Hello everyone,

The last couple of weeks have seen a lot happening in Parliament with an ever growing focus on what's happening in the economy.  I’m continuing both inside and outside the House of Commons to work on all sorts of issues that can make a difference to our local community, so read on for an update.

Meeting with Royal Parks Chief Executive
Last week I met Mark Camley, Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency to discuss the proposed car park charging in Richmond Park.  Since my initial post on PutneySW15.com I’ve had a lot of other residents get in touch with me concerned about the proposals.  The public consultation lasts until 30^th April and you can get a copy of the proposals on www.royalparks.org.uk .  My meeting was very helpful to be able to talk through what is being proposed.  It also gave me the chance to express the concerns of local people who’ve already contacted and feel the charges will hit the people who use and love the park the most, alongside affordability.  Parking wardens will change the whole environment and make Richmond Park feel just like being in the city again.  I’d like to see steps to encourage more people to enjoy what is a fantastic local park on our doorstep.  One of the ideas I raised was the potential for the Royal Parks Agency to work with local schools to encourage younger people into Richmond Park. 

In Parliament, Parks Minister, Barbara Follett MP has now written back to me saying she is will meet me after the consultation has finished but before decisions are taken which I will get organised.  If you are concerned about the introduction of car park charges in Richmond Park, then have your say – the more people do, the better.  Contact me on greeningj@parliament.uk and I can keep you up to date with any new developments as they happen.

Station Accessibility at Putney Mainline and Southfields Stations
After many delays, the good news is that work at Southfields Station, adding a lift and improving the entrance hall, is currently due to start on 20^th March.  In the meantime I will keep pressing London Underground to get on with things. Also on the District Line, this week’s announcement by London Underground that the Circle Line will be extended to Hammersmith should help relieve some congestion from Earls Court into the City for local residents which is welcome news.

Putney mainline station accessibility continues to be a concern.  I had a follow up letter from South West Trains this week that set out just how much planning work remains to be done.  When I met Network Rail, they told me that their budget is constrained and I have written to the Department for Transport to press them to confirm that work still will go ahead, and soon – we need Putney station made much more accessible, not just for disabled people or those not quite so able-bodied, but also because we have lots of young families living locally with pushchairs that are difficult to get up and down the steep stairs to the platform.  Public transport needs to be accessible for everyone.

Working with our local Emergency Services
PutneySW15.com readers may remember that at the end of last year I met up with the team at Wandsworth Fire Station on West Hill.  They were having problems getting fire engines in and out of the station onto busy West Hill and needed the Keep Clear road markings improved.  Following my getting in touch with Transport for London, we’ve managed to get the Keep Clear signs extended further down West Hill for the length of the fire station and hopefully that should improve life for the Fire Station a lot.  I also met with Wandsworth Borough Commander, Chief Superintendent Stewart Low to discuss local crime issues and also to talk through the results of the crime survey that I carried out last year that around 3,500 households responded to.  I will be working with both CS Low and also our local Putney Inspector Kevan Martin to make sure that the issues residents have flagged up get tackled.

I hope that has been a helpful update.  Don’t forget that if you need my help as MP then just get in touch.  You can write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA, email me on greeningj@parliament.uk or come and meet up at my weekly MP surgery by giving me a call on 0208 946 4557.  I’ll do my best to help!

Best wishes

Justine Greening MP

March 6, 2009