Telling it like it is …. Mr Richard Tracey attended a meeting

—–Original Message—–
From: John Fowler
To: mayor
CC: Len James ; Christopher Howe ; Alex Balkan ; emma.christie ; richard.tracey ; sjolley
Sent: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 23:19
Subject: Fwd: Meeting with Mr Richard Tracey – Battersea/Wandsworth – Thursday, September 25, 2014

Dear Mr Johnson

It is with both sadness and regret that we must advise you that the undertakings made by your Mr Richard Tracey, AM, during and following our local meeting with him on September 25th 2014 have not yet been addressed.

(See attached correspondence).

Whereas the representative of Wandsworth Borough, Mr Jolly, who was present throughout, appears to have put in motion the things he was deputed to do, the promises made by Mr Tracey have been shown to be completely hollow.

Sadly, Mr Tracey does appear to ‘have form’ in his dealings with the local people of York Road, Battersea. He did meet them on not dissimilar issues some 18 months ago – and nothing came of that. Their noise and traffic pollution problems have got worse not better.

We do ask ourselves whether Mr Tracey is competent to handle both his local AM responsibilities along with his transport portfolio within the GLA.

As you may well imagine, we have received a similar lack of response from the local MP, Jane Ellison, whose buck-passing capability among her constituents is now classified as legendary, as well as being risible.

We are decent, concerned citizens – we simply ask that our democratically elected representatives do what they were voted in to do – they should not avoid their responsibilities.

We are also going to publish this on our website – THE WANDSWORTH VOICE – as well as sending as copy to our local papers – The Wandsworth Guardian and The South London Press.

Actions not words, please.

Best wishes.

John Fowler, Len James, Peter Lebby

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From: Emma Christie
Date: 1 October 2014 09:39:14 BST
To: “‘John Fowler'”
Subject: RE: Meeting with Mt Richard Tracy – Battersea/Wandsworth – Thursday, September 25, 2014

Dear Mr Fowler

Thank you for providing such a thorough summary of your meeting.

Richard is currently pursuing these matters with TfL himself so I hope that the issues will be resolved swiftly.

Kind regards

Emma

From: John Fowler [mailto:john@santosroad.com]
Sent: 29 September 2014 11:11
To: Emma Christie
Cc: Len James; Ken James; sjolley@wandsworth.gov.uk
Subject: Meeting with Mt Richard Tracy – Battersea/Wandsworth – Thursday, September 25, 2014

Dear Emma Christie:

Please find below a summary of a meeting/fact-finding expedition undertaken in Battersea and Wandsworth by Mr Tracy last Thursday at the invitation of Mr Len James of Dungeness House, York Road. Mr Tracy was accompanied by Mr Jolley of Wandsworth Borough.

I myself, John Fowler, a friend of Mr James and a fellow resident of Wandsworth Borough, was also in attendance.

We would first of all like to thank Messrs Tracy and Jolley for accepting the invitation to come and see/experience for themselves some of the difficulties being experienced by local Wandsworth people in relation to traffic, roads and pavements and other local environmental and general quality of life issues.

We felt that the whole atmosphere of the meeting was very positive and we hope that the issues raised will soon be resolved by the relevant parties.

Best wishes.

John Fowler
77 Santos Road
London SW18 1NT
john@santosroad.com

OUTSIDE DUNGENESS HOUSE

1. A recognition that the width of the pavement directly outside Dungeness House had been reduced to accommodate the cycle lane on York Road. And that this caused inevitable issues for pushchair / pram / buggy users.

2. This on occasion was made even worse when wayward cyclists decided to ride their bikes on the pavement instead of using the cycle lane.

3. Such has been deterioration of the re-designed/re-engineered road and cycle lane surfaces outside Dungeness House that mud/water is thrown up on to the pavement itself. Photographic evidence has been submitted previously – to no avail.

MATURE TREES ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF THE OLD ELTERINGHAM SCHOOL

4. The trees along the outside of the old Elteringham School really do appear very vulnerable as the development moves towards its completion, as it transpires that no-one is sure who is responsible for their immediate and future welfare.

THE RAILWAY BRIDGE OVER TRINITY ROAD

5. The lighting under the railway bridge that goes over the Trinity Road has failed – and has not been replaced. Major security problem/risk for pedestrians and cyclists.

6. Deterioration in the road surface under the above-mentioned bridge has caused unacceptable amounts of mud and water to be thrown onto the pavements. The residue of which is very apparent.

THE WESTERN SIDE OF TRINITY ROAD AND BIRDHURST ROAD

7. There are clearly unresolved issues between TfL and Wandsworth Borough as to which of these two illustrious organisations has the responsibility for the management of ‘grassy areas’ on the western side of Trinity Road and beyond into Birdhurst Road.

8. The presence of ‘rat holes” and council-set ‘rat-traps’ along Birdhurst Road is very unpleasant – council officials are aware of the problem and are doing their utmost to resolve it. Even though the rats get bigger and more daring, there appears to be no immediate resolution.

9. The sad prevalence of ‘canine faeces’ on the grassy area along the front of the houses on Birdhurst Road was clear. Mr K James of 37, Birdhurst Road indicated to the representative of Wandsworth Borough Council how inappropriate ‘canine waste disposal’ methods were causing potential health and disease problems. Possibly either because of too few or badly sited disposal units.

10. The condition of the road surface in certain places along Birdhurst Road was all too apparent – major dips, furrows, inexplicable hollows – and nothing apparently has been done because ‘criteria’ for repair have not been met to the satisfaction of Wandsworth Council. Whatever that means.

11. There is no doubt but that the road traffic noise emanating from Trinity Road can indeed be intrusive. Mr L James suggested that different forms of bush/shrub could be planted which would act both as a form of barrier against the noise and whose lack of lower leaves would not allow animals to hide/shelter there or litter to gather there. A two-fold problem could be solved by one single solution.

THE TREES ON THE WANDSWORTH BRIDGE APPROACH

12. On the corner of the approach to Wandsworth Bridge and York Road stands a very imposing tree. It was feared that such a tree might suddenly disappear because of its proximity to the new, as yet unoccupied, apartment blocks.

PETERGATE AND VEHICLE ACCESS INTO BATTERSEA REACH

13. The turnings in and out of Petergate, into and across York Road, were inspected – at length. The inherent dangers and damage caused by of all forms of road users entering Petergate, going into Elteringham Street and then reversing back into Petergate in order then to cross the road directly into Battersea Reach were clear to all. (We were joined by other local residents for this section of the meeting and their scary anecdotes were graphically recounted.)

One possible solution would be to extend, simply by several feet, the existing carriage-way ‘divider’ – a form of central reservation – running along York Road from the roundabout eastwards towards Battersea. This would prevent direct access from Petergate into Battersea Reach.

14. ‘Through traffic’ continues to use the parking area between Filey House and Dungeness House as yet another way to enter Petergate and then access Battersea Reach. Another ‘accident waiting to happen’. A simple solution would be to ensure that one of the existing gates is locked shut thus preventing though traffic using this essentially residential area as a ‘rat run’.

Sent from my iPad

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