Lewisham London Borough Council

Nearly 7,000 women in Lewisham were referred to domestic violence services in five years, according to a Freedom of Information request.

Lewisham commissions the Athena service, which is run by domestic violence charity Refuge.

It offers support to residents in the borough who are experiencing gender-based violence.

In 2015 1,065 women were referred to Athena, 1,416 in 2016, 1,525 in 2017, 1,585 in 2018, and 1,318 in 2019.

The number of men referred to the service was 3% of the figure for female referrals at 270 in five years, although male referrals went up by nearly 10% between 2015 and 2019.

Thirty-six men were referred in 2015, 48 in 2016, 53 in 2017, 72 in 2018, and 61 in 2019.

Lewisham Councillor Brenda Dacres, cabinet member for safer communities, said the council is “absolutely committed to doing everything possible to tackle domestic abuse in all its forms”.

LDRS

The Broadway Theatre in Catford cannot stay open while works are carried out because it would “not be safe”, according to a Lewisham cabinet member.

The theatre is expected to shut this summer and stay closed for the majority of Lewisham’s Borough of Culture year.

In response to a member’s question from Councillor Liam Curran, sent before full council, the cabinet member for culture, jobs and skills explained that most of the works involved “urgent health and safety requirements”.

A full electrical rewiring of the building must take place, as well as an asbestos check.

Cllr Andre Bourne said: “The majority of the works planned for the Broadway theatre are urgent health and safety requirements and have been programmed to start at the earliest possible opportunity, estimated to be summer/autumn 2020."

Lewisham residents could have access to ‘community tips’ in a bid to tackle fly-tipping.

A motion to launch a new approach to tackle the problem is due to be passed by Lewisham Council next week.

Plans include a review of what it would cost to provide community tips, which would make it much easier for people to dispose of their rubbish.

Currently residents “effectively need to own a car” to access the tip at Landmann Way.

The move is in response to figures published in January which showed that fly-tipping incidences have shot up by 50% in the last six years, from 714,631 in 2012/13 to 1,072,431 in 2018/19.

According to the figures, councils are shelling out £58 million a year to clean up the mess.

Lewisham will need to make £40 million worth of cuts over the next three years, it was announced at the budget meeting last week.

The mayor and cabinet backed the budget for 2020/21 on 6 February, which includes a 3.99 per cent council tax rise and 2.7 per cent increase in council tenant rent.

Mayor Damien Egan and cabinet members expressed regret over the cuts and concern about the uncertainty surrounding future central Government funding.

He said: “Services across the country are critically underfunded and Lewisham is no exception.”

The budget, including £16.6m worth of cuts overall, will be presented to full council on 26 February.

A2Dominion/Mount Anvil

Plans that would thwart one of Transport for London (TfL)’s Bakerloo Line extension proposed sites have been published.

TfL is planning to extend the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle to Lewisham via Old Kent Road and New Cross Gate.

But A2Dominion and Mount Anvil, along with Sainsbury’s, have applied to build a new superstore and 1,161 flats in towers reaching 33 storeys by New Cross Gate station.

The developers have suggested another site in New Cross for the extension instead.

Lewisham Council has backed the Bakerloo Line extension, including the New Cross site.

The plans, recently published on the council’s planning portal, would see the supermarket, petrol station and three retail warehouses – Dreams, Harvey’s Furniture and TK Maxx – knocked down.

According to the planning statement: “The applicant remains of the view that there are more suitable alternative sites for the new BLE station within the New Cross Gate area – in particular, the vacant site located on Goodwood Road.

"Furthermore, the applicant has been clear within their representations to TfL, that by locating the BLE Station on the application site it would result in the permanent closure of the existing Sainsbury’s Store (an important local convenience and the main anchor within New Cross Gate District Centre), give rise to significant job losses and prevent any development coming forward on this important option for an extended period (after 2031).”

The number of people suffering homelessness in Lewisham has gone up again, according to new figures from Shelter.

The homeless charity published its annual report, which analyses Government data, and found that there are now 7,015 people in temporary accommodation in the borough, compared to 6,695 last year.

According to the figures, five people are sleeping rough in Lewisham – a drop of 17 since last year – but local homeless charity the 999 Club estimates the number is 10 times that.

One in 43 people are now homeless in the borough, compared to one in 45 last year, leaving Lewisham with 12th highest rate of homelessness in England.

Paul Bell, Lewisham’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Shelter’s report highlights the number of people adversely affected by the blight of the ongoing housing crisis – and it makes for grim reading.

Seven London boroughs are to present their bids to be named London Borough of Culture, City Hall have revealed.

Croydon, Greenwich, Hounslow, Lewisham, Haringey, Hammersmith & Fulham, and Sutton are competing to take on the role in 2021 and 2023.

The two winning boroughs will each be awarded £1.35m to deliver a programme events during the year which "places culture at the heart of their communities" and celebrates "the unique character of local people and place".

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the scheme had been created "to give Londoners a chance to create and enjoy world-class culture on their doorstep".

Waltham Forest was the first winner, being named the London Borough of Culture for 2019, while Brent will take over the mantle next year.

A school for autistic children can take in more pupils after its expansion was approved at Lewisham’s Mayor and Cabinet yesterday.

Drumbeat School & ASD Service’s capacity will go from 171 places to 203 places in January.

The school, based in Brockley and Bromley, takes in those children and young people aged four to 19 with the highest level of autistic needs in the borough.

Lewisham has the highest prevalence of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) known to schools of all local authorities in England at 1.74%.

Restoring the Victorian Ladywell Playtower in Lewisham will cost an extra £1.7 million.

The “significant” rise in costs comes after surveyors found an array of unforeseen issues such as rotting timber and asbestos.

New structural support, basement waterproofing, water and electric upgrades, and repairing brick work, drains and roof coverings will also add to the cost.

Originally it was estimated the restoration of the Grade II listed Playtower, built as a public swimming baths in 1884, would cost £4.5 million but that figure has now risen to £6.2 million.

Developer Guildmore, in partnership with Curzon Cinemas, bought the years-derelict Playtower in 2017.

Plans for the site originally included a nursery and step-down care facility but this was dropped after few residents showed support for it.

The space will now be used for extra flats – 33 up from from the initial 21 – which the council says will mitigate the extra costs.

Councillors approved the changes at Mayor and Cabinet last night, as well as an offer from Curzon to give discounted cinema tickets to Lewisham Local Card holders, which rewards local volunteers.