Latest news with #AverilLekau
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
All the LTN fines issued in Greenwich - totalling over £820,000
More than £828,000 was made in Greenwich East and West LTN fines between January and February this year – which the council has said will go back into public transport. In November 2024, the Royal Borough of Greenwich introduced The West and East Greenwich Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) scheme. The News Shopper submitted an FOI to Greenwich Council asking for the 'total revenue generated from LTN fines in West and East Greenwich since they were introduced.' Figures revealed that a total of £828,235 was generated between January 2 and February 28 of this year. The scheme was set to run for 18 months on a trial basis whereby 12 roads in East and West Greenwich would have reduced traffic during peak hours (7–10am and 3–7pm on weekdays), by implementing camera-enforced restrictions on several roads in both areas. The scheme has been rolled out in accordance with the council's objectives to improve air quality, enhance road safety and promote more active modes of transport. Drivers who drive without an N1 permit on restricted roads now face being hit with a £130 fine (reduced to £65 if paid within 14 days). The information request also revealed that the council issued a total of 15,773 fines, with Maze Hill and Tom Smith Close having the highest amount of PCNs issued at 8,991. See the full list here: Maze Hill / Tom Smith CIose = 8,991 Crooms Hill / Nevada Street = 5,401 Westcombe Hill / Station Crescent = 2,462 Royal Hill / Royal PIace = 1,920 Royal Hill / Prior Street = 1,124 Winforton Street / Point Hill = 991 In a statement, a spokesperson for Greenwich Council told the News Shopper that these funds would be spent on the local transport system. This would include investment in the active travel plan, adding further cycle lanes, and contributing to the Freedom Pass scheme for older and disabled residents in the borough. Councillor Averil Lekau, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Sustainability and Transport, said: "By encouraging new ways of travelling we can combat climate change, clogged streets and clogged lungs. "Traffic is a huge issue in these parts of the borough, despite the fact that many residents don't own a car, so our part time weekday restrictions are being trialled to make it cleaner and greener to move around. "Income generated by the traffic management trial in East and West Greenwich is being put back local into the transport system which benefits everybody. "This includes investment in the active travel plan to encourage more people to walk and cycle, improvements to the public realm including more cycle lanes and to help contribute to the vital Freedom Pass scheme, which allows disabled and older people travel around the borough for free.' The LTN trial is set to run for up to 18 months, during which the council will collect feedback and traffic data to assess its effectiveness.
Time Out
25-04-2025
- Business
- Time Out
Woolwich Foot Tunnel is closed until further notice
London's riversides are some of the most beautiful places to view the city from, whether you're looking out from the South Bank to St Paul's, or seeing the stunning Royal Naval College rise from the banks at Greenwich. When it comes to crossing the Thames, you've got plenty of choice in west and central London (unless you're a vehicle trying to cross Hammersmith Bridge, of course). Venture east, though, and options get more sparse. You're down to the DLR, or a handful of foot tunnels, road tunnels and ferries, some of which come with a fee. East Londoners, we bring you sad news: the river just got even harder to traverse thanks to the closure of one of the key eastern crossings, the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. The tunnel, which has been operating without one of its lifts for the last three years, has closed until further notice due to drainage problems. Announcing the closure on social media on Thursday April 25, Greenwich Council initially stated that it was down to a 'public safety issue' before clarifying that 'emergency drainage maintenance' was the cause. The 113-year-old tunnel has been facing problems since a refurbishment job in 2011, and more recently has been without its north lift since August 2022. Difficulty sourcing lift parts has been blamed for the fact that it still hasn't been fixed nearly three years on. Linking Woolwich to North Woolwich, the tunnel was built for dock workers and is co-owned by Greenwich council and Newham council, meaning they need to agree and collaborate on any maintenance done. The Labour-led councils butted heads last year, holding up progress on the lift repair project, but the row seemed to have been resolved when Newham council coughed up the cash for the fixes. Still, there's been no progress on the lift thus far, and it's unclear how long drainage maintenance will take or when the tunnel will reopen. Neighbouring Greenwich Foot Tunnel currently has both of its lifts out of action, and replacing all three broken lifts across the two crossings could cost up to £10.5 million. Speaking at a council event in March, Greenwich council's deputy leader Averil Lekau echoed local exasperation when responding to a question on the progress of tunnel works, saying: 'There's nothing I find more frustrating than the issue of the foot tunnels. Can I give you a date? No. Am I in control of that date? No. As soon as I am in control and I can give you that information, yes, I will give you that information, but I understand your frustration.' Until the mystery day when Woolwich Foot Tunnel reopens to the public, people wishing to get to the other side of the Thames can take the Woolwich Ferry or the DLR.
