Today’s (Saturday 18 January) community drop-in was held in St Boniface Church where the Leader of Wandsworth Council Simon Hogg addressed the concerns of Tooting Broadway and Furzedown residents The community drop-in held for residents of the Tooting Broadway and Furzedown wards was the latest in a series of events that give local people a chance to connect with council officers ward councillors and the police in-person in their local area.  The monthly drop-ins offer refreshments and a chance to ask questions directly to the leader about issues that concern them.  Also present at the event was an “ideas map” of the borough offering attendees a chance to point out specific locations that may need attention or investment.  Neighbourhood Watch were in attendance as a partner organisation.  The Leader of the Council, Simon Hogg listened to residents concerns and responded to queries about community safety, fly-tipping, parking which are the first of their kind in London When asked about the lack of investment in Tooting, he highlighted ongoing work to declutter the town centre; making safer crossing points along Mitcham Road and increased investment in roads and pavements. In addition to this, the third of our Family Hubs will soon open in Tooting and this will offer wrap around support for families Keeping the streets clean were also raised, reiterating the councils aim to make a Cleaner Borough for all.  Simon said: “It is great to be in Tooting today to hear from local residents about what matters most to them As a listening Council we host monthly drop-ins around the borough to learn what issues are specific to each community.  other Councillors and Council services to hear first-hand about a broad range of issues – whether that’s discussing cost of living support fly tipping or concerns about community safety.”  More than 100 residents attended to have their concerns about the local area addressed.  We regularly hold community drop-ins across the borough to provide an opportunity for you to discuss important topics and find out more about Council services Want to come to the next community drop-in session? Find out more about the Leader’s community drop-in sessions. Can’t make it to a session? Share your views on our various consultations, or submit a comment, query, complaint or compliment to us via our website. Sign up to our newsletter Join friends and neighbours as well-known authors and journalists team up for a unique celebration of home grown talent Furzedown Literary Festival kicks off with a pre-launch event on March 30 when Balham novelist Bobbie Darbyshire will reveal the secrets of being a successful writer at the Furzedown Project in Moyser Road Mitcham Lane Baptist Church in Mitcham Lane will welcome the Guardian’s John Crace BBC’s former Security Correspondent Gordon Corera successful novelists Yara Rodrigues Fowler and Michael Donkor plus writers Tom Newlands and Kathryn Faulke Interviewers include the Guardian’s Zoe Williams Wandsworth author and journalist Saima Mir Four special children’s interactive sessions will feature storytelling This is the first Furzedown Literary Festival set up by a group of volunteers in response to a lack of literary events in the area Limited numbers of early bird day tickets are on sale now for £25 and are selling fast All tickets are available on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/furzedown-litfest-day-ticket-tickets-1144795075889?aff=oddtdtcreator Pictured top: Furzedown Literary Festival poster (Picture: Furzedown) Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" The popular Summer In… programme of free events returns to Wandsworth parks from Saturday (June 8) Furzedown Rec and Shillington Gardens from June 8 to July 14 This weekend the fun starts in Furzedown Recreation Ground on Saturday from 11am to 5 pm with a free day out full of activities for all local families On Sunday June 9 there will be a family fun day in Shillington Gardens from 11am to 5pm Live music enthusiasts can kickstart their summer with Live at the Bandstand in Battersea Park on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June Enjoy free outdoor live music suitable for all ages The Battersea Park Creative Arts Weekend on Saturday June 29 and Sunday June 30 will feature free family-friendly live shows and workshops Battersea Park hosts the first-ever Wandsworth Family Pride in partnership with the Wandsworth LGBTQ+ Delivery Network and more from the local LGBTQ+ community in a relaxed environment and welcoming to all and a bouncy castle & children’s soft play Battersea Park will host Wandsworth Armed Forces Day with support from the 24th Invicta Rifles Marching Band The famous Battersea Dog Show will take place the same day featuring even more pedigree and novelty categories to participate in Summer sports finals will be broadcast live on the big screen at the Battersea Park Bowling Green on Saturday July 13 and Sunday July 14 Saturday sees the women's finals of the Wimbledon Tennis Championship with all the action from the Wimbledon Men’s Final on Sunday the UEFA EURO 2024 final will be screened on the KERB Street Food Garden big screen an 18+ ticketed event with entrance from 6.30 pm and kick-off scheduled for 8pm with table bookings and individual standing tickets available The final weekend of Summer in Battersea Park is all about getting active with sports and movement Come along on Saturday July 13 and Sunday July 14 for sports and wellness activities for all ages including the World's Biggest Bouncy Castle climbing walls and zen sound bath meditation sessions The KERB Street Food Garden will be open in the Battersea Park Bowling Green every Saturday and Sunday from 29 June to 14 July All weekends are free to attend, with optional extras and ticketed attractions available for purchase. For detailed event schedules and more information, visit summerinbatterseapark.com Tooting residents are being asked to take part in a local consultation that will help shape a comprehensive series of improvements at a neighbourhood green space Families living near to Furzedown Recreation Ground are being asked for their views on proposals to upgrade play facilities and a series of landscaping improvements The town hall has set aside more than £680,000 to fund these improvements The consultation documents states: “This refurbishment will include a new bespoke landscape that meets the needs of the local community and is resilient for the future We will support people to be healthier and happier through improved accessibility to a variety of passive and active recreational opportunities