Love Your High Streets

Overview

Improving street cleanliness in our shopping areas

Our high streets and shopping areas are at the heart of our communities. They are places where people shop, work, meet friends and family and, for some residents, call home. They should be clean, welcoming places that people are proud to spend time in.

We're gathering views on ways to improve street cleanliness in Lewisham's  shopping areas and high streets. Earlier this year, the Council spoke to businesses, residents living above shops and people living near busy shopping areas to better understand these issues and the challenges they face. What people told us helped shape this consultation.

What is being considered?

We're asking for views on a range of ideas that could help improve street cleanliness. Some of these ideas would mainly affect businesses and residents living above shops if they went ahead. However, everyone can have their say on the ideas in this consultation. The ideas include: 

• timed rubbish and recycling collections in busy shopping areas 
• bin and bag storage units 
• stronger action against businesses that repeatedly break rubbish and recycling rules 
• improvements to rubbish and recycling services for residents living above shops 
• more litter bins in busy shopping areas where they are needed 

We're also asking which of these ideas people think would make the biggest difference and whether there are other solutions we should consider.

Important: We are not considering making any changes to household rubbish and recycling collections in residential streets. Any future changes to collections would only be considered for businesses and residents living above shops in busy shopping areas where there are ongoing problems with litter, rubbish and fly-tipping. 

Why your views matter

Our survey is about understanding what practical steps could help improve street cleanliness in these areas. Your feedback will help us understand which options are most likely to improve street cleanliness and how they could affect people who live, work and visit these areas.

When you start the survey, you'll be asked a few questions about yourself. This helps make sure you see the questions that are most relevant to you. 

The survey includes different questions for: 

• businesses 
• residents living above shops 
• Other Lewisham residents and visitors to the borough High Streets

If more than one of these applies to you, please answer from the point of view you would most like to share. 

For example, if you are both a business owner and a resident, but most of your comments on this topic are about your business and the area around it, you may wish to answer as a business owner. 

Frequently asked questions 

Before taking part, you may find it helpful to read the consultation Frequently Asked Questions.