Hesoneofourown, it doesn't appear as simple as that. The council have been told by the police to install better security barriers etc and the project will cost 2.5mln. They are saying they can't afford it with the current cost of living crisis and that 2.5mln is needed elsewhere at the moment, so they will have to cancel the pedestrianisation next year. Theres a decision this week I think. I'm apolitical on this but I wouldn't dismiss it as a petty political decision.

https://www.mylondon.news/news/south-lo ... e-25095308

 

I spoke to a Councillor yesterday who told me that it turns out that the new Labour run council is allowing the Battersea and York Road closures next year as they are in Labour wards but are opposing the Northcote Road closure. Can anyone guess which party has control over the Northcote ward???

It saved many businesses during covid and has been great for businesses there since. The public seem to love it too yet they are apparently going to deny the closure for next year for petty political reasons rather than beneficial public ones.

To NV Husband,

First of all thank you for your support on the weekend closure.  Regarding the music on the road yesterday, it was the Impact Festival, who were the same people we had last year, funded by the council’s arts office.  It was samba dance for two sessions of ten minute shows, and a trapeze artist who did one show to music which again lasted for about ten minutes.  We hosted them last year outside the Flight Centre.  The idea of the performers was to bring a more family vibe to the street as opposed to just the hospitality aspect, and they are due to visit three more times over the summer.  I hope that the music didn’t put you off the closure overall, as Impact is such a worthwhile cause.  Please do see more about them here: https://www.impactfestival.co.uk/  Jonny

Can someone explain why the restaurants add a cover charge? I realise there is a cost to them for the road closure but in return they get to put out more tables and so earn more revenue.
I don’t expect to pay more normally when I dine in a restaurant with a bigger premises because their rent is higher.
Just makes me and my friends want to avoid eating there at the weekends.

As can be seen from my previous posts, I am a massive fan of pedestrianising Northcote Road. But I was surprised by the loudspeakers and music blaring out from the marquee stalls on Sunday (between Kelmscott and Belleville Road)…

Please organisers, let’s not push the boundaries or you risk losing support. Having loud music and announcements is one step too far, invasive and negatively impacts enjoying your own back garden…

Generally in favour of pedestrianisation and as fewer cars as possible (whose speed up and down Northcote seems to be ever-increasing...) and a reassessment of Northcote Road's layout (it's v wide, we need another zebra crossing... for another discussion!), so here's our penneth to throw into the mix:

1. Feedback from a friend who works in a retail shop on Northcote is that they suffer because of lack of visibility, crowded pavements and being situated 'behind the action'. 
2. The rubbish is awful. Too much takeaway single-use stuff*. Pizza boxes stuffed into small bins, bottles stacked at the side of bins... Inadequate and insufficiently visible recycling opportunities (since most of it can, at least, be recycled...) 
3. Evening anti-social noise, drunkenness, gardens encroached on....
4. Webbs Road becomes hellish to cycle along, and unpleasant to walk, eyes everywhere to navigate at every junction as cars try to find a way through. 
5. What do the shops on Webbs think? They need to be expressly included in this initiative to benefit from it too. Also they seem to suffer from the downsides of diverted cars, air pollution...
6. Agree with others that there needs to be another bus stop on Bolingbroke (esp. those with extra needs, small kids, disabled, older people). 

*Wandsworth Common also bears the impact, which is infuriating.
 
The pedestrianisation brings a buzz to my stroll with kids on a summer's day. But I am glad to live at the quieter Southern end!
  

Is there any scope to add some market stalls to the empty bit? There used to be all manner of little stalls selling everything from pyjamas, jewellery and tasty desserts on northcote.

Wimbledon Village has a great little food market on the weekend and it doesn’t seem to detract from local business..

I think it is a fantastic idea to open it from April. I live just off northcote road and love the buzz of it all. I find it pretty easy to navigate but I am not elderly. Could do with some more restaurants variety.

Surprised at negative comments. I think it’s a real plus for the area.

We’ll done to Jonathan for all his work behind the scenes.

This is getting a bit tiresome now.

There was a formal consultation from Wandsworth Council. There was overwhelming support by the local residents for a road closure… the organisers have tried to mitigate concerns as much as possible.

The tiny minority didn’t get their way, so are now resorting to internet and social media whilst the silent majority gets on with life.

I've got to be honest, I find it a total pain as well.  It's lovely for a month or so in the summer - especially when it's quiet and the businesses need extra footfall but I do think it's going on for far too long and kind of ruins the fun of it all.

The bus diversion is such a pain as well.  We live the other end of Northcote Road and have a disabled son so we really rely on the buses.  I know they stop on Bolingbroke road (which in itself is so dangerous as kids on scooters etc) however they only stop outside the Bolingbroke Academy and then on Blenkarne so it's a long walk.

I think it's such a nice idea and we've really enjoyed it in the past but I just don't think it needs to go on for quite so long.

Sorry to be bah humbug!!!

we live off Northcote road, and to be honest we don't enjoy the road closure at all, it's very disruptive for nearby residents, costs a fortune to set up which is then passed on to customers, artificially raising the cost of living and running a business (as if it wasn't currently high enough !), it makes for frantic driving off webbs road and some of the other roads, the bus diversions are a pain and it goes on for too many weeks.
and it's not like there is anything special about it now, though it was a good idea to try during the pandemic,
we know lots of people who won't go the restaurants etc not to be charged the extra-, they just go somewhere else.
let's move on from that now

we live off Northcote road, and to be honest we don't enjoy the road closure at all, it's very disruptive for nearby residents, costs a fortune to set up which is then passed on to customers, artificially raising the cost of living and running a business (as if it wasn't currently high enough !), it makes for frantic driving off webbs road and some of the other roads, the bus diversions are a pain and it goes on for too many weeks.
and it's not like there is anything special about it now, though it was a good idea to try during the pandemic,
we know lots of people who won't go the restaurants etc not to be charged the extra-, they just go somewhere else.
let's move on from that now

we live off Northcote road, and to be honest we don't enjoy the road closure at all, it's very disruptive for nearby residents, costs a fortune to set up which is then passed on to customers, artificially raising the cost of living and running a business (as if it wasn't currently high enough !), it makes for frantic driving off webbs road and some of the other roads, the bus diversions are a pain and it goes on for too many weeks.
and it's not like there is anything special about it now, though it was a good idea to try during the pandemic,
we know lots of people who won't go the restaurants etc not to be charged the extra-, they just go somewhere else.
let's move on from that now

We found it very difficult to navigate all the tables previously so are hoping it’s better organised this time. My biggest bugbear is the Tamara cafe all year round - it has tables out further than the four foot standard and there is a large telephone box opposite. Add in the large amounts of oblivious 20 somethings loosely queuing and it gets quite exasperating at times.
Adding to that, neighbours builders have been working over the weekend with power tools (the neighbours are away) and the increasingly noisy flight path, we can’t wait to move!
Yesterday was wonderful here, no noisy kids, barking dogs, parties planes or power tools! Back to my noise cancelling headphones now