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LISTER
ON PUTNEY
Edward
Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth
Council and a member for Putney's
Thamesfield ward.
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Cllr
Edward Lister
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One
of the most
pleasant
evenings
I have spent
recently
was in the
company
of Rob Dark
and the
Friends
of Putney
School of
Art and
Design.
This
popular
centre has
gone from
strength
to strength
under the
management
of Ray Barker
who came
in when
the council
took over
from South
Thames College.
The
building
had been
unforgivably
under-used
by our predecessors.
But worse
than that
we were
left with
not a single
book in
the library.
All
that has
changed
now. In
just two
years the
number of
students
enrolled
has gone
up from
750 to almost
1200. We
have extended
provision
into the
"twilight
hours"
of the late
afternoon,
into school
holiday
periods,
and at weekends
- and we
now have
a fully-stocked
library!
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We
could not have done this without
the help of the Friends who
together with the school have
raised around £6,000 from
the council's libraries and
private individuals.
The
result is a Library now boasting more than 1,000 books. It
means that tutors can show students up to date, good colour
reproductions of works of art and design. They can use the
best modern text books to help demonstrate techniques in drawing,
painting, print-making, pottery and on computer.
We
still have many more exciting
plans for the school. We are
about to invest £200,000
in a roof-top studio. This will
enable it to live up to the
name of School of Art and Design
- as with an extra studio we
can offer computer-aided design
courses.
Also
new in Putney is our refurbished and rejuvenated leisure centre
in Dryburgh Road.
Completed
at a cost of £2.5m the centre now boasts a sparkling
new reception and foyer, an extended gym on three floors,
new changing facilities for men and women, a refurbished sauna
and spa as well as new heating, ventilation and air conditioning.
The
new-look centre was formally opened this week - it's well
worth a visit!
Finally
a word of praise for our local
primary schools which all scored
well in the national league
tables published last week.
Putney parents really do enjoy
some of the best schools in
the borough. All Saints, Putney
Common and Our Lady of Victories,
Clarendon Drive were at the
top with all pupils achieving
the national standard in this
summer's tests in English, maths
and science.
Not
far behind were other excellent local schools like Brandlehow,
Our Lady Queen of Heaven, St Mary's, Hotham and Roehampton
CE all delivering superb results.
With
good local secondary school choices at ADT College and Elliott
- and the new St Cecilia's at Sutherland Grove opening in
2003 - there's never been a better time for education in Putney.
Edward
Lister
You
can contact Edward Lister at
the Town Hall on 0208 871 6041
or by email at elister@wandsworth.gov.uk
Recent
visit to the Leisure Centre
was less than enjoyable - see
forum.
Cllr
Lister writes on the new school for the area, housing development
and Heathrow.
Tony
Colman MP for Putney speaks about current local issues
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