Category: Uncategorized

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New measures to improve local parks

Lewisham Parks Forum which represents all the Parks Friends groups in the Borough met with Glendale and Green Scene (Lewisham Parks department) recently and agreed they need a better system for users to report problems which need maintenance or repairs.

The meeting put forward a plan to prioritise issues: high, medium, low and spiration. Anything ranking medium or high would be fixed within three months.

The meeting heard that in a significant change patrol teams have replaced static park keepers in twelve “Category A” parks which include Manor House Gardens.  This has reportedly reduced anti-social behaviour. However, community engagement with patrol officers is inconsistent. It was suggested that patrol staff could be introduced at Friends’ group meetings to improve relations.

The meeting also heard that users were losing confidence in the LoveCleanStreets app, the environmental reporting service because it doesn’t provide detailed feedback.  The Council side agreed to gather more data.   

Other initiatives which were discussed at the meeting include:

  • Friends groups would be able to view regular inspection reports under the process for regular unannounced inspections that the council makes, as part of contract monitoring.
  • New educational campaigns and community stewardship to combat a surge in littering, partly due to increased usage of parks.
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Prolific local shoplifter hit with Criminal Behaviour Order

 A prolific shoplifter who targets shops in Lee Green and Blackheath has been given a Criminal Behaviour Order lasting 10 years.  A CBO is the replacement for the old ASBO (anti-social behaviour order) and if breached the offender can be fined or jailed.

Met Engage, the new police imitative, has told members in the area the suspect was known to be verbally abusive, intimidating towards store staff and in some instances known to produced sharp objects when challenged.  The CBO was imposed because of the seriousness and repeat nature of the offences, reflecting the strength of the evidence and collaborative work between all officers involved in the investigation.
Met Engage adds “Shoplifting is a crime that can have a substantial negative impact on local businesses across London. If you notice anything suspicious or witness anyone shoplifting, please report it as soon as possible. These reports are invaluable in letting us build a picture of when and where shop lifters operate, meaning we can be in the right place at the right time to arrest those responsible.” 

Met Engage has issued advice on how to spot a shoplifter which you can read here.

You can sign up to Met Engage for regular updates here.

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Burnt Ash Road blocked by car crash

Burnt Ash Road was blocked for several hours this morning following a car crash near Dorville Road.

A car had ploughed into the central bollard island. It is understood that the accident involved a schoolgirl. There is no information about her condition.

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Lee Off Licence to become a Morrisons Daily

“Lee Off License” on Burnt Ash Road has closed and is reported to be destined to become a Morrisons Daily convenience store.

It’s not clear when the new shop will open. Morrisons Dailies are franchise businesses, many of them independently owned. There are 1,700 across the country, including one in Blackheath in the premises previously occupied by Martins Newsagents.

Morrisons’ website page for aspiring franchisees says “We’re all about lovely fresh produce and everyday grocery bits. To guarantee your franchise is a real winner and you can offer the best fresh produce and groceries, we need stores to achieve a weekly turnover of about £25,000 as a Morrisons Daily.

“Additionally, the location and visibility of the store are key. Ideally, we would look for your store to be on a main route serving a local population of around 2,000 households with good links to residential catchment areas, easy access and pull-up parking. Each site is looked at individually – as in high urban locations, pull-up parking may not be suitable, or in villages the best location may not be on a main route. Local competition within the catchment area is also a vital factor and will be considered when reviewing your store.”

Franchisees buy their stock from Morrisons, retain their profits and can earn “volume rebates” or rewards for orders above their target thresholds.

The arrival of a Morrisons Daily may not be welcomed by the existing convenience stories on the main road, including the newsagents near the junction with Southbrook Road (which has been run by the same family for more than 30 years), as well as the Bottle and Basket and Co-Op on Burnt Ash Hill.

However the closure of the off-licence will bring relief to spelling purists who have long railed against its name being misspelt with an s rather than a c.