Thamesfield Ward E-Bulletin December 2009

Dates for your diary, Local Issues, Events & more

Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to friends and neighbours in the area
who might be interested.

Edward Lister, Jim Maddan and Rosemary Torrington Councillors, Thamesfield Ward, Putney, Wandsworth Borough Council.
Email Heretohelp@wandsworthconservatives.com

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Welcome to the December edition of our e-bulletin which we hope you will find helpful and informative. Please feel free to forward this e-bulletin to friends and neighbours in the area who might be interested.
With best wishes for a happy Christmas.
Edward Lister, Jim Maddan & Rosemary Torrington
Councillors, Thamesfield Ward, Putney,
Wandsworth Borough Council.
Email Heretohelp@wandsworthconservatives.com

Wandsworth Park playground
Following the consultation in July 2009 and our ebulletin in August we are pleased to report that work is starting soon on the playground in Wandsworth Park. A see saw is being installed to the left of the train unit for younger children. There will be a basket swing next to the junior swings. A trim trail will go behind the swings on the grass and a wooden climbing wall, designed for older children, will be located in the new, extended grassed area. The fencing is being extended to incorporate 160 sq metres of the park into the playground. The work is expected to start in early January and to take six working weeks. The report on play facilities (No 09/500) and including the plan of the extended playground was discussed at the June meeting of the Environment and Leisure Committee and can be downloaded from the Council’s website.

Following Cllr Maddan’s intervention the No Cycling signs have been renewed in Leaders Gardens.

Christmas rubbish collections
Over the Christmas period refuse and recycling will be collected in Thamesfield on Sunday, 27th December (instead of Saturday 26th) and on Sunday 3rd January (instead of Saturday 2nd
Christmas trees can be recycled by leaving it out at the front of your property on Saturday, 16).
th January or Saturday, 23rd
Those who collect the refuse and recycling are not supposed to knock on doors seeking a seasonal tip.

January The trees will be shredded and used for composting. You can also recycle wrapping paper and cards in your orange sack.

Fly-tipping
Persistent fly-tipping has been occurring in parts of Putney Bridge Road and Hotham Road. Following councillor intervention letters have been sent to a number of addresses on Putney Bridge Road to remind them of refuse collection days and warning them of the penalties for fly-tipping. A fixed penalty notice can be issued which carries a fine of £80. The fly-tipping in Hotham Road consisted of builder’s rubble with no means of identifying the offender. In order to control this problem it is often helpful to have a note of a registration number of a vehicle used to deposit fly-tipped materials. Details of illegal fly-tipping can be reported online at wasteservices@wandsworth.gov.uk or by calling 8871 6170.

Domestic refuse and recycling collections take place in Thamesfield every Saturday. Recycling (orange sack scheme) should be placed just inside your front garden where the sacks can be clearly seen. Collection starts from 6am so it is best to put recycling out on Friday night. If you do not have a front garden, leave your orange sack on the pavement after 6.30pm on the evening before the collection.

Orange sacks cannot be collected from dustbins, alleyways, back gardens or cupboards and they should not be used for general rubbish for which a fine of £1,000 could result. Emergency supplies of orange sacks they can be collected from Putney library or the town hall and a regular supply is delivered every three months.

Household rubbish should also be ready for collection by 6am on collection day (Saturday). Such refuse should be left in a strong sack or dustbin. Place your refuse in the same location as your recycling. Leaving your refuse on the pavement when you should not may result in a fine of up to £2,500.

Waste Services can be contacted from Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 8871 8558 or by emailing as above. Please let us know if you are aware of persistent fly-tipping in your street and we can take the problem up.

Don’t dump your car and risk a fine – Wandsworth Council will get rid of it for free – call 8871 6709 or www.wandsworth.gov.uk/abandonedvehicles. You can also report an abandoned vehicle at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/forms/form/180/abandoned_vehicles and get it removed.

Town Centre Treasure Hunt - Meerkat Mystery
Twenty four meerkats are hiding in Putney Town Centre shop windows. The treasure hunt will run from Friday 27th November until Thursday 24th December. The Putney Town Centre Partnership board has organised the hunt hoping that it will encourage people to come and support the local shops in Putney Town centre. The meerkats, the symbol of Neighbourhood Watch in London, can be identified in their hiding places by solving the clues which have been prepared in conjunction with the new A Brief History of Putney and Roehampton published by the Putney Society. Entry forms are available from Putney Library, Sally's@St Mary's and Waitrose, who are also providing prizes for the first three winners drawn at 12noon on Christmas Eve. Forms will also be delivered to all Putney primary schools and they will be available on line at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/putney.
When all the clues have been solved and the names of the meerkats discovered, the completed forms should be put in the box outside Waitrose.

