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High Street plans meet opposition

A plan to get traffic moving has set pulses racing in Barnes after a letter dropped through the doors of homes across the area saying that an imminent pavement-widening scheme in the High Street poses ‘significant risk’ to local retailers. 

 

The letter urged residents to share their concerns about the plans with local councillors. Additionally, the campaign was examining ways to stop the work from commencing via a legal challenge. However, local resident Tim Dimond-Brown representing the #Save Our Shops campaign, which sent the letter, has now said (via NextDoor Barnes) that after taking advice from a QC that such a challenge won't be going ahead.

 

Work will commence in January on the scheme and will see pavements widened on the narrow south side of the High Street, the removal of sixteen parking places on the north side of the street, the introduction of new pay-and-display and pay-by-phone parking bays on the south side of the High Street and in roads leading off it mostly to the south. The removal of the north side parking spaces will allow space for a bus stop to be introduced and enable traffic to flow more freely. You can read full details of what it entails in the info box below this article.

 

The changes are the culmination of many years of planning and consultation and, says the BCA, are being made by the Council in response to residents' requests to improve the shopping experience on the High Street.

 

You can read the door-dropped letter here and the Barnes Community Association’s response here. There is also extensive discussion of the scheme on the NextDoor Barnes app.

SCHEME DETAILS

North side

•	All but four parking spaces to be removed. Those staying or being added are outside number 49 to 51 (Cook to Lea & Sandeman) and  numbers 65 to 66 (James Anderson Estate Agents)
•	New east bound bus stop outside nos 41-43
•	Extra cycle parking near Classy Cleaners and James Anderson

 

South side

•	New 15m loading bay outside M&S operating 10am to 4pm only
•	Sainsbury’s loading bay to be reduced in size and operate only between 10am and 4pm
•	Pavement widened by up to 1.5m from outside no 17 until corner leading to Station Road
•	Two additional pay and display bays near Sainsbury's
•	One additional pay and display bay near M&S
•	Extra cycle parking near Thomas Gaughan hairdressers & Sainsbury’s

Adjacent streets
Lonsdale Road

•	Three Zone B1 parking spaces to be converted to shared use pay-by-phone spaces

Terrace Gardens

•	Two Zone B1 parking spaces to be converted to shared use pay-by-phone spaces

Grove Road

•	Four Zone B1 parking spaces to be converted to shared use pay-by-phone spaces

Stanton Road

•	Four Zone B1 parking spaces to be converted to shared use pay-by-phone spaces
•	Traders 8am to 7pm bay to be converted to two shared use pay-by-phone spaces

 

There are also plans to add extra greenery in the form of low-level planters in places where it won’t impede pedestrian traffic.

 

Under the new scheme blue badge holders will still be able to park on the north side of the street to pick up goods from shops.

 

Click here to see map of the changes.

CONSULTATION TIMELINE

2015

•	Consultant engineers Atkins are engaged by the Council to look at traffic issues and into ways to improve the shopping experience.

2016

•	Atkins releases its initial recommendations and the BCA runs three two hourly sessions with local businesses, councillors and stakeholders in partnership with Atkins to see what improvements they would like to see in the area.

2018

•	Atkins report published in early 2018
•	In partnership with the council the BCA held a feedback session for stakeholders on the outcomes in April

2019

•	May -The BCA visits 16 businesses on the High Street to gauge their views on the proposals. They say that out of 16 businesses visited 13 supported the proposals. Those that didn’t were concerned about the implications of losing parking spaces outside their businesses.
•	October – The BCA runs a public drop-in session at Rose House to help them develop a ‘Barnes Liveable Neighbourhood’ bid which included details of the High Street plans

2020

•	October – The BCA runs an informal consultation and garners 211 responses –  out of which 76% of which were in favour of wider pavements, 69% supported removal of parking and 65% supported the addition of a new bus stop.
•	October 23 to November 20 – The Council runs its own consultation and receives 364 responses.  Details of the consultation were published in the November issue of the Barnes Village Bugle reaching over 2700 people. Large signs giving details of the plans were attached to lampposts on the High Street.
•	The second Covid lockdown begins on November 5.
•	The majority of respondents to this consultation are in favour and the council decides to go ahead but amend the scheme slightly to retain four parking spaces on the north side of the street.

Will it stay or will it go?

Another issue causing controversy is the parklet situated outside &Feast and Timothy Williams hairdressers on Church Road.

 

It's a marmite-type development with some people loving it and other people objecting very strongly.

 

Those opposing it are concerned about the loss of two parking spaces and road traffic safety. Additionally, twelve of the fifteen retailers in that stretch of Church Road are also opposed to it, according to campaigner Tim Dimond-Brown.

 

At issue, once again, is the balance between the desires of the retailers to retain as many parking places as possible with those of the BCA and Richmond Council who say they want to provide an additional amenity for shoppers.

