Visit to Langdon Down Centre and historic Normansfield Theatre

On Monday 18 March a group of 20 members enjoyed a fascinating visit to the museum and Victorian theatre. Visits can be made on one Saturday per month 10am-5pm (13 April, 18 May, 22 June, 20 July). See langdondownmuseum.org.uk for details. There are regular performances in the theatre including Music Hall, Opera and recitals. See langdondowncentre.org.uk/normansfield-theatre for details: it is well worth seeing this unique theatre built to entertain the 19th century residents of this enlightened Victorian home for those with learning disabilities.

On the steps of Normansfield

The theatre at Normansfield

AGM 2019

A strong turn out was present to re-elect the Chair and Executive who all agreed to stand again. The Treasurer was please to tell us that there had been an annual surplus in the 2018/19 year of £1,299 and that reserves stand at some £16,000. The AGM was followed by a fascinating illustrated talk by Iain Gray on follies.

Application for 20 storey tower at 86-96 Garratt Lane

In 2017 an application was made for this mainly residential tower in the town centre on a small site between “Pocket Living” and Garratt Lane, and alongside the Wandle. The application – with subsequent minor amendments – is now close to being determined. With large petitions from resident groups and over a hundred individual objections, including those from the Wandsworth Society and the MP, the outcome looks interesting. Yet another new residential tower in Wandsworth Town Centre? Or power to the people? Wandsworth Council application 2017/0535.

Public meeting 20 February on Heathrow Noise

Justine Greening, MP for Putney, will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, 20 February at 7pm at the Community Church in Werter Road, Putney.

Heathrow has published a consultation on its future operations with proposals for how it will operate three runways at an expanded airport and plans for the design of airspace to accommodate that, but also proposals for how to use its two existing runways in the meantime.  There is a postcode checker on feedback@heathrowconsultation.com the consultation website which can show you where the new flightpaths could be and how they’d affect you. The consultation runs until 4 March 2019 and is online at www.heathrowconsultation.com. You can also email views to feedback@heathrowconsultation.com.

Wandsworth on the road to be a leader in electric car charging

Work is now underway on a major project to install new electric vehicle charging sockets in around 250 street lights across the borough.

Wandsworth’s goal of becoming the best place in London to own an electric vehicle has been boosted by the signing of a contract with electronics giant Siemens to install this charging infrastructure as part of a £400,000 deal.

This will give EV owners two options in terms of connection. They can either use a ubitricity cable which also brings the customer’s own electricity tariff, or they can use a standard cable, scan the QR code at the charge point with their mobile phone or tablet and charge via DirectAccess, the pay-as-you-go-option.

This latest investment in is helping the council meet its target of delivering nearly 900 on-street charging points in total.