SIDE ENTRANCE TO THE STATION OPEN

best statiion small

 

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.

simon at station

And, below, this is what it used to looks like – shuttered and barricaded.

side entrance

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

legible london sign

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.”

RICHARD ROLLS THE FILM FORWARD TWO YEARS

SUTHERLAND HOUSE FLOWERS

At the Local Committee on 11 September Richard, speaking on proposals for a zebra crossing in Cedar Road, sketched out the dramatic changes there will be to the part of our Ward just south of Sutton station, pictured above, over the next two years.

In the week when the side entrance to the station has opened he drew attention to:

– in the near future the Sutton Gateway project will lead to a re-alignment of the Cedar Road / Brighton Road junction to improve visibility for motorists

– there will be a zebra crossing to cross Cedar Road close to Forest Dene Court

– two years from now the Subsea7 office complex will be built with 850 staff, looking for opportunities to shop and eat locally

– a new planning application for Sutherland House will involve re-cladding the building and its conversion to 128 flats. These will be popular with young, professional people working in London as they are so close to the station. These new residents will also be spending money in local shops and restaurants

– this increased demand is bound to lead to an upward movement in the quality of local shops and restaurants

– there will also be improvements to the design and “street furniture” in the area associated with the Sutton Gateway project.

The area could change dramatically.

FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS

TWO 2 ROTATED

 Richard and Trish were able to secure a number of improvements for the Ward at the most recent meeting of the Local Committee.

The main decision was to sign off the proposals for traffic calming in Cavendish Road and agree, with some amendment, the proposals for traffic calming in Cedar Road. For Cedar Road, we agreed to drop the width restriction close to Langley Park Road (residents were concerned at the loss of parking bays) and move the proposed zebra crossing close to Forest Dene Court so it will be closer to the junction with Brighton Road.

We also agreed to look into traffic congestion at the bottom of Downside Road, prepare the ground for a study of parking issues in the Highfields Residents’ Association area, and convert some of the pay and display parking bays in Langley Park Road to dual use, so they can also be used during the day by residents who hold parking permits.

Following on from the petition from Thomas House residents calling for a bench outside Thomas House in Grange Road, which we presented to Sutton Council on July 21, funding was agreed for this bench.

small bench from Ellie

OVERTON AREA IMPROVEMENTS

 

Following the improvements to the play area in Overton Park, funded by Sutton Council, a path is to be constructed across the park linking the two main gates. We believe this will be a significant improvement to the park.

Last year we strongly opposed a scheme to demolish numbers 54 to 58 Overton Road and build an ugly block with inadequate parking. We were pleased when representations we submitted were supported by the Planning Inspectorate after the developer appealed against the decision of Sutton Council to refuse the application.

Recently the Council’s Planning Committee, which Richard, chairs, considered two applications for this site. The site is now not to be developed as a single block but number 54 will be retained, rather than being demolished, and renovated with parking at the front. Numbers 56 and 58 will be replaced by a small estate of houses, but the design of the houses facing the road will be sympathetic to the street scene and each property will have a garage and parking space. Taking into account the comments of the Planning Inspector on the earlier proposal, the Committee felt this proposal acceptable. This is a satisfactory conclusion to a difficult issue.

 

AVOIDING FLOODING – CLEANING THE RAINWATER GULLEYS

drains

Work will be carried out between 24 October to 11 November to clean the gulleys in roads in our Ward. This is essential work to avoid flooding.

The work will require temporary  waiting restrictions – ‘no waiting’ – and loading restrictions – ‘no loading / unloading’ – in those roads or lengths of roads where cleaning is taking place on the day of the cleaning.  Advance notice will be given to residents three days before the restrictions are due to apply.  The restrictions will be removed as soon as the works are completed.  The works will take place between 7am and 2pm on Mondays to Fridays.

The work will require the temporary  suspension of any disabled persons parking places,  permit parking place,  shared use permit/pay and display parking place,  loading place or any other free parking place in those roads or lengths of roads that are adjacent to a drainage gulley, on the days cleaning is taking place.

The days the work will take place are:

24/10/2014 Abbottsleigh Close, Audely Place, Carmborne Road and Stanley Road (between Worcester Roadand Ventnor Road).

27/10/2014 Blackbush Close, Effingham Close, Grange Road (Overton Road to Worcester Road), Grange Vale, Tapestry Close. Upton Dene, Ventnor Road and Westmorland Drive.

28/10/2014 Bonchurch Close, Brighton Road, ( Devonshire Avenue to Mulgrave Road), Devonshire Avenue, Devonshire Road Sutton (Langley Park Road to Devonshire Avenue).

29/10/2014 Christchurch Park, Milestone Close, Walnut Mews and White Lodge Close

30/10/2014 Albion Road, Downside Road. Farm Close Sutton, Farm Road, and The Ridgeway.

