RESPONSE TO LEWISHAM’S PROPOSED STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Apr 2023
In April 23, the THS put forward this submission to the consultation opened by Lewisham Council.
QUESTIONS FROM THE TELEGRAPH HILL SOCIETY – and Answers from LEWISHAM PUBLIC TRANSPORT LIAISON COMMITTEE – Oct/ Nov 2022
LEWISHAM SMALL SITES DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Our committee shared our response to Lewisham’s draft Small Sites Development Guide in June 2021. You can read our views on it here.
LEWISHAM LOCAL PLAN: Telegraph Hill Society’s response
The April, 2021 public consultation phase of London Borough of Lewisham’s new ‘Local Plan’ asked us for our local feedback. The final version of the Local Plan will aim to “set out a shared vision for the future of the borough along with the planning and investment framework to deliver this vision through to 2040”. As such, it will lie at the heart of much Council action and policy over the next 20 years.
Lewisham Council have undertaken a series of webinars introducing key aspects of the Plan, and have sought comments from residents via their website.
Local community groups are submitting their own considered responses and here is the response of the Telegraph Hill Society to the Draft Plan:
OUR STREET TREES
The crowning glory of some of the streets of the Telegraph Hill Conservation Area are the wonderful Plane Trees which give our streets character and grandeur. Many of them are now over 130 years old and some have been lost to weather or age.
Would you like to donate to sponsor a replacement for a lost Plane Tree in the name of Telegraph Hill Society?
Would you like to request a new tree to replace one lost outside your home?
Contact us to see if we can work together with Street Trees for Living to keep our Hill’s trees vibrant, growing and healthy.
SAINSBURY’S/ MOUNT ANVIL
In 2019, the Telegraph Hill Society came together with other community groups and local people, concerned about the proposed high rise development for Sainsbury’s and the car park at New Cross Gate. The proposal was overly dense and provided few facilities for the local area. Concern was expressed that it endangered plans for the Bakerloo tube extension to south London and disrespected the architectural heritage of the area. The proposal was eventually shelved, but unsympathetic over-development remains a local concern for this and other sites.
TELGRAPH HILL PARK RESTORATION
The two parts of Telegraph Hill Park are divided by Kitto Rd — an upper, dog friendly park in the south and a lower, community park in the north. Following an extensive campaign, we were proud to lead the campaign to secure a grant of £1.5 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore much of the original Victorian park design and facilities …and the park remains a much used local amenity to this day.
Former Mayor Steve Bullock, Martin Hyde, Former MP Joan Ruddock, Tamsin & Malcolm Bacchus, Jayne Bates and others at the restored park’s official opening celebration day, 2004. (Photo by Paul Milnes)