Thamesfield Ward E-Bulletin October 2009

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Dates for your diary, Local Issues, Events & more

Putney School of Art and Design
PSAD will be re-opening on 4th November following a £818,000 refurbishment. The new school will have an additional teaching studio, a much-improved digital media studio, a lift to all floors, an art materials shop and a roof terrace. The Council has secured £600,000 from the Learning and Skills Council and has itself invested £158,000 in the project and the Friends of PSAD have raised almost £60,000.
The school will be reopened by George Blacklock, Dean of Wimbledon College of Art and Thamesfield Councillor Edward Lister, Leader of the Council.

Details of courses can be found at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/psad

The Friends of PSAD have successfully raised £55,000 towards their target of £60,000 for the Raise the Roof Campaign. Donations can be made online via www.justgiving.com (Friends of PSAD) or posted to the Treasurer of Friends of PSAD, 83 Putney Bridge Road, London SW15 2PA. Further details www.psadfriends.org.

Putney Christmas Market
Friday 27 November 3-7.30pm
This year’s Christmas Market and festive lights switch-on takes place in Church Square, next to the Odeon.
Click here for details.
3pm Entertainment and market opens with a carousel, bouncy castle, treasure hunt, Father Christmas will be in his post office collecting requests.
4.30pm Pantomime characters arrive. Carols sung by local schools: All Saints’ Junior Singers Brandlehow Primary Hurlingham School
6pm Official Christmas Tree and High Street Lights switch-on by Ade Adepitan MBE, winner of a gold medal in the 2005 Paralympic World Cup and a bronze medal in the Athens Paralympics for wheelchair basketball.
6.30pm Prize Draw.
Dick Laurie of the Half Moon plays jazz until 7.30pm
Putney shops will be hosting over 30 stalls offering discounts, incentives and plenty of free refreshments:
Buckleys – hot sausages, Christmas turkeys
Cakes4Fun – Christmas cakes, gingerbread houses
Christmas Cards for Good Causes- Advent calendars, wrapping paper
Cargo – homewares and presents
Eddie Catz – face painting, toys, children’s entertainment Father Christmas’s Post Office
Ferrago – imaginative presents, Christmas decorations
Flower Yard – Christmas trees and garlands for the front door
Huttons – presents, stocking fillers
Lacy Rd Art Gallery – free art packs
Millets – outdoor kit to keep you warm
Moomba – cocktails, beef Wellington Portland Scallop – smoked, wet and shell fish, soups
Potter Jewellery – contemporary and fashion jewellery
Pump House Gallery – Christmas wreaths workshop
Putney Bridge Clinic – essential oils and treatments for Christmas
Putney Cycles – bikes and cycle accessories
Putney Partnership information centre and hospitality
Putney Rotary Club and ProstateUK – fundraising for a Putney-based charity.
Putney Society - copies of the new History of Putney and Roehampton
Ritz Music –
Rooms of London – home furnishings from new arrival in Putney
Sally@St Mary’s – hot mince pies
Shehans – presents, stockings fillers
Snappy Snaps – photographic ideas
Soul Brothers Records – Christmas album CDs, gift vouchers
Star & Garter – hot mulled wine
The Boathouse – Youngs beers and speciality pies
The Sewing Rooms – tapestry and embroidered items, details of sewing classes,
Small Print – children’s silver charms and drawings
Toy Stop – children’s toys
Valentina Foods – Italian delicatessen and festive Christmas specialities
Van Vara - unusual gifts and fashion accessories
Whisk Cookshop – award-winning cookshop
Wills Art Warehouse – original prints, engravings, small pictures
Roving stalls:
Carluccios and Pret a Manger.
The High Street Shops remain open until 9pm. Free parking in the Exchange. The Treasure Hunt continues up until Christmas.


Street Trees in Werter Road
The street trees in Werter Road were planted soon after the road was developed and are now well-established. Following concerns about the state of some of the paving bricks surrounding the tree roots raised with us by a local resident we took the matter up and can report that all the brick areas around the trees are being taken up and re-laid in asphalt to provide a smoother and safer surface for pedestrians. This will provide a solution for the time being but in the longer term it is likely that we will need to consider replacing the trees.


