Cllr. Alan Salter reports: “We are pleased to report that the planning appeal for the redevelopment at Parker Close has been dismissed by the Government’s planning inspector based at Bristol. The appeal was made by the planning applicant against the decision by Sutton Council in October 2013 to refuse planning permission.”

Cllr. Jill Whitehead adds: “The development proposed was a change of use of the former care home into one 4 bedroomed, one 3 bedroomed with raised terrace area and four 2 bedroomed self-contained dwellings, as well as alterations to the existing elevations of the building. These alterations involved the formation of 3 gable roofs and erection of a part one, part two storey two bedroomed self-contained dwelling with a raised terrace area all with associated car parking and refuse and cycle storage.”

Cllr.   Hamish Pollock says: “There were a number of reasons for refusal which included firstly the effect of the scheme  on the supply of social and community facilities in the area. The second main   issue was the effect of the scheme on the living conditions of the occupiers of Nos. 54, 56 & 58 Salisbury Road and 123 to 129 Carshalton Park Road, with particular regard to privacy. The third main issue was whether satisfactory provision was made for refuse storage facilities. The planning inspector agreed with Sutton   Council’s refusal of planning permission on these grounds.”

Residents of Sutton enjoyed opportunities to sample Fairtrade goods, – chocolate, bananas and cake, – in St Nicholas centre on Saturday to mark Fairtrade fortnight.

The Mayor of Sutton Sean Brennan also pledged his support by attending the Fairtrade stall.

Fairtrade fortnight is a national event that aims to ensure that Fairtrade is kept on the agenda locally and nationally. Any product with the mark brings with it a guarantee that producers are paid a fair price for what they grow and sell, that environmental standards are met and children are not exploited.  So simply by the way we shop Sutton residents can make a direct difference in preventing poverty.

This year the focus of Fairtrade fortnight is  the “ unfair banana “ Although the banana business is booming around the world (fourth most important food crop after rice , wheat and maize) the reality is that many banana farmers cannot afford to put food on the table or provide health and education for their families. This is because of the way in which the price of bananas has been forced down through supermarket competition. You can help – look for the Fairtrade banana your local supermarket and if is is not here, – do ask!

Councillor Simon Wales said: “It’s fantastic that Sutton is playing its part in Fairtrade fortnight, it is vital to spread the message about Fairtrade and to urge people to buy products carrying the FAIRTRADE Mark. Choosing Fairtrade is one way to help secure a better deal for millions of people in developing countries”

2014 is the 20th year of the Fair-trade movement which has been transformative to the lives of many farmers – but could assist so many more if we increase our “ Fairtrade shopping “. To assist Sutton shoppers the Sutton Fairtrade community group have produced a directory of Fairtrade goods that are available in the borough.

Go to www.fairtradeinsutton.wordpress.com 

The end of Westmead House, 123 Westmead Road is nigh. Alan, Jill and Hamish visited the building demolition site today 8th March 2014, as viewed from Kingsley Avenue (1st picture) and Byron Avenue East (2nd picture).                                                                                                                                                                                        The site is bounded by these roads and Cowper Avenue to the west and Westmead Road itself to the south.

Carshalton Central Cllr. Jill Whitehead reports: “As previously reported in our FOCUS newsletters, the rear part of the site will be developed as houses, and the front and middle as the 74 bed care home which Alan, myself and Hamish opposed and which Sutton Council’s Development Control Committee also opposed. Alas permission to build the care home was granted by an unelected planning inspector (a Government official) based in Bristol.”

More in a future posting…

Gibson Road Car Park, Sutton

A Spring Clean of Gibson Road Car Park will commence on Tuesday 11th March 2014.

Honeywood Museum

Sunday 16^th March 2 – 4.30pm Animate: Re-working the David Knights-Whittome  Archive
An opportunity to meet Pamela Wheeler, the artist behind the works on show in this innovative current exhibition, and to ask any questions FREE ENTRY
Wednesday 19^th March 7.30pm Carshalton and the London Countryside in the Georgian Age. Part 1 The Rich
John Phillips explores the countryside around 18^th century London, now lost to suburban development. A pair of illustrated talks Tickets £3.50 (£3.00 Friends). Please telephone 020 8770 4297 to book

Wednesday 2^nd April 7.30pm Carshalton and the London Countryside in the Georgian Age. Part 2 The Middling and the Poor

John Phillips continues his exploration of the countryside around 18^th century London, now lost to suburban development Tickets £3.50 (£3.00 Friends). Please telephone 020 8770 4297 to book

To be held on Sunday 9^th March 11am and 2pm – Special guided walk to the water features of Carshalton

Residents in over 34,000 flats in the London Borough of Sutton will receive reusable recycling-collection bags following a decision by The London Waste and Recycling Board (LWARB) to award over one-hundred thousand pounds to aid improvements in recycling to Sutton Council.

Local committee chair and Carshalton Central ward councillor Hamish Pollock says: “The next local committee will be held from 7.30pm on Tuesday 18 March 2014 at Carshalton Beeches Baptist Church, Banstead Road, Carshalton Beeches. For satnavs the post code is SM5 3NL. You are most welcome to attend and take part.”

• Hear about Environmental Improvements in your area
• Get updates on One Planet Sutton and The Honeywood Museum
• Get updates on various Traffic and Parking schemes being promoted
• Find out more about how the local committee spends money on Public Realm Improvements.

Carshalton Beeches Baptist Free Church

Cllr. Jill Whitehead reported the following matters to the council officers as raised by residents recently. She has asked officers if they could be dealt with soon.

1) A resident of Palmerston Road has complained that someone at or near the business/office block on North Street Carshalton, next to Tyrell Court and adjacent Station Approach, has allegedly been leaving bags of litter out next to the litter bin on the corner with the Carshalton Station Approach every day, and that these look unsightly. Jill says that she saw these bags and there were two or three of them that appeared to have been dumped. Could they be removed and the business (or whoever has dumped them) be asked to place litter in the appropriate place?

2) A resident of Grove Mill Place has complained about the regular fly tipping taking place at the Papermill Close entrance to Grove Park. Could this be removed and the perpetrator caught?

Sutton High Street

A recently published Ipsos MORI survey shows that the vast majority of residents believe that Sutton is a safe place – with safety being the single most important priority for residents in choosing where they live.