December 2020

Leader’s New Year message

In his 2021 New Year’s Message, the Leader of Wandsworth Council Cllr Ravi Govindia looks back on a challenging year, and forward to what he hopes will be a brighter future.

Published: 31 Dec 20

New Year's Honours for local people

The executive headteacher of Chesterton School in Battersea and a local volunteer have both been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.

Published: 31 Dec 20

Council supports schools to open safely

Wandsworth Council wants to reassure parents that it is committed to a safe reopening of schools in January, and is actively supporting borough schools to ensure this happens.

Published: 31 Dec 20

Huge funding announcement for Putney

Wandsworth Council is to receive more than £1m to invest in Putney High Street after being successful in a competition to secure Government funding.

Published: 26 Dec 20

Councillors approve plans for new entertainment mega-hub in Wandsworth town centre

Councillors have approved plans to turn the vacant Debenham store in Wandsworth town centre into an indoor entertainment hub complete with an indoor go-karting track, bowling alley and crazy golf course.

Published: 23 Dec 20

Workers at Battersea Power Station donate presents and bring Christmas cheer to children at three local schools

Construction workers and others working at Battersea Power Station have brought Christmas cheer to children at three local primary schools by donating books, games and toys to their pupils.

Published: 23 Dec 20

Covid-19 testing kits provided to 69 schools to help keep classrooms safe

Schools across the borough are making preparations for a safe return to classes in January by providing staff with Covid-19 home testing kits.

Published: 23 Dec 20

Local people consulted on plans to upgrade West Putney play area and install new trim trail

Residents and families with young children that enjoy using a play area in West Putney are being reminded to take part in a consultation into plans to upgrade the children’s play facilities and install keep fit ‘trim trail’ equipment.

Published: 23 Dec 20

Public asked to consider which one is best from three options for new-look Wandsworth Common playground

Parents and children are being asked for their input to determine which of three designs could be brought forward for a new look playground on Wandsworth Common.

Published: 23 Dec 20

New Covid cash fund for Wandsworth hospitality, hotels and leisure businesses

A new grant scheme has opened for Wandsworth businesses hit by the effects of Covid-19.

Published: 22 Dec 20

Everyone has a right to live free from violence and abuse this Christmas and beyond

Residents are reminded of the 24-hour help available to those experiencing domestic abuse.

Published: 22 Dec 20

Wandsworth moves into Tier 4

Wandsworth Council leader Cllr Ravi Govindia says he understands what sacrifices people have made this year, but asks residents to stick to the Tier 4 rules to help slow the spread of the virus. 

Published: 22 Dec 20

Council services at Christmas

The council website has details of parking, waste and recycling collections, Christmas tree recycling, libraries, council offices, pharmacies and more over Christmas. Visit wandsworth.gov.uk/christmas. 

Published: 21 Dec 20

Full fibre broadband rollout will offer residents and businesses ultrafast internet speeds

Tens of thousands of households in Wandsworth can look forward to ultrafast internet speeds with the unveiling of new plans to install full fibre broadband across the borough.

Published: 21 Dec 20

Families urged to submit their favourite choice for Battersea Park’s new look toddlers and junior playground

Young children and toddlers could soon have an exciting new playground to enjoy in Battersea Park under council plans to improve its existing play space.

Published: 21 Dec 20

Consultation continues on plan to reduce cut-through traffic in East Putney

A council consultation is still underway on plans for a pilot scheme to reduce traffic volumes in an East Putney neighbourhood.

Published: 21 Dec 20

Winter is unlocked!

*Update December 21, 2020: in the light of the move to Tier 4, we have adjusted the Winter Unlocked programme to ensure the Government guidelines are followed and everyone is kept safe. Our targeted approach will ensure the numbers are small and everyone is able to keep to the guidelines. We have switched some activities to a blend of virtual and socially distanced fun and we will ensure that all sites fully use PPE.

Published: 18 Dec 20

Thank You to Wandsworth Care Homes and Home Support Staff

Wandsworth Council has hand delivered thank you gifts to nearly 100 care homes and home support agencies for their hard work this year.

Published: 18 Dec 20

Brighter borough: Share your twinkly festive photos

It's Christmas time... Festive lights and trees have popped up all around the borough this winter. Have you been lighting up your street or block?

Published: 18 Dec 20

FREE Christmas tree recycling Monday 4 to Friday 15 January 2021

The council will once again be offering a free real Christmas tree recycling service in the New Year.

Published: 17 Dec 20

Wandsworth Arts Fringe wants you

Be part of the first ever hybrid digital and live Wandsworth Arts Fringe as the council celebrates the return of events and the arts to centre stage in 2021.

Published: 17 Dec 20

New science and technology block at Graveney School wins prestigious architectural prize

Students at Graveney School are studying astronomy, philosophy and a range of other subjects in a newly-built award-winning building designed to inspire their learning.

Published: 17 Dec 20

Heathrow ruling ‘changes nothing’

Councils opposed to Heathrow expansion say today’s Supreme Court ruling changes nothing and called on the airport to abandon once and for all its bid for a third runway.

Published: 16 Dec 20

Rapid flow testing rolled out to high priority wards

Residents living in Queenstown, Bedford, Roehampton and Putney Heath wards are being invited to apply for an asymptomatic COVID-19 test, for people not experiencing symptoms, as part of the council’s strategy to identify more positive cases, reduce the spread of infection and protect lives and livelihoods.

