2.6 All recommendations

Respondents had an option to provide feedback on the overall recommendations, rather than each one separately. Out of the 44 responses to this option, feedback was mainly very positive to neutral. Many recommendations were welcomed by the respondents such as night markets, events for community cohesion, more culture, activities for young people, limiting dark corners and narrow passages, sustainable lighting, reuse of empty shop fronts, exploring the different aspects of safety, night time cafes, encouraging active travel through parks at night.

“Great recommendations - good review of different aspects of safety. Would love to see these changes delivered!”

Aspects that respondents felt should be added to the recommendations included:

removing street clutter for safety
a strategy for the homeless and mentally ill
more on the appropriate timing of various types of lighting
improved licensing policies to allow for creatives to put on late-night events
bottom-up work on the ‘basics’ in town centres such as fly-tipping, littering and drug dealing which will make the borough safer overall
secure cycle parking (not just well lit)
more active travel infrastructure and less space for cars
more availability and space designated for dockless electric bikes for women to cycle home safely from stations
24-hour police surveillance
emergency buttons to call 999 at bus stops

“I would really really really support this night time economy strategy and much more culture and things for young people is needed in Wandsworth”

Changes to the recommendations include:

not only focusing on women escaping domestic violence but practical help protecting women from it
understanding the impact of noise from the night time economy on residents in town centres
focussing on the high streets at night but allowing side streets to stay quiet
either less late-night bars or less of a concentration of bars and late-night convenience stores in any one area (some respondents were against later opening venues due to ASB and littering)
hold bars accountable for antisocial behaviour of punters
emphasise safety of older people as feeling vulnerable stops older members of community accessing the night

“This is all well-meant, no doubt, but in reality, growing the night time economy just results in more noise.”

Other points raised include:

discussing lighting with private landowners / gated communities to discourage bright flood lights for safety
more engagement with creatives looking to put on events
later running public transport
light installations in empty store fronts
attracting larger coffee shops to act as alternatives to pubs / restaurants
reopening Northern Line night tube
local musicians to collaborate with bars to host live music
Council to support music venues, live music and places for young people, understanding the return of investment into music venues / concerts for surrounding businesses and NHS savings
noise, aggressive behaviour, thefts and littering at night
light pollution at night and the importance of the sleep of day workers between midnight and 6am
informal 'release’ (public realm) and ‘host’ (interior) spaces to encourage ad-hoc creative potential of night time economy
wellbeing of local residents impacted by large groups that are intimidating to walk past

“High streets are not just places to shop. They are places of social, cultural and political exchange...What makes urban space civic is not the actual ownership model, but its capacity to provide for the diverse needs of citizens.”

“I believe they [elderly people] should be included in your emphasis as late at night we also feel vulnerable and that does restrict how we participate in the community.”

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