and we will change the look and feel of the park to be welcoming to all “The project will also see us design a new playground for children aged up to 14 with an increased capacity to allow more children to play at the same time We will also provide diverse equipment that is accessible to all children and which provides opportunities to develop fine motor skills and encourage active lifestyles.” Judi Gasser Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Environment said: “We are really keen to hear the views of local people and better understand what they want to see in their local neighbourhood park “We have set aside a considerable sum of money to fund a range of improvements and would like local people to tell us how they think could best be spent at Furzedown Rec.” Once this initial phase of consultation has concluded all of the feedback will be carefully considered in drawing up options for the refurbishment – and will then be followed by a second round of public consultation to determine a final design To take part in this initial stage of the consultation please visit https://haveyoursay.citizenspace.com/wandsworthecs/furzedown-23/ People who would prefer a paper copy can email parks@enablelc.org or call (020) 3959 0060 This stage of the consultation closes on August 10 The popular Summer In… programme of free events returns to Wandsworth parks for its fifth year there will be fun events  in Battersea Park Deputy Council Leader Kemi Akinola said: “As Wandsworth gears up to be London Borough of Culture 2025 series of events is returning to local parks It’s a great way for communities to come together to enjoy the summer Summer festivities kick off at Furzedown Recreation Ground on Saturday June 8 from 11am to 5 pm On June 9 the fun moves to Shillington Gardens Fun and free activities include circus skills An ‘accident hot spot’ will undergo major changes to improve its safety after a history of collisions Wandsworth council will overhaul the junction of Mitcham Lane and Southcroft Road in Furzedown after revealing it has seen at least five collisions in recent years The council said proposals it put forward in September will go ahead after residents and businesses called for action to be taken The main changes will see the existing mini-roundabout at the junction replaced with a traffic signal-controlled junction which will have new push button pedestrian crossings on each arm and advance stop lines for cyclists Residents previously said they welcomed the proposals as they said the ‘dangerous’ junction was plagued by speeding and drivers not stopping for pedestrians at the zebra crossing which sits very close to the mini-roundabout said there had been ‘many accidents’ at the busy junction and described the mini-roundabout as ‘terrible’ Mr Iqbal raised concerns about drivers speeding while using the junction and failing to indicate along with their ability to see the zebra crossing When it starts to get dark in the evenings they can’t see the zebra crossing and it’s becoming very dangerous’ who works at takeaway Mitcham’s Plaice in Mitcham Lane there is no safety because people coming from Mitcham are zooming down The roundabout is causing a lot of problems for people because nobody is using it correctly.” also said he regularly sees accidents at the junction as he welcomed the council’s proposals to change it He raised concerns about the safety of the layout of the junction with the number of elderly people and schoolkids in the area adding: “Schoolkids are coming to the zebra crossing The council will also install new replacement short-term parking and loading bays on Edencourt Road along with upgrading the pavement outside the shops on both sides of Mitcham Lane between Fallsbrook Road and Edencourt Road Once the new arrangements are in place the council will undertake further traffic surveys to review any potential displacement and also carry out air quality monitoring to assess the impact of the changes cabinet member for transport said: “This junction has a chequered history of collisions in recent years and we need to do something about it This was the message that came through loud and clear in the public consultation we held last year Local people and businesses wanted action taken to improve safety at this location “As a result we’re implementing changes we believe will make it a lot safer for people whatever form of transport they’re using And as part of this project we will be laying new pavements and implementing other public realm improvements at the nearby shopping parade which we hope will make the area more attractive and welcoming and boost trade for these local businesses.” The installation of the new traffic signals at the junction begins today (Monday) The council will carry out traffic surveys and air quality monitoring once it has completed the scheme to assess the impact of the changes Feedback received from local residents is helping designers come up with plans for an improved and new-look Furzedown Recreation Ground Earlier this year families living near Furzedown Rec were asked their views on proposals to upgrade play facilities and a series of landscaping improvements The administration has set aside more than £680,000 to fund improvements at this popular local green space In total 460 people responded to the council’s first stage consultation - with 98 per cent living close to the Rec with a particular emphasis on updating the playground and expanding its facilities so that more children can use it at the same time Judi Gasser Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Environment said: “We are really grateful to local people for sharing their views and giving us a better understanding of the range of improvements they want to see at the Rec “All the feedback we’ve received so far is being carefully considered as we draw up fresh plans which will be shared with local people in a second round of consultation that will help finalise the designs “We have set aside a considerable sum of money to fund improvements at Furzedown Rec and will now be working hard to come up with a set of plans that best meet the needs of local people.” The next round of consultation is likely to be held in the spring of 2024 when local people will again be asked for their views and comments Tooting residents still have time to help devise a comprehensive series of improvements at a neighbourhood green space Families living in the area are being asked for their views on proposals to upgrade play facilities and landscaping improvements at the Furzedown Recreation Ground The town hall has set aside more than £680,000 to fund these upgrades But there is only a week left for people to share their thoughts with the public consultation closing on Thursday 10 August 2023 According to background documents to the consultation "This refurbishment will include a new bespoke landscape that meets the needs of the local community and is resilient for the future "The project will also see us design a new playground for children aged up to 14 with an increased capacity to allow more children to play at the same time and which provides opportunities to develop fine motor skills and encourage active lifestyles." Judi Gasser Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Environment said: "There is still one week left for people to share their thoughts and ideas We are really keen to hear the views of local residents and better understand what they’d like to see in their local neighbourhood park "We have set aside a considerable sum of money to fund a range of improvements and would like local people to tell us how they think could best be spent at Furzedown Rec." Take part in the Furzedown Recreation Ground Consultation People who would prefer a paper copy can email parks@enablelc.org or call 020 3959 0060 New cycle lanes and road safety measures will be introduced in Furzedown from next week to improve safe cycling and walking routes in this part of Wandsworth As part of the council’s new walking and cycling strategy and following requests from residents to “make Mitcham Lane safe for all” the council is introducing a pilot scheme there to improve safety for those who cycle The changes are being introduced on a trial basis between Mitcham Lane’s junctions with Southcroft Road and Blegborough Road These measures are being introduced via an Experimental Traffic Order (ETO) for six months so that residents have a chance to see the changes in action before feeding back their comments to the council ahead of a decision being taken as to whether they should be made permanent All comments received from this feedback will be considered in full before any final decision is taken Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “This scheme is being introduced after listening carefully to the views of local residents and other stakeholders who told us they thought improvements could be made in this area to reduce road danger for the increasing number of residents who do not travel by car “We have therefore devised a package of measures which we believe will deliver those safety improvements and provides options to ensure those who use Mitcham Lane have access to affordable and safe mobility options “By adding additional transport infrastructure in Furzedown we hope that this will provide residents with more choice and enable them to make a shift away from travelling by car Taking concerted action to encourage active travel options is one way the council is working hard to improve local air quality and clean up the air we all breathe.” The changes are a central plank of the council’s Future Streets strategy which outlines its wide-ranging plans for cleaner greener and safer travel options across Wandsworth The council is keen to hear the views of local residents and businesses throughout the trial period. Feedback can be submitted after the pilot scheme has begun via an online survey which commences on April 17 and continues until October 31st For answers to queries or to request a paper copy of the survey or a different language or format, please email TrafficAndEngineering@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk. Back due to popular demand, Summer in . with free events in Wandsworth parks throughout the summer Armed Forces Day and the ever-popular Battersea Dogs Show  From July 1 Battersea Park will also host a beer garden and street food village said: "We have some of the best parks in London and this summer's programme of events enjoy Battersea Park and other local green spaces and have fun." The circus comes to Furzedown Rec on Saturday and Shillington Gardens on Sunday The big top show from Circus Sensible if followed by a session from Live Karma Yoga or an art class hosted by Putney School of Arts and Design On Saturday at Furzedown Rec you can also take part in a consultation on proposed refurbishments, and join in with the Letters to Tomorrow project about your hopes and fears around climate change – part of the borough’s Big Green Week events. Live at the Bandstand is back in Battersea Park for its 20th year featuring music from Wandsworth Music Academy and World Heart Beat Foundation Watch the Ashes from Lord’s on the big screen Circus Sensible and the African Acrobatic Circus will also be in Battersea Park plus a selection of fairground rides and free family activities In Battersea Park enjoy sea shanties and slapstick comedy from theatre troupe Calf2Cow children can tackle an inflatable obstacle course and bouncy castle and there will be art classes from Putney School of Art and Design On July 9 the Battersea Dog Show (pictured above) returns to the park with pedigree and just-for-fun novelty classes to enter Wandsworth Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the people who make up the Armed Forces and emergency services community reserves and representation from the London emergency services Watch the Wimbledon tennis finals on the Battersea Park big screen plus there will be outdoor gym and yoga sessions a 30ft climbing wall and community boxing sessions All events are free and on a first-come first served basis, with exception to certain exercise classes during the Family Sports Weekend and dog entries into the Dog Show. To buy or reserve your tickets to our wellbeing classes, visit the Eventbrite page. Find out more Events are also being held on June 10th on Tooting Common and June 17th in Furzedown Rec as part of the Love Parks campaign follow Battersea park and Enable Parks on Instagram Residents living in Furzedown are being invited to attend information sessions next week and the week after where they can find out more about plans to improve road safety at a hazardous junction The council want to keep people informed about plans to make changes at the junction of Mitcham Lane and Southcroft Road which has seen at least five collisions – and possibly more – in recent years The proposals also seek to improve the public realm in this part of Tooting by upgrading pavements outside the shops on both sides of Mitcham Lane between Fallsbrook Road and Edencourt Road – with the scheme boosting the appearance of the local shopping parade through the installation of better-quality paving Residents and local businesses owners can find out everything that’s being proposed and ask questions Road safety engineers will be on hand to answer those questions at two information sessions being held between 4pm and 7pm on 2 and 9 October at nearby St James’s Church Wandsworth’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “This location has a chequered history of collisions in recent years and we want to do something about it “We’ve looked at this junction in detail and have come up with a set of measures we believe will make it a lot safer “But it’s really important we find out what local people think so I would urge residents and business owners in this part of Tooting to attend these information sessions so they can find out more and give us their feedback.”   