Putney is not Manhattan

This post is an extract of my editorial in the new edition of The Putney Paper.

Nor is it Dubai, Hong Kong or Tokyo. That may sound self-evident and in itself it's not a criticism: they are all vibrant, successful cities if you like that sort of thing.

But Putney has no tradition of high rise buildings. Those we have been saddled with have - with one notable exception - been to our area's detriment.

The ugly post-war office buildings along Upper Richmond Road; the neglected, claustrophobic Arndale estate above the Southside shopping centre and the monotonous, unconstrained riverside apartment blocks that I feel blight our riverside; all these can hardly be called local success stories.

Ironically the one recent success which has transformed part of our town centre - the Brewhouse Lane development by Putney Bridge - the Conservatives fought tooth and nail against. It's clear the Tories lack sound judgement when it comes to planning. So I'm glad that our amenity groups, including the Putney and Wandsworth Societies, are rightly campaigning on this issue.

You can read the rest of this editorial by downloading the Summer 2008 edition of the Putney Paper.