This Saturday, Councillor Rags Sandhu spent the morning meeting with residents across Bexleyheath Ward to listen to their concerns, discuss local issues, and offer updates on council activity. As part of his ongoing commitment to community engagement, Cllr Sandhu visited the Lyndhurst Road and Risedale Road areas of the ward on what was one of the hottest Saturdays of the year.
Dozens of residents took the opportunity to speak with their councillor, raising a variety of topics that reflected the current priorities of the community. One of the most frequently raised concerns was the condition of local roads, with residents highlighting potholes and uneven surfaces. Cllr Sandhu reassured residents that the council is working through the list of reported road defects, obviously the main roads are a priority with other roads being further down the list of ongoing repairs. Cllr Sandhu encouraged residents to use the www.fixmystreet.com website to report such issues, this is a much quicker way of reporting.
Cllr Sandhu emphasised the importance of community safety and confirmed he would liaise with local police teams and council officers to look into increasing patrols and ensuring Bexley remains a safe space for all. He also took the opportunity to advise residents about the local police Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT) meetings taking place throughout the year. These sessions offer residents a direct platform to raise crime and safety concerns with local officers and to stay informed about policing priorities in the area. Cllr Sandhu encouraged residents to attend and participate, noting that community engagement is key to effective local policing.
Rubbish collection and fly-tipping also featured in discussions. Cllr Sandhu assured residents that he is in regular contact with Bexley Council’s Environmental Services team and will continue to press for improved efficiency and better enforcement against fly-tipping offenders. The current rate of bins collections is at over 99.9% for the borough, sadly people still insist on fly-tipping, however the council have now increased fines. A combination of the increased fines along with the new CCTV system which is soon to be installed should see a reduction in the fly-tipping across Bexley.
Speaking after the session, Cllr Sandhu said: “It’s always a pleasure to be out and about in the community, speaking with residents directly. Their insights are invaluable and help shape the decisions we make at council level. I will be following up on the matters raised today and will ensure residents are kept informed of progress.”
Being a key part of the Bexley & Crayford Conservative team, Cllr. Rags Sandhu is out each week with a dedicated team of Conservative councillors and activists listening to the residents of Bexleyheath & Crayford.
