Latest local update from the Thamesfield ward councillors


Thamesfield Councillors Mike Ryder, Rosemary Torrington, and John Locker

Welcome to the summer edition of our e-bulletin covering local news and information for residents. If you have any issues you would like to raise with us please let us know.

To join the Thamesfield councillors e-newsletter circulation list, email heretohelp@wandsworthconservatives.co.uk

Green Wall petition

As part of the Putney High Street improvement project we are looking at options to add ‘green walls’. These can be a great way of both visually enhancing the High Street and an effective means of improving air quality as the plantings take in pollution and provide oxygen.

The Council is currently in discussions with Odeon Cinemas as a potential green wall location which we think would be great. Odeon have asked us to show that this scheme would be popular with local residents and attract more people to this part of the High Street.

To help us convince Odeon please sign our petition.

Pergola on the roof of The Exchange

Earlier this summer we supported residents in their concerns regarding the construction of an open air drinking outlet for 500 people on the roof top car park above The Exchange. Surrounding homes in Stratford Grove and Lifford Street situated in close proximity to the outlet were worried about late night noise, cooking smells, on street parking and overlooking. Whilst the Paddington Pergola is popular, it is located next to the busy elevated Westway motorway well away from residential homes. We were also concerned that the loss of spaces in the main town centre car park could have an impact on the availability of parking for residents and visitors to the wider High Street and town centre. The application was withdrawn.

Benches for Wandsworth Park playground

Two extra benches are being installed in the playground at Wandsworth Park, after a call for them by Councillor Mike Ryder. He said: “I often visit the playground with my grandson George and noticed there were only enough seats for about half a dozen parents or grandparents to sit down. Now a lot more of us will able to take the weight off our feet as we watch our youngsters on the swings and slides. Long-term I would also like to see the playground get some updated play equipment, and I will keep that on my radar.

Putney Plastics Pledge

Councillor Ryder joined Councillor Steffi Sutters and Positively Putney (the Putney Business Improvement District), alongside environmental charity Hubbub at a breakfast to launch an initiative to reduce plastics in our community.

Vote FFC or CFC with your rubbish

People enjoying the River Thames in Putney are being reminded not to leave litter behind thanks to eye catching bins and posters. The posters are located in Putney Wharf where there is a large central bin plus a further large bin on the Embankment by Beverley Brook.

In partnership with Wandsworth Council, Positively Putney and Port of London Authority, Hubbub is bringing the For Fish’s Sake (#FFSLDN) campaign to Putney to help stem the flow of litter into the Thames which is harming marine life both in the river and out at sea.

Putney riverside is a beautiful part of London and at this time of year it’s enjoyed by hundreds of people every day, from dog walkers to workers taking a break, from rowing clubs to residents out for a stroll. Sadly though, many people leave litter behind without thinking about the consequences, for the river and further out into our oceans. #FFSLDN is highlighting the problem in our part of the capital and we hope that locals get behind the campaign to protect and preserve their stretch of the Thames. A further initiative is planned during the Positively Putney Party which coincides with the Great River Race on 8 September.

300 tonnes of rubbish are cleared from the Thames each year; that’s equivalent to the weight of 43 bottlenose whales (the type found in the Thames in 2006). #FFSLDN is calling on residents, workers and visitors to south west London to help stem the flow. Here’s what you can do:

• Use the bin – not the gutter, not the river, not the pavement
• If you see some litter and you’re near a bin – pick it up
• If the bin is full, find another one or take your litter home

Second station entrance for Putney station

For some time Thamesfield councillors have been lobbying the Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Sir Peter Hendy, the chairman of Network Rail to get their support for a second entrance at Putney station.

Wandsworth Council already supports the proposal and has pledged £2 million of strategic Community Infrastructure Levy towards funding the second entrance. We are calling on the government and Network Rail for funding and support so we can go ahead with the second entrance proposal on Oxford Road. It will improve connectivity between East Putney tube station and Putney mainline station and also reduce congestion and journey times. Putney MP, Justine Greening has started a petition to show the level of local support for the campaign.

You can sign the petition here.

Closure of Hammersmith Bridge

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has warned local residents that Hammersmith Bridge will be closed to traffic for four days from Monday 20 August to Thursday 23 August, inclusive from 7am to 7pm, for urgent repairs.

Motorists will be diverted via Chiswick Bridge and Putney Bridge. However, footways will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists, who must dismount to cross.

The following bus services will terminate before Hammersmith Bridge: 33, 209, 419, 485. Passengers can walk across the bridge to resume their journeys. Some 72 bus services will be diverted via Chiswick Bridge, the remainder will terminate before Hammersmith Bridge.

You can get the latest bus information from Transport for London here or follow @TfLBusAlerts on Twitter.

You can find out more about the refurbishment project at Hammersmith Bridge repairs or by emailing bridgeproject@lbhf.gov.uk.

Councillors Mike Ryder, Rosemary Torrington and John Locker
Thamesfield ward

August 15, 2018