A new survey launched by Esher Sixth Form College student Amber Edington is inviting Putney residents to share their unfiltered opinions on Putney High Street — and how those views may vary depending on age and gender.
The questionnaire, part of Amber’s A Level Geography coursework, explores perceptions of noise, litter, safety, maintenance, and the general environment of one of Wandsworth’s busiest commercial streets.
From dog fouling and graffiti to the presence of flowerbeds and furniture clutter, participants are asked to rate various aspects of the high street and describe their favourite — and least favourite — things about the area.
Amber says the goal is to understand how different groups experience the high street. “I’m particularly interested in how age and gender might shape the way people feel about the environment in Putney,” she explains.
The research is anonymous, with responses stored securely and shared only with Amber’s teacher and exam board. Participants can withdraw at any point, and data handling follows Esher College’s formal research and privacy policies, which are available online.
The multi-page survey combines slider-scale ratings, star reviews of local amenities, and open-ended questions like: “What is your least favourite thing about Putney High Street?” and “Three words you would use to describe it?”
At the time of writing, Amber tells us she has 109 respondents but is looking for many more – particularly men – as nearly three-quarters of those who have responded so far have been women. The results will be used to draw conclusions for Amber’s coursework — and could offer interesting insights for local councillors and planners too. We’ll also plan a follow-up to dig into the overall results.
So if you’ve got views to share on Putney High Street, now’s your chance to shape the conversation. And be quick! The survey closes this Friday 20 June.
Completed (67 yo male ).
Thanks David-Seán. We’re intrigued to learn the results
Congestion is mainly caused in Putney High Street by excessive traffic light control. This is at the cross streets. Buses need to automatically trigger a green light. Consideration should be given to removing some of the traffic lights, and also where appropriate to having a flashing yellow light phase allowing traffic discretion to proceed when there is no cross street traffic at a junction. If there is a pedestrian only phase at the Upper Richmond Road/ High Street junction it should be removed.
These changes will allow traffic to flow and mitigate the present frustration and loss of precious time endured by drivers, at times taking 10 or more minutes to drive down the High Street. Prominent 20 mph signs are perfectly reasonable to be displayed in a busy high street. I do not believe these necessary changes will impede or endanger pedestrians especially where traffic is slow moving. Traffic that flows is less polluting than static traffic.
Shoplifting has now become a scourge in the High Street. There is one essential measure to restore security which is regular police foot patrols down the street supplemented by police bike presence and prominent PCSO’s patrolling and engaging with retailers.
The pavements need to be kept properly clean not just by litter removal but be washing to remove the staining from waste bags which is disgusting. What is the point of spending thousands perhaps millions of pounds laying attractive stone surfaces at junctions in particular only for it to be permanently stained ans allowed to become dirtier and dirties. The council should also enforce such street cleansing on the retailers and eating places which cause most of it with leaking bags. Putney High Street could become an example to London with cleansed pavements and it might catch on!
Rough sleepers should not be tolerated in a high street. It is particularily bad near the Upper Richmond Road junction. This is one very good reason for the presence of police and PCSO’s.
There are too many fast food restaurants. A post office would be nice, a bakery too, there is Paul of course.
The welcome return of Marks and Spencer is a vote of confidence in the High Street and is a real fillip for the street and should be a spur for the Council to deal with the many complaints made about it’s present state. The decision of M and S will have been made on a hard headed assessment of retail trade prospects and it would be surprising if the company has not impressed on Putney Borough Council the need for radical improvements.
Thanks and praise to Amber Edington for launching this survey, and good luck in any exams you are sitting.