The plans are to replace the existing mini-roundabout with a traffic signal-controlled junction – with new push button pedestrian crossings on each arm of the junction plus advance stop lines for cyclists to better protect pedestrians and cyclists It would mean some modest changes to parking bays at the junction – with new replacement short-term parking and loading bays provided on Edencourt Road Kettering Street and Fallsbrook Road to cater to the needs of passing shoppers and businesses And due to the close proximity of Fallsbrook Road to the junction the changes would also require a ban on vehicles turning right from Fallsbrook Road onto Mitcham Lane but can’t face the urban grit of Streatham Once seen as the wrong side of Tooting Common unheard of — Furzedown is one of the few neighbourhoods that lives up to the “village” hyperbole a creative hub."},"children":[]}]},{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"The Rose & Crown pub with its craft beers and gluten-free pizzas but it’s community spirit that has put the area on our radar: the Furzedown Project combats loneliness in the elderly hosting activities such as book clubs and LGBT coffee mornings and organising"},"children":[]}]}]},"summary({\"maxCharCount\":200})":{"type":"json","json":[{"name":"paragraph","children":[{"name":"text","attributes":{"value":"For south London buyers who are priced out of Balham London — best places to live in the UK 2018","id":"17c0b76c-2216-11e8-a082-a415cb842022","label":null,"publicationName":"SUNDAYTIMES","publishedTime":"2018-03-18T00:00:00.000Z","updatedTime":"2018-03-16T18:57:30.000Z","section":null,"shortIdentifier":"rgphpvvg5","shortHeadline":"Furzedown London — best places to live in the UK 2018","seoDescription":"//components.timesdev.tools/lib2/bptl-quote-1.0.0/bptl-quote.htmlbptl-quotequote=”%E2%80%9CA kinder gentler Streatham%E2%80%9D”For south London buyers who are priced out of Balham unsung — ind","slug":"furzedown-london-best-places-to-live","categoryPath":"/article/furzedown-london-best-places-to-live-rgphpvvg5","__typename":"Article"},"Image:90734e9b-a148-4ce4-e470-9113ba12a67b":{"caption":null,"credits":"ALAMY","title":"Tooting Lido London — best places to live in the UK 2018ALAMYThe Sunday TimesSunday March 18 2018 The Sunday TimesFor south London buyers who are priced out of Balham Wandsworth Council is half-way through its winter tree-planting season which will see another 700 trees planted in parks and on streets and housing estates Planting carried out over the past two weeks has included new trees for Leader’s Gardens in Putney Around 15,000 already grow in streets and on housing estates shrubs and seasonal plants is also being carried out in the Thessaly Road area in Nine Elms as part of the council’s improvements to the area funded by local developers Wandsworth has recently published its new Tree Policy setting out how it will plant parks friends’ groups and the Wandsworth Tree Wardens Planting one of 15 trees in collaboration with the Friends of Wandsworth Common right tree’ approach to make sure the correct species in planted in the right area – for example some trees thrive in parks It also looks at how to prevent as many trees as possible from being felled The council has already made around 450 Tree Preservation Orders across the borough protecting more than 8,500 trees Cabinet member for parks and open spaces Cllr Steffi Sutters said: “Trees are vital for the borough’s biodiversity as a way of mitigating climate change and of course because they look beautiful and help improve the health and wellbeing of our residents I’m pleased to see this year’s planting going so well and I look forward to seeing the new trees grow and thrive.”  Read information on trees and biodiversity, including a guide to tree planting in private gardens, at wandsworth.gov.uk/together-on-nature. It can take around 241 days to sell a home in some parts of London Homes & Property | Property News renting and decorating in London from our award-winning experts I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice The figures revealed the locations across the UK where it takes the longest and shortest time to sell based on the number of days a property is on the market non-London areas being Stretford in Manchester and Aberdeen The toughest place to sell a property in the entire UK is currently Soho where patient sellers need to wait an average of 241 days to secure a deal when the same property would have sold in 225 days much of this may be down to price; the median in Soho is an eye-watering £2,000,000 it bucks that trend in that its median price has actually risen since last year And it isn’t just millionaire London addresses that are slow sellers; the likes of Vauxhall (178 days) Poplar (166 days) and St Luke (165 days) also featured in the worst-performing list there were just three London boroughs that made the best-performing list Balham is the number one London location to be a seller if you want to your home to sell quickly a property here takes an average of just 56 days to sell a significant drop from last year when the average Balham seller needed to wait 93 days to move the median price of a Balham home is £700,000 which incorporates parts of Streatham and Tooting is the second fastest-selling London location it takes 57 days to shift a property in this area was the only other London borough to make an appearance; property here takes an average of 62 days to sell 15 homes for £500k or less in London's poshest postcodes London house prices rise 5.6 per cent in some boroughs – how does yours compare Comment: 'Hunt has failed (again) to tackle housing supply record rents and homeless children in London' the quickest place to sell a home is Glasgow but the London commuter belt also made an appearance “The current market is very much a tale of two halves,” says Luke “Properties that are desirable and priced well are still selling fairly quickly but those that are initially overambitious and require price reductions are sticking on the market longer,” he adds 50 per cent of the best locations have a lower typical asking price than a year ago 35 per cent have a higher typical asking price This pattern is repeated in the worst places to sell a property.” Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason A council is proposing to overhaul a junction to improve safety after revealing at least five collisions have taken place there in recent years The junction of Mitcham Lane and Southcroft Road in Furzedown Wandsworth has been criticised by residents as too many drivers speed or do not stop for pedestrians at the zebra crossing Wandsworth council proposes to replace the existing mini-roundabout with a traffic signal-controlled junction There would be new push button pedestrian crossings on each arm of the junction along with advance stop lines for cyclists The changes would also require a ban on vehicles turning right from Fallsbrook Road into Mitcham Lane has lived close to the junction for five years and said he was disturbed by noisy traffic as late as 11pm while trying to sleep The delivery driver said there had been many accidents at the busy junction and described the mini-roundabout as terrible along with their ability to see the zebra crossing which sits very close to the mini-roundabout they can’t see the zebra crossing and it’s becoming very dangerous” He added: “The people don’t give indicators for going right or left another driver is very confused and… mostly the people coming… are very fast.” Mr Iqbal said most residents wanted traffic lights to be installed at the junction he said: “It’s a good thing because every day here with the traffic the zebra crossing and also some accidents not only is that normal but [there is also] a lot of difficulty with this roundabout.” But he praised the traffic links in the neighbourhood and said it’s “easy to move anywhere in London for example” due to the availability of bus services along with Tooting Broadway and Tooting Bec Tube stations which he described as friendly with nice people Mr Qasin works at Simply Beds in Mitcham Lane and said a car once mounted the pavement outside the shop which is very close to the mini-roundabout and added that he regularly sees accidents at the junction He said he is very happy about the council’s proposals to change it He raised concerns about the safety of the junction’s current layout with the number of elderly people and schoolchildren in the area He said: “School kids are coming to the zebra crossing The council’s proposals for the junction also include installing new replacement short-term parking and loading bays in Edencourt Road The authority described the junction in its current form as “hazardous” Labour Wandsworth councillor Jenny Yates said: “This location has a chequered history of collisions in recent years and we want to do something about it We’ve looked at this junction in detail and have come up with a set of measures we believe will make it a lot safer.” by the junction of Mitcham Lane and Southcroft Road in Furzedown (Picture: Charlotte Lillywhite) MP for Tooting officially opened a new room for teenagers and young people with cancer at St George’s last week Funded by donations to St George’s Hospital Charity including £20,000 from the community group Furzedown FACE the Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) Room in the Ruth Myles Unit is an oasis away from the busy general wards and waiting areas of the main hospital It is a place where young people with cancer can meet It is also a base for a specialist nurse to provide emotional and medical support and therapeutic activities Dr Rosena Allin-Khan met patients and staff to hear how the new room has benefited them as well as members of the community group Furzedown FACE before a ribbon cutting to mark the opening Rosena said: “The Tooting community is proud of its hospital and this opening shows how much love and regard there is from the local area It’s a symbol of how people come together locally and make a positive difference to the lives of others “I’m incredibly proud as a local resident and clinician to know that teenagers and young adults with cancer are benefiting from this wonderful space – somewhere to have time away from the wards and a place that local people have spent over five years fundraising for.” The idea of raising money for the new room came from a member of Furzedown FACE whose daughter was treated for cancer at St George’s ten years ago At the time the 16-year-old was treated on an adult ward the experience of being treated for cancer in this environment was a lonely one This can have a huge impact on a young person’s emotional wellbeing long after the physical treatment has come to an end A spokesperson for Furzedown FACE said: “We’re delighted that the chill-out room for young people with cancer has opened at St George’s This has only been possible thanks to the support of Furzedown neighbours and local MPs Sadiq Khan and Rosena Allin-Khan.” St George’s consultant Mr Nicholas Hyde said: “Having their own dedicated chill-out area can only have a positive effect on teenagers and young people’s recovery during their treatment stays and visits to St George’s.” director of fundraising for  St George’s Hospital Charity said: “A huge thank you to all those who have made this possible; especially Furzedown FACE who have worked tirelessly over the past five years This room will make a real difference for young people with cancer and illustrates the power of local communities to make an impact at their local hospital.” Energy upgrades across three hospitals are under way – lighting the way for millions of pounds in much-needed savings. St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group (gesh) has started replacing 45,000 fittings with energy-efficient LED lighting across its sites – a move that will potentially save … Continue reading → A pioneering new way of treating heart failure more aggressively has cut deaths by nearly two-thirds, bringing hope to patients and families affected by the deadly condition. St George’s Hospital treated the UK’s very first patient in a new way – inspired by the results of a global trial, STRONG-HF, … Continue reading → Home Secretary Yvette Cooper visited St George’s to hear how we’re tackling knife crime – with frontline staff laying bare the devastating impact violence has on our communities. During the visit, which coincided with a Government announcement