Cllr. Hamish Pollock took a photo on 1st Feb. of the current progress at Cedar Close, a development of mews type houses in a cul-de-sac off Salisbury Road, Carshalton. Please see our previous posts on this web site about Cedar Close for the planning history.
Cedar Close, off Salisbury Road, Carshalton nearing practical completion
They are pictured at the top of the famous Carshalton Park “grotto” roof area, that’s overlooking the end of the long (now water filled) canal that leads down from Ashcombe Road to Ruskin Road and beyond down to Carshalton High Street.
Alan, Jill and Hamish
Carshalton Place Canal in the February sunshine
At Carshalton Place the water level has risen slightly in the upper section, but cannot rise much further because it can easily escape over the weir into the lower section.
The lower section water level has risen again but only up to the level of the round, raised outflow by the High Street and it is taking all the water as it should. This should be sufficient to keep the water within the banks along this section.
The Environment Agency website is the best place for advice if local residents are concerned about the possibility of flooding. It is residents’ responsibility to protect their own property, and if they think they are at risk of flooding, they should be preparing for the possibility by buying sand bags from building merchants, B&Q etc. The Council has no duty to provide sandbags and has not done so since before 2010.
The Council’s Parks Supervisor will be checking the water course again to make sure all the pipes are flowing freely. In case of a flooding emergency local residents can call the Sutton Council out of hours number 0208 770 5000 and the Emergency Planning Officer on duty can then coordinate a response.
Carshalton Place canal’s waterfall
Dear Councillor
To answer your question on why so many trees have been taken out:
The majority of our tree stock is made up of ornamental species such as cherry, rowan, and fruit trees such as apple/pear. Blanket planting in the years following the second world war has left us with a problem – these trees are decaying and dying (of natural causes) at more or less the same time. This means (on safety grounds) we seem to be taking out large numbers of trees on each cyclical programme.
To expand on the term ‘safety grounds’ – we would only consider felling a tree where we are satisfied that there are significant defects that indicate tree failure is imminent/foreseeable AND where we are satisfied that the failure would pose an unacceptable risk to members of the public. Felling, under the terms of our tree strategy, is only considered an option where pruning cannot mitigate the risk and is considered a ‘last resort’.
We are not cutting down any healthy trees for the Environmental Improvement Programme or EIP or for any other programme; all trees being felled are being felled because a qualified arborist has inspected them and found them to be decayed/dead/dying and dangerous and felling is considered the only option. Inspectors here are fully qualified and we never let our contractors dictate the work specification.
When a tree is being felled on a cyclical programme we inform every resident (directly affected), making sure they are aware of the reason/s why. It isn’t a consultation process, but we try to give residents the option to discuss their concerns before a tree is felled.
Our aging tree stock, when combined with the numbers of trees lost in storms and/or for insurance claims means we are (on average) removing 300/350 trees per year. Our planting budget has generally covered 80 trees per year to replace them. Sutton has essentially been running a ‘net loss’ of street tree assets over the past 10 -20 years. This has (to some degree) been addressed by seeking sources of external funding (from Local Committee and from the Mayor/GLA) – but it still hasn’t been enough to cover the net loss each year.
The 1,400 trees planted with the EIP is more trees than we have been able to plant in the last six years combined. It will make a drastic impact on Sutton’s street scene. BUT we will still be seeking external funding for more trees next year. And the year after.
We try to make sure we aren’t setting Sutton up for a repeat cycle in 50 years time – our planting plans show a lean towards native tree species, and larger (longer lived) trees that will hopefully adapt in a climate of change. We also try to address issues such as sustainable urban drainage and/or wildlife habitat when selecting tree species.
Tree species have to be appropriate for the location; in some occasions we are left with little alternative than to plant smaller, shorter lived species such as rowan or cherry. They tend to be the most popular species in any case.
I hope this has addressed your concerns about felling in Sutton. January has been a busy month for us here in the trees section (250 fallen trees/broken branch incidents). If you would like to discuss any of the above points or any other tree related matter, please feel free to call or email and I will try my best to help.
Kind regards
Maggie Wright
Arboricultural & Woodlands Officer
London Borough of Sutton
0208 770 5000 ext 6399
This week Sutton Council announced new targets for its ‘One Planet Sutton’ Plan which aims to give residents a better quality of life and boost the local economy while radically reducing the borough’s negative impact on the environment.At a recent event, over 70 of the Council’s partners in the private, voluntary and public sectors (including police, health and housing) heard more about the One Planet Sutton vision and shared their ideas on how they will work with the Council to achieve it.
The new targets build on Sutton’s first sustainability plan, which was launched in 2009 when Sutton became the first One Planet borough. Working with local partners and community groups is a key part of One Planet Sutton. The plan was developed with international sustainability charity BioRegional which is based in the borough, and the targets have been agreed with local stakeholders following wide ranging consultation.
Since the One Planet Sutton plan was launched in the borough, Sutton has achieved the following:
Carbon emissions have been cut by 19%.
With the new targets, the Council will achieve the following:
As part of the Council’s pledge to keep stakeholders informed about the work it does to support people who live and work in Sutton, attendees at the One Planet Sutton event were also presented with the results of a recent borough wide resident survey. The results show that the vast majority of residents (91%) are satisfied with their local area, and nine in ten think that their local area is cohesive.
The Council will use the results to continue to improve services and meet the aims of One Planet Sutton.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Jill Whitehead, Chair of Sutton Council’s Environment and Neighbourhood Committee, said:
“Sutton became the first One Planet borough in 2009 and is one of only a few councils to achieve this status.
