Streatham St. Leonard's September News

Future of Streatham Post Office

All five Liberal Democrat councillors for Streatham have written to the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited to seek answers about the future of the branch currently located within TG Jones, which is set to close early next year.

We have received a response stating:

"We remain committed to restoring a replacement branch for the area. We have already taken proactive steps to invite expressions of interest in an application, and we are pleased to confirm that we have received some interest. We will shortly be reviewing the details of those who have registered interest, with a view to drawing up a shortlist of potential applicants."

The existing branch is very busy and, at some times of the week, operates well beyond the capacity of its limited number of counters, with queues stretching back to the stairs. Any replacement should offer at least the same number of staffed service points.

We will continue to pursue this, along with the questions of where a replacement might be located and when we can expect the process to be complete. Of course, we want the Post Office to secure a replacement before TG Jones closes its doors. You can read our full letter here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KO6QXcOnOw81ilXuT6Z-IILvH5xsMC_u/view?usp=sharing

Person sleeping on – and obstructing – the pavement outside the former Lloyds Bank

Residents are rightly very concerned to see someone sleeping rough and obstructing the pavement outside the former Lloyds Bank. People are exasperated that neither the Council nor the police seem to be making any progress in resolving the situation. While everyone is worried about the person concerned, we also have to think about the welfare of the community as a whole.

Wheelchair users, mobility scooter riders and parents with pushchairs cannot reach local shops and services without taking risks in the traffic. There have also been incidents of aggression towards passers-by, and conditions in that area are insanitary.

I have written to the police and to the Chief Executive of Lambeth Council, and have corresponded with Cabinet members on this. My Liberal Democrat colleagues and I have now taken the further step of writing publicly to the Leader of the Council, Cllr Martin Abrams, on 28 September, pressing him to support an urgent, combined police and welfare response. You can read the full letter here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11SgBfHhpJyi18o9jeQz1ve34HzN9xTxl/view?usp=sharing

Pavement trading licences and pedestrian safety in Gleneagle Road

I have written to the Council asking which licences the commercial premises on Gleneagle Road do – or do not – hold. Residents have told me they are concerned about large groups of men congregating outside these premises and blocking the pavement. I will keep residents updated.

In addition, I am working with Hina Bokhari AM to get Transport for London to tackle pedestrian safety on Gleneagle Road. There, the red lines are not enforced, so vehicles (mostly minicabs) are persistently parked illegally and stop pedestrians from seeing oncoming traffic as they cross.

Vehicles often enter this section of Gleneagle Road at high speed as they leave the A23 to head up to Tooting Bec Road and Garrads Road. The whole road layout on this part of the one-way system needs reviewing, with much greater priority given to the needs of pedestrians.

Fly-tipping and the state of our streets

The most common issue in my inbox, by far, is the appalling state of Streatham's streets.

At the elections in May, all parties committed to introducing "mega skips", which we hope will help tackle the scourge of fly-tipping. Since the new Green-led Council took office, Liberal Democrats have been pressing it to set out a timescale and the details of a scheme. We also want to see higher fines for those who continue to litter our streets with mattresses, furniture and much else.

We are bringing a motion to the Full Council meeting in October which, if it wins cross-party support, will require the Council to introduce these skips no later than the next financial year. It also calls for a review of the whole waste contract, which is clearly failing at present.

Councillor Alex Davies
Liberal Democrat, Streatham St Leonard's