HOW IS SUTTON SURVIVING THE RECESSION?

Richard helping to open the Metrobank in Sutton

Richard helping to open the Metrobank in Sutton

The latest data continue to show that Sutton is surviving the recession well.

They show that average house prices in Sutton (as measured by the average price of houses in Sutton sold in any particular month) were up almost 1% in February of this year compared to the previous month, and stood at 4.2% above the figure for a year previously. The cost of the average house sold in February, the latest month for which reliable data are available, was £255 000. This bullishness in the housing market is generally taken as an indicator of confidence in the local economy. 

Positive indicators include:

The economic activity rate of working age adults in Sutton, at 81%, continues to be well above the average for London, which is 76%. Sutton residents continue to find work, and the percentage has increased (by 0.5%) in the last year. Many residents commute to central London for work, and it is unsurprising that the average pay of employees working in Sutton (£519 a week) is less than that in central London.

This finding, that Sutton residents continue to find work, is supported by the decline in numbers claiming Job Seekers Allowance, down by 7% in March compared to the figure for a year previously.

That said, the number of people who have been collecting JSA for over a year has risen in the last year, suggesting that those who have become distanced from the labour market are finding it more difficult to get work. Richard says this mirrors what he finds, as a local Councillor, in his casework, with people made redundant in their 50’s often finding it hard to get back into work.

This suggests that the Council’s “Opportunity Sutton” programme is an important priority. Jobs are gold dust and the prosperity of the Borough depends on people finding and staying in work.

New business start ups were at a record level in Sutton in 2012, with 863 new companies formed.

The number of local companies going into administration was down in the most recent quarter (January to March) and down on figures for a year previously.

The data that comes to the Housing, Economy and Business Committee usually shows a mixed picture, but the latest data are mostly encouraging. One negative that concerns us is that enquiries to Sutton’s Citizens’ Advice Bureau were up by about 5% in the last quarter, with debt advice enquiries increasing by 8.8%. Richard has said his piece, at Sutton Council meetings, about the problem of “payday” loans and we cannot see why it is impossible to have a maximum figure for the interest charged on these loans (it can be over 1000% APR) imposed in law. Richard’s comments are included in a separate post on this site on this subject.

This information is analysed by Richard in his role as vice-chair of the Council’s Housing, Economy and Business Committee, which has oversight of economic development matters and the “Opportunity Sutton” programme. This is currently generating projects involving over £90 million worth of investment in Sutton, including the “Sutton Gateway” project to develop and improve the area from Sutton Court to the station. We hope this will include improving and opening up the side entrance to Sutton station, better shops and restaurants, new jobs from office development, more housing as Sutherland House is developed, the relocation of the recycling bins at The Quadrant and a general tidying up of the area.

CANNABIS, DOGS, SPEEDING, DRINKING, ATTEMPTED BURGLARIES – BUT SUTTON SOUTH REMAINS A LOW CRIME AREA

police station

Heather and Richard attended the Sutton South Ward police panel on 12 June. There was discussion of current crime trends, including recent burglaries and attempted burglaries in Mayfield Road.

While the police were unable to give a reason for these incidents they commented that sometimes there is a “clustering” of crime in an area for a short period for no obvious reason, but it would be unusual for it to persist as a problem. They have moved quickly to re-assure residents and have knocked on doors in Mayfield Road, and left a feedback form where there was no-one in. If you have any observations you want to make to the local police you can contact them on ztsnt-suttonsouth@met.police.uk

Also, nine local residents attended their recent street briefing.

While no-one can ever be complacent and we must all maintain our vigilance, it remains the case that this Ward is a low crime area, indeed one of the safest areas in south London. Burglary, along with theft from motor vehicles, remains a police priority for the area, but the most common form of burglary in our area is theft from garages, and residential (house) burglaries are mercifully rare.

The meeting also discussed future action on speeding, a dog seizure in Cumnor Road, a cannabis factory in Westmoreland Drive and the success of the extension of the “No Drinking Zone” to our Ward.

We also discussed the introduction of the “London Policing Model” on 24 June. While the implications are not all positive, these changes are not going to damage the excellent service we generally get from our local police.

 Next street briefing: 12 July outside Lavender Court in Cavendish Road.

A MAJOR BOOST TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY

 

subsea reduced

On 8 April Sutton Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee gave the major international engineering firm Subsea7 the go ahead to build their new international headquarters in Brighton Road, but subject to making a successful planning application, in which they will need to satisfy concerns about parking.

This is good news for Sutton and good news for local residents. There is immense competition between local authorities for job-creating inward investment. Jobs are gold dust.

