The Council are holding a free dog microchipping day in Whitefoot on Tuesday 12th May from midday until 4pm at John Henry Housing Office on Verdant Lane. The Council says…

” Free Dog Microchipping Day

Lewisham Council, in conjunction with the south east London branch of the RSPCA, Battersea Cats & Dogs Home and Lewisham’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams will be holding a free microchipping event for dogs owned by Lewisham residents.Microchipping is a safe, permanent form of ID that can help to reunite owners with their dogs should they become lost or stolen.The microchipping session will be on Tuesday 12 May, from 12 midday to 4pm at the John Henry Housing Office, 299 Verdant Lane, Catford SE6 1TP. Residents will be asked to bring:

• Proof of ownership, such as a vet card or bill, photograph, or pedigree papers
• Proof that they live in the borough e.g. Council Tax statement or utility bill.

The first 20 people will also be offered free tag engraving for their dog.

A dog behavioural expert from Battersea Cats & Dogs Home will be on hand to answer questions and give advice on dog behaviour and training.

Residents can call the Animal Welfare team on 020 8314 2098 for further information or turn up on the day.

Cllr Dan Houghton

From Lewisham Council….

Compost Awareness Week

Compost Awareness Week runs from 3 May to 9 May and aims to encourage more people to recognise the benefits of home composting as well as the great results that can be achieved by using peat-free compost containing recycled material.

The theme for this year’s Compost Awareness Week is “food for thought”.

To mark Compost Awareness Week, Lewisham Council is holding a drop in session at Manor House, Beckenham Place Park on Saturday 9 May, between 12 midday and 4pm. Up to 100 residents can claim a free compost bin, courtesy of Lewisham Council, as long as they live in the borough and can provide proof of address.

An advisor from WRAP – the recycling and waste reduction experts - will also be on hand to answer questions and offer advice about how to reduce waste and recycle more. Free copies of “Composting: An Easy Household Guide” will also be available.

Composting bins are large, bulky items and residents should ensure that they have adequately sized transport to carry a one safely.For more information about home composting go to http://www.wrap.org.uk/composting

For more information about Compost Awareness Week go to www.compostawarenessweek.org.uk

Cllr Dan Houghton

We know many of you are concerned about the impact of the play area on Shroffold Green, and we are writing to assure you that we are taking the issue seriously.

We have spoken with all the organisations involved, and they have agreed to take steps to minimise any problems.

Phoenix Community Housing have confirmed that a fence will be built around 3 sides of the play area before the end of the month, and rubbish bins will also be installed.

The Youth Service and the Street Wardens have been working on the Green over the past week and will keep up their visits over the coming weeks.

The police reported that crime in the area has not risen since the park was built, and there is no evidence that the youth shelter is being used for any illegal activity. They assured us that they will continue to carry out visits, monitor the situation and work with local organisations and groups to deal with any problems.

Everyone wants to see good facilities for young people and we are glad many of them are enjoying the play area, however we also want to respect residents’ right to privacy and peace. We suspect that once the initial interest in the play area wears off, things will quieten down. Nevertheless, we have asked all the relevant local organisations to continue to monitor the use of the play area, and should it continue to be a major concern, we will discuss further ways to improve the situation for everyone.

If you have further concerns, do not hesitate to contact:

Safer Neighbourhood Police Team – 020 8721 2487 (In an emergency always dial 999)
Phoenix Community Housing - 0844 264 2800