Square in Woolwich closed off to public over ‘antisocial behaviour’ fears

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Woolwich residents were left confused after finding a town centre square closed off, which people suspected was due to “severe” public drinking in the area.

Greenwich council confirmed the square was shut after a police request to clamp down on anti-social behaviour

General Gordon Square in Woolwich, Greenwich, was found with tall steel fences blocking off the site on Monday, according to locals, with no visible explanation for the closure.

A Greenwich council spokesman said the fencing has been added to deter antisocial behaviour around Halloween.

Michael Whitbread, a local living in Charlton, has been regularly coming to the square since 1984. He said he didn’t remember seeing the area closed off in the past ten years.

He said: “I’ve just come off the bus to come meet my friend down the road for a pint and I’ve just seen it. We meet at 12 o’clock, and if we get here before, we sit and wait in the square.”

Mr Whitbread said he uses the square four times a week to read the paper and when meeting his friend in Woolwich.

He said that he sees dodgy activity in the space “all the time” and that the drinking problem is “severe”. The local suspects the square was closed after somebody was “tipped off” to close it.

He said: “There’s no drinking in Woolwich. But if you come down here and walk in, you can see them lugging cans and putting them in their pockets all the time.”

A woman who only gave her name as Sam and lives right beside the square said youths often drink in the square and “chat up girls”.

She said: “Some of them I think are homeless and they just mix in to hang out and drink. But for them to close it, something must have happened. So I’m just being nosy really because I only live down the road.”

Another local of the area, who wished to remain anonymous, said he has been coming to the square nearly every day for 50 years.

He said: “Normally I sit down there for half an hour if it’s not raining and watch the news. I get a coffee in Starbucks and sit down and watch what happens.”

The resident said that Woolwich has been ruined by the amount of people that have moved to it and the antisocial behaviour in the town.

He said: “I hate the area, I absolutely hate it. I can’t wait to get out of it.”

This is not the first time the square in Woolwich has been sealed off. General Gordon Square was closed last year after a series of disturbances including “hundreds of youths” throwing fireworks in the town centre, according to Safer Schools Sergeant Geoff Warren.

The space remained closed until November to help police target areas they felt were responsible for the antisocial behaviour.

A spokesperson for Greenwich council said: “Following a request by the police, fencing has been installed like last year to manage any anti-social behaviour over Halloween and bonfire night.

“We’d like to remind residents to be safe and wish everyone a happy and safe Halloween and bonfire night.”

Pictured top: Michael Whitbread, a local of Charlton, shown in front of General Gordan Square in Woolwich, Greenwich (Picture: Joe Coughlan)