Dates for your diary, Local Issues, Events & more

Welcome to this edition of our e-bulletin which we hope you find helpful and informative.

Thames Tunnel

Thames Water’s three month consultation on their proposals for a Thames Tunnel is underway. The proposed tunnel would extend from Hammersmith to Beckton Sewage Treatment Works. The consultation runs until 20 th December 2010.

Full details of the proposals can be found on http://tinyurl.com/27nqopm . It is possible to respond to the consultation online at http://tinyurl.com/342r9mu

The Council’s response to Thames Water’s consultation can be found at http://tinyurl.com/23kyylj

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO HAVE A SAY ON THESE PROPOSALS . A timetable of public exhibitions throughout London can be found at http://tinyurl.com/2c3fx4v

The next public exhibition nearby is on 6 December and 7 December from 10am to 8pm at WWT London Wetland Centre, Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes,
http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london/how-to-find-us. Thames Water have invited the public to come along to review their plans and let themknow views. There will be specialists present from their project team.

Putney MP, Justine Greening is holding a public meeting on 9 December for Putney residents at St Mary’s Church starting at 8pm at which Richard Aylard, Director of External Affairs at TW and Phil Stride, Head of London Tideway Tunnels will both give a presentation followed by questions.

Residents who have signed a petition also need to respond directly to Thames Water with their comments. It’s worth including an address so that TW know that you are responding as a local resident rather than as someone with no local connection. Putney councillors will be organising a petition which can be signed at the Christmas Market on 3 December at the Putney Partnership stall.

As local councillors we have recently attended the public meeting with Thames Water in Barnes organised by Zac Goldsmith, the TW public exhibition at London Rowing Club and the meeting of the West London River Group at which TW gave a presentation. We have also met with the Putney Society to listen to their concerns.

Whilst in support of cleaning up London’s sewage system, the Council is formally opposed to the existing plans to base a seven year tunnelling operation on Barn Elms playing fields and will be working with Richmond Council to oppose and defeat the proposals. We are concerned that the proposal as it stands will be severely disruptive to local people, result in an unacceptable loss of green space and have serious impacts on the towpath which has a unique rural character and is extremely well used by Putney residents. We are not convinced that Barn Elms is the right location and are demanding a comprehensive and convincing justification. We think all of TW’s assumptions about the time, scale and cost of the scheme should be challenged.

For the full press release see http://tinyurl.com/2etb3nh

Here are some of the questions put to Thames Water at the public meeting in Barnes, West London river group and the London Rowing Club. The general view is that the viability of the scheme as it stands is highly questionable. Thames Water has not properly thought through the scheme and contradictory information is being given out.

What are the criteria for deciding the choice of Barn Elms as one of the main drive shaft sites?
Thames Water: proximity to the river so that spoil can be taken away by river, connection with a CSO (combined sewer overflows) and proximity to the upstream end of the project (Hammersmith Bridge).  The three sites they looked at were Barn Elms, Hammersmith Pumping Station and St Pauls School playing fields.  St Pauls School playing fields was eliminated because 'use of the site would result in the loss of playing fields and open space for around seven years'.

It was pointed out that the same criteria applied to Barn Elms and the question asked why Barn Elms had not been eliminated by the same rationale.  This was not answered. 

 
Why was Hammersmith Pumping Station not being used as a main draft shaft at one end of the Tunnel?
TW: This has been ruled out because the of the water depths as it was on the inside of a bend in the river. 

Cllr comments - Barn Elms is also on the inside of a river bend.
 
Why had a single tunnel could not been driven from Beckton along the river until it reached Hammersmith, with the drilling equipment left in situ at the end of its work, as they did with the Channel Tunnel  This would remove the need for a main drive shaft at Barn Elms and Tideway Walk?
TW: it was feasible but TW did not know if there were any companies available which could do it.  This would mean the project would not be finished by 2020. 

How would TW deal with the question of noise and light issues whilst working 24 hours a day?
TW: the main drive site would be working 24 hours a day for 30 months and 10 hours a day for the remainder (4 1/2 years) of the seven years of the project.   The main causes of environmental pollution are cranes, ventilation equipment and lorries.  At other locations noise and light issues had been solved by building a large insulated 'shed' in which the equipment was located.
 