As your local ward Councillors we are aware of residents’ concerns about the possible negative impact on parking in nearby streets. We explained these concerns very clearly at the Council meeting and the importance of encouraging car users to use the other public car parks nearby. We will continue to work to ensure that a proper solution is found.

Both of us spoke at the Committee meeting, welcoming the new jobs that will be created and calling for mitigation measures to deal with any impact on local parking. The Committee responded to this by agreeing that officers would look at mitigation measures including offering a substantial financial incentive to users of the Brighton Road car park to move to Gibson Road.

Richard said “I am pleased the Committee responded to my concerns about the possible impact on parking by agreeing to examine mitigation measures including incentives to users to move to Gibson Road.”

The full text of Richard’s speech to the Committee is on his blog, for 8 April.

Jobs

  • Subsea 7 is a hi tech engineering company already based in Sutton.  Any sensible local authority would welcome their expansion with open arms.  Their further investment in Sutton safeguards the 350 jobs they already have here. Without this development they would move elsewhere because  their current office space is no longer suitable.
  • Neither Sutherland House nor Sutton Point meet the needs of their business plans.
  • Their investment will bring around 400 new jobs to Sutton, some highly technical engineering jobs others support staff
  • The impact of the extra spending power in the local economy of these office workers and the company’s visiting clients will further stimulate and bring jobs to Sutton, jobs for a wide range of people, not just engineers.

Opportunities for Sutton’s children

  • Subsea 7 is already  works with local schools to stress the importance of studying maths and physics and explain how boys and girls can become engineers.  They plan to do more and we have asked them to work with Overton Grange and Devonshire Primary School in our ward.  They are keen to do so.

Improvements to the Area

  • The building will be designed by  top class architects.  It will be more attractive than the existing building and greatly improve the appearance of that part of the Brighton Road.
  • The area from the new Subsea 7 building up to Sutton Station will be upgraded as part of the Sutton Gateway plan. 
  • This will include opening the side of the station, regenerating the immediate area, as well as improvements to the public areas of Brighton Road itself and the flow of traffic.
  • Talks are underway with Network Rail about adding another deck to the Station Car Park which will provide more car parking spaces for commuters and people working locally

Car Parking

  • When it makes its planning application, Subsea 7 will provide  a detailed report about the car parking issues which might arise from the redevelopment of the Brighton Road car Park and how to rectify them.
  • Council officers have planned that the 380 or so vehicles currently parking on weekdays in the Brighton Road Car Park should transfer to the nearby Gibson Road Car Park
  • We have asked the Council  to provide financial incentives to make sure this happens.  This will be discussed as part of the planning application
  • We have raised with Subsea 7 and the Council  the concerns of the residents of Sutton Court, directly opposite the proposed new building, about  non-resident car parking.  We have asked Subsea 7 to assist with a residents’ car parking scheme.  They are willing to meet residents and discuss this.

A Can Do Attitude

We understand that residents have concerns and we are treating them very seriously.  But we also recognise that we need  new business, we need jobs and we need new skills for the children of Sutton.  We want to welcome Subsea7, a top flight engineering company, to our area and work with Subsea 7, a company which wants to be involved in our community, and strike a blow against recession.

IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT IN SUTTON SOUTH

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.

kings lane bridge

Improvements to the Kings Lane bridge to make it safer for pedestrians.

 

img00017-20101105-1223downside-rd.jpg 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.

 

 

 

img00018-20101105-1224hillcroome.jpg 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. 

img00023-20101105-1238overton.jpg 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.

r-and-h-devonshire1.jpg 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.

img00026-20101105-1241sutherland.jpg 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.

bus280.jpg 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. 

albioncarclub.jpg 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. 

copese-hill-tree-pic.jpg 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.

pic-reserve.jpg 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.

FREE GRIT SCHEME AGAIN A MASSIVE SUCCESS

 

 
 

 

Our gritting lorries are prepared

All the evidence is that Sutton’s free grit scheme has been, for a third year, a massive success.

 

Residents of South Sutton Ward have been able to obtain a supply of free grit for the third year running.

Many households took up the offer of 10kg of grit to use on footpaths, pavements or roads in front of their homes, preparing for the cold weather predicted to come before the end of the year. Many householders also collected free grit for elderly neighbours and residents who do not have a car.

The Council successfully pioneered the scheme , which has been copied by other authorities around the country. In previous years the Council gave out grit to more than 10,000 residents.

The free grit is the most practical way of helping residents, though there are in addition over 40 grit bins in our Ward and the Council has a number of gritting lorries fully equipped and ready to hit the roads if a cold snap makes conditions difficult. 

Following an analysis of take up after the two weekends that he grit was on offer, there was a further weekend when grit was available.

