Woolwich square’s multi-million pound revamp sees decline continue
Two weeks on from a new multi-million pound square opening and the area is not looking good.
Rubbish is now strewn about the area daily. Extensive landscaping is now full of rubbish ensuring cleaning is a more time consuming process (if even attempted) which isn’t great when Greenwich are looking to cut the street cleaning budget.
The state of the place has made social media this week with many viewing a videos on the likes of the Reddit’s London page (1.4 million members) highlighting a lack of upkeep so soon after opening, with the area’s appearance doing much to fuel some of the worst views about Woolwich.
What should have been good PR for the town is already producing a torrent of negative comments and reinforcing long-standing views.
Much of this was predictable and the authority long warned to either be on top of it or not to choose a design that is high maintenance, but concerns were mostly brushed aside despite exactly the same thing happening nearby around a decade ago, with areas of greenery eventually being covered over in the middle of Victory Parade and Beresford Street.
At that spot the authority said it was too hard to clean being in the middle of a road.
It also brings to mind the last expensive revamp in the early 2010s. No sooner had the expensive granite slabs gone in they allowed the public square to become an unofficial car park.
Same elsewhere
Now I know some will say everywhere gets messy on occasion and of course that’s certainly true. The flashiest places are sometimes left looking like a tip, but at the same regularity? This is becoming daily now in Woolwich.
And is it happening in areas where street cleaning staff levels are being reduced as we speak? Even if town centre’s now get drafted some more staff – or at least not cut from current levels – other parts of the borough will under their currently ongoing reorganisation (i.e. cuts).
And in areas where there isn’t an attempt to establish a local BID project that can assist with street cleaning and related costs as seen in areas all over London and beyond – but not in Woolwich?
There’s there’s enforcement. Where’s the council’s now-privatised team that supposed to help prevent this?
It’s a great shame as so much of the new square is excellent but if they don’t get a grip a self-perpetuating cycle will emerge and people wont use the space.
What is – and could be for some time – a great benefit to the town is already becoming another example of neglect. Those of us who’ve been around Woolwich a bit have seen this time and again and that’s why the authority were advised to be prepared if choosing an elaborate design requiring regular upkeep.
So far there’s little sign of it.
The new waste bins are too small and powder coated which won’t last long particularly as there are no cigarette stubbers on the top.
They could install a hundred bins but some people are just shameless feckless litterbugs and would never use them.
Exactly, the real problem is the residents that don’t take care of their neighbourhood, which also doesn’t allow other residents to fully enjoy the renovations, because the same people that litter the square, are the ones who make the neighbourhood uninviting to begin with 🤷🏾♀️
I lived at abbey wood 30 years ago and used to go shopping in Woolwich it was a bit cleaner then but when I have been back over the year’s.
I have people just don’t care and just dump their staff on the ground also the children.
Such a shame the way it’s gone.
Even where I living Peterborough that are spending a lot of money on millfield which is the pits.
All the money will be a waste because it will be the same mess..
I’ve no idea about Peterborough (have been and love the boat bar by the park) but I guess they don’t have as much no development as Greenwich borough to utilise during tight finances to keep areas half decent? That’s the issue with Greenwich. Mass development but little interest in how to capitalise upon that to benefit all in the long term
You cant polish a turd end of, still got addicts etc sitting about instead of moving them on deal with the problem, wasting money on new stuff thats gonna look old again in 6 months
All they’ve managed to do is install a nice seating for more down n outs to sit on. It may look nicer but the experience of walking through Powis Street is an awful one.
Having worked as a road sweeper in woolwich years ago people need to understand that the area affected won’t be cleaned every hour as there are other roads to clean within the surround area.
The road sweepers also finish around 8pm which means from 8pm until the next shift (6am) it will accumulated rubbish.
Plus the people need to take responsibility and dispose of their own filth
I don’t think anyone expects cleaning every hour and a spotless area but why don’t they do what other boroughs do and seek businesses help via the projects mentioned in the article to fund additional cleaning? That would add to council cleaning rotas and maybe also help overnight as it appears that scheme does elsewhere. Issue with Greenwich council is they don’t even try to adopt measures to help commonly seen in other parts of London. It’ll never be perfect but are they even bothering at management level? The cleaners on the ground can do their best but let down from the top.
Same with the people causing trouble, shouting and drinking and leaving rubbish everywhere. The managers have the power to improve enforcement teams. Instead laziness persist from them which impacts visitors and staff on the ground trying their best.
Sadly as mentioned people just do not bother to use the bins and throw their rubbish anywhere. Even if sitting close to a bin.
The drinkers and addicts and beggers are not moved on and are not even approached to be moved on. To be honest I cannot see it getting any better and more undesirables with gather and hang around the square and neighbouring Powis Street. Making it uncomfortable for others to use the area. They have no respect for others or their surroundings Spoiling it for others who live work or visit the area. Despite the Councils best efforts to try and improve the area unless people change their ways and learn to use bins and respect others and their surroundings it will sadly just go down hill again.
