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Greenwich news and information

Greenwich People: Mary Mills

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Mary Mills
Mary Mills with the Greenwich Millennium Village in the background

Local historian Mary Mills serves on Greenwich Council representing the Peninsula ward.

She moved to the borough from Gravesend in 1969 with her late husband, Alan. Both had been involved in the Gravesend Labour Party and got involved in local politics in Greenwich, too.

Following the death of Peninsula councillor Marian Moseley in 1999, Mary stood and was elected at a by-election early in 2000. “I’d been interested in the peninsula for a long time and when I was elected I’d already written a couple of books about it,” she says.

“I had been working in local regeneration monitoring and there’d been a long series of meetings with local people going back ten years so [as a councillor] I was talking again to people I’d been involved with in consultation exercises for a very long time.”

Dr Mills completed a PhD in the gas industries and works with the Greenwich Industrial History Society. She was one of the first councillors in the borough to embrace the use of blogs and twitter as a way of communicating with residents.

Emirates Air Line opens to the public

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Emirates Air Line cable car

THE NEW cable car across the Thames opened to the public at midday today.

The Emirates Air Line takes passengers almost 300 ft into the air and across the river to the Royal Docks in about five minutes.

The price of a single trip was confirmed last week as being £3.20 when using a pay-as-you-go Oyster card and £4.30 for a cash fare.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson was in Greenwich for the official opening of the river crossing that he announced less than two years ago and which gained planning permission in January 2011.

The £60 million cable car has been sponsored by airline Emirates in a 10-year deal worth £36 million. Transport for London (TFL) said when the scheme was announced that they were aiming to “fund the scheme’s construction entirely from private finance.”

London mayor, Boris Johnson, told the News Shopper today that the shortfall in the development costs would be made back by “revenue, retail and merchandising.”

First in the queue to use the cable car when it opened at noon were Trudy and Bob Lawrence from Roan Street. Trudy said: “It’s an exciting and innovative way of crossing the river and I do like that you can take a bicycle across.”

Bob added, “I’m an engineer and I think it’s a great engineering feat and it’s nice that we can do things like this in a city like London.”

Emirates Air Line cable car

Reaction to the cable car

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson:

“The Emirates Air Line is a stunning addition to London’s transport network, providing a much needed new connection across the Thames. I am sure the Emirates Air Line is now set to be a must-see destination in its own right, giving people the chance to drink in breath-taking panoramic views.

“Crucially, the Emirates Air Line supports my ambitious plans to revive the neighbouring areas, which have been neglected for decades, creating jobs for Londoners and stimulating growth.”

Cllr Chris Roberts, Leader of Greenwich Council:

It’s welcome news that the cable car has been completed in time for the Olympics, and it provides another way for visitors – and Londoners – to get to Greenwich. However, it is no substitute for the river crossings we need to build out economy including the Silver town tunnel to the Peninsula and Crossrail.”

Nick Raynsford, MP for Greenwich and Woolwich:

I welcome the opening of the cable car. I was impressed by the ride – the views are spectacular. However, although this will undoubtedly help attract tourists and visitors to the Greenwich Peninsula, it is no substitute for the long-overdue new Thames crossing. Until we get a new tunnel between the Greenwich Peninsula and Silvertown, and a new bridge between Becton and Thamesmead, we will continue to suffer from inadequate river crossings and the consequent congestion at Blackwall”.

Cllr Spencer Drury, Leader of Greenwich Conservatives:

“The cable car has the potential to become a serious tourist attraction which will draw even more visitors to this part of London in the long-term. The Mayor of London has once again made a serious investment which will benefit the people of Greenwich, despite the grumbling of senior Labour Councillors at the meeting this week.”

Lib Dem London Assembly member, Caroline Pidgeon:

“Boris Johnson needs to come clean and explain just how much the cable car will be costing London’s taxpayers. Two years ago he misled Londoners by claiming it would not cost a penny of public money, yet in reality millions of public money has poured into the project with the final figure facing taxpayers still not clear.”

Jenny Bates, Friends of the Earth:

“This cable car is exactly the sort of river crossing London needs. But plans to build new Thames road tunnels or bridges in east London must be scrapped – this would create more traffic, more congestion and more air pollution.”

Sharon Grant, Chair, London TravelWatch:

“We have been following the progress of the Emirates Airline closely throughout the construction period and are delighted that the service has opened in time for The Olympics. The service offers a quick new way to get from Greenwich to the EXCEL Arena, which is likely to bring tourists into east London and open up opportunities for people who work at either of the locations it serves. We also welcome the fact that Oyster will be accepted on the Airline and that frequent users will benefit from a reduced price.”

