Petitions to the Royal Borough of Greenwich

Residents and groups campaigning on issues in their local area often use petitions as a way of raising awareness of their campaign amongst residents and visitors. They also use them to show the strength of feeling on a particular issue in the local area.

Before you petition

If you're petitioning us, consider if we're able to act on your issue. 

While we may be able to express a view on the issue, your petition will have the greatest effect if you petition the organisation responsible for the issue.

For example, a petition relating to bus services would be most effective if it were presented to Transport for London. This is because Transport for London makes decsions about bus services across London.

How we'll consider your perition

Planning and licensing

If your petition relates to a specific planning or licensing application, we'll treat it as one submission (either an objection or a letter of support depending on if the petition is in favour or against the issue). This will happen regardless of the number of people who sign the petition.

Identical (generic) letters may be treated as one submission at the discretion of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.

For petitions relating to licensing, the petition must relate to at least one of the licensing objectives set by the government.

All other issues

For all other issues, the most effective way to submit your petition is to contact your local Councillor and ask them to present the petition to the next meeting of Full Council.

Verification number for local petitions and referendums

We publish the verification number for local petitions and referendums annually. It's a legal requirement.

The number is based on 5% of our electorate and determines the valid signature count needed for petitions seeking a referendum about changing our governance.

2026 announcement

Royal Borough of Greenwich

The Local Authorities (Referendums)(Petitions)(England) Regulations 2011

Publication of Verification Number

In accordance with Regulation 4(1) of the above regulations the number that is equal to 5% of the number of local government electors shown in the revised register of electors having effect on the 15th February 2026 is:

9521

This figure will have effect for the purposes of determining the validity of Petitions presented from 1st April 2026 to 31st March 2027.

The number equal to 5% of the local government electors for 2027 will be published within 14 days of the 15th February 2027.  If this number is less than 9521, the number to be used for verification purposes in relation to any petition submitted for the period beginning on the date of publication of the lower number until 31st March 2027 shall also be that lower number.

Debbie Warren
Electoral Registration Officer
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Town Hall
Wellington Street
London  SE18 6PW

15 February 2026