The grit bins are everywhere

DECISION ON KINGS LANE BRIDGE SAFETY PROPOSAL

We have consulted residents on our wish to see action to improve safety for pedestrians using the bridge. Given the difficulties with more radical proposals, the traffic engineers proposed building out the kerb on both sides at the intersection with Hillcroome Road. This would ensure that cars crossing from that end would start their journey across the bridge from a more central position. They would be more visible, earlier, to cars coming from the other end and to pedestrians on the bridge. The road has for some time been marked out to show where the kerb would be built out to. 

In addition, warning signs alerting drivers to the road narrowing and the presence of pedestrians will be upgraded and repositioned to make them more prominent.  

Reaction to the proposal has been generally positive but there is also support for limiting the build out to the left hand side of the road, as you face Kings Lane from Hillcroome Road. A safety study was commissioned and suggested that either option would improve the safety of the bridge.

We have decided to proceed with the reduced scheme, building out on just the left hand side. The improvement will be funded by Transport for London as a small, low-cost but helpful safety measure.

MAJOR STEP FORWARD AS LIBERAL DEMOCRATS CONTINUE BATTLE TO SAVE St. HELIER

Local campaigners have won a victory in the ongoing battle to save St Helier Hospital.

Liberal Democrat campaigners are celebrating the announcement that the immediate threat to St Helier Hospital’s Accident and Emergency, maternity and children’s wards has passed – although the future remains very uncertain.

The Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review, which in May recommended the cuts to these hospital services, has now recommended delaying going out to consultation on the plans saying, ‘This is because NHS Surrey wish to more fully understand the impact of BSBV on their residents who use NHS services in south west London, and implications for the NHS in Surrey, before public consultation begins. 

‘This means that the BSBV programme and NHS Surrey now need more time to carry out further detailed analysis of the impact of the proposals.’

In May,  BSBV recommended that St George’s, Croydon and Kingston hospitals remain as they are while St Helier should lose these crucial services, and instead become a centre for planned surgery across south west London.

The Liberal Democrat campaign to save St Helier immediately swung into action and months of effort reached a climax on 8 September when a Fun Day outside the hospital attracted protesters from across the area, who presented petitions carrying thousands of names to health service representatives.

The proposals were due to go out to a three-month consultation period at the beginning of October and we were preparing to continue the fight.

Heather Honour is one of two Sutton Councillors sitting on the pan-South West London committee investigating the proposals.

She said: “From the start we have made it clear that this was a deeply flawed process. What a pity that so much taxpayers’ money has been wasted by the BSBV team before they came to their senses.”

Councillor Mary Burstow, Chair of Sutton’s Scrutiny Committee, said: “Of course this is a reason to celebrate, but now we must work to secure the future of St Helier Hospital for generations of Sutton residents to come.

“This is now a real opportunity for residents, politicians and medical staff to work out exactly how we want to see healthcare delivered in years to come.

“And it is crucial that that discussion covers the entire capital. London’s health services need to be looked at as a whole and decisions need to be reached that meet the needs of all Londoners.”

However, the uncertainty remains for hospital staff and patients, who are still unclear about what the future holds.

WE SAY NO, AGAIN, TO OVERDEVELOPMENT IN OVERTON ROAD

54 Overton Road

WE HAVE SENT OUR SUBMISSION TO THE PLANNING INSPECTORATE, FOR THEIR WRITTEN PROCEDURE, ON THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT 54 – 58 OVERTON ROAD. 

Sutton Council rejected the application to develop 54 – 58 Overton Road and the developer has now lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, a remote body in Bristol that has been the main cause of inappropriate development in our Ward, overturning sensible local decisions taken by our Council. 

We have already put in our submission to the Inspectorate, in what is a purely written procedure. The full text can be found at the end of this post.

To put in your submission email it to teamp2@pins.gsi.gov.uk for the attention of Peter Lyne, Case Officer, quoting Planning Inspectorate reference  APP/P5870/A/12/2184339/NWF.

We object to the proposal on the grounds that it is overdevelopment of the site, with 50 dwellings crammed in. It is the type of low-quality accommodation that we continue to oppose in our Ward, where there are instances of the Planning Inspectorate overturning local decisions and allowing substantial family houses to be demolished to make way for blocks of small flats without gardens. There are current examples in Eaton Road and Albion Road, sites where building work is currently underway, the proposals rejected by Sutton Council but allowed by the Planning Inspectorate. Half the children in our Ward live in accommodation without access to a garden. There is a shortage of affordable family homes.

In addition, the provision for car parking (33 car parking spaces for 50 dwellings) is inadequate and will lead to great pressure on parking, with additional demand for parking in the area.

Our reasons are, unsurprisingly, almost identical with the reasons given by the Council for rejecting the application.

