Talking Tooting: Last Orders for 2014

Wow, what a year! Business, politics, volunteering, fatherhood… It’s been exhausting and rewarding in equal measure for me. I hope you’ve also had a productive 12 months and are looking forward to a well-earned festive break. But before you completely switch off for the holidays, I do have a few final things to mention…

Launch of 2015 Love Your Local

I used Small Business Saturday to visit shop keepers on Bellevue Road and Ritherdon Road and launch the 2015 Love Your Local awards in support of our high street traders. You can watch the one-minute video here.

So please don’t forget to vote for your favourite shop, restaurant or pub by visiting www.loveyourlocalshops.com.

Going to the Dogs?

A few days ago AFC Wimbledon and their developer submitted plans to Merton Council for an 11,000 seat stadium (growing to over 20,000) and over 600 residences in place of the Greyhound track on Plough Lane. Being right on the border of Wandsworth, this is a big issue for Earlsfield and Tooting residents, who are rightly concerned about the increased pressure on local transport, parking and school places.

Many of us would like to see the site improved, with AFC Wimbledon returning or an upgrade to the existing greyhound racing. However, there are issues with this application and I was disappointed that Merton is only giving 5 weeks for the public consultation, with two of them largely lost due to the holiday period.

If you have comments you wish to make, email [email protected] (ref 14/P4361) and cc me in ([email protected]) so that I can also channel feedback to Wandsworth Council and ensure our voice is heard.

Tooting’s 2014 Triumphs

It has been an honour to work with so many dedicated local residents on such a broad range of campaigns, so below I summarise some of our biggest successes which I hope to build upon with the community in 2015.

1.       Helping Tooting’s young people into work – my greatest passions is to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to fulfil their potential, whatever their background. Getting a job is a key part of this so thanks to everyone who supported the successful Pop-Up Jobs Fair and Youth Enterprise Summit I organised. Youth unemployment has halved in Tooting and that is something to shout about! 

2.       Keeping our community pubs alive – we have won the first battles to save the Wheatsheaf and the Trafalgar Arms, but these campaigns are not over yet and there will no doubt be more threats to come to other popular pubs.

3.       Saving the Romany – I think most people thought the Romany site was lost when it was sold to a developer, but it wasn’t! It took a huge effort to set up a Community Interest Company and fund-raise such a significant amount, but we did it. I hope this is a model we can use again for other threatened community assets next year.

4.       Loving localism – whether it be betting shops, pubs or historic buildings, we’ve been able to use new powers provided by the Localism Act to give ordinary residents a voice and help shape our community. 

Finally, from myself Tam and baby Harry, I’d just like to wish you and your family our best wishes for the festive season and a happy New Year!

Dan Watkins
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Tooting