Wandsworth Conservatives

Just over a week ago I was asked to officially name one of two new Port of London Authority patrol boats that keep the Thames safe. The boat I was asked to name was called Chelsea – I did think about renaming it Putney! It was very helpful to see both PLA representatives and the Environment Agency people at the event. The EA have agreed to provide the real time river sewage data to the PLA so that they can make it available to people who use the river locally. On a related matter, Thames Water massively polluted the River Wandle when it accidentally released sodium hypochlorite into the river. I have been in touch with both Thames Water and the Environment Agency to find out what steps are now going to be taken to get the River Wandle environment back to its previous state.

I have just spent a couple of enjoyable hours talking about using the River Thames better for river transport with two of our riparian councillors, Rosemary Torrington and James Maddan (Thamesfield Ward, Putney), Justine Greening MP for Putney, and Jane Ellison, our Battersea parliamentary candidate. There is no doubt about the case for using the river more and better, and potentially providing more comfortable means of getting to work for riverside commuters while relieving our overstretched overland and tube routes. Many City commuters from Putney already use the existing river service from Putney Pier to Canary Wharf. Justine,Rosemary and Jim have been talking further with Thames Clippers, London First, and Transport for London about many more services by faster boats to run from Putney Pier, then potentially calling at new piers at Putney Riverside, Battersea Reach, Battersea Park and onwards to Waterloo and Canary Wharf. Thames Clippers are very keen to do this and are looking for the right stopping points. Who knows? - we could see a regular service running through new pier stops on both banks of the river. There is also scope for an off-peak service through the day to carry mums and kids and tourists to such highlights as Battersea Park, our various prestigious restaurants, and other attractions in Wandsworth, and in Chelsea and Fulham on the north bank. I love the river (as a lifelong rowing man) and I share the enthusiasm of our enterprising Wandsworth parliamentarians and councillors to get this splendid plan going. Obviously the boat operators are just waiting for us to get our act together. Livingstone regularly spouts about using the River Thames more, but nothing ever happens. Wandsworth’s lively Conservative politicians are working to make it happen, and all credit to the groundwork they have done so far, which the local constituents are asking for, judging by some of my recent canvassing in riverside areas. Fancy a boat trip prior to being Mayor, Boris?

Richard Tracey