Thamesfield Councillors' New Year Bulletin

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An update from your local ward Councillors

Welcome to the New Year edition of our ebulletin which we hope you find informative. Please feel free to forward this to neighbours and local residents.

Boris Bikes/Barclays cyle hire scheme extends to Putney
The Barclays Cycle Hire has been extended south of the river to the north of the borough including Putney. The scheme allows local residents to use the bikes at docking stations throughout London. The Council has secured LIP funding from TfL to fund the installation of the docking stations throughout the borough. The scheme is designed for short trips and now has an extensive map of docking stations within central London where you can leave or pick up a bike.
To find the location of docking stations throughout London go to https://web.barclayscyclehire.tfl.gov.uk/maps
The location of cycle hire docking stations in the borough can be found on pages 16 and 17 of the latest edition of Brightside

Docking station in Thamesfield can be found at Disraeli Road (library), Esmond Street/Oxford Road, Felsham Road/Weimar Street, Northfield/Putney Bridge Road, Montserrat Road/Putney High Street, Osiers Road/Point Pleasant, Oxford Road (PSAD), Putney Bridge Road (opposite Skelgill Road) and Upper Richmond Road/Putney Station. In East Putney the docking station at Upper Richmond Road/Carlton Drive is also convenient as is the docking station in Fulham just off the New King’s Road opposite All Saints and near to Putney Bridge station (tube).

The first 30 minutes are free and thereafter charges can be found www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/14811.aspx . The following link takes you to the step by step guide to how the scheme works www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/15155.aspx

Airport expansion and the Davies Commission
With thousands of residents living beneath the approach to the southern runway at Heathrow we were disappointed by Howard Davies’ announcement to include Heathrow as an option for airport expansion. We find it difficult to understand why Davies has not taken environmental points into account and why the Government is not doing more to protect residents in Putney when there are other good options for airport expansion available.

Howard Davies has deliberately side-stepped the issue of noise impacts in finalising his short list of sites for new runways at Heathrow. Other recommendations in his report include increasing night flights into Heathrow which are the most damaging to health and in breach of World Health Organisation guidelines. With the last flight arriving at 2330 and night flights beginning at 0430 residents beneath the flight path are only able to sleep for 5 hours a night now. The prospect of funding double and secondary glazing are prohibitively expensive for many. This is however, something about which we have written to Patrick McLoughlin.

Night flights. We were bitterly disappointed when the Government extended the already unpopular current regime of night flights to October 2017. The consultation on the next regime for night flights continues until 31 January 2014 www.gov.uk/government/consultations/night-flights. If you are regularly woken up at 0430 and have noticed the increase in night flights above the cap of 16, you may wish to have your say.

Recent operational data detailing flight activity at Heathrow can be found at www.heathrowoperationaldata.com under daily operational data.

You can log ongoing complaints online at www.heathrowairport.com/noise/help/make-an-enquiry

Representations and complaints of ongoing breaches made by Heathrow can also be made to Patrick McLoughlin, the secretary of state for Transport at Patrick.mcloughlin@dft.gsi.gov.uk. You might also like to copy in Justine Greening (GreeningJ@parliament.uk), our London Assembly member, Richard Tracey who is on the Environment Committee looking into Heathrow richard.tracey@london.gov.uk, Zac Goldsmith at zac@goldsmith.com, Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon and a minister for transport (Stephen.hammond@dft.gsi.gov.uk), Robert Goodwill (Robert.goodwill@dft.gsi.gov.uk) who authorized the extension of the current night flight regime and John Stewart, the chairman of HACAN Clearskies (johnstewart2@btconnect.com) www.hacan.org.uk/about_us/who_we_are.php

For South West London the surface connections by rail to Gatwick are much easier than those to Heathrow which lacks a direct route for those seeking to carry heavy luggage by public transport. Heathrow holds a monopoly on many routes. For example, the route to JFK New York flies into and out of Heathrow and not Gatwick. The freeing up of Heathrow’s monopolies would help to expand capacity at the same time as improving surface transport access to south London.

