Lewisham Council writes:
Lewisham Council is to offer free car parking on three Saturdays in the run up to Christmas.
Shoppers will be able to park for free all day in all council-run car parks in Blackheath, Catford, Deptford, Forest Hill, Lewisham and Sydenham on Saturday 7, 14 and 21 December.
The start of the free parking offer falls on 7 December – the traditional start of the Christmas shopping rush – and also the UK’s first ‘Small Business Saturday’ which is a national campaign to encourage shoppers to ‘shop local’ and use local, independent shops.
Sir Steve Bullock, Mayor of Lewisham, said: “Town centres are at the heart of our local communities and independent businesses play a huge role in making our town centres the vibrant and prosperous areas they are to work in and to shop.
“We are pleased to take part in Small Business Saturday by waiving parking charges in Council car parks during this period and I hope everyone will take this opportunity to do their Christmas shopping locally and help support local businesses.”
The free car parking offer only applies to car parks that are managed by Lewisham Council and does not include on-street parking, Lewisham Shopping Centre (which is privately owned) or Blackheath Station car park which is now owned by Network Rail.
For a list of all participating car parks visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/freeparking.
Win the chance to start Blackheath Fireworks on Saturday 2 November
For the first time, Lewisham Council is inviting residents to enter a prize draw with a first prize of ‘pressing the plunger’ to start Blackheath fireworks, the biggest free fireworks display in the capital.
For only £5 per entry, the lucky winner, along with five friends, will also receive a guided tour of the firing zone and an optimum viewing position within the firing zone. Fifteen runners up will be given five passes to the VIP viewing area which offers a spectacular view of the display right next to the firing zone.
As well as the display which starts at 8pm, there will be a funfair on Blackheath from 4pm and food and refreshments available from 5pm. Blackheath welcomes almost 100,000 visitors to its display - the biggest, free fireworks event in the capital.
L&Q Housing is one of Blackheath Fireworks main supporters this year whilst other local businesses are also being offered the opportunity to support the fireworks with a range of different sponsorship opportunities and premium viewing packages.
For details of the prize draw and how to enter, go to www.lewisham.gov.uk/startthefireworks
Entries close at 12 noon on Friday 28 October 2013.
Zippos Circus
 |
| Those blurry blue lights are four motorbikes riding at high speed around a small globe, 10 feet away from the audience |
Its star attractions include a genial Ukrainian strongman, a Cuban acrobat troop and four motorcylists who squeeze in to a metal sphere, 20 feet in diameter, and race upside down. Even the clowns made us laugh.
Note: At one point, a succession of men refused to let the clowns drag them in to the ring to serve as comic stooges. We are pleased to report that this pattern was broken by a dad we recognised from Myatt Garden, who stepped up and showed great comic timing of his own - Brockley always delivers.
Zippos is performing on Blackheath until Tuesday, April 9th. Recommended.
Two new Lewisham pocket parks created
A press release from the Mayor of London's office says:
From fruit and veg patches to water features, work is beginning on the first of the Mayor’s 100 ‘pocket parks’ – transforming underused urban spaces into mini oases across the capital in a £2m scheme.
‘Pocket Parks’, which are around the size of a tennis court, are set to reinvent some of London’s forgotten nooks and crannies and make the capital an even better place to live and work.
In Lewisham, thanks to £67,000 from the Mayor, new planting, trails, seating and lighting, will create two ‘pocket parks’. Blackheath Elliot Pits will feature sensory equipment, a Trim Trail adventure, and a play space to educate children about the pits’ ecological importance. Sydenham Literary Piazza will be a space to sit, read and reflect and link Sydenham road with Home Park, encouraging cycling and improving safety.
All 100 ‘pocket parks’ are due to be delivered by March 2015. A further funding round for community based projects will open in May.
This is also part of the Mayor’s Team London programme which is seeking to build a volunteering legacy following the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by encouraging Londoners to do something great for their city.
From fruit and veg patches to water features, work is beginning on the first of the Mayor’s 100 ‘pocket parks’ – transforming underused urban spaces into mini oases across the capital in a £2m scheme.
‘Pocket Parks’, which are around the size of a tennis court, are set to reinvent some of London’s forgotten nooks and crannies and make the capital an even better place to live and work.
In Lewisham, thanks to £67,000 from the Mayor, new planting, trails, seating and lighting, will create two ‘pocket parks’. Blackheath Elliot Pits will feature sensory equipment, a Trim Trail adventure, and a play space to educate children about the pits’ ecological importance. Sydenham Literary Piazza will be a space to sit, read and reflect and link Sydenham road with Home Park, encouraging cycling and improving safety.
All 100 ‘pocket parks’ are due to be delivered by March 2015. A further funding round for community based projects will open in May.
This is also part of the Mayor’s Team London programme which is seeking to build a volunteering legacy following the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by encouraging Londoners to do something great for their city.
