News from Eco-Local
EcoLocal
May News
| Dear All There’s plenty going on in May and we thought you might be interested in progress on the Hyperloop rapid transport system under development…..Plant Sale at Wallington It’s Wallington Farmers’ Market this Saturday 14th 9am-1pm. As well as the usual range of local quality produce, Bessborough Farm will be bringing the first of the English summer strawberries! Plus EcoLocal will be holding a plant sale stall outside the front of the Old Town Hall. We’ll have Cornflowers, Forget-me-nots, Sunflowers, mint, oregano, strawberry plants, peas, onions, garlic, Crown Prince squash, lettuce, chicory, heritage tomato varieties (Black Russian, Ryders Midday Sun, Yellow Currant, Orange Heart, Snow Cherry), unusual spinach (Seabeet, Red orach) as well as gooseberry and loganberry. All at amazing prices, and funds raised go to Carshalton Community Allotment activities. Easy cycling for all During half term we have a special family cycling session on Wednesday 1 June 12-1pm for families with children aged 7+. No need to book – just drop in Speedy Green Travel! And for those interested in more down to earth transport technology, www.pedelecs.co.uk has interesting reading. The use of electric assist bikes is becoming ever more popular in the UK having become a huge thing in China. If you can’t afford one of the fancy new electric bikes on the market, why not look on ebay for kits to convert your existing bike. Could this be part of the solution to London’s problems with air pollution? Enjoy Sutton Farmers’ and Artisan Market School Allotment sessions A Peace Symposium Volunteer at People’s Kitchen Regards Trevor PS – whilst we are keen to include a variety of activities that we consider are worth covering in our e-newsletters, EcoLocal does not take responsibility for the content of other websites or activities being run by other organisations and individuals. |
Plant Sale
High Speed Hyperloop
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Thousands of responses to Sutton 2031 consultation
More than 4,900 representations were made by borough residents and stakeholders to Sutton Council’s major consultation into the development and growth of the borough over the next 15 years.
The Sutton 2031 consultation, which ran between 18 February and 8 April, asked borough residents to help shape a new Local Plan – the document that provides the planning framework for future development. A total of 44 consultation events were held across the borough at which local people were able to discuss the Local Plan with council planners.
The consultation included the Town Centre Masterplan and London Cancer Hub Development Framework. The Local Plan designates the location and size of these developments, and also the pace of growth. The number of people working and living in the borough will determine the amount of infrastructure, such as additional schools and improved transport, needed to support them.
Of the 4,900 responses received, 800 related to the Town Centre Masterplan and 350 to the London Cancer Hub Framework. The council’s planning team is reviewing all the responses and will use them to create updated Sutton 2031 proposals, which will then be consulted on in the autumn.
Cllr Jayne McCoy, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee at Sutton Council, said:
“We have received a tremendous response to the Sutton 2031 consultation from borough residents. The Greater London Authority predicts that Sutton’s population could rise by 31,272 to 228,521 by 2031. To meet that challenge we must plan for the new housing and the infrastructure to support it, including additional schools, employment, improved transport and more health facilities. By being proactive in planning for future growth and setting a standard of wanting high-quality development and place-making, the Local Plan will help retain and enhance the Sutton’s character and environment as well as protect its heritage and green spaces. We anticipate that the reworked Draft Local Plan will go out to consultation again in late autumn this year. This will give residents a second opportunity to have their say on what the future of our borough should look like.”
Friends of The Grove Park – Highlights of the year 2015-2016
The following was received from the chair of the Friends of the Grove Park and is reproduced by his kind permission….
The Grove House Heritage Lottery Fund 2nd stage bid by the Sutton Centre for the Voluntary Sector (SCVS) who hope to take it on when vacated by the Council. In the Autumn work got underway with local consultations and the appointment of a Bid Project Manager. The final HLF submission is expected in the late Spring. The Friends of the Grove (Park) have been supporting the bid throughout.
Grove Café has reopened. The new tenant Wayne Spiller currently runs his own Coffee & Sandwich Bar Sassis in North Street. The Café has been completely redecorated and has been opened since November.
The Demolition of the Wall in the Drive was opposed at the 2015 AGM, and planning application to carry this out was withdrawn. The tree behind the cracked wall section has been removed, and is hoped the wall can be stabilised and repaired in the cracked area rather than being demolished completely.
Bandstand in the Park. Although a number people had heard about the idea but it was not made public till October, at the Local Ward meeting where the Carshalton Village traders group gave some details and showed a picture of the type of bandstand being considered. Funding would be from a number sources. To date I am not aware of any formal proposal has been submitted to the Council.
Mill Lane Sports field, now forms part of the park after no longer being required by the Harris Academy. The south eastern side of the field forms an ancient boundary with the main park area, formed by the tree line, hedgerow and a ditch once forming a water channel. It is considered an ecologically important boundary forming the habitat for a variety of wildlife. After representation from a number of parks users about the heavy cutting back around this new park area I met with the leader of the council team carrying out the work and confirmed the old boundary line and the undergrowth would be preserved.
A message from the NHS….
Start well, live well, age well We need your views on the NHS in south west London
You may be aware that NHS commissioners and providers are working in partnership with local authorities to develop a five-year plan for health and care in south west London. This ‘Sustainability and Transformation Plan’ (STP) follows publication of the NHS Five Year Forward View and is a requirement for all NHS regions in England. The scheduled publication date is July 2016.
