Councillor Lister writes to Putney

Roehampton development, Elliott School, Flights & the Great River Race ............

The council is asking people in Roehampton what they think of new plans for regenerating the main Danebury Avenue shopping area.

There are a number of different options - each designed to attract the private investment that can help to pay for improved shopping and leisure facilities in this central area and provide more job opportunities.

This could involve creating new private housing, adding a good quality foodstore and relocating the recreation centre to a more accessible location. The aim is to establish a welcoming and attractive new centre that can draw in people form all parts of Roehampton.

Putney's Elliott School will be hoping for a share of a new £150m kitty for school building improvements.

Three years ago the council put forward a similar bid to the Department for Education and Skills for all its secondary schools but was told the money had to go authorities with a poor examination record.

The money is not so much needed for fixing roofs and windows - it's about planning investment in our schools in a way that ties in with their education objectives so that they can build on existing areas of expertise.

We've put in a strong bid - let's hope it's our turn this time.

Wandsworth is getting together with other boroughs in the west of London to challenge the latest night flights decision. With support from Richmond, Hammersmith and Fulham, Hounslow and Hillingdon we are aiming to get the nosier 747s banned.

What all these boroughs have in common is a desire to protect the environment for their residents. We are now hoping to form ourselves into a larger group which can represent the interests of two million people under the Heathrow flightpath.

With the prospect of all-day noise, a third runway and the lifting of the annual movements limit getting ever closer, the need for unity has never been greater.

Finally congratulations to all our local participants in last Saturday's Great River Race. This is one of my favourite river events of the year and is a terrific Putney spectacle which receives an annual counci grant.

The council had two boats, one of which carried the Mayor Jim Maddan. The two crews included staff mainly from the social services and leisure departments who raised more than £2,000 for charity.

Edward Lister

elister@wandsworth.gov.uk

September 25, 2006

Edward Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth Council and a member for Putney's Thamesfield ward.