Greenwich West resident, Mary Harris, writes: “Residents deserve to live in a clean and tidy environment. Yet, when walking round Greenwich West and speaking to residents it is often obvious that bins are inadequate or often emptied infrequently given their usage, grass grows uncut for far too long and rubbish sometimes lies strewn about the streets partly because there is a need for larger bins in specific areas.

The decision to ignore local opposition and allow a Big Yellow warehouse opposite the Clifton Roundabout was condemned by Eltham Conservatives. Local Councillors ruled against the plans, however, the project was approved by the Planning inspectorate in Bristol. Conservative activist Arujuna Sivananthan said: “The development is completely out of keeping with the local area, will generate additional traffic on a dangerous roundabout and cause the loss of many local jobs. It’s a very sad day for the area.”

As the process of planning for the Olympics in Greenwich Park moves forward, local Conservatives have been fighting to ensure no damage is done by the events and there are long-term benefits to the borough. Simon Gallie
said: “Greenwich Park is at the heart of our community. We are very concerned by the plans for a temporary stadium and will oppose these at the Council’s planning committee if they are inappropriate.”

Residents forced Greenwich Council into a major U-turn after digging a path through the historic Eltham Green without any consultation. They were joined in their opposition by local parliamentary candidate David Gold, who also enlisted Nick Herbert MP, the Shadow Cabinet Minister responsible for the environment. David said: “it’s another example of incompetence and a huge waste of money in the midst of a recession, but people power won the day.”

Following last year’s ‘Run to the Beat’ half-marathon, Cllr Geoff Brighty raised concerns about the chaos caused by road closures and a lack of information to residents. This has led to a commitment that better information will be provided in 2009, with a letter to residents with full road closure details, alternative routes, timings and pre-event and on the day contact details. Cllr Brighty has also attempted to reduce the noise from the music stages and tight limits have been imposed this year.

After a long wait and search the Coldharbour and New Eltham Safer Neighbourhood Team have moved into their new facilities on Coldharbour estate adjacent to the Library.

Labour announced plans in February 2006 to demolish 1,000 homes in the Connaught, Morris Walk and Maryon Road/Grove Estates and decided not to undertake any upgrading of the homes on these estates as a result. Having first decided to demolish the estates in 2006, Labour decided that outline plans would be displayed publicly in summer 2008, but by summer 2009 not a single plan had been made. It now appears that no that residents cannot expect to see any action to improve the estates where they live until 2010 at the earliest.

In August, the Council’s Planning Board unanimously rejected plans to redevelop Greenwich Market by ripping up the cobbles, replacing a range of historic buildings with a modern bog-standard 5-storey hotel - completely out of character with the rest of historic Greenwich.

TfL say that the current ferries and landing stages are “coming to the end of their life” Boris Johnson’s TfL inherited the ferries as part of a deal the Labour Council signed with his predecessor, and their plans include replacement of the ferries and a full upgrade of facilities.

In 2008/9 Cllr Mandy Brinkhurst was part of the Libraries Committee, set up to improve ourlibraries. As a result of the Committee’s report, refurbishment plans have been made for five libraries around the borough, including New Eltham library.

In August, Conservatives revealed that the Eltham Regeneration Agency (ERA) promised by Labour as part of their budget in February had still to employ a single person. The ERA was proposed as part of Labour’s budget and should have received £250,000 a year for four years.