Hustings dates for the upcoming local elections in May have been announced.

A hustings is a meeting where election candidates or parties debate policies and answer questions from the audience. Hustings provide voters with an opportunity to hear the views of candidates or parties.

Here is a selection of hustings dates for Greenwich provided by the Greenwich Society:

Charlton Village and Riverside
Wednesday 20 April, 7pm
Where: Charlton House

East Greenwich
Wednesday 20 April, 7.30pm
Where: Christ Church Forum, Trafalgar Road, Greenwich SE10

Charlton Hornfair
Saturday 23rd April, 10.30am
Where: Charlton House

Greenwich Peninsula
Tuesday 26 April 7pm
Where: St. Mary Magdalene School, Hendon Street, SE10
John Holmes John

Greenwich Park
Friday 29 April 7pm
Where: St Marks Community Centre, Greenwich South Street, SE10

Full lists of candidates standing in local elections

News site My London has published a full list of local election candidates, for all parties, for Greenwich and Bexley.

The hot topic issues mentioned for the two boroughs include Silvertown Tunnel and poor social housing conditions.

The post GBGP Newsletter #73: Elections hustings dates announced appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

Weekly London magazine Time Out has published an article raising awareness of the Silvertown Tunnel project and the objections to it.

The article explains what the project is for those who may be unaware, how much it costs, why people are angry about it and what the mayor’s response has been so far.

Read the article on Time Out.

Housing developers are being encouraged to build on flood prone areas in London

An article by Bloomberg has found that a worrying amount of new housing is being planned or encouraged on flood prone areas of London.

This is happening all over London and especially in areas along the Thames. The article mentions Hackney Wick and our neighbouring borough of Newham as being among “dozens of ‘opportunity areas’ designated by Mayor Sadiq Khan for development to alleviate a housing shortage.

“Developers are being encouraged to build on flood-prone areas, with some projects approved despite dire warnings of risks from more extreme weather as London’s climate changes,” it says.

Read the article on Bloomberg.

The post GBGP #71 Newsletter: Green issues in the news appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

Greenwich Council has called on London Mayor Sadiq Khan to pause work on the Silvertown Tunnel – just weeks before tunnelling is due to start, reports 853 London.

Despite the council having previously backed the tunnel, it has never been debated in the council chamber until now.

Greenwich Green Party’s Victoria Rance appeared on ITV London News, commenting on the decision by the council: “If they can change their minds after ten years, so can Sadiq Khan.”

Van seized for illegal flytipping in Bexley is crushed

Van seized for illegal flytipping in Bexley is crushed

A van that was seized by the police after illegal fly tipping in Bexley has been crushed and recycled, reports News Shopper.

Officers and the council’s Enviro-Crime team found the vehicle without a valid waste license during an operation.

The post GBGP Newsletter #70: Council finally makes overdue calls for Silvertown Tunnel rethink appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

A last-mile delivery van depot is being proposed by Bloom near the Silvertown Tunnel access site in Greenwich Peninsula. This would mean frequent vehicle arrivals and departures in the area and could further augment traffic levels in an area with already bad congestion problems.

Currently, large vehicles except buses are prohibited from driving between Blackwall Lane and Ordnance Crescent, but the proposal would overwrite this exemption.

Greens favour bicycle couriers as an alternative and greener method to fulfil last-mile deliveries. Adjusting the online delivery market to help nudge pickups to lockers rather than doorstep delivery would also be a step worth exploring.

Read more at From the Murky Depths.

💚 Greenwich Greens sign Mums for Lungs pledges

A cabinet member with responsibility for clean air. Diesel-free streets by 2030. Campaigning to phase out wood burning. Supporting school streets and radical reduction of “school run” traffic. How does this sound?

These are Mums for Lungs pledges – and we see them as common-sense actions needed to fight the climate emergency from our borough. Greenwich Green Party will fight for these policies if we are elected to Greenwich Council in the local elections in May.

The post GBGP Newsletter #68: New delivery hub planned near A2 appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

A council consultation about the West Greenwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme closed on Friday 18th February. This trial LTN enables children and parents to walk and cycle safely to and from school without battling traffic.

In January, the council decided not to progress similar traffic reduction measures in the Maze Hill and Westcombe Park areas, but would for now merely ‘monitor’ the situation. We want to see the LTN retained, as described by the London Evening Standard.