What are the plans for access by lorries going in and out of the Barn Elms site and the removal of spoil excavated from the tunnel? 
TW: TW are considering building a road way across Putney Lower Common (next to the Putney Hospital site), across Beverley Brook by bridge and into their site.  They stated that 98% of comings and goings, including staff, would be by river.  There might be 6/8 lorry movements a day.  There would be eight movements of barges a day (on the top of the tide) day and night.
 
Cllr comments – we would not want to see a road access next to Putney Hospital which is a densely populated area next to the Ranelagh estate. We would prefer to see the existing road - Queen Elizabeth’s Walk - used.

Had TW consulted with river users organisations?
TW: yes, they were generally happy with the proposals. 

Will local planning authorities have control over planning applications in relation to the temporary and permanent structures?
TW: when the time comes for planning applications that the matter would be dealt with by the Infrastructure Planning Commission and not the local borough.

As the Barn Elms shaft will tunnel towards Hammersmith Pumping station and then from BE to Tideway Walk (the second main drive shaft) at Nine Elms, surely the BE site is not needed for the excavation of the entire tunnel to the east from Tideway Walk to King’s Stairs in the east. Why therefore will the site be needed for all of the seven years?
TW: we will be commissioning the tunnelling equipment for 6 to 9 months before starting and then tunnelling for 24 hour a day at a rate of 100 metres a week. It is a process of excavation and structural reinforcement as the tunnelling progresses otherwise the excavation will subside.

Cllr comments: we do not think TW has provided sufficient justification for the need to requisition BE for 7 years and have asked for a precise schedule of proposed works.

Why don’t you use one piece of tunnelling equipment as was the case with the Channel Tunnel? We are not convinced that you have made out a convincing case for introducing a main drive shaft at either BE or Tideway Walk. The excavations could then start at one end of the tunnel and proceed to the other end.
TW: We can’t use one piece of tunnelling equipment because the sub-soil varies from clay in the west to gravel in the east.

Cllr comment: this conflicts with information provided at another public meeting.

How will the spoil be taken away from the Putney Foreshore site?
TW by road. Other than the main drive shafts where the spoil will be taken away by river at BE, Tideway Walk and Kings’ Stairs, all the spoil will be transported by road.

Cllr comments: we have and will continue to make strong representations against transport by road at Putney Bridge junction. It will cause complete chaos.

What are the hours of working at Putney Foreshore?
TW: day time working hours – ten hours a day.

Why aren’t you using the Hammersmith Pumping station site instead of Barn Elms. This is at the end of the tunnel and has two CSOs?
TW: The HPS site will not be available to CPO because the developer will have constructed a large residential block on in by the time work starts. Green field sites such as that at Barn Elms are valued at a much lower level for CPO because they do not have the same investment potential as a brown field site. (CPO = compulsory purchase order)

Cllr comments: this varies from with information given at another public meeting.

Will surveys be undertaken before and after tunnelling beneath or near to residential properties? What sort of compensation is available if damage is caused?
TW: TW will be undertaking surveys before and after the works. Residents can commission their own independent surveys but TW won’t be paying for these.

Please feel free to copy us into responses to TW consultation so we know what is concerning Thamesfield residents - elister@wandsworth.gov.uk, jmaddan@wandworth.gov.uk; rtorrington@wandsworth.gov.uk. It is important however, to respond directly to TW’s consultation.

In today’s economic climate many of us find it hard to accept that such an expensive project can be viable – not least because is it the company’s customers, all of us, who will be paying for it.

Following this first round of consultation the second round takes place in 2011 and TW is expected to submit a full planning application in the middle of 2012 with seven years of construction commencing in 2013.

Putney Christmas Market – Friday 3 December (3-8.00pm)
This will be the third year of this popular community event organised by the Putney Partnership. This year in addition to stallholders in Church Square selling presents and stocking fillers alongside stalls offering food and drinks. Mercury winners and Putney band originally from Elliott School, The XX, will be switching on the lights. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_xx

There is something for everyone. For children there will be a carousel and from Eddie Catz the bouncy castle and face painting. This year a magical lantern procession will wend its way around the town centre. Choirs from four Putney junior schools - Brandelhow School, St Mary’s School, Hotham School and Hurlingham School - will each be giving a 20 minute performance of carols and festive songs.

