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Greenwich news and information

The news section of Greenwich.co.uk has been paused since 2018. Please enjoy browsing archive news articles below.

Local Tories back Greenwich constituency split

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Proposals to split Greenwich between two different constituencies have received the backing of local Conservatives.

The plan to divide the town between two new constituencies forms part of the Boundary Commission’s review, which was initiated by the Government to reduce the number of MPs and make constituencies more uniform in size.

Under the proposals, west Greenwich would join a new parliamentary constituency called Deptford & Greenwich, and east Greenwich would join a new constituency simply called Woolwich.

A statement on the Conservatives website says:

“Greenwich Conservatives would strongly encourage residents to support the Boundary Commission’s proposals which seem to us to strike the right balance and give poorer communities a stronger voice.”

Current MP, Nick Raynsford, has opposed the plans, calling them “nonsense” in an article for this website and speaking out against them at last month’s public hearings held at Lewisham Town Hall.

Labour’s alternative plan would see the existing Greenwich and Woolwich constituency retained, with the addition of the rest of Blackheath and also the Kidbrooke and Hornfair ward.

The closing date to comment on the Boundary Commission’s proposals is December 5th.

Councillors respond on Twitter…

Greenwich West councillor, Matthew Pennycook, and Eltham North councillor, Nigel Fletcher, responded to this post via Twitter.

Greenwich charity hosts World Aids Day conference

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Greenwich’s Metro Centre sexual health charity is organising south London’s first World Aids Day conference.

The conference, entitled “The Direction of HIV in the 21st Century”, will be held at the new Woolwich Centre on December 1st and will bring together people directly affected by HIV and those providing or commissioning services to share knowledge and experiences.

Metro, based in Norman Road, Greenwich, has obtained funding for the conference from the Big Lottery Awards for All scheme. Attendance is free to all those affected by HIV, those who provide or commission HIV services as well as students, academics and policymakers interested and engaged in the field.

Marguerite McLaughlin, CEO of Metro said:

“Metro is delighted to be hosting this inaugural South London World AIDS Day Conference. Thanks to the generosity of the Big Lottery, we are able to offer places free of charge and we want to encourage as many people directly affected by HIV to register as possible.

“Metro has been providing HIV services in Greenwich and across South London for over 17 years now and we know how important it is to continue to support the communities most affected and to learn from them the best ways to do that. We hope that by bringing people affected together with service providers and commissioners, we really can move together in the right direction for HIV in the 21st Century.”

Information on how to register for attendance can be found on the Metro Centre website.

Greenwich will be first London borough to see Olympic Torch Relay

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THE LONDON 2012 Olympic Flame will arrive in Greenwich on July 21st next year, it has been revealed.

The Torch Relay will start the London leg of its journey at the Prime Meridian in Greenwich and spend the rest of the day snaking round the other Host Boroughs – Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Waltham Forest, where there will be an evening celebration.

The torch will go on to visit the rest of London’s boroughs before arriving at the London 2012 Opening Ceremony on July 27th.

Councillor John Fahy, Greenwich Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Olympics, said: “Greenwich is delighted to be the first London Borough to witness the fantastic spectacle of the Olympic Torch Relay. It will provide a unique chance for Greenwich residents to share in the excitement of the Olympic spirit – to mark the countdown to the start of the 2012 Games.”

Although Greenwich will be the first Host Borough to see the Olympic Torch Relay in action, the flame will arrive in London the preceding evening and be kept overnight at the Tower of London, leaving Greenwich and Tower Hamlets councils both staking a claim for the bragging rights.

Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said: “It’s fantastic that Tower Hamlets’ residents will be the first in the capital to celebrate the arrival of the torch in London. It gives everybody in the borough the chance to get involved in the excitement surrounding London 2012. ”

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LOCOG said: “We are thrilled to confirm that Greenwich will act as a host location for the Olympic Flame on 21st July, extending an invitation to people across the Borough to welcome the Olympic Torch Relay during its journey around the UK.”

Up, up and away over the Greenwich Peninsula

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A NEW helium balloon attraction is promising to take people to new heights on the Greenwich Peninsula.

The tethered balloon ride, details of which have been submitted to Greenwich Council for planning consent, would rise above 100 metres in the air before being winched down.

Groups up to 30 in size will be able to board the wheelchair-accessible gondola to enjoy spectacular views from high above North Greenwich.

Future Leisure Aviation, who also run the DHL Hong Kong Balloon, want to set up the ‘HiFlyer’ attraction on land currently used as a management office car park south of North Greenwich underound station.

20 part and full time jobs would be created by the scheme, and the operator is in talks to find a sponsor to lend its name to the balloon ride.

If Greenwich Council backs the proposals, it will complete a trio of attractions on the peninsula for fans of heights, with the Emirates Air Line cable car and O2 Sky Walk also due to be ready next year.


Illustration of how new balloon ride might look.

