Obstructions on roads and pavements

It is an offence to obstruct public roads, footpaths and pavements. Anyone found deliberately causing an obstruction without either authorisation or a good excuse can be prosecuted. We will enforce the law within Southwark and ensure that all public areas are clear of obstructions.

Please contact us to report any obstructions or hazards on public roads, footpaths or other public areas using the details below. Common examples of obstructions include

• builders' skips or materials e.g. piles of bricks, sand, concrete etc
• branches, bushes or hedges that overhang or block
• fly tipped rubbish
• road works safety barriers that have fallen over
• scaffolding or hoardings
• signs or advertising boards that are unauthorised
• shop goods or tables displaying goods on the pavement that are unauthorised
• tables and chairs from pubs, cafes and restaurants
• traders or vendors that are illegal or unauthorised
• vehicles that are parked illegally or have been abandoned

Sometimes obstructions can be caused by street furniture that has been damaged, e.g. bollards, litter bins or metal railings that have fallen over. The council will make sure that street furniture is dealt with quickly to minimise the risk to the public. We can also remove obstructions or make safe any part of the road or footpath that is dangerous, e.g. missing manhole covers etc. Our response times vary depending on the type of obstruction and whether or not it is causing a danger to the public.