Planning for a better future.
The Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum (BGNF) is a community group, open to every resident and person who works in, or runs a business in the Bell Green Neighbourhood Area. The area covers parts of four Lewisham wards; Bellingham, Perry Hill, Rushey Green, and Sydenham. It includes sections of postcodes SE6 3, SE6 4, SE23 2, SE26 4, and SE26 5.
What is Neighbourhood Planning?
Neighbourhood planning is a method of planning led by the local community, rather than by the local authority or the Government. Local people can now set out the vision and planning policies for how they want their local area to develop by producing a neighbourhood plan. Neighbourhood plans are about local issues rather than strategic planning issues, but they must take account of existing national and local planning policies. The Government has not specified the content of neighbourhood plans. This is for the local community to decide. However, the Government’s aim is that they will promote development. They are not about attempts to stop development.
Lewisham has held a community consultation, and a public vote, on whether to make us formally recognised and legally constituted under the Localism Act (2011). This follows a community consultation process, and a vote open to all residents. We await the outcome.
What are we doing?
The Bell Green Neighbourhood Forum has two strands. We are involved in drawing up a local plan, which will guide the long-term development of the area. At the same time, we are working on current issues, seeking urgent improvements in the public realm.
We are working on improving the air quality in the Bell Green area. We have been successful in getting funding from Lewisham Council for eight air quality monitors which will give real-time data on pollution levels. We have arranged for a further six diffusion tube monitors to be installed as part of Lewisham’s main air pollution project.
Traffic congestion is the cause of much of the air quality problems in the Bell Green area. Long term modifications of the road layout are part of our Local Plan ambitions, and we are currently collecting data to back our case. In the meanwhile, we are seeking improvements in pedestrian crossings and pedestrian comfort, to improve the public realm.
We need more street trees to absorb air pollution, to create summer shade, and to enhance the quality of life for local residents. Planting street trees in Lewisham are coordinated by Street Trees for Living, a not-for-profit organisation. To tackle the issue, we have launched The Bell Greening Project, which is fundraising to plant avenues of trees, initially focused on screening local schools from main road pollution.
Planting 15 trees along Stanton Way to screen Haseltine School has been postponed until next year. We didn’t raise the necessary £5,500 by this year’s deadline; if you can connect us with potential sponsors, individual or corporate, please get in touch.