Latest news with #BexleyCouncil
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The shocking state of Bexley's pothole-ridden roads and what can be done to fix them
As your MP, I'm out every week speaking to residents across Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Northumberland Heath, and Slade Green. I meet residents who voted for me and those that didn't, some who share my politics and those that don't. Either way, I will always represent issues brought to me by my constituents. However, there is often one uniting topic that residents all agree on, and that is potholes and the state of roads across the constituency. Road maintenance is ultimately the responsibility of the London Borough of Bexley, but it's an issue that keeps coming up again and again. Residents don't feel their roads are being well maintained. Back in 2021, when I was a Bexley Councillor, I warned the Conservative administration that their plan to significantly cut the road maintenance budget to stave off the looming pressures of bankruptcy, would come back to haunt them. When the decision to cut road maintenance funding was made, the council's own documents acknowledged the risks of more insurance claims, worsening road conditions, and a reduced ability to maintain highways to safe standards. Daniel Francis, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Image: Nikki Powell) The document produced for leading councillors in the administration prior to the decision being agreed, admitted this could lead to more damage to vehicles, property, and personal injury. The data in the council's highways maintenance transparency report published on its website speaks for itself. According to these statistics: · The number of main roads (A roads) in the borough rated in the council's red category i.e. roads that require urgent attention, has increased by 680% in the last four years. · During this period, minor roads (B and C roads) in the red category have increased by a staggering 866%. That's why the Labour Government stepped in announcing a landmark investment earlier this year. Local councils have received an extra £500 million – enough to fill 7 million potholes a year. For Bexley this equates to an additional £895,000 for the council to fix the potholes across the borough. As your local MP I'm not responsible for the decisions the council makes, but I'm taking action. I've been out identifying potholes the council has missed - making sure this funding is used where it's needed most. I'm reporting every pothole I find on the FixMyStreet app, so you can track my reports in real-time. I've been shocked to see that this money isn't being spent. By making these reports, I'm ensuring that the council uses the money which the Government supplied to repair potholes across our borough. At the time of writing, I've reported 82 potholes across three council electoral wards in Crook Log, Crayford, and Northumberland Heath and there are more to go; as I monitor the position across Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, West Heath, and Slade Green & Northend wards. I've spoken to a number of constituents when I've been out reporting potholes and please do say hello if you see me out and about in the constituency with my tape measure on my pothole patrol.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The Bexley and Bromley Parks among UK's best with 2025 Green Flag Awards
Several parks across Bexley and Bromley have been officially recognised as some of the finest in the country, after winning prestigious Green Flag Awards for 2025. The annual awards, regarded as the international quality benchmark for parks and green spaces, celebrate well-managed, welcoming, and environmentally sustainable outdoor areas. Among this year's 2,250 UK winners are standout sites in both boroughs, reflecting the hard work of local authorities, volunteers, and community groups. In Bexley, Lesnes Abbey Wood, managed by Bexley Council, has been awarded the prestigious flag. Lesnes Abbey Wood (Image: Newsquest) Bromley also boasts several winners, all managed by idverde for Bromley Council. These include Biggin Hill Recreation Ground, Cator Park, Chislehurst and Walden Recreation Ground, Darrick and Newstead Wood, Hayes Common, High Elms Country Park, Kelsey Park, Keston Common, Queens Gardens, and South Hill Wood. Other sites in Bromley have received additional awards. West Wickham Common, managed by the City of London, has been given the Green Heritage Site Accreditation. This recognises sites that meet extra criteria and care for, share, and celebrate the heritage of their locations. The Green Flag Community Award, which recognises quality green spaces managed by voluntary and community groups, has been given to Hoblingwell Wood and Recreation Ground, managed by Friends of Hoblingwell, and Winsford Gardens, supervised by Penge Green Gym. In Bexley, the Sidcup Place Community Garden has also received the Green Flag Community Award. The Green Flag Award is managed by Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government. This year marks the 29th anniversary of the scheme, which aims to recognise and reward the best green spaces in the country. Four parks, which received their first Green Flag Award in 1997, have managed to maintain it every year since. Keep Britain Tidy's chief executive, Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, said: "We are thrilled to see that an incredible 2,250 sites have met the standards required for a Green Flag Award, reflecting the tireless work of the people tasked with caring for and improving these crucial national assets. "Our quality parks and green spaces make the UK a healthier place in which to live and work, and a stronger place in which to invest." She added that the Green Flag Award sets the standard for caring for these sites amidst growing recognition that our green spaces can be part of the solution to climate change. The charity believes that the standards expected for the Green Flag Award should be a minimum for every park. They aim for a significant increase in the number of sites achieving Green Flag Award status by 2030, so that people, wherever they live, can access and enjoy safe, high-quality green space. Erika Diaz Petersen, Historic England's principal national landscape adviser, added: "We congratulate this year's winners for their achievements in reaching Green Flag Award standards for looking after our vital green infrastructure. "Heritage is at the heart of our green infrastructure networks, from public parks to our canal network, providing crucial benefits for people and nature, and a critical resource for climate resilience." The Green Flag Award scheme sets the benchmark standard for the management of recreational outdoor spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bexley GP surgery to get £360k to help reduce wait times
Nearly £360,000 will be given to a Bexley surgery in a bid to increase its clinical capacity and reduce waiting times for appointments. Bexley Council has confirmed it will give a grant of £359,196 to Crayford Town Surgery to implement work which will see the creation of two new clinic rooms. The money was gathered from unallocated Section 106 (S106) contributions from the redevelopment of the former Electrobase site in Crayford. S106 agreements between developers and local authorities are used to mitigate the negative impacts of a new development on the local community. A total of 559 new homes will be built as part of the redevelopment of the brownfield Electrobase site, likely resulting in increased pressure on local infrastructure and in particular health services. Bexley Council was approached by the NHS South East London ICB (integrated care board) with a request for the money to 'enable them to develop and implement a scheme to increase clinical capacity at Crayford Town Surgery in partnership with the practice' following confirmation that the residential development would be going ahead. The ICB considers that the S106 funds will cover the entire project which aims to increase patient capacity 'through reconfiguration' and through the constitution of two new clinic rooms. The ICB has welcomed the cash injection for the surgery. A Bexley spokesperson for the South East London ICB said: 'Investment received because of the Electrobase residential development Section 106 contributions, will allow Crayford Town Surgery to reconfigure and refurbish its current site. 'This will include two additional consulting rooms and a hot-desking room, for primary care colleagues from the wider neighbourhood team, to provide more joined-up care to patients. 'This investment will enable the surgery to increase its clinical capacity (GPs and multi-professional clinicians) and meet the health and care needs of the new population moving into the Electrobase residential development. 'NHS South East London Integrated Care Board has worked in partnership with the London Borough of Bexley and is supportive of this investment.'
