The letters from Ann Parkin and Nicola Osmond-Evans are typical of the plaintive, unavailing cries in the wilderness from Putney voters feeling ignored under this tory administration - and destined to remain so as it passes its triumphant 35th year in power.

But people seem at last to be waking up to the fact that Wandsworth's zero or minimal council tax, which they vote for election after election, comes at a price - the main part of which is to be ignored if you try to criticise or modify the council's key plans and policies.

And hard-headed development, bringing an ever-increasing mainly professional population to the area, seems to be one main plank of that policy.

So what's wrong with that?

The answer to that question was given in large part at the Putney Society meeting about the development of Putney railway station in St Mary's church on September 26th. i.e. There are just too many people using the station!

It was a pity that meeting wasn't better attended, because the staggering figures for the usage of station disclosed that night illustrated the careless nature of the seemingly unending building programmes now a feature of SW15.

Of the 2500 railway stations in the UK, Putney is the 32nd most heavily used!

It serves more passengers per day than the stations in cities such as Oxford, Nottingham and many others! Which is why a journey to or from Putney in rush hour is such a nightmare.

I thought of the current huge void along the Upper Richmond Road, where a monster office block was recently cleared - with much disturbance and dust - and is destined shortly to house a few hundred more new passengers for Putney station.

I wondered if the council knows about population densities and the concomitant need to provide travel facilities, social amenities, etc, for all inhabitants.

Bob Knowles; Carmalt Gardens; Putney

 

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