More photos from the cable car…

Emirates Air Line cable car
First in the queue were Greenwich residents Trudy and Bob Lawrence

Emirates Air Line cable car

Emirates Air Line cable car - Mayor of Greenwich
New mayor of Greenwich, David Grant, was one of the early passengers.

Emirates Air Line cable car
Unite protestors tried to get their message across with lots of media in attendance.

Video of the journey from Royal Docks to Greenwich

The Movement’s developers to hold community meeting

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The Movement construction site

A MEETING will take place next where you can learn more about a new development about to get under way off Norman Road.

The Movement will see new homes, student accommodation, hotels and even a new road built on the land between Norman Road and Waller Way, behind Greenwich High Road.

Plans for the scheme first emerged in the summer of 2010 and the developer, Cathedral Group, gained planning permission from Greenwich Council’s Planning Board last year.

The industrial units that stood on the land have now been cleared (pictured top) and work on the development should last until the summer of 2014.

The community liaison meeting is the first of what will be quarterly meetings help by the developer and is taking place at Devonport House on Tuesday 3rd July 2012 between 6.30pm – 8pm. Anyone wishing to attend should register first – details on how to get in touch are on this web page.

Daily Photo: 27/06/2012 – The O2 is 5

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River Thames at Greenwich

The O2 was five years old on Sunday. Since its relaunch in 2007, the dome has since gone on to become the world’s most popular entertainment venue, hosting the biggest names in music and becoming the setting for world class tennis, family entertainment, a film festival and even international polo. This summer it will become, temporarily, the North Greenwich Arena and be the venue for London 2012’s gymnastic events.

More is still yet to come at the O2, with a new hotel, serviced apartments and ballroom already approved and outline planning permission for a retail outlet mall up before the council’s Planning Board next month.

Docklands and the Dome

HMS Ocean approaching The O2
Being approached by HMS Ocean

Olympic Rings - through the Thames Barrier, London

O2 Arena from the Greenwich Wheel
Taken from the Greenwich Wheel when it was in Greenwich.

The Dome from Greenwich Park
From Greenwich Park

Stonehenge coming to Greenwich

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AN INFLATABLE replica of world-famous Stonehenge will be in Greenwich for a weekend in July.

The bouncy version of the prehistoric monument has been created by Turner Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller and has just started a tour that will take it to twenty-five locations across the UK.

The life-sized piece of work, called Sacrilege, will make its first appearance in the capital at Central Park, off West Parkside, on the Greenwich Peninsula on July 21-22 and is free to bounce on.

Sacrilege is being presented by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and the London 2012 Festival. Mr Johnson commented:

“You don’t have to be a specialist in ancient British history or an acolyte of the summer solstice ritual to be aware of the unending fascination that Stonehenge continues to inspire around the world.

“Jeremy Deller’s Sacrilege is a wonderfully witty, quite literal leap into that history and a fantastic example of the irreverence that are hallmarks of our great British humour and our incomparable artists.”

See all of the Sacrilege 2012 tour dates here

Emergency services attend barge fire

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FIRE ENGINES, ambulances and the police were deployed to Greenwich Pier this morning after a fire was reported on a boat.

The emergency services were seen rushing to the scene after the alarm was raised shortly after half past seven.

Greenwich.co.uk understands that a small fire had broken out in the engine room of a Dutch barge called Selene.

The blaze was dealt with and the barge departed to continue its journey down river after about forty-five minutes.

Councillors to consider Greenwich Pier signs

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Greenwich Pier - Byron and Frankie & Benny's

CONTROVERSIAL signs for the new restaurants at the Greenwich Pier development are to be considered by councillors.

A meeting of the Greenwich Area Planning Committee early next month will decide whether to approve illuminated signs at the Frankie & Benny’s restaurant.

Local planners refused a previous application for signs that were originally put up by Frankie and Benny’s and the eatery is now trying to get retrospective permission for its replacement signs –  reduced in size – that it also put up without consent.

Sixty-three letters of complaint have been sent to the council over the plans and opposition has also come from the Greenwich Society.

A report by council officers recommends councillors accept the revised signs, adding that they do not “adversely affect the character and appearance of the surrounding area (including nearby listed buildings and structures, the Greenwich Park Conservation Area or the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site).”

Officers also recommend that councillors approve the use of two 4m x 3m parasols on the upstairs terrace.

Illuminated letting, window logos and a canopy at neighbouring Zizzi will also be considered by councillors, and have also been recommended for approval by officers.

The planning meeting will take place on July 4th.

Another  Greenwich Pier restaurant, Byron, has just submitted a planning application for more illuminated signage, too.

The burger restaurant wants to add two window logos and have a second illuminated 60cm x 163xm Byron logo. The signs will be “relatively understated when compared to that of the neighbouring restaurants,” says a supporting statement with the planning application.