Some current local issues below are: changes on Tooting Common, ‘Lets Talk’ event coming up, Tooting Bec Lodge, Not the One O’Clock club, Crime levels and issues, air pollution, Council waste of money on a ‘Golden Ticket scheme, housing issues
Some events in June:
3rd June – monthly Neighbourhood Network’s rhyme time (9 – 10) and coffee morning 10 – 1pm at the Scout Hall on the High Road – just drop in, all welcome
6th June: Rutherford House summer fair 11a, – 2.30pm
7th June -Tooting Common Dog Show and Ritherdon Road Street Party
Saturday 20th June – monthly Bedford ward drop-in surgery run by Rosena and Fleur, upstairs in Balham library 10 – 11am
Sunday 21st June 2pm Tooting Bec Lido to discuss local Road safety. ALL users welcome.
Monday 22nd June – Lets Talk event with the leader of the Council, Council Officers and your three local Councillors – your change to bring up issues, get answers and see what your neighbour’s concerns are
29th June – Tooting Common MAC Annual Public Meeting: The MAC (Management Advisory Committee) is a group of local volunteers who advise the Council on how we would like our Common to be managed, the APM was very well attended last year and Council Officers are there to report on activities and hear your issues.
Thank you!!
We have now been Councillors for a year and would like to say thank you again to everyone who has supported us along the way. Its been a lot of learning, great to be able to really help so many people and support so many great local groups and people. We’ve loved it so far, and look forward to doing even more in the next year.
Changes on Tooting Common
The white line in the cycle lane segregating cyclists from pedestrians has been scrapped away and new signs put up to explain that this IS still a cycle path but pedestrians have priority. The Cafe lease for the next 15 years is being tendered for, but no news on any outcomes yet.
‘Lets Talk’ meeting, 7.30pm 22nd June at the Scout Hall on Balham High Road
Please do come to the Lets Talk event on 22nd June whether you have an issue to bring up , or are interested in local issues. It would be great to see as many people as possible – and only happens in each ward every few years. Do take this opportunity to raise issues with us your Councillors, the Council leader and officers. We’d LOVE to see you there!
Tooting Bec Lodge
The latest on the historic Lodge on Tooting Bec Road is that cotinuing concern that despite the scaffolding going up, there is still a lack of progress being made on renovating the building. The Council report that the owners is currently sourcing windows and a historically correct rendering for the plasterwork and will be continuing, but we are continuing to share our concerns and hope that the owner will share a timetable with us so that we can see what the plans are and can check progress against these.
Not the One O’Clock club
I know that lots of people are concerned that the Childrens’ Centre on the Triangle (previously a One O’clock club as a drop on stay and play centre open to all under 5s and carers from 1 – 5pm) is now a very much restricted service. It is just open on some afternoons and with much shorter sessions for certain age groups (e.g. under 1s) so parents with children of different ages can’t go. This is really disappointing and we are in discussion with the Council about this. As shown by figures I have recently asked for, as a One O’Clock club there were an average 741 users per month but now as a more targeted provision there are 277 per month. I should stress that clearly these can’t be directly compared as services, and the new centre may be able to provide some areas of provision which the One O’Clock club didn’t. But equally the new provision is clearly helping far fewer carers and parents at a time of life when the stay and play centre was a tried, tested and very successful Council provision. This would be a good issue for discussion at the ‘Lets Talk’ event.
A list of opening times and sessions at the Triangle Centre is here: http://fis.wandsworth.gov.uk/kb5/wandsworth/fsd/organisation.page?id=CvJXZjSCBQQ
Crime levels and issues
We attended the recent Safer Neighbourhood meeting and were pleased to hear how crime is low in our ward, and that the police are always very keen to hear from the community about areas they can focus on. With the hot weather coming up, everyone is reminded to keep their windows shut when they aren’t in the room. Also remember to lock your car as the number of thefts from unlocked cars is always a factor, and do call 101 if you see anything suspicious or would like to report anything which is not an emergency.
Air pollution – what do you think of the action plan?
There are two real concerns in our air and Wandsworth has been given notice to sort these areas out: high levels of nitrogen dioxide and small particles. These cause lung and heart problems and we don’t even know the long-term damage these are causing to our children. We can’t see the small particles and they are half the width of a human hair, and our body cannot get rid of them easily. They cause heart and lung disease and problems especially for the young and elderly, and can cause cancer.
Wandsworth Council have just released a draft action plan on air pollution and are asking for your comments by 5th August. http://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/info/200485/air_quality
Council waste of money on a ‘Golden Ticket scheme
Wandsworth council has just wasted thousands of pounds on nearly having a scheme to encourage recycling through being able to win £20,000 if your golden ticket is pulled out of a draw. This was going to be done jointly by Wandsworth and two local boroughs, but after going to print with leaflets for everyone, this scheme has been scrapped. Here is the story in the Evening Standard last week:
http://www.pressreader.com/uk/london-evening-standard-west-end-final-a/20150529/281689728413659/TextView
Planning Committee – Foxbourne Rd and Montana Rd
Fleur attended planning committee to speak on behalf of residents objections to converting a house in Foxborne Road into 3 flats, and agreeing with additional windows to a extension on Montana Rd which weren’t originally in the planning application. There were an unusually large number of complaints made to the Foxbourne Rd plans and Fleur emphasised these to the committee.
Housing issues
A lot of time in the last couple of months has been spent supporting several families who have housing difficulties, and we welcome anyone in this position to contact us as soon as possible in the process – don’t call us in as a last resort! We’ve been helping to work with the Council housing officers and even with housing offices in other Boroughs if it comes to that. We’ve had some recent good news about one family that was offered unsuitable accommodation in Birmingham but now has been offered housing locally and they are delighted.
New roles for us
Finally, this time of year is like the start of a new school year in the Council calendar and we both have new roles – Rosena is Deputy Leader of the Labour Group of Councillors and Fleur is the opposition spokesperson for Community Services.