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Anger as Bexley dropped kerb denied 'over house being 30cm too small'
A woman has claimed she has been 'stonewalled' by Bexley Council after her bid to have a dropped kerb outside her house in Bexleyheath was dismissed. Louise McCarthy says it has been 'frustrating' to be denied a dropped kerb after she had worked hard for years to buy her first home in Standard Road. She first applied for the kerb to be lowered in October 2023 and was told that her home was not wide enough by 30cm under council rules. But she claimed that Bexley Council's position lacked 'commonsense' as other terraced houses in her street that have identical dimensions already have a dropped kerb. READ MORE - Louise McCarthy has pointed out that other terraced house in her road have a dropped kerb (Image: Louise McCarthy) Ms McCarthy has since appealed the decision and contacted the council on multiple occasions asking for 'discretion' but believes her pleas have been ignored. 'We knew it was a busy road when we bought the house, but we thought we could get a dropped kerb,' she explained. 'How they've dealt with it is quite shocking. They just say this is the policy and that's a red line. 'They're digging their heels in over 30cm. We just have nowhere to turn – it's near on impossible to park down the street especially on a weekday which is far from ideal.' She added that she felt the council has shown little concern for the implications of denying her a dropped kerb. 'I have to park further down the road and it's quite a quiet road at night – there's not many people around,' she explained. 'They clearly don't care about my safety.' Ms McCarthy added: 'We're doing a full renovation so we're planning on staying there for at least six or seven years. 'I've grown up in this area and I want to stay in this area. 'I've been fortunate enough and saved hard enough and worked hard enough to buy a house. 'Then to have this reception from the council has been hard work.' READ MORE - A Bexley Council spokesperson said that the minimum size requirements are to ensure that parked vehicles do not obstruct the pavement by overhanging or with opening doors. They added: 'Although an applicant may currently own a smaller vehicle, once a crossover is approved, in the future it would be available to be used by large vehicles by the applicant or future owners. 'Some properties on this road do have existing driveway access, but these were approved under earlier policies and cannot be revoked. "The current policy has been updated to reflect the increase in vehicle sizes in recent years and the problems experienced where driveways are too small.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plan to expand recycling facility among applications to Bexley Council
A plan to increase recycling capacity by 70,000 tonnes is among applications submitted to Bexley Council. The proposal, by Mr L Bicaku, involves extending the facility at Century Wharf Industrial Estate, Crayford Creek Road, Crayford. It includes both upward and outward extensions to the existing building. According to the public notice, the aim is to improve efficiency and quality at the site, as well as enable the facility to process an additional 70,000 tonnes per year of mixed recyclables. The application, reference 25/00884/FULM, can be viewed on the council's planning portal. Public comments must be submitted by June 4. In a separate application, Mr R Manak has requested permission to alter the footprint and elevations of a previously approved development at Aysgarth, Cross Lane, Bexley. The site falls within the Parkhurst Conservation Area and the application is being made under Section 73 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The original permission, reference 24/01696/FUL, was for the erection of two single-storey side extensions following the demolition of an existing garage and conservatory, and the incorporation of dormer windows to the northwest and southwest roof slopes. The current application, reference 25/00910/FUL, seeks to vary condition 2 (approved drawings) of the original permission. The full details of both applications can be viewed online at: Written responses for the Aysgarth application must be submitted by June 5 and addressed to Development Management, Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath, Kent, DA6 7AT. The council has advised that, under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1995, any response will be made available for public inspection. It has also noted that, as the Aysgarth application relates to a domestic dwelling, if the application is refused and the applicant appeals under the Householder Appeal Service, only observations made on this application will be passed to the Planning Inspectorate. There will be no further opportunity to make representations at the appeal stage. Richard Turek, head of development management at Bexley Council, signed both public notices. The notices were published on May 14. Members of the public can view and comment on both applications via the council's planning portal. Further details on how to submit comments are available on the council's website. Want to find out all the latest planning applications, alcohol licensing applications and planned road closures near you? Then search the Public Notice Portal. The Public Notice Portal is owned and operated by the News Media Association, the voice of UK national, regional, and local newspapers in all their print and digital forms. NMA members include nearly 900 local and regional news titles which reach 40 million people across the length and breadth of the country each month. Many of these publications have served their communities for centuries and remain the most reliable source of verified news and information. Created by local news publishers and supported by the Google News Initiative, the portal carries statutory public notices published in local newspapers and is the fastest and most effective way of finding out what is happening in YOUR neighbourhood. Public Notice Portal Find, save and share Public Notices that affect you in your local area
