Standing at the Thamesfield By-Election on November 9

The Thamesfield by-election will take place on 9th November following the death of Mayor and Thamesfield councillor Jim Maddan OBE.

There are four candidates:

John Locker grew up in Yorkshire attending the local comprehensive before winning a place to study at Oxford. After University like many young people he moved to London to start work and has lived in Wandsworth for the last 17 years: “I love our borough; I think it’s the best place to live in London. We have such wonderful diversity, beautiful parks, great schools and a fantastic neighbourhood spirit.”


John Locker with Thamesfield Councillors Mike Ryder & Rosemary Torrington

John is standing at the Conservative candidate and has lots of experience as a charity volunteer, school governor, and in local government having previously served 4 years as a Wandsworth Councillor. As former Chair of Wandsworth Council’s Transport Committee he has particular expertise in town planning and transport issues. Which he believes is particularly important in Thamesfield with plans now underway to re-design Putney High Street and for public transport improvements including a new entrance to Putney station on Oxford Road.

“My motivation for standing in this by-election is because I want to make a positive contribution to our community. For me that includes offering my expertise on policy issues, like the introduction of 20mph on residential streets which I was instrumental in launching in Wandsworth and being there to help local people. Like Charly, whom I’ve mentored since he came to Putney seeking asylum, coaching him through his University education and starting out on his career.”

John’s key campaigns include:
* Environment – I am working with the local Councillors on plans to improve Putney High Street so that it is more attractive to pedestrians with less congestion. We have also lobbied for the refurbishment of Children’s playgrounds in Leader’s Gardens and Wandsworth Park.
* Better Transport – Following the station refurbishment at Putney I am campaigning to persuade Network Rail to open a new entrance at Oxford Road to provide a direct link to East Putney District Line. I am also working with the ward Councillors to persuade TfL to change the route of the 485 bus with a new stop at the Wandsworth Riverside Quarter development.
* Putney Embankment – I’ll ensure Thames Water minimise the disruption of works for the Tideway Tunnel and get their backing for my plans to improve the Embankment for pedestrians and cafes once the work has completed.
* Tackling Crime – I have already persuaded the Council to deploy mobile CCTV units in crime hotspots in the ward so we can help the Police catch the culprits. I have also been helping residents set-up new Neighbourhood Watch schemes. And I’m petitioning the Mayor to keep his election promise by not closing the public desk at Jubilee House Police station!
* Putney Bridge – I’ll make sure plans are delivered to install new lighting so that this grade 2 listed beautiful bridge is fully illuminated at night becoming a real feature for Putney.


Di McCann has been selected as the Green Party candidate to contest the Thamesfield by-election. Di has been resident in Thamesfield for over 30 years and is an active part of the local community.

“I am very honoured to have been selected to put my strong environmental beliefs into action by representing the Green Party in the Thamesfield By-Election,” Di said. “I have always tried to keep my carbon footprint small but I could see that my individual actions were not enough to address the increasing environmental, economic and social issues facing us all. I realised that really changing things required something more. That is why I joined the Green Party.

Di told this website: "Thamesfield is a perfect city location and I have lots of imaginative ideas on making it cleaner and greener. I also intend to be very active in supporting residents with any local problems and issues that arise, and generally engender lots of community spirit!"

Di’s priorities for Thamesfield will branch out from Putney High Street. She will be campaigning for a town centre with a real community atmosphere. A town centre where pedestrians and cyclists have priority. A town centre where shoppers and visitors have a real choice of varied and interesting shops and cafes. And a town centre with open, accessible green spaces to enjoy.

Charity-worker, disability campaigner and long-term Thamesfield resident Sally Warren has been selected to contest Thamesfield by-election for Labour


Cllr Peter Carpenter, Sally Warren, Cllr Sue Mckinney & Cllr Jeremy Ambache

A Thamesfield resident of over 25 years, Sally said: “Thamesfield is my home. I am standing here because I hate injustice and I want Thamesfield to be a fairer, more inclusive place for all local people to live and thrive. I have worked all my professional life tackling inequality and taking this fight to the Town Hall is the obvious next step for me. Only by winning seats for Labour on Wandsworth Council can we really make life better for the residents of Wandsworth”.

Sally will be campaigning on include:
• Making Putney High Street a place where people want to be. Where all members of the community, including our many EU citizens, can shop and gather in a way that creates a welcoming Town Centre. Not a place where large business rules!
• Stopping the overdevelopment of Putney. We need to increase the amount of genuinely affordable housing and restrict the number of high rise towers.
• Local community services including Health and Social Care services to ensure local support for the elderly, the disabled and the lonely. This includes protecting our local library and green spaces.
• Pollution reduction – especially important on Putney High Street
• Quality education places for all – we need to oppose the estimated £7m in real-term cuts that Putney schools are facing.

Local Putney resident Ryan Mercer is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Thamesfield, having previously stood at the General Election for Putney. He has worked for a number of charities on improving education, especially in the Sciences. He believes passionately Britain is better off in the European Union and is campaigning for an Exit from Brexit.

Ryan also campaigns locally on issues of importance to Putney, such as air quality around Putney High Street and the funding crisis facing local schools. Nationally, he has campaigned on youth issues, particularly around unpaid internships, housing and mental health, helping to secure commitments on these issues in the 2015 Lib Dem manifesto.

Ryan told this website: ""Many people feel politicians and councillors don't care what they have to say, so over the past months I've spoken to hundreds Putney residents about what really matters to them.

"We know that local schools are under growing financial pressure. Wandsworth schools will lose out under a new funding formula and nationwide more than 340,000 secondary school pupils are already being taught in classes with more than 30 pupils. I will be calling on the council to use its own resources to help support local schools in the face of this funding crisis.

"We also need urgent action to tackle air pollution around Putney High Street. As your local Councillor I will work closely with Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Caroline Pidgeon, who has been leading the campaign to tackle congestion and air pollution across London.

"And then there's Brexit. Government is stumbling about without a plan. We need to make sure that the Brexiteers understand the impact Brexit will have on the economy and on public services. We need our community to be represented by someone who will make the case everyday for an exit from Brexit.

"As your Councillor I will fight for your values, providing a strong a voice for the open, tolerant and compassionate community and country we believe in."

October 18, 2017