a great way to meet other local people to enjoy a drink and a chat.
Pub Crawl through pubs new and old in SE23, starting at the All Inn One on Perry Vale at 7:30pm and departing for the next venue at 8pm. Just turn up!
Sadly we cannot visit all the pubs of Forest Hill, but we have a selection to take you to, where you can purchase a variety of refreshing beverages.
This is a great way to meet other local people to enjoy a drink and a chat.
02 November 2015
26 Inglemere Road - Planning Application
A new application has been made to convert a
building to the rear of 26 Inglemere Road to a one bedroom dwelling.
The application can be viewed on Lewisham website. (Application number DC/15/93613)
The Forest Hill Society has written with concerns regarding this application relating to:
• The design quality
• The quality and legibility of the planning application documentation
• The planning history of the site
• Site suitability
You can view the full text here
The Forest Hill Society has written with concerns regarding this application relating to:
• The design quality
• The quality and legibility of the planning application documentation
• The planning history of the site
• Site suitability
You can view the full text here
20 October 2015
Library Visits and Borrowing in Lewisham
Using two different reports to the council it has been possible to see the changes in library usage since the first community libraries were set up in 2011. The figures are detailed below:
Libraries ordered by October 2014 borrowing figures.
Full Excel download available with all years.
Three trends emerge over time:
1. Visitor numbers to community libraries have increased faster than other libraries in Lewisham.
2. Book borrowing is on a general downward path.
3. Decline in book borrowing has been far worse in community libraries.
Looking specifically at Forest Hill Library, the decline in borrowing has been least of all Lewisham libraries. Forest Hill has also seen the largest increase in visitors of all council run libraries (not including Deptford and Torridon Road which were not open in 2010).
Community libraries are almost certainly better than no library at all, and volunteers have worked hard to make these smaller libraries work, but based on the experience with existing community libraries over four years, transferring more libraries to Community management is likely to result in massive reductions in borrowing (core library services).
The Forest Hill Society opposes the community model as a method of providing services in Forest Hill Library and believe it will have a negative impact on children and adults in the local area.
We urge you to complete the survey provided by Lewisham council on cutting library services and make your views known.
| Library | Type | Visitors in Oct 2010 | Visitors in Oct 2014 | % Change in visitors | ...... | Borrowing in Oct 2010 | Borrowing in Oct 2014 | % Change in borrowing |
| Lewisham | Council | 31,855 | 31,756 | 0% | 22,025 | 17,387 | -21% | |
| Deptford | Council | n/a | 39,561 | - | n/a | 10,387 | - | |
| Forest Hill | Council | 12,208 | 14,266 | 17% | 9,461 | 8,853 | -6% | |
| Downham | Council | 35,799 | 30,692 | -14% | 8,853 | 7,307 | -17% | |
| Catford | Council | 23,973 | 18,975 | -21% | 10,197 | 6,905 | -32% | |
| Manor House | Council | 17,749 | 19,533 | 10% | 9,779 | 5,952 | -39% | |
| Torridon Road | Council | n/a | 5,085 | - | n/a | 4,101 | - | |
| Crofton Park | Community | 7,550 | 8,000 | 6% | 6,036 | 2,419 | -60% | |
| Blackheath | Community | 7,897 | 10,548 | 34% | 5,044 | 1,672 | -67% | |
| Sydenham | Community | 5,382 | 6,570 | 22% | 4,035 | 934 | -77% | |
| New Cross | Community | 4,033 | 6,113 | 52% | 2,770 | 726 | -74% | |
| Grove Park | Community | 3,743 | 3,692 | -1% | 3,764 | 391 | -90% |
Full Excel download available with all years.
Three trends emerge over time:
1. Visitor numbers to community libraries have increased faster than other libraries in Lewisham.
2. Book borrowing is on a general downward path.
3. Decline in book borrowing has been far worse in community libraries.
Looking specifically at Forest Hill Library, the decline in borrowing has been least of all Lewisham libraries. Forest Hill has also seen the largest increase in visitors of all council run libraries (not including Deptford and Torridon Road which were not open in 2010).
Community libraries are almost certainly better than no library at all, and volunteers have worked hard to make these smaller libraries work, but based on the experience with existing community libraries over four years, transferring more libraries to Community management is likely to result in massive reductions in borrowing (core library services).
The Forest Hill Society opposes the community model as a method of providing services in Forest Hill Library and believe it will have a negative impact on children and adults in the local area.
We urge you to complete the survey provided by Lewisham council on cutting library services and make your views known.
06 October 2015
Vote for Water for Horniman Play Park
For a number of years Horniman Triangle Play Park has been without water, we are looking to change that.
The Play Park has lots of equipment designed for use with water, sadly the hand pump was broken off, replaced, vandalised,and removed for health and safety reasons. We have looked at various options to bring water back to this play equipment, and the simplest is to replace this hand pump with a drinking fountain - a tap that provides a small amount of water when pressed for drinking or for filling buckets to play in the sand and play equipment.
To make this happen we need approximately £3,000 according to the council (this is no ordinary tap, it is a council approved drinking fountain that will hopefully withstand the type of use it will get from small children).
We have submitted a bid to the OneFamily foundation for a grant to make this happen, all we need now is your vote.
https://foundation.onefamily.com/projects/horniman-play-park/
You will be asked to register on the site, which is easy to do with Facebook, Twitter, or Email address. This is so that they can prevent multiple voting and it will not post anything to your social media account and you should not get advertising emails from the organisation.
In the past the local community has been brilliant at supporting these types of on-line votes, so please vote and share on social media to encourage your friends to support this project.
05 October 2015
Forest Hill Society AGM
Member and non-members are welcome to the 10th Forest Hill Society AGM on Thursday 22nd October, 7:30pm at the Honor Oak Pub, St German's Road / Brockley Rise. Meeting takes place upstairs in the 'Whisky Room'.
We are always keen for new people to join the Executive committee of the Forest Hill Society. So if you are a long-term resident or moved in last week, you would be perfect to join the committee and work with a team that have a track record of helping make Forest Hill a better place to live.
We are always keen for new people to join the Executive committee of the Forest Hill Society. So if you are a long-term resident or moved in last week, you would be perfect to join the committee and work with a team that have a track record of helping make Forest Hill a better place to live.
Forest Hill Library under Threat
Lewisham council are consulting about options for library services in
the borough. Forest Hill lends the third most books (after Lewisham and
Deptford) but is under threat of reduced opening hours or Lewisham
council's preferred option of transferring management to a community
group.
Transfer to community libraries in Crofton Park and Sydenham have resulted in reduced lending with three times the number of books issued from the two libraries in 2010 compared to 2014 (based on October figures). By contrast, Forest Hill library lending in 2014 is at 94% of the 2010 level, higher than any other library in the borough.
You can find out more about the proposals at:
Wednesday 7 October, 7:30pm, Broadway Theatre, Catford
Monday 19 October, 7:30pm, Sydenham School, Dartmouth Road
Or you can respond to the online consultation.
Transfer to community libraries in Crofton Park and Sydenham have resulted in reduced lending with three times the number of books issued from the two libraries in 2010 compared to 2014 (based on October figures). By contrast, Forest Hill library lending in 2014 is at 94% of the 2010 level, higher than any other library in the borough.
You can find out more about the proposals at:
Wednesday 7 October, 7:30pm, Broadway Theatre, Catford
Monday 19 October, 7:30pm, Sydenham School, Dartmouth Road
Or you can respond to the online consultation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)