Greenwich seek views on Thames Path’s future
Greenwich Council have launched a consultation into the Thames Path’s future.
The borough has the longest riverside frontage of any London borough and is set to see thousands of new homes built alongside in areas such as Charlton.
Four main areas are covered:
- Accessibility, safety, and overall enjoyment of the Thames Path
- Improvements to signage, amenities, and infrastructure
- How to create better access to the Thames Path
- How the Thames Path can support local businesses and tourism.
In recent years much focus of development alongside the path has centred around Woolwich.
Currently two final towers of one plot on the former Waterfront leisure centre are approaching completion.
In the next year Waterfront leisure centre is due to close and the site in turn redeveloped.
That offers the chance to open up routes from Hare Street as well as the foot tunnel which is currently somewhat hidden away.
To the west a section of path was recently worked upon beside the infamous Mast Quay phase two site.
Charlton
A masterplan for Charlton could see up to 8,000 homes with many beside the river.
In recent years an excellent addition to riverside infrastructure was the installation of a new section of path near the Thames Barrier.
When it comes to housing development one sizable site is Herringham Road.
Structure on site have recently been levelled by Hyde Housing Association with development hopefully starting soon.
The path also offers a safer cycle lane than many alternative options – though isn’t always the quickest.
Blinded
Whilst the Thames Path is a wonderful resource Greenwich officers and departments have sometimes appeared guilty of being blinded to other street improvements with excessive focus on the riverside to the detriment of other areas.
A recent example was ignoring TfL advice on improved pedestrian links and new crossings between 333 new homes in West Thamesmead and nearby town centre shops, bus stops and railway stations in Plumstead and Woolwich. They instead expected people to take a sizable detour to walk along the Thames Path rather than the faster and more obvious route from home to nearby stations.
By ignoring TfL guidance they ensured no Section 106 revenue went to improve what will be a commonly used route and instead put a modest sum into an already decent route to the Thames Path.
It again showed an ignorance of how pedestrians tend to act (they’re not going on a long detour to reach the local station each morning to get to work) and knowledge of local areas.
Greenwich
Another example of a lack of wider thinking concerns the new cycle bus for Silvertown tunnel with pretty much the only decent access being via the Thames Path.
Much like in Thamesmead, Greenwich resolutely ignore street improvements for thousands of people who don’t or can’t access Greenwich peninsula from the Thames path.
Development sites in Greenwich have transformed certain areas since the millennium (mostly on the eastern side) with more change expected to the west such as at Morden Wharf.
Enderby Wharf’s second phase is also set to be built in the area.
You can view the council’s consultation and fill in a questionnaire here.
Everything seems to take forever!
Nothing new Greenwich Council is was always famous for lack of common sense and forward thinking. That what happens when you employ people for who they are, but not for what they know.
I agree Levi. They hold consultations and then nothing happens for years. 9 times out of 10 consultations are a waste of time as they do not take in to account people’s responses to the consultations as they have already made up their minds. The consultation is just a tick box exercise.
The Thames Path has a lot of potential for improvement to make the Thames Path safer for everyone. With improvements to safety measures by the river. New lighting, better access to join the Thames Parth for local residents.
With thousands of new homes due to be built in the area. We need major improvements to infrastructure and amenities. We need to make the Thames Path a more pleasant place to visit for locals and tourists. Which in turn will help to support local businesses.
A major issue here surely is ownership of the lands that make up the Thames Path.
Are those owners going to be happy to open up the Thames Path ?
Note the Scrutiny Ctte has no powers and may only make recommendations – still its focus on the river path, presumably all nine miles of it , is welcome.