EastSheenMatters

The changes made following TfL’s Barnes Bus Consultation were implemented on 15 August. During the consultation period, I met with TfL to make objections to their plans to reduce the number of buses servicing Barnes, with a direct route from Castelnau to Putney being cut, as well as to voice my concerns about the turning point for the 209 being set at Barnes Pond.

Despite significant feedback from residents, Councillors and other stakeholders, TfL moved ahead with their proposals. I therefore contacted the Deputy Mayor of London for Transport, Seb Dance, to organise an on-site visit to Barnes Pond to discuss the transport related challenges and cut-backs that Barnes residents experience.

Myself, Councillor Fiona Sacks and Councillor Alex Ehmann began the meeting by expressing our concern about the suitability of the 209 turning around at Barnes Pond. The 209 now sits on Church Road, blocking traffic during busy periods, before using the narrow turning point on Station Road to turn around. The turning point is located right outside of a GP surgery, while the area experiences a high level of footfall on weekends. Due to these safety concerns, it is clear that the turning point is at a far from ideal position.

Discussions then turned to ensuring that the 33 does not ‘dead run’ down Kilmington Road, Howsman Road and Verdun Road to turn around when turning around to travel towards Fulwell. Councillors Sacks and Ehmann both encouraged Seb Dance to work with the Council to examine the viability of turning around the 33 at the intersection of Castelnau and Lonsdale Road.

It would not be a meeting about transport in Barnes without discussing Hammersmith Bridge. TfL’s new regulations for pedicabs are set to come into effect at the end of October, and I remarked to Seb Dance that there is not a single better place for a pedicabs service than in Barnes. I encouraged Seb to incentivise the use of pedicabs in the area to provide a service which could stretch between Barnes Pond and Hammersmith Station, and I will be continuing these discussions with TfL.

December will mark a decade since my by-election win in 2016, and with this 10-year anniversary upcoming, I have been doing a lot of reflecting on my time in politics, and what has changed during this period. 

The past 10 years have been a tumultuous time.  This week, I faced my sixth Prime Minister in the Commons Chamber – a sign of how volatile the political climate has become.  The failure of successive governments has led to the public looking elsewhere for political leadership, with parties on the more extreme sides of the debate gaining popularity. 

It is also clear that London has become an afterthought for successive Prime Ministers. Funding has been directed away from the capital, our infrastructure has not been modernised, and the housing crisis gets worse year on year. This is all while politicians talk down the capital, and speak as if it is a city which needs to pay the price for its relative success.

With the new government’s focus on devolution, I am increasingly being told that the Mayor of London will hold the power to make many of the changes that I seek for our community.  But I can see in our reduced bus services, depleted policing and the ongoing saga of Hammersmith Bridge, that the Mayor is not interested in delivering for our corner of the capital.

I have been thinking about what more I can do to effect positive change for our community.  Current polling demonstrates that the Labour candidate (whether Sadiq Khan or someone else) is likely to win the next mayoral election easily.  Without a challenge, Labour will be rewarded for their lacklustre complacency and there will be no momentum to push for something better.

I have therefore decided to seek selection to be the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of London and will officially launch my bid next week.

My commitment to Richmond Park remains unchanged, and I will continue to advocate and stand up for matters impacting my constituents in Richmond and Kingston throughout the selection process and subsequent mayoral campaign.

To each reader of my weekly newsletter, I would like to thank you for all of your support over the past decade, and I hope that you will be supportive of me during my mayoral campaign.

Now there is a surprise?

Saturday 12 September 2026 

More than 30 independent food and drink businesses across East Sheen will take part in Sheen Food Fest on Saturday 12 September, as the event returns for its second year, celebrating the vibrant cafés, restaurants, pubs, delis and eateries that make East Sheen one of south west London’s hidden food gems.

Visitors can explore the high street, discover somewhere new and meet the passionate people behind the businesses that help make SW14 such a fantastic place to eat and drink.

Every ticket includes five Taste Tokens, redeemable for five complimentary tasting portions at participating venues. Hungry for more? Every venue will also be serving a specially created Food Fest Special for just £5.

Collect your event map from the designated collection point (to be confirmed) from 10am, then follow your own foodie trail around the delicious destinations of East Sheen!

Participating venues and opening times will be clearly marked on the map, allowing you to explore at your own pace.

Whether you’re a local resident or visiting for the day, Sheen Food Fest is the perfect excuse to discover somewhere new, revisit an old favourite and support the brilliant independent businesses that give East Sheen its unique character.

Date: Saturday 12 September2026

Time: 10am onwards (individual venue opening times are shown on the event map)

Location: Collect your maps from James Anderson, 363 Upper Richmond Rd West, East Sheen, London SW14 7NX

Transport: Mortlake Train Station • Bus routes 33, 337, 493  • Limited local parking

Ticket Prices

Book tickets in advance:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/eastsheenbusinessretailassociation/2300459

Standard 

Adult (includes five Taste Tokens): £8.25 (£7.50 + £0.75 booking fee)

Family of Four (includes 20 Taste Tokens): £27.50 (£25.00 + £2.50 booking fee)

Further details have emerged about events at Sheen Gate on Sunday 23 August. It is now clear that this was a serious robbery perpetrated on a 12 year old boy by a gang on e-motor bikes.

