LISTER ON PUTNEY
Edward Lister is the Leader of Wandsworth Council and a member for Putney's Thamesfield ward.
Neighbours'
concerns over noise from dogs being kept overnight in kennels at a vet's
on the Lower Richmond Road and the impact of
development in the grounds of a property in Egliston Lawns at Lower
Common South were just two quality of life issues which exercised
councillors recently.
In the end
the planning committee came down on the side of local opinion
and overturned both schemes.
Good news
too for people in the Quill Lane area where the council will
soon be installing security cameras. The
system will also cover Spencer Walk and Charlwood Road and is in response
to local concerns about street crime. There
will also be a similar scheme on the Upper Richmond Road between
the High Street and Oakhill Road.
More improvements are underway at the Old Burial Ground next to the former police station. The changes will bring more light into the area with overgrown bushes removed and the tree cover thinned out as well as new footways and railings.
One of the biggest quality of life issues for Putney residents remains aircraft noise. A council poll last year showed that nine out of ten people oppose a third runway at Heathrow.
But the Government says that local people aren't disturbed by aircraft noise. A new report shows how official decibel calculations are manipulated to 'prove' that noise levels in areas like Putney do not breach health standards.
The fact is that most aircraft landing over Putney are noisier than 60 decibels. The Government says 57 decibels is the level at which annoyance sets in although the World Health Organisation says it's 54.
Does all this matter? Well just watch out for ministers reaching for their own noise figures when they start spinning the case for the third runway. The facts are Putney already suffers from the rumble of planes overhead and it will get worse if they give the go ahead to a third runway.
And finally
can anyone tell me what Wandsworth has got in common with Islington? A
north London borough with one of the highest council taxes in the country
- over £1,000 - and schools so bad that the Prime Minister famously
sent his own children halfway across the capital to
avoid them.
Unbelievably the London Mayor Ken Livingstone wants to bring Wandsworth, Islington and five other boroughs together to form a new administrative district of 1.5 million people.
The immediate
cost for Putney residents would be a massive hike in council tax - up
to almost £900 in one go. The Mayor has never shown any interest
in the concerns of people in Putney - now he wants them to pay through
the nose for this latest wheeze which is little more than a
transparent attempt to grab more power for himself.
Edward Lister
October 30, 2003
Anti aircraft noise & a tribute to Mary Holben. Cllr Lister's Diary.
St Cecilias, development at Whitelands site & the fate of Putney Hospital. Cllr Lister's Diary.
Night flights , Putney Hospital, diseased trees & the new school. Cllr Lister's Diary.
Cllr Lister pledges low taxes following re-election 30.05.2003
Councillor walkabouts, artists in Putney & awaiting the decision on night flights ........Cllr Lister's Diary.
recycling, relaunching Ashlone Wharf, extra cash for schools and closure of sub post offices ....Cllr Lister's Diary.
Modes of transport such as the new bus route and flight paths are all in .....Cllr Lister's Diary
"committed to keeping our bills as low as is sensibly possible"....Cllr Lister's Diary
There's not a council in the country that looks after its residents' money as carefully as Wandsworth........Cllr Lister's Diary
New school, new homes and a new-look park in 2003 ......Cllr Lister's New Year Message
A week of great achievements as both the Council and many of Putney's schools exceed in their individual grading systems. Whilst the failure of a resident management organisation (RMO) gives the Council concern.......Cllr Lister's Diary
Cllr Lister is not cheered by the Queens Speech nor the Chancellor's pre-budget statement..........Cllr Lister's Diary
Cllr Lister's Diary declares war on fly posters, and draws our attention to Connexions investment in Roehampton.
anti-third runway meeting bonfires and planning alert system.........Cllr Lister's Diary
Busy October 2002..........Cllr Lister's Diary .
Redevelopment of Roehampton Rec, the completion of Ashlone Wharf plus taking up the baton for a link between the Rail station & East Putney Tube........Cllr Lister's Diary .
Local impact of government housing policy, crime and news on Richmond Park...... Cllr Lister's Diary .
New Surgeries - a new ways to meet your councillor plus the Leader expresses his concerns over the news of gun crimes in Putney ..... Cllr Lister's Diary
Jubilee celebrations, the 3 star service offered by Social Services and name change for Lavatory Gardens ...Cllr Lister's Diary.
The state of the NHS in Putney and the fight against night flights ....Cllr Lister's Diary
Pedestrian safety - especially around schools and Neighbourhood watch .... Cllr Lister's diary
CAR TAX DODGERS DRYBURGH RD DEVELOPMENT ROBIN HOOD GATE AND NIGHT FLIGHTS..............Cllr Lister's diary
Church cheer, wharf worries and Richmond Park relief - Cllr Lister's diary.
Cllr Lister speaks against the Dryburgh Rd plans, the threat of closing Pen Ponds to traffic and litter.
The Postal Service, Richmond Park and Council Tax changes are all on Cllr Lister agenda.
Cllr Lister comments on the current planning furore, pigeon mess, cctv and policing.
Cllr Lister writes on Pensioners Freedom Passes, good news re Hotham School, development progress at Ashlone Wharf and aircraft noise from Heathrow Airport.
Recent visit to the Leisure Centre was less than enjoyable - see forum.
Cllr Lister writes on the new school for the area, housing development and Heathrow.