Putney residents have 11 days to comment on proposals for 34 new bike hangars across the area, as Wandsworth Council launches a borough-wide expansion that will add 116 secure cycle storage units to streets.
The Putney area accounts for nearly 30% of the council’s latest rollout, with Wandsworth Town and Southfields each getting double-digit allocations while West Putney and Roehampton receive none.
The consultation closes on November 20, though residents wanting to influence the proposals face a lengthy online process that appears designed to gather feedback rather than gauge support or opposition.
Distribution across Putney
Wandsworth Town leads with 11 proposed locations: Alma Road, Brussels Road, Eglantine Road, Fullerton Road, Garrick Close, Knoll Road, Marcus Street, Podmore Road, two sites on Strathblaine Road, and Trefoil Road.
Southfields follows with 10: Acuba Road, Brookwood Road, Clonmore Street, Coliston Road, Elborough Street, Gatwick Road, Pirbright Road, Smeaton Road, Standen Road, and Wincanton Road.
Thamesfield has nine proposed sites: Bangalore Street, Borneo Street, Clarendon Drive, Esmond Street, Norroy Road, Pentlow Street, Rotherwood Road, Werter Road, and Wymond Street.
East Putney gets three locations – Portinscale Road, St Johns Avenue, and Woodlands Way – while West Hill receives a single hangar on Victoria Drive.
West Putney and Roehampton have no proposals, which the council says reflects the resident-driven nature of the programme.
Consultation design raises questions
Residents wanting to comment must navigate seven pages with 11 questions before their feedback is submitted. The survey doesn’t offer simple “support” or “oppose” options – only space for written comments on each proposed location.
The council frames the exercise as gathering “residents views on their preferred locations” rather than seeking approval for the installations. The consultation page notes this “is not a vote” and that the council “will consider all relevant factors when making a decision.”
Each hangar takes up half a parking space permanently, and residents can expect to see blue or green storage units supplied by either CycleHoop or Falco appearing on their streets if proposals are approved.
Meeting genuine demand
The expansion responds to real need. The council reports that nearly all of its existing 346 bike hangars are fully occupied with waiting lists for spaces. Each unit holds six bikes and costs £72 annually (£36 with the council’s Access for All discount for eligible residents).
Bike hangars solve a practical problem for people living in flats or narrow Victorian terraced houses with limited outdoor space. They provide secure storage that makes cycling viable for residents who can’t easily bring bikes indoors or lack gardens for sheds.
The council says locations are “driven by resident requests” through an online form, which explains why some wards have multiple proposals while others have none. The system rewards areas where residents actively ask for cycle storage.
The parking trade-off
Whether streets welcome the arrival of half-parking-space storage units remains to be seen. Each hangar permanently removes vehicle parking capacity, though supporters argue six bikes replacing half a car space represents efficient use of kerb space.
The council’s “biggest in the UK” bike hangar programme has expanded to 346 units so far, suggesting the model works where installed. But individual street reactions to losing parking spots may vary considerably.
Residents can respond to the consultation or request hangars for their own streets through the council’s Have Your Say platform. The council will review all responses alongside factors including demand, location suitability, and neighbour feedback when deciding which proposals to approve.
The deadline is November 20. Approved locations are expected to receive hangars in early 2025.