Planning applications in Thamesfield in conservation areas

The RSPCA Putney Animal Hospital at 6 Clarendon Drive has made a planning application (2009/3400) to erect a single-storey front extension to expand the reception area. The officer dealing with the application is Tabitha Lythe who can be reached on 8871 6632.

Thames Rowing Club on the Embankment has made an application (2009/3440) to erect a single and two-storey extension fronting Rotherwood Road replacing the existing two-storey extension plus the erection of a rear third floor extension with the formation of a first floor terrace. The officer dealing with this application is Laura Nieves who can be reached on 8871 6644.

www.wandsworth.gov.uk/gis/search/Search.aspx. Please feel free to copy us into any comments.

Local Development Framework
From mid-December to February the Council will be consulting on Site Specific Allocations in Putney and the Development Management Policies. Specific sites have been identified with potential for improvement in the long term with the opportunity to shape and improve the townscape of Putney. These include Jubilee House and the cinema, the corner site currently occupied by TKMaxx and Halfords, the corner site currently occupied by Real Greek round to Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Putney Hospital, Putney Place, Tileman House, 113 Upper Richmond Road, Tote House, Carlton Tower and 85-99 Upper Richmond Road, Sainsbury’s Supermarket, former South Thames College on Putney Hill.

Matters covered include matters such as urban design principles, public space, new routes, new shops, cafes, bars and restaurants, residential use, landscaping, height, relationship to existing buildings, views, etc. www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/855/planning_consultations/524/planning_policy

Progress on traffic calming scheme in Point Pleasant/Northfields
Following our June ebulletin we can report that the consultation on this scheme has taken place. 57% of the respondents to the public consultation were in favour of the traffic calming scheme although a number of residents considered that some of the raised tables (speed humps) would not be needed. A traffic survey of the vehicular speed recorded an average speed of 20.4 mph. The calming scheme has been scaled back to reflect residents’ views and will consist only of raised entry treatments at the Northfields and Point Pleasant junctions with Putney Bridge Road. The raised junction table with Point Pleasant and Eastfields Avenue and the raised tables on Northfields and Point Pleasants will all be omitted. The funding has been redirected to be used to improve and widen the footway along Point Pleasant between Putney Bridge Road and Prospect Cottages and to carry out some street tree planting The police objected to a proposed 20mph zone being introduced but not the traffic calming. Therefore, the 20mph zone was not consulted on. This work is being funded by a developer not the Council. The report (No 09/560) can be downloaded from the Council’s website under the July meeting of the Planning and Transportation Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Units 1 to 20 Enterprise Way, Osiers Road, SW18
We recognise that this is an extremely complex application for the expert, let alone the lay man, with no less than 88 drawings and 125 additional documents and reports intended in many cases for those with specialised knowledge. We note that at the time of writing there are well over 70 objections including an objection from Cory Environmental.

Please feel free to copy us into your comments at elister@wandsworth.gov.uk; jmaddan@wandsworth.gov.uk and rtorrington@wandsworth.gov.uk and also the chairman of the Planning Committee lmcdonnell@wandsworth.gov.uk.

It is important that we get an appropriate and a good scheme here particularly in securing a high-quality design and investment in transport as the area does not benefit from a high PTAL rating (public transport access level).
The planning application (2009/3017) www.wandsworth.gov.uk/gis/search/Search.aspx is to demolish the existing warehouses and redevelop the area to provide a mixed use development of up to 21 storeys comprising 275 flats of which 89 would be affordable and 3,508 square metres of commercial floor space including retail, restaurant, food and drinking establishments, offices, leisure and community use including 1,404 square metres for a PCT health/medical centre. Basement car parking is proposed for 165 vehicles including 3 car club spaces plus cycle parking. The planning officer is Neil Shaw 8871 6632. The application is likely to be decided by the Planning Committee on 7th

Late-night noise from bus garage staff on Chelverton Road January 2010
There have been intermittent problems with the bus garage operations for some years including bus noise and various problems with staff behaviour, of which a number of residents in Chelverton Road have complained. Cllr Torrington has taken the matter up with the Noise Team who have contacted the garage and alerted them to the problem, which they promised to deal with. If this, or any other problem of this nature persists, please report it to the Noise Line during office hours on 8871 6170 or outside office hours on 8871 7869.

