Sadiq Khan has joined residents and the Tooting History Society to fight against a proposed car wash on Tooting High Street.
They believe the new business would be an eyesore to the newly regenerated area and make the narrow residential road much more congested.
The plans are to build the car wash on the historical site of Tooting Constitutional Club that’s part Tooting’s heritage.
Khan is also concerned that the increase in traffic would be dangerous on an already crowded street.
He said: “Woodbury Street is already used as a rat run by drivers hoping to avoid traffic at Tooting Broadway or on their way to St George’s.”
The strong objections to the plans include an increase of noise, lack of green spaces and a shortage of parking spaces, come under Khan’s fight to ‘Save Our High Street’.
The larger campaign has included saving The Wheatsheaf pub in Tooting Bec from developers, objecting to the number of betting shops and protecting the heritage of the Defoe Chapel, also on Tooting High Street.
Mr Khan said: “This application is just another example of why much needed changes at government level are needed, to give our community more power to say no.”
Residents against the change urge others who disagree with the plans to submit their objections to Wandsworth Council.
Mr Khan said: “The more people who have their say, the more chance we have of making the council realise this carwash is a bad idea.”
Labour councillor Alaina MacDonald was also keen to voice her opinion about the car wash.
She said: “A busy car wash in this location is the last thing local residents need. As the local Labour councillor I will be working with the community to object to these plans.”
Cllr MacDonald went on to say the regeneration of Tooting would be completely undermined with the arrival of these developments on such an important site.
Pictures courtesy of Sadiq Khan, with thanks