Our submission objecting to the proposal was included in the papers that went to the Council’s Development Control Committee on 5 September, and Richard attended the Committee meeting, though he was not called to be a member of the panel of Councillors reaching a decision that evening.

HERE IS THE FULL TEXT OF OUR SUBMISSION

 
For the attention of Peter Lyne, Case Officer
Postal Address:
Peter Lyne
The Planning Inspectorate
3/10 Wing
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Bristol.
BS1 6PN
 
 
Appeal relating to 54 – 58 Overton Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 6RB
London Borough of Sutton Reference B2012/66079/FUL
Planning Inspectorate reference  APP/P5870/A/12/2184339/NWF
 
SUBMISSION
We understand this appeal is being determined by written procedure.
 
We would like to comment on this appeal, and ask that our comments are considered by the Inspector.
 
We are elected Councillors for Sutton South Ward in the London Borough of Sutton. 
 
Although the development is not in Sutton South Ward, it is very close to the Ward. The Ward boundary runs down Overton Road in front of the property. Our residents are among those affected by the proposal and objecting to it.
 
We object to the proposal on the grounds, first, that it is overdevelopment of the site, with 50 dwellings crammed in. It is the type of low-quality accommodation that we continue to oppose in our own Ward, where there are many instances of substantial family houses being demolished to make way for blocks of small flats without gardens. Half the children at the one primary school in our Ward live in accommodation without access to a garden. There are a lot of small flats but a shortage of affordable family homes. Couples who live in the flats in the Ward often find that when they have children, and the flat is too small, they cannot find a home they can afford in the area so have to move away.
Second, the provision for car parking (33 car parking spaces for 50 dwellings) is inadequate and will lead to great pressure on parking, with additional demand for parking in an area that is already fully parked up much of the time.
 
Our reasons are almost identical with the reasons given by the Council for rejecting the application.
 
We note that there is to be a site visit. We would like to be advised of the date and given opportunity to attend.
 
We would like to be informed of the outcome of the appeal when it is determined. We would be grateful if you could advise us of your likely timetable for reaching a decision.
 
We would be grateful if you could acknowledge this submission and confirm that having sent it by email we do not also need to send it in writing.
 
Councillor Richard Clifton
  55 The Ridgway. Sutton. Surrey. SM2 5JX
Councillor Heather Honour
  29 The Ridgway. Sutton. Surrey. SM2 5JX
 
  Councillors for Sutton South Ward

BETTER LIGHTING IN WELLESLEY ROAD

Wellesley Road: the passageway

Wellesley Road is divided into two with a passageway linking the two sections. Residents in Wellesley Road have mentioned to us the quality of the lighting in the interconnecting passageway.

We took this up with the lighting engineers. Aiming to improve matters, they are going to replace the existing light fittings with units that provide a better light distribution. In addition they will arrange for a tree that is affecting one of the lights to be trimmed to remove blocking foliage.

The work may take six to eight weeks to implement. We have asked residents to let us know if there are other ways we can help as hard working local Councillors.

SOUTH SUTTON SPEEDING SURVEY AGREED

Richard and Heather have helped the residents of Cavendish Road to win another important battle in their bid to control speeding in their road.

And we have succeeded in extending the proposed speeding survey in Cavendish Road to cover a wider area of our south Sutton ward.

The petition on speeding in Cavendish Road, which Richard and Heather presented to Sutton Council on behalf of the residents in July, was discussed at the South Sutton, Cheam and Belmont Local Committee on 11 October.

In the discussion, Richard drew attention to a speeding survey conducted in the road in 2008 which showed that even then traffic was exceeding the speed limit, on average, by a factor of over 50%. But the same survey showed problems in other local roads.

The committee agreed to a survey of the area by traffic engineers, charged with finding out the facts and coming back to the committee by next February with costed proposals for dealing with the problem.

We persuaded the committee to extend the survey to a wider area. The roads to be surveyed now are:

Cavendish Road

Christchurch Park

Cedar Road

Cumnor Road

Devonshire Road

Devonshire Avenue

Egmont Road

The committee noted that any recommendations could cost money and decisions would be needed on priorities for spending.

Richard said “This is a good result. I am pleased we are going to undertake a full survey and get the traffic engineers to look at a range of solutions.”

Heather added “I am pleased we are going to look at a wider area. Residents in Cumnor Road and Christchurch Park have also complained to us as ward Councillors about the speed of traffic in their roads.”

The petition was signed by 77 residents of Cavendish Road calling for action on the speed of traffic in their road, where a number of blocks of sheltered housing for the elderly are situated. It was presented to Sutton Council at the request of the residents by Councillors Honour and Clifton on 16 July, and referred to the local committee.

The photo above shows the Cavendish Road residents at the meeting flanked by Richard on the left and Heather on the right.