Latest news with #GreenwichCouncil
BBC News
3 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Greenwich children's adventure play centres may face closure
Five adventure play centres in south-east London could be put at risk of closure as part of budget Council's financial strategy agreed in February included a review of the playgrounds to try to save £2.2m in the next four a council meeting this month, Labour councillor Sandra Bauer, cabinet minister for equality, culture and communities, did not rule out closures, and confirmed a public consultation would be launched in the "coming weeks".A Greenwich Council spokesperson said they were "investing £820,000 to improve and modernise our adventure play centres" along with the potential for longer opening hours at some sites. The borough has five such play parks, featuring equipment like rope swings and zip wires, and indoor activities like crafts and table are located at Meridian, Woolwich, Plumstead, Glyndon and Coldharbour, with the latter three discussed at the meeting on 23 than 1,400 residents have signed a petition to save the Coldharbour centre, with a further 104 petitioning to keep Plumstead open. Speaking at the meeting, Bauer did not confirm whether the sites would be closed, and apologised that the public consultation had not yet said: "We are absolutely committed to doing this right and we need more information. "I'm sorry that it's taking so long but we have to do it right, and that's what we are going to do."Bauer also denied she had told staff at the Glyndon centre that it would remain Suckoo, who launched the Glyndon petition, also requested figures on the cost of running the centres, which Bauer confirmed would be provided as part of the consultation. 'A safe haven for children' Martin Sheehan, who set up the Coldharbour petition, said on its website: "Growing up, my local adventure play centre and youth club in Coldharbour was more than just a hub for the community, it was a home. It was a safe haven for children like myself."It wasn't just about play, but about fulfilling the basic needs of many children in our community."Conservative councillor Roger Tester, who spoke on behalf of Mr Sheehan at the meeting, said the continued uncertainty was causing "anxiety among children, parents and staff alike". A council spokesperson said: "It's important to us that families, young people and staff have a chance to have their say on the future of our adventure play centres and we will be launching a public consultation in the coming weeks."The council described the review as part of a broader package of support for children and young people, including £1m spent on playground upgrades, improved sports facilities, and restructured children's centres.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Everything you need to know about DLR extension to Thamesmead
Transport for London (TfL) wants to extend the DLR to Thamesmead – here is everything you need to know. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has backed an extension of the line from Gallions Reach, which if built would stop at both Beckton Riverside and Thamesmead. Although full funding for the project is yet to be secured, TfL has revealed details about the potential route as part of an ongoing consultation. Here is everything you need to know about what might soon be London's biggest new infrastructure project. READ MORE - Where would the extension go? The line would branch off from the existing DLR route to Beckton after Gallions Reach, with trains travelling over a viaduct to Armada Way, where a new station at Beckton Riverside would be built. Trains would then descend into a tunnel under the River Thames before rising onto another viaduct in south London at Thamesmead. A DLR station for the town will be built at the site of Cannon Retail Park. Although only two new stops are currently planned, TfL has said there is the potential for a further extension towards Bexley in the future. Why is the extension needed? TfL says that the project supports the creation of up to 30,000 new homes. Greenwich Council has also said that building the extension is the 'key in unlocking land' earmarked for redevelopment in Thamesmead. This would allow around 15,000 new homes to be built on a 100-hectare site to the west of the town's existing retail park on the southern bank of the Thames. When will trains start running? Transport bosses say that they hope that a funding plan for the project can be agreed with the Government by autumn this year. If funding is secured, work could start on building the extension in spring 2028, allowing trains to start operating from late 2031 or early 2032. The project is expected to cost at least £1.5 billion. How often would trains come? According to TfL, trains would run on the new branch every eight to ten minutes, with a similar service pattern on the spur to Beckton. This would mean a train would come every four to five minutes on the core section of the route between Canning Town and Gallions Reach. How can I have my say? A TfL consultation on the proposals is currently under way – although there are only three weeks until it closes. You can give feedback until Sunday August 17.
