So do we start to work on funding options for this now & possibly put in an assembly funding application 
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Shall we apply for £2500 Assembly Funding from Perry Vale Ward, application deadline is Friday 15th September - we need to decide which group/organisations we apply via for the signage
"Perry Vale Assembly Fund is open
Bids are invited to Perry Vale Assembly Fund for projects that meet Perry Vale Assembly Priorities
and benefit people who LIVE, WORK OR STUDY in the ward.
You may apply for up to £2,500 and the deadline to apply is 5 pm on Friday 15th September.
Please be aware that funds are intended to support primarily community led, innovative small projects that would find it difficult to obtain funding elsewhere. Existing or repeat projects that have received funding in previous years from the Assembly are encouraged to look elsewhere.
The 2017/18 Priorities are:
Children and young people.
Unemployment and skills development.
Older people and intergenerational.
Crime and antisocial behaviour.
Environment and ecology.
In addition to meeting the priorities, applications will be assessed on whether:
they offer direct benefit to people who live, work or study in the ward
there is evidence of need for the project, and whether a similar resource exists in the ward
they are value for money
they are sustainable once assembly funding stops
alternative funding has been explored and is available.
Please find full details on the Perry Vale Assembly page of LB Lewisham’s website – at the link below:
Perry Vale Assembly Fund
If you have any questions on the Assembly Fund after reading through the application form, please feel free to contact me by reply email or on 020 8314 3830."
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Sad to report that the one in Brockley has already been graffitied upon.
Can we make a decision on this, so we can get our skates on and apply for assembly funding if required.
It’s much easier to get assembly funding from Perry Vale Ward than FH Ward as less apply.
@Michael just making you aware of this post
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I think there’s been enough positive comments to say yes definitely apply for assembly funding! I think the location and idea are clear
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Just a personal viewpoint, but if the idea is just to do the standard “Railway sign” mural (the one that’s been done before in a number of neighbouring areas of SE) on the base of the railway bridge I feel like that’s been done before and has the effect of standardising SE23 / Forest Hill rather than doing something unique that helps create our own identity.
I’d like us to be more ambitious and original. I’ve mentioned in earlier posts the Leyton light boxes as examples of something that i think is ambitious and original (I’m not suggesting we copy them, just giving an example of such a project):
I’d love the idea of getting the support of the local council / assembly to cooperate with the owner of the W H Smith building which is at the heart of Forest Hill with good sight lines from London Rd to get an illuminated Forest Hill or SE23 sign on the roof - a 60sec paint job to attempt to illustrate the sort of thing I mean:
I agree that getting the funding would be a good step - but I’m not sure if the idea needs to be agreed before getting the funding? The best approach would seem to be to invite submissions for a sign/mural that has a specified budget and then put it to a vote.
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When @Michael asked what people want, this was the response:
I interpret the results as 39% of voters supporting the “vintage railway style” mural for Forest Hill:
The other 61% want something else (let’s call it “non vintage”) - but do they all want the same “something else”?
By my maths, in order to beat the overall vote for the “vintage” design, 64%+ of “non vintage” voters would have to stand behind a single design (assuming all “vintage” voters stuck with their original choice). How likely are we to get this level of agreement among the “non vintage” voters for a single design, given how individual our tastes are?
In conclusion - I think if we’re to explore other options, we need to set a time limit (say, end of August) to decide, otherwise we risk the project remaining in limbo for another year. That means alternate proposals need to come in within the next couple of weeks, and if they don’t, I think we should run with the “vintage” design.
Hahahaha. We should use this logic for the 2016 EU referendum result.
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You took the words right out of my mouth. The question might be in this case, is no sign better than a bad sign?
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How about a ‘call for ideas’ with a deadline of 11th Aug, then a week or so of voting? Should give enough time to mock something up for the application…
The voting could include the “vintage” option again.
Thoughts?
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Sounds good, @_Ed.
I can create a topic for submissions and mod it to ensure it doesn’t become “submissions + chatter + unhelpful political stirring.”
