Today I’ve written to Virgin Media’s head office demanding that they take action on the number of their junction boxes within Lee Green Ward which have been neglected and are open to the elements.  Just in the course of walking round the ward this weekend I’ve discovered five such boxes - and I didn’t go out of my way to look for them.

I think these boxes with exposed wires, some of which apparently carry a 230 volt charge, are are an accident waiting to happen in an area with such a lot of family housing.   They also make the whole area look uncared for, and I guess if they were tampered with they could interupt residents’ cable telephone, TV and internet connections.

These cabinets are Virgin Media’s responsibility.   Hundreds of residents in Lee Green ward pay Virgin Media to provide services to them, and it’s time for Virgin to get their act together.

The one pictured is on Kellerton Road, near the junction with Manor Lane Terrace.   As you can see from the label, this one has a 230 volt live charge.

Do you know of an open Virgin Media junction box in Lee Green?   If so, let me know and I’ll get onto it.   Use the comments box below or drop me a line.

If you saw several damp looking people out and about in Lee Green this morning, it was probably us - we had a large team out knocking on doors.   Your councillors regularly do this to find out what local people are thinking and what issues they’d like us to take up, but others joined us for this morning’s effort as it formed part of Nick Clegg’s Million Door Challenge - his campaign to engage with 1,000,000 people right across the UK.

Reasidents in and around Manor Lane and Newstead Roads raised a number of issues which we’ll be taking up.   If you weren’t in when we called, you should still have received one of the survey forms, which you can return to our FREEPOST address.   Failing that, do get in touch direct.

We’ll be out and about in other areas of the ward in coming weeks.   The picture shows some of this morning’s team, including myself, Sven, Lewisham East Parliamentary Spokesman Chris Maines and Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Mark Morris.

Just back from the town hall.   After two and a half hours of discussion, the Northbrook plans were approved by the Strategic Planning Committee, with only one councillor voting against.

As I promised to do at the public meeting back in June, I used my right to speak at the committee to represent the views of local residents.   Representatives from the Lee Manor Society, NAG and the Manor House Gardens Users Group also spoke.

I’m sure I and others will write more about this in the days to come - but I’m knackered, so that’s all for now!

Today’s been a long day.  Work took me to Manchester and back, then went straight to the Town Hall for a licensing meeting - they were discussing the Leegate Centre application I mentioned a few weeks ago.

Unfortunately due to a procedural issue (we weren’t given details, but I have my suspicions…) the committee were unable to make a decision tonight, so the application’s been adjourned until October 23rd.

The old warehouse at 87 Old Road (behind the Council depot) has been an on-going issue for some time.  I first became involved back in January 2007 when local residents approached me, concerned that windows had been installed in the building in breech of planning regulations.   Eventually we got the Council to issue an enforcement notice.  Then in November last year, we managed to get an application to turn the building into flats turned down.   After that, the owners appealed against the enforcement notice regarding the windows.   

The appeal against the enforcement notice was turned down in July.   However, Council officers tell me they’re obliged to give the owners another 6 months grace to remove the windows before they can take further action.

So I’d stuck February 09 in my diary as the date to start chasing this and assumed it’d be quiet until then.   So I was astonished to read this article on the NewsShopper website.    It turns out an estimated £2million worth of cannabis was discovered at 87 Old Road in a police raid on Thursday.

If anyone has any information, they should call the Lee Green Safer Neighbourhood Team on 020 8721 2482 or talk to Crimestoppers

As you might be aware, I’m enthusiastic about the package of improvements residents on the Leybridge and Newstead estates have negotiated with Broomleigh Housing Association.    The improvements will only happen if residents vote YES to transfering their homes from the Council/Lewisham Homes to Broomleigh.

With the ballot just a few weeks away, the resident steering group are keen to raise awareness of the great deal on offer - and the need to vote YES!    So with this in mind, there was a fun day on the estate today, complete with BBQ, face painting and a bouncy castle.

Thankfully, the weather held up, and everyone present seemed to have a great time.   Broomleigh staff were on hand to answer any questions, and I was particularly impressed to learn about the caretaking and estate services Broomleigh are planning to offer.   Everyone I spoke to seemed enthusiastic about the improvements on offer - but the residents aren’t taking anything for granted and know they need to say yes to stock transfer to make these improvements reality.

So - good weather, Open House, a Fun Day and Sunderland beating Boro 2-0.   All in all, quite a good day!