Thames Water must put their house in order

I am one of those who thinks that Thames Water got off lightly earlier today with their £12 million OFWAT fine.

A newly published report by the Health Protection Agency has just found that on less than 1% of days when water from the river Thames was tested levels of hazardous bio-organisms were within acceptable World Health Organisation (WHO) levels.

One of the main reasons for this is that whenever it rains very heavily, Thames Water can't cope with the sewage and so jettison it straight into the Thames, upstream of Putney. This is disgusting, unhealthy and damaging to wildlife - not to mention rowers. It has to stop.

Thames Water have a track record. They have the worst record on broken pipes and water leaks of any water company in the UK. Last year they cut pressure through their mains which required extra pumps to be installed (at residents' expense) in blocks in Roehampton and West Hill. Their poor customer service is the reason for the record OFWAT fine.

It just isn't good enough for Thames Water to whine that instead of being fined this money could have been invested in improved service. Yes, it could: but this is the same company that last year claimed they couldn't improve upon pipe repairs because they were doing the absolute best possible. Well, a filthy river isn't the best possible. Cutting supplies isn't the best possible. Wasting water through record leaks whilst lecturing the rest of us on conserving water isn't the best possible. And record profits coupled with huge water rate increases isn't the best possible. Thames Water: must do better.

You can read the Health Protection Agency report here.

Free money - no catch: why not claim for your kids?!

Today I'm launching a campaign calling on all eligible Putney, Roehampton and Southfields parents to set up Child Trust Fund accounts for their children and build a nest egg for their future.

I've written to parents of nursery school-aged children all over the constituency to mark the fifth anniversary of the Child Trust Fund, established by Prime Minister Gordon Brown in 2002.

The Child Trust Fund is a great way of saving for a child?s future. All parents with children born since September 2002 should have received a voucher worth at least £250 to get an account started. For families on lower incomes it?s worth £500, and there will be further top-ups when children reach the age of 7 and during Secondary School.

I'm pleased that over 3,000 parents in Putney have already opened an account for their child, but I want to encourage everyone eligible to open an account and get friends, family, grandparents and the whole family involved. Every child in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields should start their adult life with a nest egg whether that?s to help to go to university or to start a business or to put a deposit down on a house.?

Figures show that in Putney, 4,644 Child Trust Fund vouchers have been issued. 3,300 savings accounts have already been opened by parents themselves. But 1,314 are still to be opened ? that?s 1 in 4 children missing out. Trusts are automatically opened by HM Revenue & Customs if the vouchers are not used after 12 months, but it?s best if parents open them so they get the right account for their child.

For further information on the Child Trust Fund, please call the helpline on 0845 302 1470.

September Parliamentary Report

My September parliamentary report - which discusses on three anniversaries this Autumn - is online at the putneysw15 website. Click here to read it.

I'm also really pleased that the southfields.net site has also agreed to start running my parliamentary reports.

The Bricklayer's Arms

It is nice to see that the much improved Bricklayer's Arms public house in Waterman Street off Lower Richmond Road has received recognition at last. It beat thousands of pubs across the capital to scoop the Greater London Pub of the Year Award from CAMRA, the real ale enthusiasts.

Congratulations to Becky Newman and John Marklew who have overseen the turning around of this once notorious pub. I was in there last week and can attest to its warm welcome and cosy atmosphere. A welcome change from some of the clone pubs in our town centre.

The pub even has a website: http://www.bricklayers-arms.co.uk/

UPDATE - 16.09.2007:
The Wandsworth Borough News has also picked up on this - read their story here.

Open House 2007

Next weekend (15th and 16th September) is Open House 2007, when hundreds of interesting and historic buildings - many which are usually inaccessible - are opened to the public.

There is, sadly, only one such building in Putney: the recent extension to Brandlehow Nursery School near Wandsworth Park. For an area with such history as ours, I am sure that there are far more opportunities to open house in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields and this is something I will be working hard to achieve as your MP.

There are more Open House sites elsewhere in the borough and nearby, including the Quaker Meeting House in Wandsworth High Street, the De Morgan Centre next door to West Hill Library, the beautiful, gothic Royal Victoria Patriotic Building on Wandsworth Common and, just up the road, Emmanuel School.

If you'd like to see where Britain's leading architects work, then Sir Norman Foster's studios on Battersea Riverside at 22 Hester Road (and why not visit the lovely St Mary's Church in Battersea Park Road on your way?) or Lord Richard Rogers' Partnership offices, next door to the River Cafe in Rainville Road, Fulham, will be open.

Surprisingly, St Mary's Church by Putney Bridge isn't on the list this year - surprising given that this October marks the 360th anniversary of the Putney Debates which took place there. But across the river All Saints Church is open - a great opportunity to enjoy the view of Putney riverside from its tower. And nearby, one of Fulham's often overlooked treasures: Fulham Palace, the former home of the Bishop of London, tucked behind Bishops Park: just restored.

You can find out more about all the Open House venues in London this year by visiting the website: http://www.londonopenhouse.org/london/home.html

Consulting the community

Last week I wrote to over 300 community groups around the constituency, including residents' associations, churches and faith groups, schools, key service providers, amenity societies and local campaigners, to introduce myself and ask them about their concerns and priorities.

I'm already getting replies and am beginning to set up meetings and take up their issues. If you're involved with a group in Putney and would like to get in touch, I'd love to hear from you. You can write to me at Putney Labour Party, 35 Felsham Road, London SW15 1AY, leave a phone message on 020 8788 8961 or email me: stuart@putneylabour.org.uk.