Lordship Lane pavement is a disgrace

[rMattos]

 

[malumbu]

There's no spare money.  If you can do better stand as a local Councillor in the next election.  There are far worse things going on in the world.

I doubt if complaining to Elon Musk will do a lot.

[Moovart]

There was investment in planting Plane trees in the last 25 years and in new paving in the sections shown in the photos but unfortunately the trees are growing so fast that they're damaging the pavements and the way the paving was laid makes water collect rather than drain away.  It's such a disappointing shame and sadly it's getting worse as the trees grow bigger and bigger 😔.  

[first mate]

7 hours ago, malumbu said:

There's no spare money.  If you can do better stand as a local Councillor in the next election.  There are far worse things going on in the world.

I doubt if complaining to Elon Musk will do a lot.

I'm not sure that's true- as in 'no spare money'; I am not commenting on the rest of your statement. I believe Southwark has a sizeable fund of money accrued from parking fines and I also believe that can be reinvested into street upkeep...if the Council chooses to use it that way.

They certainly found the dosh to reconfigure and landscape Dulwich Village junction (including use of expensive, imported Indian sandstone not found elsewhere). They also seem to have money to narrow roads and build out  and landscape pavement- as in MGN LTN. 
 

 

Edited Sunday at 18:55 by first mate

[rMattos]

@malumbu This isn’t just a cosmetic issue — I personally know two elderly people who’ve fallen flat on their faces because of these pavements. I spent three hours at King’s College Hospital with one of them, and they’re far from the only cases. After 17 years without improvements, it’s completely reasonable to expect the council to address a basic safety hazard.

7 hours ago, Moovart said:

There was investment in planting Plane trees in the last 25 years and in new paving in the sections shown in the photos but unfortunately the trees are growing so fast that they're damaging the pavements and the way the paving was laid makes water collect rather than drain away.  It's such a disappointing shame and sadly it's getting worse as the trees grow bigger and bigger 😔.  

All the more reason for the council to step in and fix the pavements properly. 

[malumbu]

I was going to tone down my original response as it came across a tad passive aggressive, but it's got the debate going.  I expect there are 1000s of km across the country which could have the pavements improved.  Not sure, even in Southwark, wh3ere you'd start.

[Sue]

 

55 minutes ago, rMattos said:

@malumbu This isn’t just a cosmetic issue — I personally know two elderly people who’ve fallen flat on their faces because of these pavements. I spent three hours at King’s College Hospital with one of them, and they’re far from the only cases. After 17 years without improvements, it’s completely reasonable to expect the council to address a basic safety hazard.

All the more reason for the council to step in and fix the pavements properly. 

Unfortunately elderly people are likely to trip and fall even where pavements are well maintained.

I have fallen flat on my face twice, once in Bellenden Road  (requiring an ambulance)  and once in Adys Road, where I was just badly shaken up but not injured.

A (less elderly) friend of mine also recently fell locally.  Also requiring a visit to A&E.

All in the morning in broad daylight.

I think it's unreasonable to expect every pavement in the area to be kept constantly in pristine condition. In both instances where I fell, and also where my friend fell, there were not obvious tripping hazards.

In fact if there are obvious tripping hazards, you could say that people - including elderly people - would be more likely to notice and avoid them.

Edited Sunday at 21:05 by Sue
Adding info

[first mate]

Talking only about Lordship Lane, I know of young people who have come a cropper because of uneven paving, cracks etc., and who suffered injuries requiring hospital treatment. I feel if money can be found for some of the recent projects we have seen locally involving pedestrian areas, then some basic upkeep of the high street pavement is surely possible.

I do think Moovart makes a good point about tree planting and mature Plane trees. We want trees, imagine how the area would look without them, but they can cause damage to pavements.

Edited 22 hours ago by first mate

[Rockets]

On 23/11/2025 at 11:41, malumbu said:

There's no spare money. 

Huh, did you see how much the council spent on Dulwich Square? There is money to do this type of thing, they are making millions from PCNs, CPZs etc.

I think we can all agree Lordship Lane needs some TLC - the pavements are awful. Why is it that the councillors are happy to throw millions at Dulwich Square but next to nothing to Lordship Lane that gets 1000x more visitors every day?

Perhaps a Goose Green resident can email one of the councillors to ask them.

Edited 20 hours ago by Rockets