Plans to pedestrianise Deptford High Street have been halted by Lewisham Council following opposition from local traders and residents.

A campaign group, Save Deptford High Street, had urged the council not to ban cars from accessing most of the street during set hours hours seven days a week, arguing that it would “destroy local businesses, isolate vulnerable residents and accelerate gentrification”.

Almost 3,000 people responded to the consultation, and in response Lewisham said no pedestrianisation scheme would come forward without further engagement with the local community.

Instead, the council said it would act on public calls to make the high street cleaner and better-lit, particularly under the railway bridge. It said it had already repainted lighting columns and had begun a deep clean of the footways on the high street. 

Old phone boxes, damaged signs and poles will be removed, while there will be additional planting, cycle hangers and wayfinding signs. There will also be extra enforcement to tackle illegal parking and antisocial behaviour.

Visualisation of car free high street
Cars would have been banned from the high street for set times seven days a week. Image: Lewisham Council

Terry Corne’s family-run shop, Terry’s Discount, has been  on Deptford High Street for the last 50 years. Reacting to the pedestrianisation plans being halted, Corne said: “I’m glad in a way because now customers can come to the shop and pick up heavy stuff and put it in their car and drive off. They’re able to get bags and bags of soil. This is good, I’m glad anyway.”

The Save Deptford High Street online petition had picked up 271 signatures. It called the pedestrianisation plans a “death sentence for people who make Deptford what it is”.

But advocates of pedestrianisation said there had been dangerous driving in the street and the cars contributed to poor air quality.

Ese Erheriene, Lewisham’s cabinet member for business, jobs and skills, said: “Residents and businesses have spoken clearly and we have listened carefully – their views have genuinely shaped the future of Deptford High Street.

“Guided by their feedback from our consultation, we are ensuring the area is even more welcoming, cleaner and safer and a fantastic place to trade and do business.”

Ruby Gregory is the Local Democracy Reporter for Lewisham. The Local Democracy Reporting Service is a BBC-funded initiative to ensure councils are covered properly in local media.

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