NEW HAND rails have been installed in Cutty Sark Gardens after a spate of accidents on an “invisible step.”
Cutty Sark Gardens were officially opened at the Queen’s visit in April after a re-landscaping of the area, but it soon became clear there was a problem with the steps.
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request to Greenwich Council has revealed that town centre wardens logged reports of four people falling over on the steps within the space of 17 days between April and May.
“Fell down steps”, “fell over frontwards”, “fell off steps” and “walked into space on invisible step” were the descriptions of the accidents given by council wardens.
A local resident who works close to Cutty Sark Gardens told this website he has witnessed more accidents than have been officially logged – indeed, this accident pictured below on June 3rd didn’t appear in the council’s list of incidents.
By April 24th, although Greenwich Council had only officially recorded one fall at that point, an email was sent to the Dutch architects Okra to inform them there was a “trip problem” in the gardens, which cost millions of pounds to redevelop.
Martin Knuijit from Okra told Greenwich.co.uk that one of the reasons people have been falling is because they have been distracted by the Cutty Sark itself.
“We are aware that there were a few unexpected things, such as people falling,” he says.
“On several days we have been watching people’s behaviour and the most confusing situations occur when people are entering the square, just gazing at the Cutty Sark ship, forgetting to have a look at the ground”.
Black edging has since been applied to the edges of the steps and last week hand rails were installed.#
Greenwich Council told last month’s Greenwich Visitor that the contractor was “carrying out a snagging exercise and making good prior to completion” following the £5.6million revamp.
Foot tunnel fences
New metal fences have also been erected inside Greenwich foot tunnel. The fences near the middle of the historic river crossing are aimed at preventing cyclists riding through the tunnel.
But in the week that London 2012 starts, the foot tunnel lifts have again been hit by unreliability at both ends, and the stairwells both still have restricted access while restoration works continue.
Cabinet member Denise Hyland apologised for the much-delayed progress on the foot tunnel refurbishments last October.
Wow. The architects didn’t factor into their designs the fact that people walking around Cutty Sark Gardens might be looking at the Cutty Sark? People looking at the great big boat, rather than where they’re walking, is “an unexpected thing”? Well done ‘Okra’.
So now the beleaguered taxpayers of Greenwich get to pick up the tab for yet another easliy avoided cockup by the incompetent morons who run the Council and the incompetent morons they contract.
And on the foot tunnel: words just fail me…
Not sure how you could claim that the Cutty Sark was “unexpected”, I mean if it turned up in Chipping Norton then yes I’d be surprised but surely finding it in Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich could be seen as somewhat predictable.
Poor design pure and simple.
Darren
Franklin Reply:
July 27th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
“Holy sh*t! A great big boat just appeared in those gardens we designed!”
– Martin Knuijit from Okra, having a very bad day at work.
Council incompetent? How could you say that?
For instance, let’s celebrate the great job they did on the last gardens. Such a great job it lasted all of 12 years. What better way to spend their income…
Moan-moan-moan-moan-moan…..
Jack Cross Reply:
July 28th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
There is objectively much of which to legitimately complain these days in Greenwich, so troll off….
Nearly fell over on the ‘fountain?’ whilst holding my 10 month old – tripping over those ridges.. Thought it was just me – but now…
And Greenwich foot tunnel barriers – no way you can get a double buggy through. Small people with heavy boris bikes have difficulty getting through. Would hate to try to get through with a large school group coming the other way.
Certainly something had to be done about the speeding cyclists but now we have speeding cyclists and very inconvenient barriers.
My suggestion would be to remove the barriers, take those council wardens off providing private security for the cutty sark, and get them to randomly monitor the tunnel security cameras. Then give spot fines for cycling in the tunnel. Cyclists wont know when cameras are manned or not – so they wont cycle.
Oh, put big signs up saying this is what you are doing.
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Completely disappointed with Greenwich Council. Not only did they throw millions of pounds up the wall on the crappy Olympics, the residents in the borough have really had to suffer for it. What with the jobs worth wardens wandering around the streets pretending they’re the police, fining you left right and centre, the council have even bought their bs to people’s front doors claiming that keeping plants outside on your own balcony is a fire hazard. Now WTF!!!