Leaves on East Dulwich streets

[Katherty]

I am wondering what is normal in terms of the council clearing leaves on East Dulwich streets.

I took these photos of the pavement on Whateley Road on 17 December.  It had been like this for a couple of months. When it was wet or icy, the leaves were a slipping hazard.  They also got mushy and were sludgy and unpleasant to walk on.

I have seen another street near here with a similar amount of leaves, and there may be others.

I saw someone (I assume from the council) clearing away some of the leaves last week. However, there is a leafy brown sludge left on the pavement which is not too nice!

Wondering what's normal. If this isn't, does anyone know how to contact the council about it?

[Angelina]

Contact Southwark. I know Lambeth employ people to clean the leaves and keep the streets clean and are still doing so. 
 

[beansprout]

Well let’s hope the “magic fairy” will clear them! 
Let’s hope that with more rain predicted, no one falls and breaks a leg/ arm and goes to A and E, having used the services of an ambulance.. 

Many on this forum would agree, used to be community spirit and yes I agree the council should be more switched on or what ever.. but they are not.. 

And not many people care or have the time to hang and wait on automated system anyway..

Go speak to your local rep or email them.. 

 

 

[CPR Dave]

They only clear them for 6 weeks in Autumn. 

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/street-care/autumn-leaf-collection

Whateley Road's turn was w/c 17 November 2025. You might get another slot in November 2026 if you're lucky.

Council tax will go up by the maximum 5% in April regardless. Good luck.

[Sue]

I live in a road off Whateley Road.

Leaves in it were cleared very recently. They were put in blue bags and left on the pavements to be collected later, which they were.

I don't know how that fits in with Southwark's Autumn leaf collection schedule, however!

But anyway, people can always clear leaves from  pavements in their road themselves if they feel they are a hazard.

Quite obviously the council workers can't be everywhere all the time, and I expect the recent high winds caused a greater leaf fall than usual? 

[CPR Dave]

Leaf fall in January! Lol.

[Sue]

9 minutes ago, CPR Dave said:

Leaf fall in January! Lol.

What's your answer, then?

Should the council raise council tax to employ double or treble or more the number of workers to spend all their time clearing leaves from every street every day?

Leaves have been cleared from my street several times since leaf fall began, including as I say very recently.

It's impossible to keep every street permanently clear, and the situation is made worse by heavy rain.

My partner broke his ankle in several places a year or so back when he slipped on wet leaves. He didn't blame the council.

Edited 21 hours ago by Sue

[Angelina]

A friend works for Lambeth cleaning the streets, there is a team and they work round all roads in their area, clearing weeds growing between paving and edges etc, as well as the rubbish people leave.

There is so much work that he usually works weekends as well. If you live around the Gypsy Hill area/ West Dul/ Tulse Hill area, you'll very likely have nice clean and tidy pavements.

[Sue]

50 minutes ago, Angelina said:

A friend works for Lambeth cleaning the streets, there is a team and they work round all roads in their area, clearing weeds growing between paving and edges etc, as well as the rubbish people leave.

There is so much work that he usually works weekends as well. If you live around the Gypsy Hill area/ West Dul/ Tulse Hill area, you'll very likely have nice clean and tidy pavements.

Southwark council has lower council tax than Lambeth.

I'm sure if Southwark raised their council tax  to cover similar street cleaning teams, the people on here complaining about leaves would be complaining bitterly about that!

[Angelina]

2 hours ago, Sue said:

Southwark council has lower council tax than Lambeth.

I'm sure if Southwark raised their council tax  to cover similar street cleaning teams, the people on here complaining about leaves would be complaining bitterly about that!

Would you not expect clean streets to be a priority? Rather than suggesting those in Southwark pay more, would it not be more relevant that Southwark actually prioritise it and explain what they are spending our money on. 

