The Sustainable Development Select Committee met to discuss air quality, dockless bikes, and the committee's work programme. The committee noted the progress made on the Air Quality Action Plan and requested more detailed statistics on dockless bike usage and parking compliance. The committee also agreed to invite Lime Bikes to a future Public Transport Liaison Forum.

Air Quality

The committee received an update on the implementation of the Lewisham Council Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) 2022-2027, which outlines the measures the council is taking to improve air quality across the borough.

Lucy Kirk, Environmental Protection Manager, reported on the expansion of the air quality monitoring network, which now includes 148 diffusion tube monitoring sites and 74 automatic air quality sensors across the borough. The sensors gather real-time data, which will be available to the public via an online platform set to launch in September 2025.

The committee heard that 100% of relevant planning applications were confirmed as air quality neutral, in compliance with relevant planning policy. The council has also been working to raise awareness of the impact of wood burning, including running campaigns on digital channels and in libraries and leisure centres.

The committee was informed of a project to install a Roadvent system, an infrastructure extraction system which is installed into the road in order to capture and filter emissions from road-based vehicles, including nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, near a school or nursery in an Air Quality Management Area¹ (AQMA) and Air Quality Focus Area² (AQFA).

Dr Catherine Mbema, Director of Public Health, discussed the School Super Zone project around Kender Primary School and Edmund Waller Primary School, which included air quality awareness workshops and the creation of lower pollution walking routes to school.

Councillors asked about the levels of pollutants in the borough, and when the council expects to meet the air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Lucy Kirk said that the council is seeing a downward trend in pollutants, but that Lewisham is exceeding WHO guidelines for most pollutants. She added that a significant proportion of particulate matter comes from continental pollution, which the council has no control over.

Councillor Tauseef Anwar asked about setting a target to reach WHO guidelines, but Lucy Kirk said that they are very stringent and it may not be possible to achieve them due to background levels of pollution.

Dockless Bikes

The committee received a report on dockless bikes in the borough, including an update on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lime, the primary operator.

Matthew D'Archambaud, Head of Strategic Transport and Highways, told the committee that Lime currently has 1,500 dockless bikes operating across Lewisham. He noted that the council is in discussions with two additional operators, Forest and Bolt, about the potential for them to operate in the borough.

Councillors raised concerns about dockless bikes obstructing pavements and being left in inappropriate locations. Councillor Liam Curran said that he regularly sees 10 to 12 bikes obstructing the pavement on his walk to Beckenham Place Park.

Hal Stevenson from Lime said that it is Lime's responsibility to manage its fleet, and that the company is working to build out the bay network and implement parking rules. He added that Lime is retrofitting its bikes with a locking mechanism to prevent them from being ridden without being hired, which should reduce the number of bikes being left in inappropriate locations.

Councillor Mark Ingleby suggested setting a target for the number of bays to be created by a certain date, and also suggested distance-based charging rather than time-based charging. He also asked about concessionary rates for young people.

Hal Stevenson said that Lime already offers a 50% discount to Transport for London (TfL) pass concession holders, including students. He added that Lime is willing to fund cycle training in schools.

Councillor James Royston suggested inviting Lime and other potential dockless bike providers to the Public Transport Liaison Forum.

The committee made the following recommendations:

• Invite Lime Bikes to become part of the Public Transport Liaison Committee.
• Include statistics on wrongly parked bikes, damaged bikes, and bikes removed by the council in future reports.
• Invite Lime Bikes back to a committee meeting in the new year to monitor progress.
• Lewisham Council should consider how it will police or manage motorized traffic going through parks in the future.
• Funding should be provided for cycle training and the use of dockless bikes in schools.

Select Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed its work programme and discussed items for the next meeting. The following items are scheduled for the next meeting:

• Lewisham Town Centre
• Catford Town Centre

Councillor Tauseef Anwar suggested adding a separate item on housing retrofitting, given the funding that Lewisham has received for this work.