The yellow lines in Kingsley Avenue, Sutton in Carshalton Central have recently been refreshed by the council as requested recently by councillors on behalf of residents.
Cllr. Hamish Pollock took an evening picture of them in their new condition as below.
Kingsley Avenue's Repainted Yellow Lines
Friends of Carshalton Park and others have recently reported that the railings are broken at the north east corner of the park near the gate by Ruskin Road (opposite the vets).
We have asked the Council’s parks department to arrange a repair as soon as possible and also prevent these railings from being stolen/”mislaid”. A picture of the damaged railings taken on 7th September is below. More in a future posting.
Broken Railings, Carshalton Park
Why should you visit Smarter Business Development on 26th September?
The local councillors received this message today, 12th September about a business advice day on Wednesday, 26th September, a fortnight’s time.
As the government has removed the 1-2-1 advisors from Business Link, Sutton Chamber has arranged the Smarter Business Development advice day for all Sutton businesses and residents looking to start their own business. It takes place on Wednesday 26th September at the Holiday Inn, Sutton, Surrey.
Details of the 20 Specialist Business Advisors, 6 high profile speakers and how you can register can be found by clicking on: http://suttonchamber.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=81&Itemid=128. The morning session starts at 8.00am with a networking breakfast followed by 3 speakers and 1-2-1 advice from the specialists. The afternoon continues at 12.00 noon with networking lunch followed by 3 more speakers and 1-2-1 advice from the specialists. This will be an extremely beneficial day for all delegates and will include several high value prizes which will be presented on the day. Morning delegate price £30.00 – includes breakfast – But Earlybird booking only £20.00 Afternoon delegate price £30.00 – includes lunch – But Earlybird booking only £20.00 All Day delegate price £50.00 – But Earlybird booking only £40.00 Evening Social Networking – FREE Earlybird discounts are available! Register NOW!
Police are advising owners of larger vehicles like vans and 4x4s to make sure that their externally located spare wheels are secured to their vehicles.
The advice follows the theft of six large, spare wheels from three vehicles in Wallington and three in Worcester Park since the beginning of July. The latest of these incidents were within a few doors of each other in Sandy Lane South, Wallington recently. The vehicles targeted were a VW Transporter and a VW Caravelle.
In many vehicles spare wheels are held in position by a metal cage secured to the chassis. Thieves simply cut the cage to remove the spare wheel. PC Duncan Harris, of Sutton’s Crime Prevention Team, said spare wheels are expensive to replace but could be hugely inconvenient leaving drivers and families stranded. “Security devices should be considered as they make vehicles less attractive targets because they slow thieves down and make the process of stealing that much more difficult. Speak to your vehicle manufacturer or supplier or check online to see what security products would best suit your vehicle,” he said.
PC Harris urged all residents to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to police immediately on 999. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
“I am sad to be leaving the Government.
Ever since I took on my dream job as Care Services Minister I have had the opportunity to make a difference in a policy area I care deeply about.
Having dedicated most of my political career to improving the health and care of others it has been an absolute privilege to be directly involved in framing a new social care law and working closely with colleagues in the sector to set out a reform agenda in the Care and Support White Paper.
In the last two years or so I have been able to introduce policies that will improve the mental health of adults and children, the care of older people and the diagnosis of dementia.
I am confident my successor will now take on the challenge to ensure these reforms improve the lives of people in receipt of care up and down the country.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to those professionals across the care sector who dedicate their lives to caring for others. I’d also like to assure these people, and others, that I remain committed to reforming the social care system in the long-term.”
Police are urging drivers to remove all their property from their cars and vans following an increase in theft from motor vehicles. Officers believe quiet residential streets are being targeted across the borough of Sutton but particularly in areas where there are high concentrations of street parking, such as Worcester Park, Stonecot and North Cheam.
Some vehicles are having their windows smashed to gain entry but some crimes show ‘no sign of forced entry’ which means the doors may have been unlocked. Police believe many crimes are being committed by opportunist thieves who are walking along the roads trying door handles to see if they can get lucky and find a vehicle unlocked.
Items being taken typically include mobile phones, i-pods, laptop computers, shopping bags and even loose change, which may be in the centre console to pay for car parking. Vans are being targeted for tools, especially high value electrical equipment.
Police are carrying out both uniform and plain clothes patrols every day to deter motor vehicle crime as well as carrying out stop and searches on individuals to disrupt criminal activities. In addition, Safer Neighbourhoods Teams are running special operations in targeted streets and talk to residents who have left their vehicles insecure or with items on display inside.
Sutton Crime Prevention Officer Duncan Harris urged all drivers to make sure their vehicles are locked. “If you lock your car with a key fob, check the doors are locked before leaving the vehicle,” he said. “Drivers can inadvertently press the unlock button on their key fob as they walk away from their vehicle or when putting their key fob down inside their home. Drivers are often surprised to know their key fob can still operate even when some considerable distance away from their vehicle.”
PC Harris also urged drivers to remove all property from inside their vehicle including the Sat Nav. “You greatly reduce the chance of your vehicle being targeted if you remove all items from inside,” he said.
The number of thefts from motor vehicles increased by 11.3% during the period 1st April – 15th July 2012. In contrast, there has been a decrease in theft of motor vehicles by 48% during the same period.
