Business owners and residents claim not to have been consulted over Woolwich Leisure Centre move

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents and businesses have claimed they’ve been left out of the loop by council plans to relocate the Woolwich Leisure Centre.

The comments came during a meeting of Greenwich council’s cabinet, where members approved a proposal to continue the relocation of the centre to a new premises facing General Gordon Square.

The move could see a council housing block, pub and other businesses along Vincent Road knocked down to make way for the leisure centre and new housing.

The proposals have drawn the ire of some residents of Troy Court, a council housing block for people aged over 55, which faces being demolished.

Addressing cabinet members ahead of their vote, one long-term resident, who has lived at the property for 22 years, claimed they “haven’t been consulted at all”.

His views were echoed by a representative from community group Speak Out Woolwich, who said the plans “felt like a kick in the stomach” for residents.

While the council did a door-knock of Troy Court residents in September last year to talk about the plans, the speaker rejected that this meant they had been “consulted”.

“They don’t think they’ve been consulted at all – they think your officers have knocked on the door and told them to go,” she said.

Councillors moved to ease concerns about the development, which will see the leisure centre also move into the building currently housing the Woolwich Wilko.

Member for regeneration and growth, Cllr Sizwe James, said the move was a “good news” story for the borough.

“I am convinced this will be in the wider public interest and (will have wider) social economic community benefits,” he said.

He added the project would see “at least double the number of council homes” built, while bringing a new facility into Woolwich’s town centre.

The council initially held a public consultation across February and March 2019 on the wider leisure centre plans, which drew more than 2,000 responses.

The authority will now progress with plans to build the centre, including appointing a contractor to build at the site.

Pictured: The leisure centre could move into the building which houses Wilko.