Lewisham Green Party campaign shop, 252 Brockley Road

One of the reasons I've not posted to this blog much recently is that my day job as constituency organiser for Lewisham Deptford has been getting much busier (and there's unlikely to be much let up before 6th May!).

However our campaign took a big step forward this week with the opening of our campaign shop at 252 Brockley Road.

It's open 10am - 7pm daily (volunteers permitting), and will be our base for the duration of the local and general election campaigns.

Do pop in if you'd like to say hello or to:

• Find out a bit more about our policies and pick up a mini manifesto.
• Browse our range of second-hand books for sale at £1 (from next Tuesday; donations of good quality books welcome)
• Find out more about how you can support our campaign.

We also need volunteers to help us staff the shop. We are looking for people able to do a 3-hour shift (10-1pm, 1-4pm or 4-7pm) on any day of the week. Pop in or e-mail me if you can help.

For those who don't remember, this is the shop as it was before. After a busy day of moving tombstones (no, really!), sweeping and mopping, by the end of Monday our campaign shop was starting to take shape.

Crowley Memorials have moved to a larger site on Stanstead Road. Our lease on 252 Brockley Road is just until after the general election, and Home2U estate agents are looking for a longer-term tenant for after that. The shop needs a bit of work doing to it (we have strategically-placed spider plants to absorb some of the water leaking through the roof and it's flipping freezing due to lack of insulation), but it's in a prime location. There is also a huge cellar area that would be ideal for someone needing workshop space. It would be great to see a good A1 retail use on this site again once we've vacated it.

*For those wondering, yes, I did pick up that litter by the door, but didn't notice it until after I had taken the photo unfortunately!

Caroline Lucas MEP on Channel 4 Political Slot

Aargh! It's been one of those months where I've barely had time to breathe, let alone post on this blog. I will make a supreme effort to catch up on loads of local stuff v soon. In the meantime, a bit of party political propaganda from the Green Party:

Gordonbrock Decant and Rebuild

I realise I've been slightly out of the loop on the Gordonbrock decant and rebuild plans since the planning committee meeting. Just seen on the school website that there was a meeting for parents on 21st January about the decant and the presentation can be viewed here. The decant is scheduled to start on 10th April, after the Easter Hols and Ladywell Day Centre Sports Hall in Dressington Ave to be used as drop off collection point.

I've asked for a briefing from officers to update me - any specific queries/concerns about the decant that you want me to raise on your behalf?

Ladywell Social Assembly on Saturday

Invites to the Assembly were delivered to all households in the ward yesterday, so this is just a reminder that it’s going to happen on 6th February at Prendergast School’s lower site on Adelaide Avenue. It is not an ordinary sit down Assembly – you can drop in at any time between 1 and 3pm, wander about the stalls and find out what’s happening locally. About 20 local groups, the organisations that received funding from the Assembly and some council services will have stalls to present their work and answer questions.

I am really excited about this Assembly for two reasons: Firstly, there is so much happening in the ward, and this is an opportunity to see it all in one place – literally from provision for young children and their parents to the history and wildlife of the cemeteries.

Secondly, this is the first opportunity after the funding decisions made by the Assembly meetings last year to catch up with the successful organisations and their projects – some ongoing, some just started, some waiting for better weather. A considerable part of the funding was allocated to activities for young people, but it also supports arts, local history, leisure activities for all ages, tackling anti-social behaviour and crime and a streetscape design project.

It seems unfair to single out particular organisations or activities here so please come along and find out for yourself!

Lewisham Green Drinks - tonight, 7.30pm onwards

Just a quick plug for Lewisham Green Drinks, which is taking place at Mr Lawrence Wine Bar, Brockley Road, 7.30pm onwards tonight.

Guest speakers - At 7.45pm we will have guests Kristina and Joe from Lewisham's Waste and Recycling department to give us the latest update from their department.

All welcome! It's green rather than Green, ie not party political. Although I helped to organise it a couple of years back, I've long since handed the organising over to non-politically aligned greens, so we (hopefully) don't put off anyone who is more into green than Green! Anyway, I'm babbling, full details below:

LEWISHAM GREEN DRINKS
What: A group set up with the aim of helping green-minded people network with other green-minded people living and working in Lewisham.

When: 1st Monday of every month from 7.30pm
Where: Mr Lawrence Wine Bar, 389 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2PH
Why? For anyone with an interest in green/environmental issues to meet up and chat/network informally with like-minded individuals.

Same principle as London Green Drinks, see http://www.greendrinks.org for further info.

Hope to see you there!