Putney Residents Urged to Become Commons Conservators

Currently no board members are from the SW15 area

Drought conditions have raised pressing concerns for The Commons

September 3, 2026

Putney residents are being asked to consider whether one of their own should step forward to help shape the future of Wimbledon and Putney Commons, as the Conservators prepare for their next election in March 2027. With no current board member from SW15, the Putney Society is encouraging people to step up to represent the area.

That question will be at the heart of the Putney Society’s open meeting on Monday 28 September, where Mauro Mattiuzzo, Chair of the Wimbledon & Putney Commons Conservators (WPCC), and Colin Cooper, the organisation’s Chief Executive, will speak about what the role involves and why local representation matters. The Conservators’ Chair is specifically coming to Putney to encourage local people to put themselves forward.

The Conservators are responsible for the stewardship of 1,140 acres of protected commons stretching from Wimbledon to Putney, including Putney Heath and Putney Lower Common. Their work ranges from conservation and habitat management to public access, safety, hydrology, and long‑term planning. Levy payers — residents who contribute to the upkeep of the Commons through a statutory levy — elect five of the eight Conservators, making the role one of the most unusual and locally rooted elected positions in London.

At the September meeting, Mr Mattiuzzo and Mr Cooper will explain how Conservators are appointed, the duties and responsibilities that come with the role, and what it means to represent Putney’s levy payers. For anyone curious about standing in 2027, it is a rare chance to hear directly from the people who currently hold the reins.

The CEO will also give a detailed update on the past year’s work across the Commons. This includes recent conservation projects on Putney Heath and Putney Lower Common, ongoing conservation plans, progress on the Putney Lower Common orchard, and — likely to draw particular interest — the actions now planned following the recent hydrology study. After a summer marked by drought and repeated heatwaves, water management on the Commons has become a pressing concern for residents and walkers alike. Questions from the floor are encouraged.

The meeting is open to everyone, not just Putney Society members, and begins at 7.30pm at the Community Church on Werter Road, with refreshments from 7.15pm.

Ahead of that, the Conservators will hold their annual Open Day on Sunday 13 September, offering another opportunity for residents to learn more about the Commons and meet the team who care for them.

Putney Society, a registered charity, is an amenity society run by volunteers to preserve and enhance our local heritage and community.

The Putney Society’s website contains more information about many other local issues and how to become a member.