Woolwich town centre upgrade up for award – as it looks ever shabbier

Woolwich town centre’s recent £21 million upgrade is up for an award to the delight of Greenwich Council.

The project covers half of Powis Street and Beresford Square and features many good elements – but unfortunately in true Greenwich Council fashion they’re letting it fall apart less than a year after completion.

After covering issues last week (which seemed to be very popular based on site views) and the announcement of the nomination I went back to see if things has improved with at least some basic maintenance and or repair works evident.

No. Well, unless fetching temporary barriers placed on landscaping counts put in due to the damaged side of a raised planter.

Bins remain broken all along the street  – whether with doors hanging loose or completely covered. Tarmac patches are appearing on new paving. Street furniture is bent and broken.

Of course accidents happen but the question is how long will it all be left like this? Based on years of experience – including just recently – for a long time.

Past changes

Those with long memories will remember the flawed 1980s scheme which the latest project has repeated in terms of many raised planters which limit pedestrian space and are rarely looked after. May of those 1980s changes were replaced in the 1990s.

The 1990s upgrade was good, but again rarely maintained. Uplighting around trees wasn’t fixed. It fell apart during the New Labour years so austerity can’t really be blamed.

The new scheme too has good lighting but will it too be similarly ignored when elements fail? Healthy local finances or not, Greenwich Council havn’t really had half a clue how to look after their main town centre for many, many years.

In the 2010s Beresford and General Gordon Square were rebuilt. Beresford Square was a flop in terms of stated goals and has been rebuilt yet again as part of this latest project.

General Gordon Square’s update was a vast improvement but again, it’s fraying at the edges – literally. Much of the landscaping is long gone and much of the grass is now mud, with the water feature apparently permanently out of action.

And look, I know no town centre is perfect. Things degrade and aren’t always in tip-top condition but go to many other town centres and they havn’t been left to rot anywhere close to Woolwich has for decades.

Obviously the question now is whether Woolwich’s potential prize-winning upgrade will last. The signs aren’t great so far.

Worthy winner?

Should it win? Well, that depends on the criteria? Looking good on day one? Longevity? Ability to adapt to future change?

One issue I raised from the start is too many raised planters would limit pedestrian space but also limit outside seating for businesses.

Given outside seating was one stated criteria for the upgrade, it was odd how it hampered that very aspiration.

See the outside of Kokoro. One measly table.

Now, Woolwich may not ever be a major al fresco destination (!) and Kokoro may not even want more outside seats and after all, they could perhaps have chosen another unit if they did.

Yet there’s so many raised sections it limits numerous units from ever having the change to put some seats outside.

Sure it’s cold now and it may seem far-fetched, but plenty of town centres now do have people happily sitting outside in this country well into the colder months.

Eltham down the road for one. And in the summer it’s popular all over north to south, east to west.

The design at Woolwich prohibits it in many places – even if businesses in future wanted to do so.

The Friends café is one of the places that offers it in town as does Coffee Lounge but its a lot more limited than many town centres both day and night.

It does seem odd to be writing this just as the weather has turned, but it’s an issue with the chosen design that could well have long term ramifications.

Positives

Still, there is lots to like about the recent work so let’s end on a positive.

Beresford Square is looking great with its fountain and opening up the Royal Arsenal Gatehouse is excellent. A shame a bar, café or pub couldn’t be accommodated on site to bring more life both day and night to the square but still, at least its looking good and access is improved.

There is the new café but it closes early and isn’t going to transform the square.

The big win for Woolwich will be improving Woolwich High Street which would assist in linking the town back with the river.

Do that well and give it every award under the sun. It’ll be a brilliant improvement.