 

The parklet appeared seemingly overnight after funding for it was provided by a grant from the European Union Regional Development Fund for projects specifically aimed at helping life to get back to normal post Covid. And whereas in normal times a consultation would have been required prior to the parklet appearing, it was given special consent as a temporary structure under Covid legislation. Before the arrival of the parklet the parking bays it occupies had already been suspended for many months to allow social distancing for queuing shoppers.

 

Both retailers and residents alike were invited by Richmond Council to have their say on the parklet once it had been operating a few months. The consultation has now been closed (it finished on October 29) and the Council has yet to announce the results. Some local residents who are concerned about the arrival of the parklet have been very active in trying to persuade people to oppose the development - both with the door-dropped letter mentioned in the story above and also by directly approaching people on the street and encouraging people to respond to the Council's consultation.

 

According to the Barnes Community Association, parking data provided by Richmond Council shows the parking in this parade operating at 49% capacity on weekdays and 59% capacity at weekends.

Could the bridge saga save the day for other threatened bridges?

Specialist magazine New Civil Engineer reports that the London Assembly's transport committee has outlined five steps that it believes needs to be taken in order to avoid a repeat of the Hammersmith Bridge saga.

 

The report calls for :

 

•	consideration to be given to the introduction of bridge tolls
•	the formation of a Thames River crossing coordination group working with the Assemby, TfL and the government
•	a new fund to be created to tackle the estimated £241 million repair and maintenance bill across all 43 of the River Thames London crossings
•	the publication of an annual report on the conditions on London's river crossings
•	the government to devolve London's £500 million portion of Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) to TfL and make national roads funding schemes available to London boroughs on the same basis as other English local authorities.

 

For those who have had to endure the ramifications of the closure of Hammersmith bridge this is cold comfort, but it could mean that things are never allowed to get as bad again in respect of London's other river crossings.

Roger McGough is an Oldie of the Year

The bard of Barnes, Roger McGough has been honoured at this years 'Oldie of the Year' awards.

 

The awards are organised by The Oldie magazine and Roger (above to the right of the Duchess of Cornwall) was presented with his award at a ceremony held at The Savoy. His fellow winners included Coronation Street's William Roache, Delia Smith, DJ Bob Harris and Sir Les Patterson - aka Barry Humphries. The master of ceremonies was also another Barnes luminary - Gyles Brandreth.

 

The overall winner was actress Leslie Caron although it has widely been reported that The Oldie of of the Year title had first been offered to Her Majesty The Queen, who politely turned down the award saying that 'you are as old as you feel'.

 

Roger was named 'Oldie People's Poet of the Year" and the award celebrates the fact that he is still at the top of his game as a poet at the age of 83. 

 

He's still taking a wry and humorous approach to examining life and contemporary mores, but the humour is combined with insight, compassion and humanity.

 

This year he published a new volume of poetry Safety in Numbers in response to the dark times of Covid.

 

The Oldie says "He sits  in the armchair by the nation's hearth, presenting Radio Four's Poetry Please" and his encomium in this month's issue of the magazine quotes Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy as dubbing him 'the patron saint of poetry'.

Back to the drawing board

After taking a short break following Mayor Sadiq Khan's rejection of plans for the site, Mortlake Brewery Community Group is getting active again. They say their aim is to ensure that when plans for the site are revised the community gets a development that it can support.

 

The group have met with Guy Duckworth from Dartmouth Capital, who represents the site owners Reselton Properties, several times since the Mayor's decision.

 

Although the developers have time left to appeal the decision they are preparing a new plan for the site to try and satisfy both Richmond Council and the Mayor, and also working with the local community group.

 

The Mortlake Brewery Community Group says that the developers will be submitting a new planning application to Richmond Council in the next few months.

Black cab intervention puts Pedi-cab service on hold

P lans to introduce a pedi-cab or rickshaw service across Hammersmith Bridge starting in November have been put on hold. We understand there have been objections from black cab drivers who are concerned that the service could have a negative impact on their livelihoods.

 

The complaints have prompted TfL to review the service and the BCA and the proposed operators City Shuttle, supported by local MP Sarah Olney, are now in talks with TfL and Hammersmith & Fulham council in order to resolve any issues and launch the service as soon as possible.

Just arrived

Two new shops have opened in Barnes this month and the owners of both  say that they have been blown away by the welcome they have received.

 

Maison Maioli

Over in White Hart Lane, just by Orange Pekoe you’ll find Maison Maioli, a super-stylish new flower shop. Owner Zuzu is an expert in sustainability (she used to advise Unilever) but is also a trained florist and interior designer. After taking a break to have two children – Maia and Oliver (after whom the shop is named), she’s fulfilled a lifelong ambition to open her own shop, and she’s very pleased to do it in Barnes where she and her family have lived for the past few years.