2011 Poppy Appeal gets under way

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Greenwich Poppy Appeal organisers – Ashley Dyer and Cllr Matthew Pennycook

The Poppy Appeal has got started with shops and businesses around Greenwich supporting the annual fundraising drive.

The fate of the Poppy Appeal in Greenwich was thrown into doubt earlier this year when organisers said they needed new local organisers to come forward following the death of Greenwich’s Honorary Poppy Appeal Organiser, Malcolm Smith.

That call for help was answered by local ward councillor for Greenwich West, Matthew Pennycook, and fellow volunteer, Ashley Dyer.

“I have always been a big supporter of the Appeal and as a councillor took part in the remembrance services throughout the borough last year so I thought I would sign up,” says Pennycook.

Matthew and Ashley were out collecting at Greenwich station yesterday (pictured above) for London Poppy Day. Poppies and collection boxes can be found at the following local businesses in the town centre:

  • EM SABU newsagents (Stockwell Street)
  • Students Union (King William Walk)
  • Waterstones
  • Superdrug
  • Peter de Wits cafe
  • Post Office (Greenwich High Road)
  • Soma dry cleaners
  • The Cheese Board (Royal Hill)
  • Stitches and Daughters (Greenwich South Street)
  • Bert and Betties (Greenwich South Street)
  • Pharmacy (near train station)
  • Heaps Sausages (Nevada Street)
  • Boots
  • Greenwich Picturehouse

Donations can also be made online. Anyone else that wishes to help collect funds for the appeal can get more information by emailing Councillor Pennycook.

Archaeological dig reveals Stockwell Street history

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A TEAM of archaeologists have recovered items stretching back hundreds of years at the site of a new development in Stockwell Street.

Ceramic jugs, bone handled toothbrushes, thimbles, coins and bottles were among the items brought back to the surface in the £85,000 project.

The dig was commissioned by the University of Greenwich who have been given planning permission to build a new campus library and dedicated school of Architecture on the site.

The oldest items found were fragments of medieval pottery, and the largest item was a mid 19th century jug, pictured below, depicting the story of Robinson Crusoe.

The land was home to a malt house in the 18th century, and brick wells on the site were used by local residents for dumping rubbish.

Lead archaeologist Duncan Hawkins, from CgMs Consulting, says: “These finds throw light on the lives of the people who lived here, and the work they did. They provide evidence that Stockwell Street was home to a ‘middling’ class of workers: professionals, artisans, tradesmen and craftsmen. In many ways, those communities were not so different from ours and, in archaeological terms, we are separated only by a small amount of a time.”

A detailed study of the discoveries will be undertaken by the University and their permanent home will be in the Musuem of London’s archives.

The redevelopment of the site is expected to be completed in 2014.

Council apologises over foot tunnel refurb delays

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Greenwich Council protest
Councillors were met with protestors at last night’s full council meeting

GREENWICH COUNCIL has said sorry to cyclists and pedestrians for the ongoing problems resulting from the refurbishment of the foot tunnels at Greenwich and Woolwich.

Speaking at last night’s full council meeting, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Denise Hyland, offered “complete apologies” after being questioned from the public gallery by Antony Austin, chair of Greenwich Cyclists.

Hyland said the refurbishment of the hundred-year-old tunnels was a “heritage project”, adding:

“We have had decisions to make where hidden structures have been uncovered and further work has been necessary.

“We have put pressure on our contractors and worked with them in positive partnership to bring a swift resolution.”

The refurbishment of the foot tunnels, paid for with a grant from central government, was due  to be completed by Spring 2011, but is not now expected to be finished until early in 2012.

Protestors make voices heard at meeting

The meeting itself was the first full council meeting for three months and councillors entering the front entrance were met by a group of protestors with a mixed bag of grievances: parents and kids angry about the proposed closure of Blackheath Bluecoat school, volunteers protesting about cuts to the Greenwich Law Centre and trade unionists opposing cuts to services.

A packed public gallery watched on as the meeting was squeezed into an hour long sitting, with councillors due at another meeting in the Greenwich Gallery, on top of the Woolwich Centre, by 7.30pm.

As councillors crossed the road from the Town Hall to the Woolwich centre, they were met by a highly vocal group of children from Blackheath Bluecoat school, chanting “save our school.”

The reception in the Greenwich Gallery saw former Conservative group leader Peter King awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Greenwich. Peter King was a councillor from 1978 until standing down before last year’s elections. He served at various times as both the leader of the group and the deputy leader.


Video, taken by local journalist Darryl Chamberlain, of councillors crossing from the Town Hall to the Woolwich Centre

Greenwich Council protest
Kids chanting “save our school” gathered at the steps of the Woolwich Centre as councillors attended a reception in the top floor “Greenwich Gallery”

Boundary Commission begins south London public hearings

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BOUNDARY review public hearings got under way today to examine the fate of south London’s parliamentary constituencies.

The Boundary Commission for England has been tasked with drawing up a new constituency map, reducing the number of MPs in England from 533 to 502.

