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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.

Chinese restaurant temporarily closed by Council

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A Chinese in Greenwich restaurant has again been punished after failing to meet health and safety requirements.

The Peninsula restaurant in Bugsby’s Way was closed down immediately after an Environmental Health inspection early last month.

Inspectors found mouse droppings on and near plates and cutlery, and on top of food storage containers.

After follow up inspections, the restaurant was allowed to reopen eight days later on April 13th.

The same restaurant was hit with a £13,500 fine last year after inspectors found various food hygiene breaches.

Councillor Maureen O Mara, Greenwich Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Community Safety said: “We took immediate action, backed by the courts, to close the restaurant which was operating with a blatant disregard for the health of its customers.”

“We also want to make it clear that we are keeping a very close eye on this establishment and will not hesitate to take permanent action to prevent a minority of irresponsible restaurant owners from operating in Greenwich if they cannot get a grip on hygiene. This is a power we have used before, and are more than willing to use again.”

Voting system to be decided tomorrow

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The referendum to determine the voting system that will be used in future general elections will take place tomorrow.

After listening to months of campaigning, voters will have to decide whether to opt for the Alternative Vote (AV) or to retain the existing First Past The Post (FPTP) system.

Local MP, Nick Raynsford, recently wrote an article for Greenwich.co.uk explaining why he supports AV. The case against AV was published on the website last week.

Borough-wide podcast, In the Meantime, hosted a debate on the issue in its most recent episode featuring Cllr Alex Wilson against AV and local politics student, Alex Brooks in favour of AV.

Polling stations will be open tomorrow between 7am and 10pm. Visit the council’s website for details of where your polling station is.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had Bono in Greenwich Park in 2012?”

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Greenwich Council’s cabinet member for Culture and the Olympics has raised the prospect of a concert being held in Greenwich Park next year.

Speaking to Greenwich.co.uk, Cllr John Fahy has proposed using London 2012’s temporary stadium for a cultural event during the gap between the Olympic and Paralympic equestrian events.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had Bono in Greenwich Park in 2012?”, he says in the interview for this website which will be published in two parts beginning tomorrow. The proposal is in its infancy and would require the agreement of London 2012 organisers before it could go ahead.

“It’s a space that’s there and we need to talk to LOCOG and the police … to see if it’s possible to use it”, he says.

Elsewhere in the interview, he:

  • Reveals his ambition to secure a ticket to an Olympic event for every child in the borough.
  • Says he has “no hang ups” about council meetings being recorded and put online.
  • Sets a target of 12 Green Flag Award winning parks in Greenwich by 2012.
  • Calls the decision to charge £10 to stand on the Meridian Line at the Royal Observatory “overkill”.
  • Backs away from plans to enforce charging for tennis at Plumstead Common in the short term.

Part one of Greenwich.co.uk’s interview with Cllr John Fahy will be published on Greenwich.co.uk tomorrow.

Market hotel boss will work with “traders and the people of Greenwich”

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The boss of the company that will run a new boutique hotel at Greenwich Market has spoken out about his plans for the venture.

Robin Sheppard, Chairman of Bespoke Hotels, has told boutiquehotels.co.uk that he wants to work with local people to make the project a success.

The proposal to redevelop the market and add a new 100 room hotel was initially thrown out unanimously by Greenwich Council’s Planning Board.

Local landlords, Greenwich Hospital, got this decision overturned, in spite of continued opposition, by taking a revised scheme to Independent Appeal.

Sheppard acknowledges that the planning process was “a difficult time” but adds that it’s “very important … that we work with the traders and the people of Greenwich.”

“Greenwich is such a beautiful place, there is so much history but as far as I can see it does not have much nightlife.”, he adds.

During the appeal procedure, concerns were raised that the noise of the market would be a problem for guests at the hotel but Sheppard maintains that “guests will be able to look down on the market, but the roof will act as an extra sound buffer.”

Bespoke Hotels is also the operator of the award winning Bermondsey Square Hotel. The full interview with Robin Sheppard can be read at boutiquehotels.co.uk

Work on the redevelopment project will begin in January 2013 and is expected to take a year.

Norman Road development moves forward

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Developers have been given the green light to build new flats and hotels at the corner of Norman Road and Greenwich High Road.

The Movement, covered previously on Greenwich.co.uk, is a mixed use development including hundreds of new homes, two new hotels, residential units and a new street.

The application got the backing of Greenwich Council’s Planning Board last Thursday night at Woolwich Town Hall.

There will be 181 residential properties, over 350 rooms of student accommodation, a 104 bed 3* hotel, a 30 bed boutique hotel as well as commercial units, office space, shops and a health club.

The scheme from local developers, the Cathedral Group, will be built on a disused industrial yard. Cathedral are also behind the Deptford Project and the redevelopment of Eltham’s Grove Market.

University’s Stockwell Street redevelopment passed by councillors

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Greenwich Council’s Planning Board gave the the go-ahead to the University of Greenwich’s Stockwell Street redevelopment last night – despite a withering assessment of the project by council leader, Chris Roberts.

The £76 million project will see the construction of a new dedicated School of Architecture and Construction in Greenwich town centre at the site of the old Village Market. A new university library will be also be included, as well as public areas such as a gallery and coffee shop.

Professor Neil Garrod, Deputy Vice-Chancellor from the University of Greenwich, told councillors that this was a “once in a generation opportunity.”

He described how the building has been designed to be as “porous as possible,” with the “whole ground floor open to the public.” A new public walkway will be created adjacent to the railway cutting, connecting Stockwell Street and King William Walk, subject to an agreement with Network Rail.

27 objections were raised with the council and residents from King William Walk attended the meeting to voice their concerns that servicing for the building would take place in areas bordering residential properties.

