Here is Councillor Simon Wales, chair of the Sutton Gateway Project Board (on which Richard represents Sutton South), cutting the ribbon to open the side entrance on 26 September.
And, below, this is what it used to looks like – shuttered and barricaded.
Work is completed and the new side entrance to Sutton station is open. Hooray.
A further meeting of the project board guiding the Sutton Gateway project, a board on which Richard represents Sutton South Ward, heard on 25 September that good progress is being made with the scheme.
The most important news is that the building work on the side entrance is completed enabling the passageway from The Quadrant to be restored and the side entrance to be opened for passenger use. The side entrance is open from 7am to 7pm.The cycle racks next to the newly opened side entrance have been improved.
Work at the front of the station commenced in September and will be completed by March 2015, but with no work over the Christmas period to avoid any inconvenience to shoppers. Some of the work will involve traffic diversions.
The project’s proposals to further develop the area around Sutton station include:
– refitted shop fronts, new paving and newly planted trees to improve the look of the area
– more lighting and CCTV cameras to make the area safer
– extra cycling facilities, with new bike racks and shelters
– a town centre clock
– a new crossing in Brighton Road
– the opening of the side entrance to Sutton station
– new “legible London” signs
– a re-arrangement of the bus stops to reduce congestion
– an additional crossing for pedestrians outside the station
– re-design of the Cedar Road / Brighton Road junction to improve visibility for motorists
– it is not proposed to move the taxi rank, except that after 6.30 some taxis will be able to park immediately opposite the station, with the bus stop opposite the station moved further down Brighton Road and with some buses stopping in Mulgrave Road
– there will be “live” bus information in Sutton station, subject to further research by Network Rail
– the timing of the pedestrian crossing at the High Street / Grove Road / Sutton Court Road junction will be amended to give more time to cross
– the number of parking spaces in the station area will be increased
– general improvements in design and to the “public realm” around the station, with more flowers, more colour and better signage.
The changes, including the changes to the bus stops, will be completed by March 2015.
These changes are largely funded by grants the Council has obtained, not local Council tax payers.
The results of the earlier consultation exercise on the Gateway Project indicated general support for the scheme, but we were able to make a number of changes to respond to specific issues raised. In our Ward, a particular concern for the businesses was the need for a loading bay on Regents Parade just south of the station. We successfully lobbied for this to be incorporated into the scheme.
On 27 February Richard and former Ward Councillor Heather Honour organised a breakfast meeting with local businesses in our Ward to take their views on the Sutton Gateway project. Several joined us in the Rose Café in the Brighton Road, which serves excellent scrambled eggs (Richard’s breakfast). This is right in the area that is to be developed so we were able to chat and walk round the area to see the proposed changes.
Public consultation on the emerging proposals ran till 5 March. Consultation was by leaflets in the locality, questionnaires to members of the public, posters, newspaper advertisements, exhibitions, further “stakeholder” meetings and putting information in Sutton station.
Residents and businesses close to the station were consulted, together with the emergency services and other groups with a major interest such as Network Rail, Southern Rail and TfL.
Also of great value will be the “legible London” signs at the station entrance. See the designs at
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/microsites/legible-london/3.aspx
Richard says “As a local man who for twenty years of my life commuted to central London by a route that meant I walked every working day along Wellesley Road and past the shuttered and barricaded side entrance, to enter the station from the front, it has long been an objective of mine to get the side entrance open. Every second counts when you are a commuter.”