“I’m delighted to announce our new targets and we remain committed to working with all our partners to develop high-quality services for our residents and local businesses, whilst continuing to do all we can to tackle climate change and other environmental problems.
“By working together we will achieve our ambitious vision and make Sutton an even better place to live and work.”
BioRegional’s Chief Executive Sue Riddlestone said:
“I’m proud that we have worked with Sutton Council for 20 years. This new plan takes us up a level. It’s a bold plan that is easy, attractive and affordable for residents to live within their fair share of the earth’s capacity.
“That’s why we have endorsed this as a One Planet Plan. I congratulate Sutton Council for committing to this, and especially for sticking to its principles during this period of austerity.”
For more information about One Planet Sutton, to calculate your Ecological Footprint and to pledge, visit www.oneplanetsutton.org.
Sutton residents aged 40-70 years old can get a free health check at their local GP surgeries, walk in clinics and hospitals. The health check include assessments of test results including blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI), as well as personalised advice to improve general health.
Lib Dem Councillor Colin Stears, Chair of Adult Social Services and Health Committee, said:
“This is a chance for Sutton residents to start the New Year off on the right foot and find out vital information about their health. If there is a potential problem, they can then take action at an early stage to help reduce the chances of chronic illness, disability or avoidable death in later life. To find out more, people should call or visit their GP surgery or contact a local health professional.”
It is estimated that more than 650 lives a year could be saved if more of the NHS Health Checks were taken up throughout England. The checks can identify problems earlier and prevent an estimated 1,600 heart attacks and 4,000 cases of diabetes a year.
The NHS Health Check programme aims to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who has not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions or have certain risk factors, will be invited (once every five years) to have a check to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes and will be given support and advice to help them reduce or manage that risk.
Cllr. Jill Whitehead at the entrance to 123 Westmead Road
Cllr. Jill Whitehead says:
I have heard from Mr Richard Winch in the Council’s Licensing Dept. in regard to the proposed new Sainsbury Store on the site of Westmead House, which would be situated under the proposed care home.
The applicant has now amended the hours applied for to match those of the planning conditions as per the decision of the Planning Inspectorate last year. The opening hours are now 07:00 to 23:00 every day (as opposed to the originally proposed 24 hours per day). This compares with the following local stores:
- Tesco, Lower Road – licensed for sale of alcohol from 06:00 to 23:00 everyday
- Londis, 121 Westmead Road – Monday to Saturdays – licensed for sale of alcohol from 08:00 to 23:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 22:30
- BP, 322 – 332 Carshalton Road – licensed for sale of alcohol from 08:00 to 23:00 everyday
- Co-op, 44 High Street, Carshalton – Monday to Saturdays – licensed for sale of alcohol from 07:00 to 23:00 and Sunday 10:00 to 22:30
- Sainsbury’s, 52 – 56 High Street, Carshalton – licensed for sale of alcohol from 07:00 to 23:00 everyday
The plan indicates that the entire Sainsbury’s premises will be 336sq metres. Tesco Lower road is 294 sq metres and BP is 240sq metres. If residents wish a ward councillor to represent you, the hearing of the subcommittee is set to take place on Monday 10th Feb, 14:30 at the Civic Centre.
The licensing committee can only consider licensing matters (i.e. the sale of alcohol in this instance), and as the applicants have now changed their overall hours of operation to match other local outlets selling alcohol, this may be more difficult to challenge, unless we can prove demonstrable harm would be caused through this store selling alcohol at this site (e.g. anti-social behaviour).
The Council is required to produce a flood risk strategy under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010.
Anyone who lives or works in the borough, as well as businesses, can give their views via an online survey which is available until 30th April 2014 – www.sutton.gov.uk/floodrisksurvey.
The survey includes questions about how well the Council manages floods, and asks respondents to report any historic flood events.
Councillor Mary Burstow, Chair of Sutton Council’s Scrutiny Committee, said:
“While we have a good understanding of the flood risk in the borough, there is always more information that we can use. We’re keen to hear from people in areas that have experienced flooding as well as from people in areas where action has been taken to reduce the flood risk. Any local information that residents and businesses provide will be vital for improving the way we manage our flood risk and respond to flooding.”
The Council has also updated its website to include more information about flood risk management, its roles and responsibilities, landowner’s responsibilities and advice on how to reduce the risk of flooding – https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=18980.
There will be further consultation this summer/autumn once the strategy has been drafted. If anyone wishes to give further feedback they can email floodrisk@sutton.gov.uk or provide us with an email address when completing the survey.
The number of 16 to 24-year-olds claiming jobs seekers’ allowance fell from 790 to 545 between November 2012 and November 2013.
The reduction is greater on average than both London and the UK, which recorded drops of 28.7 per cent and 26.4 per cent respectively.
Councillor Jayne McCoy, chair of the housing, economy and business committee, said: “Sutton is leading the way when it comes to tackling youth unemployment, and we are outperforming the averages for London and the rest of the UK. We are determined to give our young people the opportunity to develop a career and the partnerships that we’ve formed with local organisations have been integral to the success of our programmes.”
Sutton Council said in a statement that the fall could be attributed to initiatives such as the Sutton Economic Support Taskforce – a group of representatives from the public, private and voluntary sectors which address the impact of the recession on the borough.
Cllr McCoy added: “There is no room for complacency, and we will continue to support Sutton’s young people and ensure that they are trained and ready to enter the work place and succeed.”
Some photos taken by Cllr. Hamish Pollock on Saturday 25th January 2014 of the waterways parallel with Carshalton Place (top/left) and in Carshalton Park (bottom/right).
