Contents

Community

New Autism Strategy

The new Bexley Autism Strategy focuses on autism awareness, education and positive transitions into adulthood, employment, health and wellbeing and building the right community support.

Bexley MENCAP were commissioned to engage with local people to help develop the strategy.

More than 200 people responded to surveys and shared their views and experiences. Focused events were also held with over 100 people aged five years and up across workshops and engagement sessions.

Bexley’s Autism Partnership reviewed the emerging feedback and identified the following priority areas for the strategy:

  • raising awareness - autistic people feel valued, understood and part of our community
  • autistic people have good access to support and services to thrive as individuals
  • there are more opportunities for autistic people to be heard and to influence change in Bexley
  • autistic people have better health and wellbeing
  • autistic people have better access to education and employment

Find out more about autism support in Bexley

Clamping down on fly-tipping

We’ve introduced a new enforcement contractor and with their help we’ll be clamping down on fly-tippers even more.

We’re already giving higher fines of up to £1,000 and over the last twelve months 1,437 people have been issued with fixed penalty notices.

We’ve also increased enforcement patrols in areas with high levels of fly-tipping and introduced new deterrents.

We know there is more to do and with the public’s help we can continue this clampdown.

If you see someone fly-tipping take down the vehicle registration and email this and any dashcam footage you have to areateamsupport@bexley.gov.uk or call 020 8303 7777.

Image of fly-tipping

Improving school road safety

The Council is committed to providing further crossings near our schools and has consulted with the local community on proposed plans to make roads outside St Fidelis Catholic Primary School in Erith and Northumberland Heath Primary School safer by installing two new zebra crossings.

Image shows a family using a zebra crossing outside a school

In addition to a new zebra crossing on Bexley Road, south of the junction with Ling Road and the introduction of a second new crossing nearby in Brook Street, new safety measures proposed include the introduction of double yellow lines as necessary to ensure pedestrians are clearly visible to approaching vehicles and tactile paving surfacing to help those visually impaired.

For further information on these improvements email EngineeringServices@bexley.gov.uk or call 020 8303 7777.

Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods Councillor Richard Diment said:

Road safety outside schools is a priority for the Council. We want to ensure that children are safe and that all pedestrians feel confident walking particularly at peak pick up and drop off times.

Other schemes have been identified and these will be consulted on as funding becomes available".

Blue badge convictions

Seven more motorists have been found guilty of Blue Badge abuse offences and successfully prosecuted during the last three months receiving more than £6,600 in total fines, court costs and surcharges.

In total over the last nine months twenty-seven motorists have been convicted receiving more than £30,000 in total fines, court costs and surcharges.

Blue badge misuse is a criminal offence. Only people who have a disability affecting their mobility are eligible for a Blue Badge and can benefit from the concessions of the scheme.

Find out more about the Blue Badge disabled parking scheme

Make your donation count

Bexley Community Safety Partnership (BCSP) is asking local people to think carefully before handing out food, cash or goods to rough sleepers as this may help them sustain their situation instead of accepting assistance from the professional teams who are desperately trying to support them.   

 

Bexley Community Safety Partnership

Seeing people sleeping rough out on the street can be difficult. It is natural for us to want to help them out of the situation they are in and it can be hard to just walk by.

Rough sleepers are among the most vulnerable people in our society. Sadly, due to a range of challenging life experiences many suffer with mental and physical health issues which have, in turn, led to problems with alcohol and drugs misuse. Your spare change or belongings will not fix these problems and may, in fact help fund that situation.

If you see a rough sleeper that you are particularly concerned about contact Street Link London.

If you want to help you could donate or volunteer for one of the below organisations. They are set up to provide the right kind of help to our local rough sleepers.

Find out more about the Bexley Community Safety Partnership

New selective licensing scheme for Belvedere

A new selective licensing scheme is now in place for Belvedere Ward.

Selective Licensing is where private-rented properties within a designated area are required to be licensed. It is designed to help residents and tenants by tackling anti-social behaviour and poor property conditions.

All privately rented properties in Belvedere Ward now need to be licensed, although there are some exemptions. The scheme will be in place from 13 January 2025 to 12 January 2030.

More information, including an application form, details of fees and exemptions and a ‘look up’ tool are available on the property licensing scheme page.

Bexley backs 16 Days of Action

The Council is giving its full support to an international campaign on domestic abuse. 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual, global campaign challenging violence against women and girls.

The campaign starts on 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and runs until 10 December (Human Rights Day).

Solace provides confidential support for women and men in Bexley affected by abuse. If you are worried about domestic or sexual abuse and need advice you can call Solace on 020 3198 4659.

Bexley has its own dedicated website for both victims of domestic abuse and professionals providing information on a range of support services that are available in Bexley.

Find domestic support services in Bexley

Sidcup Place Community Garden

Well done to Sidcup Place Community Garden, which this year has won a raft of awards including Gold in Ruxley in Bloom’s Best Community Garden category, first place in the London Gardens Society’s London Community Garden category and Silver Gilt in London in Bloom’s “Our Community” category – 
as well as retaining its Green Flag status.

Restoration and regeneration of this historic walled garden at Sidcup Place has created a wonderful community of volunteers. If you enjoy gardening – whether you have little or a lot of experience - and would like to join them, why not pop along? They meet between 10am and 12 noon every second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Find out more about the Sidcup Garden Project