Jill, Alan and Hamish have recently sent  the following letter to the Sutton Borough Guardian. Let us hope they print it in next week’s edition… We feel strongly about this building in Carshalton’s Conservation Area. 

Dear Editor,

We are writing to thank the residents of Carshalton who alerted us to the demolition work that was being carried out illegally by the owners of The Forge in Carshalton High Street. We immediately informed the Council’s enforcement officers who put a stop to the works, served an enforcement order and threatened prosecution if it continues.

We have also ensured that the proposed planning application will be heard in public at the Planning Committee so that we can have the opportunity to raise our concerns. We have been talking to local residents and have been able to reassure them that no decision has been made yet.

This site is in the heart of the Carshalton Conservation Area which gives it a degree of protection against unsuitable development.  Like our residents, we value our local heritage and believe that a car wash would be wholly unsuitable, as well as causing unacceptable traffic and parking problems. The local police team are now also involved and are keeping an eye on the site. We are all very concerned about the recent turn of events and want to maintain the historic nature of the area. The Forge was once owned by the grandparents of the wife of one of our former councillors, Anne Dodwell nee Haydon. The Haydons played a big part in the history of Carshalton and were the local butchers. We do not want to lose that history.

Yours Sincerely,

Cllr. Hamish Pollock, Cllr. Alan Salter, Cllr. Jill Whitehead
Carshalton Central Ward