Wandsworth Council plans to invest £5m on infrastructure

A £5m upgrade of the borough’s roads and pavements, the installation of 100 new bike hangars and additional funding towards a new accessible entrance to Wandsworth Station have been proposed to go ahead this year, Wandsworth Council has announced.

Council leader Simon Hogg said: “The schemes we’re proposing will make life better for our residents – all while keeping council tax low.

“Everything we do as a council must and will focus on our overriding aim to make our borough fairer, compassionate and more sustainable. Going forward, we will make sure our investment plans reflect this so that we can create the borough our residents need and deserve.”

Schemes earmarked for funding this year include:

· £5m to resurface pavements and roads, including cycle lanes, key bus stops, and bus lanes. The aim is to improve safety and make sure everyone can access them. This is in addition to the £3.5m rolling programme of footway and carriageway improvements.

· The pedestrianisation of Totterdown Street. The area between the A24 and Blakenham Road will be turned into an outdoor space for the community to use.

· The third phase of the Bike Hangars project. The funding would be for 100 new cycle storage hangars as part of the overall target of installing 300.

· Improving existing School Streets. Cars are banned from School Streets during drop-off and pick-up time, and infrastructure would be installed to make it harder for people to ignore the ban.

· Funding towards a new accessible entrance on the north side of Wandsworth Town station to help people living in new homes there. The council is also seeking additional funding from the developers of these homes ahead of new estimates expected in April.

· Library improvements, including repairs to the roof and distinctive glass dome at Battersea Library and the Balham Children’s Library refurbishment.

· Improving Furzedown Recreation Ground, including new play equipment for children.

The council’s Finance Committee will discuss the capital bids on March 1.

Photo by Tom Rogers on Unsplash

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