Sutton South Councillors were concerned to learn about changes proposed to the organisation of the Police Cadets, who meet at a school in our ward. Currently there are over 120 cadets. However, the decision has been made to close junior cadets and cut the remaining senior cadets to just 46. Their future programme is also being severely curtailed. This will have a major impact on the youth of this borough who will no longer have the opportunity to participate in activities such as camps, parades and Duke of Edinburgh awards.
Councillor Louise Phelan, whose son has been a Cadet, commented “I’ve seen first-hand the benefits of being part of police cadets. They learn valuable life skills, and gain self confidence. They also support the local community and get to take part in things they wouldn’t otherwise have had the opportunity to do. For many this is a stepping stone into a career within the police force, for others the Cadets help to keep them on the right path and make better life decisions. I am incredibly concerned others will now not get these opportunities.”
Richard has been trying to get Network Rail to cut back the vegetation on the railway bank adjacent to the southern bridge in Kings Lane as it obscures sight lines for motorists. Every autumn, after the vegetation on the railway bank has grown up, he has this correspondence with Network Rail. They have now cut back the undergrowth sufficiently for cars to be able to see if there are vehicles coming towards them across the bridge.
Thanks to Trish’s hard work, Sutton United football team is back training in the Borough, after two years training near Heathrow. Their new base at the David Weir Leisure Centre from August marks a significant step for both the club and the community.
This move, made possible through Trish’s negotiations with Sutton Council, allows players to train locally and to engage more with local residents, something they could not do while training so far away. Players have visited Rosehill Bowling Club to meet residents, reinforcing community ties, and have helped in the campaign led by Trish to re-invigorate the bowling club, which was close to going out of existence. The photos below are of the team at the bowling club.
Trish is a trustee of Sutton United Football Foundation, whose mission is to support people of all ages and abilities. She emphasises that “Our club’s return to Sutton for training strengthens the team and the bond between sport and our local community”
The police met residents of Sutton South Ward again on the evening of 25 September 2024, at Devonshire Avenue school. There are open, public meetings held quarterly at which the police discuss the policing of the Ward with local residents. We were addressed by our Ward Constable, Constable Robyn Skivens, who went through the crime statistics for the Ward. Sutton has a lower crime rate than most outer London boroughs and our Ward has one of the lowest crime rates in Sutton. However, crime always has a significant impact on the victim and public concern remains high. The draft minutes of the meeting are as below.
SUTTON SOUTH WARD COMMUNITY/POLICE MEETING – WEDNESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2024
Held at Devonshire Avenue primary school
Constable Skivens gave an update on crime in the Ward since the last meeting, which was on 26 June 2024.
Burglaries: There had been 8 burglaries. Several were burglaries of garages but there had been some of houses and of commercial premises. There was a gang of four people who were now well known in the borough who had been behind a number of burglaries.
Motor Vehicle Crime: 11 crimes were reported – 3 of theft of cars (in Ambleside Gardens, Albion Road, Farm Close). The other offences were thefts from, damage to or interference with cars. There were again no catalytic converter thefts.
Drug offences: 5 crimes were reported, one of possession of cannabis and one of possession with intent to supply. The other offences were importation of drugs intercepted by Border Force where a local address was given for the consignment. Ward police would then have to visit the address but usually this was a fictitious or convenience address.
Violence against women and girls: 4 cases. These included a man exposing himself on a bus and cases of women being followed.
Major crimes: This is a broad category. There were 4 cases – two robberies, one attempted robbery, one case of a threat to kill.
Other crimes: There were 11 in this miscellaneous category, including:
2 of shoplifting from the BP service station
2 pedal cycles stolen
A woman who had an epileptic fit outside Sutton station had her bag stolen
A “street drinker” at the station had vapes stolen from him
A handbag was left on a bus and stolen, and efforts were made to use the bank cards
The theft of a wedding ring through distraction techniques (engaging in conversation to distract),
Staffing: Although Sutton South has a cadre of 3 officers – Constable Skivens, a second Constable and a PCSO – Constable Skivens was currently on her own. The other Constable is on restricted duties due to a hamstring injury and the PCSO has an injured knee. Constable Skivens spends about half her time on “extractions”, usually to the Response Team, to undertake other duties outside the Ward. The meeting expressed concern at the staffing level.