Officers will come and witness the problem as it is happening and assess whether it is a statutory nuisance in which case an abatement notice can be served. Please also let us know. The Council can deal with loud music, domestic noise such as DIY work and barking dogs, construction site noise, noise from pubs and clubs, car and intruder alarms and noise from commercial premises. www.wandsworth.gov.uk/a_to_z/service/232/noise.

The out of hours Noise Team is on duty from 7pm to 2am from Monday to Thursday, from 8pm to 3am on Friday, from 1pm to 3am on Saturday and on Sunday from 9am to 4pm and from 7pm to 2am. The Housing Department deals with noise problems arising on their land. The out of hours emergency control unit for housing land is 8871 7490.

Putney Wharf – lighting
The defective street lighting in Putney Wharf has all been repaired. Unfortunately, the developers of Putney Wharf installed unreliable lighting and we have had to take the matter up several times. The Council has now adopted the riverside walkway and taken over responsibility for the lighting. New lamps have been fitted to all the lamp columns in Putney Wharf and we hope that the lighting will work without any further hitches during the dark winter nights.

Putney Station – Oyster introduced
Following years of lobbying from 2nd January 2010 Oyster cards can be used on National Rail services that currently accept travel cards. This will include travel from Putney station. Oyster cards can be purchased and topped up at the station or at www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster. To find a ticket shop go http://ticketstoplocator.tfl.gov.uk/LocationLocator/ or online at: www.tfl.gov.uk/oyster or at tube and London overground ticket offices and ticket machines

Oyster is a ticketing smartcard which can hold three season tickets and up to £90 pay as you go credit. Oyster users need to touch their card on a yellow reader when they board a bus or tram. When travelling on the DLR, Tube, London Overground and National Rail services passengers need to touch their card on the reader at the start and end of the journey to ensure they are charged the correct fare.

Road surface on Putney Bridge

We receive constant complaints about the road surface of the Bridge. Works have been carried out to the structure of the bridge to improve 'weep hole' drainage from within internal galleries. The aim is to ensure that water cannot build up and then exit via the road surface causing the carriageway surface to break up.

Concerns remain about the water mains being defective, although Thames Water confirm that they have cured the leaks although there still is evidence of water within the bridge structure, but it is not possible to identify precisely where it is coming from. The highways’ officers are continuing to monitor both these matters. It is likely that further large scale works to the carriageway surface will be required in future although it is hoped that the existing surface will last over the winter period.

Brandlehow School wins international school award
Congratulations to Brandlehow Primary School on Brandlehow Road which has received an International School Award. This is an accreditation scheme for curriculum-based international work in schools. It recognises teachers and their schools for bringing a global dimension to their pupils’ education. To win an award a school must have a programme of international activities, form partnership with schools in other countries and develop an “international ethos”.

If you have been collecting tokens for Brandlehow Primary School in the “Books for Schools” scheme from The Times and Sunday Times, please kindly deposit the tokens in a box in the Brandlehow reception (on Brandlehow Rd) up until 18th December. These can be exchanged by the school for books and library resources. www.freebooksforschools.co.uk. Very many thanks.

Police meetings and Seasonal Crime tips
The Safer Neighbourhood Team will be concentrating on patrolling in and around the High Street to discourage late night disorder related to alcohol in the period up to Christmas. The team has enlisted the help of the Special Constabulary to carry out patrols into the early hours.

The SNT will be at Hotham School Christmas Fair on Friday, 11th December from 3-6pm. They have organised a Street Meet in Putney Exchange on Thursday, 17th December from 4-7pm, a Drop-in surgery in Putney Library from 6-7pm on 18th December and a further Street Meet in the Exchange from noon until 3pm on 29th December. Further information – www.met.police.uk/teams/wandsworth (Thamesfield).

Fulham Football Club is at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Boxing Day and away to Chelsea on 28th December 2009. The local pubs and bars will be busy.

Upper Richmond Road

Dark nights are always a temptation to burglars and thieves. At this time of year, especially in the run up to Christmas, don’t put temptation in the way of the criminal. Use time switches indoors to give the impression that there is someone in, draw curtains and do not leave presents under the windows. If you are out and about in the dark, do not walk in dark places, such as parks and the riverside walks. Always walk in well lit areas and take extra care.

Gas main replacement works are continuing between Putney High Street and East Putney Station. Only one lane of traffic is flowing eastbound and westbound traffic is being diverted via West Hill and Putney Hill. Further information can be gleaned from Transport for London (Customer Services Tel No 0845 305 1234.)