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Greenwich Council implements ice cream van ban on street
A south-east London council has unanimously voted to ban ice cream selling at popular tourist spot - but business owners are planning once again to take the fight to the High Council has disallowed itinerant ice cream trading on King William Walk near Greenwich Park, on the grounds of pedestrian safety and environmental was forced in 2023 to re-run the a consultation by the High Court after being challenged by father and son ice cream business owners Paul St Hilaire Sr and St Hilaires said they will be appealing the council's latest decision. At a recent meeting of the full council, Cllr Jackie Smith shared the results of this second court-ordered consultation and proposed King William Walk be officially designated as a prohibited street for what is known as "itinerant ice cream trading".Having rerun the consultation, the end result was the same in terms of the council's Smith said "unregulated trading" raised concerns about pedestrian safety, environmental health and "the preservation of the area's historic character".She added the council was not opposed to ice cream trading, just to vans trading in King William Walk, primarily due to the "potential danger to pedestrians" caused by queuing on the busy road. The councillors agreed and voted in favour of the ban. The St Hilaires have had a licence to trade there since 2015, and say that Greenwich Council originally introduced a sales ban on the street without telling also say they had no complaints against them and that they had paid all the relevant licensing St Hilaire Jr said they are waiting for a High Court date in relation to the council's separate move to prohibit King William Walk from being a licensed street for trading.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Greenwich pub fights to keep riverside seating
Bosses at a Greenwich riverside pub could have to call time on most of its outdoor seating area after the council demanded its Council says the tables that snake around the Thames Path at the Trafalgar Tavern are "visual clutter". The council, which said this "prevents people from enjoying the view of the river, and it doesn't provide access", has issued an enforcement notice to remove the Frank Dowling told BBC London: "I don't think there's a problem, because there's a 5ft walkway. So maybe there is the minor inconvenience of walking around someone." The council's notice is a move that has angered many, including the Jones family, who are regular visitors. "I think there's still space for them to bring prams and things like that through and there's still bikes and things like that that come through," one family member said."I think it would be a shame if they got rid of it because it's a lovely area." Another family member said: "It is a bit busy when there's bikes and things coming past but it's part of the experience."I think this is a lovely classic pub so I think it should stay."It's lovely being by the river, seeing all the sights, it's just an amazing place. It's got a really nice energy about it."The Tavern has appealed against the council's enforcement notice, saying it could lead to more than 70 job losses. A Royal Borough of Greenwich spokesperson said: "We have been notified that the Trafalgar Tavern has appealed [against] the enforcement notice to the Planning Inspectorate and a hearing is scheduled for later this summer."In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for the council to make any further comment at this stage."The Tavern dates back to 1837, having been a notable hub for merchants, sailors and politicians.
The Irish Sun
14-06-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Our tower block is covered in flammable cladding EIGHT YEARS after Grenfell – the council is gambling with our lives
RESIDENTS living in eight London tower blocks - once branded 'unsafe' by Sir Keir Starmer - have accused their Labour-run council of ignoring life-threatening fire risks. Eight years on from 14 Resident Richard Partridge holding up a cut-out section of the external Polystyrene cladding Credit: Andrew Styczynski 14 All eight tower blocks were given a 'high fire risk' rating in a report three years ago Credit: Andrew Styczynski 14 Residents have accused Greenwich Council of "ignoring" the life threatening risks Credit: Andrew Styczynski After five years, developers are finally set to replace external cladding this month, but leaseholders have warned that internal fire safety issues are still being ignored - putting their lives in danger. Pointing to the Grenfell tragedy, which claimed the lives of 72 people, RAQ Residents Association chair Stephen Day slammed councillors for 'abandoning' him and his neighbours. Speaking to The Sun, he fumed: "The inquiry said that concerns from residents regarding building safety were completely quashed and rubbished. "It essentially said that, going forwards, residents need to be listened to whether you agree with them or not. Read more News "Greenwich Council is failing. It should be listening to its residents and that is just not happening. "It is belittling this campaign that we have fought so hard for over the past five years. "We just want to try and get these buildings safe." The current project to remedy the external cladding was only agreed after a damning 2022 report from engineering firm Urban Change. Most read in The Sun All eight buildings were deemed a "high fire risk", with the investigation pointing to "poor workmanship" in the installation of the external wall insulation (EWI). It found that some fire break fittings were missing, they were made of plastic instead of steel and the expanded polystyrene (EPS) render was not thick enough. Government 'failed', 'dishonest' firms & 'indifferent' landlords – damning report into Grenfell tragedy which killed 72 Works to replace 90% of the building facade were approved by the independent building safety regulator and will be undertaken by developers Barratt, who originally built the RAQ complex in 2002. But residents argue there are major internal defects in the tower blocks that will remain untouched, sparking huge concerns. They pointed to a fire stopping survey completed by officials in 2019, commissioned by RAQ property manager Rendall & Rittner. Greenwich Council is failing. It should be listening to its residents and that is just not happening. It is belittling this campaign that we have fought so hard for over the past five years. We just want to try and get these buildings safe. Stephen Day RAQ Residents Association chair The purpose of the inspection was to test whether internal areas and rooms had sufficient structural integrity to prevent fires spreading from one part of the building to another. It revealed that three out of the eight tower blocks did not meet the minimum statutory safety requirements. As a result, the inspectors reported that any fire at the properties could result in "significant loss" and potentially lead to prosecution of the responsible person(s). The cost to replace similar issues discovered at the London Olympic Village is rumoured to be £432million. Another worry for the leaseholders is that the single stair fire escape - the only route out in the event of a fire - is surrounded by "highly combustible" grey panels on each floor. 