20 MPH zone is now in place
My dog was barking like crazy in the middle of the night – but the reason was great! New 20 mph signs were being painted. It has been fantastic to see the 20MPH signs go up all over the streets in the ward. We spent a lot of time collecting the signatures for each street to reach the 25% threshold to ask the Council to consult about these plans. The response to the consultation was very much in favour, and now the residential roads in the ward are all 20MPH. These have shown in other areas in the country to encourage much safer driving, and I hope to see the same happening here.
Wheatsheaf wins again!
It is great that the Wheatsheaf pub in Tooting Bec was the place for the Government announcement of new national powers coming in next month for people to have a say in protecting their local pubs. All the thousands of local people who took part in the campaign to save the historic Wheatsheaf building should also be really proud of this. Despite huge local opposition to the threats of it becoming a supermarket, the Council dragged their feet and took over a year to agree protection measures. Sadiq Khan MP really supported the local campaign group and I’m glad to have joined so many other local people in being part of something which has made the Government take action. There is more info on this here: http://www.sadiqkhan.org.uk/wheatsheaf_campaign_makes_history
Balham Boulevard – slower progress on new plans for Balham High Road
I’ve always felt that the High Road between Tooting Bec station and Balham station is not the prettiest stretch of road and could do with some love and attention. Balham Boulevard and the creation of a more European town style stretch of road was put to the Council a while ago and it was agreed to look more into this. We really support consideration of a way of having quieter lanes at each side for cyclists, something which is both safer and nicer looking. In the last year I have seen three motorbike accidents in the stretch between Ritherdon Road and Tooting Bec station alone, and I’d love to see more trees and a more cafe style look to the pavements.
We’ve been talking with Council officers about progress and the latest update is not good, the latest news is this: ‘The Balham Boulevard Plans are being led by TfL as it sits on their network. We have now been informed that they have had difficulties in designing segregated cycle lanes in this location due to the potential conflicts with traffic turning in and out of the numerous side roads. As a result they have concluded that the cyclists can be more safely accommodated in wider bus lanes. In addition, following requests to look at traffic movements at the junction of Balham High Road and Balham Station Road, they have incorporated that work into the wider Balham Boulevard project. This has set back the design process while they are redrawing the brief for the project. TfL has not yet confirmed the revised timetable, but I suspect we will not see any designs until late Summer, with possible consultation in the Autumn 2015.’
We will keep working with the Council to involve as many local people as possible in these plans and create an area which is both useful for traffic and nicer for everyone.
Tooting Common Cafe – could a community group take on the new lease?
The lease for this cafe has come up for renewal, for 15 years. Some renovation and creation of public access toilets is part of the new terms (good news!). I’m part of a community group which has just been formed to see if we could put a bid together in quite a short time to take on the lease. For more information contact me or see the group on Twitter: @TootComCafCo – we’d love more people to join!
Transition Town Tooting hustings
It is election season and there are many hustings and other election meetings taking place. I went to one recently organised by Transition Town Tooting, a group promoting sustainable living and community in the area. Lots of people came and shared ideas for how our area could be improved, from really affordable housing, supporting small businesses, stopping littering, more community-minded planning decisions and more.
http://transitiontowntooting.blogspot.co.uk
Traffic, litter, pavements, housing issues and more – get in touch!
We’ve regularly visit different streets to speak to as many people as possible, and many people have been raising issues about housing problems, littering and fly tipping and traffic issues in their streets which we’re working on to resolve with the Council. These are good examples of some of the issues that we as Councillors can represent your views and concerns to the Council – so do contact us about these and other issues.
We have monthly surgery at Balham Library on the this Saturday of each month from 10 – 11am – no appointment needed. Do email us too:
fanderson@wandsworth.gov.uk
rallinkhan@wandswoth.gov.uk