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1. Welcome & Introductions
Anthony Austin (Chair), Andy Braben, Stephen Craven, Tom Crispin, Liz Delap, Julian Dobson, Sarah Ellis, Teri Griffiths, Stuart Parkins and David Senior.

Apologies from Chris le Breton, John Clarke and Derek Mark..

2. Minutes of Last Meeting.
Approved

3. Matters Arising
Liz Delap has found the necessary reference in the Unitary Development Plan.

4. Planning Issues

a) Westminster Estate.
Discussions had been held with local councillors – see appendix 1. It was accepted that a route through the estate may have to be accepted as the best compromise in the medium term, but a continuous route along the river bank should remain a long term aspiration.

b) Lovell's Wharf.
The temporary closure during construction was reluctantly accepted but there was a need to monitor the situation so that the eventual reopened path would be better than before.

c) Old Royal Naval College.
The shared use cycle/footpath would be opening in late September. It was not certain whether it would be closed at dusk or at 6pm all year round. A 24-hour, segregated route through the college grounds remains a long term aim.

d) Greenwich Park.
See notes on a meeting with the park manager (Appendix 2). Anthony had removed the white bike from the scene of the fatality but still had it in store. It had received a favourable write-up in the Evening Standard, News Shopper and Greenwich Mercury. Nick Raynsford MP had not responded to letters. A further meeting would be held with the park manager in October. The Met. Police Road Unit had looked at the location and considered the existing cycle path inadequate. It was agreed that we should continued to press for a 20mph limit in the park in the short/medium term and keep a total traffic ban as a long term aim. Action – Anthony to request an update from the Police.

e) Hexagon Estate, Westcombe Park.
Anthony had spoken with Laurence Smith of the Westcombe Society and there was an article in the latest Westcombe News. Greenwich Council had alleged that they do not have to respect Rights of Way; the group agreed to support local residents in their campaign to get the link reinstated.

f) Marks & Spencers, Blackheath.
Replacement racks were further from the entrance that the original ones and not suitable (a type liable to damage wheels). Action – David to photograph the new stands and contact the store manager with recommendations for better facilities.

g) Town Centre Cycle Parking.
It was noted that there has been little action yet following earlier discussions with the Council. The role of Greenwich Cyclists was agreed to be that of advising on suitable places for parking facilities rather than specifying their nature.

h) Foot Tunnels.
See notes (appendix 1) on the recent discussion with councillors and Geoff Horsman (Structures Manger). There had also been an article in the Greenwich & Blackheath Guide by the tunnel supervisor. There were continuing problems with unannounced lift closures which were a particular difficulty for Tom taking groups of children. The majority of those present supported the policy of not permitting cycles to be ridden/scooted in the tunnels.

i) Beresford Square, Woolwich
The Council had launched a design competition to improve this and another square in Woolwich, to include a foot/cycle bridge over the A206 to the Arsenal site. However it was aimed at architects rather than voluntary groups. No action required but if any members know architects interested in tendering they could be encouraged to include cycling facilities.

5. Forthcoming events
a) Car-free day – 22 September.
Greenwich Council are running a community event in the town centre. We had sometimes been asked to run a stall but had not been contacted this year. Action – Stephen to confirm the date, get details for Pedal Power and ask for an invitation to run a stall.

b) Hovis Freewheel – 23 September
Tom would be leading a group of schoolchildren and their parents leaving Blackheath (All Saints church) at 10.30, taking a route via the Thames Path and Tower Bridge. It was agreed to combine the GC ride with the school one from CSG (10.45). Action – Tom to update info on the Yahoo group and copy to Andy for the website.

c) LCC Cycling Strategy – 8 September
Tom would be attending the planning meeting. (Post meeting note – Stephen also to attend.)

6. Rides

a) Planning
There was still a problem of Andy not being notified by Lewisham and Southwark groups of their planned rides. It would help if someone from GC could attend the planning meetings regularly. Rides have been planned for 15/16 September.

b) Bexley
The reinvigorated Bexley group is now organising rides. Teri is aware of their programme. Some of their rides could be joint ones.

7 Pedal Power
The next issue would be prepared for distribution on Monday 17 September. Action – Anthony article on planning; Julian on maintenance; Stephen on Car Free Day; Tom on Freewheel; Liz on Wild Wales.

8 Any Other Business

a) Sustrans
Julian had been to a workshop on the Connect-2 programme. Sustrans are bidding for a £50 million Lottery grant to be decided by popular poll following a TV programme in December. The scope of the programme had been fixed and included one scheme in Bermondsey and the proposed cycle/foot bridge at Canada Water.

