Greenwich Council is considering taking “regulatory action” to get the Army to keep Woolwich Common clean.

The common is owned by the Ministry of Defence, but residents – including the recently established Friends of Woolwich Common – have expressed concern at how the common is being left.

FOWC shared pictures online last weekend of dumped rubbish, including mattresses, pallets and bottles, on the green space.

The group has called for enforcement action to be taken, and claimed people are living on the common in tents.

Cllr Jackie Smith, cabinet member for community safety and integrated enforcement, said the council was looking into taking regulatory action.

Cllr Smith said: “Woolwich Common is private land owned by the Ministry of Defence and the council has been trying to engage them in taking responsibility for the upkeep of this area.

“The council is not responsible for cleaning private land and is looking at taking regulatory action to ensure Woolwich Common is kept clean.”

It comes following a tweet by council leader Dan Thorpe, who wrote: “It is a great asset but with diminishing budgets thanks to eight years of austerity, I’m afraid taking on the maintenance and upkeep of someone else’s land isn’t possible.

“However Greenwich Council will continue to make sure MOD clean up!”

Earlier this month, Matthew Pennycook MP shared a letter on social media from defence minister Tobias Ellwood who said he “appreciated the strength of feeling”.

“I appreciate your concerns regarding the maintenance and management of Woolwich Common,” Mr Ellwood wrote.

“I can confirm there is provision for ongoing maintenance to be carried out at the request of the head of establishment.

“My officials at the Defence Infrastructure Organisation will assess the requirement with Lt Col Cross to ensure the issues identified can be addressed.”

Mr Pennycook has an ongoing campaign to protect the nearby Woolwich Barracks, with the MoD preparing to close the barracks by 2028.