The Bulletin
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EY TN SO U C P I E E T H Y T The Bulletin F December 2020 O 9 U 95 NDED 1 Seasons greetings to all our members St Margaret’s Church – often wrongly overlooked When we think of churches in Putney the first thought is always of St Mary’s, host of ! the Putney Debates during the Come and meet us at Protectorate of Oliver the Positively Putney Cromwell and half a century Christmas Fayre, ago the scene of a devastating Upper Richmond fire that required its major Road to the west of reconstruction. St Margaret’s, the High St Putney Park Lane is often forgotten, overshadowed by 13 December its historically important elder 11am – 3pm tree. St Margaret’s started life (Covid restrictions as a Baptist Chapel in the nineteenth current incumbent, Brutus Green, was an permitting) century, was a Presbyterian Church for Army Chaplain for four years and came to St Margaret’s in 2018, being made Vicar in A fantastic chance to about ten years and was then acquired by support local the Church of England. Truly ecumenical early 2020. He, naturally enough since he is married to the opera singer Rhiannon businesses that have in heritage! It underwent a major been hit by the extension in the 1920’s to accommodate Llewellyn, has developed the musical side of the Church. Nick Miller was appointed challenging the residents of the Doverhouse Estate conditions during the then under construction in the great Director of Music in early 2020. During intervals in the Covid crisis there is a sung pandemic. Stalls will housebuilding programme following the be in the open air to First World War. Eucharist on Sundays at 10.00am performed by the choir, which always minimise risk and During the mid‐twentieth century church welcomes new enthusiasts, and a regular enable social attendances fell throughout the UK and programme of recitals on Sunday distancing. the Church needed to raise money. The evenings. The outward‐looking aspects of Putney Arts Theatre Church Hall, now the site of sheltered the Church are blossoming, too. Brutus will be hosting a two accommodation adjacent to The has arranged for the Church to be open day activities event Pleasance, was sold and replaced by the every day for some of the time. In 2019 on Saturday and present hall next to the Church. Slowly the Glassdoor project became a winter Sunday that weekend. things began to improve and, under the commitment. Lunch is delivered to about Plus there will be a incumbency of Ann Brodie, St Margaret’s fifty people every Thursday and the meet and greet event !"became#$%&'()*#$+",-+$(" more#$,% #community./0&*$+#*1&'#$,.$2# 3orientated.#34*0.'#$5).607 8$The',3%9 #(#$-&("$Church0%%*,%*& 0is(#$ +working,'&09$ with Rackets Cubed, a 6&+(0.'&.:$4#(-##.$",)+#",96+; with Elmer the charity “providing integrated sports, Patchwork Elephant education and nutrition on Sunday. programmes to inner city kids”, to The Putney Society deliver Christmas parcels to about will have a stall and 150 families. Volunteers for and we hope to meet and donations to its activities are always talk to our members welcome! in person for the first (Contact Helen Hargreaves, time in 10 months! offi[email protected] We also hope to $020 8789 5932) recruit some new $ The picture shows the openair service on Remembrance Sunday, members. complete with appropriate social distancing between households. Upcoming elections for Commons Conservators Wimbledon and Putney Commons are overseen by interests of the charity, and its charitable objects, a Board of eight Conservators and it is their role to at all times. If you are interested in standing as a ensure that Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath and Conservator and would like further information, Putney Lower Common are managed in accordance visit the website, or contact the Ranger’s Office. with the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act 1871 2. Vote! (1871 Act). Standing as a Conservator requires a three‐year Three of the Conservators are appointed by commitment, so this may not be for everyone. Government departments. The other five are However, the next best thing you can do for the elected triennially by local residents who live within Commons is to vote for your preferred candidates. three quarters of a mile of Wimbledon Common, or in the old Parish of Putney. These same residents How and when do I vote? also fund the management of the Commons through Ballot papers will automatically be sent out to all payment of a levy which is collected with your those eligible to vote during February 2021. Votes council tax. The next election will take place in can be cast either online or by post and you can vote March 2021. as soon as you receive your forms and up to 5pm on Why is this election important? If you are a levy‐ 10 March 2021. Voting on‐line saves the charity payer, this is your opportunity to have a say in how money ‐ for example, for every 100 people who vote the Commons are run and managed. There are two electronically the money saved will be enough to ways you can do this: stand as a Conservator and feed one of their patrol horses for one week. If you vote in the election. are an eligible voter, look out for your ballot papers 1. Standing as a Conservator when they arrive in the post early in February 2021 and please vote. Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators is a statutory body corporate and a registered charity, so 150th Anniversary of the Wimbledon Conservators are also charity trustees. Being a and Putney Commons Act 1871 Conservator is a great way to be involved in the local 2021 will be the 150th anniversary of the 1871 Act community, by helping to manage one of south west which established the commons. To celebrate this London’s most important public open spaces. special anniversary, the Conservators are planning a Conservators come from all walks of life and often series of events and activities throughout the year. bring with them a skill that will enhance the charity Coronavirus is adding an element of uncertainty to and help to conserve this ecologically important site these plans, but they remain optimistic that the and to meet statutory requirements. Each elected events will be able to go ahead. As 2021 progresses, Conservator serves a three‐year term and can stand keep an eye on the WPCC website and notices on for re‐election. At the moment four out of five the Commons for further details. elected conservators are residents of Wimbledon – an anomaly given that around 60% of the levy payers live in Putney and Roehampton – time for some Putney and Roehampton residents to put themselves forward for election. What’s required? To be eligible to stand as a Conservator you must be named on the most recent local government Electoral Register and be proposed and seconded by two other electors. You will need to have a genuine interest in all aspects of the Commons and be available to attend regular board meetings. As a trustee, you will be required to act in the best Transport Panel Convenor: Stephen Luxford. [email protected] Extra traffic in Putney arising from the Hammersmith some more recent diesels may Bridge closure looks likely to be with us for some years to not. Check the ULEZ website come. The Government‐led taskforce examining the to see if your vehicle Bridge is quoting more than six years before vehicles can complies. Note it will operate cross again and some months before pedestrians can do 24 hours so. Something which has attracted little publicity is the a day every day except withdrawal of the government’s public confirmation that Christmas Day. it would support some funding of the works. It is clear Although the Council’s trial of that neither TfL nor the local Hammersmith & Fulham Low Traffic Neighbourhoods was suddenly abandoned in council can do this on their own so hopefully, once September the idea has not disappeared. Look out for negotiations over the likely costs of the engineering new proposals in due course and ensure you engage in solution are finalised, there may be the necessary funds the consultation process. forthcoming to actually repair the Bridge. Transport for London (TfL), London Councils and London's In the meantime pollution levels in our High Street and boroughs are working together on plans for a trial of the main feeder roads remain at pre‐Covid levels, and rental e‐scooters in the capital. This trial aims to well in excess of EU limits. The Society is asking for local promote safety standards and develop a better traffic light phasing to be revisited to try to reduce the understanding of the impact of this emerging mode of level of vehicles queuing in and around the High Street. transport on London's roads. A competition was launched The countdown to the introduction of the Ultra‐Low in November, which is open to all e‐scooter operators. Emission Zone (ULEZ ) approaches. Encompassing the Up to three will be selected to take part in the 12‐month boundaries within the North and South Circulars, it is due trial, which is due to start in spring 2021. Privately owned to come into force in October next year. Most vehicles scooters will remain illegal in public, although they are will comply but petrol cars more than 15 years old and already widely in use, unauthorised, on London roads. Community Panel Coconvenors: Victoria Diamond & Val Jones [email protected] & [email protected] 07746 022654 ● The usual Charity Christmas Cards for Good Causes is and that smart bins will now be rolled out to sites unable to set up in the Library, but you can order cards across the borough.