Cyclists are being directed down Woodlands Way and then west along Fawe Park Road and Disraeli Road. A number of fixed penalties have been issued to cyclists using the footway along side Upper Richmond Road to travel westbound. The work is on schedule and this stage is due to finish on 15th

The Putney Debates DVD December 2009
This is now available from St Mary’s Cyhurch Putney priced £5.
Film 1 – The Story of the Debates Extracts from the 360th re-enactments with historians John Morrill, Antonia Fraser, Quentin Skinner; politicians Justine Greening, Susan Kramer, Martin Linton. (25mins)
Film 2 – What’s Wrong with Britain’s Democracy?
A modern Putney Debate with Rev Dr Giles Fraser, Billy Bragg, Shami Chakrabarti, historians Tony Benn, Tristram Hunt, Antonia Fraser chaired by Geoffrey Robertson QC. (1 hr 25 mins)

Mr Benn stone

The street that inspired Festive Road in the Mr Benn TV series is to celebrate its heritage with a paving stone. Residents of Festing Road have raised the funds needed for the stone. Author, David McKee lived there when he created Mr Benn. The first book was published in 1967 and the TV series began in 1971. The street held a fancy dress celebration at the end of November to mark the occasion.

Events in December
Brandlehow School is holding its Christmas Fair on Friday, 4th December from 3-5pm at the school in Brandlehow Road.

The All Saints Primary School Christmas bazaar takes place between noon and 3pm on Saturday, 5th December at the school on Putney Lower Common next to All Saints Church.

The 1st East Putney Scout Group are holding an Annual Christmas Fun Day between 11am and 3pm on Sunday, 6th December at the Scout Hall in Oxford Road.

Hotham School Christmas Fair takes place on Friday, 11th December from 3-6pm at the school in Hotham Road.

The Wandsworth Symphony will be performing Christmas music and family carols in St Mary’s Church on the High Street on Saturday, 5th December from 6 to 7.15pm.

The All Saints Junior Singers will be performaing with the WSO and the Wandsworth Youth Orchestra. The performance is followed by mulled wine, mince pies and lemonade. The concert is free of charge and the retiring collection will be in aid of Thamesreach charity which works to end street homelessness (www.thamesreach.org.uk). www.londonswso.org.uk/concert_dates.html.

The Putney Senior Social Group meets every Monday at All Saints’ Church, Putney Common between 10 and 11.30am. They offer tea and coffee and homemade cakes for the over 60s. The group started with four members a year ago and now regularly has up to 16 people in attendance. To join the group call Carolyn Biddick on 07964 593879 on any weekday mornings for more details.

If you know anybody who is elderly and lonely, and going to be alone on Christmas Day the Rotary Club of Battersea Park are holding a Christmas Day lunch with entertainment in the Grand Marquee in the park. If you are not elderly and at a loose end, the organisers are always looking for volunteers to help. Further details from the Rotary Club of Battersea Park website www.rotarychristmasday.org.uk/section228503.html

The Duke’s Head on Lower Richmond Road has introduced standup comedy on Wednesdays. Doors open at 8pm, tickets £7 or £5 for concessions. Reservations 07966176049 or dukesheadlines@gmail.com.

Details of December live music programme at the HALF MOON available at www.halfmoon.co.uk. They are threatened with closure and need all the support that they can get.

The Putney Theatre Company’s programme can be downloaded via www.putneyartstheatre.org.uk. December performances include His Dark Materials, an adaptation from the novels from Phillip Pullman by Nicholas Wright from 10th to 13th December followed by Moliere’s Hypochondriac from 17th to 20th. The box office can be reached on 020 8286 0229.

Putney Music has organised one meeting in December in The Dryburgh Hall, Putney Leisure Centre starting at 8pm. A talk will be given on 7 December by Ryland Davies, a distinguished tenor.

Christmas services at St Mary’s Church by Putney Bridge include a candlelight Christmas Carol Service at 6pm on Sunday, 20th December, a Christmas Eve Crib Service at 4pm on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass at 11.30pm on 24th December and Christmas Day Family service at 10am.

Christmas services at All Saints Church on Putney Lower Common include Choral Evenson on Sunday 6th December at 6pm, Festival of Lessons and Carols by candlelight on 20th December at 8pm, Crib Service for children at 4pm on Christmas Eve, Midnight Mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve and Parish Eucharist at 10.30am on Christmas Day.

There is a permanent exhibition about The Putney Debates 1647 in St Mary’s Church by Putney Bridge open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm www.putneydebates.com.

