Wandsworth London Borough Council

Wandsworth Council

London’s first Black Mayor could soon be commemorated in Battersea.

The leader of Wandsworth Council, Ravi Govindia, has launched a campaign to erect a statue of John Archer in the Battersea or Clapham Junction area following calls by community group Love Battersea for the local trailblazer to be commemorated.

John Archer, whose father was from Barbados, moved to Battersea the 1890s with his wife Bertha, and initially served as a councillor in the Latchmere ward, successfully campaigning for a minimum wage of 32 shillings a week for council workers.

He was elected as mayor of Battersea in 1913, giving a rousing speech in which he declared: “You have made history tonight. For the first time in the history of the English nation a man of colour has been elected as mayor of an English borough."

In 1918 he became the first president of the African Progress Union and chaired the Pan-African Congress in London.

He was again elected, in 1931, as councillor for the Nine Elms ward, before becoming deputy leader of Battersea Council. He died while in the role in 1932 aged 69.

Mr Govindia said: “Now seems the right time to look for positive role models and to celebrate the achievements of John Archer who remains an inspiration for so many people.

“With racial equality and justice at the forefront of the news agenda I feel that this is the perfect way to celebrate black achievement and a man who paved the way for future generations of politicians from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.” .

The council plans to contribute an initial donation towards the statue and then seek further contributions from the wider community to help get it built.

Leader of the Labour Opposition, Simon Hogg, tweeted his support saying: “John Archer is a hero in Battersea’s radical Labour history".

Leading councillors in Richmond are determined to push ahead with a borough-wide 20mph speed limit - following similar success from neighbouring borough Wandsworth.

Cllr Alexander Ehmann, deputy leader and cabinet member for transport, said the research “strengthens” Richmond Council’s view.

In Wandsworth, residential roads have had 20mph limits since June 2017.

Despite a 9% fall in the total accidents on those roads, there have been 19% less accidents involving pedestrians, bicycles and motorbikes.

Collisions between pedestrians and vehicles are three times less likely to be fatal if the speed of the impact is 20mph compared to 30mph.

Councillors in Wandsworth are now considering extending the scheme to some of the borough’s main roads as well, after further traffic studies and another public consultation.

In Richmond, the council is proposing a much wider area to be covered by the limit, with all but three of the council-maintained roads included.

Cllr Ehmann said: “If there is a negative from this research, it’s that the Wandsworth taxpayers will be paying more than the Richmond residents will.

“I think there is a strong imperative for bolder action, as shown by the data from Wandsworth.

Richmond Council recently released the results of its consultation on the issue of 20mph, with 10,000 residents being split 49.7% against to 47.9% in favour.

It will be discussed at the Housing, Community Safety and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 25 February.

BBC

The returning Leader of Wandsworth Ravi Govindia has said his party's victory one "my colleagues will be proud to relish".

Mr Govinda said the Conservatives had won because the local "brand is so strong".

He said: "It’s about saying this is where we have attention to detail.

"This is not about making grandiose statements."

Labour had "wasted an awful lot of effort and manpower," he said.

"They should reflect on a loss for them."

EPA

The Prime Minster has tweeted her congratulations to some of the London boroughs which has seen success for the Conservatives.

Theresa May congratulated the Tories in Hillingdon for increasing their majority, which she described as a "testament to your record of delivering great local services."

She also congratulated councillors in Wandsworth, Westminster and Barnet for "a great result".

PA

Of the results declared so far, the only councils to change are Richmond-upon-Thames and Barnet.

Richmond-upon-Thames was regained by the Liberal Democrats after eight years while the Conservatives won Barnet, which no party previously had control of.

Labour increased its number of councillors across London, but has failed to take control of any new councils including key targets such as Wandsworth, Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea.