Barnes Station success

Before Easter I surveyed the part of Putney closest to Barnes Station about their views on issues about the station and wider area.

I was pleased that the Government rejected the plans by station managers South West Trains to substantially reduce ticket office opening hours, but I'm well aware that this is just the tip of the iceberg when it came to residents' dissatisfaction with Barnes Station.

Some of the - many - issues raised with me, and which I then took up with SWT and Richmond Council (who are responsible for the area around the station) included:

• The unacceptably poor waiting areas for bus passengers on the Rocks Lane bridge above the station
• The cleanliness of the area - including the embankment - and the fact that litter bins have been removed
• Insufficient street lighting in the area, coupled with some dangerously potholed paths and roads on the way to and from the station.

Q. When is "free swimming" not free?
A. When Tory Wandsworth charges £2 for it

At the end of March, the Labour Government introduced free swimming for under 16s and over 60s.

Right from the outset, the Tory Council tried to shirk the scheme: the only reason under-16s swim free in Wandsworth is because the local health service stumped up the funding because the Conservatives wouldn't. They also cranked up leisure centre charges for everyone else at the same time as they agreed to opt-into the Labour free swimming scheme.

But it gets worse. Yesterday, I discovered that free swimming in Wandsworth isn't free at all. Because the Conservatives have levied a "membership fee" of £2 for any pensioner wanting to take it up.

I asked the Council to confirm this - and their response was that they had been allowed to. Well, just because someone's allowed to do something doesn't mean they have to do it. Neighbouring Lambeth doesn't, for instance. I've asked the Tory Council to explain, as a matter of urgency:

1) Why does Wandsworth Council feel the need to levy this charge?

2) Which other local authorities in London are levying a similar charge?

3) Does the charge apply to under-16s "free" swimming as well?

4) Why does there need to be a "membership" scheme as eligibility for the scheme is clear and can be verified using other existing means of identification?

5) Is this a one-off membership fee or will those being charged be asked to re-register each year?

6) What are the actual costs of administering this "membership" scheme, and what is the expected income this will generate?

Wandsworth is among the highest-charging councils in the country for almost everything except council tax. Free swimming should mean free swimming.

Why we never forget
Our heroes from the Battle of Fromelles to get a proper burial Click here

Electronic English
Stuart writes for the Progress thinktank on the need to archive websites for historical record Click here

School nurses need homes
WHy the NHS should stop the sell off of Arton Wilson House in Roehampton and the need for more affordable homes Click here

Before...
The Tory potholes are back; and more dangerous than ever? Click here

...and After
But Stuart gets results - so what's the point of having all these Tory elected represenatives? Click here

Don't believe The Times
How the Paper of Record has got it so wrong on the security of our elections Click here

Alton School improves
Great Ofsted update for the Roehampton Primary Click here

Westminster Hall debate on tall buildings
Labour keeps up the pressure on overdevelopment threat locally Click here

Government right on clean coal
The Kingsnorth decision has been welcomed by both the Green lobby and the energy industry Click here

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Published and promoted by Adam Gray on behalf of Stuart King, both of 35 Felsham Road, Putney, London SW15 1AY