Greenwich’s streets to be transformed for post lockdown

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

Footpaths across Greenwich could be widened and plans for a new cross-borough cycle route hastened under Sadiq Khan’s push to “overhaul” London’s streets for when the coronavirus lockdown eases.

Greenwich council announced on Tuesday it would lobby for an “ambitious” funding package to transform streets across the authority, as part of the Mayor of London’s Streetspace plan.

Among Greenwich’s ideas are widening footpaths in town centres and around Greenwich Park, filtering access in residential streets to reduce traffic, creating more School Streets, and bringing forward plans for the Greenwich to Woolwich cycle route.

It also signalled intentions to bring forward its Liveable Neighbourhood trial, which would include removing the one-way system around Greenwich town centre to create more space for walking and cycling.

Greenwich council leader Danny Thorpe said while Transport for London would take the lead in implementing the scheme, the local authority had already begun community consultation on areas which could benefit from the measures.

He said while it was unclear what funding would come from TfL to local authorities, consultation so far had seen Greenwich town centre and school streets across the borough highlighted for attention by residents.

Cllr Thorpe said: “I want to assure everyone we’re moving as fast as we can to improve space for walkers, cyclists and social distancing.”

The authority also signalled implementing temporary measures at Woolwich – London’s fourth busiest bus hub, with 18 bus routes.

Eltham’s priority was to see footway parking suspended to create space to queue at shops and walk along the street.

Protection for cyclists would also be added to the cycle lanes on the high street.

It comes as the Mayor’s Office and Transport for London brace for a mass change in habits post-lockdown.

“With London’s public transport capacity potentially running at a fifth of pre-crisis levels, millions of journeys a day will need to be made by other means. If people switch only a fraction of these journeys to cars, London risks grinding to a halt, air quality will worsen, and road danger will increase,” the Mayor’s office said in a statement.

“To prevent this happening, TfL will rapidly repurpose London’s streets to serve this unprecedented demand for walking and cycling in a major new strategic shift.”

The Mayor’s Office also pledged “clean, green and sustainable travel” would be at the “heart” of London’s recovery.

In addition, Greenwich council said on Tuesday it had formed a ‘Streetspace Taskforce’ to identify, develop and implement measures that can be put in place quickly and to develop proposals for TfL.

“We are focusing on areas we know or expect to be the busiest, for example, town centres, high streets and around green spaces,” the council said.

No funding has been confirmed for the projects yet, with the authority stating it is preparing an “ambitious bid for funding to TfL so that we can implement the measures we’re planning”.