Before the project can begin, the 1960s office building, John Humphreys House, will be demolished. Local industrial historian, and councillor, Mary Mills told the Planning Board that she wanted to see more recognition of the building’s role as a pioneering council computer centre and that “we should be a bit more proud” of it.

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) described the the Heneghan Peng-designed proposal as “exciting”, adding that it was “well designed with an intelligent internal organisation.”

Cllr Steve Offord said it would be a “tremendous asset” to Greenwich. Cllr Denise Hyland, said she was “impressed” by the scheme.

Following the expressions of support from his colleagues, Leader of the Council, Cllr Chris Roberts spoke strongly against the proposals.

“I can’t like this building,” he told them, adding that they would “repent at leisure” if the scheme was passed. If he walked past it, he said, he would look over the road and “prefer the architecture of the Ibis [hotel],” prompting laughter in the public gallery.

The project received the backing of the Board with a 6-2 vote. The decision is subject to approval by the Mayor of London.

Commenting afterwards, Professor Neil Garrod said: “We are very pleased to have won the support of the local authority and we will continue to work closely with all our neighbours in Greenwich as the project takes shape.”

Southeastern’s draft timetable for London 2012 revealed

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Services at local railway stations are likely to be severely affected by the London 2012 summer Olympics.

Details of the disruption to Southeastern’s train timetables has been revealed in an exclusive report by Darryl Chamberlain at 853.

The draft time table, which will be subject to consultation, will see trains stopping in only one direction for most of the day at Maze Hill station.

Trains through Deptford and Westcombe Park will be cut to a third of their normal frequency and Woolwich Dockyard will be closed altogether.

Details of how the Olympics may effect Greenwich, Charlton, Woolwich Arsenal and Blackheath stations, which are designated access points for spectators, have not yet been revealed.

A notice on Southeastern’s website says, “Currently the Olympic timetable is being consulted on with stakeholders, including user groups, local authorities and MPs and this is due to be completed by the middle of May. Following this, the timetable should receive final approval from Network Rail, Department for Transport and Olympic Delivery Authority over the summer.”

The O2 contributes over £400 million a year to London economy, report claims

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O2

A new study says that The O2 in North Greenwich contributes £405 million a year to London’s economy.

The popular venue attracts up to 7.2 million visitors a year and contributes £126 million additional income a year to the Greenwich area.

The report, which has been carried out by consultants Why Not and was commissioned by O2 owner, AEG, also claims that the O2 has created 600 jobs in Greenwich.

Councillor Chris Roberts, Leader of Greenwich Council said: “AEG has been a great asset to Greenwich and London.  Greenwich Council continue to support AEG throughout all of their operations and development, and in partnership we have delivered real tangible benefits for local residents including jobs, community initiatives, learning programmes  and access to a great facility.  As well as the world’s most successful arena, we also have plans for London’s first cruise liner terminal at Enderby Wharf and London’s first cable car from The O2 to Excel.”

Alex Hill, Senior Executive Director of AEG Europe said:  “Through a combination of state of the art facilities, scale and quality of customer service The O2 has been able to attract a series of fantastic new events to the UK.  We host the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, the world’s best attended indoor tennis event, and have just hosted the first ever NBA regular season games to be held in Europe.  Together with world class pop and rock acts from Beyonce to Led Zeppelin, and cultural institutions like Les Miserables and the Royal Ballet, The O2 continues to be a great draw for London.”

Cost of playing tennis in Greenwich set to rise

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Ranger's Courts

The cost of playing tennis at council-run courts in the borough of Greenwich is set to go up.

The prices, which are already high in comparison to neighbouring boroughs, will rise in line with inflation meaning that the cost for adults will be up to £7.30 per hour for the use of a court.

Players at Plumstead Common, where charging hasn’t been in operation, have been shocked to discover that they too will now be paying the charge.

Forum users on the popular tennis website, London Tennis, have expressed their outrage at the decision to charge at Plumstead.

One contributor commented, “Really poor decision. They should be encouraging participation in sports rather than creating barriers. £7.30 and yet there are no facilities whatsoever.”

Another added, “the courts are so poor[.]  not even level they must be joking”

A Greenwich Council Spokesperson said:

“Up until this year, fees for parks and leisure facilities had been frozen for the previous two years.  However, all fees for parks and leisure facilities are reviewed annually by the council and it has been decided that tennis court fees will rise this year by inflation.  This will apply from 1st April to all tennis courts across the borough, not just at Plumstead Common.”

Discounted rates will remain for junior players and Greenwich Card holders.

The tennis courts in Greenwich Park, which are not operated by the Council, are also increasing to an eye-watering £9.00 per hour for adults at peak times.

Whilst Olympic host borough Greenwich, which also plays host to the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2, is pushing up its prices, tennis remains free of charge at courts run by Lewisham Council and its contractor, Glendale.

Players can also enjoy tennis for free at courts in the borough of Bexley such as at Danson Park.

New Greenwich Council Prices

Adults per hour- £7.30
Adults per hour (Greenwich card holder) – £6.60
Juniors per hour – £4.70
Juniors per hour (Greenwich card holder) – £4.20

Charity abseiler injured in fall at The O2

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A woman was airlifted to hospital yesterday after falling during a fund-raising abseiling event at The O2 in North Greenwich.

The woman is believed to have injured her arm after falling during the event which took place inside the arena itself. The charity 80ft abseil was aiming to to raise funds for The Stroke Association.

Joe Korner, Director of Communications at the Stroke Association says:

“Everyone at the Stroke Association is deeply shocked and distressed by this accident. At this time, all of our thoughts and best wishes are with the lady involved and her family. As with all of our fundraising events, strict health and safety procedures are put in place therefore we will be working alongside the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate what went wrong yesterday.”

The Stroke Association is the only UK wide charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages.