From dumped sofas to plastic bottles, Lewisham’s streets are getting dirtier, its residents have complained to SouthLondonLines.

Ahmed Sahroni, a shopkeeper in his early 30s on New Cross Road, said, “Sometimes when garbage piles up around the bins, dirty water leaks out. When bicycles pass by or people walking around step in it, the water can easily spread everywhere.”

His shop is located beside the garbage disposal area. “It sometimes smells unpleasant,” added Sahroni.

In July, the council reports revealing a spike in fly-tipping and littering across Lewisham.

According to council data, reports of fly-tipping and littering cases increased by 13.5 per cent, reaching 27,599 cases between 2023 to 2024. The rise is reflected in other forms of street littering issues, with over 160 fines issued by mid of 2025.

George Zhukov, 27, a Goldsmiths, University of London anthropology student originally from Russia, said, “It’s generally clean enough, but the street outside a bar near Goldsmiths University occasionally have some trash, especially after busy evenings.”

Zhukov added that one improvement that would make a huge difference to the area would be “to clear the leaves” and to ensure there is nothing impeding the passage of wheelchairs, bicycles and other wheeled devices.

Fiona, an 11-year-old primary schoolgirl in Lewisham, said, “it could be cleaner. There’s too much rubbish on the floor.”

Her friend Nathaniel, also eleven, added, “I literally got trip up by some litter on the floor while I was on my way to collect my sister.”