Forum Topic

Is Putney High Street "quaint"?

During the course of an article (in the FT at the weekend) on housing in Hackney, the writer compared it with "the long-established, affluent southwest suburb of Putney."So far, so good - but she went on to say that "buyers could also live near to a common and quaint high street."I could think of many ways to describe Putney High Street, but "quaint" isn't one of them.

Richard Carter ● 2069d32 Comments

Yes - but we can make it more efficient with simple things like:Better traffic light / pedestrian crossing sequencing.Smaller more frequent buses to surrounding residential areas.Reducing Bus boarding times (hence stopping time) by using multiple doors. Why have only two door??Smart lanes that allow change in traffic direction.There must be loads of little things which would make a big improvement overall.

Ed Robinson ● 2061d

Nick, best run Council in Europe is pushing it a bit imo.....

Emma Blackwell ● 2061d

Leslie is correct the council can’t be blamed for business rates or rents.We have the best run council in Europe by a country mile.

Nick Gulliford ● 2061d

Sadly I am forced to agree with John Hawkes. Putney Bridge is the busiest across the Thames, a fact not likely to change. Putney High Street shops also suffer the inconvenience of small footprints, again little can be done to overcome this. No, the Council does not set business rates, nor has it any control over rents.

Leslie McDonnell ● 2062d

Precisely. "forcing traffic into other roads which are in turn busier" is one of the big myths of transport: the level of traffic is not fixed by is variable, through traffic evaporation.

Richard Carter ● 2064d

Ed. Think I suggested the toll on Putney Bridge a while ago - I don't  think it was well received. We had some friends drive over from East London today and even with Vauxhall Bridge shut apparently the traffic wasn't too bad. They were only a bit late as they made a mistake with the one way roads in Putney!

Michael Ixer ● 2064d

Putney High Street is really nothing more than a major traffic artery feeding Putney Bridge or in reverse, one feeding the A3 from 'norf of the river'.Nothing can be done to change this and we just have to accept it.

John Hawkes ● 2064d

Vauxhall Bridge is also closed.Wandsworth Bridge is reduced to one lane each way.Not good news for Putney High Street - unless they make it a toll bridge :)

Ed Robinson ● 2064d

I don't think it's about reducing the number of roads for cars. It is about reducing the number of cars for roads.

Lisa Cottam ● 2064d

And it was much lovelier before they painted the "quaint" black timbers a shade of green!

Lisa Cottam ● 2064d

We can't unfortunately just keep reducing the roads that cars can travel on. Putney is impacted as Hammersmith bridge is closed. If you then close Putney high street you're forcing traffic into other roads which are in turn busier.

Gabrielle OMahony ● 2064d

The journalist may have wandered into Barnes by mistake - agree we need more independent stores but doubt Putney High Street will ever be quaint with the traffic and stained footpaths but it certainly could be improved Lower Richmond Road is looking attractive with all the outdoor tables and chairs the restaurants and cafes are trying really hard to stay afloat a few more independent shops and this area could tip into ‘almost quaint’

Christine Bryan ● 2064d

I can't see anything fixing it until traffic is reduced.

Matt Palmer ● 2067d

While I laughed out loud at the claim the High Street is quaint, perhaps of more interest was the suggestion that the Stoke Newington area is now more expensive to buy in than Putney.I can understand why.  Stokey has turned itself around with plenty of independent shops and new businesses.  Putney is sadly going the other way. Yes we have plenty of green space plus the river, however the commercial heart is dieing and needs to be put on life support.  Wider pavements and fake parts are patches.  What will stop the flood?

Adrian Pearce ● 2067d

You can sometimes get past the paywall by googling what you think the article is about.

Philippa Bond ● 2068d

It probably has no High Street, but I adore Twickenham's Church Street!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2068d

I wonder if the author was confusing Putney with Barnes? Whatever, Church Street in Twickenham (which doesn't have a High Street) definitely would qualify as quaint, I think:

Richard Carter ● 2068d

ta-da!https://www.churchofengland.org/more/parish-reorganisation-and-closed-church-buildings/closed-church-buildings-available-disposal

Matt Palmer ● 2068d

I wonder if they were removed and sold on?  Period stained glass panels and doors sell for good prices on eBay.

Sue Hammond ● 2068d

Yes I agree Lucille, I have never understood why that was done.  I do have a 'thing' for stained glass though. I had 4 panels removed from my front door and replaced with stained glass, plus a window in my kitchen, and for my 40th birthday I hade a huge panel designed and made for above my French doors.  My dream house would be an old converted church!

Sue Hammond ● 2068d

Not nearly as lovely it once was before they removed the stained glass windows!

Lucille Grant ● 2068d

Clifford, that's true, but I think it's probably true that there's quaint buts of Hackney and other areas of London?https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPWrhmv

Michael Ixer ● 2068d

Clifford, that's true, but I think it's probably true that there's quaint buts of Hackney and other areas of London?https://flic.kr/s/aHsmPWrhmv

Michael Ixer ● 2068d

The Spotted Horse is lovely!

Sue Hammond ● 2068d

Perhaps not the whole of PHS but there are a few quaint buildings dotted along it, all one needs to do is look up.

Clifford Cowell ● 2068d

One also wonders if the author knows the generally accepted meaning of the word quaint.  I note though that Dictionary.com states one to be "obsolete". Never heard it used in that context before but it sounds about right.

Sue Hammond ● 2068d

I like the new wider pavement with a loading space but definitely not "quaint"!https://flic.kr/p/2juC6nthttps://flic.kr/p/2juEM8V

Michael Ixer ● 2068d

One wonders if the writer has ever been to PHS?

Michael Ixer ● 2068d

Quaint is the last word I would use to describe PHS!

Sue Hammond ● 2068d

Here you are, Nick, though I'm not sure whether it will work because of the FT's paywall:https://on.ft.com/31oFij9

Richard Carter ● 2069d

Quaint is stretching it for the High Street. However, the author may have had in mind Lower Richmond Road between Putney Common and Putney Bridge; that does have more limited but interesting Retail presence.

Tony Howells ● 2069d

Hi Richard, could you attach a link to article. I’d be interested to see.Thanks Nick

Nick Gulliford ● 2069d