Ladywell Live

Lewisham council has reached an agreement with Lime and Forest “to expand and improve the operation of dockless e-bike schemes around the borough” and cut the large numbers of bikes often abandoned on pavements creating a hazard for pedestrians. bit.ly/4bUj0uR

The Place/Ladywell is to be given a face-lift when it is converted into site offces for the Ladywell Park Gardens housing development. A planning application seeks the conversion of units into offices and skills centre with new cladding. bit.ly/4bHYQTT

M&S is to close its Lewisham store as part of a wide ranging restructuring of its shops. No closure date has been set. Around 100 staff jobs are at risk. Unions and councillors have called for talks with M&S to lessen the impact on the community. bit.ly/4sHiyWn

Lewisham council will need to make further savings of almost £36m over the next three years despite cuts of £30m in this year’s budget and increasing council tax by 4.99%. Councils are under severe strain after suffering a 27% cut in funding since 2010. bit.ly/4rAJvug

Friends of Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries @FoBLC is marking International Women’s Day with a tour exploring the lives of Notable Women buried or commemorated in the two cemeteries. Tour by Jane Hart starts at 2.00pm on Saturday March 14. Meet at Ladywell gates.

Community “spring clean” of the Playtower grounds today. More than 40 people clearing rubbish, cutting down brambles and greenery and filling the skip. Come and join us until 3.00pm

The Fox and Firkin is taking over a nearby shop - Black-Heath Antiques - to open a cafe, restaurant and bar with access to the pub garden. The street-facing cafe will serve breakfast with a street food style restaurant and bar open in the evening. bit.ly/4d5F9aA

Help make this local gem looked more loved than it is now! Hopefully it might deter miscreants from abusing it further (although try telling that to the pigeons!). All welcome.

This Saturday March 7: Community spring clean of the Playtower grounds 11am to 3pm. Come along to help clean up the site. Range of tasks need doing - clearing rubbish, cutting back greenery, general tidying. Bring tools. Wear suitable clothes. There’s no access to the building.

Developer Eastfield Investments is hoping to convert the ground floor of the Ravensbourne Arms pub on Lewisham High Street into a 10-room HMO. The ground floor has been vacant for eight years. Music co-op Sister Midnight tried turn it into a music venue. bit.ly/47aypVd

Reasonably Local to Ladywell. Technically on the edge of Ladywell ward. Should be an interesting talk. TONIGHT! @BrockleyMarket @LadywellLive @Love_SE4 @LewishamCouncil @stjohnsse8 @BrockleyMax @BrockleyCentral @Broc_Soc

Save the dates - Brockley Max 29th May to 6th June 2026 Applications now open for event organisers and performers.

🏚️ People in Brockley are fed up of the former Brockley Social Club site being left in such a state A building that was once much loved by the community is now a constant eyesore, full of rubbish and attracting anti-social behaviour That needs to change…

The last time Robert Sheppard looked inside the Playtower was 10 years ago. In February, Robert was one of four members of the Ladywell Society’s Playtower sub-group shown around the building. It is now in a much poorer state – ravaged by time. Full story bit.ly/4c265aR

Two new cinemas for Lewisham coming up. Castle Cinema, an independent crowd-funded operator, will open the old Catford Mews site in the summer. Arc cinemas will take on the nine screen site in central Lewisham. bit.ly/4qJFMdj

Brockle Max, the community arts festival, celebrates 25 years this year and is calling on local talent to take part and help make this year’s event bigger than ever. The festival, from May 29 to June 6, is now open for applications. Details here bit.ly/4tPcOeS

Lewisham’s planning enforcement team have decided to “trigger the process” of seeking an injunction” that would make current activity at the “garage site” on Ladywell high street illegal. The move follows a host of complaints from residents and road users. bit.ly/4tm0LWd

Ladywell’s oldest business, the Ladywell Dry Cleaners, celebrates 60 years on the high street this month. Set up by Arif but now run by Em his daughter the shop has seen big changes in the village. Read more bit.ly/4alyoyq

Sister Midnight, the co-operative that is aiming to open a community-owned music venue in Catford, has taken another important step towards opening its doors. It is raising a further £150k in a share offer to finish work on its venue and open this year. bit.ly/4ryifgb

Next Ladywell Society meeting coming up soon! We hope to see new members come along to strengthen our group and hopefully join the committee. All welcome!