The Putney Society needs you

Do you live or work in Putney or Roehampton? Are you concerned about air pollution levels on main roads? All the new developments on Upper Richmond Road? Regeneration of Roehampton? The old Putney Hospital site? Education places in Putney? Our green spaces? Another bar applying to stay open until 2am?

The Putney Society is recruiting more members, but with a particular plea to those under the age of 45 to join. We especially need input from people who want to understand current local issues and, if you are parents, what concerns you have bringing up children in Putney. The more residents who are members, the more input and louder voice the Putney Society has when discussing matters with Wandsworth Borough Council and other bodies.

The Putney Society is a charity, started in 1959. It is an amenity society run by residents (on a voluntary basis), for residents. There are four panels: Buildings, Community, Open Spaces and Transport.

The Buildings Panel studies local planning applications, and where necessary challenges those that are inconsistent with the character of our area. Listed buildings and conservation areas are particularly important. It has commented on or objected to aspects of new high-rise developments in Upper Richmond Road (500 flats to be built but with a large reduction in office space).

The Community Panel has a wide remit: education, libraries, policing, post offices, and late licensing applications from local pubs and bars. Members of the Panel also attend many local meetings about the on-going major changes in the NHS in order to understand how local people will be affected, and to make positive suggestions.

The Open Spaces Panel aims to protect the parks and commons, riverside, trees and wildlife, all of which help to make Putney the Putney we love. It plants trees and shrubs in streets, parks and commons and is very protective of trees under threat by new building developments.

The Transport Panel conducted a survey of air pollution levels in Putney High Street, highlighted the problems, and with the Council launched a successful campaign to secure more low emission hybrid buses on routes through the High Street. The panel lobbies for better conditions for pedestrians and cyclists and is currently interested in 20mph zones in residential streets, extending bus routes, and improvements to our rail and underground stations.

Each panel meets monthly, and is open to all members of the Society. Meetings are informal, and usually quite lively. There are eight public meetings a year at St Mary’s Church, each panel hosting two of them. We also organise Hustings at the time of local and national elections

The Executive Committee drives the work of the Society forward - debating the monthly reports from Panel Convenors and discussing any local issues that are of concern or interest. Our representatives liaise with other groups within the borough and across London on matters of wider importance.

The Society organises social, cultural and heritage events. It runs a blue plaques scheme, has produced a history of the area, an audio guide of historic walks (for the visually impaired) and also a guide to local literary figures. We send a monthly bulletin to all members and have an informative website.

The Society’s membership consists of about 950 households as well as businesses, schools and voluntary groups. New members bring new ideas and fresh enthusiasms. The bigger our membership, the greater our influence.