GREENWICH: Cyclist concern over foot tunnels closure (From This Is Local London)

GREENWICH: Cyclist concern over foot tunnels closure

1:48pm Friday 4th September 2009

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CONCERNS have been raised that the closure of two foot tunnels under the Thames will cause havoc for thousands of cyclists.

Greenwich Council is undertaking an extensive £11.5m refurbishment of both Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels.

Lift replacement work at the 100-year-old tunnels, currently used by around 1.5 million people a year, is due to commence in the next few months.

And further work, including installing new CCTV and lighting, drainage improvements and leak sealing, will start early next year.

The council claims it will keep disruption to a minimum, but voluntary group Greenwich Cyclists, concerned at long closures, has been lobbying for alternatives.

Member of Greenwich Cyclists Barry Mason said: "We're not at all convinced that the council is taking this seriously.

"Unless we're convinced that the closure of the lifts and tunnels is minimised and there's a replacement ferry we'll be objecting and demanding a public inquiry."

Liberal Democrat transport spokeswoman Caroline Pidgeon AM has also written to the council to ask for an alternative river crossing.

She said: “They cannot just leave hundreds of cyclists who depend on the foot tunnel to get to work every day without an alternative.

“They face either biking many extra miles to cross Tower Bridge or to use the Woolwich Ferry.” The council has now asked the Mayor of London to consider allowing cycles to be carried between Cutty Sark and Island Gardens DLR stations during daytime closures.

A spokesman for Greenwich Council said: “Our aim is to keep disruption and inconvenience to a minimum and most of the work will take place while the tunnels remain open.

“ We have met with local organisations - including Greenwich Cyclists, local traders and World Heritage Site partners – and our aim will be to reflect the concerns they have raised.”

The council says it will publish a work programme during the autumn for the main tunnel refurbishment and give notice of lift closures and of other disruption.

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