IT HAS only just opened but Woolwich's new multi-million pound square is already being damaged by bikers and skateboarders, it has been claimed.

There are now calls for proper monitoring in General Gordon Square, which recently underwent a facelift as part of a £6.6m regeneration project and has a formal opening ceremony this weekend.

Sacha Zarb, 33, of Brookhill Road, Woolwich, claims the revamped square is swamped by youths all day at weekends and after school on weekdays, lasting well into the evening and turning the square into "a floodlit skatepark".

Mr Zarb, who has contacted the council about his concerns, said: "It's almost become south London's brand new skateboard park.

"There's a lot of steps which are just the right height to do tricks on the skateboard."

A favourite trick of the skaters is to scrape their board along the stonework in a technique known as 'grinding'.

It is claimed this is chipping away the stonework and leaving paint from the boards' underside smeared along areas of the square.

Mr Zarb said: "They've also made it a no go area for locals who want to use the square.

"It was regenerated and used by Greenwich Council as a prime example of the regeneration of Woolwich post-riot, however the millions spent are already being destroyed."

He said: "The square had a problem in the past with anti-social behaviour. It's already managed to get that in the past two weeks.

"I'm not trying to stop the kids from doing this. But I care about the area and don't want to see it get ruined again."

Louise Camish, 27, of Green’s End, said: “When you go around in the evening, at around dusk time, there are loads of them with roller blades and skateboards running around with their shirts off. It's madness there in the evenings.

“I can’t imagine they’re all from central Woolwich and can’t understand why they don’t use the skate park in Charlton.

“It is not being used for its intended purpose and people are being forced out of the square.

“I tried to take my ferret, Grub, for a walk on the grass in there and the noise just freaked him out.”

- News Shopper is awaiting a response from Greenwich Council.

Back to business

The old rundown General Gordon Square was refurbished with the aim of being used for festivals and other public events during the day, evening and night.

With a big screen due to show Olympic coverage in 2012, the new space has already been used for several performances.

Greenwich Council is celebrating the new square with a series of events this week.

Called Woolwich Back to Business Week, it will see the 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment parade there on Saturday (Oct 8).

Shops and businesses in the area are also providing a series of special one-off deals for customers throughout the week.