wandsworth community council presenting

Finally got the meeting with the council. It took 9 weeks. And get this, they called me! You know you are getting somewhere when they call you, I thought to myself. The initial contact wasn't what I would call a pleasant exchange. I think it would be fair to say it was more of a, "back off". It came the day after I presented at the Wandsworth Community Council.

You see, I wanted to reach the people. Talk to the people - tell them about my idea and how I thought it would play out. See if it had legs, from the peoples' perspective. It was only courtesy since my proposal concern the people of Heygate and the Elephant & Castle Community at large.

I have tried to reach the people through the more traditional channels, Southwark outreach workers and committee members et al but to no avail. So I asked for a deputization (guest speaker) slot at the community meeting. I presented to 65 members of the community. When I got to the 'coloured in' building slide (pictured above, original by Kim Laughton) I got an audiable wow. No kidding! A, "WOW" like a giant comic book speech bubble rose and formed above their heads. And after my last slide - I don't think it would be lying to say the applause was raptuous. They felt it. The saw the potential. Oh one women shouted in my face and gave me a few things to think about. She was marginally calmer when I told her that I would not be using tax payers money.

Anyway, it prompted this call from the Cultural Services Team the next day. I didn't take the bait. I just listened to the senseless polemic that lasted about three and a half minutes. I was polite. They hung up. Another call came two days later form the same person. I was asked to submit a proposal for a meeting with the creative services team.