Gas works on Upper Richmond Road
British Gas is continuing with their urgent gas main repairs in Upper Richmond Road between East Putney Station and Putney Hill. Westbound traffic is being diverted and eastbound traffic remains in the main road. These works will continue until 11th December. We have been working closely with our fellow councillors in East Putney ward, with our GLA member, Dick Tracey, who has the ear of the boss of TfL, and the local police, to ensure that everybody is aware of the current position. The police will continue to issue fixed penalty tickets to motorcyclists and pedal cyclists who decide to ignore the diversions and ride along the pavements. Nine tickets were issued in an hour recently.

Kentucky Fried Chicken
KFC applied earlier on this year to be allowed to open until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights. The council rejected the application and KFC appealed. The appeal was heard on Friday 23rd October at South Western Magistrates Court and after hearing evidence from council officers, residents and police, decided that they could stay open until 3am. The Magistrates have given permission for opening beyond the Council’s official closing deadline of 2am and the situation will be closely monitored.

Agora
Our August bulletin reported that Agora, the adult gaming arcade, at 152 Putney High Street had applied to split its premises in two, thereby doubling the number of high value gaming machines offering prize money of £500 from four to eight. The hearing will now be on Tuesday 1st December at 7pm at Wandsworth Town Hall. Councillors will be attending to oppose the application.

Be at One, 30 Putney High Street
The licensee has applied to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol and provision of recorded music to 01.00 on the morning following Thursday and to extend opening hours to 01.30 as above. Representations should be made to ncloke@wandsworth.gov.uk. The deadline is 19th November. Further details can be obtained by ringing 8871 6160. Please also copy us into any representations elister@wandsworth.gov.uk; jmaddan@wandsworth.gov.uk; rtorrington@wandsworth.gov.uk.

Putney Station, 94 Upper Richmond Road
An application has been made to extend the hours for all existing licensable activities by one hour to 01.00 (01.30 hours for late night refreshment) Monday to Saturday and to 00.30 on Sunday. Please see above for representations. The deadline is also 19th November.

Thamesfield Primary school results and developments
We would like to congratulate all the pupils attending Thamesfield primary schools on an excellent set of results.

Percentage of pupils achieving Level 2 or better in Key Stage One Tests averaged over the past 3 years (2006-2008)



The Council publishes a comprehensive directory* to its schools at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/admissions or details can be obtained by telephoning 8871 7316. This also covers special educational needs. The deadline for applications for a primary school is 22 January 2010.

We are sometimes asked about the admissions policy applied to the allocation of school places. There are three church schools in Thamesfield, All Saints CE Primary on Putney Common, St Mary’s CE Primary in Felsham Road and Our Lady of Victories RC Primary. Admission for these schools is determined by the school governors and reflects the legacy of the 1944 church: state education settlement.

Their admissions criteria are published on their respective websites www.allsaints.wandsworth.sch.uk, www.stmarysschoolputney.co.uk and www.ourladyofvictories.wandsworth.sch.uk and in the online directory*. There are two community (non-church) schools, Hotham and Brandlehow, www.brandlehow.ik.org.

With effect from September 2010 the intake at Hotham will be increased by an additional 15 places in reception each year so the existing annual intake of 45 will become 60. A bilingual (French and English) stream will start from September 2011 with 30 pupils starting in the bilingual stream and 30 in the English-only stream. The Council’s bid for £1.2 million to improve Hotham’s facilities has been approved by the Dept for Children Schools & Families. A planning application (2009/2419) has been approved to extend and refurbish Hotham by providing a new hall and kitchen servery.

Brandlehow has also expanded and has taken an additional 15 pupils into its reception class for the last 3 years. Brandlehow is a Grade 2 listed building which has already been extended by one classroom and it now plans to build a second new classroom to accommodate the increased pupil numbers.

Site on the corner of the High Street and Putney Bridge Road
A planning application (No 2009/3430) has been received to develop the site currently occupied by the Real Greek, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Putney Cycles and the newsagent on Putney Bridge Road. The site extends round on to the High Street up to Blockbusters. The proposal is to provide 2,787 square metres of retail space at ground and basement level and approximately 550 student accommodatin units in a ten storey building to replace the current buildings. This is a screening application to obtain preliminary reactions and only the Environmental Impact survey has been made submitted. www.wandsworth.gov.uk/planning

