Green candidates for Peninsula, Dan Garrun, Jenny Murphy and Matt Browne have welcomed the news that further environmental assessments are to take place before plans to dredge part of the Thames off Greenwich Peninsula go ahead.
The owners of the Intercontinental Hotel at the O2 submitted an application in September 2017 to Greenwich Council to extend the pier that lies adjacent to the Hotel. The pier, known as the Ordinance Wharf pier, is currently disused and the submitted plans seek to refurbish and enlarge it, enabling passenger ferries to use the pier and creating space for a new restaurant on it.
The application documents confirmed that, as well as piles being driven into the river bed, ‘some dredging will be required to facilitate the use of the pier to ensure all tide berthing is available.’ Dredging can wreak havoc on river and marine ecosystems, with silts and sediments disturbed by the process affecting the water quality that river life depends on.
Dan, Jenny and Matt raised Green concerns about this in January, and wrote to Greenwich Council to demand that further environmental assessments take place.
Further enviromental assements have since taken place. As a result the developer has agreed to search for evidence of rare lagoon sea slugs before work commences, and to plan detailed mitigation measures for disturbed wildlife. They have also changed their plans to incorporate a brown roof, which will be better suited for bird nesting, and solar panels.
Dan, Jenny and Matt will continue to keep an eye on this, and to remind the Council that we can’t keep ignoring the wildlife that shares Greenwich with us.
Comment on the application and mitigation proposals through the Greenwich Planning register. The application number is 17/2842/F.
