Nightingale News
January 2020 E-bulletin
This is the latest news for Nightingale & Balham from your three Conservative councillors.
Please feel free to forward the bulletin to friends and neighbours in the area.
Cllr Richard Field (@_RichardField_)
Cllr Ian Hart (@IanHart14)
Cllr Sarah McDermott (@NightingaleSMcD)
Nightingale Ward, London Borough of Wandsworth
Email: [email protected]
We are here to help with any Council matters. You can contact us via our council emails ([email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]) or the email above.
Jaggard Way Planning Application Refused
We are delighted that the outline planning application to build 4 blocks of 4 storeys housing commercial units and 72 flats next to Wandsworth Common station was refused on 29 November 2019. Cllr Sarah McDermott spoke at the planning committee on behalf of objectors raising the issues of inappropriate siting of modern blocks next to Wandsworth Common and the conservation area, the lack of replacement space for viable commercial units and the impact on the amenity of the Ravenslea Road neighbours.
The planning committee members discussed the proposal in detail and voted unanimously to refuse the application for the following reason:
The proposal, by reason of the unacceptable reductions in received daylight to the neighbouring residential occupiers of Ravenslea Road, would result in demonstrable harm to their existing living conditions. This would be to the detriment of their amenity. As such, the proposal is contrary to Policy DMS1(c) of the London Borough of Wandsworth Development Management Planning Document 2016.
The applicants can appeal or submit a new application. We will keep you posted.
Community Speed Watch
On Tuesday 4 February 9-10am the Speedwatch team will be on Balham High Road (between Balham Park Road and Balham tube station). This will be the first time we will be working with the police to check the 30mph limit on the main A24 red route. Cllr Ian Hart comments, ‘Many families and children cross this busy main road, so it is vital that motorists keep to a safe speed’. Come and join us and see how speed is recorded and motorists warned.
Wandsworth Council Declares a Climate Emergency
Wandsworth Council has set itself the target of becoming the greenest borough in inner London. Councillors are in the process of setting up a comprehensive and ambitious action plan with the aim of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/news/july-2019/wandsworth-sets-out-green-ambition/
Residents are vital partners with the Council to achieve our goal. Roadshows and meetings will be set up to share innovative ideas. In the meantime, if you have any bright ideas on how we each can do our individual bit towards tackling climate change, do contact your Nightingale councillors. And remember you can buy a discounted compost bin from the Council https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/rubbish-and-recycling/how-to-recycle-an-item/food-waste/
Tooting Bec Small Business Network
Businesses and shops in Tooting Bec are keen to work together to support each other and improve the shopping experience for all of us. If you are a local business or know one who might be interested in joining the Network contact Laura Shimili-Mears at [email protected]
The first monthly networking event is on Wednesday 29 January 5.30pm at the Wheatsheaf.
Trees
We are delighted to announce that the Wandsworth Tree Wardens won the inaugural Environmental Civic Award in the autumn. They are a very active and well run volunteer group who work with the Council to look after our trees.
https://wandsworthtreewardens.org/ Sarah McDermott is a tree warden and encourages more Nightingale residents to join this very worthwhile group. If you have any suggestions on new locations for trees, just let us know.
Beautify Balham
A small voluntary group has set up to improve the public realm around Balham (Beautify Balham). The plan is to work towards preventing littering and fly-tipping, planting trees and smartening up the look of Balham. Cllr Sarah McDermott and Cllr Lucy Mowatt (Balham ward) are helping to start the venture off. The first event will be a Litter Pick on Saturday 1 February 2020 at 11am meeting at Bedford Hill Place behind Sainsbury’s. Do come along and join us.
After lobbying by councillors and the Balham Society, the fascinating sculptures (bas-reliefs) along Station Road now have a plaque identifying the artists. More culture in Balham!
Bellevue Road
Following our successful petition to have Bellevue Road included in the borough-wide 20mph zone, a formal consultation took place in the autumn to find out residents’, shoppers’ and business views. The replies are now with Council officers for analysis and will be presented to the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Cllr Ian Hart says, ‘The benefits of a 20mph speed limit are safer roads encouraging more people to walk and cycle which supports Wandsworth’s target of being the cleanest and greenest inner London borough’
Also wooden bollards are being renewed along the boundary with Wandsworth Common to ensure the common land is protected.
Oakmead Road/Ravenstone Road No Through Road?
The residents of Oakmead Road and Ravenstone Street are blighted by vehicles rat-running to avoid the traffic lights on Balham High Road. Cllr Richard Field will be presenting a very well supported petition at the next Council meeting with the following wording,
‘We the residents of Oakmead Road and Ravenstone Street, request for Oakmead Road to be blocked off to through traffic at Bedford Hill (with the provision for height restricted vehicles to reverse back from the bridge)’. Council officers will next investigate the possibilities.
