On Wednesday evening, the people who want to represent Roehampton and West Putney on Wandsworth Council will stand in a room and answer your questions. Not a leaflet. Not a press release. Your question, in front of everyone.
This is the second of three hustings before the 7 May local elections. If you are in East Putney or Thamesfield, that is tomorrow night. If you are in Roehampton or West Putney, Wednesday is yours.
One representative from every party fielding candidates in the two wards will take the stage. The Rt Rev Dr Martin Gainsborough, Bishop of Kingston, will chair. Speaking order is drawn by lot. After opening statements and a chaired question-and-answer session, all candidates come down into the hall to talk face to face.
When: Wednesday 15 April, 7pm
Where: Holy Trinity Church, Roehampton, SW15 4LA
Wards: Roehampton and West Putney
Entry: Free. No registration. Just turn up.
Organised by: Churches Together in Putney and Roehampton, in collaboration with the Putney Society
Rev Joshua Rey, the Vicar of Roehampton who is hosting the event, said the 2024 general election hustings at the same venue drew around 200 people.
“Sharp questions were posed, honest differences of opinion aired, passions displayed. There was a fair amount of heat and a lot of light,” he said. “Now as we approach local elections that could be highly consequential for Wandsworth, and which nationally many will see as a chance to mark the government’s report card, it’s a privilege to host the hustings for Roehampton and West Putney wards.”
Get your question in now
Questions can be submitted in advance. The organisers will group similar questions and, where possible, the person who submitted a question will put it to the panel directly.
Submit via the online form or email admin@holytrinityroehampton.org.
You do not need to write an essay. One sentence is fine. The shorter and more specific the question, the harder it is to avoid. Use a number or a documented fact and watch what they do with it.
If you want ideas, we have compiled eight questions grounded in a year of Putney.news investigations, each specific to Roehampton and West Putney. They cover the Alton Estate, the Lennox Estate, Hammersmith Bridge, The Angel pub, violence in West Putney, council tax, leaseholder charges and a character test no party line can answer.
Know your candidates
Not sure who is standing in your ward? We have published the full searchable candidate list for every ward in Wandsworth.
Before you go
Postal voting packs go out on 20 April. If you are voting by post, Wednesday may be your last chance to hear the candidates before your ballot arrives.
Not yet registered to vote? You have until Monday 20 April. Register here.
Photo ID is required at the polling station on 7 May. Check what is accepted.
One more hustings follows: Southfields on Tuesday 21 April at St Barnabas Church.
For everything you need to know about the Putney local elections, including how to vote, what is on the ballot and what the council actually controls, see our full elections guide.
