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Dear Old Kent Road residents,
We are delighted to bring you the first quarterly edition of the Old Kent Road Neighbourhood Newsletter. Every three months, we will share local news, council updates, and opportunities to get involved in shaping your community.
Local events
Free sewing classes for all ages – Faith Women Community UK
Join expert led sewing classes for creative fun and community connection. Boost your creativity, skills and confidence. Every Wednesday 11am - 2pm and Saturday 12pm – 2pm at ASCO Hall, 375 Old Kent Road SE1 5JQ
Astley & Cooper’s estate senior citizen’s afternoon tea
Breaking barriers of isolation and loneliness, promoting healthy lifestyle. Come and have a chat and make new friends!
For more information Contact: Haija Saidat 07780383563
Free graphiti club @ The Arts Yard – Livesey Exchange
Youths 10+ every other Wednesday starting 1st October 2025 3:30pm – 5pm (must be accompanied by an adult)
Adults 18+ every other Wednesday starting 1st October 2025 6pm – 8pm
Venue: Livesey Exchange 2, 567 Old Kent Rd, London SE1 5EW, UK
Glengall Wharf Garden – gardening activities
Forest Garden Fridays - Every Friday, 12pm to 4pm
Food Growing Sessions - Every Wednesday 3.30pm to 7.30pm, Every Saturday, 12pm – 4pm
Open Volunteer Sessions - Every Sunday, 12pm to 4pm
All events are free and take place at Glengal Wharf Garden, London, SE15 6NF
Available funding
National Lottery awards for All England
Open to all types of voluntary or community organisation, as well as CICs and not for profit companies. Funding for community based projects that aim to:
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bring people together to build strong relationships in and across communities
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improve the places and spaces that matter to communities
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help more people to reach their potential, by supporting them at the earliest possible stage
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support people, communities and organisations facing more demands and challenges because of the cost-of-living crisis
Community safety and support
Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB): Hotspots and actions taken
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Number of incidents in Q1
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Rowdy Or Inconsiderate Behaviour
Rowdy / Nuisance Neighbours
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We work with residents to make sure we respond quickly to ASB concerns. We use data to understand where hotspots are occurring and deploy wardens, our new nighttime uniformed patrol service, ccctv monitoring and work closely with the police in high problem areas. Thank you to residents for reporting concerns.
Crime and Policing: Hotspot updates and police response
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Number of incidents in Q1
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Violence against the Person, and
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Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB)
Safety is a fundamental need for all residents. However, our residents, particularly women, LGBTQ+ communities, black communities, and young people, have expressed fears about their safety in public spaces, on the streets, and within their homes. Therefore, concerns about crime and antisocial behaviour remain a top priority for Southwark.
We know from research that about half of ASB goes unreported, so we want to hear from you and encourage residents to report if there are experiencing crime and / or ASB
Details of how to report crime and Antisocial behaviour can be found here.
Report a crime | Metropolitan Police
A key strand of the Southwark 2030 vision is safety, with it being one of the highest priority issues for Southwark residents. In response we are commissioning a new Night time Uniformed Patrol Service that will work 7 days a week, from 6pm-2am. They will enhance our current Community Warden Service provision in addressing anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime by providing a reassuring uniformed patrol presence on the estates, streets, parks, and open spaces in Southwark, addressing concerns of ASB and crime through targeted operations and patrols in areas of most need.
Increasing Trust and Confidence
Southwark established a Policing Oversight Board in November 2024 with the aim of having oversight of our local Borough Command Unit (BCU) Trust and Confidence Plan. This plan is aligned with the recommendations of the Casey report and cuts across the different strands of policing. The aim of the plan is to ensure communities feel listened to, are informed and are treated with respect and fairness.
The Board comprises of eight independent members with a range of specialisms, interests and lived experiences.
In April 2025 the Board held its first meeting in public at Walworth Town Hall and the priority area of focus was Engagement. The police set out their intent;
Our purpose is to strengthen the relationship between the Metropolitan Police and the communities we serve, by fostering more trust, achieving less crime, and delivering higher standards through meaningful and lasting engagement.
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in public space
You can view and sign up to all the self-defence class here: Sign up here
VAWG action days
We’re delivering a series of VAWG Action Days in identified hotspots in the borough, this includes a community engagement stall to raise awareness of VAWG issues and how to keep safe, including the distribution of FREE personal panic alarms.
We’re also working closely with licensed premises and will be distributing anti-spiking kits as well discussing women’s safety initiatives such as Ask For Angela and promoting sign up to the Southwark Safe Havens Scheme, and the Women’s Night Safety Charter.
Women’s self-defence sessions
We’re delivering a series of Free Women’s self-defence sessions across the borough. These sessions are open to women aged 18+ living in Southwark. Each session can accommodate 20 participants and is designed to equip women with practical techniques to prevent and defend against threats, improving confidence and safety.
