The Local Elections are hastily approaching on 5th May. After 44 long years of Tory rule, Wandsworth needs a breath of fresh air and a Labour council.
Over the next four weeks, I will be out on the campaign trail - knocking on doors, delivering leaflets and working to help our fantastic Labour candidates. I would like to thank all the local residents for their support and warm welcome on the doorstep. Together we can turn Labour red this May!
![]() Balham has a long and proud history, and its architecture is of real importance to the local community; and Balham Railway Bridge is a prominent and important feature of this historical architecture. Unfortunately in recent years, the bridge’s grandeur has sadly faded beyond all recognition. I recently spoke with the local community group Beautify Balham who have made suggestions, such as painting the bridge an attractive colour, re-painting the metal columns, and installing up-lighting to showcase the bridge. I am wholly supportive of these suggestions. As such, I wrote to Network Rail, asking them to consider incorporating these simple yet impactful improvements as part of the £2.6 million investment they have committed to restore Balham Station. Swift action was taken and I was delighted to hear that the Bridge has had its first coat of paint! It has been a pleasure to support the wonderful Beautify Balham volunteers with this campaign and I would like to especially thank Councillor Clare Fraser, who works so hard to support local residents. ![]() I was deeply concerned - as I know many local residents were - to hear of plans to close Balham station to outward passengers from next Monday until December 2021. While I recognise the scheduled repairs to the escalator are essential works, it is important to me that residents are not inconvenienced by the planned updates. Indeed, I also appreciate that it was alarming for many to learn that the closure was to begin in less than a week, lasting for such an extended period of time. It is my understanding that the decision to close Balham station to outward travelling passengers was taken after a trial closure of the downward escalator indicated that use of the staircase at peak travel times was resulting in over-crowding and therefore social distancing was difficult. I called a meeting with Transport for London to outline my concerns and discuss alternatives, such as more staff at the station to support social distancing at peak travel times. I am pleased to announce that as a result of this meeting, TfL have agreed to undertake a week-long trial at Balham Station, which will see the staircase open for use throughout the day and outward travel therefore possible from the station. The trial will commence on Monday 28th June and last 3-4 days. Following the trial, TfL will assess whether outward travel from Balham during the planned escalator repairs is viable. During this time - and beyond should the trial prove successful - I would recommend additional time is allowed for travel through Balham Station. By doing so, we increase the likelihood of a successful trial. More importantly, we can all play our part to ensure all residents can travel safely. Please check back for further updates on this situation. ![]() Today Muslims across the UK and around the world mark the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. As a proud Muslim, the period of reflection, prayer, and fasting is incredibly important to our Muslim community. Traditionally, Ramadan is a time for gathering and sharing Iftar with family and friends. Although, like last year, we are unable to come together and celebrate as we normally would, the spirit of Ramadan remains. To every Muslim nurse and doctor who have saved countless lives throughout this pandemic, to every volunteer and community leader in our Mosques and community centres who continue to support those most vulnerable, and to every Muslim in Tooting and across the country, I wish you all Ramadan Mubarak. Many local residents have shared with me their concerns about pickpocketing in the Balham area.
I have met with Wandsworth Police about this issue, who I know are working hard to ensure that our streets are safe. I have been assured that the police have now increased foot patrols around identified hotspots, in order to identify suspects and to tackle these worrying crimes. Unfortunately, although these crimes are reported on social media, very few of these are reported directly to the police. In order that the police can act on crime, it is vital that any offences are reported as soon as it is possible to do so, either via 999 or 101. This will help the police identify where to direct resources and provide the best opportunity to apprehend those responsible. Stay safe. Last week the Balham and Tooting Community Association (BATCA) celebrated its 15th anniversary.