If you see anyone acting suspiciously or a crime being committed, call police immediately on 999.
If you want crime prevention advice, please contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team. Visit: www.met.police.uk/sutton Click on the link for Safer Neighbourhoods.
Or get your local SNT number by calling Sutton Police Station on 101.
Tom Brake MP
As part of David Cameron’s reshuffle Tom Brake the MP for Carshalton and Wallington since 1997 has at last been made a member of the government.
Tom Brake was made the deputy leader of the House of Commons last week.
He replaced Lib Dem, David Heath, who was promoted to minister of state in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The new leader of the House of House of Commons is Andrew Lansley who replaced Sir George Young.
Mr Brake said: “It is a great honour to have been appointed deputy leader of the House of Commons, in the mother of all Parliaments.
“I will strive to do the job to the best of my ability, whilst ensuring that constituents’ concerns – such as the need to maintain vital services at St Helier Hospital – are given the priority they deserve.”
Many congratulations Tom.
Jewellery is being taken in one in three burglaries in Sutton borough – and police are urging householders to take steps to keep their jewellery secure. During the 12 months to the 21st June 2012 there were 250 burglaries across the borough which involved jewellery being stolen.
Sutton Crime Prevention officer Duncan Harris said every household in the borough is likely to have some jewellery from wedding and engagement rings through to watches and necklaces given as presents, or for ceremonial purposes.
Police tips to help keep your jewellery secure include:
– Keep a photographic library of your jewellery by photographing each piece on a flat surface next to a ruler to give an indication of size
– Check that your jewellery is covered by your home insurance – if not, arrange specific cover for it
– Mark your jewellery using UV-type property marking kits (available online)
– Invest in a safe
– Ask your bank about safety deposit boxes – check with your bank about the cost
Of course, make sure your home is secure – so lock your doors and windows, install timer switches to make it look like you are at home when you are out, and invest in an alarm system.
Police carry out both uniform and plain clothes patrols every day to deter burglary as well as carry out stop and searches on individuals to disrupt criminal activities.
For further crime prevention advice, contact your local Safer Neighbourhoods Team by visiting: www.met.police.uk/sutton Click on the link for Safer Neighbourhoods.
Alternatively, obtain your local SNT telephone number by calling Sutton Police station on 101.
Olympic Legacy
Earlier this year the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) was established to deliver the physical, social, economic and environmental regeneration in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and surrounding area after the 2012 Games. The new mayoral body takes over from a number of organisations and will have planning powers from October 2012.
Much work has been carried out to ensure that there is a future for each of the permanent venues in the park.
The Stadium has received four bids: from West Ham United, Intelligent Transport Services in association with Formula One, UCFB College of Football Business and Leyton Orient. They are now being evaluated ahead of negotiations. These bids would add to the legacy uses already secured for the Stadium such as host to the IAAF 2017 World Athletics Championships.
The Aquatics Centre will be operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited and will cater for all levels of swimming ability and aquatic disciplines for the community and training athletes. Similarly the Handball Arena LINK will be transformed into a multi-use arena used for a wide range of indoor sports training and competitions as well as cultural and business events.
The Velodrome will be owned and managed by Lee Valley Regional Park Authority and will be known as the Lee Valley VeloPark. The velodrome will need very little transformation and will become the hub of the VeloPark. The BMX track will remain, but be reconfigured, and a road cycle circuit and mountain bike courses will be added.
The Press and Broadcast Centre now has a preferred bidder iCITY to become the long term tenant. iCITY aims to create a leading centre for technology, design and research with the potential to generate more than 4,000 jobs. The digital hub would harness innovation and creativity in east London. The iCITY vision also has a community focus including a conference centre and a pedestrian square for broadcasting major sporting events, along with cafes, restaurants and bars.
After the 2012 Games, the park will be closed and works will start to take down temporary venues and to adapt some of the existing venues for future use, as well as building more housing. The park will be re-opening in phases starting in 2013. This link shows the timeline for the next stages at the Park.
Tackling the housing need in London
Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Lib Dems on the GLA
With the Greater London Authority (GLA) now directly responsible for a £1.6 billion development budget and over 600 hectares of public land, Lib Dem GLA member Caroline Pidgeon has been pushing the Mayor to:-
increase the supply of affordable housing and improve the quality of existing stock.
In addition, as a member of the Housing and Regeneration Committee, we have started an investigation looking into the private sector in London. The Private Rented Sector (PRS) looks set to play an important role in housing our growing population, with one in four households now renting their home privately. As the upward trend of house prices continues to put home ownership beyond the reach of many Londoners, the PRS will have to accommodate an increasingly diverse population.
Caroline Pidgeon has questioned the Deputy Mayor for Housing Land and Property, Richard Blakeway about the need for a pilot housing project for private institutional investment in London.
Recognising the strength of rental demand in London, Sir Adrian Montague has just published his long-awaited review into the barriers to institutional investment in private rented homes, and called on the GLA and others to “demonstrate [their] commitment to making a success of private rented schemes on public land” by making a number of sites available to developers on the basis of a pre-determined volume of build-to-let space.
The land is there, much of it under the direct control of the GLA, but the Mayor must now show a greater willingness to use his budgets and unprecedented new powers if London is to build the new homes it so desperately needs. .