HEADS-UP EXPENSIVE CHANGES
Work is underway to deliver ‘environmental improvements’ in and around Wandsworth Common’s popular Bellevue Road shopping parade. Council staff are now implementing a £440,000 programme of streetscape changes designed to make the area more attractive for local residents and to also encourage more shoppers to visit local businesses that front this popular parade of shops, bars and restaurants. The works include the introduction of high quality York stone pavements, new street trees, more cycle parking, better street lighting, additional pedestrian safety measures, improved anti-theft security for motorcycles and the removal of redundant street furniture. The programme of works was drawn up following a detailed public consultation earlier this year, and are now being implemented along the stretch of Bellevue Road between Trinity Road and St James’s Drive. Transport spokesman Cllr Jonathan Cook said: “The changes will make a real difference to the look and feel of Bellevue Road, making it much more attractive for residents, shoppers and visitors.” Funding for the scheme has been raised via a levy on housing developers in the area to pay for improvements that benefit the wider community.
TWOBRIDGES Earlsfield Station’s two railway bridges have been given a much-needed facelift. The bridges have been cleaned and repainted in an attractive heritage-style railway green – and at the council’s request – the name of the station has been stencilled on both bridges to recreate their original Victorian-era appearance. Now new pigeon proof netting is being installed underneath both structures to protect pedestrians underneath. The work has been carried out by Network Rail as the culmination of a long-standing campaign to smarten the bridges, which are a prominent landmark feature in this part of the borough. To help get the project off the ground the council provided £100,000 towards the overall cost of the scheme.
YOUNGFOODIES Two students from Burntwood School have won the first Tooting Streetfood Challenge and will get a chance to launch their taco business at Tooting Market. The Tooting Street Food challenge was launched in June by Wandsworth Council’s Lifelong Learning team, who chose Tooting because it has become one of London’s top foodie destinations. The challenge offers young people a chance to develop a business idea and put their entrepreneurial skills into practice. Teams from Burntwood School, Chestnut Grove Academy, Ernest Bevin College, Nightingale Academy and Southfields Academy, received coaching and mentoring from professionals in the hospitality industry. The fiercely-contested final was judged by Tooting Market manager Roi Mengelgrein and professional Londonbased chefs Richard Sawyer (Maddison’s on Broadway) and Sebastian Ryder (Purple Dragon). The judges were impressed with the high quality of food and thought given to branding and developing a new food product. Kaafiya Bhatti and Donia Kamran from Burntwood School won with their business Panda Tacos, closely followed by Macho Nacho from Ernest Bevin College and Crumbalicious from Chestnut Grove Academy. The winning team won £250 of High Street vouchers and a glass trophy, plus the opportunity to launch their product from Unwined, Tooting Market, at a celebratory event on October 30.
THEY’VEDONEITAGAIN! Congratulations to Petermans Estate Agents Herne Hill office. They have been awarded the 2018 All Agents Gold Award for Best Estate Agent in SE24 for Customer Experience as well as Best Sales Agent in SE24. These awards are all based on customer testimonials. Managing Director, Wendy Peterman said: “Once again I am delighted to have won this award – for the second time. It’s a testament to our staff and as our mission statement ‘Excellence comes as Standard’ states, we strive to offer the best possible service at all times whether it be lettings or sales – obviously our clients feel we do!”
BEST OVERALL AGENT
in SE24 2018 for
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
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