Tag: Lewisham Council

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Lee Manor Society Challenges Sustainable Streets Team to Attend a Public Meeting

Lee Manor Society has challenged Lewisham Council’s Sustainable Streets team to meet residents and explain its plans for new parking restrictions and other measures.

The team was meant to speak at the final meeting of the Lee Green assembly earlier this month, but failed to turn up. At least 60 people had attended the meeting to find out more details about the proposals, which include possible all-day Controlled Parking Zones, Monday to Friday.

The Society has suggested the team could attend its next meeting on Thursday March 13th (7.30 pm at St Peter’s Church Hall). If that is not possible, the Society will arrange another date.

Since the end of the Assembly programme it falls to community groups like the Lee Manor Society to arrange face-to-face events where important local issues can be explained and debated.

Charles Batchelor’s letter says: “This is a matter of vital importance to the local community. Residents deserve a proper explanation of what is planned and why this particular format – full-day parking controls, extensive yellow-lining – has been chosen.

“Lewisham council does not have a good name when it comes to connecting with residents and the failure – at very short notice – of an officer to attend on February 6 has only strengthened that impression.

“I understand our local councillors, who it appears were as surprised as residents at the failure of sustainable streets to turn up on February 6, have contacted you to request a meeting.”

If you wish to encourage the Sustainable Streets team to attend, please leave a comment. You can also email Sustainable.Streets@lewisham.gov.uk or

martha.lauchlan@lewisham.gov.uk or timothy.andrew@lewisham.gov.uk

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Lewisham Council Backs Away From Fortnightly Green Bin Collections

Lewisham Council has backed off the idea of making green recycling bin collections fortnightly instead of weekly as they are now.

The Council confirmed that in a response to a Freedom of Information request from the Taxpayers Alliance, it said it was investigating the idea, but has now decided not to go ahead.

The Council told the Lee Manor Society ” We have no plans to change waste and recycling collection frequency. Food and recycling collections will remain weekly; waste collections will remain fortnightly.

“We responded to an FOI request that asked if we had considered changing the frequency of our recycling collections. While the idea was put forward for consideration, it was never progressed. Any change would be subject to consultation.”

Council sources, however, say it’s not surprising Lewisham is looking at a range of options for saving money. Like most local authorities it is under a lot of financial pressure.

Lewisham Council’s 2024/25 budget includes a forecast net deficit of £1.764 million, after using £21.7 million from reserves to help bridge the gap.  

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Could Green Bin Collections Go Fortnightly?

Lewisham Council has confirmed that it is looking at the idea of reducing its recycling bin collections to every other week, as it currently does with general waste bins.

In a response to a Freedom of Information request from the Taxpayers Alliance, the Council confirmed that it is investigating the possibility of providing alternate weekly recycling collections which are currently weekly .

Lee Manor Society has asked the Council for details of when this idea was discussed by Councillors.

Council sources say it’s unsurprising that Lewisham is looking at the idea, since like all local authorities it has a large financial deficit. In the coming year it will have a deficit of £1.7 million after using £21.7 million of its reserves to bridge the gap.

The Taxpayers Alliance reported this week that one in ten councils are considering cutting bin collections, including in some cases going to once every four weeks.

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Lewisham Council Plans All-Day Controlled Parking Zones

Lewisham Council is starting to draw up new plans for a range of further measures to reduce traffic across the Borough.  This includes proposals for a Controlled Parking Zone operating between 9 am and 5 pm in several roads east of Burnt Ash Road in Lee.  The council has sent leaflets with some details of their plans to people living in the affected streets.

Residents in this area have until January 26th to respond to the consultation. You can do this online by going to https://lewishamsustainablestreets.commonplace.is/

Here are the maps which the Council has posted on its website with proposals sketched out:

It’s suggested that the Council’s longer-term plan is to implement all-day CPZs in other areas which already have a two-hour parking restriction to prevent commuters parking on residential streets all day.

Residents in a CPZ would be able to buy a parking permit so they can park on the road.  The council has set out the costs as follows:

All non-housing estate residents receive a 15% discount in the first year, with the yearly for between £42 – £372 depending on your type of vehicle. Permits for residents of housing estates are between £10 – £87. It will also be possible to buy vouchers for visitors, though of course it would be expensive if someone was visiting all day.  

The Council says its Sustainable Streets programme aims to reduce the number of car journeys made in Lewisham and encourage more people to walk, cycle or use public transport, to reduce air pollution, traffic and congestion, improve road safety and lower carbon emissions.

Its proposals include a range of other ideas:

  • More street trees
  • Secure cycle storage
  • Electric vehicle charging points
  • Safer crossing points
  • Car club bays

Charles Batchelor of the Lee Manor Society has written to Lewisham Council objecting to the plan for all-day CPZs, which he said would impose an unnecessary inconvenience on local people moving around. He added “ On the other side of Burnt Ash Road, in the conservation area, the parking restriction runs from 10am to noon. This is perfectly adequate to deter commuter parking while allowing residents to go about their business unimpeded for much of the day. I can see no reason why these more limited hours would not work in the Leyland Road area.”

Frances Migniuolo of Lee Fair Share and the Lee Manor Society added “The proposals seem very crude and are likely to discriminate against certain groups. They will not affect residents in big houses with generous driveways as much, as they will have space for two cars plus on their driveways. They would impact more on those living in terraced housing with  little or no driveways.”