Units 1 to 20 Enterprise Way, Osiers Road, SW18
The Council has received a planning application (2009/3017) to demolish the existing warehouses and redevelop the area to provide a mixed use development of up to 21 storeys comprising 275 flats of which 89 would be affordable and 3,508 square metres of commercial floor space including retail, restaurant, food and drinking establishments, offices, leisure and community use including 1,404 square metres for a PCT health/medical centre. Basement car parking is proposed for 165 vehicles including 3 car club spaces plus cycle parking. The planning officer is Neil Shaw 8871 6632. The consultation runs until 2nd November and the application will be decided by the Planning Committee on 8th December . Please feel free to copy us into any correspondence; elister@wandsworth.gov.uk; jmaddan@wandsworth.gov.uk and rtorrington@wandsworth.gov.uk

Estate Inspection – the Ranelagh Estate
If you live on the Ranelagh Estate at Horne Way an estate inspection takes place on 18th November when Cllr Jane Cooper will accompany housing officers on a walk-about of the estate and welcomes any comments from residents on the estate about maintenance or other matters of concern. They have recently agreed to set up a Neighborhood Watch on the estate with four resident co-ordinators. Problems or concerns can be taken up at any time with Sharron Lecky, the local housing manager on 020 8871 7050.

Chuggers
We have received a number of complaints about charity muggers also known as Chuggers in the High Street. Under existing legal legislation charities can use chuggers to raise fundraise on the street without a licence. The practice of encouraging people to disclose personal and financial information including bank account details to strangers is regarded as risky. Although we have no wish to stop charities raising money, we are becoming increasingly concerned at the growing use of chuggers and the tactics being employed. The Council is calling upon the government to activate the powers in the Charities Act 2006 to allow local authorities to better regulate and control chuggers. Information about the code of practice and/or complaints on chugging via www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk

Putney Station
As local councillors we are taking a close interest in Network Rail’s plans for Putney Station. We are keen to see investment in and modernisation of the station including installation of lifts to allow disabled access. The design stage for the lifts is underway and the work should be completed by December 2013. We are trying to find out from Network Rail whether the station will need to be closed during the work and will be pressing to keep it open. We are also keen to see the platforms extended to take longer trains and a new pedestrian access on Oxford Road.

Recent crime and antisocial behaviour issues
The riverside at Putney is an attractive place on summer evenings but sometimes local people have been fearful when rowdiness and fights erupt between groups of young people who have had too much to drink many of whom who have taken advantage of cut-price deals from off-licenses. The Council’s spot-checks have uncovered illegal sales of alcohol to under-age drinkers at off licences in the vicinity of the High Street and are continuing to monitor them.

Although there are advantages to having a Premier League football team across the river in Fulham some of the visiting supporters can cause problems. Visiting clubs advise supporters that the nearest station to Craven Cottage is Putney. Although most visitors are impeccably behaved there are others who can be relied upon to cause trouble. Putney licensees tremble at their name.

We have been working closely with the Thamesfield SNT, Fulham Police, and the pubs involved, particularly those near Putney Bridge, The Embankment and Putney Wharf, to ensure that match days are enjoyable and safe for all the residents and visitors to Thamesfield. Please email us if there are issues such as these that you would like us to take up.

Thamesfield Neighbourhood Watch coordinators meeting takes place on Wednesday, 11th November at Ranelagh Sailing Club, Putney Embankment from 7 to 9pm.

Events in November
Fireworks Display: Battersea Park hosts its annual fireworks on Saturday, 7 November. This year’s theme, designed by Pains Fireworks (www.painsfireworks.com) is a “Love Theme” with flames and pyrotechnics digitally choreographed to music. The gates, bar and food court (BBQ, hot dogs, mulled wine, beer etc) open at 6pm. 7.30pm bonfire lit and 8pm fireworks. There will be a charity collection for “Help the Heroes”. Tickets £6 children under 10 £1 www.wandsworth.gov.uk/events or 0845 070 6870 or on the gate.

The Remembrance Day service and the parade takes place on Sunday, 8th November at St Mary’s Church on the High Street at 11am.

The next concert by Fibonacci will be on Friday 20th November at 1.10pm at their usual venue, St Mary’s Church. Well worth missing lunch for. St Mary’s Parish Christmas Fair will be in the church on Saturday, 28th November from 10am to 4pm.

The Putney Senior Social Group meets every Monday at All Saints’ Church, Putney Common between 10 and 11.30am. There are activities, tea and coffee, musical entertainment and homemade cakes for the over 60s. Call 07964 593879 for more details.