Christmas tree recycling and how to get hold of recycling sacks
How to get hold of recycling sacks
We have had several queries about how to obtain more of the clear, stronger recycling sacks that replaced the previous orange ones. Each household is issued with 90 sacks once a year, but you can obtain more by emailing wasteservices@wandsworth.gov.uk, phoning 0208 871 7497, or texting 07797 805456, and three rolls will be delivered to you within nine days. Or you can collect sacks in person from the Customer Service Desk at the town hall.

Christmas trees will be collected free of charge in Putney on 7 and 14 January
Leave your tree at the front of your property where it can be clearly seen although not on the pavement of public footway unless there is no other option. You can also take your tree to the tip at Smugglers’ Way. www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/10070/recycling/315/christmas_and_new_year_collections

Putney Bridge resurfacing
There are plans for Putney Bridge to close for six months for resurfacing on 2 June 2014. The Council has secured the full funding of £1.5 million so the Council tax payers will not bear any of the cost. The work is long overdue and results from leaks from Thames Water pipes beneath the surface, a problem which has now been resolved.
TfL is pressing the Council to keep the bridge open exclusively to accommodate the Ride London event in August which would cause problems since concrete does not set in cold weather and a delayed closure until the end of August would be a problem. Discussions are continuing.

During works the bridge will remain open to pedestrians and to those wishing to push a bike across the bridge. Discussions are ongoing with TfL regarding the buses many of which already terminate at Putney Bridge. A partial closure would result in 11 months’ work, as much disruption and increase the cost to £1.85 million, funding which the Council does not have. The Council report can be found at http://ww3.wandsworth.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s29835/13-737%20Putney%20Bridge%20v2.pdf
Putney Bridge was last closed for 6 months for resurfacing in 1995.

Potholes repaired in Thamesfied
Over the past few months 296 pothloles have been repaired in Thamesfield. If you become aware of a pothole you can report it at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/potholes or email onstreetservices@wandsworth.gov.uk or let one of us know.

Other street defects such as a blocked drain or damaged paving can be reported online at http://tinyurl.com/p9dbdgt

Primary school places deadline – 15 January
Now is the time to apply for school places for September 2014. Children born between 1 September 2009 and 31 August 2010 will need to apply for a primary school place by 15 January. Details of the borough’s schools are available via the following link and it is possible to apply online.
www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200273/primaryreception_admissions

Health matters for 2014
It is now nine months since the NHS changes giving more influence to local GPs, the local council and residents were introduced. The transfer of Public Health responsibilities to the council has proved very beneficial, the GPs Clinical Commissioning Group has been very influential and HealthWatch have looked after patient interests.

The establishment of a Joint (Council ad GPs) Commissioning Unit has meant better use of limited resources, the elimination of duplication and an overall better patient experience.

Public Health matters have cross-council department impact. There are housing implications, poor housing can lead to higher than average winter deaths, poor quality pavements can cause falls, control of alcohol and smoking impact on education services. It is important to get these areas of concern under control.

The Health and Wellbeing Board is a high level forum which oversees these changes and sets target areas, currently falls prevention, help for carers and the frail elderly. The Health and Wellbeing Partnership involves a wide range of voluntary organisations interested in the health of the community

The health of the community is vitally important to us all. In Wandsworth we spend £3 million a year tackling health issues arising from drinking too much alcohol. Twice as much is spent each year on dealing with the after effects of smoking. Other areas of concern involve healthy eating, anorexia and obesity are at opposite ends of the scale, sexually transmitted infections, drug misuse and mental health issues

At a local level, Putney GPs offer free health checks to those over 50 years. These help to identify a range of conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or a propensity to suffer heart conditions, which if identified early enough, can be halted and reversed. Please take up this opportunity.

