Agenda and draft minutes

1.1      Cllr Barnham welcomed everyone to the assembly meeting and introduced fellow Crofton Park councillors Cllr Carol Webley-Brown and Cllr Tauseef Anwar.

1.2      Cllr Barnham also introduced Cllr Louise Krupski, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate and Seamus Adams, Head of Commercial Operations and Development and welcomed them to the Assembly.

2.     Sustainable Transport and Parking Proposals

      Presentation responding to residents’ concerns and pre-submitted questions

2.1   Cllr Barnham introduced Seamus outlining that there had been a call for questions prior to the Assembly so that we could ensure that residents’ concern could be addressed during the meeting.

2.2   Seamus explained that he would give an overview of the context and rationale for the proposals, take residents through the process and would give responses to the questions that had been raised.

Note: Throughout there were multiple interruptions from the floor with several people talking at once which, at times, made it difficult to capture accurately what was being said. The attached presentation; however, does give answer to all of the issues raised in response to the open call for questions. Please contact sarah.lang@lewisham.gov.uk if there is missing information due to multiple people speaking at once and notes will be amended.

2.3   To set the context Seamus outlined that the aspiration is that ourtarget for 80% of all journeys in Lewisham to be made by walking, cycling or public transport by 2041. 

2.4   The strategy is designed to improve street scape environment and, at the same time increase road safety through the addition of double yellow lines at junctions.

2.5      Currently Lewisham has 23% CPZ coverage which means that there is a considerable amount of commuter parking in the borough leading to limited access for residents.

2.6      The strategy will deliver CPZ schemes through an area-based approach, rather than individual roads which just push parking onto other streets, leading changes to how people move about the borough.

2.7      The first phase of the programme is taking place in Catford/Crofton Park and Deptford where this approach has been received well.

2.8      Currently there is a plan for the second phase which incorporates areas between Forest Hillto Millwall Stadium to the West, and Grove Park to the East.

2.9      The proposed third phase will involve South of the borough including areas Sydenham, Bellinghamand Downham, however these plans may change.

2.10   Slide 4 of the attached presentation outlines the timeline of delivery but please note this any changes will only be instigated if the majority of the residents on that street want the changes.

2.11   Consultation ran 17 Jan~26 Feb 2023

2.12   In addition to the online consultation there were the following drop-in sessions for people to find out more and give their views:

3 February 2:30pm ~ 4:30pm St William of York Primary School

6 February 12 noon ~ 2pm Ackroyd Community Centre

8 February 3pm ~ 5pm Stillness Primary School

8 February 4:30 ~ 6:30pm Honor Oak Station

17 February 10:30 ~ 12:30 St Saviours Church

2.14  Conversations were undertaken with key stake holders to get their views including work with local schools.

2.15  Area with low take-up were identified and door knocking was undertaken to ensure that residents had chance to feed into the results.

2.16  At this point the interruptions and multiple questions being shouted by various resident  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

3.1     Cllr Barnham introduced Sgt James Loveday from the Crofton Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team to give his update.

3.2     James started with an update on the staffing on his team which is currently consists of PC and 2 PCSOs who have been with the team for 2 years.

3.3     The team should have a second PC and it is hoped that this role will be filled shortly.

3.4     Currently the team are engaged in the Your Street, Our Beat initiative which is designed to give high visibility of Officers who visit every street in the ward as part of the focus on crime prevention through active engagement with residents. This work is often carried out with the help of colleagues form other areas.

2.5          One of the biggest concerns is speeding. Unfortunately, it is hard to have lasting impact of this work without there being a change in infrastructure.

2.6          There has been a 13% rise in crime reporting in the ward during the last quarter (compared with an increase of 11% across Lewisham borough).

2.7          Key crime figures for Crofton Park in the last month are

1.    29 incidents of ASB which has seen a 15% fall

2.    28 crimes involving assault or violence

3.    15 incidents of vehicle related crime

3.8     There have also been 7 burglaries and 3 robberies which we are working to reduce in number.

Q.    You mentioned speeding but for the past 9 years none of the cameras have been working so how are you tackling this?

3.9          Cllr Anwar said that there are definitely cameras that are working as he had received a notice recently.

3.10      James replied that the cameras are the responsibility of TfL not the Police, however James has been assured by the Chief Constable that traffic violations in Lewisham are being investigated. He suggested that further information could be request by raising a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.

3.11      There was a request for an update on the pedestrian who was recently hit at around midnight on the zebra crossing by Crofton Park station, which is a hot spot for accidents due to speeding.

3.12      Residents have previously written to Cllrs to express concern that there have been many collisions on this crossing.

3.13      It is not just the speeding; the crossing is located at the junction with Marnock Road so drivers turning left are looking at on coming traffic coming from there right along Brockley Road. When people approach the zebra crossing the drivers on Brockley Road stop for the pedestrians but driver coming out of Marnock think that they are being let out and then have to jam on their brakes to avoid the pedestrians. It is a very bad piece of road design.

3.14      James replied that this is an open investigation which is being undertaken by colleagues in the Traffic Division.

Q.        Is there something that can be done about people riding e-scooter and bikes on the pavements as the can be very frightening?

3.15  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.1     During the break the speaker from the Fire Service was called to a shout so item 4 of the agenda will be rescheduled for a future meeting.

Neighbourhood Forum

5.1   Nicholas gave an overview of the work of the Crofton Park and Honor Oak Neighbourhood Forum which is a group of residents from a range of background who meet to ensure that the Neighbourhood Plan is upheld.

5.2   The Neighbourhood Plan was ratified by residents’ votes at the referendum which was held alongside the last local elections.

5.3   This ratification gives the Forum status as a statutory consultee for all planning applications within the boundary of the area that the plan covers area where there is no town or parish council, thus decentralises planning and give residents a say in controlling developments.

5.4   There was a considerable amount of work undertaken to develop the Neighbourhood Plan and residents are needed to help to ensure the plan is taken forward.

5.5   Members do not have to have any expertise to join the forum, but some may bring specific knowledge that is useful, e.g. scrutinising planning applications, knowledge of parks and nature reserves or streetscapes etc and practical help needed for keeping notice boards up-to-date. Contact njwtaylor@hotmail.co.uk or sarah.lang@lewisham.gov.uk if you want to be involved.

5.6   A link to the Plan is below.

Crofton Park and Honor Oak Neighbourhood Plan Adoption Version - May 2022.pdf

There being no other business, Cllr Barnham closed the meeting.

Note: These are not verbatim minutes so discussions, questions and answers have been summarised.