SUCCESS! LEWISHAM MAYOR DROPS PLANS FOR PARKING CHARGES
 

Last month notices appeared along the high street attached to the lamp posts. The notices were from Lewisham Council stating that soon you would have to pay to park in the high street. The plan was to turn the parking bays - where you can currently park for 40 minutes for free - into paid-for spaces. The cost would be £1 for 30 minutes only payable via a smartphone. Locally this would have affected Sydenham Road, Sydenham Station Approach, Kirkdale, Lower Sydenham down to Bell Green and many side roads.

Sydenham Traders and the Sydenham Society along with a slew of residents objected strongly to this plan which would have had a devastating effect on Sydenham Road and Kirkdale. 

We are indebted to our three local Sydenham councillors who met with the Lewisham Mayor to discuss the scheme. Shortly after this meeting the following email was sent to councillors:
 

Dear Councillors,
 
This email is an update on the present position with regards to the proposal to convert existing parking bays to paid for parking bays that are currently free. We have reviewed this proposal and we are not taking any action to progress these changes.
 
To avoid confusion, the above is separate to the Phase 3 consultation on Sustainable Streets that is currently underway in some wards which is not due to end until June 2025.
 
Regards,
 
Joe Turner
Interim Head of Parking Services
Place Directorate
Lewisham Council