Robbery/ phone thefts
Southwark continues to face challenges linked to robbery, theft, and mobile phone snatching, with particular hotspots around transport hubs, retail areas, and busy high streets. Targeted policing and partnership activity is being delivered across key neighbourhoods to enhance safety, deter offending, and reassure local communities.
Safe havens
Safe havens are places of temporary refuge where a vulnerable person can be supported, on their onward journey. We currently have 31 venues operating as Safe Havens in the borough.
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All libraries in Southwark are designated as Safe Havens
Graffiti: Hotspots, removals, prevention initiatives
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Number of incidents in Q1
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The Council currently spends c£700K a year removing graffiti from Council and private property, both pro-actively and in response to service requests. The Council is committed to tackling graffiti and provides a free graffiti removal service for private property owners, where the graffiti is publicly visible and up to 2.5 metres above ground level. To access this free service, the Council requires the property owner to sign a consent form. Where an owner fails to sign a consent form, the Council will issue a ’21-day’ management notice, which requires the owner to either remove the graffiti themselves; or sign the form and allow the Council to. Where a property owner fails to comply with the notice, after 21 days from the date of issue, the Council will remove the graffiti and potentially recharge the owner. The Councill has embarked on a three year programme of graffiti and fly posting management action, targeting town centre ‘hot spot’ locations with sustained ‘blitz’ removal action and follow up ‘design out’ measures. These measures include installing trellis with planters and commissioning murals to physically deter/ prevent the graffiti from re-occurring.
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Fly-Tipping: Hotspots, clean-ups and enforcement
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Number of incidents in Q1
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The Council currently spends c£600K a year removing street fly tipping, both pro-actively and in response to service requests. Where there is potential evidence to identify an offender, the Council will investigate and take appropriate enforcement action, including issuing fixed penalty notices (£1,000 maximum fine level) and pursuing prosecutions. The Council is committed to tackling fly tipping, using a combination of community engagement, education and enforcement action; and ‘design out’ prevention measures. In support of this commitment, the Councill has embarked on a three year rolling programme of targeted action to tackle the Borough’s fly tipping ‘hot spot’ street and estate locations. This includes investing in additional enforcement officers and re-deployable CCTV cameras and embarking on a long-term behaviour change campaign, including use of ‘crime tape/ stickers’ and educational videos.
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Parks, leisure and environment
Parks and playgrounds
Repairs, upgrades and new equipment
All significant repairs identified in our annual independent safety review have been completed in a number of our parks playgrounds. Minor repairs will be completed this autumn.
Bramcote Park (north side) will undergoing a full refurbishment during the winter 2025/26.
Biodiversity schemes: Local enhancement projects
This year, we have continued to implement reduced mowing regimes across selected parks and green spaces around the borough. Allowing grasses and wildflowers to grow supports pollinators and other wildlife and aligns with the council’s nature recovery ambitions. .
Leisure centres
Tree planting
Autumn is when the council starts its tree planting programme. Over the summer we purchased the tree selection to be planted and appointed the contractors to plant the trees. Planting will continue through winter and Spring.
How to find out where trees are being planted by the council in your area;
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Click on the link Spectrum Spatial
- Go to map layers (on the right hand side menu)
- Scroll down to ‘Highways (Confirm) Assets’
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Scroll down the proposed new tree planting and select
This map will show you the proposed tree planting sites for 2025/26 planting season (Nov to Mar)
Culture and events: Upcoming activities for families and residents
Youth and play service
In the Old Kent Road neighbourhood there are following council funded youth and play projects:
Waste and street care
Transport and infrastructure
Highways consultations
CPZ updates & links to feedback surveys
Road resurfacing
Avondale Square
EV charging points
New installations across wards
Old Kent Road: 96 EV chargers installed
Cycle hangars
Rollout progress & future plans
New playground equipment
Setchell estate children's play area, Enid Street ballcourt barrier, Kintore Way nursery playground area revamp, Manor Estate ball court upgrades
#ChargeSafe
e-bike and e-scooter safety advice
Current surveys and consultations
Contact details: Danielle Simpson, Borough and London Bridge and Old Kent Road Neighbourhood Officer
Please contact us if you would like to be added to our mailing list.
Streets for People
Streets for People delivery plan launched in July 2023 provides information on how feedback from our largest consultation, with over 9,000 responses will help shape the future of Southwark.
Key prioritisation
Streets for communities
Reclaiming spaces for our communities, to connect, socialise and play.
Streets for journeys
Making healthy travel choices, safer, easier, and quicker
Streets for economy
Helping Town Centres run better and sustainably, creating quality spaces where people want to spend time.
Streets for nature
Cleaning our air, reducing impact of climate change, increasing biodiversity, making streets greener and more resilient to extreme weather.
Comms and Engagement events took place across this Neighbourhood in October 2025. People were invited to various events, from in person workshops, to neighbourhood walks and bike rides to gather further information on how Southwark can promote active travel, reduce emissions and create more space for public use. Feedback once analysed and will be shared with staff working across projects and schemes to agree next steps. For more information, please see link below
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