Residents in Roehampton, a South West London neighbourhood on the brink of major change, have voiced their key priorities ahead of the local elections. Safety and a lack of youth services emerged as top concerns among voters in the Labour-run area, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
Safety Concerns Dominate
Lorna House, 45, a mother of three, highlighted worries about safety for both young and elderly residents. She noted the closure of the local police station since her arrival in 2000, stating, "You don't really see police in the area... so I don't think there's so much of a deterrent for violence or harassment on the streets anymore." She also expressed fear for her 19-year-old son, who rides a moped, feeling he could be a target.
Carolina, 32, who withheld her surname, echoed these sentiments, citing children having "nothing to do" as a gateway to anti-social behaviour and crime. She advocated for a community centre or curriculum teaching life skills like politics, budgeting, cooking, and cleaning, which she believes would positively impact the community.
Alton Estate Regeneration
Residents are keenly watching how Wandsworth Council will handle the future of the Alton Estate, a 1950s development. Originally approved for regeneration in 2012, a 2019 planning application to demolish 288 homes for 1,108 new ones (only 24% affordable) was approved in 2022. However, the scheme was scrapped when Labour took control of the council in May 2022 due to insufficient affordable housing. The revised masterplan now proposes demolishing 177 homes for up to 650 new homes, with 57% affordable housing, plus improved community facilities. A formal planning application is pending.
Moira Barranko, 70, cited safety as her key concern, noting the estate's longstanding reputation. She also highlighted poor pavement maintenance, which poses a risk due to her failing eyesight. "I'm always falling, there's such bad pavement everywhere," she said.
Health Services Under Strain
Health services are another major issue. Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton closed its A&E department in 1997, with services transferred to Kingston Hospital, which residents say is overstretched. Robert Robinson, 76, lamented cuts to public services, recalling more hospitals and police stations in his youth. He remarked, "Let's just say you've got a little boy who falls over, you've got to drag him to Kingston, queue up for 14 hours... The last few times I've used hospitals I've gone private because I'd rather pay." He also called for the Alton Estate to be demolished and rebuilt, describing it as dirty and declining.
Tony Arthur, 63, expressed concern over the future of the Lennox Estate, where the council plans to build two apartment blocks (14 and six storeys) providing 81 new council homes on green space. A decision on this application is pending after the election.
Election Context
In the upcoming local elections on Thursday, May 7, all 58 seats across Wandsworth's 22 wards are up for grabs. Labour, Conservatives, Lib Dems, and Reform UK are each fielding 58 candidates, with the Green Party running 53 and six Independents also contesting.
