Council’s £1.6m scheme to boost Southfields ‘village’ gathering pace

The smart new wider pavements have led to a significant increase in pedestrian space in the heart of Southfields village.

And work is continuing apace on a wider package of public realm improvements designed to improve the area for both cyclists and pedestrians.

The scheme has already delivered new trees, refurbished pavements, improvements to shop forecourts, new cycle stands and upgraded street-lamps.

New bike friendly traffic signals have been introduced at the junction of Replingham Road, Augustus Road and Wimbledon Park Road. These specially designed signals allow cyclists to set off before vehicle traffic – giving them a head start and time to clear the junction before cars and lorries can move.

Cycle mirrors have also been installed so that larger vehicles can see bikes at the stop line while a pedestrian countdown lets people know exactly how long they have to wait and how long they have to cross the road.

Other improvements include wider pavements and new seating outside the entrance to the tube station.

And a new drinking water fountain has been installed opposite the entrance to the tube station so that thirsty passengers can fill reusable water bottles instead of using single use plastics, in an initiative jointly supported by the council, Thames Water and the Mayor.

The £1.6m being spent on these environmental upgrades comes from the Wandsworth Local Fund which contains cash sums levied from housing developers in the area and used to pay for local infrastructure improvements.

Wandsworth’s cabinet member for strategic planning and transport Cllr John Locker said: “This ongoing and comprehensive package of improvements is having a really positive effect on the look and feel of this key area in Southfields.

“The new wider pavements and tree planting is helping to make the area much more attractive for pedestrians and helping to attract shoppers to Southfields businesses and I’m delighted at these new cycle safety measures which will help encourage people to take up this form of travel.

“And the new water fountain will offer thirsty travellers a refreshing drink and hopefully encourage people travelling through Southfields to fill up reusable water bottles and ditch single use plastics.

“This is an excellent scheme that is really helping to boost this important part of the borough.”

The council's website has more information about the wider Southfields public realm improvement scheme and also details of the improvements to Replingham Road.

• The council recently installed 20 drinking fountains in parks and commons across Wandsworth in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic waste left in open spaces.

These new fountains are located in:

• Battersea Park
• Wandsworth Common
• Tooting Common
• Christchurch Gardens
• King George’s Park
• Garratt Park
• Garratt Green
• Fred Wells Gardens
• Wandsworth Park
• Coronation Gardens
• Roehampton Playing Fields
• Fishponds Playing Fields
• Bramford Gardens

Reducing the amount of waste produced in the borough - and in particular plastic waste - is one of the key objectives of the borough’s climate action plan. To find out how the council is striving to cut its carbon footprint and become carbon neutral by 2030, visit the council’s website.