Justine reports back to SW18 residents
Hello everyone,
It’s been a busy few weeks in Putney and in Parliament, especially with the AV referendum and this week’s visit by President Obama, but the recent bank holidays have seen a lot of fantastic events locally and the Thames Tunnel working group has been meeting up as well, so read on for an update.
Thames Tunnel Working Group
Our residents’ Thames Tunnel working group is working hard and continues to meet regularly. Last week’s meeting I organised focussed specifically on finding out about some of the environmental issues. Both Thames Water and the Environment Agency were on hand to discuss key questions residents have. We weren’t able to get through all of them but I am meeting up with the Environment Agency again to follow up the issues we didn’t get resolved. I also met with the Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard Benyon MP, in Parliament with other local MPs to discuss the project. Finally, I met with the Port of London Authority to discuss the PLAs involvement with the Thames Tunnel project, as well as talk about some of the projects and developments along the Thames and the passenger and freight services on the river. We met on one of their PLA boats so it was helpful to get a view of the riverside from the river for a change and to see the aspects of the river they are working on improving.
If you would like to be kept up to date with the Thames Tunnel issue, let me know by emailing greeningj@parliament.uk or you can also read my latest Thames Tunnel update on my website by clicking on this link www.justinegreening.co.uk/outside-parliament/view_detail.php?id=b604f1caae6aa79ddeb6361d5b809d67
Local buses
In Parliament, I recently met with TfL’s Surface Transport team and the Garage General Manager at Putney Garage to discuss an issue raised by local residents about buses obstructing the pedestrian crossing on Putney High Street near to Norroy Road. It’s a very busy crossing because of being so close to Putney Station, and the problem has been buses blocking the crossing, which means it has become a road safety issue. For visually impaired people, it’s all the more difficult to navigate across. TfL have agreed to review the junction and work with the Council on improving this crossing as part of the redevelopment plans for the entranceway to Putney Station. It should make things a lot safer for all of us.
Meeting with Kingston Hospital Chief Executive
A couple of weeks ago I met with the Chief Executive of Kingston Hospital, Kate Grimes, to discuss the hospital’s application to become a foundation trust as well as raise a number of issues that have come up in my weekly MP surgery. I am in regular contact with our local NHS providers including St Georges Hospital and Wandsworth PCT, so if you ever have any health issues please do get in touch with me so I can raise them at our next meetings.
The redevelopment of the Kings Head in Roehampton
Getting the regeneration of Roehampton pushed forward is really important and a key site has been the redevelopment on the Kings Head pub. I recently met with Young’s Chief Executive, Steven Goodyear, to discuss Young’s proposals for the site and how Young’s can work with our community on creating a pub that all the residents living nearby can enjoy, especially local families.
I think it is really important that Young’s hear directly from residents about what we want, and I am really pleased that Steven Goodyear has agreed to do just that, so I’m organising a venue and time that can happen. I’ll be in touch with local residents about this over the next few weeks but if you are interested in coming along do get in touch with me.
Out and about
Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been to lots of great local events including the Royal British Legion Garden Party, the opening of the new Wandsworth Mind charity shop in Roehampton (pictured) and I also visited the British Heart Foundation Shop in Putney to celebrate its 5th birthday with the volunteers who run the shop. Having been at the original launch, it didn’t seem like five years had flown by.
Like many local residents, I also had a great time at my road’s local Royal Wedding street party which was fantastic and another in Wimbledon Park Road. The Royal Wedding was superb, the weather was amazing and I think it’s a day that many of us will never forget.
As ever, I have an MP surgery every week, so if you need my help as MP, you can give me a call on 020 8946 4557 to find out where the next one is. You can also write to me at the House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA and email me on greeningj@parliament.uk with any issues. I'll do my best to help.
Best wishes,
Justine Greening MP