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A former Lewisham Councillor Alan Hall has discovered a previously unreported warning about an increased flood risk in Lee Green.

Mr Hall unearthed the finding in the latest London regional Flood Risk Assessment published in March this year.

It suggests Lee Green has one of the most vulnerable town centres in London regarding flood exposure with 56% of its town centre situated in areas of high flood risk from all sources. This places it among the top three most affected town centres across Greater London, alongside Mill Hill (67%) and Dagenham Heathway (51%).

In a blog Mr Hall notes that Lewisham town centre and Deptford Creek and Riverside also have raised flood risks. He says “Across London overall, high flood risk areas expanded, driven primarily by surface water and tidal/fluvial risk increases.

“It is worthy of note that Bell Green and Lower Sydenham are mentioned in the second part of the assessment. The river Pool has a confluence with the river Ravensbourne that is located near Catford Bridge, this flows onto Deptford Creek where the river flows into the river Thames.”

Lewisham’s Local Flood Risk Management Strategy 2022-2027 said that the Ravensbourne and in particular the Quaggy have benefited from flood alleviation measures to reduce this risk to the community from fluvial flooding. Despite that, this latest report shows that Lee Green is still at risk.

The Council’s strategy document adds “Local residents and businesses also have a role to play in managing flood risk. People and properties that live in areas of high flood risk should be prepared for flood incidents (information on flood risk that properties face can be accessed here). Landowners whose properties are next to watercourses have a responsibility to ensure the unobstructed flow of water. It is also essential that local residents and businesses report any incidents of flooding of property, open spaces or roads. This helps to build up knowledge of flooding patterns, which then improves future risk management.”

By Dan Griffin

During the hottest, driest UK summer since records began, the Community Garden has struggled a bit to keep the things alive! (Thanks to Jeremy and Sam at St Monica for supplying us with water). Despite that, the hosepipe ban meant we had to just let some things die, so no runner beans or salad crop (for the second half of the season, at least – we had plenty in May and early June).

We did manage to harvest various other things, though: courgettes, carrots, rhubarb, strawberries, garlic, peppers (soon), and there are potatoes, sweet potatoes and tomatoes to come. Projects ahead of us include finishing the building of a new planter and constructing a couple of (much-needed) rainwater-harvesting roof structures. Below are the dates for the autumn and winter. New volunteers are always welcome – just turn up or email the Lee Manor Society.

All Sundays, 2.30-4.30:

20th September
4th October
18th October
8th November
29th November
20th December
10th January 2027
31st January 2027
21st February 2027

Residents of Pentland House, the former mansion next to Manor House Library, are responsible for anti-social behaviour according to two supporters of the Lee Manor Society.

They told us ” We walk past more or less every day and feel for the residents who live opposite. We have witnessed a man urinating on the corner at 8.30 in the morning as school children walked past; drinking and drug taking whilst sitting on the bench outside the library wall next to the phone box ;and our son witnessed three men sniffing white powder from a bag outside the laundrette and then returning to Pentland House on Friday.”

It’s not clear who the current residents of the house are. In the past it has been used as a hostel for overseas students and for asylum seekers.

The issue was raised recently at a meeting of the Lee Green Police panel meeting, when it was claimed that the residents are people who were homeless and had been sent there by another London council.

The police told the meeting that the management of the house had been co-operative with them recently regarding incidents that related to their residents. A Lee councillor said the law did not allow Lewisham Council to reject people sent there by another London borough.

Lee Manor Society has asked Lewisham Council for its comments.

Pentland House is owned by a London based property investment company Interland which says it was founded in 1985.

It lists Pentland House as part of its portfolio with these details:

“Use: Hospitality Size: 33,760 square foot.

“Pentland House is a Grade II listed building with design features from the 17th century. The building comprises 130 en-suite rooms, arranged over 3 floors surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens. The property is being operated as a hostel.

“Pentland house is situated in Lewisham, South East London, adjacent to Manor House Gardens and benefiting for a wide range of local food and beverage amenities.”

Interland says on its website “We own, develop, and operate residential and commercial real estate assets in the United Kingdom, Netherlands and France.

“Interland’s wide ranging portfolio includes affordable accommodation, student accommodation, PRS, hotels, hostels, and offices. We operate and asset manage our assets either internally or through our own standalone operational companies. This vertical integration allows Interland to deliver an exceptional service tailored to our customers’ needs, whilst generating superior returns.

“Interland executes a wide range of value-add investment strategies that are designed to maximise risk-adjusted returns. We have a long-term investment horizon and reinvest most of our operational income. This approach allows us not only to preserve capital for the long term but also to weather market cycles and drive the company’s growth in all market conditions.”

The Lee Manor Society contacted Interland for comment. The company said it has forwarded our inquiry to “the leaseholder” but has not revealed who that is.

This article has been updated.

The drought appears to have claimed a huge lime tree alongside Burnt ash Road.

The 150 year old tree came down on the narrow slip road which runs parallel to Burnt Ash, narrowly missing a parked car.

Charles Batchelor who took these pictures says the trunk appeared to be rotten but the exceptionally dry weather probably pushed the tree over the edge.

The drought has been responsible for the loss of several trees, or their branches, in Lee. Although we are now getting rain residents are still urged to water young trees, in particular.