to ban ninja swords, the Home Secretary met with teams on our Major … Continue reading → “Every day was scary,” says nurse Laura Blackmore, when asked to reflect on 2020. “I remember having my visor on and hearing my own breath – like when you’re scuba diving and you can hear your breath over everything.” Laura is of course speaking about the Covid pandemic – one of the … Continue reading → A patient has described the terrifying moment he was stabbed with a 15-inch blade while onlookers filmed on their phones – as the hospital where he was treated reveals almost 100 dangerous weapons have been surrendered on site. The male from South London, who did not wish to be named, … Continue reading → Below are the pecentage of patients who answered "Very good" or "Good" to the question "Overall how was your experience of our service?" last month News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories A murder investigation has been launched after a young man was stabbed in south London Police and paramedics were called to Thrale Road at the junction with Penwortham Road in Tooting at 3.47pm on Monday The man, believed to be in his 20s, reportedly staggered along Penwortham Road before collapsing near to The Furzedown pub where members of the public allegedly administered CPR before paramedics arrived He was later pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics One witness claimed the man sustained two stab wounds Photographs from the scene show multiple police vehicles blocking Thrale Road and Mitcham Lane said the atmosphere was "very tense" at the scene Grenfell report: What happens next for the police and other authorities Grenfell Tower families criticise ‘delay to justice’ caused by inquiry Sabina Nessa killer given extra jail time for stabbing prison guard Grenfell Tower fire: Victims let down by incompetence She added: "The impact of cuts to neighbourhood policing is becoming visible in the ward I represent where there have been other violent crimes recently in what is usually a low crime area "The answer is certainly more neighbourhood police." Formal identification and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing A police cordon remains in place this evening Anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone who has any information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 Highways engineers have unveiled plans for pedestrian safety improvements at a road junction in the Furzedown area of Tooting The plans call for an existing footway build-out to be extended and sightlines cleared of parked cars at a pedestrian crossing near the junction of Colson Way and North Drive - making it safer for pedestrians to cross the road on the popular route to the bus stop for services 249 and 319 The change is also designed to slow vehicle speeds at this junction and improve driver-pedestrian intervisibility Residents in the neighbourhood will shortly receive letters outlining the proposed changes and inviting comments Work is scheduled to get underway early next month Transport spokesperson Cllr Clare Fraser said: “These changes form part of our ambition to create better conditions for pedestrians in Wandsworth Our hope is that the proposed measures to the route between the flats in Colson Way and the nearby bus stop in Tooting Bec Road will improve safety for all pedestrians” A borough has agreed it needs to spruce up its act after it was dubbed the ‘French Alps’ – because a forest of  Christmas trees have been left abandoned on its streets The old spruce trees have been pilling up on the pavements of Furzedown in Wandsworth – although other boroughs don’t even bother to collect them The council said its staff had been “working flat out” to clear the backlog of 100,000 festive trees still littering the borough coupled with contractor staff absences due to Covid But residents took to Twitter to express their anger and concern over the trees that they said were dangerous to people who were visually impaired or had a disability told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s like the French Alps in Furzedown “Furzedown is a wonderful area to live and work Our community cares about our neighbourhood and it’s such a shame to see the council not living up to their promises of free Christmas tree collections.” “I’m concerned for those with visual impairment and those with mobility issues – the pavements are blocked all over the neighbourhood.” The same seems to be happening in other parts of the borough Kat Storr said on Twitter: “Same issue over here in Tooting Graveney It’s 18th Jan and there are around 15 trees still all over the place on our short street Maureen Docherty also said on Twitter: “I’ve noticed rather a lot of Christmas trees waiting patiently for collection around my area of Wandsworth… advice please.” A Wandsworth council spokesperson said: “We are working flat out to clear all the trees that residents want collected this is a task that always takes some time to complete “Coupled with a high rate of contractor staff absence due to Covid it is taking slightly longer than we’d hoped for – which is why we are asking our residents to please bear with us while we continue these efforts “It is perhaps also worth pointing out that not every borough provides a free doorstep collection service as is the case in Wandsworth “Some boroughs don’t collect at all while others require their residents to deliver their trees to centralised drop-off points Five members of staff at Furzedown primary in London take reductions of up to 20% Teachers at a cash-strapped primary school have volunteered to take a £7,000-a-year pay cut to save the jobs of colleagues Schools across the country are so short of funds that headteachers are being forced to make drastic cutbacks had instigated a series of measures to balance its books and was facing the possibility of making redundancies But five teachers have stepped in to save their colleagues and agreed to take a salary reduction of up to £7,000 a year – enough to safeguard the jobs of two classroom assistants said that some of the volunteers were now on 80% of their previous salary 6:12Why are England's schools at breaking point – video“Without these voluntary pay cuts we could not run the service we provide for the children and would be delivering a poorer “Our children deserve better and we all strive to do what we can to keep intact the exciting learning that takes place This is not a frivolous luxury; it is the excellent education our children deserve to have Teaching staff are committed to keep this ideal alive and some were prepared to make the