“I love the friendly community feel” she says “and the huge variety of customers from children buying presents for their mothers with low budgets to people ordering fantastic large arrangements.”

Zuzu’s style is very distinctive – her arrangements use intense colours and are strong, dramatic and funky. She also uses a lot of dried flowers which add to the sustainable vibe. She doesn’t use any chemicals in the water that her fresh flowers are stored in, and her scented candles are free from parabens and other additives. Local deliveries are made by electric bike.

She’s a bundle of energy and hugely enthusiastic about flowers, making the shop a joy to visit. Do check it out.

Elderflower

Meanwhile over at the Hammersmith Bridge end of Castelnau, Elderflower has opened – part greengrocers, part health store it also offers juices, smoothies and some very exclusive coffee.

Co-owner Husain is a trained nutritionist so everything he sells has health in mind. He and his team visit seven different markets to source the fruit and vegetables and a large proportion of all the produce he sells is organic. There’s a surprisingly large grocery range selling everything from Linda McCartney foods to specialist pastas.
His very expensive looking coffee machine seems to be matched by the quality coffee he uses  - Area 51 an exclusive hand ground variety. Plus you can choose from 9 different kinds of milk to add to your coffee.

Turkey run

Out of all Barnes' annual events The Turkey Run is perhaps the most eccentric. It's organised by Barnes Runners but anyone who fancies it can take part. Basically it involves dressing up in Christmas garb - turkey outfits would be much appreciated - and running 10km or 10 miles along the tow path. Participants are encouraged to raise money for local charity FiSH to supported the Christmas Day lunch at St Mary The Virgin Mortlake and its festive lunch deliveries.

 

Lots of local businesses have got involved including Powerwave gym who are providing marshalls and prizes, Up and Running in East Sheen (who are also offering runners a 20% discount in the week before and the week after the run)  are providing running bibs and prizes. Wurkshop are providing ceramic medals-cum-tree-decorations and the Coach & Horses will be supplying all participants with refreshments to refuel them after their run.

 

The run will take place at 10am on Sunday December 5 and if you would like to participate you can find out more and register here.

Lunches back at Church Road

In a sign that things are getting back to normal in Barnes, Church Road restaurant has announced that it will be open for lunch once again from next week onwards. It won't be a full week opening but you will be able to treat yourself to lunch between Thursday and Sunday certainly until the end of December.

 

You can book at the Church Road website.

Drawing inspiration

Charles Leon is a designer,  public speaker and lately an urban sketcher. During lockdown he decided to do something he enjoyed that he could do alone and that he could do outdoors. So he started a sketching tour of Barnes, Sheen and Mortlake and the results can now be seen in a very lovely book.

 

Publishing the book wasn't the plan when he started his sketching trips but after a neighbour suggested that he post his sketches on the NextDoor Barnes app the reaction and engagement astonished him. He says "One hundred and fifty likes in the first few hours. Local people want to talk about local things. They want to see where they live, where they were married, where they have loved and where they have lost. They want to engage in their shared history, the people and the places. Who knew?"

 

Talking about his project he also says "Who knew that our areas were so rich? I think this is true of all local areas; it's just a case of adjusting our eyes and finding interest in everything. Reconnecting with our local areas and seeing things afresh that we usually take for granted or walk past without thinking. This has been a source of enormous joy."

 

The book is available for pre-order on Charles' own website and he's also negotiating with local bookshops in the hope that they will stock it.

 

And, if you would like to meet Charles and get to see the original sketches for the book you can come along to his book launch at 5pm on Sunday November 28 in The Music Room at The Olympic.

Bird's eye view 

The bittern is Britain's loudest bird, it's also one of its rarest. So a bittern sighting is a big thing if you're a twitcher. It's also hugely reassuring for the staff at the Wetlands Centre who tweeted this picture as it is sure sign that the work they are doing to preserve wildlife is paying off.

 

Bitterns need a reed bed habitat to thrive and that's exactly what is on offer at the Wetland Centre. Hopefully the recent upward trend in bittern numbers will increase due to their work. It's touch and go as the number of bitterns spotted in the UK each year is vanishingly small, with annual sightings only in double figures.

 

The bittern above is one of a pair, so hopefully many more will follow in their footsteps.

Dial B for Barnes

Gyles Brandreth is one of Barnes' most upstanding citizens. He regularly performs shows to support local causes, he's a patron of the Barnes Music Festival and an ambassador for The OSO.  He was also instrumental in bringing the WWT  Wetland Centre to Barnes.

 

When he's interviewed about where he lives he often waxes lyrical about the joys of Barnes. However, it seems he wasn't always as proud to live in SW13. In the Times this month he reveals that when he first moved here he 'paid to keep a phone number that gave the impression he was still north of the river'.