Chestnut Grove Cycle Lane Protection
Nightingale councillors have acted quickly on cyclists’ worries about the loading and unloading of lorries in the cycle lane leading up to the Balham High Road junction. It is a particular concern for children cycling to school.
At the end of January the Council will be introducing a Monday to Friday, 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm, loading and unloading prohibition on the mandatory cycle lane in Chestnut Grove on the approach to Balham High Road. Vehicles must not drive or park in a cycle lane marked by a solid white line. Cllr McDermott, who cycles herself, says the more we can get school children out of cars and on to their bikes the better.
Springfield Development
Cllr Ian Hart attends the Springfield Community Forum – a meeting for local stakeholders and groups to hear more about the development of the Springfield Hospital site. The Hospital Trust now has Government approval for its Full Business Case for the Estate Modernisation Programme. The Master Plan for the site, including modern in-patient buildings, more homes, shops and a new park, was approved in 2012. The next detailed consultation in February will be on the development by Barratt London of houses on the north-eastern boundary of the site backing on to College Gardens (adj Beechcroft Road). Cllr Hart comments, ‘An interesting fact is that 50,000 bricks salvaged from demolition will be recycled and used in developing Springfield Park’. You can find more out at https://www.springfieldvillage.info/
Bedford Hill, Balham
Although not in Nightingale ward, residents will be interested to hear about the improvements in the pipeline for Bedford Hill in Balham. A consultation last summer gave support for improvements to the public realm to encourage more walking.
Phase 1 includes the introduction of a 20mph speed limit, high quality paving, improved parking bays, increased cycle parking, reduced street clutter and pedestrian-friendly crossings and sustainable drainage/planting where possible at the junctions of Harberson Road, Shipka Road, Sistova Road and Rossiter Road. This work is planned to start at the end of January and will take about six months.
The later Phase 2 is the improvement of the junction at Bedford Hill, Balham Station Road and Fernlea Road subject to TfL’s final approval.
Safer Nightingale Team (SNT) Meeting
The next SNT meeting is Tuesday 21 January at 7pm in White Eagle Club (Polish Club), 211 Balham High Road. The police report back on their crime-fighting in the ward and we have opportunities to raise concerns with them. Numbers of residents attending continue to rise each meeting. Do come along if you have any questions to do with crime and prevention.
Graffiti Removal
Whenever graffiti is spotted, Nightingale councillors are quick to report it and have it removed. We are especially pleased to see anti-social paint removed from the vintage post box at the corner of St James’s Drive and Wandsworth Common. Let us know if you see unsightly graffiti or use the Report It app on the Council website: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/report/use-the-report-it-app/
Cleaning Up The Tooting Bec Area/Trinity Road
Cllrs Field and McDermott arranged to have a walk-about with Council officers at the end of October to pin-point places at Tooting Bec which need more care and attention. The accumulation of litter and cigarette butts in hard-to-reach pavement corners and boundaries with buildings was identified. Loose cabling, fly-tips, blocked gullies, abandoned bike chains were all listed to be addressed. Also we have arranged for litter bins to be cleaned and repaired where needed.
Potential Changes of Ward Boundaries
The Local Government Boundary Commission for England has made final recommendations for changes to the number of councillors and ward boundaries in Wandsworth. Potentially, Nightingale ward would become smaller with the loss of the Endlesham area north of the railway line to Balham ward and would be called Trinity. Have your say at:
http://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/greater-london/greater-london/wandsworth
Althorpe Road To Be Resurfaced
We’re very pleased to let you know that Althorp road will be resurfaced on the 28th and 29th of January.
Consultation on H2 Parking Zone
Residents in H2 (roads in the Endlesham area) are about to be consulted on a change of hours in their parking zone. Currently it is a 1 hour restriction but there is a suggestion that this could change to an all-day restriction. The consultation can be found on the Wandsworth Council website: https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/parking/parking-consultations/current-parking-consultations/h2-one-hour-review/
Phone Boxes
Wandsworth Council has successfully won an appeal to remove an unnecessary phone box outside 194 Balham High Road. The more clutter we can avoid on the Balham High Road pavements, the better.
Councillor Surgeries
If you would like to meet a local councillor, the Nightingale and Balham councillors hold monthly surgeries at Balham library every Saturday from 10-11am. No need to book – just turn up.
Finding Out About Your Nightingale Councillors
The quickest and easiest way to find out what your Nightingale councillors are doing is to follow us on Twitter. We post information almost daily. Our twitter handles are @NightingaleSMcD @IanHart14 and @_RichardField_ We also have a Nightingale Facebook page: @NightingaleCouncillors.
Future Nightingale E-Bulletins
We send out e-bulletins on an ad hoc basis. If you didn’t get the original email but would like to, please email [email protected] with ‘SUBSCRIBE’ written in the ‘subject’ field.