sacrifice of reducing their pay.” Heads are in the middle of an acute funding crisis because of rising costs and falling per-pupil funding in some areas. School funding per pupil has fallen by 8% in real terms over the past eight years according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies Heads have appealed to parents to pay for basic items such as pens and glue sticks Some are closing at lunchtime on a Friday to save money urging them to write to their MPs and lobby the Department for Education to improve funding for schools less one-to-one and small-group support for pupils with special needs did not mention school funding in his spring statement ignoring a plea from thousands of headteachers for more investment one head has in effect sacked himself to save money: Ray Henshaw the principal of Minsthorpe community college said: “This is a selfless act on his part and has been brought on by the financial cutbacks the college has had to undertake this year … He recognised that a restructure of senior leaders was necessary his own position being the first of these cuts.” The two vice-principals will now run the school Headteachers in Wakefield have warned that the government’s failure to ensure that school funding keeps pace with rising costs was leading to fewer teachers Tony Davies says he is facing a £60,000 reduction in funding next year.“The funding challenges we face are real and made even worse by the reduction in government funding for local authorities that support young people and families within our communities,” they said in a recent statement Other schools are taking to social media to try to crowdfund for equipment Lainesmead primary school in Swindon has lost £80,000 as a result of government budget cuts and has had to make several redundancies The school has now set up a JustGiving page to try to raise funds for IT equipment So far £710 has been donated towards the £6,000 target has described the situation as a “national emergency” According to an analysis by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) school funding needs to be increased by £5.7bn to achieve the basic expectations of a core curriculum delivered in a safe and well maintained building taught by a qualified teacher and backed up with pastoral safeguarding and special educational needs support “It must be obvious to everyone that a funding gap of £5.7bn cannot be resolved by trying to squeeze a few more efficiencies out of a system where every cost has already been trimmed The answer must come from the Treasury in the form of additional investment,” said Richard Sheriff A spokesperson for the Department for Education said: “Since 2017 we have given every local authority more money for every pupil in every school and made funding fairer across the country “We know that staff costs are the single biggest item of spending in schools – which is why we supported schools with the cost of the teachers’ pay award with a new £508m teachers’ pay grant across 2018-19 and 2019-20 “While there is more money going into our schools than ever before we do recognise the budgeting challenges schools face That’s why we have introduced a wide range of practical support to help schools and headteachers and their local authorities make the most of every pound on non-staff costs “The secretary of state has made clear that he will back headteachers to have the resources they need to deliver a world-class education.” This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media New data from London Ambulance Service (LAS) reveals the 150 neighbourhoods across the capital in greatest need of lifesaving defibrillators When someone suffers a cardiac arrest – which is when the heart stops beating – the use of a defibrillator gives them the best chance of surviving But new analysis from the LAS shows 21 neighbourhoods where there is no access to a defibrillator and 129 neighbourhoods where there is limited access for the population nearby Wandsworth comes fourth in the capital with eight priority neighbourhoods – behind Ealing there is no or limited access to a defibrillator in Tooting North In Lambeth there are six priority neighborhoods with limited access to defibrillators in Streatham Vale These figures stand in stark contrast to areas like Kensington and Chelsea where there are no priority neighbourhoods in the whole borough The LAS said the data shows that households in deprived areas are more likely to have limited access to a defibrillator This comes as the LAS marks the start of a new fundraising campaign to fund and maintain additional defibrillators in the 150 communities where they are needed most Consultant Paramedic Mark Faulkner said: “At the moment only eight per cent of Londoners survive a cardiac arrest if it happens outside of hospital “While there are more than 9,400 publicly accessible defibrillators in London our analysis shows that there are fewest in areas with the highest levels of deprivation and poorest health outcomes to have a fighting chance to survive a cardiac arrest This is why the London Ambulance Charity’s London Heart Starters campaign is so vital.” Please visit the charity website to register for the London Life Hike or email the charity team at londamb.lascharity@nhs.net for more information Pictured top: Paramedic Sydney with public access defibrillator (Picture: LAS) the buzzing markets and the growing café culture Homes & Property | Where to live The bus driver’s son rose to become a specialist human rights lawyer before turning his attention to politics first as MP for Tooting and now as London Mayor Locals in this south London neighbourhood say he is often seen out and about in Tooting with his family or taking the Northern line Tube on his way to work at City Hall Tooting has several other claims to fame — for Tooting Bec Lido with its brightly painted changing room doors; St George’s Hospital which features in the Channel 4 documentary series 24 hours in A&E and for the antics of useless revolutionary Wolfie Smith and his Tooting Popular Front in late-Seventies sitcom Citizen Smith reflected in a High Street packed with curry houses shops selling saris and shalwar kameez in rainbow colours jewellers displaying fine filigree gold necklaces and supermarkets stacked with boxes of the best Alphonso mangoes wrapped in tissue paper Estate agent Antony May from the local branch of Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward says young professionals priced out of Clapham and Balham are moving down the Northern line to Tooting and Colliers Wood This changing demographic is bringing with it new coffee shops some