www.savewandsworthcommon.com Post Reply

[twomonkeys]

Hi there

Anybody know who is running this campaign and more about it? I'd like to support it, but the website is a bit lacking in details.

Thanks!

[Annabel (admin)]

Hi
We've been asked to set up a petition which we've done

http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/petition- ... th-common/

And I'll email you the details of the person who is organising it!

Thanks for the query...

[GES77]

It will obviously be horrible having parts of the park uprooted... But seriously, this has to be better than running it under houses? You can't vent the building works in the middle of a road or in a garden, so what is the alternative?

[Goldhawk]

I agree they have to have the access/vents but do they have to be right on the cafe/kids playground?

[twomonkeys]

Thanks Annabel for the update and your email.

I've also re-read Dan Watkins posts and this helps. But it was getting a bit confusing the debates about Crossrail 2 / Wimbledon dog track / Springfields hospital dev't.....

[gruffalo's dad]

So disappointed by this nimbyism.

Quote from the website: "We are not against Crossrail 2, but the proposed routing devastating the Common must be reconsidered. Access to the site will be a major safety and environmental hazard for you, many families and the wildlife that frequent the Common and Trinity Fields, thereby depriving us of precious green space, playgrounds, playing fields and sports facilities."

It's incumbent on those who have established the site to propose an alternative routing. The deprivation of green space, etc. is not permanent. I agree that some money should be spent: (i) providing alternative quality facilities on other bits of the Common while the work is being undertaken and (ii) restoring the Common and its facilities at the end of the work in a way that they are a material improvement on what went before.

My office is 50m from the Crossrail site at Moorgate and it is a very well run operation. I don't recognise the safety and environmental hazard that the website describes and streets and traffic in the City of London can be just as problematic for major works as those around the Crossrail 2 route.

The nimbys need to be told where to go. Saying "Please find an alternative route" is a ridiculous approach.

[nuttymummy]

Agree that position of the works on the Common would be better not on the playground but seriously where else in the borough would be suitable for them to put this works site? You'd prefer them to demolish a couple of streets to do it?!

[Goldhawk]

I think having them on the common is okay but in a different site

[rooting4tooting]

building on "lost" common land makes perfect legal sense. In order for any loss of actual common land, an act of parliament needs to be passed. This has already taken place in order to establish the original playground and was moved when the playground was moved.
As a playground user, I really hope any need for the land is temporary. If it is temporary, I am in support, if not I'm not

[Goldhawk]

Surely even "temporary" given the size of the project is 2 years or more?

[gruffalo's dad]

I agree with your idea for the Springfield site mungomuffit.

It's something that they should definitely look at. However, I'm guessing that the two shafts need to be each approximately one third of the way between Tooting Broadway and Clapham Junction and it looks to me like the Springfield site is a bit too near Tooting Broadway.

The website should have made constructive suggestions like you have done rather than just say "use alternative route".

[jg75]

I think the Springfield idea is a good one - parts of the Springfield Hospital site (just near College Gardens and the Beechcroft Road end of Burntwood Lane) are really very close to Trinity Fields. Not sure it would help save the Wandsworth Common playground though.

[J1829]

Graffalo's dad, I completely disagree with your post above, both the tone and content. Local residents and users of Wandsworth common should absolutely raise their concerns about such a huge project in the centre of the common and then the onus should be on Crossrail, TFL and Wandsworth Council to listen to these concerns and investigate if there are viable alternatives. The suggestion in this thread of the Springfield site being a perfect example.

The Crossrail site at Moorgate (and Finsbury Cirus) may well be a very well run operation, but is has still caused a huge amount of disruption and traffic chaos for at least the past 4 years. The key difference between the 2 projects is that 1000's of children don't regularly go out to play in the City of London, whereas this area of Wandsworth Common is probably one of the most utilised areas of green space and play area across London.

Your "disappointment" at the campaigner's approach would suggest you would not have objected if the plans were to build where your children (or Gruffolos) played, well more fool you if you believe that to be true.

I am sure there must be suitable alternatives and I for one will be more than happy to sign the petition and support their campaign.

[danwatkins100]

Here is a link to just the Crossrail 2 information:

http://www.danwatkins.org.uk/news/cross ... ns-tooting

Springfield Hospital and the Wimbledon Greyhound Stadium are independent developments, with very different timescales, but all are being consulted on simultaneously as it happens.

I spoke to Crossrail 2 about the Wandsworth Common concerns yesterday. They welcome alternative suggestions for locating the vents, since it is early stages on that and they will look at all options. They will also develop their own alternatives in response to the understandable concern from residents and users of the Common. Further along in time, all those options will be considered and consulted on.

The key message here is that we are a long way from any decisions being made, but that everyone should make their views known by emailing crossrail2@tfl.gov.uk so that they are aware of the strength of feeling on this topic.

If you wish to receive my updates on Crossrail 2, please email me at (dan@danwatkins.org.uk) using 'CR2' as the title. Or you can cc me on your submission email to Crossrail 2.

Rgds,

Dan Watkins
www.danwatkins.org.uk

[jg75]

Can someone please explain to me what the change to the Springfield plans will involve? I wasn't able to attend the meeting and I just can't find any information on it. Is there any chance that a change to the proposals (which have been subject to many appeals and protests) is being sneaked in?