Do you think we should restrict to mockups of Forest Hill / SE23 designs, or would it be okay to allow photos of examples from other areas e.g. the Leyton design? My concern is in allowing “oh look at this cool design” submissions, we wouldn’t be able to cost them or do a like-for-like comparison.
I’m happy to put effort into the process, as far as I can, including promoting it on social media and with posters etc.
SE23.life is well placed to host discussion and a vote, because it is on the open web and is the most popular local online forum.
Regarding the funding application, SE23.life cannot apply for ward funding because my company is private ltd.
Ah okay. While this is all fun right now is there danger of putting the cart before the horse? As I understand it there is still no sponsor or lead for this project that wouldl be able to make a submission. And once there is a lead I would think they’d want to determine the process such as open submission or perhaps commission from a local Forest Hill artist? And then choose how to engage with the public?
I guess if it is very clear upfront that this poll is only advisory and any outcome is pending a sponsoring group coming forward?
Actually I didn’t interpret that question as support for the vintage railway sign but for a large graphic mural based on the name. The Ladywell sign as another example in that category.
I loved the railway style sign when Herne Hill got it all those years ago. But while fun, by the time it got to Brockley it was beginning to feel a bit dated and done. With the artistic energy in Forest Hill centred in Havelock Walk it’d be great to have something new. And yes, I understand everyone’s new is going to be a vast chasm of taste.
Just a thought. While the site itself is private, could there not be a SE23.life users group which could make submissions? Before you suggest it, I’m out as I’ve put myself forward to help with the Assembly this year.
Although I like the idea of a distinctive South East London style (i.e. the vintage rail design), I also love local Havelock artist Rob Lowe’s (AKA Supermundane) modern designs (including the current Havelock mural). Also the bright and bold designs of Survival Techniques.
Possibly - although there is quite a lot of bureaucracy in setting up a non-profit for this purpose. I did look into this last year after @Pauline sent me some info on the requirements for applying for ward funding. I came to the conclusion it would be easier and quicker for SE23.life to raise £2500 for the mural via a public crowdfunder than it would be for SE23.life to set up a non-profit arm and apply for £2500 from the council.
But if anyone else wants to do the legwork, they are welcome to leverage the SE23.life “brand” and I will help in all promotional activities.
IMO the Forest Hill Society would be best placed to lead and raise the funding as they have the expertise and the established non-profit entity. They may, of course, have other projects in mind for 2017 funding though.
Last year I created an opt-in category (join the FH Mural group for access). To discuss the nuts and bolts of the mural project, that’s probably the best place. But obvs, anything more general (and the vote on designs) should be out here in the main forum.
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I’m not trolling, but thinking about it I’m not even convinced under the railway bridge on the south circular is a good location for a mural. Seems to me like:
- Few pedestrians will see it, it’s just one of 2 ways to get to Forest Hill ‘centre’ from the other side of the railway and not visible from ‘centre’.
- Lots of drivers will pass it, but few of these are actually stopping in FH (if advertising to these is the aim then fair enough)
- I love the one in Herne Hill, but it’s very central to the location there.
I’d prefer something in the pedestrian underpass (perhaps co-ordinated with one under the bridge) or even better something at the crossroads. It’s a long thread, so my apologies if this has been said before.
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Perhaps we need the Forest Hill society to apply for some funding AND for SE23.life (or a charity that can claim gift aid) to do some crowdfunded match funding. This will make the ward assembly money go further and split the cost… £1500 each? £3k total?
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I agree with those against the railway sign style by the same artist - it would show a complete lack of imagination and creativity. If part of the purpose is to alert visitors that they have entered a distinctive neighbourhood with its own identity and local offerings, then surely choosing the same “off the shelf design” as 3 or 4 other neighbouring areas would demonstrate the opposite.
I am sure there are loads of other locally known artists capable of designing and implementing such a mural who would interested in submitting a proposal if contacted.
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I could apply for assembly funding on behalf of the community as a local trader if all else fails - happy to submit an application if a few others oversee the application with me & I would want to make it public so all could see what funding was granted & how it was spent. And for the whole total to be spent on this project to keep my own accounts okay.
Happy to go ahead & get on with this if a few others will oversee 
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