Northcote E-Newsletter April 2022



Working hard for you in Northcote Ward

Dear neighbour,

A big thank you to everyone who has responded to our key issue surveys in recent months. We have updates on the key issues you raised – from the Northcote Road summer pedestrianisation scheme should return, the facilities to be provided at the new Northcote Road library, and the condition of the Clapham Common Westside playground.

We’ve also got a report on Aled presenting our petition about speeding along Bolingbroke Grove at the March Council meeting, as well as information about the Council’s support for Ukrainian refugees.

As ever, if there is anything we can do to help with an issue locally, please get in touch.

Best wishes,

Cllr Aled Richards-Jones

Cllr Louise Calland

Emmeline Owens

Cllr Peter Dawson

Northcote Road weekend pedestrianisation is returning on Easter Saturday 16th April

As we reported in our February update, our local issues survey showed overwhelming support from residents to see the summer weekend pedestrianisation return to Northcote Road. So we’re delighted that Wandsworth Council Conservatives have agreed to these proposals starting at the Easter weekend:

Read more: Weekend pedestrianisation of Northcote Road will begin at Easter

Northcote Library Update

Work is progressing quickly on the landmark project to provide residents living in and around Northcote Road with a bigger and better local library & community hall in the heart of our neighbourhood. This is great news and your ideas about facilities to be provided in the new library will be used in the ongoing internal development and design stages.

Read more: New look bigger and better Northcote Library taking shape

Bolingbroke Grove – speeding petition

At last month’s Council meeting, Aled presented our petition calling for speed activated 20mph signs along Bolingbroke Grove. Many thanks for your support and signatures. We will keep you updated with progress on this proposal. 

Wandsworth Council Conservatives call for powers to help Police enforce speed restrictions

Wandsworth Council Conservatives are urging the Met Police and officials at the Department of Transport to support the council’s plans to launch a road safety pilot campaign targeting speeding motorists.

Read more: Councillor calls on the Met and Department for Transport to support speeding motorists enforcement scheme 

Ukranian refugee settlement and support

At our last Council Meeting, we proudly flew the Ukrainian flag above the Town Hall alongside the Union Jack, and we lit up the Town Hall in Ukraine’s sovereign colours. We are all horrified at the war being waged against Ukraine. Wandsworth stands with the people of Ukraine and, as councillors, we will do everything we can to support the government’s efforts to provide refuge to those fleeing the conflict.

Wandsworth has a long and proud history of welcoming migrants, from the Huguenots in the 17th century onwards. The Council has welcomed the government's Homes for Ukraine scheme and is working closely with the government to help implement it in Wandsworth.

Last month, the first refugee families arrived from Ukraine to stay with families in Wandsworth. Many in our community have been generous with humanitarian aid and donations to charities working in Ukraine.

For information on how Wandsworth Council is supporting and resettling Ukrainian refugees in Wandsworth, please visit the page on the Council’s website.

Clapham Common Playground - Northcote Conservatives call on Lambeth Council to improve local playground

Households close to the Clapham Common Westside playground will have recently received a letter from Aled and Emmeline about the condition of the playground.

In our recent survey on local issues, many of you have raised concerns about the condition of the playground. The playground, although much loved by many families locally, has old play equipment which needs extensive refurbishment or replacement. We have also heard safety concerns about the playground’s aged surfacing.

Although this part of Clapham Common falls within Wandsworth Borough, the responsibility for managing and maintaining the whole of Clapham Common lies with neighbouring Labour-controlled Lambeth Council.

Up until last year, both this playground and its sister playground on Clapham Common, which is near Windmill Drive and in Lambeth borough itself, were in the same poor condition. Lambeth Council took the decision to upgrade the Windmill Drive playground to a high standard but – without explanation – chose not to upgrade the Westside playground at the same time.

We recently wrote to Lambeth Council to ask when the Westside playground would be upgraded. Lambeth Council replied to say it has no plans to upgrade this playground due to lack of funds.

It is hugely disappointing that Lambeth Council has treated these playgrounds differently, for no apparent reason other than one playground is located within Lambeth borough itself. We are also not convinced by Lambeth’s argument about funds. Last year, the large-scale commercial “Yam” musical festival hosted on Clapham Common reportedly made Lambeth Council over £400,000. Residents were told that a portion of that money would be reinvested in the Common, and yet Lambeth Council will not commit to upgrading the playground.

In contrast to Lambeth, Wandsworth Council Conservatives have recently completed over £525,000 of significant improvements to nearby playgrounds under its control at St Mark’s Playspace on Battersea Rise, the Chivalry Road Playground and ball pen, and have provided substantial funding for the upgrade of the Lady Allen Playground for children with special needs.

Wandsworth Council Conservatives will continue to press Lambeth to follow Wandsworth Council’s lead and give this playground a much-needed upgrade.

If you would like to share your thoughts about the playground, issues around Clapham Common generally or any other local issues, please do not hesitate to get in touch.