Selling the Orchard Centre is a political decision, taken by Lambeth Councillors. If enough people let them know that this is an unpopular policy, they should change their minds, if they are really democratic.

Lambeth is currently controlled by the LibDems (28 seats), with support from the Tories (7 seats). The Labour group is supportive of our campaign.

Friends of the Orchard Centre is a non party political organisation - we know that Labour were in power until recently, and that they might well be trying the same sort of thing - they have in the past. So we take our support where we can get it, and target our energy where it will do most good.

That means convincing the Lib Dems to change the policy of selling the Orchard Centre to the highest bidder.

The Centre is in a Labour ward, but just the other side of Christchurch Road is Streatham Hill ward, where many people who might use a reopened Orchard Centre live. It happens that the three Lib Dem councillors in this ward have a great deal of influence.

Cllr Ashley Lumsden is the most influential. Executive Committee member for finance, it is he who is actually pushing the sale process forward. He needs to know how deeply unpopular this may make him. Contact cllr. Ashley Lumsden.

Cllr June Fewtrell is a member of the panel of councillors who sit on the planning committee. Cllr Fewtrell has a good reputation as a local councillor, and was Mayor last year. We need to help her do what is right and speak up for the Orchard Centre. Contact cllr. June Fewtrell.

Cllr Jermey Clyne also sits on the planning committee. Contact cllr. Jeremy Clyne.

The planning application will be considered at a full Planning Committee of councillors, which will take place at Brixton Town Hall.

Unfortunately, although the Planning Committee dates are set months in advance, the agenda is not. We may get as little as 5 days notice that the next committee will consider the Orchard Centre proposal.

Send us an email if you want us to let you know as soon as we find out the date of the planning committee. You don't need to put any message, but type the words " planning committee" as the subject line.

Have a look at the glitzy website created to sell the Orchard Centre - it shows the crudeness of the plans proposed by Lambeth, which would cut the site in two, and build flats and houses on one half, isolating the listed chalet buildings in the garden, with no access to support buildings which would be necessary to ensure their continued usefulness.

Various objections have been made to the planning application.

• Objections on the basis of the destruction of the setting of listed buildings

• Objections on the basis of the closeness of the proposed new houses to existing dwellings

• Objections on the basis that Lambeth has policies preventing the change of use of education premises unless proof is submitted that there is overprovision in the area.

If you have some expertise in any of these fields, and have some comments to offer, please send us an email.

We have already got over 200 signatures, with more coming every week. The petition is very important, as it shows the number of people who care about the Orchard Centre.

We will present it at the Planning committee, and then again at the scrutiny hearing that will be called after any decision to sell moves forward.

If you haven't signed already, please see the list of places where you can find it below. If you are too far from Brixton, see the online petition to the right.

We REALLY appreciate local people who would be prepared to spend a few hours knocking on doors of half a street, collecting signatures. If this is you, please send us an email . All you need to do is type "petition volunteer" in the subject line, and a contact number in the body. We will get in touch and let you know what streets need doing. THANK YOU!

find the petition at the following places:

Brixton Wholefoods, Atlantic road, Brixton

Bookmongers, Coldharbour Lane, Brixton

If you've looked this far, you probably have some good suggestions for the campaign. Lots of people have made lots of great suggestions. The list is enormous! They're great ideas, and we welcome them. But there aren't enough of us, with enough time to do even half of them!

We have done agreat deal so far, with just a small dedicated group - WE COULD ALWAYS DO MORE!

If you could help, please SEND US AN EMAIL, with the words "meeting dates please" in the subject, and some contact details. We will be in touch.

Our plan for the Orchard Centre is that it should serve the local community, and the wider community of Lambeth.

We are working with the Conscious Living Foundation, who plan to buy or lease the site from Lambeth Council, and act as an umbrella organisation for lots of user groups, centred on ideas of sustainability, education, health and creativity.

Within this plan there is room for many groups - the site is large, with a variety of buildings, open and covered spaces, with lots of potential for more.

Are you part of a group that needs space that would fit in?

Send us a message, with as much detail as you can provide. The following headings should help:

Name of organisation/group

Type of activity

How many people at one time?

What sort of space would you need - type and size please.

How often would you need space?

Would you need dedicated space, or could you share?

How much are you paying for your current premises/space?

..........you get the idea - we need hard edged information to put together the business plan.

We obviously want as many people as possible to see this website.

Click Here to download a text document setting out the basic history of the site and the campaign.

You can email it, or print it, or hire skywriters to trail it over the town hall if you want!

TELL EVERYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED, PLEASE!