With just days to go until Saturday’s crucial public meeting, residents and campaign groups have submitted a series of pointed questions that will put Council Leader Simon Hogg, local councillors, and MP Fleur Anderson on the spot over Putney’s traffic chaos
The meeting, taking place this Saturday at 11am at St Margaret’s Church on Putney Lane, comes as daily gridlock on Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge, and surrounding streets has reached breaking point, with residents describing the situation as “unbearable.”
Putney Action Group’s six-point challenge
The Putney Action Group, which recently published a comprehensive report exposing what we have called “a retreat behind excuses and inaction” by officials, has submitted six hard-hitting questions covering the most pressing concerns:
Traffic & Congestion: The group demands immediate steps to reduce congestion on Lower Richmond Road, Putney Bridge, and side roads, along with clear metrics for measuring success.
Road Safety: They’re asking when an independent safety review will be commissioned and whether findings will be published in full – a critical issue given the mounting collision risks from constant traffic snarls.
Air Quality: The group wants a firm commitment to installing real-time air pollution monitors on Lower Richmond Road and Putney Bridge Road by a set date, given the health implications of idling traffic.
Hammersmith Bridge: With the bridge closure a major factor in Putney’s problems, they’re demanding a concrete timeline for reopening or replacement, plus what interim relief Putney will receive.
High Street Decline: As local businesses suffer from the traffic chaos, the group asks how authorities will work with residents and traders to improve the quality and vitality of Putney High Street.
Accountability: Perhaps most pointedly, they challenge how the council will ensure future consultations are “genuinely acted upon, rather than treated as box-ticking exercises.”
These questions follow the group’s damning legal analysis, which found that Wandsworth Council may have breached its statutory duties under the Traffic Management Act 2004 by failing to adequately address the congestion crisis.
A call for a Task & Finish group
Putney.news has submitted a detailed question proposing what could be a breakthrough solution: establishing a dedicated Transport Task & Finish Group specifically focused on Putney’s traffic problems.
The proposal draws on proven success stories, including Kingston upon Thames’s effective resolution of similar stakeholder conflicts over complex junction redesigns through a cross-party Task & Finish Group that brought together councillors, disability advocates, cycling campaigners, and TfL engineers.
As our previous reporting has documented, Task & Finish Groups have delivered dramatic successes when properly deployed – but can also fail spectacularly when poorly managed. Wandsworth Council itself has successfully used this model for major strategic challenges including its Democracy Review and Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy.
The question asks Council Leader Hogg to commit to a time-limited group with a six-month remit to gather evidence from residents, businesses, transport authorities, and experts, then report back with actionable recommendations.
This stands in stark contrast to the closed-door “task force” established seven months ago, which has achieved minimal visible progress, and the two further assessments of Putney Bridge junction recently commissioned – potentially delaying action by several more months.
As we’ve previously argued, the evidence is overwhelming: Putney needs action over traffic, not more assessments.
Make your voice heard
Saturday’s meeting represents a rare opportunity for residents to directly challenge decision-makers and demand action. But the strength of that challenge depends on community participation.
If you’re frustrated by the daily gridlock, concerned about air quality, worried about road safety, or simply fed up with years of inaction—now is the time to act.
Submit your own questions before the meeting to demonstrate the depth of community concern. Attend on Saturday morning to show this isn’t just a vocal minority, but a community-wide crisis demanding urgent attention.
Without clear evidence that Putney residents consider this a top priority, the reality is stark: it could be years before meaningful action is taken. And with traffic already at unbearable levels, Putney simply cannot afford more delays, more assessments, and more excuses.
The meeting takes place at 11am this Saturday at St Margaret’s Church on Putney Lane. Questions can be submitted in advance through official council channels.
The message from residents is clear: Putney has had enough of waiting. It’s time for answers, accountability, and – most importantly – action.