 

[SJT25]

Southwark Council have a £70m budget shortfall over the next three years, largely driven by the raising cost of adult social care, children’s social care and homelessness. I am sure they’d like to prioritise street cleaning more, but this isn’t realistic. If you’re interested in a breakdown of how they spend their money, the headlines are here: 

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/how-we-manage-council-tax/our-budget-and-how-we-spend-council-tax/our-income-and

I’m sure there are areas where the council could make better decisions or be more efficient, but they’re working in a very challenging financial context.

[Angelina]

14 minutes ago, SJT25 said:

Southwark Council have a £70m budget shortfall over the next three years, largely driven by the raising cost of adult social care, children’s social care and homelessness. I am sure they’d like to prioritise street cleaning more, but this isn’t realistic. If you’re interested in a breakdown of how they spend their money, the headlines are here: 

https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-tax/how-we-manage-council-tax/our-budget-and-how-we-spend-council-tax/our-income-and

I’m sure there are areas where the council could make better decisions or be more efficient, but they’re working in a very challenging financial context.

I'm sure they have good reasons, yet safety for the residents who pay the CT should be a priority.

£63 million on Other Services?

 

[Sue]

2 hours ago, Angelina said:

Would you not expect clean streets to be a priority? Rather than suggesting those in Southwark pay more, would it not be more relevant that Southwark actually prioritise it and explain what they are spending our money on. 

 

Where did I suggest that those in Southwark should pay more?

I gave what seemed to be a likely reason why Lambeth is able to spend more than Southwark on street cleaning, if that is in fact the case.

Local elections are coming up soon. I'm sure this  would be an excellent opportunity for you to ask the existing councillors - and other people who are standing for election - what their priorities would be if elected!

[Angelina]

1 hour ago, Sue said:

Where did I suggest that those in Southwark should pay more?

Here, Sue

16 hours ago, Sue said:

Should the council raise council tax to employ double or treble or more the number of workers to spend all their time clearing leaves from every street every day?

 

 

[EDmummy]

My neighbour and I regularly clear the leaves and weeds from the path in front of houses. Quick job and no sludge 

[Sue]

1 hour ago, Angelina said:

Here, Sue

 

 

That was obviously a rhetorical question!

[NewWave]

2 hours ago, EDmummy said:

My neighbour and I regularly clear the leaves and weeds from the path in front of houses. Quick job and no sludge 

When I lived in an almost identical street to the one in the OP (not in Southwark but north of the river) my neighbours and I would sweep our stretch of road if the leaves got too much (it stopeed them blowing up our paths and going into our hallways as well as protecting others from slipping on them in the rain..a win-win) and ditto in the snow we would salt our bit of pavements and clear the snow..it only takes a few houses to do this and your block will be clear.

Edited 2 hours ago by NewWave

[richard tudor]

Unfortunately too many of our residents these days are to entitled to be seen sweeping leaves as they are special.

Times have changed, I have seen food rubbish all over the pavement and it has been left until the street cleaner comes.

Community spirit has long since disappeared amongst a certain age group.

 

 

[Peckhampam]

I have been very impressed how often our street and all the ones near have been cleared of leaves and left very clean

[beansprout]

49 minutes ago, richard tudor said:

Unfortunately too many of our residents these days are to entitled to be seen sweeping leaves as they are special.

Times have changed, I have seen food rubbish all over the pavement and it has been left until the street cleaner comes.

Community spirit has long since disappeared amongst a certain age group.

 

 

Without doubt.. just seem to expect others or council to deal with it…no, don’t think it is that …just the fact that people these days are working hard, tired, stressed.. what were houses are now converted into flats…there is community spirit, well hope so.. neighbours hardly see one another, let alone know each other as work schedule is no longer 7/9 …only older more established people who have lived in area, and not making a quick buck, understand… people don’t even have the time to talk to neighbours unless annoyed or complaining.. when was the last time one smiled and said hello..or even started a conversation in a queue? 

[Angelina]

Not everywhere is like that, my road is very friendly and nice. Everyone knows each other.

Suggest starting a WhatsApp group for your street and beginning to chat.