Children from St Mary’s School and Hotham School will be processing with lanterns which they have made in art classes. The procession starts at around 5.30pm from the library and goes down the High Street, through the Exchange arriving in Church Square in time for the lighting up of the 33ft tree at 6pm featuring The XX.

For those returning from work or for local employees leaving work local band, fiN, will be playing live from 6.15pm onwards.

There will be lots to eat and drink and the shops will remain open until 8pm on that evening. The market offers an opportunity to support Putney’s local independent shops and outlets as well as being an enjoyable occasion for the local community. Stalls include:

Barbara Stanley Gallery – prints

Baronessa – handmade jewellery

Bell & Brisket – salt beef wraps, bagels and pretzels

Bloq.co.uk – photo frames, clocks etc

Bunches & Pots – 2 stalls of flowers, plants and a hot wet shave!

Cakes4Fun – cakes and cake-making accessories

Cards for Good Causes – charity Christmas cards

For the Love of Dog – presents for dogs

Fulham Football Club and Billy the Badger – FCC items

Guillochon Gallery – prints and original artwork

Lantern-making workshop for children – make your own lantern

Lynne Connor – Christmas cakes and edible decorations

Mountain Warehouse – hats, gloves, scarves and lights

Physio4Life – 2 stalls offering fitness activities at the market

Pryors Bank Cafe – hot dogs

Putney Cycles – bikes and accessories

Putney Library and Putney School of Art & Design – local history publications, PSAD art work

Putney Partnership – organiser’s information stall, find out about starting a business in Putney

Putney Rotary Club

Ruby Red Cosmetics - soaps

Ryness – Christmas lights and gifts

Sally's@StMarys - serving home made mince pies

Santa’s stall with Memory Gate photography

Shabby Chic Originals – gifts and homewares

Shehans – gifts, jewellery and household items

Star & Garter – mulled wine

The Putney Society

The Stained Glass workshop – stained glass

Toystop – 2 stalls selling toys and gifts for children

Valentina Fine Foods – 2 stalls with festive Italian specialities

Virgin Active – giveaways

Wagamama – craft workshop for children, drawing competition, prize meals for children

Waitrose – 2 stalls with Christmas hampers and party food and wines

Whistle & Flute – beer, mulled wine and canapés

Young’s – Boathouse, Duke’s Head, Spotted Horse – Young’s beers

We are grateful to our sponsors who include Barratt Homes, Chesterton Humberts, Russell-Cooke solicitors, The Putney Society, Putney Rotary Club and Direct Traffic Social Media.

Putney shops will be staying open late during the run up to Christmas for details see
www.wandsworth.gov.uk/putney

Putney Cards for Good Causes
Cards for Good Causes is open in St Mary’s Church (in the tower) from 10am to 4.30pm Mon - Sat and from 1-5pm on Sunday 5 and 12 December. Special late-night opening until 7.30pm at the Christmas market on 3 December. Volunteers will be manning the shop until 18 December selling Christmas cards, advent calendars, wrapping paper and other festive goods from more than 25 national and local charities.

Annual tree-planting in Thamesfield
This season new street trees will be planted in the following vacant plots:

Bemish Road, outside 11 and 29-31

Blackett Street, outside 8-10, 11-13 and 24-26

Fawe Park Road, outside 99

Felsham Road, outside 237 and 225

Gamlen Road, outside 10

Lanford Road, outside 6

Ruvigny Gardens, near 21, outside 3-4, 4-5, 16-17 and 24

Salvin Road, outside 8-10 and 11-13, side wall of 132 Felsham Road

Stanbridge Road, outside 7-9 and 15-17

Wymond Street, outside 7-9, 19-21, 27-29 and 31-33

New street tree sites to be planted with new trees:

Felsham Road, outside 160

Lower Richmond Road, outside 52-54, 62, 100-102, opposite 171, 183 and 187

Point Pleasant, opposite 14 and 16

Salvin Road, outside 17

Lighter later campaign and winter gritting
The Council is backing the lighter later campaign which aims to put the clocks forward permanently an additional hour so that the winter evenings remain lighter for longer. This would result in GMT + 1 in the winter and GMT + 2 in the summer. Benefits of lighter evenings include increased use of parks and open spaces and greater use of non floodlit sports facilities. It would also improve the situation regarding night flights at Heathrow with long-haul flights arriving an hour later according to our clocks giving Thamesfield residents an extra hour of uninterrupted sleep.