The meeting discussed a variety of issues raised by residents:
The success of Operation Nightingale in reducing crime in Sutton by monitoring and patrolling selected crime hotspots
The reduction of crime at Sutton station by closing the side entrance at certain times
The knife amnesty, and its success
Drug dealing, including at Sutton Court and Beauclere House
Concerns about “street drinkers” at Sutton station
Fire safety, including the threat posed by batteries on scooters and electric bikes
The importance of reporting crime (it was pointed out that reports via Crimestoppers are anonymous)
Keyless cars: the need to keep keys in a tin
The police speed traps in Chalgrove Road, including on 5 June
The cuts to the police cadets, which meet at Overton Grange school, and the reasons for this action. Councillor Clifton mentioned that the Councillors with the local MP were planning to take this up with the Metropolitan police at a more senior level.
The date of the next meeting was set as Wednesday 15 January, at Devonshire Avenue primary school. There was a discussion of what could be done to better publicise the meeting and get a better attendance.
The meeting thanked Constable Skivens for her work and for coming in on her day off to present her report to us, and Devonshire Avenue school for hosting the meeting.
Constable Skivens, Louise, Trish and Richard with other Ward police officers at the Sutton South Hello Christmas party
We are working with Sutton Council to set up a Friends of Devonshire Avenue Nature Area group.
Would you like to join it? The nature area is the only open space in our Ward, in an area where many children live in flats without access to a garden. As it is the only open space in our Ward it is precious to us. It is a nature area so requires careful management. To join the Friends group email the Sutton Council officer leading the work, Dawn Fielding
dawn.fielding@sutton.gov.uk
We have secured funding for improvements to the nature area – to the signage and the seating and to clean off the graffiti. On 18 October last year the three Councillors met with several Council officers from the Parks Department at the Nature Area to discuss improvements to the area, and we subsequently took proposals to the local committee to obtain funding for improvement work. On 23 January we met with the volunteers from Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers who were engaged in necessary maintenance activities at the site. There is discussion about how to best use the area, protect biodiversity (such as the rare “ivy broomrape” which is found in the nature area) while keeping it well used by residents, reduce litter and graffiti, and whether it should be locked at night. Please contact us with your views and to join the Friends group.
While the Nature Reserve is the only open space in our Ward two parks are adjacent – Warren Park at the north eastern boundary of the Ward and Overton Park at the south western boundary. There are also steps being taken to establish Friends groups for these parks, in particular Warren Park. If you live close to one of these parks and would like to join the Friends group contact Dawn Fielding
In the General Election held on 4 July 2024 our Liberal Democrat candidates won convincing victories in the two Parliamentary constituencies that make up the London borough of Sutton. Our candidates – Luke Taylor in Sutton and Cheam and Bobby Dean in Carshalton and Wallington – recorded significant victories to take the two seats from the Conservatives. Trish, Louise and Richard were part of the team working for Luke in the period leading up to the election. Luke and Bobby are among 72 Liberal Democrat candidates elected to the new House of Commons.
Luke’s victory means that for the first time, here in Sutton South Ward, we have three Liberal Democrat Councillors and a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament, serving our residents. Luke made an excellent maiden speech in the House on 8 October, taking the opportunity to emphasise what a great place Sutton is.
This success followed on from some remarkable victories for Liberal Democrat candidates in the local elections held nationwide on 2 May 2024. Across England, Liberal Democrats won 521 Council seats, more than the Tories, with a net gain of 104 seats.
