Pictured: Cllr Kim Caddy, Cllr Guy Humphries and Cllr Terence Walsh
Dear Resident,
The COVID-19 lockdown has been a strange and difficult time for us all.
As we come out of the lockdown and start to plan to return to normal life, we wish you all well.
Don’t forget that your Southfields councillors are here to help with any Council issue or query. Click on our names above to get in touch with us.
In the meantime we have been busy standing up for our residents via individual casework and in larger campaigns. Some of which you can read more about below.
Best wishes
Kim, Guy & Terry
School Streets come to Southfields!
Parents and pupils at more than a dozen primary schools across Wandsworth, including Sheringdale school in Southfields are set to enjoy traffic-free drop-offs and pick-ups outside the school gates.
The initiative sees the roads containing school entrances closed to vehicle traffic when pupils arrive in the mornings and leave in the afternoons.
Temporary barriers are being used initially along with signs warning drivers that they cannot enter these streets placed prominently on all approaches.
Southfields Councillors are delighted that Sheringdale School will be included in this scheme.
Cllr Guy Humphries, Chairman of Planning said “These plans will make the streets around our schools safer and also prevent idling near schools, dramatically improving the air quality for our children – this is a major priority for us in Southfields”.
Smart-Growth plan launched
Wandsworth Council is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by launching a ‘Smart Growth’ plan, which sets out the Council’s aims to put in place a fair and even-handed recovery package, building on Wandsworth’s excellent track record of sustainable, ambitious growth and regeneration.
The Council will use technology and new innovative ways of working to work smarter, use our data more effectively and deliver even better services to residents and businesses.
Cllr Kim Caddy, Southfields Councillor and Deputy Leader of the Council said “It has been so brilliant to see residents, businesses, community groups and charities coming together to support each other through this crisis – we have some really inspirational examples in Southfields, like the Grid Alliance and SW Fruit and Veg.
Our Smart Growth Plan will help support those who have been most impacted by COVID-19 and will adapt the way the Council works to make sure our communities get the support they deserve.”
Smart Growth also builds on the Wandsworth pledge to be carbon neutral and the greenest inner-London borough by 2030, accelerating vital work tackling climate change.
As well as setting important long-term objectives the plan also looks at developing immediate packages of work over the coming months such as tutoring and volunteer mentoring programmes, targeted employment and business support.
Shop Local!
Many businesses are facing an uncertain future in the wake of COVID-19 and helping support local businesses is a major part of the Council’s Smart Growth recovery plan.
Our local shopping spaces are incredibly important to us here in Southfields.
Please do support Cllr Louise Calland's Shop Local campaign, encouraging residents to use local businesses and help out by starting to eat out again!
Commenting Cllr Guy Humphries said “It’s part of the Council’s job to do what we can to support small businesses.
We have handed out more than £54m in support grants and we have been working with the Chamber of Commerce and other local organisations to offer advice and support to businesses during this crisis, as well as approving business-friendly measures such as simplifying the rules on street-trading ”
Join Cllr Louise Calland's #ShopLocal Facebook Group
Aim to end Rough Sleeping
Wandsworth Council have approved plans which will help prevent Rough Sleepers returning to the streets.
The programme follows work that has seen 130 rough sleepers accommodated so far during the pandemic as part of the council’s Housing First and Housing for All programmes.
Councillor Kim Caddy, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Covid-19 has given us a once in a generation opportunity to support our rough sleepers to get off the streets and into sustainable tenancies.
At the heart of this lies a “Housing First” principle to make sure everyone has an offer of accommodation to keep them safe during this crisis.
I’ve seen this first hand in Southfields, where homelessness was a challenge during the crisis – we have a taken a multi-agency approach and are offering ongoing support for health issues, employment, further education, immigration and benefit advice to help individuals turn their lives around - a tailored and personalised approach.”
Traffic measures to help Southfields
The West Hill Traffic Management Trial has been made permanent and, on a trial basis, early morning restrictions will be extended to ban traffic turning left into Inner Park Road South from Wimbledon Park Side.
The Traffic Management applies only to Morning rush hours traffic on Monday to Friday entering the area.
Buses and cycles are exempt from the ban.
The Traffic Management Trial was in response to a number of petitions from residents of roads in the West Hill area about the high level of through traffic which turned off the A3 at Tibbett's Corner to avoid congestion on West Hill towards Upper Richmond Road.
The primary 'rat run' was Withycombe Road Princes Way,Keevil Drive, Skeena Hill, Girdwood Road and Granville Road and then Merton Road.
The Management Trial has been effective in reducing traffic. The restrictions from Monday to Friday (7am -10am) will remain on turning left from Wimbledon Park Sideon to Withycombe Road and turning left from Wimbledon Park Side on to Inner Park Road North entrance.