At each GP practice there is a patient group which looks after the rights of the patient. So if you have concerns please make contact with your local patient group

If you would like to know more about Health and Wellbeing in Wandsworth, please contact Cllr Jim Maddan - jmaddan@wandsworth.gov.uk, who chairs the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Partnership, as well as the various project groups referred to above.


What can we do to help our elderly neighbours?
Well respected research by the experts suggests that life expectancy and the quality of life of the elderly and vulnerable improves considerably if they can stay in their own home. The demand for sheltered housing and residential care homes is diminishing rapidly.

With more people staying in their own homes longer, a greater burden falls on families, neighbours and professional carers. Many of these individuals are reluctant to admit that they need help. This is where neighbours come into their own. These are the people who can pick up the early signs of distress.

Neighbours can keep an eye out, offer to do basic shopping, collect medication from the pharmacy and ensure that the vulnerable have received their flu jabs. The list is endless.

One of the biggest worries for families, who may live far away, is the potential for their loved ones, perhaps in the early stages of dementia, to wander. No one wants to lock up their grandparents or parents, so neighbours can be worth their weight in gold.

There has never been any suggestion that neighbours should take over from professional carers who do a fantastic job, but extra pairs of eyes and ears are invaluable.

If you know of an elderly person, who needs help with the security of their home, whether it is locks on doors and windows, the need for a key safe, or other equipment which gives them the ability to stay in their own homes for longer. This is vitally important when elderly people are ready to leave hospital. Delays not only have an impact on the patient, but other more needy patients waiting for a bed

The Wandsworth Community Safety Trust, chaired by Cllr Jim Maddan, has a stock of equipment and a team of expert fitters. Fitting is not means-tested but donations mean that the stock of locks, bolts, key safes etc can be replenished. Please contact Sue Yoxall on 02088716603 or syoxall@wandsworth.gov.uk with the details of any needy person.


Village people
Cllr Ryder and a group of residents in Thamesfield ward based in the area stretching from the High Street down Lower Richmond Road to the Common and including the side roads, particularly those going down to the river, have proposed the idea of “branding” the area as Putney Riverside Village. It is felt that this would reflect its “villagey” feel and give it an individual personality. An informal steering committee has been set up and in the New Year the committee will examine ways to get financial backing from the council, local traders and other interested groups towards hanging baskets, signs and posters which would announce the Putney Riverside Village. If you’d like to be involved with the project email Councillor Mike Ryder at mryder@wandsworth.gov.uk or write to him at the Members’ Room, Wandsworth Town Hall.

The Thames Tunnel
As residents will know, after a long campaign Barns Elms playing fields were saved from being a main drilling shaft for the £4 billion Thames Tunnel, designed to handle the capital’s sewage without it escaping into the river. Now Barn Elms and another local site, on the Thames foreshore by Putney Bridge will only be used for work to connect the local sewage system to the main Tunnel. The Planning Inspectorate is currently considering Thames Water’s final plans for the Tunnel, and all the views put forward by interested parties. A decision is expected by summer 2014, and if the project is approved work will begin in 2015 and is expected to be complete by 2023. Fortunately the works at Barn Elms and the Putney foreshore will only take a maximum of two years, and your local councillors have been active in urging that as much construction material and waste is transported by river barges, to reduce lorry congestion on local roads.

Affordable housing at Putney Point
One and two bed apartments are available to buy through the Government’s part-rent, part-buy shared ownership scheme at Putney Point next to East Putney tube. The scheme is available to those living or working within the borough of Wandsworth with a minimum income of around £37,000. To register your interest with Nottinghill Housing call 020 8357 4444 or go to www.nhhg.org.uk/putneypoint for more details and to register online.
Shared ownership apartments are also available at Battersea Reach where there is a choice of studios, one and two bed flats. www.nhhg.org.uk/battersea.

Best wishes for 2014
Councillors Jim Maddan, Mike Ryder and Rosemary Torrington
Thamesfield ward

January 3, 2014