NEW HAND rails have been installed in Cutty Sark Gardens after a spate of accidents on an “invisible step.”

Cutty Sark Gardens were officially opened at the Queen’s visit in April after a re-landscaping of the area, but it soon became clear there was a problem with the steps.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Greenwich Council has revealed that town centre wardens logged reports of four people falling over on the steps within the space of 17 days between April and May.

“Fell down steps”, “fell over frontwards”, “fell off steps” and “walked into space on invisible step” were the descriptions of the accidents given by council wardens.

A local resident who works close to Cutty Sark Gardens told this website he has witnessed more accidents than have been officially logged – indeed, this accident pictured below on June 3rd didn’t appear in the council’s list of incidents.

By April 24th, although Greenwich Council had only officially recorded one fall at that point, an email was sent to the Dutch architects Okra to inform them there was a “trip problem” in the gardens, which cost millions of pounds to redevelop.

Martin Knuijit from Okra told Greenwich.co.uk that one of the reasons people have been falling is because they have been distracted by the Cutty Sark itself.

“We are aware that there were a few unexpected things, such as people falling,” he says.

“On several days we have been watching people’s behaviour and the most confusing situations occur when people are entering the square, just gazing at the Cutty Sark ship, forgetting to have a look at the ground”.

Black edging has since been applied to the edges of the steps and last week hand rails were installed.#

Greenwich Council told last month’s Greenwich Visitor that the contractor was “carrying out a snagging exercise and making good prior to completion” following the £5.6million revamp.

Foot tunnel fences

New metal fences have also been erected inside Greenwich foot tunnel. The fences near the middle of the historic river crossing are aimed at preventing cyclists riding through the tunnel.

But in the week that London 2012 starts, the foot tunnel lifts have again been hit by unreliability at both ends, and the stairwells both still have restricted access while restoration works continue.

Cabinet member Denise Hyland apologised for the much-delayed progress on the foot tunnel refurbishments last October.

Floptilla: A tall ship passing through the barrier

WHAT SHOULD have been one of the year’s most spectacular sights on the river ended in disappointment this afternoon.

Crowds who had gathered along the riverside in Greenwich to see a long-planned flotilla of tall ships, here in London for Sail Royal Greenwich, waited in blistering heat in vain as the ships turned around before they even reached maritime Greenwich.

The vessels had left Tilbury later than planned with lead vessel, the Wylde Swan, not reaching the Thames Barrier until 1.30pm. A tweet from the organisers earlier in the week suggested an arrival time at Greenwich of 12-12.30.

A procession of ships came around the dome but instead of continuing up river they turned around and returned to Woolwich while spectators continued to wait expectantly at vantage points either side of the river.

Those waiting were left bitterly disappointed as news emerged via Twitter and ship tracking smartphone applications that the much anticipated tall ships weren’t coming.

Isle of Dogs resident, Susan Proctor, waited in Island Gardens for almost two and a half hours.

She said: “My friend is visiting for a couple of days and we looked online to find out if there was anything on today. We saw the flotilla listed and rushed down to make sure we didn’t miss anything and now we’ve missed it all.

“We spoke to the organisers on the phone and they said it would be here between 12pm and 2pm. We could have spent the day doing something else if we’d known.”

The event organisers have since posted an apology on their website later in the afternoon. Under the headline, “Our Very Sincere Apologies!”, it said:

“Due to security and safety concerns our ships had to turn between Cubbitt Town and Greenwich Peninsula. We were so close to Greenwich – and we can only apologise for these unforeseen circumstances.”

Sail Royal Greenwich hosted a launch dinner this evening at the Cutty Sark to which local councillors were invited. The fleet of tall ships can still be seen on the river conducting trips until August 12th. Corporate and individual bookings are available.

Susan Proctor, right, with friend Claire.

Crowds waiting along the river front to see the tall ships instead saw rubbish go past.

Those watching near the barrier did see the impressive tall ship display

• More information about Greenwich tall ships events.