Greenwich extend Sustainable Streets consultation after controversy

Greenwich Council are extending their Sustainable Streets consultation by a month after a controversial start.

Consultation for controlled parking zones across much of the borough started at the beginning of the summer holidays but featured few details on any improvements to be installed alongside restrictions.

The all stick and no carrot approach has hardly gone down well. As noted in a prior post they listed car clubs spaces as a benefit, but didn’t state they are substantially increasing the cost for car club membership from this summer.

In terms of any possible street improvements, little details are featured in the consultation or apparent in other council plans or reports.

Now the council have extended the consultation until 30 September stating:

“So, we’re making improvements – simplifying the content where possible, making sure information is clearer by improving the map legends and making it easier for residents to find their street, and making sure people know how to take part.”

Lack of information

It’s telling that last month Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham all held transport meetings though what they contained varied. Lewisham and Bexley – hardly known for being great of street design at times – had reports with a long list of street improvements proposed including pedestrian crossings.

Greenwich? Little similar in terms of detail in reports that would feed into Sustainable Streets in future.

Some people may opposed restrictions – with possibly legitimate reasons – but others may be tempted to give it the benefit of the doubt if Greenwich offered something in return. But they havn’t. It’s no way to win support from those who may be keen to do so.

Another benefit listed on Greenwich’s Sustainable Street website was improved pedestrian crossings, but there’s very little detail from the authority in either the consultation or council reports. Compare to Bexley whose report last month featured these plans:

And then in Lewisham a wide range of sites were featured in their recent council report.

In total 21 sites are mentioned.

No similar list was evident in the Greenwich Council transport meeting reports. Vague mentions of crossings was about it but no specific list of locations.

Prior form

This lack of forward planning from Greenwich brings to mind the time covid occurred and emergency funding was on offer for street changes. Pretty much every other London borough had a prepared pipeline of projects, as that’s what authorities do.

They plan and seek funding. Sometimes the funding is there; sometimes its not, but the pipeline is there.

In Greenwich? Hapless. Almost nothing was in public reports. Scant details given. Winging it. The contrast to other authorities was stark.

That seems very much the situation now with Sustainable Streets where it’s a case of telling people restrictions are on the way but offering next to nothing in return in terms of solid details – and so even those who may accept or be swayed aren’t on board.

It’s hardly a surprise from a pretty shambolic Highways Department who often seem to live 30 years in the past when it comes to street design. They even got some dates wrong within documents in the consultation. When the council uploaded it to their website none of the links worked. It’s amateur hour stuff from the authority.

Also note the time that the Greenwich LTN commenced late last year and they failed to put up signage – or it was incorrect – by the start date. A six week delay ensued. It’s hardly a surprise confidence and faith is so low.

To view the Sustainable Street consultation page click here.