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Football

Picture of open palm showing handful of rubber crumb. Caption - 3G football pitches use around 120 tons of rubber crumb, topped up with 300 kg/year

Council ignores health risks in plans for rubber crumb pitch at Whitefoot Lane, Downham

Cabinet member Sakina Sheikh presented officer advice on rubber crumb which ignores health risks to players and workers, in her answers at the full council meeting on 28 January.

Football pitch visible behind trees, shrubs and ancient pond at centre of the playing fields.

Calls to scrap plans for crumb rubber football pitch at Whitefoot Lane, Downham

Lewisham council have raised a planning application for a 3G football pitch at the playing fields, which include protected nature conservation areas. But local campaigners are calling for a halt and health impact assessment.

Canada geese flying over the Whitefoot Lane playing fields towards the pond.

Whitefoot Lane, Downham: risk of serious harms to children's health from planned football pitch

Downham GP Dr Helen Tattersfield raises concerns over potential "serious detrimental effects" of microplastics on young players' health, as well as the risks to nature.

Pond in shaft of sunlight, surrounded by trees with fence and playing fields in background.

"Ecological vandalism": plans for artificial grass football pitch at Whitefoot Lane, Downham

Community groups condemn Lewisham council's stewardship of the playing fields, which has allowed the ancient pond to dry out and progressed the plan for a 3G football pitch which will "dump microplastics into a nature reserve". They fear transfer of the site's lease will make things worse.

Some of the illustrations and photos at Royal George

Deptford Ravens present Offside at Royal George

Ayesha Shingruf joined the inclusive local football team to get active, but stayed because of its sense of community. She introduces the Ravens' first art exhibition, Offside.

Young footballers playing five-a-side on floodlit pitch

Sports Fun 4 All - delivering free football and improving young lives across south London

Starting out with free football sessions at Downham and Bellingham, Kieran Connolly's organisation has seen extraordinary growth. This year, Connolly's young coaches have delivered 283 free football sessions, working with 847 young people in Lewisham, Greenwich and beyond.