Ladywell residents have been “brought together” by threats to "break-up" the council ward in a boundary review as campaigners submit new proposals.

The Save Ladywell campaign, which rejects proposals to cut off part of the ward and merge it with Brockley, have said “no one is going away” after the submission was made to the Local Government Boundary Commission.

Council wards are redrawn by the Commission which takes submission proposals from the council as well as residents living in the borough.

When carrying out a boundary review, three factors must be taken into account: making sure wards have a largely equal number of voters; sense of community; and convenient and effective government.

But proposals to merge Ladywell and Brockley made by Lewisham Council have raised eyebrows with residents who fear their community identities could be under threat.

News Shopper understands about 70 per cent of the original Ladywell ward has been included in the Council’s proposal.

Heather Wakefield, 67, has lived in Ladywell for 28 years with her family. She told News Shopper people are concerned about the proposals.

“It has become very clear from talking to people all around Ladywell that people continue to oppose [the proposal].

“I believe Ladywell has a very clear identity of its own. It has its own train station and its own history and an awful lot of love from people who have lived here for a long time and also from newcomers.”

The retired former trade union worker who specialised in local government issues said the Council’s proposals went “against the grain” of what she had seen in her career.

“There are many other ways in which the boundaries could be cut without creating the upset they have done,” she added.

After a Save Ladywell meeting saw 150 residents gather to oppose initial suggestions from Lewisham Council, the council re-drafted its plans for consideration by the Boundary Commission which suggested creating the Brockley/Ladywell ward.

The Save Ladywell campaign has now submitted its own proposals for re-drawing the ward which describe the ward as “an established, thriving neighbourhood.”

The proposal suggests taking out certain streets and making sure other streets are included within the ward to create an electorate of 11,665 people.

Heather said: What’s very clear is that it’s brought Ladywell people together.

“No one is going away and whatever happens, Ladywell will continue to be Ladywell.”