Details about the West Hill Management Trial can be found on the Council website which includes the Strategic Planning and Transport Committee (SP&T} Agenda of 9th June 2020 (pages 45 - 72) which has a number of tables and maps.
Councillor Terry Walsh, a member of the SP&T Committee commented "The high volume of traffic mainly from outside the area, using side roads as a through route within the West Hill and Southfields residential areas was of concern, particularly in respect of the safety of children journeying to school.
Hopefully the Traffic Management, together with other measures introduced by the Council will make the local roads safer for all users".
Council Leader announces new Cabinet
Congratulations to Southfields Councillors Kim Caddy and Guy Humphries who have been given roles in Wandsworth Council’s leadership team.
Kim has been appointed as Deputy Leader of Wandsworth Council and will also continue with her brief as Cabinet Member for Housing.
Guy will continue his role as Chairman of Planning, also forming part of the Cabinet team.
Cycling Campaign
One of the few positives from the Pandemic has been how many people have taken up cycling to get fit, stay safe and protect the environment.
Locally we are incredibly fortunate that our area has so much green space.
During the lockdown it has been a godsend, and it is one of the many characteristics that makes Southfields such a special place to live.
Sadly, what we don’t have in Southfields are any cycle hire schemes.
Because the Mayor, Sadiq Khan, has a policy which means the official cycle hire scheme doesn’t come to Southfields. Depriving local residents of better transport options.
The nearest TfL docking stations are over by the Southside shopping centre or East Putney tube station.
We think that is wrong.
A small cycle hire scheme at or close to Southfields tube station would enable many more local residents to enjoy the opportunities that cycling offers. Sign the petition today!
As we come out of lockdown, we have to look at a smarter way of doing things.
Just a small shift in residents using a bike for the odd journey can make a real difference.
A reduction in traffic, cleaner air and better health to name a few.
With your support we can ask the Mayor of London (who has responsibility for the scheme) to extend the cycle hire scheme locally.
It is a small but practical step which could make a real difference.
And make our area a better place to live.
Have your say by signing our petition today, asking the Mayor to extend the cycle hire scheme in Southfields.
Sign our petition Backing More Bikes 4 Southfields
Book now for a virtual surgery
The COVID-19 pandemic has meant that usual face-to-face Councillor surgeries cannot go ahead. Southfields Councillors are holding virtual surgeries via “Zoom".
Please email Guy, Kim or Terry by clicking on their names above to book a slot.
Our Road To Recovery
Living in Wandsworth I know that the past few months have been really difficult for our community.
We have all made huge sacrifices to protect our NHS and protect our loved ones from this horrific virus.
Now that restrictions are being eased, our way of life is beginning to return to a sense of normality.
You can read my article on our Road to Recovery in Merton & Wandsworth by clicking the button below.
Read My Letter To Residents On Our Road To Recovery
Wishing you all the best
Cllr Louise Calland
GLA Candidate for Merton & Wandsworth
COVID-19: Our Response
COVID-19 has been a difficult time for many residents in Wandsworth.
Wandsworth Council have taken action throughout the lockdown to help those most in need in our Wandsworth Community.
Over the past few months to support our community during COVID-19 our Council has:
1. Set up the successful Wandsworth Community Hub which has helped over 6000 residents during COVID-19.
2. Kept our parks open during lockdown allowing Wandsworth residents to exercise safely during lockdown.
3. Processed £119m of assistance to local businesses helping them stay afloat during COVID-19.
4. Continued rubbish and recycling collection throughout lockdown with over 1600 tons of additional refuse and recycling collected in the first 2 weeks of April, May and June than the previous year.
5. Developed a London Leading 9 point Back to School plan to get children back to school safely in Wandsworth which got one of the highest numbers of schools re-opening in the country on day one, with every single mainstream primary and secondary school open within a week with significantly above national average attendance. All special schools are now open too.
6. Set up the 'Power to Connect' scheme with Battersea Power Station which, together with the government and Dons, has delivered 1181 laptops so far plus dongles and data vouchers to children in digital poverty.
7. Provided over 60 bikes for NHS workers with more on the way to help those who care for us get to work safely.
8. Communicated the latest COVID-19 updates in Wandsworth during lockdown reaching almost 200 thousand residents who received emails and/or letters from the Council.
9. Delivered a unique package of support for local businesses in preparation for them re-opening.
10. Introduced measures to aid social distancing such as widening pavements in Putney High Street.
And as we begin to look ahead towards a post lockdown world Wandsworth Council will continue to support those in need in our community.
If you need support
If you need support you can contact:
Wandsworth Council's Community Hub by phone on: 020 8871 6555 or by e-mail by clicking here.
Your local Councillors by clicking on their names above.
In emergencies only call the emergency services on: 999