The Putney Theatre Company’s programme can be downloaded via www.putneyartstheatre.org.uk. November performances include Gypsy music by Julie Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim from 4th to 8th November followed by Group 64’s November Cabaret from 20th to21st November. The box office can be reached on 020 8286 0229.

Putney Music has organised three meetings in November in The Dryburgh Hall, Putney Leisure Centre starting at 8pm. Talks will be given on 2nd November by mezzo-soprano Felicity Palmer and tenor, Ian Partridge; on 16th November by Stephen Carpenter, Chief Executive of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and on 30th November by composer Carl Davis

There is a permanent exhibition about The Putney Debates 1647 in St Mary’s Church by Putney Bridge open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm www.putneydebates.com.

Details about the Putney Sculpture Trail located along the river from Leaders Gardens to Wandsworth Riverside Quarter can be found on a map on the sculptor’s website at www.alanthornhill.co.uk/Putney

Putney Town Centre
You will find Putney’s last night Christmas opening hours at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/putney
THE WHISK COOKSHOP has won an award as the best cook shop in the UK. They will have a stall at the Christmas Market on 27th November.
PUTNEY CYCLES has taken premises on the High Street and will be moving from Putney Bridge Road in early 2010. They have a stall at the Christmas Market.
CURRYS DIGITAL has reopened in its former premises following a refurbishment.
FARRAGO has taken premises in The Exchange. They will be at the Christmas Market.
PAPER MOSAIC, selling cards and stationery is moving into the former Paper Passions shop in The Exchange. Former NATURAL CAFÉ will open soon as a hairdresser’s salon, known as Sean Hanna www.seanhanna.co.uk Former PARCHMENT (near the station) is to open as a grocers/coffee shop in the near future.
JI JI PIZZA RESTAURANT opens at 282 Upper Richmond Rd in early November.
CITIZEN SMITH is opening a new bar in the former All Bar One premises opposite the station.
The award winning hair stylist, HEADMASTERS is opening a new academy at 284 Upper Richmond Road.
THE BRICKLAYERS ARMS has won the Greater London Regional Pub of the Year Award from Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Greater London Pub of the Year award.
BLADES RESTAURANT on Lower Richmond Rd has been awarded a Certificate of Excellence by London in Bloom for their on street planting.
THE COMEDY TREE (www.thecomedytree.com) continues at Wahoo Bar on the High Street.
Details of live music at the HALF MOON available at www.halfmoon.co.uk.
EDDIE CATZ now offers a drop off childcare facility at their Putney centre at 68-70 Putney High Street on the corner of Lacy Road. This will allow parents to shop in Putney or go to the local gym or hairdresser. The service is open to children aged 24 months to 5 years. To book call Eddie Catz on 0845 2011268. Eddie Catz run courses and play events – further details from www.eddiecatz.com.

Re-paving:
The most significant piece of news is the work to finish the repaving and decluttering of Putney High Street now underway which will be a big improvement to the way that the High Street looks. It is scheduled to finish in mid-November. Next Spring all the lightwells above the shop basement areas on the High Street will receive a special treatment to streamline them into the paving scheme.

Markets:
There are weekly Friday (11am – 8pm) and Saturday (9am-4pm) market stalls in Church Square hosted by Portland Scallops selling fresh wet fish and shell fish now joined by a specialist cheese stall and a stall selling fresh flowers.
The French Market will be in Church Square from 11th-13th December

Useful Numbers
Do help us keep Thamesfield ward in good shape by reporting instances of fly tipping and graffiti as well as broken pavements and pot holes.
Waste services – including fly tipping, street cleansing, missed collections, recycling. Tel 020 8871 8558 Email wasteservices@wandsworth.gov.uk Tel 020 8871 7479 for recycling hotline.
Graffiti removal Tel 020 8871 7049 Email graffiti@wandsworth.gov.uk
Broken pavements, potholes etc Tel 020 8871 6708 Email highways@wandsworth.gov.uk
Noise hotline Email esd@wandsworth.gov.uk Tel 020 8871 6170 (during office hours) Tel 020 8871 7869 (outside office hours)

Future Thamesfield E-bulletins
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Promoted by Robert Morritt on behalf of Putney Conservatives, both of 3 Summerstown, London, SW17 0BQ