Proposed parking zones across much of Greenwich borough scrapped
Plans to implement parking zones across much of Greenwich borough have been scrapped.
The project was part of “sustainable streets” covering much of the northern half of the borough announced earlier this year.
Only areas in Woolwich remain with other areas such as Blackheath, Charlton, Kidbrooke and west Thamesmead cancelled. Previously listed areas of Shooters Hill and Plumstead were dropped a few months ago.
It’s fair to say the scheme was badly handles from the very beginning. Consultation documents listed parking zones in detail but promised street improvement were nowhere to be seen. Trees were shown suggesting they were to be planted, though many shown already existed.
Bus cuts
Since then it’s become increasingly harder for the authority to claim its supporting non-car use when it supported bus cuts on the 472 route proposed and then confirmed by TfL. Greenwich Council offered no objection whatsoever during consultation and just one Labour councillor from the ruling party responded.
It’s been stated it’s not a cut. Tell that to the people who will lose numerous stopping buses next month.
Replacing the 472 with the SL11 ensures it’s the only Superloop route in London that entirely replaces an existing route. There was no effort to keep the 472 in an altered form such as redirecting via major new developments in west Thamesmead or heading to Lewisham from Charlton and restore that lost link when the 180 was diverted to North Greenwich.
That means various areas will see a substantial reduction in stopping buses from January 2026.
It not only impacts existing residents but thousands set to move into new homes along the 472 route. I travelled the 472 route from first to last stop and counted the buildings rising right now that will lose buses. It’s thousands of homes.
The list includes more than 700 homes in west Woolwich, hundreds in Charlton at the first two plots at the Riverside masterplan area (one complete – one with demolition ongoing for new builds) plus many hundreds in south Thamesmead linking homes to Abbey Wood station.
Yes, this is the same TfL and Greenwich Council that claim a DLR will help the town whilst cutting buses serving new homes.
A newly built college in Plumstead is also affected with almost 300 new homes planned.
Another area skipped is beside new homes at Greenwich Millennium Village now completing. That will place further pressure on existing buses though a larger number of other routes do stop at this point.
Oh, and Greenwich and TfL also allowed developer Knight Dragon to push back bus station improvement works in north Greenwich from a previously agreed 3,000-home completion limit to 6,000 homes.
Further cuts
Compounding the issue was a number of bus cuts enacted by TfL in recent weeks. Greenwich Council have been silent.
While all that was going on the council have continued their long standing policy of allocating minimal amounts of Section 106 income from new developments towards street improvements to encourage walking and cycling.
Many areas of the borough seeing substantial change from development with street layouts the same as before new housing, from Lombard Square in west Thamesmead to areas linking east Greenwich and Greenwich peninsula.
To highlight how cack-handed they’ve been throughout, they even proposed a major jump in the cost of car club membership for those tempted to ditch their own car.
With that as the backdrop it was a tall order to claim the “sustainable streets” programme was an attempt to shift travel from car ownership to other modes be it public transport or active travel.
The council now say they will “explore targeted improvements that can deliver clear benefits to local communities”.
Greenwich residents have no idea how debilitating these are when deployed at scale. Islington’s latest appeal to it’s vocal cyclist community has seen the whole of the Newington Green roundabout go from five roads to one, shared with 6 bus routes. The equivalent would be making all traffic at the Blackheath Standard go up to Shooters Hill first, regardless whether you want to go to Charlton or locally. The disruption is staggering, moreso where TFL have hemmed in buses with cycle lanes.
They messed this up form the start. Unambitious proposals, not taking the chance to properly improve streets.
I wish we could have the kind of pleasant streets a good ltn promotes. But this requires proper engagement, Ambitious proposals, and a recognition of how things can be perceived.
And a real shame they are pulling back from car parking charges that are a no brainer for a city like London and can help discourage the growth of anti social suvs or high emission vehicles.
I’m always surprised parking is allowed on the weirdest places, causing all sorts of disruption due to cars having to swerve around the opposite lane. E.g. lee road, lee terrace, prince Charles road, goffers, not to mention people just parking in the village Montpellier vale, which is probably illegal. I understand this is London, people need to park somewhere, but effectively they are all only 1.5way roads
@Gwst: ‘I’m always surprised parking is allowed on the weirdest places, causing all sorts of disruption due to cars having to swerve around the opposite lane. E.g. lee road, lee terrace …’. What? I drive along those roads on occasion and have never experienced any swerving.
Greenwich Council need to stop supporting bus cuts in thd Borough including seeing routes withdrawn, curtailed or frequencies cut then more people may consider using public transport more rather than using their cars.
Parking nearby Plumstead Bus Gsrage is really poor with cars doubled parked delaying buses and other traffic trying to pass. But Greenwich Council Parking Enforcement Teams have done nothing about it for years. Despite it being raised several times by residents, bus drivers etc. .
With bus services serving the Queen Elizabeth Hospital being reduced in frequency which includes the 291 386 and it looks like the 486 is also due a frequency cut from February 2026 by losing one bus per hour.
With parking very expensive at the Hospital along with limited parking spaces Staff visitors and patients are being forced to park on nearby residential roads These new controlled parking zones where ill thought through. If you want to encourage people not to park you on residential roads you need to provide real alternatives like improvements to public transport and make it safer for people to walk and cycle.
Controlled parking zones can also have an impact on local businesses.
These cintrolked parking scheme are money making schemes for the Council.
They just move traffic to other neighbouring roads and create parking problems on other local roads. So not really solving any problems at all.
I agree with parking restrictions when large events taking place and when children are goubg to anf fron school (school streets).
I think the Council needs to tackle speeding drivers in the Borough and those that fail to stop atvred lights, zebra crossings etc. Has driving standards have declined over recent yea4s.
@C: what creates parking problems for locals is allowing a road to be used for all day free parking. I live in a street that is close to Lee station and it gets filled with the cars of those travelling to work by train. I am also across the road from a couple of doctors’ surgeries and within walking distance of the big Sainsbury’s.
I am not dependent on my car, but can really only use it on a weekend when I can be sure of finding a space within view of my living room window. For reasons that Lewisham council has not made clear, my road has been left out of the controlled parking zone proposals for the area.
@ C You are correct in what you say. Regarding both the parking zones and standard of driving which is declined over recent years. I wonder if some drivers have even had a driving test and obtained a full driving licence as they clearly do not understand the rules of the road and when they need to stop etc.
I am all for making our roads safer for motorist, cyclist and pedestrians. So would welcome more cameras on our roads to monitor speeds and standards of driving like jumping red lights etc.