Greenwich Council's Sustainable Streets programme in Woolwich, which introduces Sunday parking restrictions and expands controlled parking zones (CPZs), has received 168 formal objections and a petition with around 300 signatures from worshippers at a local Hindu temple. The council has recommended the scheme proceed to the next stage, with implementation provisionally scheduled for summer/autumn 2026.
Consultation results show widespread opposition
The statutory consultation for the Woolwich proposals, conducted over 21 days at the beginning of this year, drew 252 submissions. Of these, 168 were clear objections, 74 raised concerns, and only 10 were positive comments. The scheme will see CPZs enforced seven days a week instead of the current six-day restrictions, alongside new paid parking bays, car club bays, EV charging points, and secure cycle parking.
The council's stated aim is to "reduce unnecessary car journeys and encourage more people to walk, cycle, or use public transport where practical to reduce air pollution, traffic and improve road safety." Woolwich is the only area retained in the programme after the council scrapped similar proposals for the rest of the borough at the end of last year following public backlash.
Notably, only 38 of 649 Woolwich residents who responded to an earlier online consultation agreed with the statement that the proposals would "help address the problems caused by environmentally harmful vehicle emissions, road safety and poor air quality." The council said its decision to continue in Woolwich "followed careful consideration of the outcomes of the earlier engagement phases, including the level of support expressed, the issues raised by residents and stakeholders, and the council's wider transport, air quality and road safety objectives."
Permit prices unchanged but Sunday enforcement defended
154 people raised concerns about the introduction of paid parking bays and the potential for increased permit costs. Greenwich Council confirmed that permit prices would not change when CPZ operations are extended to Sundays. The council also said it would provide "clear communication" on how revenue from Sustainable Streets would be reinvested into local infrastructure such as EV chargers, new trees, cycle parking, and footway improvements.
One resident wrote: "I strongly oppose extending permit controls to Sundays, as my experience at Buttmarsh Close shows it would worsen parking shortages, increase resident conflict, create safety risks, and further restrict residents' ability to go about normal daily life. I urge the council to reconsider this harmful and unnecessary proposal." The council responded that "Sunday enforcement is essential to maintain parking availability, reduce congestion, and support sustainable transport objectives in Woolwich," adding that "the benefits of consistent enforcement outweigh the potential increase in cost, and existing mitigation measures, such as multi-visit voucher options, provide reasonable flexibility for residents and their visitors."
Temple worshippers and new-build residents object
A petition with around 300 signatures was submitted to the council expressing concerns about parking charges near the Shree KS Swaminarayan Temple on St Margaret's Grove. Worshippers said the removal of free parking on the Grove would negatively impact their access to the temple, especially during peak ceremonial periods, and they felt they should not have to pay to attend the temple. The temple has been approached for comment.
However, some St Margaret's Grove residents welcomed the CPZ expansion, saying their parking spaces were being taken up by worshippers. One resident feared the 300-strong temple petition would "outweigh the views of those who actually live on the street." Council officers responded that there are parking options—including pay-to-park bays and disabled spots—within 500m of the temple, and that quick pick-ups and drop-offs would still be permitted. The council has also released a Woolwich travel support guide tailored to the temple, advising attendees of new parking restrictions and nearby transport options.
Council documents state: "The proposals do not remove essential access to temple frontages or introduce physical barriers, and the level of provision is considered proportionate and consistent with other community facilities, while also responding to the significant concerns raised by residents of St Margaret's Grove about high volumes of non-resident vehicles occupying parking spaces on their street, meaning that the Royal Borough of Greenwich is seeking to strike a balanced and reasonable compromise between the needs of local residents and temple attendees." The council has also amended the layout of permit bays on St Margaret's Grove to increase the number of spaces and install a new cycle hangar.
Nine residents of the new-build Kennard Apartments on Artillery Place complained that the new CPZs would prevent them from parking, as Kennard is a car-free development and its residents are not eligible for resident permits. Greenwich Council rejected these objections, stating: "Allowing permit eligibility for this development would undermine the original planning agreement and would place additional pressure on limited on-street parking in Woolwich, which is already in high demand from existing residents and local visitors."
Following the consultation, the council said it is proposing "several additional electric vehicle bays, cycle hangars and car club bays across the wider area to support sustainable travel options and provide residents with greater choice." Council officers have recommended that Sustainable Streets in Woolwich be progressed to the next stage, with potential implementation marked for 'summer/autumn 2026'.
