Lewisham Council must take urgent action to address the unsafe conditions faced daily by children, families, and staff travelling to Hatcham College and Hatcham Free School. With more than 1,800 pupils moving through the area each day, the streets around Jerningham Road, Drakefell Road, Gellatly Road and Pepys Road are no longer fit for purpose, creating unacceptable risks for some of the borough’s youngest and most vulnerable road users.

More than 1,400 secondary students travel to these sites independently each day, alongside over 400 primary‑aged children, many accompanied by families and carers. During the busy arrival and departure periods, Pepys Road’s pavements become severely overcrowded, and crossing Drakefell Road and Gellatly Road are made hazardous by high traffic volumes and parked vehicles that obstruct visibility.

At the Jerningham Road site, students are frequently forced to weave between double‑parked cars, buses, and delivery vehicles, stepping into gaps in traffic simply to cross the street. This is not a safe environment for children, nor for the wider community that shares these roads.

We are calling on Lewisham Council to:

1) Improve safe crossing points in the area on Drakefell Road, Gellatly Road and Jerningham Road
2) Reduce traffic volumes and vehicle speeds during peak school hours
3) Ensure pavements and pedestrian spaces are safe and fit for purpose
4) Extend School Street operating hours to include primary breakfast and after-school club times, so children attending these sessions are fully protected

These measures are essential to protect children, families, and local residents. They will reduce the risk of serious injury, create healthier streets, and support London’s Vision Zero commitment to eliminating deaths and serious injuries on our roads.

If you want to get involved email improvehabsschoolrun@gmail.com . We are a group of families from Hatcham College and Hatcham Free School.