In the case of snow and ice the borough’s main roads will be gritted as a priority to keep public transport and the emergency services running. Smaller residential roads are gritted afterwards. The borough’s 460 miles of pavements and footpaths must be treated by hand which is a time-consuming process. Particular attention is paid to entrances to tube and railway stations, hospitals, OAP day centres, schools, care homes, clinics and nurseries. TfL are responsible for gritting the borough red routes and the adjoining pavements. This includes the A205 – Upper Richmond Rd.

Salt bins have been installed at strategic locations across the borough for those who want to clear icy paths and pavements. Neighbourhood watch co-ordinators are being offered 50 kilos of salt each for use in their streets, while supplies are also available for churches and community organisations. There is no law stopping you from clearing snow and ice on the pavement outside your home or from public spaces. The government guidance to households can be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_191868

Here is the list of salt bin locations which includes one at the junction of Charlwood Road and Norroy Road. Each bin contains one tonne of salt and will be regularly replenished. http://tinyurl.com/3yj5tll . Please look out for and help elderly or disabled neighbours if you feel you can clear their pavement or footpath

Christmas refuse collections and garden waste service
Christmas refuse and recycling will be collected in Thamesfield on Sunday 26 December (instead of 25 th) and on Sunday 2 January (instead of 1 st). With the exception of metallic wrapping paper all wrapping paper can be recycled.

Christmas trees can be collected free of charge and recycled. Please leave them out early in the morning on Saturday 8 or Saturday 15 January at the front of your property. Call 8871 8558 with any queries.

Refuse collectors are not supposed to knock on your door and solicit an annual tip.

We are often asked about garden waste which can be taken to the civic amenity site (the tip) at Smugglers Way for disposal free of charge. A blanket garden waste service is not funded out of Council Tax since not all properties in the borough can make use of it. Therefore, the Council offers a garden waste collection service that is charged at £18.00 where the crew will come out and collect 1-20 bags of garden waste at one go. They will collect from the front garden or bin area. Collection is on the usual refuse collection day – Saturday in Putney. Anyone interested in making use of the service should book and pay for the collection at least one day before the designated collection day. Payment can be made over the phone by credit or debit card, by sending a cheque/ postal order or paying cash at our customer services counter located in Room 59, Wandsworth Town Hall. Telephone 0208 871 8558 or e-mail wasteservices@wandsworth.gov.uk to make a booking. 
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/a_to_z/service/417/green_waste-composting_collections

Highways and transport matters
Following a petition from residents in Abbotstone Road the Council is consulting residents and businesses on the implementation of parking controls all day in Abbotstone Road instead of for one hour between 9.30 and 10.30am. All day parking controls from 9.30am to 4.30pm currently operate Monday to Saturday on all roads east of Abbotstone Road in the A5 zone. Committee report at
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/mgConvert2PDF.aspx?ID=12289

Putney Bridge SW15 by Putney Bridge Approach on the Fulham side of the bridge. The footway is closed outside Premier Inn hotel for essential Thames Water works. Carriageway lanes are restricted south bound from the junction with Fulham High Street to the first bus stop on Putney Bridge. Works take place from 17/11/2010 to 08/12/2010 .

Further information on roadworks can be obtained from Don Ogunyemi on 8871 6712 or email dogunyemi@wandsworth.gov.uk .

The Western Extension zone of the Congestion Charge ceases to operate on 24 December following an overwhelming response to the London Mayor’s consultation re its removal.

TfL will not be running any services on the entire London overground network on 25 or 26 December. This is in order to carry out maintenance work.

Following an agreement between the Government and South West Trains passengers will be able to top up their Oyster cards at all stations operated by South West Trains in the London Travelcard area (including Putney mainline station) from May 2011.

Recent planning news
28/30 Putney High Street (2010/3352) Enoteca and Be At One
This is a prominent corner site in the Putney Embankment Conservation area owned by the developers Golfrate Property Ltd which is proposing to erect extensions to both properties at the rear and on top of the existing buildings at first, second and third floor levels to provide 9 flats and office space. Apart from the sheer bulk and scale of the proposals on this sensitive site in a conservation area, the proposals are for change of use and this would not include restaurant use. The site is currently occupied by Enoteca Turi regarded by many as one of the finest Italian restaurants in south west London. http://www.enotecaturi.com/. The Putney Partnership will be making strong representations about this application. Neil Shaw is the case officer (8871 6632).

