Welcome to my latest community update, with some big developments on our doorsteps this month, so please do read on.
Crossrail 2 – Balham or Tooting?Transport for London (TfL) has now opened its latest public consultation on Crossrail 2, with the huge news that due to difficult ground conditions under Tooting Broadway tube, TfL is looking to move our local station to Balham.
I’m concerned that behind closed doors TfL has already made its mind up to go for the simplest option, but I think it’s crucial that local residents have their say. So please give your view on this critical project for our area at: www.BalhamOrTooting.org.uk
Thus far a majority of residents are pushing for the station to remain in Tooting, but we need as many local resident as possible to give their view and make this survey truly representative.
The TfL consultation will be open til January 2016, but before making a response I have asked TfL to give us more detailed information about the difference in cost and disruption between Balham and Tooting. I will share this with you so that you can make a more informed response.
In the meantime, please spread the word to local friends and family by clicking here to share the survey.'Be a Councillor' event to boost Muslim and BME representation
I believe it's important that we have a Council that is representative of our diverse area, so I'm holding an event in Tooting on the evening of 12th November with the support of our local mosques to encourage more people from the Muslim and ethnic minority communities to stand as Councillors in future.
The event will give information on what being a councillor entails, is open to people of all backgrounds, and will be held at Mushkil Aasaan, 222 Upper Tooting Road. Full details of the event are here, so please do come along.Balham Boulevard
In recent years Balham High Road has seen a number of serious accidents and I’m pleased to see that Transport for London is now planning a number of improvements for pedestrians and cyclists. These include widened pedestrian crossings, new cycle lanes, fully inset parking and an early release for cyclists at the Ritherdon Road junction. You can provide your input on these plans via TfL’s online consultation.
I was concerned that this project might be taking the place of the transformational ‘Balham Boulevard’ project, which would see the High Road transformed into a greener, more pedestrian-friendly space. While TfL has been dragging its feet on this project, I have received reassurances that an evaluation of the full Boulevard project is still on its agenda and the Council have committed to pushing it for a decision.
Historic decision for the Tooting LodgeIt’s been 5 long years since the Georgian Lodge on Tooting Bec Road was closed and boarded up, making the campaign to restore and reopen it the longest running one in our area. So myself and others from the Custodians of Tooting Lodge campaign were delighted when earlier this month Wandsworth Council took the historic decision of initiating a Compulsory Purchase Order for the site.
You can read more about this success and plans for the future in the Wandsworth Guardian article here and if you’d like to lend your support to the campaign please visit our website at www.savetootinglodge.org
Earlsfield in lights
Our larger high streets in Tooting and Balham have long benefitted from the festive halo effect that Christmas lights bring. But with the renaissance of Earlsfield High Street in recent years, myself and other members of the Earlsfield Business Network thought it was time to raise the funds to bring lights to Garratt Lane too.
After a couple of months crowd-funding efforts from local businesses and residents, we have now raised enough money and are delighted to tell you that Earlsfield’s first ever Christmas lights will be officially switched on at St Andrew’s church on the evening of 26th November. You can reserve a free ticket here and I hope to see you there.
It’s great that the Earlsfield community has come together to make this project happen: I know our local shops are really excited about the extra Christmas buzz that the lights will bring, and residents have been really supportive too.
As you can see, there’s plenty going on locally and for more frequent updates you can follow me on Twitter or Facebook.
Until next time,
With best wishes,
Dan Watkins
Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman for Tooting
www.danwatkins.org.uk
[email protected] @danwatkins
www.facebook.com/dan4tooting