 

Before he moved to Barnes he had always lived north of the river, and it seems that the charms of Barnes initially weren't enough to overcome the loss of social cachet that a move to the other side of the Thames apparently led to in 1986.

 

However, he had the best of introductions to Barnes as the owner of the house he eventually bought gave a dinner party and invited the 16 people in the neighbourhood that he thought the Brandreths would find most compatible. Gyles says he was right and that all of the guests are still friends of theirs.

A soulful stare from a local seal

When she's not helping in the successful Mortlake Brewery campaign Clare Delmar is a keen observer of life on the Thames. This month she spotted this soulful looking seal on the stretch of river leading up to Putney Bridge and put this fantastic image on Twitter.

 

Globally, grey seals are on the endangered lists. The trade in seal skin in the 19th century meant that in 1914 when they became the first animals to be protected by the UK parliament, only 500 were left in the UK.

 

Fast forward to 2021 there are more than 120,000 grey seals in the UK which is around 40% of the world population. Cleaner rivers have been one of the factors in the growth of the seal population alongside protected breeding sanctuaries. When the improvements to the London sewer systems from the huge Tideway project come on stream we can expect to see many more seals in the Thames.

 

The Zoological Society of London keeps a regularly updated log of sightings of seals and other mammals such as porpoises on the Thames. You can see where they have been popping up by clicking here and if you spot a seal you can report it on the same website.

Blooming lovely

Image: Andrew Wilson

If a picture paints a thousand words then this beautiful shot by local photographer Andrew Wilson easily explains why The Friends of Barnes Common are celebrating the award of Silver Gilt in the Conservation category of this year's London in Bloom Awards. The award is for their stewardship of The Leg O'Mutton reservoir. They have also, once again, won a Gold Award in the Commons category for their work on Barnes Common.

 

Our local green spaces are in such rude health as a result of a huge volunteer army who help keep them well maintained. If you'd like to lend your support you can simply join the Friends of Barnes Common by clicking here.

All we want for Christmas...

Clockwise: Wild About Barnes Calendar, Christmas Trees from Castelnau Services, Wild About the Wetlands, Barnes Goldens Calendar, Christmas Wreath from Castelnau Services, Christmas Card from St Mary's online shop.

As Michael Bublé says...it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Although we'll have our bumper Christmas Gift Guide in the next issue we thought we'd give a preview of some early Christmas treats for those of you who are super organised and have started Christmas planning already. Yikes!

There are two great calendars to choose from

It's always a treat to get Andrew Wilson's annual Wild About Barnes Calendar and this year the photos inside are just as gorgeous as ever. Our Barnes swans feature prominently as do three avian interlopers, the ridiculously sweet looking tawny owl chicks that Andrew spotted cuddling up together on a tree on Barnes Common.

If dogs are more your thing, then the Barnes Goldens calendar might very well hit the spot. It's compiled by Anne Mullins who was responsible for organising the 5 star reviewed Dog fair at the Kitson Hall. It features the world-famous Barnes Goldens (a picture of them on the platform at Barnes Station went viral and was used in the 2019 calendar appeared in publications as far afield as America and Korea).

Both calendars are available at the Barnes Bookshop and Natsons.

St Mary's are once again selling Christmas cards

After the huge success of last year's online card shop, St Mary's are once again selling Christmas cards and this year they have two new designs including the one shown above (bottom left) by Anna de Polnay of the Barnes Artists Group. The cards are sold to raise funds for St Mary's and the charities it supports and you can see their range of cards by clicking here.

The Battersby boys are taking orders for Christmas trees

The ever resourceful teenage Battersby brothers are once again selling Christmas trees and wreaths this year, and as always a percentage of their profits will go towards supporting local charity FiSH. The boys have raised thousands of pounds for FiSH since they started their garden maintenance and Christmas tree business. This year they completed a sponsored walk of the Pennine Way to raise even more for FiSH as well as for a defibrillator on Barnes Green.

Andrew Wilson's new Wetlands book is finally here

Packed with beautiful photographs featuring the amazing wildlife to be found at the London Wetland Centre, Wild About the Wetlands follows a year in the life of our wonderful local WWT reserve. It's the perfect gift for the nature lover in your life. It will be available from local bookshops and the Wetland centre itself in the next week or so and every purchase will lead to a percentage of the cover price going to support the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust.

Spooky!

T hings went bump in the night across Barnes this Halloween, and the return of full scale trick or treating was enjoyed by hoards of children. Many households got very much into the spirit of things with pumpkins and cobwebs galore. Joining in the fun were kids who went to the Wurkshop broom making classes and got to fly (well nearly) their own brooms by Barnes pond. Meanwhile over at the Barnes Film Academy a team of youngsters spent the week making their very own horror film.

 

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