Tote House, 74 Upper Richmond Road (corner of Woodlands Way and URRd) (2010/2916)
The application to build a hotel has been withdrawn. Our information is that the freeholder is planning to implement a previous scheme for the “erection of a fourth floor infill extension and construction of a new fifth floor together with alteration and remodelling in connection with the use of the ground and first floors as offices, and the change of use of the upper floors to provide 14 flats with 14 off-street parking spaces at the rear” (2007/6359).

Putney Place site
We attended a public exhibition in St Mary’s Church pending a formal planning application. We understand that the current site provides 40 sq feet of office space. The new proposals are expected to be for 20 sq feet of office space and 20 sq feet of retail/restaurant space plus 150 sq feet of residential space, 22% of which will be affordable. This gives a total of 190 sq feet of development. We understand that deliveries and refuse collection will all take place on site (off street) and that the whole development will be excluded from the controlled parking zone. As the level of affordable housing is on the low side we have asked about public benefit and understand that this is for discussion with the planners. This is likely to be investment in public transport.

Capsticks site
The boards displayed at a recent public exhibition in the Library can be viewed at www.77-83urr.co.uk. The developer plans to put in a planning application in early 2011.

Tileman House, Upper Richmond Road (2010/3019)
This application is for renewal of the original planning permission granted in September 2005. The consultation period is up with around 50 objections and the application is likely to be considered on 6 January by the planning committee. 

A new application has subsequently been received for this site (2010/4520). The proposal is of a similar form to the scheme that was previously refused and dismissed on appeal (2009/1773). The application is for the demolition of the existing building and construction of new building between 6 and 12 storeys (refused scheme was 8-15 storeys) to provide 69 flats (refused scheme had 89 units), roof terraces and balconies. 780 sq.m. ground floor commercial floorspace flexible use for Class A1 (shops)/A2 (financial and professional services)/A3 (cafe/restaurant use) or B1 (office use); 1500 sq.m. office floorspace (Class B1) at first floor; basement car park of 73 spaces (2 at surface level for car club). The case officer is Elma Vreken 8871 841.

Police meetings and associated matters
Shoulder surfers are criminals who watch as you enter your PIN number in the card reader. This is particularly prevalent in bars where the card reader does not have a protective screen and at this time of year are very busy. Having noted the PIN number, the criminal steals the card from a handbag or pocket, and within a few minutes will have used it at a nearby ATM to withdraw cash, probably before the owner realises that it has gone. Always guard against criminals getting hold of your PIN number

Please keep an eye open for the more vulnerable in the run up to Christmas. A disabled 82-year-old man from Fulham was recently mugged in broad day light and lost £300 worth of Christmas savings. He withdrew the cash from the Santander Bank, Putney High Street, on November 9. He was approached by a man who told him he had something on his back. A woman and child confronted him and said the same thing. They then started feeling around his coat and as they were removing the phantom object from his back, they stole his wallet. The thief is described as about 5ft 6ins with a Romanian accent, and the woman was slightly shorter. Anyone with information should call Wandsworth CID on 0208 247 8734.

Thamesfield SNT are at a d rop-in surgery on 3 December at the Christmas market from 17:00-19:30 in Church Square, also at a drop-in surgery on 9 December from 18:00-20:00 in Putney Exchange and again on 12 December from 18:00-19:00 at Putney Library, Disraeli Road. There is a Public meeting on 13 December from 19:00-20:30 at St Mary's Church Putney High Street and then another drop-in surgery on 17 December from 13:00-15:00 in Putney Exchange. No dates have yet been published for late December or January.

http://www.met.police.uk/teams/wandsworth/thamesfield/index.php

The Thamesfield Ward SNT Panel sets the priorities for the policing team to follow in addition to the standard police force priorities of robbery and burglary. The panel have recently changed the priorities to reflect the high level of criminal behaviour in the town centre:

• Burglary
• Theft and handling stolen goods
• Theft and/or taking of pedal cycles

To contact the Safer Neighbourhood Team - thamesfieldsnt@met.police.uk . 020 8721 2434 or on 07920 233924. In an emergency always dial 999. For all other calls to the Metropolitan police please dial 0300 123 1212. Register bikes and other valuables on www.immobilise.com to enable police to return it to you if it is stolen.