The gang were at Sheen Gate, pursued the boy into Richmond Park and attacked him before he reached the mini roundabout.

Significantly this is not the first such incident. Earlier in the year there was s similar robbery of another boy cycling near Ham Gate.

This type of incident is exactly what local residents were concerned about when there were discussions last year about the removal of the Park Police. The Police continue to assert that it would have made no difference. And of course incidents like this should lead to a 999 call. But the police seem to have no recognition of the concept of deterrence.

Furthermore it is confusing for residents to know who is now responsible for policing in the Park. There is a team stationed at Holly Lodge but the Park is actually divided into three areas. In any event at the East Sheen Police Panel meeting on Wednesday evening it was admitted that the local Safer Neighbourhood Team did not have the resources to get vehicles into the Park. And criminals know this. Local police are putting together a plan to improve access but they do not seem to be optimistic about getting a positive response.

Because we are a ‘low crime area’ responnse to crime is not a priority. ‘It’s ten times worse in Southwark.’ This leads to a complacency about local issues which should be police responsibilities. Comparisons with Inner London Boroughs and pleas of lack of resources simply invite discussion about vigilantism.

Obviously cycling on the pavement is a less serious matter than robbery but both are crimes and should be police responsibilities.

We are told not to challenge people cycling on pavements for fear of confrontation. But if the police don’t or can’t or won’t do anything about it…….?

A few signs pointing out the illegality on both sides of the Upper Richmond Road on existing posts between Waitrose and the Sheen Lane junction would be a simple start.

On the plus side the police apprehended several offenders who in the early hours of 17 July crashed a car into the wall by the dentist at the junction of the Upper Richmond Road and Paynesfield Avenue. They have been bailed and await charging.

London councils have written to the Transport Secretary stating their opposition to the Government’s plans for the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport. Leaders of Wandsworth, Richmond, Kingston, Hillingdon, Southwark, Sutton and Windsor and Maidenhead councils said current plans to expand capacity at Heathrow do not go far enough to protect residents from increased noise, pollution and congestion.

It was reported yesterday that Sheen Lane is closed. Further enquiries have revealed that you can drive to the Station from either side of the crossing. Pedestrians and cycles can cross. The road was closed at the Mortlake Level Crossing by 9am on Tuesday on an emergency basis and without notice to local businesses. It is said there was a gas leak near the garage, but locals say that there is thought to have a been a leak in that area for years, so why the emergency now?

At noon today the crossing remained closed to cars, no work was going on and there was no information about a date for completion or reopening the crossing.

But why was the whole of the road closed, especially when no work has started? The technical explanation is the hole is on one side of the road and on the other side – on the pavement – there is another hole. There is a minimum width required for pedestrians – hence the whole road closure.

While EastSheenMatters was investigating discussions were observed between representatives from Cadent and UK Power Networks. The latter have identified a minor electrical problem they would like to resolve while the gas work is being done. But that requires coordination with the Council….

Let us be clear. Road closure requires a licence from the Council. But whenever ESM reports on them, the appearance is always that a licence is granted and then work continues unsupervised.

Why can’t Cadent be rather more open about its activities? Why can’t the Council properly supervise what happens with road works?

It’s all topsy turvy!

Road closed, gas Main Work

Road closed due to gas main work on B351 Sheen Lane both ways between Vernon Road and A3003 Mortlake High Street.

01 Sept 2026, 11:27AM (first reported)

More information to follow……

Meeting of the EAST SHEEN WARD POLICE PANEL to be held at East Sheen Baptist Church, Temple Sheen on Wednesday 2 September at 7.00 p.m.

Agenda

• 1. WELCOME and APOLOGIES
• 2. MINUTES of LAST MEETING on 24 June 2026 and MATTERS ARISING
• 3. ROUTINE REPORTS

• – Police
  • – Neighbourhood Watch
    • – Chairman

• 4. QUESTIONS and DISCUSSION
• 5. PRIORITIES (next 3 months)
• 6. CONFIDENCE in POLICE
• 7 AOB
• 8. DATE of NEXT MEETING – tba

Annual Open House Day at the Air Raid Shelter, St Leonards Court via St. Leonards Road and Palmers Road London SW14 7NG

The annual opening of the Air Raid Shelter to the public will take place on Sunday 13 Septmeber 2026 from 1pm to 5pm. Free entry. It is organised by the Mortlake with East Sheen Society (MESS).

Do come – and bring your friends. 

The shelter is to the right of the photo beneath the grass area. The entrance is in the tower at the top right hand corner.

The shelter is down thirteen steps, so take care and hold on to the rail. The guide will have a large torch!

Since 2015 MESS has opened the shelter on Open House Day every September.   The shelter cannot receive more than 15 visitors at a time and each visit takes 10 minutes, so we may have a queue of visitors awaiting their turn. While they wait, they are entertained with discussion of the site and maps of bombsites in the area.  

In the last few years MESS has had tourists coming from the USA and various countries in Europe. 

MESS also opens the shelter to local schools by appointment. See mess.org.uk

Saturday 12 SEP · 14:00

East Sheen FC v Wiseman West FC

Rosslyn Park, Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 5JH

Home matches will take place at Rosslyn Park

Middlesex County Football League Division One West

Free Admission

For the club website including the 130 year old history see Https://eastsheenfc.com