Thamesfield Councillors' November Bulletin

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Introducing the Conservative candidate for Thamesfield By-Election


Thamesfield Councillors Mike Ryder, Rosemary Torrington, and John Locker (candidate for Thamesfield ward by election)

Welcome to the November edition of our e-bulletin covering local news and information for residents. If you have any issues you would like to raise with us please let us know.

31-43 Putney High Street (2017/5724) Proposed ten storey tower block for 179 bed hotel



Plans have just been submitted for the major site on the corner of Putney Bridge Road and the High Street – currently occupied by Preto and Mascalzone – view them at planning.wandsworth.gov.uk/

Although we fully support the regeneration of the High Street, this gigantic ten storey scheme hemmed in on a tight corner site is out of keeping with adjoining small scale shops on the High Street. Situated on an already congested, polluted junction, this “gateway” to Putney is in the middle of the Putney Embankment and Oxford Road conservation areas together with 59 listed buildings nearby. No residential or affordable housing is included. If you share our misgivings, please submit a comment in response to the consultation via the link above.

We are keen to see proposals which bring vibrancy to the town centre and improve facilities for local people. What do you want to see here to enhance amenity for our local community? Let us know.

For a start, an integrated approach is essential with the two developers working together so that this corner site integrates with the neighbouring site - Levellers Court on Putney Bridge Road (Brewers to Preto). The Council’s Local Plan seeks a new public square here and specifies that new buildings be sensitively designed to make a positive contribution. Anything over 6 storeys is considered tall.

Don’t forget you can take our Putney High Street survey so we can ensure your views are included in any plans to improve Putney High Street www.thamesfield.com/putneyhighstreetsurvey

New play areas for Leader’s Gardens for young families
A new natural play area for local children has been created in Leader’s Gardens. The
imaginative designs are shown below:


The “natural play garden” has been built into the landscape and features mounds, bridges, a dry river bed, a bug hotel, log stepping stones and a balance wall. Shrubs, grasses and scented plants divide the garden into different play areas. The scheme is designed to offer a more exciting and varied play area. There are areas for families to picnic and enjoy the outdoors all year round.

To see the imaginative plans for Leader’s Gardens email: heretohelp@wandsworthconservatives.com



John Locker talking to local Mums at the new children’s area in Leader’s Gardens

Still Time to Object to Heathrow Expansion
Documents released by the Department for Transport reveal for the first time evidence that the benefits from a second runway at Gatwick far exceed those of expanding Heathrow. The Government’s earlier consultation on airport expansion was judged to be inadequate because it excluded vital information on the UK Air Quality Plan and future aviation demands; it has now been forced to consult for a second time.

John Locker has welcomed the release of this new evidence and is calling on the Government to recognise the plain fact that its “all eggs in one basket” approach to airport expansion is wrong, expensive, more destructive of the environment and less beneficial to our economy. John says “it is time for the government to face the reality and abandon this foolish plan – Heathrow already blights lives in Putney. Further expansion would be just intolerable.”

The eight-week consultation runs until 19 December.

Extending the pier at Wandsworth Riverside Quarter to serve larger craft
Cllr Torrington has been lobbying to improve public transport, a big concern in WRQ, and this week plans have been submitted (application no 2017/5939) for the pier extension at WRQ to enable larger, new commuter boats with greater capacity to stop here at low tide.


The pier, designed by expert marine engineer, Beckett Rankine, will stabilise the pontoon and prevent wash from disturbing house boats moored nearby. Do take a look at the plans and design and access statement and have your say.

Floodlighting Putney Bridge



£450,000 of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding has been secured towards the up-lighting of Bazalgette’s Grade II, listed Putney Bridge. The Council has commissioned a full topographical and electrical survey of the bridge and a design team is now developing design options for the bridge lighting. We look forward to reporting further on this project.

Revolution Bar (former Railway pub on the High Street opposite the station)
Councillor Ryder has gone into action to try to save historic memorabilia from the former Railway pub, built in 1886, now being converted into a cocktail bar by the Revolution group. He read that a local resident was upset because posters depicting Putney and famous people connected with it through the years had vanished from the pub’s walls during the refurbishment, and the resident had hoped they would have been given to the Putney Society or the local library to preserve them. Cllr Ryder contacted Revolution‘s head office in Ashton-under-Lyne, and their property director Godfrey Russell discovered that the posters had been removed but were then sold on to a firm in Scotland, and were now in a container there. Cllr Ryder has asked the concerned resident to give Revolution an idea of what to look for in the container, in the hope the posters can be restored to Putney.

STOP PRESS...two of the posters, one of Putney-born former PM Clement Attlee and one of The 1647 Putney Debates, have been found and will be returned to Putney :

View 94, Wandsworth Riverside Quarter
Many residents got in touch with us distressed about the arrival of a bar housed in a marquee which appeared without permission on the pontoon and was attracting unwanted crime and anti-social behaviour at night. Residents were kept awake by loud music in the middle of the night throughout the summer. We took this up on their behalf and can report that the structure has now been removed and is unlikely to receive planning permission. A noise abatement notice has resolved the remaining problem.


John Locker talking to a local resident in one of the new developments at Wandsworth Riverside Quarter.

Thamesfield by-election on Thursday, 9th November
Thank you to everyone we have spoken to or received messages from about the by-election for a new ward Councillor. We have had some great responses. To find out more about John Locker the Conservative candidate and his campaigns, take a look at www.Thamesfield.com
So please don’t forget to vote on 9th November. Polls are open 7am to 10pm.

Battersea Park Fireworks on Saturday 4 November
Book in your friends and family as the annual Battersea Park Fireworks display is back on Saturday 4 November to ignite the skies of Wandsworth. Gates open at 6pm for pre show entertainment and to grab something tasty to eat from the food and drinks stalls. Remember to bring cash as there are no card facilities. The bonfire is lit at 7.30pm and the fireworks display starts at 8pm.
Tickets available at www.enablelc.org/fireworks

Councillors Mike Ryder and Rosemary Torrington
Thamesfield ward

November 1, 2017