Well that was a massive surprise. So sick of this legacy council doing absolutely nothing different to improve street cleanliness in Greenwich, whilst council tax rises above inflation every year.
The new square landscaping is beautiful and very high quality, so it’s equal parts heartbreaking and infuriating. We know there’s major shortcomings within the council, but the problem here is the people, pure and simple. Large parts of the community here just don’t give a sh*t about their environment/shared spaces. Grown adults incapable of using a space without spilling food and drink all over the place and leaving litter like f*cking animals. I have so much hope and faith in the future of Woolwich, having bought my first flat here, but my patience is growing thin!
The square landscaping is beautiful and very high quality,
Ok so what to do about a minority treating it like shit?
Enforce and enhance cleaning. Work to solve it. There are ways to do so as I highlight regularly but whether the council’s officers – and cabinet – will bother is another question. It’s not easy but that’s no reason to roll over and give up as they often do.
You’re right, this was easily predictable and a program of enhanced cleaning and enforcement should have been put in place. If it was me, I’d have opened the square as an event with staff present, engaging with visitors about it. Have banners about the project and go heavy on the anti-littering, “please enjoy but respect this public space” messages etc. Then of course have constant enforcement presence, actually warming groups about not leaving litter, and fining those who do.
Indeed that’d been a great idea. Make a big event of opening. It’s a wonderful space
Architects’ drawings always make me laugh. The aspirational “visions of the future” of people enjoying their open spaces ought to be legally binding—it might force designers to propose ideas that truly reflect how the spaces will be used.
It’s far too easy to persuade local authorities to open their coffers and spend big on development, hoping that the other, very real social problems will simply disappear. We all know it’s a sales pitch, yet it remains irresistibly attractive and does nothing to alter the underlying realities—as many of you have pointed out. What we really need are better-qualified staff who can think beyond the superficial image.
The scheme is hardly superficial. It’s well thought out, and constructed with high quality materials that are robust and easy to maintain. You say it should have been designed for the reality, but what would that have been, tarmac over the whole thing? Why should we design for the worst in society? Design should be aspirational. Woolwich deserves beautiful public spaces, even if some people don’t appreciate it.
I agree Michael D. The square is well thought out and the materials used are of high quality. I like the new square and tink it looks great.
Sadly it is just a minority of people spoiling it for others as always.
Those causing anti social behaviour need to be moved on. I walked through the square a few days ago and there were a few undesirables swearing fighting and drinking while kids were trying to play nearby.
They have no respect for others or their surroundings.
This is what the Council and police need to tackle. I also thought their was a street drinking ban in Woolwich Town Centre.
A grand opening of the new square would be fantastic and is an excellent idea. But this still would not stop the undesirables from gathering their and those that do not know how to tidy up after themselves and use the bins provided.
Millions of pounds spent in an area full of druggies and drunks and people are shocked that it’s trashed straight away that’s hilarious
Yep it’s easy to mock moves to improve. Nothing wrong with aspiring for better. Needs much work alongside of course bit no time for those who sneer at improvements. Do you want places to just stew?
I don’t think anyone is sneering at the attempted improvements, just the priority of making things look nice (and at a handsome cost to the taxpayer), when people know it will be trashed – yet the very basics that need massive investment get overlooked ie more policing visibly on the ground
It’s a bit like spending a home renovation budget on fancy wallpaper and curtains, when there’s a massive hole in the roof and subsidence.
There is only rubbish on the streets of Woolwich no where else in the UK is full of litter.
Other comments have echoed what i’ve said long ago!
You can throw as much money into Woolwich, it will remain a dump because of a significant proportion of the people who are destructive!
They take no pride whatsoever, dirty, inconsiderate, selfish, rude, violent, thieves, beggars, gangs, stabbings, fly tippings etc.
Import the 3rd world and surprise surprise the area resembles the 3rd world – I’m saying this as a 2nd generation immigrant who has lived my entire life in Plumstead, Charlton and Blackheath!
Hell, even areas of Blackheath are going downhill!
You are not wrong Harminder I have been I was walking my dog on Blackheath during the heatwave last week. I was shocked and saddened just how much litter people left behind all over the heath. Many of these are what you would probably describe has professional people etc who stopped to sun bath on their way home from work. Sadly people just have no respect for their surroundings anymore and think it is ok to leave litter all over the place for others to clear up after them. I do not think the problem is confined to Woolwich iit is s national problem. I just do not what the answer is.
Litter is a major problem in Lewisham as well, especially around the big high rise developments where the bin storage and waste management systems seem to have completely broken down. At Lewisham ‘Renaissance’ development residents of the flats routinely dump their domestic waste on the street outside the bin store, leading to heaps of rotting black bags strewn across the pavements. Fly tipping of household items from people moving into the development is a daily occurrence. The tiny little pocket park is surrounded by litter, cans, bottles and dog mess all the time. Complaints to the development, to Lewisham Council and to local councillors have all been completely ignored!