31/10/2014 Ambleside Gardens, Cavendish Road, Prior Avenue and Upland Road

10/11/2014 Cedar Road, Chalgrove Road, Eaton Road, Langley Park Road, (Chalgrove Road to Railway Bridge), Mitre Close.

11/11/2014 Cedar Gardens, Cumnor Road, Hillcroome Road, Mayfield Road, Rutherford Close and Wellesley Road.

12/11/2014 Coniston Gardens, Copse Hill, Eastleigh Close, Ferndown Close, Kayemoor Road, Leslie Gardens, Summers Close, Willis Avenue and Worcester Road (Overton Road to Mulgrave Road).

WILL THE TRAM COME TO SUTTON ?

tram

Consultation to gauge public views on phase 1 of the proposed Tramlink extension to Sutton indicates overwhelming support.

The proposed route consulted on would involve a branch to the current Tramlink route after it has left Wimbledon and got as far as Morden Road. The branch to Sutton would leave the current Wimbledon to West Croydon Tramlink route at that point, proceed via St. Helier Avenue to the Rosehill roundabout, then to Angel Hill and on to Sutton, where it will go round the gyratory. There will be a loop from the Rosehill roundabout to St. Helier hospital.

Full details can be found at  www.suttonmertontramlink.co.uk or by clicking on this link.

If agreed and built, phase 1 may be followed by phase 2, an extension to the re-developed Sutton hospital site in Belmont. This is as yet far into the future. We remain hopeful that funding will be found for phase 1.

RICHARD SETS OUT HIS VISION AS CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE

richard-councillor-002

On 11 July Richard took the helm as chair of the Council’s Planning Committee (formerly the Development Control Committee) by chairing the first meeting of the Committee following the election and his appointment as chair.

A lively meeting dealt with some important planning applications, including one for the re-development of Times Square in the Sutton shopping centre.

Richard commenced by thanking his predecessor, former Councillor John Leach.

Richard introduced his first meeting by setting out his view of the vision and mission of the committee, saying that the work of our committee is massively important and our mission is:

– to achieve the vision for Sutton in our plans and ensure that acceptable standards are observed in all developments within the Borough.

He said “The business of the committee is to consider certain categories of planning applications, particularly those that are significant to the development of Sutton and those that are disputed.

The way the planning system works is that Sutton Council adopts and publicises planning policies, setting out its overall plans for the Borough and standards on such matters as design, environmental impact and the impact on local amenities.

These policies are discussed and adopted by the Housing, Economy and Business Committee (HEB).

Our committee is concerned with the implementation of those policies – in the actuality of the proposals for new developments in Sutton, in the planning applications that come before us and thus what is actually built.

In considering planning applications we will not grant them where there is clearly a conflict with our planning policies. A decision not to grant an application is of course subject to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

But the work of our committee is massively important – to achieving the vision for Sutton in our plans and in ensuring that acceptable standards are observed in all developments within the Borough.”

 

RICHARD AND TRISH TAKE ON NEW RESPONSIBILITIES

TWO 1 ROTATED

Trish and Richard are taking on a range of new responsibilities, following their election.

Trish will be a member of the Council’s important Housing, Economy and Business Committee. She will be a member of the Licensing Committee, having had experience in matters relating to licensing. She will also be a member of the Appeals Committee and of the Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery Board.

Richard will be chair of the Council’s Planning Committee (formerly Development Control Committee) and continue as chair of the Health and Safety Committee. As a former chair of the Board of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work he cannot escape that task. He will also sit on the Strategy and Resources Committee and the Standards Committee. He will also sit on the Council’s joint committee with recognised trade unions and have other responsibilities on joint committees of London Councils. His wife Gloria sometimes reminds him that he is supposed to be retired.

RICHARD AND TRISH ELECTED TO SUTTON COUNCIL

 

We have won. On 22 May Trish and Richard were elected Councillors for Sutton South Ward. Sadly,  John was not successful. The voting figures are below.

TWO 2 ROTATED

SUTTON SOUTH WARD
Electorate 7,640 % Poll 39.10%
Name of Candidates Votes %
Steve Appleton Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition 108
Kathryn Theresa Anne Brennan Labour Party Candidate 371
Richard Francis Clifton Liberal Democrats 1380 15.40%
Trish Fivey Liberal Democrats 1296 14.46%
Heather Rita Howell Conservative Party Candidate 1075
Jason Robert Hughes Conservative Party Candidate 1089
Tiz North Keep our St Helier Hospital Party 372
John Phillips Liberal Democrats 1040
Ronald James Phillips Labour Party Candidate 307
Tony Alfred Shields Conservative Party Candidate 1197 13.36%
Patricia Anne Simons Labour Party Candidate 302
Jerry Wraith UK Independence Party (UKIP) 418