Blight fears as residents oppose traffic tunnels

Furious residents have warned that Greenwich by-pass plans could leave the area blighted, writes Tony Bassett. They opposed diverting traffic from the town centre with tunnels - either along the foreshore or under Blackheath.

But Greenwich councillors have decided to continue launching a huge public consultation exercise on those and other options. The council's planning committee heard that a foreshore tunnel was preferred by consultants Colin Buchanan and Partner in a recent report for the council. But Mary Jacques, chairman of the anti-pollution group Gasp, said: 'Greenwich will become blighted. Reject the report in its entirety.'

James Suckling, from the pressure group Save Our Shoreline, said the 'incredibly misguided' foreshore route would threaten the historic waterfront, hit businesses, and affect the riverbank and navigation. 'It could be a multi-

million pound blunder.' Alan Brett, Greenwich Forum chairman, said: 'People are very angry about both these tunnel options.'

Mike Yates, committee chairman, defending the pounds 60,000 Buchanan study, said: 'Everyone here agrees something must be done about the traffic'.