Renewal of entrycall system at Phelps House
If you live in Phelps House on the Platt Estate you should be aware that a consultation is underway to install a new system to the block and a new handset would be installed in each flat at the existing position. If you would like to see a full specification for the work call to make an appointment on 8871 8498. Comments on the proposed works should be made by 6 th December 2010.

Local Development Framework
The Council is consulting on its planning policies by which future planning applications will be determined. The consultation continues until 10 December and the proposed polices are available on line:

Development Management Polices http://tinyurl.com/23rnvno
and
Site Specific Allocations Document http://tinyurl.com/2enydnp

Comments can be made online via the following
http://wandsworth-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal. Alternatively, you can write in with representations to the Borough Planner at the Town Hall.

A member of the Council’s planning department will be attending a Putney Society meeting on 30 November in the Brewer Building, St Mary’s Church at 7.30pm. Members of the public are welcome. www.putneysociety.org.uk

Events, activities and exhibitions

Sunday 19 December – Christmas carols service at St Mary’s at 6pm, Friday 24 December – Christmas Eve crib service for children with carols at 4pm, Midnight Mass at St Mary’s at 11.30pm on 24 December and Christmas Day Family Eucharist at 10am at St Mary’s .

On Wednesday, 15 December the parish of Putney sings carols at the Coat & Badge pub on Lacy Road. All proceeds go to Spires and Newpin (the Parish action charities).

Fibonacci is giving a lunch-time concert at 1.10pm on 10 December in St Mary’s Church. Programme includes Beethoven pieces. www.fibsonline.co.uk. The next concert will be on 13 January featuring a classical accordion played by Djordje Gajic.

Putney Verse workshop is started up on Sundays at 4pm at The Cats Back pub on Point Pleasant. On 12 December they will be “starting with a line” and jointly composing a new poem. Information from Connaire Kensit 8788 8647.

Putney School of Art and Design student Christmas exhibition runs from 1 to 13 December at PSAD on Oxford Road. Details of spring term courses and bookings at http://tinyurl.com/2azpquk

Wandsworth Symphony Orchestra will be giving their annual concert of Christmas music and carols for the audience on Saturday 11 December at 6pm in aid of local charities. Tickets £11 and £9, concessions and retired persons £5, children and under 16s free. http://londonswso.org.uk/concert_dates.html

photoWANDSWORTH: Entries are invited on the theme of MAGIC by 28 January 2011. From magical shots of everyday scenes to experimental images, all kinds of photographs, studio shots, computer-generated images, montages etc eligible. A series of workshops will run until January to inspire you and teach you new skills – from photography fireworks to taking pictures without a camera. Selected entries will be exhibited from 3 March. Prizes include a Panasonic digital camera and many other photo-related items. There’s a first prize, a young person’s prize and a group prize. For details of how to enter

http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/884/arts_team/234/photowandsworth/1 or call 8871 8711.

Join the photoWANDSWORTH group at www.flikr.com

For The Half Moon’s December programme - www.halfmoon.co.uk . Now producing food, there is jazz every Sunday lunchtime from 1pm and families are welcome. Every Tuesday you can join the Half Moon pub quiz in the main bar with six people per team.

The Duke’s Head on Lower Richmond Road is offering stand-up comedy on Wednesdays. Doors open at 8pm, tickets £7 or £5 for concessions. Reservations 07966176049. There is a regular quiz night on Tuesdays at 8pm. http://www.dukesheadputney.com/

Cakes4Fun on Lower Richmond Road are running courses throughout December including a baking masterclass, festive cake-making and chocolate truffle-making and many other courses.

http://www.cakes4funshop.co.uk/courses-december-courses.irc

Eddie Catz will be joining us at the Christmas Market with a bouncy castle and face painting. They will be in their usual place above Halfords for a good schedule of classes and activities for young children throughout December http://www.eddiecatz.com/events.php

Putney Theatre Company at Ravenna Road, SW15 will be performing Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials Part 2 from 9-12 December. From 15-18 December they will be doing a Black Christmas double bill: Harry’s Christmas by Steven Berkoff and The Night before Christmas by Anthony Neilson. The Christmas Panto, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs will be performed from 4-8 January. New Writing 2011 workshop takes place from 18-22 January. Further details 8788 6943, 8944 0023 or 8286 0229 www.putneyartstheatre.org.uk

Putney Music Society meets at 8pm in Dryburgh Hall. Pianist Roger Vignoles is interviewed by Ian Partridge on 6 December and on 20 December there is the annual social evening with buffet, wine, music, quiz and raffle. http://putneymusic.org.uk/whatson.php

Regular daily guided tours and “feed the birds with the wardens” take place at the WWT London Wetlands Centre. Special activities include a visit from Santa and his huskies, panto A Vole in the Woods and other festive activities. Details from http://www.wwt.org.uk/visit-us/london/events. 8409 4400 or info.london@wwt.org.uk .