Details about the Putney Sculpture Trail located along the river from Leaders Gardens to Wandsworth Riverside Quarter can be found on a map on the sculptor’s website at www.alanthornhill.co.uk/Putney

Putney Town Centre
The shops in Putney will be staying open late in December so that people can do their Christmas shopping without going into the West End. Late-night opening hours can be found at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200097/town_centre_management/675/putney_christmas_shopping

Parkmobile have launched a new, low cost number for pay by phone parking – 020 3003 2523. No need to search for coins or parking meters and no need to predict your length of stay. Once registered you simply make a short call to start the parking and another when you leave. Payments are cashless and are collected from a debit or credit card. All you need do is provide a location code (displayed on the pay and display machine) then there’s no need to display a parking ticket as traffic wardens will check your vehicle registration online. www.parkmobile.co.uk for more details and to register.

The Cards for Good Causes Christmas card shop continues in St Mary’s Church until 19th December. It is open from 10am to 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and on Sunday, 6th and 13th December from 1-5pm. www.cardsforcharity.co.uk. All charities received at least 75p in every £1.

The repaving is due to be completed within two weeks. Next Spring all the lightwells above the shop basement areas on the High Street will receive a special treatment to streamline them into the paving scheme.

The French Market will be in Church Square from 11th-13th December

The award winning hair stylist, HEADMASTERS has opened a new academy at 284 Upper Richmond Road. They are looking for models for their stylists. They can be contacted on 0203 370 6334 quoting MODELS.
www.hmhair.co.uk/salons/salonsdetails.aspx?id=18


TOP SHOP is to be southern regional personnel office boosting the number of employees based in Putney creating more jobs and reinforcing the economy in the High Street.

PAPER MOSAIC selling cards and wrapping paper has opened in former Paper Passions in The Exchange.

FARRAGO has opened an extra shop in The Exchange.

THE CALENDER SHOP has opened in The Exchange

Greg Wallace (Master Chef) and Justin Carter (Elbow Room) are opening a grocers with a café in the former Reds restaurant premises on Upper Richmond Road.

PUTNEY CYCLES has taken premises on the High Street and will be moving from Putney Bridge Road in early 2010. www.putneycycles.com

MOUNTAIN WAREHOUSE will be carrying out a refurbishment in January, www.mountainwarehouse.com/customer_services/stores/putney.aspx

Former PARCHMENT (near the station) is to open as a grocers/coffee shop in the near future.

THE COMEDY TREE (www.thecomedytree.com) operates from Wahoo Bar on the High Street.

The permanent air monitoring unit will be installed in Felsham Road opposite Roseland House in July 2010. The temporary air monitoring unit will remain until then outside Vodafone on the High Street.


Markets:
There are weekly Friday (11am – 8pm) and Saturday (9am-4pm) market stalls in Church Square hosted by Portland Scallops selling fresh wet fish and shell fish now joined by a specialist cheese stall and a stall selling fresh flowers.

Useful Numbers

Details of the Minor Injuries Unit at Queen Mary’s Hospital can be found online
www.wandsworth.nhs.uk/pdf/MIU/minor%20injuries%20leaflet%2010-06.pdf
or call 020 8487 6499/6999

Do help us keep Thamesfield ward in good shape by reporting instances of fly tipping and graffiti as well as broken pavements and pot holes. Waste services – including fly tipping, street cleansing, missed collections, recycling.
Tel 020 8871 8558 Email wasteservices@wandsworth.gov.uk
Tel 020 8871 7479 for recycling hotline.
Graffiti removal
Tel 020 8871 7049 Email graffiti@wandsworth.gov.uk
Broken pavements, potholes etc
Tel 020 8871 6708 Email highways@wandsworth.gov.uk
Noise hotline Email esd@wandsworth.gov.uk
Tel 020 8871 6170 (during office hours)
Tel 020 8871 7869 (outside office hours)


Future Thamesfield E-bulletins
As your local councillors we send out regular e-bulletins to update you on local news, information on our work and things of interest in our local community. To join, simply email rtorrington@wandsworth.gov.uk and type SUBSCRIBE in the subject line. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time by emailing the address below with ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

3 Summerstown, London, SW17 0BQ Tel. 020 8944 0378 heretohelp@wandsworthconservatives.com, www.wandsworthconservatives.com
Promoted by Robert Morritt on behalf of Putney Conservatives, both of 3 Summerstown, London, SW17 0BQ

November 29, 2009