Significant anniversaries coming to Putney ...

This Autumn marks three anniversaries of significance locally, and I thought they’d make a useful theme around which to base my latest parliamentary report.

360 years ago…

…in October, the Putney Debates took place in St Mary’s Church, Putney Bridge. The Debates were between two factions of the Roundheads that had driven King Charles I from power – an attempt, essentially, to create a written constitution for England. On the one side was Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army, which regarded radical extension of the democratic franchise as tantamount to treason; on the other The Levellers, who asked what ordinary men and women had fought – and often sacrificed –for in overthrowing the King if not to win the right to have their voice heard in their government.

Although the Levellers were unsuccessful the Debates did have a lasting impact. It is argued that they were the foundation upon which the US Declaration of Independence was created. And they set Britain on the road to direct democracy, airing principles like universal suffrage which we now take for granted, but which at the time were, quite literally, revolutionary.

St Mary’s Church is planning events to commemorate the anniversary of the debates; contact Rev Giles Fraser for more information.

Five years ago…
…the Government established Child Trust Funds, which give every baby born since 2002 a nest egg which, when they reach 18 could be put towards a deposit on a flat or help with university costs, for example.

When a baby is born, the government provides up to £500 to start off the account, which it adds to at the age of seven and at Secondary School. The money can only be put into a special trust fund account and cannot be touched by anyone but the child, and only then once they reach 18. But friends and family can also help grow the account; up to £100 a month can be added.

I think the Trust Fund is one of Labour’s most significant achievements: a real, practical way to start our children off in life. Record increases in child benefit, extended maternity and paternity leave, rights to flexible working, the Working Families Tax Credit, guaranteed nursery school places for all who want them and SureStart – like the one in Roehampton - are all constructive ways the Labour government support families.

But in Putney, 1 in 4 parents haven’t set up a Trust Fund for their child – which is just crazy when for once we really are talking about free money with no catches! That’s why I’m writing to parents of nursery school-aged children this month reminding them about the Trust Fund and helping and encouraging them to claim their entitlement.

Two years ago…

…I launched Labour’s Save Putney High Street campaign, to give voice to local concerns about the state of our local town centre. We came up with a ten-point plan of easy, affordable, common-sense ways to transform the environment of the High Street.

Two years on, it’s really disappointing how little progress has been made. Some of the paving near Putney Library has been replaced – but only because of a grant from the Mayor of London. Most of the High Street still suffers from the same cracked, greasy, grimy, ugly cheapskate paving. And in a 24-hour economy our pavements need washing to scrub away the grease and grime, not just sweeping.

We have too many of the same shops – it was why Putney was voted one of the worst “clone” high streets in the country two years ago. But the Council still hasn’t reviewed its planning rules for Putney town centre as we suggested. The dangerous collapse of a shop frontage earlier this year reinforced the need for shop front improvement grants to bring some order and consistency to our shops.

The congestion and pollution of our high street are major problems and not easily solved – that’s why we suggested a Public Inquiry where everyone who has ideas can have their say in the open, rather than a few unseen councillors tucked away in the Town Hall making decisions without any public scrutiny.

The tragedy of the council’s lack of response to all our complaints about the High Street is that this isn’t party political: Kensington & Chelsea, which is Conservative-run, and Hammersmith & Fulham, then Labour controlled, did some great work on all these issues in Kensington High Street and Fulham Broadway: town centres both boroughs can be proud of.

Putney is a great place with a great history. I just think it’s a tremendous shame the council – and given her silence on this issue, our MP – lack the imagination, interest and leadership to give us a town centre we can all take pride in.

To find out more about all these issues please visit my website: www.stuartking.net.

Finally, just a quick plug: if you’re on Facebook, please join my Stuart King for Putney group by clicking here.

Stuart

September 13, 2007