Reporting Problems in Catford: Potholes, Fly-Tipping and Street Lights

What is the quickest way to report a street problem?

Lewisham Council runs its reporting through Love Clean Streets, branded Cleaner Lewisham. On the reporting page you can report anonymously or log in to get updates on what you reported, and the same account works with the Love Clean Streets mobile app. The council's cleaner Lewisham page says the platform takes reports of fly-tipping, abandoned vehicles, graffiti, dog fouling, road and pavement problems and general street cleaning issues. For anything not covered, the council's main switchboard is 020 8314 6000.

Who fixes potholes in Catford?

Lewisham Council maintains all public roads in the borough except red routes. The council's potholes page says Transport for London manages red routes, and that housing associations maintain their own estate roads, so contact your landlord for those. TfL's own pages describe its red route network as major roads that it operates and enforces.

The council sends an inspector to assess reported potholes. It says small potholes may not be repaired because the repair material does not stay in the hole, so do not be surprised if a very shallow one is left. The page gives no repair timescales. Include the road name, the nearest house number and a photo if you can.

How do I report a broken street light?

The council's street lighting page says Milestone Infrastructure manages street lighting in the borough. You can report a fault online through the council's fault reporting system or by phone on 0800 028 5986 (calls are recorded). The page publishes these service standards: emergencies within 1 hour, defective lighting equipment within 4 days and underground electrical problems within 30 days. The page was last updated in January 2025, so treat the numbers as the council's current published standards rather than a guarantee. Give the column number if there is one, and the road name.

How do I report fly-tipping or graffiti?

Use Love Clean Streets. If you have information about who is responsible for fly-tipping, the council says you can pass it on and it stays confidential to its Environmental Crime Enforcement team. The council's fixed penalty notices page publishes these amounts:

• Fly-tipping: £250 if paid within 10 days, £400 within 14 days.
• Graffiti and flyposting: £265 within 10 days, £500 within 14 days.
• Littering: £140 within 10 days, £200 within 14 days.

If you have bulky waste to get rid of, use the council's collection service rather than leaving it out; our Landmann Way and bulky waste guide has the details.

What about missed bins, trees and noise?

Missed bin collections have their own forms, covered in our Catford bin guide. The council's environment section also has pages on street cleaning, trees, noise and stray animals, all reachable from the environment page.

How do I make a complaint about the council itself?

Use the council's complaints and feedback section, linked from its contact page. Relay UK users can dial 18001 before the switchboard number.