Final few days for residents to tell commons conservators to drop tax increase plans

People living in 28,000 homes in the west of the borough have only a few days left to tell the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators to ditch their plans for an inflation-busting rise in the levy they charge.

The conservators are planning a 25 per cent plus inflation rise in the bills they charge residents for maintaining Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath and Putney Common. Their public consultation will close this week (October 29).

Last year their average charge to the 28,000 households subject to the levy was just under £36. This would rise to at least £45 if their plans proceed.

Their last increase of just under 13 per cent came at a time when the council froze its share of council tax bills to protect Wandsworth residents amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Council leader Simon Hogg, who has written to the Government urging it to block the proposal, said: “The scale of this planned increase, which follows a rise last year of just under 13 per cent, is totally unacceptable.

“We froze council tax bills because we wanted to support our residents through the economic downturn. The Conservators did the opposite and are now looking to hit 28,000 Wandsworth households with another unjustifiable increase in bills.

“There is still few days left for people to tell the conservators to think again. I would urge everyone affected by these proposals to take part in the consultation and voice their concerns.”

The levy is charged to households living close to Wimbledon Common and also those in the old parish of Putney, which includes Roehampton, and is collected through council tax bills. It is paid by residents living in the boroughs of Wandsworth, Merton and Kingston.