Greenwich Council has said it wants to join a scheme which will enable it to co-ordinate roadworks in the borough, after a year which has seen serious disruption on Greenwich roads.
Works by Southern Gas Networks and Thames Water have caused traffic to grind to a halt through Greenwich town centre, while Charlton and Blackheath have also been seriously affected by a water main replacement programme.
The issue was highlighted by greenwich.co.uk’s Andrew Gilligan in November after it emerged the council had not joined a Transport for London scheme, under which utilities have to get permits from local authorities before they dig up roads.
Deputy leader Peter Brooks told last night’s Greenwich Council meeting he wanted the borough to join the programme.
In a written answer to Liberal Democrat councillor Brian Woodcraft, who asked why Greenwich was not part of the scheme, he said: “I am very keen for Greenwich to participate in this scheme, and I hope the trial will be expanded for us to be able to do so very soon.”
However, he not answer why the council had not joined the scheme, and Cllr Woodcraft did not press him on the issue.
Lewisham and Bromley councils are involved in the TfL programme, which is due to come into force next year.
Greenwich Foot Tunnel
A petition signed by 1,000 users of Greenwich foot tunnel demanding that closures be kept to a minimum when it is refurbished was presented to the council by Liberal Democrat member Paul Webbewood.
The river crossing, together with its sister tunnel at Woolwich, is due to be refurbished by 2012, with regular users fearing lengthy closures.
Council leader Chris Roberts told the meeting a contractor had been appointed to carry out the works.
“We’re discussing what work needs to be done and what the hours will be,” he said.
“Then we can advise residents and businesses on arrangements for both tunnels.”
John Roan School
Greenwich Council confirmed it would respect John Roan School governors’ decision not to move to a new site on Greenwich Peninsula.
Blackheath Westcombe Conservative councillor Alex Wilson asked if a timetable had been set out for works to improve John Roan’s existing sites on Maze Hill and Westcombe Park Road.
But children’s services cabinet member Jackie Smith said the proposals were still in the “developmental stage”.
“It is too early to be definitive about completion dates, but will will want to ensure that the project is progressed as quickly as practicable.”
Charlton Lido
Conservative leader Spencer Drury criticised the council for not giving an update on works at Charlton Lido, which is being converted into a diving centre.
Earlier this year his party colleague, Kidbrooke with Hornfair councillor Graeme Coombes, presented a 222-strong petitioning demanding the reopening of the lido for the summer season.
It had been closed in anticipation of leasing the lido out to private firm Open Waters Investments, which is due to re-open the pool by summer 2012.
But the lease was not signed until 14 August, leaving the lido empty for the summer.
Responding to the petition, the council said it would have taken leisure operator GLL two weeks to mobilise its staff, and that opening hours at another centre would have to be cut to staff Charlton Lido.
Cllr Drury called the reply “disappointing”. “I hoped there would have been an update on whether work has started,” he told the meeting.
But Olympics and culture cabinet member John Fahy said he saw no reason to doubt that the revamped lido would open on time.
New Trees in Greenwich
If you think your street would benefit from having some new trees, then Greenwich Council wants to hear from you.
The council is spending £4.8m on planting 2,012 trees in the borough to mark the Olympics, with planting due to take place next winter.
In response to a public question from the Greenwich Environment Forum’s Anna Townend, Olympics and culture cabinet member John Fahy told the meeting the council was looking for places to put the trees in.
“We’ve been consulting with residents for a number of weeks, particularly at our Great Get-Together events,” he said.
Cllr Fahy added that he did not think that a new woodland would be created with the trees.
[…] a comment » I went to last night’s Greenwich Council meeting for greenwich.co.uk, and penned these words about Charlton Lido. I’ll include them here too as a follow-up to my […]