BATCA is a network of diverse individuals and organisations committed to creating a cohesive, thriving community in Balham and Tooting. Their annual events – the Fun Day on Broadwater Road, the Tooting Broadway Peace Ceremony, and the Community Heroes Awards – are local institutions. BATCA have continued their good works throughout the pandemic, moving events online and acting as a platform for groups to share news and information. BATCA are always looking to welcome new members to help them further the organisation’s aims. Click here to find out more, and to join this wonderful collective. As you will know, a South African variant of Covid-19 has arrived in the UK. This new Covid variant has now been detected in CR4 (Merton). Residents in CR4 are no different to us in neighbouring Tooting (SW16 and SW17). We use the same shops, the same hospital, and the same parks, so if it’s there, it could very easily be here. This will be the same across all affected areas. As a matter of urgency, the Government needs to launch widespread testing in neighbouring postcodes. This is the only way to see how widespread these new variants are. I have written to the Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock MP, the Director of Public Health at Wandsworth Council, Shannon Katiyo, and the Chief Executive of Wandsworth Council, Paul Martin, to ask about plans to launch testing in neighbouring postcodes. While I press for action on this, we need to make sure we’re all doing everything we can to keep ourselves and each other safe. It’s absolutely vital that we minimise our social contact to prevent the spread of this new variant within our community. Please think twice before leaving home, and when you do leave, please continue to adhere to social distancing. Together, we will get through this. In light of the upcoming Fire Safety Bill, I would to thank every resident who has written to me with their concerns on this and for continuing to keep me updated on the cladding issues affecting their property. I recognise what an exceptionally difficult time this is and appreciate how much anxiety the cladding proposals are causing to many leaseholders.
On more than fifteen occasions, Ministers promised that leaseholders would not be landed with the costs of remedial works. Yet, people are still being put at risk, trapped in flammable buildings for a third lockdown, with leaseholders placed in an impossible position and promises broken. It is evident that the Government’s handling of the cladding crisis has lacked any sense of grip or urgency. For this reason, the Labour Party have tabled an Opposition Day Debate on cladding for Monday, which will subsequently bring forward a vote that will call for leaseholders to be protected from the costs of remediating their blocks with dangerous cladding. The party will also be tabling a number of amendments to the Fire Safety Bill that will aim to protect leaseholders from unfair costs through the power of the law. I am aware that many residents have been in touch to request that I support the McPartland and Smith amendment, which provides welcome clarity on the specific costs that would be prevented from being passed on to leaseholders. Labour has sought to go further on this. As currently drafted, the McPartland and Smith amendment would not have covered blocks like Grenfell - where flammable cladding has been added at some stage following the building of the block. It only applies to defects in the original design of buildings. The Labour Party’s amendment would ensure that the cost of fire safety problems from refurbishment jobs, like the cladding on Grenfell Tower, cannot be passed on to leaseholders. Labour’s amendments also include new clauses so that the Bill protects leaseholders from the day it comes into law, instead of an unknown date in the future. I would like to thank my colleagues in the Labour Party, Sarah Jones MP, Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Thangam Debbonaire MP and Mike Amesbury MP for their hard work and commitment to addressing this large injustice on a national scale. If any residents have any further queries on this issue, please do not hesitate to get in touch to discuss this further. In the meantime, I hope this post assures you of the steps myself and the Labour Party are taking to protect tenants and leaseholders during this cladding crisis. I am aware that many local residents are concerned about the proposed Tooting Triangle development. Plans to upgrade the site’s facilities and amenities – replacing the artificial football pitch with a modern surface, and building new changing rooms, public toilets, a children’s play area, and a café – are welcome. However, the proposal to fund the improvements via a 25-year lease of the new facilities to TFL Leisure – a private company – is more controversial.
The fence set to be constructed around the new football pitch, and the lack of clarity as to whether the upgraded children’s Stay & Play facility will remain free to use, have prompted concerns that the development will put public land behind a literal paywall. I am sure you will agree that if the recent lockdowns have taught us anything, it is that there is a need for more publicly accessible green spaces – not less. As it stands, the proposed development would see a reduction in the area available to the Balham Boxing Club compared with their current provision. Issues have also been raised regarding the smaller size of the female changing rooms compared to the men's, and the impact floodlighting could have on the Triangle’s resident bat population, among other things. I understand that discussions on the proposed development are ongoing. Please be assured that I am keeping a close eye on this evolving situation - we all want what's best for our local community. |
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