The Ladywell Society, keen to broaden its reach and step up its activities in the neighbourhood, has launched a short survey to find out what matters most to the people who live, work or study in Ladywell.
The society is already committed to improving the environment and village amenities, investigating and promoting local history, and fostering community spirit.
But the short survey will help shape the group’s immediate prorities and guide how best it can help represent local views in discussions with councillors and the council over coming months.
The Labour council’s recent decision to end support for local assemblies as part of its budget savings has left residents without a clear or obvious way of engaging directly with the council and its decision making.
The society hopes it can help fill some of the gap left by assemblies – raising local concerns with councillors, having a strong and authoritative voice, and ensuring the local community is heard.
The survey asks those taking part to rank a 10 local issues in order of their importance.
These include traffic congestion and healthy streets; supporting local businesses; improving awareness of local news and events; and coordinating morecommunity events and festivals.
Ladywell Society plans to broaden membership and step up campaigning on local issues
The Ladywell Society, a campaigning force in the neighbourhood for more than 40 years, has ambitious plans to broaden its membership and step up its campaigning on local issues over the coming year.
After electing a new committee at its annual general meeting, the society said it was determined to help local residents exercise greater influencer over issues s that matter to them .
The council’s recent decision to end support for local assemblies as part of its budget savings means residents are now denied any clear or obvious way of engaging directly with the council and its decision making.
The society hopes it can help fill some of the gap left by assemblies – raising local concerns with councillors, having a strong and authoritative voice, and ensuring the local community is heard.
Over the years, the society has played a leading role in promoting the area and its history, lobbying to protect historic buildings, leading a campaign to save the old Victorian bath house – the Playtower – fighting to save the Ladywell ward, and hosting several community events.
With a new committee elected a new chapter opens, with the society broadening its base and taking a more proactive stance on issues that matter to Ladywell.
The new committee is as follows:
Tony Major – Chair
Joel Falconer – Vice-Chair
Robert Sheppard – Co-Ordinator
Kay Putnam – Treasurer and Minutes Secretary
Geoffrey Thurley – Planning Lead
Phoebus Apostolides – Social Media Lead
Jean Branch – Committee Member without portfolio
Tony Rich – Committee Member without portfolio
Andy Marsden – Committee Member without portfolioAlison Catley – Committee Member without portfolio
For more information you can contact the society at LadywellSociety@gmail.com