Black Month History provides an opportunity to celebrate the lives of people who have contributed to life in modern Britain.

One such life is Ignatius Sancho, an exceptional character who lived on the Lewisham / Greenwich borders.

Lewisham council have finally switched the provider of Lewisham’s leisure services from Fusion Lifestyle to a new provider, Greenwich Leisure Limited (who trade as Better). Lewisham Lib Dems have been calling for action against Fusion for a number of years as services have declined.

Fusion have decided to throw in the towel because of the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown, but their contract has been in trouble for a number of years. This is partly because Lewisham agreed a long 15-year contract in 2011 with assumptions that have inevitably proved inaccurate and with Lewisham failing to ensure service standards are being met.

The decision to change to Greenwich Leisure was taken by Lewisham’s Cabinet in a secret meeting on August 12th but the details have only now been released.

Lewisham Labour can’t even meet affordable housing target on their own developments

In the last local elections, Lewisham Labour promised that new housing developments would have to provide at least 50% affordable homes as part of their delivery. We’ve previously covered how the council are letting private-led developments through with much lower shares of affordable housing. Now, they’re not even insisting on the 50% target for their own developments.

Local Lewisham resident and Young Liberal, Debbie Fatukasi, writes about what the Black Lives Matter movement means to her.

One year ago, Lewisham Council declared a climate emergency and pledged to have an action plan to deliver a carbon neutral borough by 2030. We’ve been encouraging the council to get on with this – it is an emergency after all.

Now, just over a year on, the council is about to publish its draft plan. So what does the plan need to do?

Lewisham Lib Dems want to see policies that improve air quality, reduce congestion, cut emissions and enable people to make easier and safer journeys on foot. Reducing the amount we travel by car should be part of this but for some older people and those with disabilities access by car will still be needed.

The local Liberal Democrats have written to EU citizens in the borough pedging their continuing support after Brexit.

In the letter (below), Ade Fatukasi says, "It is possible the next few years may be very difficult for all of us in so many ways. Please be assured, Liberal Democrats will continue to defend your place here with all our strength."

Transport for London (TfL) have been consulting on extending the Bakerloo line to Lewisham and possibly further to Hayes using the existing rail line. Lewisham Liberal Democrats back the extension. But we also think TfL and Lewisham Council need to do more to make the extension work for everyone in Lewisham.

Thank you to everyone who voted Liberal Democrat on 12th December. The Liberal Democrats saw the biggest increase in vote of any party across Lewisham.

Our vote increased by 5.1% in Lewisham Deptford, by 5.8% in Lewisham West & Penge and by 6.8% in Lewisham East. Both Labour and the Conservatives saw their votes fall.

Brexit is making the staffing crisis at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust even worse, the Liberal Democrats have warned.

Figures published by the Liberal Democrats reveal that 137 EU staff working at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust have already left the health service this year including 34 nurses and midwives.

Bobby Dean is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Lewisham Deptford. Here are 7 reasons why you should back Bobby and vote Liberal Democrat in Lewisham Deptford.

In 2006 Labour’s Alistair Darling introduced a new rule that pushed up the cost of season tickets and other commuter fares by 1% above inflation. As a result season tickets and other fares rocketed, making getting to work harder and harder for those on low and middle incomes.

Lib Dem candidate for Lewisham West & Penge Alex Feakes has accused the Prime Minister of hypocrisy on education as new figures reveal how virtually half of the schools in Lewisham constituencies are facing real terms cuts or standstill funding in the coming year.

Only 83% of patients arriving at A&E in south east London were treated or admitted within four hours in October 2019, according to damning figures published today by NHS England.

The Liberal Democrats have today announced they would more than double spending on youth services in Lewisham to £11 million to help tackle rising levels of knife crime. This would form part of a total ring-fenced fund of £500 million for local authorities across England to spend on youth services, providing young people with positive, safe and healthy alternatives to gangs.