Hello everyone,

It has been a very difficult fortnight locally with the backdrop of the riots across London. I thought it would be helpful to give you an update on that and the latest news locally.

London Riots

I have spent a lot of time seeing local shopkeepers over the past week, including on Tuesday last week when there was huge concern following what had happened in Clapham Junction the night before. Our local police have worked incredibly hard to tackle the disorder that happened, and I am very pleased that our local shopping areas in Wandsworth, Putney and Roehampton were relatively untouched by the trouble that took place.

It is important that if people know the CCTV photos of those people who are wanted by the police they will come forward with names. Many of the people who have been arrested will be the ones who are making life hell for their neighbours and community with antisocial behaviour on a day to day basis. It is still shocking to think back to what happened on our doorstep and I am very pleased that those found guilty by the courts are getting tough sentences.

I will continue to work with our local police, council and local businesses to keep our community as safe as possible. If you have any information that can help, but for whatever reason you are unable to get in touch with the police directly, I would also be happy to pass it on.

Putney Post Office Site Announced

PutneySW15 readers will know that as of November this year, the Putney Post Office is being relocated to a new site nearby. Because of the service problems, especially long queuing at the present Post Office, along with Thamesfield Councillor Jim Maddan, I have pressed the Post Office management to provide better facilities, that are also more business friendly to help our small businesses.

The new site at 254 Upper Richmond Road is close to the existing one at 214 Upper Richmond Road and the Post Office are now consulting on that proposal. I will be meeting with them to get more detailed plans, but if you have any views, then do respond to the consultation and also let me know so that I can ensure they are properly considered. Bizarrely, the Post Office have not got a link to their press release anywhere on the web, so I have cut and pasted it at the end of my update below, which includes an address to send responses to.

Thames Tunnel Update

Because it is August, we have had a break in the overall working group but the Putney Foreshore sub working group met last week which was a very helpful meeting with lots of useful discussion about Thames Water’s proposals. I am now following up a number of their questions on the latest thinking from Thames Water to better understand how it will affect local residents and local traffic. In July, we met with a number of potential independent experts to assist our overall working group and I am now organising with Thames Water to get the ones we want to use in place.

If you need my help as local MP do always get in touch – you can email me on greening@parliament.uk, come to my weekly MP surgery by giving my office a call on 020 8946 4557, or write to me at the House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 0AA.

 

Best wishes
Justine Greening MP

 

Copy of Post Office Ltd Press Release:

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON THE RELOCATION OF PUTNEY POST OFFICE®

Post Office Ltd today (Tuesday 16 August) announced a public consultation on its proposal to relocate Putney Post Office, 214 Upper Richmond Road, PUTNEY SW15 6TF to 254 Upper Richmond Road, PUTNEY SW15 6TQ which is 150 yards from its current location.

The current premises are being withdrawn for Post Office use from November 2011 as there are plans to re-develop the site. We have been working hard locally to find a permanent solution so that we can keep local access to Post Office services in Putney.

A Post Office spokesperson said: “Our temporary subpostmaster who has been running the branch at the current site for some time has been permanently appointed and has secured alternative premises along the same road as the current branch. The new premises are currently empty and our subpostmaster plans to completely refurbish them to incorporate a newsagents and Post Office .

“The new branch will have a total of six counter serving positions which will be a mixture of open-plan and traditional style screened positions with a combined Post Office and retail till in the retail area. This means customers can access a range of key Post Office products and services alongside retail transactions ‘out of hours’ from 7:00am until 7:00pm Monday to Friday and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday. Normal opening times will be from 9:00am to 5:30pm Monday to Friday and 9:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday, offering the wide range of Post Office products and services including car tax, DVLA photocard renewal service, passport Check & Send and on demand travel money.

There are plans to install a ramp and handrail at the entrance. Internally there will be a low-level serving counter, low-level writing desk, hearing loop and space for a wheelchair. There is 20 minute red route parking on the roads opposite the premises and pay and display parking bays nearby.”

During the public consultation Post Office Ltd welcomes feedback on any issues customers would like it to consider before a final decision is taken on this proposal. The consultation period closes on Tuesday 27 th September 2011 . S ubmissions can be made during the consultation by post to Post Office Ltd, c/o National Consultation Team, PO Box 1138, ST ALBANS AL1 9UN, via email to consultation@postoffice.co.uk, via the Customer Helpline: 08457 22 33 44 or Textphone 08457 22 33 55.

Ends

Notes to Editors

Details of the proposed service:

Putney Post Office 254 Upper Richmond Road PUTNEY SW15 6TQ   Opening times Mon to Fri 09:00 – 17:30   Sat 09:00 – 16:00   A range of key Post Office products and services will be available from the retail till from 07:00 until 19:00 weekdays and from 08:00 until 16:00 on Saturday.

Services The same range of services will continue to be available with the exclusion of the external ATM. Customers can still collect benefits in cash using our everyday banking services or the Post Office card account.   Access and facilities There are plans to install a ramp and handrail at the entrance. Internally there will be a low-level serving counter, low-level writing desk, hearing loop and space for a wheelchair.

 

August 22, 2011