Trish stood as our candidate in the Greater London Authority constituency elections. Our constituency covered Croydon as well as Sutton so this was not a winnable seat for the Liberal Democrats. However, Trish performed remarkably well. She pushed our share of the vote up from 14.4% to 15.8%. We were one of only five constituencies where we beat both the Greens and Reform, taking third place in the constituency member vote.
Trish was our candidate for the Sutton and Croydon GLA constituency. Here she is with Richard and our Mayoral candidate, Rob Blackie, outside Sutton train station
In the Mayoral election our candidate, Rob Blackie, performed well. Sadiq Khan won the Mayoralty despite the unpopularity locally of ULEZ, a policy we have opposed. Our views on ULEZ are set out in articles further down. Below is a photo of our visit to City Hall, the HQ of the Mayor of London, on 30 June 2023 to present the petition expressing opposition to ULEZ signed by over 10 000 Sutton residents.
Louise, Trish and Richard at City Hall to present to the Mayor of London the petition opposing ULEZ signed by over 10 000 Sutton residents
It is some years since we have last had an exercise to measure the volume and speed of traffic in our Ward. The last time this happened it enabled us to introduce some measures to calm traffic in Cavendish Road. From Monday 19th February the tubes seen in this picture taken in The Ridgway, integral to traffic measurement equipment, appeared in many local roads at the eastern end of the Ward. The tubes collected data for seven days on the volume, speed and classification of vehicles.
The results of the exercise are listed below. The results have not led to some “standout” conclusion as to a problem that needs tackling. Traffic officers are examining three main issues:
whether action can be taken to improve the safety and the experience of pedestrians crossing the Kings Lane bridge without closing the road to vehicles. The bridge is narrow. Installing a second bridge would be impossibly expensive. Marking a pedestrian path at one side of the road might be feasible
similarly, whether something can be done to improve the safety and the experience of pedestrians passing under the railway bridge in Langley Park Road
possible improvements to the busy junction where Cedar Road crosses Langley Park Road.
Your views on these issues, and views on any other traffic and parking issues you would like us to look at, are invited.
The traffic survey yielded three pieces of data on traffic movements at 17 locations in the part of Sutton South Ward east of Brighton Road. The survey was undertaken in February 2024 over a seven day period Monday to Saturday. The three pieces of data are:
the percentage of vehicle traffic that was heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
the average speed of traffic, and
the average daily flow of vehicles over the seven day period.
The 17 traffic measurement stations are listed here, with the three pieces of data in each direction of the road, in an approximate order from north to south of the Ward, taking roads to the west of the Ward and then listing roads further east.
KINGS LANE (Southernmost bridge)
North 5.1 / 14.2 / 1350 South 6.7 / 13.9 /1119
HILLCROOME ROAD
East 7.7 / 19.8 /1034 West 4.2 / 18.4 / 808
LANGLEY PARK ROAD (at the railway bridge)
North 6.9 /21.6 / 3749 South 7.0 / 22,2 / 3059
BRIGHTON ROAD (at the junction with The Quadrant)
North 8.4 / 17.9 / 6807 South 7.5 / 18.3 / 8508
BRIGHTON ROAD (just south of the junction with Christchurch Park)
North 8.5 / 25.5 / 8421 South 8.6 / 24.6 / 7599
CEDAR ROAD (between the junctions with Brighton Road and with Langley Park Road)
East 8.3 / 17.8 / 2727 West 7.5 / 18.7 / 1936
LANGLEY PARK ROAD (just north of the junction with Cavendish Road)
North 5.6 / 22.4 /3034 South 5.8 / 21.3 / 3043
LANGLEY PARK ROAD (just south of the junction with Chalgrove Road)
Following the Annual Council Meeting, held on 20 May 2024, where membership of Council committees is decided, Trish, Richard and Louise continue to have important new responsibilities. Louise is continuing for a second year as our Deputy Mayor. Sutton South Councillors have made a major contribution to the Mayoralty, as prior to Louise accepting this role Trish was Mayor of Sutton for three years. Richard was Mayor of Sutton in 2016-17. Louise is now combining this role with being Chair of the Licensing Committee, and is a member of the important Housing, Economy and Business Committee.
