Over 500 people have objected to plans to fell more than 50 trees to create a cycle lane across Woolwich Common – with the local London Cycling Campaign branch also voicing its disapproval.
The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust plans to cut down 53 trees for a segregated cycle lane running along Stadium Road and Baker Road, past Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Greenwich Council planners have recommended that councillors approve the scheme next week. But 539 objections have been received. Among the objectors is the Greenwich Cyclists group, which says the cycle lane is not worth the loss of the mature trees.
The trust says it will plant 76 new trees as part of the plans, which are intended to bring the street up to scratch so it can be adopted by Greenwich Council as part of its road network.
Stadium Road and Baker Road were originally Ministry of Defence roads when the hospital and nearby housing were provided by the military. When the hospital reopened as an NHS facility in 2001, the roads were taken on by the health service, which has struggled to maintain them.
The roads are narrow and are notorious for potholes, and are used by several bus routes. Despite a ban on through traffic, they are used by drivers as a cut-through.
The NHS took over the road from the MoD a quarter of a century ago. Image: The Greenwich Wire
The Friends of Woolwich Common has led the campaign against the plans. The group’s Chris Allen told The Greenwich Wire in August: “Replacements do not compensate for loss of mature trees. Many of the felled trees, especially hybrid poplars and London planes, are mature carbon sinks and biodiversity hubs. Newly-planted trees are young and small, and will take decades to replace the ecological and carbon value of those lost.”
The plans were amended to include the segregated lane – and the tree felling – at the request of Greenwich Council’s transport department.
But Greenwich Cyclists is not impressed, and has also pointed out that the lane stops short of the junction with Shooters Hill Road to the south, with a shared pavement provided beyond Master Gunner Place.
According to documents produced for next week’s meeting, the group said: “The loss of over 50 mature, healthy trees significantly outweighs the benefit of providing new segregated cycleways and footpaths given the low casualty record of these highways and the adverse impact on the character and setting of the Woolwich Common Conservation Area.
“Stadium Road is technically a no-through route for unauthorised vehicles, as indicated by signage at both ends, but this is not enforced. A bus gate located, for example, north of Shrapnel Close would still enable access to the car park from both directions and would deter through traffic that has no intention to use the hospital. This filter to reduce traffic volumes and together with physical speed enforcement measures would improve the highway environment for cyclists and pedestrians.
“We believe there are opportunities to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists with the reconstruction of Baker Road and Stadium Road whilst minimising the loss of mature, healthy trees.”
In response, Greenwich’s planners said that the scheme had “been designed in close collaboration with both the council’s highways officers and TfL. It is considered that the scheme represents the best solution for all users and characteristics of the context.”
Greenwich Cyclists said the cycle lane was not worth the loss of the mature trees. Image: The Greenwich Wire
But Transport for London also raised concerns, suggesting another option of a separate footpath and cycle lane across the common, retaining the trees, be investigated. Greenwich planners said that this would be “arguably be more intrusive to the openness of the metropolitan land and the sensitivity of the site of importance for nature conservation than the solution proposed in this application”.
Greenwich’s transport department said it was “not aware that Baker Road and Stadium Roads were ever meant to remain unconnected”.
Recommending approval, Greenwich planners said the scheme “enhances permeability, will incentivise the expansion of segregated cycling infrastructure to immediately surrounding roads and will link into planned cycleways providing wider connections. The enhanced cycling and transport facilities are therefore a substantial public benefit”.
The issue will be discussed by Greenwich’s planning board on Tuesday, November 18.
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