Calling all bakers and cake lovers of Battersea! We invite you to come and take part in the Great Battersea Bake Off – part of the Fabulous Feast event taking place on the pavements of the HIll. Bring your best baked delights to the Hill on Saturday 18th May where The Dessert Deli’s Laura Amos will be judging the winner.

This baking competition will be split into 2 categories: one for children up to the age of 16 and one for adults. The children’s category are challenged to bake 6 delicious fairy cakes (the more decoration the better!), and adults entering the competition must conjure up their best chocolate brownies.

The judging will take place at 4pm on the food festival day: Saturday 18th May. Deliver your baked entry to the stall signposted “Great Battersea Bake Off” between 11am and 4pm for a chance to WIN!

Good luck bakers!

The main event is on Saturday 18th May from 11am til 5pm when a big food festival will take place on the pavements of the Hill. There will be a large selection of farmers market stalls, producers, makers and cake bakers for you to eat your way up the Hill and fill your shopping basket too!

If you would like to learn more about food & drink, then don’t miss the Saturday event as the traders of St John’s Hill will host LIVE food & drink workshops, cooking lessons and demonstrations throughout the day.

Lots more info about the event can be found on the street website: http://stjohnshill.co.uk/

• 12pm to 3pm
• Este Road, Battersea SW11 2TD
• 2nd March 2013

Local Bands, BBQ, facepainting, bouncy castle – and an oppurtunity to have your say on the Big Local grant for SW11.

While the council’s levy will remain unchanged, it is having to pass on increases from other public organisations whose funding makes up part of the bill. This includes the cost of refuse disposal by the Western Riverside Waste Authority.

If agreed by councillors on March 6, bills will go up by 22p per week from April – an overall rise of 3.1 per cent. This represents only the second increase in ten years while many other household costs during this time have virtually doubled.

Borough residents pay around half the council tax bills that other Londoners have to pay. Wandsworth’s Band D bill for 2012/13 was £684, compared to a London average of more than £1,300.

A study looking at council tax levels over the past 20 years shows that Wandsworth Band D payers are £10,054 better off over that period than taxpayers in Merton, £11,741 better off than Kingston taxpayers and £12,108 better off than Richmond’s.

Is Wandsworth Council Tax Too Low?

Are Wandsworth shutting playgrounds to keep the tax low?

Critics say Wandsworth has been cutting services to keep the tax artificially low – such as One O’Clock centres, Libraries and Playgrounds. What do you think?

• Francesca teaches a blend of Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, as well as Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth, and Postnatal Yoga

• Mondays, 7-8pm Dynamic Yoga 
  at EAT PLAY LOVE cafe, Battersea Park Road
• Tuesdays, 11am-12pm Dynamic Yoga (all levels, creche available for babies/toddlers at an extra £3.50)
  at EAT PLAY LOVE cafe, Battersea Park Road.
• Tuesdays, 6.30-7.30pm, Pregnancy Yoga
  at EAT PLAY LOVE cafe, Battersea Park Road.

Classes start up on Jan 7th 2013.

Empower Yoga

Email hello@empoweryoga.co.uk or call +44(0)754 5161 515 for info or to register

Just plug in, wait, and go!

The council has installed an on-street electric vehicle charging point in Clapham Junction.

Electric cars help to cut air pollution as they produce no exhaust emissions. They are also virtually silent.

The new charging points are part of the Source London Network which includes 816 on and off-street power points across the capital. Scheme members can use any of these facilities to top-up their batteries.

The new on-street charging point is in Grant Road, Clapham Junction (Map). For more information on electric vehicles visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/driveelectric

This year for the first time all tickets must be bought in advance – none will be available on the door. This is to prevent overcrowding and ensure spectators can enjoy the display in safety.

Gates open at 6pm, the bonfire will be lit at 7.30pm and the show starts at 8pm.

Ticket prices are as follows:

• Tickets bought up to October 28 – £6.50
• Tickets bought up to November 2 – £8
• Tickets bought on November 3 (subject to availability) – £10

Children under 10 years old are free, but will still need a ticket.

No tickets will be available on the night.

Tickets are available

• Online (£1 admin fee per transaction.)
• By visiting Battersea Park Millennium Arena, 8am-7pm daily. In-person only.
• By calling 020 8871 8677 (press option 4 to buy), between 9am-5pm Monday-Friday.

I want to ride my bicyle, I want to ride my bike. Now you can!

The Barclays Cycle Hire Scheme is set to expand into Battersea giving thousands of local people a new and exciting transport option.

Transport for London has revealed the timetable for the roll-out which would see around sixty docking stations installed across the north of Wandsworth by spring 2014.

This first expansion into Wandsworth would include everywhere east of Putney High Street and north of the South Circular.

Council Leader Ravi Govindia said: “It’s fantastic to see this exciting project moving forward. We’ve fought long and hard to secure this expansion and we will continue to press for a borough-wide roll out in the months ahead. The jobs not finished until every household in Wandsworth is covered by this scheme.

“Cycle hire will help more people to take up cycling, reduce car use and ease congestion on our buses, tubes and trains. The bikes are convenient, fun, help reduce air pollution and are much cheaper than other forms of public transport. They will be a great addition to our transport system.”

torch relay

Evening Celebration

The evening event will be on the large area of Tooting Common next to the Lido. Doors open at 4pm and the event starts at 5pm.

As well as the chance to see the iconic flame, the celebration will include music and entertainment, including Rizzle Kicks. There will be food and a bar. The event ends at 7.30pm.

Only ticket holders will be admitted.

Tickets will be available on Wednesday July 11 between 7.30pm and 8.30pm at Balham, Battersea, Putney, Tooting and Wandsworth Town libraries.

Tickets are free, and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

A maximum of four tickets will be allocated to each person, and tickets must not be sold on.

You will need to take along proof that you are resident in the borough, such as a library card, council tax bill or utility bill.

No tickets will be available on the day.

Travel

There is no parking available at Tooting Common and there will be temporary road closures in and around the common, Tooting Bec and the surrounding areas along the torch route.

Travel by public transport is advised. Nearest stations are Tooting Bec and Balham underground, Balham, Streatham Hill and Streatham overground. Bus routes are 249, 315, 319, G1. More info at www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner.

• King George’s Park
• Saturday 14th July
• 12-6pm
• Free

More details on the event can be found at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/active.

Get Active Day Saturday July 14

Free, family fun to be had, with Radio Jackie helping to host the event.

Get Active Day

• Rugby, football, dance, cricket and boccia activities
• Advice on healthy eating and how to stop smoking
• Live music
• Great food
• Lots of prizes to be won