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To: Senior Planning Enforcement Officer, Lewisham Council

Take action on dilapidated 124 Lee Road SE3 9DE

We are asking Lewisham Council to serve an S215 Enforcement Notice on the owner of this badly neglected and dilapidated building.

Why is this important?

This property was registered as an enforcement case (ref. EC/16/00356) by Lewisham Council in December 2016. An inspection was made and a letter was written to the owner, but the owner didn't reply, and no repairs have taken place. The council's enforcement officer then decided that the condition of the building wasn't serious enough to use the Council's legal powers and serve an S215 notice. This sends the wrong message to neglectful owners of buildings, that if they receive a warning letter from the local council they can safely ignore it, and nothing further will happen.

As time goes by, the condition of the building gets worse. There is a takeaway food shop on the ground floor, so there's a potential Health and Safety issue. It's not clear whether anyone lives on the upper two floors, which are designated as residential, but there are ragged, dirty net curtains in the top windows. A large plant is growing out of the stonework, as shown in the photograph -- its expanding roots will be causing more damage. There is a tile missing from the roof, the paintwork is peeling off, and the general appearance is dirty and uncared for.

The building is part of a 19th century terrace which has an application pending for local listing because of its heritage value. There is a longer-term plan to create a new conservation area containing this terrace, around the Lee Green Crossroads area. The buildings on either side of 124 and across the road are in good condition, so this one stands out like a sore thumb.

Lewisham Council has legal powers to do something about this, and the longer they leave it, the worse it will get. This neglected building is dragging our neighbourhood area down, and is depressing for the local people who live, work and shop here.

It's time for Lewisham Council to take action. Please sign this petition to prove to the Council how much you care -- thank you.

124 Lee Road, London SE3 9DE

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Updates

2020-10-11 11:12:40 +0100

Just to say that I was rather disheartened by the response from a Lewisham Council officer back in August 2018, who said that asking for S215 enforcement on this building "trivialises the collateral and weight on a 215 on a truly dilapidated, squalid and eyesore dwelling". In other words, the officer was saying that the state of this building isn't serious enough for Lewisham to serve an enforcement notice. Now that two more years have gone by, the problem has only got worse, and the council could be held liable for doing nothing if bits of masonry start falling off and potentially injuring passers-by. So please share this petition widely, and let's continue!

2018-08-29 19:15:18 +0100

Thanks to everybody for signing -- having reached just over 100 signatures, which is great, I've emailed the details to the relevant officers at Lewisham Council, copying the local councillor who is taking an interest. Fingers crossed they will now take further action. The petition is still open for further signatures, if you feel like sharing the link with others.
Best wishes and thanks again
Gill

2018-08-22 21:24:24 +0100

100 signatures reached

2018-08-18 21:44:01 +0100

50 signatures reached

2018-08-18 13:40:19 +0100

25 signatures reached

2018-08-18 12:03:51 +0100

10 signatures reached