Plumstead underpass improvement work looking messy already
Work to brighten up an underpass in Plumstead linking a 2,000-home development to nearby shops, bus stops and a railway station has started to become unkempt weeks after completion.
The section of path sits beneath Pettman Crescent and hasn’t been a great spot to walk through for many years.
With housing being built nearby and the area allocated a Housing Zone more than a decade ago, external funds were made available to improve the area.
It’s now branded ‘The Colourway’ with a spiral ramp seeing a bit of a spruce up. Here’s plans from 2024 in advance of work commencing.
The feature tree appeared dead, as can be seen below.
Still, overall it’s a lot better than it was with blue tiling and the orange rail added given some splashes of colour. But there’s a lot of rubbish flying about.
A few months ago I went for a wander to see how it was all shaping up before the official opening, which took place on 4th July. It looked a lot better though as ever, the thought was just how well will it be looked after?
Despite the changes it’s still a secluded area and there were a fair few street drinkers down there when staff were adding finishing touches.
After the grand opening
Anyway, the opening event was held, PR stories went out and claims made it would be cleaned regularly made but the proof is in the pudding, so I’ve had a look a couple of times since to see how it’s going.
Not great in terms of basic maintenance and keeping it clean.
Flytipping was always an issue down there and remains so.
It seems more hassle than its worth to carry so much rubbish all the way here but it happens.
Litter and waste strewn across the entire site didn’t appear to be from just a day or two, or even a week, but pretty much what’d accumulated since the official opening some time before.
The area below Pettman Crescent also acts as an entrance to the Ridgeway path atop the Southern Outfall Sewer though it hardly remains an enticing prospect.
Alternatives
I’d not expect many to use the underpass except perhaps cyclists given improvements seen above ground.
Given the choice of walking below the road or alongside in view of passing drivers, many will take the latter option particularly now pavements have been widened.
Though maybe I’ve just been unlucky though on the trips down there?
It’s not as though I’m passing through it daily. For those that do use it regularly, is it being maintained?
I find it astonishing how badly Greenwich Council keep messing up that area. The new design has markings that don’t even follow the paths, making it look totally confusing which way you’re supposed to walk. It needs a couple of security cameras and regular monitoring, not these continual crazy redesigns.
I can imagine the work on this – consultations, fabricators, events, outreach etc – running up into six figures, and if that’s the case then what a waste this has turned out to be.
It’s clear some thought has gone into the design, but the space is as uninviting as ever, there’s no reason to *want* to use it versus walking along Pettman Crescent or Plumstead Road. Still no CCTV! If I were making a late night trip to the McDonalds, I’d just cross the road above.
I can imagine a future where the bus depot and delivery office are decked over for housing, with an at-grade path linking the Ridgeway and Broadwater crossing both sides of Pettman Crescent. That will hopefully rid us of this underpass.
Nope, zero effort being made. Been a mess from the moment the barriers came back down, not least as the workers from the building site use it for after-work drinks. Even the supposed ‘closed-off’ areas are left unlocked. Just yet another Greenwich mess, happy to send money the way of their favourite consultants who’ll give them a a job later, but zero clue on how to build public realm and zero budget to maintain it.
I moved in just across the road a few months ago. I’ve lived in the area all my life and I was exited to find a place in my own stomping ground. The novelty soon wore off . The amount of rubbish strewn all over the place, the homeless people and drug addicts as well as the building workers after works drinks all contribute to it being not a desirable place to walk in the evening. Even the art work graffiti looks more like vandalism. Mind you the rats seem to be happy with it.