Charlotte Lillywhite

Wandsworth Council says reforms to local authority funding could reduce its central funding by 40%, or £84 million annually, by 2030. The Conservative administration plans to consult residents and submit a formal challenge to the Government, while warning that the changes could leave residents worse off. Labour disputes the Conservatives’ portrayal of the council’s finances, pointing to zero external debt and substantial reserves. A spending review is expected in September, and a forthcoming by-election could determine whether the Conservatives gain a majority and take full control of the council.

Wandsworth licensing committee rejected KK Convenience Store's application to extend alcohol sales on Tooting High Street from 11pm to 2am daily. The Metropolitan Police and council officers argued that Tooting Broadway's cumulative impact zone already suffers from significant violence, anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related problems. Although the owners proposed safeguards including restrictions on high-strength alcohol and single-can sales, the committee found their evidence vague and concluded that no extension was justified.

Kingston Council and Countryside Partnerships are progressing the phased regeneration of the 832-home Cambridge Road Estate in Norbiton, which will ultimately deliver 2,170 homes. Phase One has 206 completed homes, with 452 planned overall, while a Phase Two application proposes 383 homes, including 94 council homes, after demolishing 258 existing units. The proposal includes taller buildings of up to 13 storeys, new parking and cycle spaces, trees and landscaped areas. The council’s planning committee is expected to decide on Phase Two soon; the completed scheme is intended to provide 871 council homes, 218 more than the existing estate.

A by-election in Wandsworth Council's Trinity ward on 27 August could give the Conservatives an overall majority. The Conservatives currently hold 29 seats, Labour has 28, and the Conservative minority administration relies on an agreement with Independent councillor Malcolm Grimston. A Conservative victory would produce a two-seat majority and remove the need for that arrangement. Five candidates are contesting the seat previously held by Labour councillor Lizzy Dobres, who resigned after taking a politically restricted job. Conservative candidate Otto Jacobsson focused on cleaner streets, crime reduction and the council's difficult finances; Liberal Democrat candidate Dylan Henderson emphasized transparency, scrutiny of Conservative policies, green spaces and safety; and Green candidate Sylvain Magne opposed austerity and promoted local services, affordable housing and environmental justice. Labour and Reform UK did not provide campaign priorities.

An Ofsted inspection found that Bright Horizons Southfields nursery had weak and inconsistent teaching, limited staff interactions with children and insufficient leadership oversight, affecting children’s engagement, language development and progress. The nursery met standards for safeguarding, behaviour, welfare and inclusion, and inspectors praised staff for creating a welcoming environment. Bright Horizons apologised, accepted the findings and said an improvement programme involving refresher training, coaching and regional support had been underway since June. The nursery must complete actions by September, including improving staff training, curriculum implementation and engagement with families.

Wandsworth Council delayed processing a vulnerable mother’s homelessness application after she received a Section 21 eviction notice, then failed to promptly accept its duty to help or arrange emergency accommodation despite her priority need. Two temporary accommodation offers were withdrawn—one because it was too far from her children’s school and another because repairs were delayed—leaving her without suitable housing for about three months. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman found the council at fault, ordered it to apologise and pay £500, and noted that service improvements had since been introduced.

The Metropolitan Police and Wandsworth Council officers have opposed KK Convenience Store's application to sell alcohol until 2am on Tooting High Street, citing rising crime, violence and anti-social behaviour in the Tooting Broadway Cumulative Impact Zone. The shop's owners say longer hours would support the business and propose restrictions including limits on high-strength alcohol, a ban on single cans and security staffing. They offered to accept a midnight closing time if the council rejects the full 2am request. The licensing committee is expected to publish its decision in the coming days.

Br3wery in Furzedown has been granted permission to sell alcohol later, until 10:30 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The decision followed 19 objections from neighbours who reported nightly noise from the rear garden, alongside three letters of support. Wandsworth Council imposed conditions including earlier closure of the outside area, a noise management plan and a local contact number.

Potentially toxic blue-green algae has been found at the River Thames’ first official bathing site at Ham and Kingston, prompting warnings against swimming and keeping pets out of the water. The Environment Agency is sampling the affected stretch, while Richmond Council has advised visitors to avoid contact with the algae. The warning comes after nearby Hogsmill Sewage Treatment Works was found to have breached its environmental permit and amid controversy over Thames Water’s proposed Teddington direct river abstraction project. Campaigners fear sewage-related pollution and the proposed treated-wastewater discharge could threaten public health, while Thames Water says the project would meet environmental standards and discharge downstream of the bathing site.

Plans are advancing for Aldi’s first Richmond supermarket at Kew Retail Park, replacing the former Sports Direct unit. Richmond Council has received signage plans after approving the change of use, with the store expected to open in spring 2027 and create up to 40 jobs. The retail park’s Marks & Spencer Foodhall is also set to nearly triple in size, expanding from 743 to 1,876 square metres through internal reorganisation without changing the building’s footprint.

Rosslyn Park FC has received permission to establish a permanent outdoor CrossFit gym after Wandsworth Council previously ordered the removal of an unauthorised facility. The new gym will replace an office building on Metropolitan Open Land at the club’s Roehampton and Barnes site. The application attracted 435 letters of support and 47 objections, with concerns focused on noise, traffic, neighbouring homes and development on protected land. Approval includes noise-monitoring requirements and a condition that more than half of the gym’s annual operating hours be used by the rugby team. The facility will operate at specified weekday and weekend hours and serve club members alongside approximately 120 non-members from the local community.