Darryl Chamberlain

Greenwich rose garden sale: I’ll help objectors beat town hall’s email ban, councillor pledges

Tunnel Avenue pocket park
In 2015, councillors agreed to sell to the developer of adjacent flats, but nothing happened. The town hall has not explained what went on

One of the ward councillors for the area where Greenwich Council plans to sell open space has said he will help residents who inconvenienced by a town hall ban on postal objections to the sale.

The council plans to sell a small green space between Tunnel Avenue and Blackwall Lane in east Greenwich. The old rose garden, which contains a number of trees, absorbs pollution from the nearby Blackwall Tunnel approach, which will see more traffic when mayor Sadiq Khan’s Silvertown Tunnel is built.

Residents only found out after former local councillor Mary Mills was tipped off about a sale notice in the little-read Greenwich Weekender freesheet, which is where the council publishes its public notices. Mills then publicised the issue on social media, followed by Aidan Smith, a councillor for Greenwich West ward.

Greenwich Council did not respond to or acknowledge an enquiry from 853 about the proposed sale.

Greenwich Weekender ad
The sale has been given the minimum possible publicity, with a legal notice in a little-seen freesheet

The council tried to sell the land to a developer six years ago, ignoring 54 objections to approve the sale in 2015.

Only last year Labour council leader Danny Thorpe criticised neighbouring Bexley Council for also selling green space for private housing, branding its cabinet member Louie French “a Tory who thinks profit is more important than people”.

Peninsula ward Labour councillor Chris Lloyd has said even he has to post his objection to the sale – but has offered to print out and pass on objections from those unable to get to a post box.

“I will also have to respond opposing formally in hard copy it seems. Happy to enclose printed copies of objections I’ve received,” he said on social media.

Lloyd can be contacted via the Greenwich Council website. He cannot forward objections from people outside Peninsula ward – but they may wish to contact their own councillors.

Objectors who want to make sure the council hears their views will otherwise have to write to The Woolwich Centre, Wellington Street, London SE18 6HQ, quoting “Blackwall Lane”. Comments have to be received by the council by Thursday.

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