New report on Plumstead road and underpass changes due next year
Plans to improve a run-down area of Plumstead could see work finally begin a decade after funding was announced.
A section around Pettman Crescent and the one-way system near Plumstead bus garage including a drab underpass is in line for £2.71 million which would link major housing developments to Plumstead station, bus routes and Plumstead High Street.
You can see how grotty it is in this video.
Housing Zone
A Housing Zone was announced which covered numerous sites in Thamesmead including one nearby site was announced almost a decade ago in July 2015. In the years since most sites have moved at a snail’s pace if at all – and slowness here means funding will go less far than when awarded.
The biggest project nearby is for 1,913 homes at Lombard Square beside Belmarsh Prison and intersected by the one-way system. Another nearby site has seen 333 homes. Although not within the designated 2015 Housing Zone area, it’s not too far away.
A new Greenwich Council report states: “A funding envelope of £2.71m has been secured for public realm works around Plumstead station, as per the Memorandum of Understanding dated 19th May 2016.”
It appears the same figure remains despite a decade of inflation. The area below the road bridge is also used to access Plumstead sorting office, workers heading to Plumstead bus garage and the start of the the Ridgeway walking and cycling route.
Timing
With the first homes at Lombard Square due for occupation in 2025, the report also notes funds must be spent by that time: “Public realm improvements must be completed before the occupation of phase one of the Griffin Manor Way/Pettman Crescent development, currently scheduled for October 2025, and that failure to deliver by this point would necessitate the return of the external funding.”
Consultation was undertaken last year on the scheme.
Go back ten years and early ideas saw the possible reworking of the three-lane gyratory running between new homes. That was scrapped.
The quickest – and most appealing to most – route between new homes and Plumstead station and the High Street will be the narrow pavements beside the three-lane road rather than underpass.
Consultation
Last year’s consultation included information on changes near Plumstead station though the report notes changes have been made since.
Another section of the council’s recent report mentions that “the proposals were updated to include segregated cycle provisions along Pettman Crescent, Plumstead Road and Plumstead High Street, and to minimise potential conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists, while providing safe and improved facilities for both user groups.”
Which reminds me, will we finally see the removal or updating of a very outdated sign outside the station pointing to “Royal Arsenal East“. The Arsenal site was split in two named Royal Arsenal West and East before final closure in the 1990s.
While the station area saw some street clutter removed recently a lot still remains. How far £2.71m will go after consultation fees and the rest remains to be seen if it covers the underpass, station area, High Street and gyratory. A lot less than in 2016 is certain.
Ultimately more murals can appear under the three-lane gyratory but if it remains a neglected space (the council are cutting street cleaning staff with a consultation on right now) and is unsighted on approach, many existing users and those moving in to 2,300 new homes nearby will stay on the paving above ground – as narrow and unsuitable as it currently is beside three lanes of traffic.
The consultation was the usual head in the clouds stuff. Best bit was cycle stands under the underpass. As if they’d last 5 mins without being stolen.
Obvious things include improved lighting, keeping it clean and maintained and for God’s sake make sure its easy to look after. Not intricate stuff that won’t last two years. Most money should go on the area above which as you say is what 90 per cent of people will be using.
Murder alley isn’t going to change with this budget, absence of aspirations, no additional lighting or nice design revamp and of course greenwich council managing it. They refuse to fix broken light bulbs though the tunnels, rotting concrete falling off the ceilings and have conveniently left off the mallard path area that floods every. Single. Time. That it rains. This through route is used despite being horrendous and it cant be used half the year due to flooding which isnt being addressed anyway. Marvellous use of £3m for consultant mates of the councils chief exec.
For years the relevant departments couldn’t fix broken steps leading to the underpass alongside broken and missing sings and all the filth down there but now somehow they’ll maintain a £2.5m upgrade? no chance without latest cleaning cuts; let alone now.