of which are finding their feet in Tooting’s two big covered markets There is also the prospect that Crossrail 2 will come to Tooting Broadway rather than Balham There’s no cinema — the Grade I-listed building that housed the Granada is now a bingo hall But there was one remarkable theatrical event three years ago when the great American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim pitched up at Harringtons pie and mash shop in Selkirk Road to see Tooting Arts Club’s production of his macabre 1979 musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street The pocket-sized production was crammed into the shop with the audience encouraged to come early to partake of the fare So began a remarkable journey for this award-winning show and its young Tooting-based producer Rachel Edwards first with a transfer to the West End and then to the Off-Broadway Barrow Street Theatre in West Village Barack Obama’s pastry chef in the White House Tooting has Balham to the north; Streatham to the east; Colliers Wood and Mitcham to the south and Wimbledon to the west Mainly Victorian and Edwardian stock ranges from big double-fronted houses on the Heaver Estate bordering Balham to family houses in the Furzedown area near popular Graveney School and small terrace houses in the roads off Bellevue Road opposite Wandsworth Common There are houses and flats in Totterdown Fields the first London County Council garden estate Two-bedroom houses here start at about £450,000 The most expensive house for sale now is a double-fronted Edwardian house in Upper Tooting Park Flats range down from £1.15 million for a four-bedroom period conversion in Huron Road on the Heaver Estate to £275,000 for a small one-bedroom flat in Mitcham Lane St George’s Gate in Hebdon Road is part of the old Springfield University Hospital redevelopment that will create 839 homes a 32-acre public park and a new primary school St George’s Gate has 26 two- and four-bedroom houses and will be ready to move into in February Batemans Yard off Tooting High Street is a move-in ready scheme of nine one- two-and three-bedroom flats priced from £420,000 Bedford House in Balham High Road has 52 one- Charles Baker Place in Wiseton Road off Bellevue Road consists of nine homes — mews and townhouses — five of them new-build and four converted from a former Victorian temperance building A2 Dominion housing association is handling the affordable homes at Bedford House The nearest shared-ownership homes are in Colliers Wood where housing association L&Q is selling one- two- and three-bedroom flats in Morris Court starting at £102,500 for 25 per cent of a one-bedroom flat with a market value of £410,000 with students and sharers in summer and singles and couples at other times is driven by Tube links to the City and West End A one-bedroom flat in Tooting can be £100-£150 a month cheaper than in Clapham Most Tooting newcomers are young professional singles or couples and research by Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward among their buyers shows an average age of 33 so not everyone will have a long-term commitment to the area although in the Gorringe Park Avenue area it strays into the CR4 Mitcham postcode The loveliest houses are in the Heaver Estate on the Balham/Tooting border Estate agent Antony May of KFH says the best roads in Tooting proper are Trevelyan Road — a tree-lined street of Victorian terrace houses — and Chasefield Road Homes are cheaper closer to Mitcham in the CR4 postcode where there are Twenties and Thirties terrace houses close to Tooting station and its Thameslink trains to Blackfriars there is a three-bedroom family house for sale in Gorringe Park Avenue for £500,000 Tooting is on the A24 — the London to Chichester Roman Road both on the Northern line with trains to the City and West End Tooting railway station has Thameslink trains to Blackfriars in 25 minutes to Farringdon in 35 minutes and to St Pancras in 40 minutes All stations are in Zone 3 and an annual travelcard costs £1,520 Wandsworth council is Conservative-controlled Two big covered markets — Tooting Market and Broadway Market — are worth exploring for interesting new traders Tooting Market has branches of Franco Manca pizza chain and Graveney Gin — a bar run by a local craft gin distillery Plot is a new modern British small plates restaurant in Broadway Market Morleys is tooting’s own department store; Milk Teeth is the baby sister of hugely popular Balham all-day restaurant Milk; long-standing restaurant Rick’s has a faithful following; MUD is an artisan coffee shop; The Antelope is the area’s top gastropub and The Little Bar opened by former Homes & Property sub editor Madeleine Lim in Tooting High Street in the stretch south of Tooting Broadway station where you’ll also find Tartine Artisanal café; Tota an all-day restaurant; Honest Burgers; Dip & Flip — serving burgers and roast meat sandwiches with gravy; Thai restaurant Kaosarn plus Soho House’s Dirty Burger and Chicken Shop There is also an emerging coffee shop scene along Moyser Road in Furzedown Tooting Common is the wild area between Balham The Gorringe Park Pub in London Road has a cinema in its basement as does The Antelope in Mitcham Road and also The Wheatsheaf opposite Tooting Bec station Tooting Bec Lido in Tooting Bec Road is the largest freshwater outdoor pool in the country It’s open to the general public from the beginning of May to the end of September but members of the South London Swimming Club Tooting has a good choice of state schools both senior and primary rated “good” or better by Ofsted The “outstanding” primary schools are: St Boniface RC in Undine Street; Gatton in Broadwater Road; Tooting Primary in Franciscan Road; Hillbrook in Hillbrook Road The “outstanding” comprehensive schools are: Ernest Bevin College (boys ages 11 to 18) in Beechcroft Road; Graveney School (co-ed There is also a good choice of private schools in Tooting and nearby ages four to 11) in Trinity Road; Hornsby House (co-ed ages four to 11) in Hearnville Road on the Heaver Estate Balham High Road; Oliver House School (co-ed ages three to 11) is a Catholic school in Nightingale Lane ages four to 13) is also in Nightingale Lane with boys often moving on to the associated single-sex Northcote Lodge (ages seven to 13) in Bolingbroke Grove in Wandsworth Common; The White House Preparatory School and Woodentops Kindergarten (co-ed ages six months to 11) is in Thornton Road ages two to seven) is in Balham High Road; Thomas’s Clapham (co-ed The private secondary schools are: The Laurels (girls ages 11 to 18) a Catholic school in Atkins Road