NEWS ROUNDUP Putney residents can sign up for direct police communication this Saturday, as new mobile CCTV vans begin patrolling Wandsworth and free fitness activities gear up for National Fitness Day next week.
Putney police will be on the Embankment this Saturday 20 September from 1-3pm, offering sign-ups for ‘Met Engage’ – a new Metropolitan Police service where residents and police can alert each other by email about local crime, anti-social behaviour, scams, and even traffic problems.
The initiative allows direct two-way communication between local officers and the community, with police promising to share updates on “the latest scams, problems or even traffic jams” while residents can report concerns directly to their local team.
“We would like to meet you all and improve our policing. Your help can help us,” is the pitch.
Transport committee meets tonight after summer break
The Transport Overview and Scrutiny Committee meets tonight at 7:30pm for the first time since June, with electric vehicle charging expansion, School Streets progress, and future work planning on the agenda.
In meeting papers, council officers note that:
“One of the methods the OSC may want to consider as part of the work programme to deep dive into issues is through the establishment of a Task and Finish Group. Task and Finish Groups should have clearly defined aims and outcomes.”
Putney’s traffic and bridge junction redesign would be an excellent topic for such a group.
The committee will review Wandsworth’s ranking as 4th in London for EV charging density, progress on 30 School Streets schemes covering 32 schools, and consider new investigations into transport issues affecting residents. The meeting represents an opportunity for councillors to propose new scrutiny topics such as bus delays, traffic management, or dangerous junction improvements through focused task groups that have previously tackled major borough challenges.
New mobile CCTV vans
Wandsworth Council unveiled three new state-of-the-art mobile CCTV vans this week, funded through the council’s £9 million Neighbourhood Renewal Fund paid for by property developers (Caveat: the council has been opaque at best when it comes to explaining how and where developer funds are spent).
The mobile units can be rapidly deployed across Wandsworth for flexible and targeted crime prevention, while CCTV monitoring increases by an extra 150 hours each month in the Joint Control Centre.
The control room team can prove especially useful during emergencies including fires, floods, and road traffic accidents, logging 62,217 calls in 2024. The council says the money spent on the vans is an investment that will boost community safety.
Free fitness week kicks off
National Fitness Day is next Wednesday 24 September, with Wandsworth residents invited to try free activities across the borough’s leisure centres and venues throughout the week.
Highlights include a free five-day membership for any sport or leisure centre in the borough, cardio tennis at Wandsworth Common, high-energy fitness classes like HIIT and bootcamp, and specialised activities for over-50s including tone and stretch sessions.
Research shows just 22 minutes of moderate daily activity can mitigate the negative effects of prolonged sitting, while regular physical activity reduces stress and improves mental health.
To claim the free five-day pass, Wandsworth residents need only visit their local leisure centre with proof of address from the past three months.
Residents conference returns
Wandsworth’s fourth annual Residents’ Conference will take place on Wednesday 15 October at the Wandsworth Civic Suite, where council tenants and leaseholders can meet councillors and senior officers.
The day features talks from the resident participation team on community empowerment and Metropolitan Police presentations on tackling anti-social behavior, plus workshops on Community Clubrooms, Community Gardens, and using Housing Online services.
The conference targets the one-third of Wandsworth residents who are council tenants and leaseholders, encouraging active community involvement.
Local business update
The delightful Harvey’s Bakehouse on Upper Richmond Road has launched a website at www.harveysbakehouse.co.uk, allowing customers to learn more about the local business and keep up with developments.
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