Published: 15 Dec 20

Concrete marks the spot for Nine Elms construction milestone

One Thames City has become the latest development in Nine Elms to reach the top as construction continues apace across the regeneration zone. Just over two years after the ground-breaking ceremony, developers R&F UK and CC Land topped out a 53-storey tower as part of a cluster of new buildings.

Published: 15 Dec 20

Affordable office and co-working hub opens as Tooting Works

The door has opened on a newly-branded enterprise hub in Tooting, as Wandsworth Council’s Leader, Cllr Ravi Govindia cut the ribbon.

Published: 11 Dec 20

A thank you to parents and carers for their ‘incredible resilience’ in meeting the challenges of 2020

Wandsworth Council’s cabinet member for education and children’s services has written a joint letter with the borough’s director of children’s services thanking parents and carers for their support throughout one of the most challenging and difficult years in living memory.

Published: 11 Dec 20

Council leader Ravi Govindia’s plea for people to remain vigilant and halt the spread of Coronavirus

In a new message to borough residents and businesses the leader of Wandsworth Council Ravi Govindia is calling on people to remain vigilant and follow the rules to help halt the spread of the virus  

Published: 11 Dec 20

Brighter Borough tops UK’s league table for public EV charging points

Newly published Government figures from the Department for Transport show that Wandsworth has the highest number of electric vehicle charging points than any other single local authority in the whole UK.

Published: 11 Dec 20

Have your say on six designs for Nine Elms railway arch

One arch, six proposed designs. The next stage of selecting the final winning design for Arch 42 in Nine Elms is underway and we want people who live and work in the area to tell us what they think about the designs put forward.

Published: 10 Dec 20

Plans unveiled for revamp of West Putney play area and new trim trail

The town hall has unveiled plans to upgrade the children’s play facilities at an open space in West Putney and also deliver keep fit ‘trim trail’ equipment.

Published: 09 Dec 20

How to achieve a fun, environmentally conscious Christmas

By Parents for Future, Southwest London. Artwork by Anita Bagdi (@anitab-art) 

Christmas is going to look a bit different all round this year. But wouldn't it be great if we used this as an opportunity to make some positive changes to what is an unsustainably wasteful time of year? We can think of no better gift for future generations than for us all to act now and think about the kind of planet and future we want to leave behind.

Published: 07 Dec 20

Christmas comes early to Wandsworth’s Alton Estate

Season festivities landed on the Alton Estate with the arrival of the town centre’s first Christmas tree on Monday 7 December 2020.

Published: 07 Dec 20

City Tree makes a meal of Putney’s air pollution

Putney has a new City Tree to help improve air quality. 

Published: 04 Dec 20

Three options to choose from for new-look Wandsworth Common playground

The council has launched a consultation asking local people which designs they prefer for a bigger and better equipped Windmill playground.

Published: 04 Dec 20

Follow the rainbow to Battersea High Street this festive season

Wandsworth Council and the Royal College of Art (RCA) have selected the artist, Hannah Coulson, to bring some brightness to a Battersea high street this winter with a new dazzling public artwork.

Published: 04 Dec 20

New £6.6m grant scheme to support businesses hit by Covid-19

A new £6.6m grant scheme is opening for Wandsworth businesses that have suffered due to the pandemic but were unable to apply for previous schemes.

Published: 04 Dec 20

Keep it local this Small Business Saturday

This weekend is Small Business Saturday, and Wandsworth’s shoppers are being urged to spend their cash in the borough’s independent stores.

Published: 04 Dec 20

Lorries to be banned from driving through Tooting neighbourhood

The council has published plans that will see lorries banned from trundling through a Tooting neighbourhood.

Published: 03 Dec 20

Urgent treatment centre reopens at Queen Mary’s Hospital

Wandsworth residents can once again access NHS services at the urgent treatment centre at Roehampton’s Queen Mary’s Hospital.

Published: 03 Dec 20

Council grants benefit communities 

Council grants have been given to a wide range of voluntary organisations and charities working to strengthen communities and help local people.

Published: 02 Dec 20

Help clean up Putney towpath and embankment

The council is encouraging residents to help clean up the towpath along the River Thames in Putney, as part of its MyWandsworth campaign, to keep the borough looking at its best.

Published: 02 Dec 20

Ranked - The most sustainable Christmas Trees

In the early days of December, many of us set out preparing a Christmas tree and decorations for our homes. Before you decided on what tree to buy, we’ve created a sustainable Christmas tree shopping guide to help you with the decision.

Published: 02 Dec 20

Consultation begins on plan to reduce cut-through traffic in East Putney residential area

The council has launched a consultation on plans for a pilot traffic scheme designed to reduce traffic volumes in an East Putney neighbourhood.

Published: 02 Dec 20

Get tested in Wandsworth this week

People who think they may have contracted Coronavirus can get tested in Wandsworth on  December 3, 7 and 9.

Published: 02 Dec 20

Covid-19 support fund will help hard pressed Wandsworth families through the winter months

Councillors are set to endorse details of a fresh round of targeted cash support for hard pressed families in Wandsworth through the winter months with the addition of a new Covid-19 support fund.

Published: 02 Dec 20

Leader welcomes top award for BAC

The Leader of Wandsworth Council has welcomed the news that the borough’s ‘cultural gem’, Battersea Arts Centre, has been chosen as the Overall Winner of the 2020 New London Awards.

Published: 01 Dec 20

Families can help choose Battersea Park’s new look toddler and junior playground

Young children and toddlers could soon have an exciting new playground to enjoy in Battersea Park under council plans to improve its existing play space.

Published: 01 Dec 20