The Putney Leisure Centre in Dryburgh Rd provides swimming and a full range of activities http://tinyurl.com/23oqvsh

Details about the Putney Sculpture Trail located along the river from Leaders Gardens to Wandsworth Riverside Quarter can be found via the link below together with places to eat and drink en route
http://tinyurl.com/29y8we3

If you would like to do some gardening but lack a garden consider the Garden Partners scheme run by the Council in conjunction with Age Concern. Volunteers enter into partnership with a homeowner of 60 or more to cultivate their garden and share the produce with them.

http://www.acwandsworth.org.uk/index.cfm?id=4705 or call Sarah Jackson on 8877 8946.

The Putney Senior Social Group for over 60s meets every Monday at All Saints’ Church, Putney Common between 10 and 11.30am. They offer tea and coffee and homemade cakes. If you know of friends or neighbours you think may be interested in joining call Jo Warren on 07970 280172.

Regenerate-RISE provides lunches, activities, outings and spport for the over 60s, particularly those who are isolated. It operates from The Platt Christian Centre in Felsham Road. They also have a hairdresser open three days a week to anyone over the age of 60 at very reasonable prices.  They hold a cafe once a month on a Saturday open to anyone. For more information please email Mo Smith, Chair of Trustees, Regenerate-RISE at mosmith@regenerate-rise.co.uk

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 .

Putney Town Centre

A new Italian restaurant, Cantinetta has opened at 162-164 Lower Richmond Road in the former Phoenix restaurant.

Paperchase has opened in the shop formerly occupied by Joy on the High Street.

Due Fratelli Luigi continues to operate as a café during the day and a restaurant during the evening. They also prepare Italian meals which can be taken away and cooked at home. The independent would benefit from local support.

The Flower Yard, next to Putney mainline station will be selling Christmas trees and garlands for the front door in addition to their usual range of flowers. This independent would benefit from local support http://www.thefloweryard.net/

The Christmas Mixed Exhibition at The Russell Gallery, 12 Lower Richmond Road runs from 2 December to 15 January (gallery closed 25 December to 11 January) www.russell-gallery.com

The former Cafe Rouge on Putney Bridge Road will be replaced by a fish and grill restaurant in the New Year.

Ritz Music Shop at 3a Lacy Road has opened a new first floor showroom for classic electric guitars ranging from vintage to nearly new models. They also purchase and part-exchange instruments for anyone wishing to sell or have their guitar assessed. There is a guitar and woodwind repair workshop. www.ritzmusic.co.uk

You can report any concerns or complaints about a licensed premises via the following
http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/forms/form/173/report_licensing_matters

Felsham Road recycling bank you can now recycle c ardboard, food and drink cans, mixed glass, plastic bottles, food & drink cartons and newspapers & magazines behind TK Maxx . Any residents, and particularly those who live in a flat with limited space to store orange sacks, can deposit the above items in the recycling facility throughout the week. As it is a residential area the recycling bank should be used ONLY BETWEEN 8AM AND 8PM.

Please don’t dump your old clothes outside the charity shops in the High Street when they are closed or dispose of them in orange sacks – they can be recycled in Scope banks at Putney Leisure Centre, Leader’s Gardens or Telegraph Road. All textiles including curtains, bedding, towels, handbags, cloths, rugs and mats can be recycled here.

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. Evening smear test clinics now available for women who find it difficult to get to their doctor during the day held at the Minor Injuries Unit every Tuesday from 5.30-7.30pm. The clinics are by appointment only to women registered with a Wandsworth GP. To make an appointment call 0845 6026292.

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 Kevin Fulcher on behalf of Putney Conservatives, both of 3 Summerstown, London, SW17 0BQ

November 28, 2010