Greenwich foot tunnel to undergo 'complete renovation'

The Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels are set to undergo a complete regeneration, according to announcements from Greenwich Council. This initiative includes a full upgrade of the Greenwich tunnel, including the much-needed replacement of its lifts, which have often been out of order. The council has confirmed that this plan has been agreed upon with Tower Hamlets Council, which co-owns the Greenwich tunnel with Greenwich Council. The Woolwich tunnel is jointly owned with Newham Council.

Although Greenwich Council shares ownership of these tunnels, it is solely responsible for their operation and maintenance. The council has faced criticism for the frequent breakdowns of the lifts, which have caused significant inconvenience to regular users. Delays in repairs have been attributed to the difficulty in sourcing specialized parts needed to fix the lifts.

At a recent meeting, Councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan, acting cabinet member for transport, revealed that the council would take the lead in the full refurbishment of the Greenwich foot tunnel, alongside their partners in Tower Hamlets. He stated: "I had a very productive meeting with Tower Hamlets recently, where we reached an agreement to move forward with detailed design work for the full regeneration of the tunnel."

The Woolwich foot tunnel's renovation plans, however, still require agreement between Greenwich and Newham councils. O'Byrne Mulligan outlined that the proposed regeneration includes replacing both lifts with dual-shaft systems, which will enhance their reliability and ease of maintenance. Additional work will focus on improving lighting, restoring heritage features of the tunnel, and promoting wider usage of the crossing.

O'Byrne Mulligan expressed his satisfaction that Tower Hamlets had agreed to the plan and mentioned that he had requested a meeting with Newham Council to discuss similar upgrades for the Woolwich foot tunnel.

Furthermore, the council has been collaborating with the mayor's office to create a coordinated strategy for step-free access under the river for both Greenwich and Woolwich. This aims to provide a more reliable and fully accessible travel option for pedestrians.

Despite these positive steps, local campaigners from the Lifts Now group remain skeptical. They point out that the north lift of the Woolwich tunnel is still out of order, and the south lift continues to face reliability issues. The group, which has garnered over 1,800 petition signatures, is calling for Transport for London (TfL) to take over the management of the foot tunnels to ensure more consistent service.

Author: Ava Mitchell