The website may be past its prime, but the Residents’ Association flourishes like never before.
We have moved over completely to Facebook and the Tonsley Residents Facebook group is now our permenant home.
Please visit us there to request to join. However, we are still contactable at info@tonsleyresidents.org.uk
Planning Committee councillors have unanimously rejected the latest submission for the redevelopment of the Homebase site on Swandon Way.
Citing concerns that the developers had entirely failed to address the scale and height of the Station Building in the new plans, almost all Councillors expressed their disappointment with the proposal and suggested that the applicants re-examine the whole scheme. The Schoolyard site across Trinity Way was held up as an example of how development could be done right if the developers put their mind to it.
Our Councillor Stuart Thom spoke with some passion on behalf of local residents and urged the committee to protect the Tonsleys.
We shall await the new submission with interest and hope that once the elections are over, Councillors remember commitments made before June 8th.
The updated plans for the Homebase site on Swandon way have been re-submitted. The proposed buildings are very marginally less overpowering than the ones rejected by the Planning Committee in the summer. We believe, however, they are still grossly out of proportion compared to not just the Tonsleys but even the other surrounding new developments.
We have put together an emergency newsletter that you can read or download here, outlining our views and discussing the reasons we can object.
You can view the plans and proposals on the council’s website here.
The deadline for comments is 26th January
This years Tonsley Times has now been posted through every door in the Tonsleys.
If you’d like another copy we have a few spare – please email us.
You can also download it here
Whilst the Tonsleys aren’t particularly a burglary hotspot, there have unfortunately been 3 incidents over the last month – 2 of theft and one of attempted theft.
In the last 2 weeks, 2 properties – one at the bottom of Fullerton Road and one on Tonsley Place – have been broken into. The burglaries took place at night whilst the owners were away.
The attempted robbery however took place in the evening across the road from us a few weeks ago on Tonsley Hill.
It’s a ‘nice’ technique to gain access to a property and make off with whatever is to hand. The scammer looks out for properties with the front curtains open and starts to measure up the property frontage – staying on the street – using a tape measure. The house occupants naturally wonder what the hell is going on and open the front door and come out to question the person. If it’s a man, the response is ‘Just surveying the street’. If it’s a woman, the thief runs into the now empty house pushing the woman to the ground, grabs whatever is to hand, and makes off.
If you see anyone, by themselves, at a strange time, measuring your hedge, fence or wall, DO NOT open the open the front door. Take a pic with your phone from the window and call the police.
We hope this isn’t the start of a rise in crime as the Tonsley are seen to be ever more affluent.
Details about how you can protect yourself are here on the Operation Bumblebee website: PDF .
An alarm system, outside security lights and as few dark corners as possible can all help considerably.
Please let us know about any other attempts, successful or otherwise.
Developer Minerva has submitted plans that show the vast residential tower on the site growing even further to 36 storeys.
The Wandsworth Society has issued a call to action and we’d been keen to hear you views too. We have until 18th March to air our concerns.
Details below:
We’ve been advised by our Safer Neighbourhood team that there has been an increase in cycle thefts in the area recently. It seems we’re a bit of a hotspot for pedal pinching.
They suggest:
Naturally, if you see anyone acting suspiciously, don’t wait, call 999 straight away.
The second public exhibition on the proposals to regenerate the Ram Brewery site will take place on Thursday 17th and Saturday 19th November. Entrance to the exhibition is on Ram Street
Full details can found here (PDF).
Go along and tell us what you think…
Do you know of a structure, building or built artefact that needs some protection in the Tonsleys?
English Heritage are drawing up a schedule – the Supplementary Grading List – of things that, whilst they may not be entire buildings, could do with a protection order on them. Victorian Post Boxes, Edwardian railings, Elizabethan manhole covers; that sort of thing.
We’ve been contacted via the Wandsworth Society – to help spread the word and put forward suggestions.
If you know of something that future generations might mourn the passing of, please get in contact and let us know. We’ll pass all and any suggestions on.
Minerva plc have today – 30th June – presented their updated plans for the Ram Brewery site. The previous plans were rejected by a public enquiry in 2010. The TRA was hugely supportive of the rejection as we were concerned about the effect of the massive twin towers both on the local environment and public transport.
You can take a look at the full details on their Ram Brewery Site
We’d love to know what you think. Leave a comment below