Trish continues as Chair of the important Audit and Governance Committee and is a member of the important Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee. Richard will continue as Chair of the Council’s Planning Committee.
On 14 May a sub-committee of Sutton Council’s Licensing Committee considered a string of complaints by local residents about noise nuisance from the Spaghetti Tree restaurant in Brighton Road. As the restaurant is in our Ward, none of the Ward Councillors could sit as members of the sub-committee, as those taking the decision must be independent from any local influence. The committee considered whether this anti-social behaviour, involving the frequent playing of music at loud volume and thus disturbing local residents, was a breach of the licence conditions for regulated entertainment that governed the operation of the restaurant. The committee was concerned about the disturbance and decided to vary the licence of the restaurant to prevent the playing of live and recorded music as regulated entertainment at the premises. The owner has 21 days to appeal against the decision.
This is sad – but the owners of premises must recognise that licence conditions are imposed to protect the local residents and they will be enforced, so they cannot be ignored without there being consequences.
On 4 March the Council discussed the budget proposals for the coming year. Legally, the Council is required to set a balanced budget. With so many Councils going bust or in great financial difficulty, this was always going to be a difficult task. The problems are due to Government cuts but also a big spike in demand for services. While people think of the Council as the people who mend the potholes, empty the bins and fix the street lights, 70% of spending is on adult social care and children’s services (particularly for those children with special educational needs), plus the cost of finding accommodation for the homeless. There has been a major increase in demand in the past year, particularly in the number of adults whose social care has to be paid for by the Council and in the number of homeless families.
Trish and Richard both spoke in the debate, Trish on the role of audit and governance (she chairs the Audit and Governance Committee) and Richard on homelessness – a subject in which he has a special interest due to the work history of his daughter, Ellie, and because as chair of Planning Committee he has a role in increasing the supply of affordable family accommodation.
Here is Richard’s speech:
“There is a statistic buried on page 21 of the main paper that an extra £2.75 million is needed due to the additional demand for temporary accommodation. This is the cost of homelessness – and tonight 1045 Sutton families are homeless and living in bed and breakfast accommodation, many of them some distance from Sutton. I find this a frightening figure. I commend what the Council is doing – not set out at length in these papers before us tonight – to help people avoid homelessness and to assist them if it happens. And I am pleased at what we are doing to increase the supply of affordable family homes.
But what a local authority can do is limited. This is a national issue. There has been a major spike in homelessness in the last year, not just in Sutton but nation wide. We ought to recognise the causes of this – that families have been priced out of their homes by the cost of living crisis and the 14 consecutive monthly increases in interest rates that followed the famous budget based on the principles associated with those revered icons of the Conservative right Kwasi Kwarteng and – Lis Truss – who I see is now re-inventing herself as an icon of American and British deep state conspiracy theorists. Who cares about homelessness ? Not the Government, which ignores reasonable policy proposals that would help, such as the proposals last week from the LGA to lift the cap on housing benefit subsidy for temporary accommodation, increase discretionary housing payments and – most important – ensure that local housing allowance rates track market rates. Not Rishi Sunak, whose often repeated targets we are asked to judge him on – not that he is achieving them – do not include any target on reducing homelessness, which he clearly does not see as important. I find that shocking. And can I mention the contribution to the debate of that other great icon of the Conservative right Suella Braverman who told us the homelessness crisis was largely caused by foreigners and by people who chose homelessness as a life style, and that the big issue was “Should they be allowed to sleep in tents ?” That seems cruelly remote from our homeless residents worried about how to get their kids to school in Sutton when they are in B and B accommodation in Slough or Heathrow, or somewhere. This is a problem causing destitution and poverty. We are doing what we can – but it requires Government action and the Tory Government is in complete denial.”
