Call to Stop Coach Park Plan on Blackheath

12.00.00am GMT Tue 9th Jan 2007

Lewisham Liberal Democrat councillors are calling on neighbouring Greenwich Council not to proceed with a plan to expand car-parking for coaches onto Blackheath. Cllr Chris Maines says, "We are totally opposed to any encroachment onto the Heath."

Greenwich Council's plan to provide additional coach parking spaces for visitors arriving at the World Heritage Site. There are three proposals for more coach parking at Blackheath Gate, the southerly entrance of Greenwich Park. The first is double-sided coach parking on the west side of the Gate. The second is coach parking on the north side, east of the Gate. The third proposal is coach parking on the south side, east of the Gate.

There are projections are for a large increase in visitors to facilities in Greenwich over the next decade but the Council believes these forecasts will not be met if there is no coach facilities close by.

Objectors believe that coaches parked around Blackheath Gate will lead to extra congestion and destroy the appear Greenwich Park for people approaching from the south.

Greenwich Council's plans have met with opposition from several local amenity groups. The Blackheath Society, The Greenwich Society and the The Westcombe Society all feel very strongly that this is not the solution to Greenwich Council's coach parking problems and that alternatives have not been adequately considered .

Cllr Chris Maines, who represents Blackheath ward on Lewisham Council, says, "The Council are in danger of destroying the area the visitors are coming to enjoy. Coaches need to drop people off and leave the immediate vicinity to park."

"Many local residents enjoy the walk across the Blackheath and through Greenwich Park, to break the two with parked coaches will damage the openness of Blackheath."

My main concern," says Cllr Chris Maines, "is that this will be the thin end of the wedge. The expectations are for a huge increase in visitor numbers and I fear more pressure for more coaches. This is not the solution and alternative site needs to be found."