Author: leemanorsoc

Posted on

Glendale to trial patrols in Manor House Gardens to combat anti-social behaviour

Glendale is to trial afternoon patrols in Manor House Gardens in a bid to combat the wave of anti-social behaviour there.

The company, which is contracted to manage the Gardens, will mount patrols between 4 pm and 6 pm for the next two weeks, and will monitor activity near the Taunton Road entrance where the worst trouble has occurred recently.

The Chair of the Friends of Manor House Gardens welcomed the move and added “If successful, we would expect this to be extended over the school holidays with additional patrol officers recruited as required.”

In the last week vandals have torn down the netting in the football/basketball court, and wrecked the lock on the tennis courts. Both are now closed to the public.

Vandalised netting
Damaged tennis court lock

The Friends have invited Glendale and Lewisham Council to commit to a zero-tolerance policy of anti-social behaviour in the Gardens and provide the resources to stamp it out. The Friends, and Pistachios café, have both offered to help fund additional measures, if necessary.

A new petition to get CCTV installed has now attracted more than 600 signatures.

The Friends have told Glendale and the Council “We are disappointed about the slow progress of CCTV installation which has now stalled over the last 12 weeks. We understand the challenges but require both of you to commit to get this back on track in the next 2 weeks with a clear delivery timeline.”.

He is also due to meet the Police soon, when he will push for a more proactive approach to criminal behaviour in the park.

The Friends say “Although the council considers Manor House Gardens to be in an affluent area of Lewisham most of the our visitors are not. It is the poorest in our community who are impacted the most from not being able to use the park safely.” 

Posted on

How the proposed Leegate Tower will look

These images tell their own story. They are in London Square’s new document, published on the Leegate regeneration website, which reproduces the material they displayed at the recent exhibition about their plans for the site. You can read the entire document here.

Michael Haste, Lee Manor Society’s planning expert, has been counting the storeys in the artist’s impression and thinks it’s even more than the proposed eighteen.

He says: ” I am certain that there are a total of 19 floors shown above ground, which when the basement level is included provides for a building of 20-storeys (including basement level) not ‘up to 15-storeys (including basement level)…’ as is currently approved. This gives an increase of 5-storeys not 3-storeys over the current approved Application as London Square are quoting.”

Lee Manor Society will be objecting to the current section 96a planning application by London Square which just asks Lewisham Council to remove the reference to the number of storeys on the tower. If approved they will then be able to apply to raise the height of the tower by way of a further section 73 application under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

Posted on

Petition for CCTV in Manor House Gardens to combat anti-social behaviour

A Lee resident has launched a petition to get CCTV installed in Manor House Gardens, after a series of ugly incidents and anti-social behaviour there.

Ali Billenness said she had acted after the mugging of two girls and an attempted break-in in Taunton Road. In addition, vandals have torn down the netting in the basketball court,

“I have noticed a real change in the park in recent months. Fewer children are coming to the park, no one is playing football and more, young children no longer scoot around the MUGA and friends with dogs have reported being intimidated and harassed. It is really saddening to see and I think the CCTV would help,” said Ali.

You can find the petition here.

Ali added: “It has really been escalating in recent months and sadly getting more serious. It would be so sad if we get the wonderful public art installations and then they are vandalised. My children (12 and 14) don’t even want to go into the park now and most of their friends feel the same way sadly.

“The local police have been called out to the park more than 30 times in the past three months alone. So, there’s an argument that not having any deterrent or evidence-gathering tool is also costing money (just on a different budget).”

Lime bikes dumped in the Quaggy

The Friends of Manor House Gardens supported the idea of a petition. “CCTV has been agreed in principle by Glendale, Lewisham Council and the police.
“The scoping work has been done. I think costs have escalated due to the need to install a post for the camera which requires a cherry picker to move into position.”

Posted on

Community Garden – new session dates

Calling all gardeners. The Lee Community Garden has issued a series of new dates for sessions over the summer. They are all Sundays: June 15th, June 29th, July 13th, July 27th, August 10th and August 24th.

The Community Garden is now part of the Lee Manor Society and it would be great if supporters could go along to help.

If you would like to know more, or get in touch, visit the Community Garden page.