Here are some examples of the things Richard and Heather, as your local LibDem Councillors, have been working to achieve, all things Sutton Council has done to improve Sutton South, action we have taken on behalf of the community, or campaigns we have launched.
Action to oppose the opening of a nightclub on the border of the Ward, operating till 4.30am seven days a week, which would add to late night disturbance in the streets of Sutton South Ward.
Improvements to the Kings Lane bridge to make it safer for pedestrians.
Re-surfacing Downside Road to deal with potholes after the hard winter 0f 2009/2010.
New grit bins at many places in the Ward, such as this one in Leslie Gardens put in at the request of Richard following an approach from a resident.
And this grit bin in Cavendish Road which Richard got put in after approaches from residents – this photo taken on the morning the bin arrived, just before it was filled with grit.
New litter bins in the Ward, such as this one that Richard got put in at a strategic point in Cedar Road. A resident suggested this was about the point where someone walking back from the station with a takeaway snack would finish it and drop rubbish.
Re-surfacing of Hillcroome Road to deal with potholes after the hard winter of 2009/2010.
Improvements to the layout of the Brighton Road at the junction with Ventnor Road and Devonshire Avenue, to reduce road accidents.
Improvements made in relation to signage and road markings outside Overton Grange school due to concerns about road safety when students leave the school at the end of the day. A new, flashing “wig wag” sign (it flashes when switched on at about the time students arrive at or leave school) erected.
This is the “wig wag” sign.
Expansion of Devonshire Avenue, The Avenue and Barrow Hedges primary schools will make it easier for Sutton South parents to get their children into these excellent, popular and frequently over-subscribed schools. We also succeeded in moving the polling stations from Devonshire and Barrow Hedges schools to local church halls, so the education of the children will not be disrupted for a day and related child care problems can be avoided.
Extension of the “No Drinking Zone” into Sutton South Ward, to deal with issues of anti-social behaviour associated with a group of “all day drinkers” who tend to congregate on the corner of Cedar Road and Brighton road, the location shown in this picture.
Representations made by your local Liberal Democrat Councillors to contribute to Sutton-wide response to Transport for London consultation on the future of the X26 Croydon to Heathrow service, the 80 service from Sutton station to Belmont and the 280 Tooting to Belmont service, to stress the importance to local people of these services.
Support for the creation of more “car club” bays in Sutton South Ward, such as this bay in Albion Road which was identified for conversion to a “car club” bay, in order to encourage better car use, reducing pollution, a “greener” Borough and policy on sustainable transport. This proposal is currently on hold but Car2go have expanded their car club service in the Ward.
New street trees planted, such as this one in Copse Hill. And in Copse Hill we also intervened to get Council officials to look at the potential for a flooding problem at the foot of the hill, with the cleaning out of the soakaways and other improvements.
Action to improve the Devonshire Avenue Nature Area, involving, amongst other things, re-positioning the benches, partially removing a wall that divides up the site, possibly fencing some areas with low wooden fencing to protect the kidney vetch essential for the small blue buterfly, removing the corrugated iron sheeting found at the site and installing a small piece of play equipment for children aged 5 to 7 at the entrance, while taking action to control the habitat. The reserve is the only open space in the Ward. We have supported only limited installation of play equipment as we believe the area should continue to be a nature reserve, and our proposals are designed to ensure the habitat of the area will not be harmed. We are promoting a programme to assist the small blue butterfly.
Action to improve the safety of pedestrians who pass under the railway bridge in Grange Vale. There is a narrow pavement and, as it is a one-way street, cars roar round the corner from the Brighton Road end and under the bridge, the driver only seeing a pedestrian on the pavement under the bridge at the last moment. This is a particular problem for parents with buggies or with small children passing under the bridge against the direction of traffic. A barrier and set of posts have been erected to slow the traffic.
This photo shows the improvement made.
Action taken to discuss with BT the installation of the new generation of very large green cabinets at locations in the Ward, to ensure they are put in locations that do not cause annoyance to residents, as this box in Cedar Road does. Action to prevent the boxes being covered with unsightly advertising.
Action to promote the sensitive re-development of Sutherland House, which is currently an eyesore, and to ensure that if it is re-developed there will be gains for the residents of the Ward through a programme of improvements funded by the developer, through the community infrastructure levy and section 106 contributions.
Action to get the Edwardian tennis pavilion in Mayfield Road included on the Sutton Local List as a building of significant local historical importance and interest.
Campaign launched to stop Thameslink services being terminated at Blackfriars, something that would lead to dispersion of commuters onto other services that are already packed, cut Sutton off from St. Pancras International and north London, and harm the attractiveness of Sutton to companies locating their offices away from but close to central London.
A programe of road maintenence throughout the Ward – this picture shows line painting in Eaton Road.
The side entrance at Sutton station
Our campaign continues to get the side entrance to Sutton station opened. A bid submitted by Sutton Council for funding from the Mayor’s Outer London Fund was not successful, but the campaign continues and a further bid (to TfL) has been successful. This is not the end of the story as negotiations continue on matched funding..
We succeeded in getting the date for the four-yearly pruning of the thousand or so street trees in Sutton South Ward brought forward to the end of 2011. We have also got commitment to an interim look at the state of the trees, outside the normal four year cycle, in 2014.
