This is the sight that greeted me as I walked from Ladywell to Lewisham this morning, writes a local resident.
Overflowing bins that have been left out on the pavement for days, flytipped furniture, and a trail of rubbish blown along Bertrand Street by the wind last night.
This is clearly unacceptable and extremely hazardous, but its been going on for months, even years. I’ve had email conversations with councillors, with Lewisham refuse and with the Renaissance development but it seems very little is actually done to improve the situation.
There is a school, a nursery and a children playground within a few feet of this site.
There is already signage, and CCTV on the Paris Corte block, but this is clearly not a deterrent. To make matters worse the management company of the nearby residential blocks seems to use the underpass as an overflow rubbish store,.
I understand there are a lot of pressing issues for councils and these are difficult times, but given the health, safety and environmental factors involved, I think this needs to be more of a priority.
Residents and users say its time to give unloved underpass “a bit of TLC”
Local residents say its time to give the unloved underpass that connects Bertrand Street to Lewisham Way a “bit of TLC”.
Hundreds of pedestrians and a few cyclists use the underpass each day on their way to the shopping centre and railway station.
But residents say it is one of the most neglected and untidy underpasses in the area.
It’s a magnet for flytipping with lots of rubbish left there daily. Refuse from the two of the Renaissance development blocks frequently spills onto the streets, say residents.
During weekly refuse collections up to 10 large council bins line the underpass often overflowing with rubbish.
Residents and user of the underpass point out that a school and a children’s playground are close by.
“It’s both unpleasant and hazardous to be around. I cycle through it daily on my way to work, trying to dodge the broken glass, piles of food waste, random household items and the apparently ubiquitous dog mess that blights so many walkways in the borough,” says Jennifer, a who regular user.
“Over the last few years I have reported fly tipping regularly, but nothing much seems to change,” she adds.
In the past there was a suggestion to brighten up the area with a mural but no progress was made. When the building at 87-89 Loampit Vale was approved in 2016, enhancing the “pedestrian environment under the railway bridge on Bertrand Street” was set as a condition for the development.
“If you report the fly tipping to the council someone cleans it up in a week or two, but it doesn’t take long for more rubbish to be dumped”, says Jennifer.
“We know money is tight at the council but surely there’s something the community and the council can do to improve this gateway from Ladywell to central Lewisham.”