Present: Anthony Austin, Cllr Peter Brookes, Liz Delap, Cllr Rajwant Sidhu, Chris le Breton Geoff Horsman (Structures manager), David Senior, Donald Anyiam (lead contact, cycling matters), Stephen Craven.

See also Donald Anyiam's e-mail (copies handed out)

1. Missing Link.
The North Charlton SPD will include a commitment to reinstatement of the link, but it will almost certainly be through the Westminster estate and not along the river wall. Previous discussions with the landowner (CIS – Cooperative Insurance Services) indicated that the cost of land purchase for the river wall option would be excessive, but Raj and Donald will look into it again. A 'pontoon' option was rejected by the Port of London Authority. Some funding from Sustrans is possible but TfL funding is unlikely.

The Council will investigate planning permission granted for the newish industrial unit at the Western end of the site. Anthony informed the meeting he had learned that the external air condition unit ducting installed here did not have planning permission. These additions block possible access to the river frontage.

2. Hexagon Housing Site, Blackheath.
The CRISP recommended reinstatement of the route following the temporary diversion, which we (GC) had accepted but not favoured. The decision in October 2006 to make the diversion permanent was taken in haste. Donald says there is enough evidence to prove a right of way through the estate by virtue of 20 years of unopposed use, and the wall was built by the developer, therefore probably being unlawful. The planning application had shown the footpath/cycle route being reinstated on completion. Peter will look into it but acknowledges it is politically sensitive, with the Westcombe Society and GC wanting reinstatement but residents of the estate still opposed.

3. Old Royal Naval College
The path will be completed by the end of September and GC (along with the Greenwich Society and others) will be invited to an official opening. Don will arrange the date.

4. Cycle Parking.
Possibilities for additional parking around Cutty Sark Gardens were discussed. The far end of the gardens (around where the Gipsy Moth was moored) is a more likely location but the distance from the shops and relative isolation (hence risk of theft) could put users off. The Burney Street car park is due for redevelopment and will include more cycle parking but again this is somewhat remote from the shops.

The problem of abandoned bikes in cycle racks was mentioned but the Council has no legal powers to remove them if owners cannot be traced. Likewise, use of cycle parking facilities by motorbikes cannot be prevented without a bylaw being passed. Making more space by converting car parking spaces to cycle parking would be strongly opposed by traders.

Donald still has Lydian's proposal document but only the railway station site has been supplied with additional parking so far. Some commuters park their bikes in the town centre racks all day, which cannot be prevented as there is no practical way of limiting parking time. Parking on the station itself is a South East Trains responsibility. Raj agreed to take our proposals to further consultation.

Outside the town centre, there will be large numbers of cycle parking spaces at the proposed school and office development on the Peninsula.

5. Foot Tunnels.
Usage at Greenwich now exceeds 1 million crossings per year (based on a winter survey with seasonal adjustment) of which around 25% are cyclists. Total usage of Woolwich tunnel is less due to the ferry.

Complete replacement of the lifts would be very expensive but £200,000 will be spent on providing cooling to the control mechanisms which have been affected by hot conditions, this should improve reliability. Geoff explained the staffing rotas which employ three people per tunnel. Lift hours were reduced when the DLR Lewisham branch opened since DLR had been paying for early morning and evening cover when it terminated at Island Gardens, but there is a possibility of extending the hours in time for the 2012 Olympics. Options such as passenger-operated lifts could be looked at as part of a study on the tunnels for which £10k has been allocated.

Geoff considers that public perception of risk of incidents such as collision with a cycle or mugging far exceeds the actual risk. In relation to the problem of cyclists riding in the tunnels, prosecution is difficult (the CCTV cameras are not monitored in real time), and education and deterrence are preferable strategies. Geoff will shortly be experimenting with rumble strips in Woolwich tunnel as a deterrent, which can be done without closing the tunnel. Major work such as chicane barriers would require a full possession of the tunnel for safety reasons.

On the question of channels down the steps for cycle wheels, it has been established that it would be very difficult to roll steel sections to the necessary radius, but the alternative fibre-reinforced plastic is a fire hazard. However the use of steel is still under investigation.

The taking of bikes on the DLR during periods of tunnel or lift closure can only be permitted by an amendment to the Transport & Works Act in Parliament.

Next Meeting
It was agreed that similar meetings should be held regularly every 3–months.

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