Councillor Lister writes to Putney
praising local primary schools, aircraft noise, the elderly and new arrivals ....
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What wonderful schools we have in Putney! This year's results for eleven year-olds show Our Lady of Victories, All Saints and St Mary's once again at the top of the borough's league table.
With other local primaries like Brandlehow and Hotham also firmly in the top half, the quality of local schools - and the range of choice for parents - has never been higher.
The pupils who sat these tests in the summer will now be coming to the end of their first term at secondary school. I am sure they will look back in future years and realise what a fine grounding they had at their Putney primary.
Good news too for older Putney residents with the Government awarding the council's social services department a top three star rating for the fifth year running.
The council spends more than £10m a year providing home services for the elderly. Managers make it their business to know where every pound is spent.
That way we make sure we get real value for money for services to the people who need them most.
Wandsworth social services are living proof that you can offer residents the lowest council tax in the country yet still deliver top notch services that can pass the test of the most demanding Government inspectors!
Not such welcoming news however for those of us who like a bit of peace and quiet during the day.
I learn from fellow campaigners in Hounslow that ministers plan to launch consultation early in 2006 on proposals for much longer periods of noise throughout the day.
Currently only one of the two runways is used at a time for landings. If aircraft are coming in over Putney during the mornings that means we get relief from 3pm when they switch to the northern runway.
The plan is to allow landings on both runways. This will mean an end to the
3 pm turn-round. If you don't think the relief is critical try telling that to estate agents in parts of west London who, I'm told, have a habit of scheduling property viewings on the quiet side of 3pm.
We know Heathrow is a busy airport but these plans are about squeezing in even more flights. We're already battling to limit noise nuisance in the early hours - let's have some relief during the day!
Finally a warm welcome to Laura Ashley and Oliver Bonas who opened their new Putney stores this week. I am sure they will be popular haunts for shoppers in the run up to Christmas. The town centre manager tells me he has also had the go ahead for the war memorial to be moved to its new home in Church Square. This will provide a proper focus for the piazza here and a prominent setting for this important reminder of Putney's past.
Edward Lister
Edward Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth Council and a member for Putney's Thamesfield ward.