We await to hear on the council’s verdict. Greens have been steadfast in arguing that the root cause of problems with LTNs stem from their design and a lack of holistic joined-up thinking about how to reduce traffic. We remain ardent supporters of better, more walkable, more liveable neighbourhoods where people are able to get around easily for their day-to-day lives without sitting in endless traffic.

The post GBGP Newsletter #66: West Greenwich LTN appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

Residents have been complaining about fast food litter and cigarette butts in the streets, so our regular monthly litter pick in East Greenwich this month focused on urban parts of the ward.

Please do come along next time! The first Saturday of every month at 1.30pm – and open to all regardless of political affiliation. Starting points vary but keep an eye out for announcements in this newsletter and on Twitter.

The post GBGP Newsletter #65: Litter picking appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

Objections to Shepherdleas development

The Friends of Oxleas Woods have made an objection to a planned housing development that will be up to nine storeys tall.

A statement by Friend of Oxleas (FOW) said: “We will be objecting on the grounds that the tower will have an adverse ecological impact on Shepherdleas Wood.”

Objections from supporters of FOW have included: the design of the building, its proximity to the A2 and health impact; and the lack of parking on site and its impact on local roads. You can find more information about the planned development and FOW’s opposition to it on their website and Facebook group.

Objections must be raised by Wednesday 9 February and submitted here.

The proposed development has also been covered on local news site My London.

Greenwich Sustainability Hub clothes swap

The Greenwich Sustainability Hub Clothes Swap will be taking place at Shrewsbury House, on Friday 11 February, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

Go along and find something ‘new to you’ donate your unloved items, and raise money for the London Air Ambulance Charity. Please ensure all donated items are clean and bagged by type.

More information and location details here.

The post GBGP Newsletter #64: Shepherdleas development appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

Demolition is due to start on Kidbrooke’s OneSpace community centre in May, with no plans to replace it. The community centre provides a space for all kinds of activities that benefit local residents, including yoga, toddler activities and church groups.

Its closure would be a serious blow to Kidbrooke Village. Squeezing in more and more flats without providing ample infrastructure is a hallmark of this council. A petition has been started to save the OneSpace community centre, which you can read more about and sign here.

The post GBGP Newsletter #63: Threat to Kidbrooke community centre appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

West Greenwich low traffic neighbourhood

Only 11% of streets in Greenwich borough are in low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs). In Bexley, the percentage of streets in LTNs is even lower, at 4%. Planters, gates and bollards are used to calm the traffic, and make an area more pleasant – quieter spaces, less pollution and safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists.

Please read the council’s questionnaire on LTNs in West Greenwich and give them your feedback if you live in the area.

The decision the council is offering is binary. Either the LTN stays as it is now, or gets ripped out completely. You can help Greenwich residents retain their trial LTN. You can also tell the council if you would like traffic calming measures to be introduced where you live.

The council will take a decision by 25th February 2022, so don’t delay in giving your feedback: https://greenersafergreenwich.commonplace.is/proposals/west-greenwich-low-traffic-neighbourhood

The post GBGP Newsletter #62: Keep the West Greenwich LTN appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.

Greenwich Council is inviting feedback on proposed changes to the Greenwich to Woolwich cycling/walking route. You can complete the council’s survey here.

GBGP member Stacy Smith says: “Greenwich council is asking women about how it can make the borough safer.

“One key area I am aware of is the Thames path just west of Morden Wharf, where the path is very narrow, there are no flats overlooking it and no alternative ways to leave the space should someone come along. In the day it can feel a bit lonely and at night unsafe, which could affect both evening walkers and women coming back from the new brewery at Morden Wharf.

“Widening the path and adding lights would improve the safety of this key walk along our lovely Thames. Maybe it’s not too late to get this in place?”

South London borough to make low traffic neighbourhood permanent

Lewisham Council has announced plans to make the Lee Green Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) a permanent fixture.

Streets between Hither Green station and the Greenwich borough border were first blocked to traffic in July 2020. In a tweet on Tuesday 4 January, the council said restrictions will be kept in place.

Read the full story on News Shopper.

The post GBGP Newsletter #61: LTN made permanent in south London appeared first on Greenwich and Bexley Green Party.