14 Works to replace external cladding in the complex will begin this month Credit: Andrew Styczynski 14 Stephen Day, chair of RAQ committee Credit: Andrew Styczynski The Urban Change report argued that the aluminium corner panels in the stairwell should only be replaced on the first two storeys This is despite the insulation used in these panels having a Euroclass E rating - one of the highest levels of combustibility according to the fire class system. The buildings garnered national attention in 2021 when Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer stood outside the towers and described the situation as 'obviously wrong'. Speaking outside the tower blocks, he said: 'We need a task force to put some energy behind this. How Grenfell tower disaster unfolded By Summer Raemason THE Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people was the result of "decades of failure", The west London tower block was covered in combustible products because of the "systematic dishonesty" of firms who made and sold the Sir Martin Moore-Bick called out "deliberate and sustained" manipulation of fire-safety testing, misrepresentation of test data and misleading of the market. Prime Minister The seven-volume and near-1,700 page final report of the inquiry into the disaster laid out in damning detail how those in positions of responsibility had not heeded or acted on warnings from earlier fires. 'At the moment almost everybody is saying it's a bad situation, but it's not really my responsibility. 'The result is that innocent leaseholders here, who are living in accommodation which is unsafe, are being asked to pick up the bill. 'That is obviously wrong and if it is obviously wrong, do something about it. 'Three and a half years after Grenfell, this is not on. Most people would not believe this is the situation we're in. 'We owe it to all those affected to do something about it.' 14 Mr Day highlighted the 'highly combustible' panels Credit: Andrew Styczynski 14 The only fire escape stairwell is coated in the grey panels Credit: Andrew Styczynski 14 Residents claim that work to fix internal issues is not going ahead because the council refuses to support them Credit: Andrew Styczynski Locals allege that plans to fix the internal defects are not going ahead because Greenwich Council refuses to support their claims that regulations were breached at the time of construction. In an email seen by The Sun, initial plans appeared to show a fire door between the tower entrance and the lift lobby. But when our reporters were taken for a tour of the property, it was clear that no such door had ever existed. Ongoing battle Catherine Dugué, who has lived in Tideslea Tower for more than two decades, fumed: 'It never occurred to me that our local council would not support us, but rather fight against us. 'With the murderous tragedy of Grenfell Tower, and the shock that our homes too have unsafe cladding, I fully expected that the council would support and help us. 'We need Greenwich Council to support us and the internal defects need to be fully remediated. 'The council needs to retract its report that there was no evidence of building regulation breaches at the time of construction. "I was there. I know the staircase was not enclosed.' In a letter to all residents, Greenwich Council said: "The Council was asked if it could exercise power under the Building Act 1984 to ensure that necessary remediation works were carried out. "The Council's position is that there is no evidence to support action under the act. "This is not to say that there are no issues with the construction of RAQ; indeed, everyone agrees remediation works are necessary. 14 Smoke hindered rescue efforts as fires continued to burn with families trapped throughout the building Credit: Getty Images 14 The west London tower block was covered in combustible products 14 Fire ripped through Grenfell Tower in Kensington, West London, on June 14, 2017 Credit: Rex Features "That position does not undermine the role of the BSR or the fact that remediation works have now been agreed. "Building safety laws have changed since the original construction, and our focus is on moving forward to ensure the works agreed are completed within the timescale." Mast Quay, another development less than two miles away, was ordered to be torn down in 2023 and rebuilt after Greenwich Council said its towers were too different from approved plans. Developer Comer Homes Group breached 26 planning conditions and allowed renters to move in, despite warnings to keep the flats empty while an investigation was ongoing. And now residents have questioned why those towers were ordered to be demolished, while no similar action has been taken against the builders of RAQ. It comes after an announcement last year that the RAQ developers would join a £150m Government-led venture to build thousands of homes across the country. The partnership brings together Barratt, the UK's leading housebuilder and Homes England, the Government body responsible for housebuilding. A Barratt Redrow spokesperson said: 'We are fully committed to remediating any fire safety issues identified in the original construction of these buildings. "This is at no cost to leaseholders, in line with the Developer Remediation Contract we signed in 2023, and we look forward to starting work later this month, subject to all relevant permissions being in place.' Council response A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Greenwich said: 'On the anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, our thoughts as always are with the communities impacted by the disaster. We stand in solidarity with the Grenfell community. 'Royal Artillery Quays is a private residential development built by Barratt Homes. "Although it does not have the same cladding as Grenfell Tower, we share the same concerns as residents about fire safety and the uncertainty they have faced due to the delay in cladding being replaced. "The Government's Building Safety Regulator (BSR) was set up in response to Grenfell disaster to ensure that there was a single regulator and that the buildings it is responsible for, including Royal Artillery Quays, meet the highest and most recent safety standards. "Everyone in Royal Greenwich should have a safe and secure home and we welcome the fact that action is now happening: the BSR has now approved Barratt's remediation plans and work will take place later this month." Do you know more? Email 14 Three out of the eight tower blocks did not meet minimum safety requirements Credit: Andrew Styczynski 14 RAQ developers have joined a £150m Government-led venture to build thousands of homes across the country Credit: Andrew Styczynski 14 Locals have pointed to a missing fire door as evidence of failings during construction Credit: Andrew Styczynski