Initial proposals published last month would see the town of Greenwich having two different MPs.

The Greenwich West council ward would become part of a new Deptford & Greenwich constituency while east Greenwich’s Peninsula ward would become part of a new constituency simply called Woolwich.

Parliamentary constituencies are put together by grouping council wards, and under the new review, every constituency should represent a number of registered electors btetween 72,810 and 80,473.

Current MP Nick Raynsford addressed the hearings today, taking place at Lewisham Town Hall, and outlined his own alternative proposal.

Raynsford suggests that the Greenwich & Woolwich constituency be maintained, with the addition of the Kidbrooke & Hornfair ward, and also Lewisham’s Blackheath ward. He proposes that Glyndon ward at the very east be moved into a different constituency.

Other political representatives and members of the public are expected to put forward their responses at the hearings which will conclude tomorrow.

Nick Raynsford’s proposal was also submitted in writing to the Boundary Commission and can be seen in full below:

Boundary Commission

You can also have your say via the Commissions website – submissions will be accepted until 5th December.

Olympic transport plans unveiled by London 2012 organisers

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LONDON 2012 organisers have unveiled a raft of measures to help Greenwich’s local transport network cope with the thousands of visitors expected for next summer’s Olympics.

Chief among the proposals, which went on display today and can be viewed by residents until Saturday, are road closures and an enlarged one way system around the town centre throughout the Olympics.

Greenwich Church Street will be closed to traffic, as will Straightsmouth at peak times and Greenwich High Road towards the town centre from the junction of Norman Road, as these become designated pedestrian routes from Greenwich railway station.

Marshals will guide the throngs of spectators along these routes and then down College Approach and through the Old Royal Naval College where they will then access Greenwich Park by crossing two new temporary footbridges across Romney Road.

Locog’s City Operations Manager, Jennifer Impett said of the proposed footbridges:

“We want to maintain the vehicle route as much as we can. The one way gyratory will be adding some pressure within the area so we need to maintain free flowing traffic as much as we can.”

A bridge is also proposed to get spectators arriving via Blackheath station across the A2 from the heath to Greenwich Park.

Drivers heading into Greenwich from Greenwich High Road will have to turn left at the Norman Road junction, before turning into Creek Road and then joining the existing one way system.

Organisers say that Cutty Sark DLR station will have to close during peak hours as it doesn’t have the capacity to deal with the volume of spectators.

Olympic ticket-holders tempted to try and park in Greenwich will find that hours have been extended in all Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ).

Areas within a 30 minute walking radius of the park which aren’t currently in a CPZ will have new temporary controls put in place to deter spectators planning to drive in, and residents and businesses will be issued with special Olympic parking permits.

Other key proposals include:

  • Closing Charlton Way and The Avenue/Blackheath Avenue from 7 July-8 September.
  • Closing the Lewisham-bound DLR platform at Greenwich train station, with passengers asked to join services Deptford Bridge instead.
  • Using the Blackwall Tunnel, the A2 and Prince Charles Road, Maze Hill Road, Park Vista and Park Row as Olympic Road Network routes for transporting athletes and the “Olympic family”.
  • Setting aside 100 car parking spaces for Blue Badge holders.
  • Establishing “park and ride” areas around Blackheath so spectators can be coached in from Bluewater and Lakeside.

The proposals, along with more planning documents, will soon be submitted to Greenwich Council as London 2012 organisers attempt to meet the conditions of its original planning application.

Clues as to the kind of stunning images viewers at home can expect were hinted at with maps showing the construction of a mile-long cable to carry a TV camera from Millwall Park high over the Thames, swooping across the Old Royal Naval College and equestrian arena in Greenwich Park before finishing near the General Wolfe statue.

London 2012 Venue General Manager for Greenwich Park, Jeremy Edwards, commented:  “We’re trying to do everything we can to make sure the experience next year is one of the most memorable for the people of Greenwich and the spectators.”

Remaining London 2012 Transport Drop In Sessions
Friday: 09.00 – 18.00
Saturday: 09.00 – 17.00
Devonport House, King William Walk, Greenwich

John Roan School redevelopment gets go-ahead

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GREENWICH Councillors  backed plans to redevelop John Roan secondary school at a Planning Board meeting last week.

John Roan’s Lower School in Westcombe Park Road will be demolished and replaced with a brand new school building, while the historic Upper School is to be refurbished and have new covered courtyards.

Parents of the children who attended the meeting were left angry by having to wait through the lengthy Shooters Hill Equestrian Centre planning application, calling it a “disgrace” when councillors finally got to consider the John Roan scheme late on Thursday night.

But frustration at the meeting’s agenda turned to jubilation at its decision, as councillors on the Planning Board supported the proposals.

The plans, which Greenwich.co.uk first reported on in August, received the unanimous support of councillors.

One John Roan student impressed councillors with an impassioned plea to back the proposal, with Cllr Hayley Fletcher telling her: “You are a credit to your school and I hope the new school buildings are a credit to you.”