Pre-publication Draft Local Plan

The draft Local Plan opened for consultation on 4 January and comments need to be submitted by 1 March. Comments are invited from members of the public as well as the Civic societies and others.

A full response will be made by the Wandsworth Society but members and others are encouraged to review the documents 0n https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/local-plan/draft-local-plan-pre-publication/ and make their own responses, preferably through the on-line consultation portal (see the above link).

Virtual tour of the WRWA

On 28 January members were taken on a fascinating virtual tour of the Western Riverside Waste Authority site in Smugglers Way by Jon Long the Education Officer.

In order to see a short film to accompany the site visit https://wrwa.gov.uk/schools-adult-groups/wealth-hidden-in-waste/. For opening times see https://wrwa.gov.uk/centre-opening-times/ but note that from Monday 15 March you will need to book in order to do your recycling. You can discover where you can recycle specific items in the Wandsworth area on https://www.recyclenow.com/ To see what the charity Rework do to recycle unwanted furniture, bikes and white goods do see https://www.groundwork.org.uk/projects/rework/   A graphic which shows the destinations your recycling is sent can be seen on https://wrwa.gov.uk/news/where-does-my-recycling-go/

Talk on the Huguenots of Wandsworth

In February 2020 Blue Badge Guide Tim Kidd, from the Huguenots of Spitalfields Society gave a fascinating illustrated talk on ‘The Huguenots of Wandsworth’.  Tim is now reprising his talk on zoom on February 18th, 12.00-13.00,  and there is a link here to book. There is a ticket fee of £5. 

This is a chance to catch this terrific lecture again, or for those who missed it last time to enjoy finding out about the Huguenots’ settlement in the area from the C17th.  The review of local connections and sites of course includes Mount Nod, the miraculously surviving burial ground soon to be opened again with the help of the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Note: this is organised by the Friends of Wandsworth Common Heritage Group

A new use for the Southside Debenhams

Developers LandSec with Invesco have been granted planning consent to convert the 70,000 sq ft store, which has been vacant for a year (apart from a charity Christmas pop-up store) into a leisure hub.

The ground floor will have an electric go karting track, the mezzanine will offer a family entertainment centre and high ropes climbing and the first floor will be used for bowling, indoor golf, darts, pool and basketball with restaurants.

It will certainly bring a new sort of evening economy to Wandsworth Southside which must already be on tenterhooks about the future of the Cineworld complex.