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- 23 May 12 Greenwich Society Chairman's Committee meeting
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Blackheath Gate
It has been well known for years that one prerequisite for Olympic Games events in the Park would be to widen the Blackheath Gate, at the southern end of the Park, as the main vehicle access. The present gates, at only 3 metres wide, have often been hit by large vehicles, and because they open directly on to Charlton Way they are a safety hazard, particularly for cyclists. During last year it became clear that the Royal Parks Agency (RPA) would have some funding available towards replacing the gates, and a joint funding deal was agreed with LOCOG.
The RPA brought in TRP Architects as design managers, and they produced a proposal to widen the vehicle gates to 4.5 metres, but (to minimize land-take on either side) a narrower 1.8 metre central gate; this gate is only opened for cyclists between 6am and 7am. The two piers flanking the central gate would remain slightly higher than the rest, and the whole gate would be set back by about a metre from Charlton Way to improve safety. There was some consultation with English Heritage and the World Heritage Site, but a planning application was then submitted without the Greenwich Society or Blackheath Society having had any opportunity to bring their architectural expertise to bear. This was unfortunate, because the Greenwich Conservation Group (which includes both Societies) took the view that the tall narrow central gate looked cramped and awkward, and would not make a worthy entrance to the Park viewed from the Heath.
Time to resolve the issue was limited, because the RPA’s funds had to be spent before the end of the financial year. However, there was a full consultation meeting arranged by RPA on 20 December, at which the options were reviewed and constraints discussed. Ian Chalk (Blackheath Society) produced a version of the design with the two higher piers outside the vehicle gates and a less obtrusive central gate, which was unanimously welcomed as preferable. After discussion with English Heritage and Council officers this version was agreed, and the work can now go ahead.
(Ironically, LOCOG have decided that even the 4.5 metre gates are not wide enough to provide safe access for their construction crane, so that there will be a temporary wider gate until the final pier and gates can be installed after the Olympics).
