FURTHER UPDATE 11 August: Greenwich Council has WITHDRAWN its proposals for Shooters Hill and Plumstead (only). Proposals in the other areas are going ahead as planned - full details here
UPDATE 23 July: Greenwich Council has now agreed to EXTEND the deadline for their ‘Sustainable Streets’ consultation to 30th September 2025.
A large number of residents in the areas affected by Greenwich Council's proposals to impose Controlled Parking Zones - in Charlton, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Plumstead (NOW REMOVED FROM PROPOSALS), Shooters Hill (NOW REMOVED FROM PROPOSALS), West Thamesmead and Woolwich - have been contacting Opposition Conservative councillors to ask for advice on how they can object to the Labour-run Council's plans. In response, Conservative councillors have published the following 'HOW TO' guide for how local people can try to influence the Council's decision in their local area.
We hope this 'HOW TO' guide is helpful to residents in these parts of our borough, which are all currently represented by Labour councillors*. As so many residents have overwhelmingly contacted us with objections to the proposals, we have focused on how to object in this guide - however, as always with parking and traffic there are a range of different views (both for and against) on the specifics of proposals. The three steps in our 'HOW TO' guide below are equally applicable if you want to express support for the proposals in your area - the steps we've given are the best ways to get across your views, whatever they are.
For background, you can read Greenwich Conservatives' response to the plans and more on the Greenwich Wire.
Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Conservative Opposition on Greenwich Council, says: "The launch of Greenwich Labour's consultation on these Controlled Parking Zones - dressed up as 'Sustainable Streets' - has had an extremely rocky start, with residents rightly pointing out the sheer complexity of the plans they are being asked to comment on, in just a 6-week turnaround over the summer. That's why I have called on the Labour-run Council to extend the consultation well beyond 22nd August - well into September at the very earliest. It is crucial that everyone is given time to properly interrogate these proposals - otherwise the Council will just be confirming the widely-held view that this consultation is the 'done deal' that I fear it is.
"Residents are entirely justified in feeling cynical about what Greenwich Labour intends to do here - they have got more than enough form when it comes to ignoring residents views. However, it is still absolutely critical that people in the affected areas take part in the Council's consultation - because this is the information on which a formal decision should be made. There are other things you can do, like signing or starting a petition and emailing your ward councillors - which are important additional steps too - but the consultation is the most important part.
"We hope this 'How To' guide we have put together is hepful to residents in the areas affected in Charlton, Blackheath, Kidbrooke, Plumstead, Shooters Hill, West Thamesmead and Woolwich. While we do not currently have Conservative councillors in these areas, as the Leader of the Opposition on the Greenwich Council I have a borough-wide role and I see it as a key part of my job to help residents right across the borough to get their views across. As well as scrutinising the Council's actions on this in the Council Chamber, I will do everything I can to make sure local people's views are heard on this - whatever those views are - and we will try to keep everyone updated on our website and via our borough's many local Facebook groups."
HOW TO OBJECT TO GREENWICH COUNCIL'S PARKING PLANS
STEP 1: Take part in the 'Sustainable Streets' consultation
If you only do one thing, do this! Taking part in the consultation is the most important step you can take (UPDATE: new deadline 30th September). You can view Greenwich Council's proposals for your area online at https://sustainable-streets-rbg.commonplace.is/ and there also in-person events being held between 5th August and 21st August - details can be found here. If you have any problems accessing the information, or taking part in the consultation, you should email [email protected]
Lots of residents have fed back to Opposition Conservative councillors that the Council's consultation on this is difficult to access and navigate, and there is always a suspicion - and a justifiable one. based on past experience - that the questions have been asked in such a way as to load the results. The consultation is unfortunately highly unlikely to change in form or format now that it has been launched. The substance of your views are the most critical thing to get across, but as well as giving your views on the substance of the proposals, if you have any additional views on the consultation itself and how it has been organised, you should include those as well.
STEP 2: Sign or start a local petition
Local residents in the affected areas are rightly starting petitions to get across their views, and signing a petition is an important additional mechanism to register your objections. Conservative councillors will keep this page updated with any and all online petitions as we become aware of them (see below). Just as important as signing the bigger online petitions, however, is starting a local petition yourself covering your specific area/road/group of roads. The more petitions that are handed in, the better. There is guidance on how to submit a petition (which you have to do via one of your local ward councillors) on Greenwich Council's website here. The next opportunity for your ward councillors to hand in a petition on your behalf is the September Full Council meeting on 24th September.
New petitions launched since July:
Petition - Oppose the CPZ proposal in West Thamesmead
Petition - No to CPZ in Charlton
Petitions handed in at the July meeting:
Petition on Change dot Org - Oppose Greenwich Council's New Parking Restrictions (NOW REMOVED FROM PROPOSALS)
Petition on 38 Degrees - Oppose a Controlled Parking Zone in Shooters Hill (NOW REMOVED FROM PROPOSALS)
It is important to stress that signing a petition is NOT a substitute for taking part in the constulation, but additional to it - it's not enough to sign a petition or even start a petition - everyone should take part in the consultation too (see Step 1). If you've started a petition you would like us to add to this list, email [email protected]
STEP 3: Email your ward councillors
Lots of people miss this step when they are trying to get their views across, but it is a very important tactic that you can use to try and influence the decisions the Council makes. As well as taking part in the consultation and signing or starting a local petition, you should email the 2 or 3 ward councillors who were elected to represent you and your views on the Council to share your views on the proposals directly with them. Ward councillors are not decision-makers - it is their job to communicate the views they receive to the Labour Cabinet Members who makes the decision - and to advocate for their areas.
You can find your ward councillors here - each councillors' page includes their email address. Some wards have 2 ward councillors and some wards have 3 ward councillors. Email all the ward councillors for your ward together, rather than individually, and it is good advice to make the email clear and to the point, as well as asking any questions you would like answered.
As is the case with petitions, however, emailing your ward councillors is not enough on its own - you should still take part in the consultation (see Step 1).
If you have any questions about this HOW TO guide email Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of Greenwich Conservatives, at [email protected]
*An important note for residents in Eltham, New Eltham, Mottingham and the rest of the south of the borough
All of these 6 areas covered by the Council's so-called 'Sustainable Streets' proposals are currently represented by Labour councillors (with the exception of one Green Party councillor in Shooters Hill). The four Conservative councillors who currently serve on Greenwich Council represent residents in Eltham, New Eltham and Mottingham in the south of the borough (in Eltham Town & Avery Hill and Mottingham Coldharbour & New Eltham wards).
There are no proposals currently in place for additional parking restrictions/'Sustainable Streets' in these areas in the current round of the Council's 'Sustainable Streets' programme - and so there is no immediate action for the residents in the wards we represent to take. However, Greenwich Labour plans eventually to impose Controlled Parking Zones across the entire borough (even in areas where residents feel strongly they are not needed, as we have seen) - and we know that Labour's current round of plans are being watched closely by residents in these areas which are next on the list. We will keep all our residents updated.
