Lambeth residents are raising serious concerns about the deteriorating condition of the borough's pavements, citing safety hazards and a perceived lack of responsiveness from the council. The issues were brought to the forefront during a recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, where councillors and residents highlighted the dangers posed by uneven surfaces, exposed cables, and general disrepair.
The council uses a prioritisation scoring system based on network hierarchy and traffic volume, surface condition and structural integrity, and proximity to key infrastructure such as schools and transport hubs. According to the Highways OSC Report 22.07.25, schemes are scored out of 100 and ranked accordingly, with those falling below the funding threshold retained on a reserve programme. The report states that this approach provides transparency, consistency, and value for money.
Jamie Leask, a resident of Greyhound Lane, recounted a harrowing experience where his wife fractured her wrist after tripping on a wire protruding from the pavement during a fire evacuation. He criticised the council's automated case closed
messages, which offered no explanation or transparency. It's a really high footfall area and it's used constantly by people heading to Streatham Common Station,
Leask said, emphasising the potential danger to pedestrians.
Alex Norman, Head of Services at Age UK Lambeth, echoed these concerns, highlighting the impact of poor pavement conditions on older residents. We've had some who, you know, have sort of reported feeling very fearful because their health is deteriorating and they don't feel, you know, the pavements are sort of safe for them to walk,
Norman stated, adding that uneven surfaces and obstructions could lead to social isolation and increased service costs.
Councillor Liz Atkins, Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, expressed concern that the council's prioritisation scoring system relies too much on technology and may not give sufficient priority to problems raised by residents on minor roads. Councillor Nicole Griffiths highlighted the poor condition of the pavement on Greyhound Lane, with loose bricks, exposed cables, and holes, questioning why it had not been repaired despite the report stating that competitive treatment is better than reactive treatment. Councillor Atkins requested that the issue be properly investigated and that Councillor Griffiths receive a full report.
John Bosley, Director of Highways, Environment and FM, explained that the council has a limited budget and relies on technology and policy guidance for the capital program. He acknowledged that the Greyhound Lane issue may not have reached the necessary threshold for a full repair.
The committee made several recommendations to address these issues, including:
- Ensuring the prioritisation scoring system incorporates and gives significant weight to problems identified by local residents.
- Providing greater clarity to residents on the methodology used and the scores which result, ensuring there is a transparent reporting and follow up process for residents who report damaged roads and pavements.
- Providing the committee with the outcomes from the performance audits, customer satisfaction monitoring and the lessons learned evaluation mentioned in the Highways OSC Report 22.07.25, plus comparative data from neighbouring London authorities. The specific details and timelines for these evaluations are not provided in the meeting information, but the committee has requested this information.
The council has been urged to take these recommendations seriously and to prioritise the safety and well-being of its residents by addressing the dangerous conditions of its pavements.