We have engaged extensively with the public in south west London on these matters, including publishing our ‘Issues Paper’ last year and holding a deliberative event in each of our six boroughs. The feedback from these events is available online http://www.swlccgs.nhs.uk/documents/independent-reports-from-the-help-us-build-a-new-nhs-in-south-west-london-events/ and we will be publishing a formal response to all feedback received alongside our STP in June/July.
We should emphasise that the STP we publish in July will be a headline strategy setting out our approach, rather than answering every question about how services might work in future. We will look to hold further discussions with MPs, local stakeholders and local organisations as we develop the detail of our strategy.
In the meantime, we have given some thought to our priorities in the STP. We know we can’t solve everything at once and that we have to prioritise. The needs of our population have changed with more people living longer with long term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and dementia. One of our key areas of focus is on preventative and proactive care and we will need to deliver health services differently to help people stay well.
Greater London Mayor and Assembly Elections Result
Stephen O’Connell has been elected to represent Croydon and Sutton in the London Assembly.
O’Connell, representing the Conservative Party, won the London Assembly election with 70,156 votes or 38.6% of the total eligible votes cast.
The full results are as follows:
| Candidate | Party | Total no. of eligible votes | % of eligible votes |
| AHMAD, Amna | London Liberal Democrats | 18,859 | 10.4% |
| AHMAD, Marina | Labour | 58,542 | 32.2% |
| EDMONDS, Richard | National Front | 1,106 | 0.6% |
| HAGUE, Tracy Jo | Green Party | 13,513 | 7.4% |
| LEWIS, Madonna Beatrice | All People’s Party | 1,386 | 0.7% |
| O’CONNELL, Stephen John | Conservative Party | 70,156 | 38.6% |
| STAVELEY, Peter | UK Independence Party (UKIP) | 18,338 | 10.1% |
There were 183,568 ballot papers collected in total. Of these, 18,1900 were counted as eligible votes and 1,668 were rejected.
The official London Elects London Assembly Election results paper for Croydon and Sutton can be viewed by clicking here.
Sadiq Khan, representing the Labour Party, won the London Mayoral Election. The London Results London Mayoral Election results paper can be viewed by clicking here.
Sutton creatives recognised at annual Cultural Awards
Jane Howard, curator of the Honeywood Museum in Carshalton, receives a Cultural Award from the Mayor and Mayoress of Sutton.
Sutton residents who have contributed to the cultural life of the borough have been honoured at a special awards ceremony in Carshalton.
The Mayor of Sutton, Muhammad Sadiq, awarded the deserving winners with prizes and gift certificates at the Sutton Cultural Awards 2016 at Honeywood Museum on Wednesday 20 April.
Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environments & Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said:
“There’s no better place to celebrate the achievements of some of our most talented residents than here at the wonderful Honeywood Museum. Everyone honoured tonight has put in so much effort to make the borough a thriving, dynamic place where artists and creatives can truly express themselves. I heartily congratulate them all – keep up the good work.”
Eight awards were presented at the event. These were:
Andy and Thea Brook, from The Brook
Andy and Thea run The Brook, an independent arts bar, venue and recording studio in Wallington.
Robin Vaughan-Williams and Rachel Sambrooks
For their work during Imagine Festival of the Arts 2015, and ongoing community projects. Rachel runs the popular Words Aloud spoken-word events at Sutton Central Library alongside a number of other exciting projects.
Play of Light Theatre Company
With special thanks to Karin Jashapara for her contribution to the arts in Sutton. Play of Light specialises in innovative shadow puppetry and live music.
Equally Diverse Group
The Equally Diverse Group have shown tremendous skill and given us fantastic performances over the past year, including the excellent Hedgehog Protest during Imagine Festival of the Arts 2015.
Christine Lindsay
Honoured for her continued commitment to the London New Year’s Day Parade float and ongoing contribution to the arts across the borough. Sutton’s entry came a very respectable sixth in 2016’s New Year Day Parade.
Andrew Candy
Owner of the [mine] Gallery in Carshalton, who has helped to redefine the identity of the village and put art on the map in Sutton.
Adrienne Roberts
Recognised for her work during the Imagine Festival of the Arts 2015 and her outstanding ability to provide opportunities to a variety of people, from all backgrounds and of any level.
Jane Howard
For her dedication in going above and beyond to put heritage at the heart of the local community. Jane is the curator of Honeywood Museum.
The Sutton Cultural Awards have been awarded annually by Sutton Council since 2012, when the Cultural Medal programme was established as part of the Olympic and Paralympic legacy. Each winner is recognised for their hard work and commitment to opening up culture for all Sutton residents.
Rachel Sambrooks, organiser of the Words Aloud open mic events, said:
“I’m so pleased to have the wonderful event Tea and Cake with John Hegley that Robin and I worked on recognised. From that event during 2015’s Imagine Festival I’ve formed the ‘Words Aloud collective’ of poets who are performing with me at Sutton Libraries in Eve and All Our Grandmothers, as well as running the Words Aloud open mic events at Sutton Central Library. This kind of recognition makes Sutton a very attractive place to be, with a strong, vibrant, creative hub enriching the community.”
Woodland walk to put a spring in your step
Moss grows on a tree branch in Queen Mary’s Woodland, Carshalton Beeches. (Picture courtesy of Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers).
Sutton residents have the opportunity to enjoy an early-morning spring birdsong chorus on Sunday 1 May at Queen Mary’s Woodland, Carshalton.
The event, run by Sutton Council’s Biodiversity Team, begins at 5am and costs £5 per person for the unique chance to learn about bird calls from the experts.
Attendees will also be able to find out more about some of the fantastic events which the Biodiversity Team have planned for the spring and summer.
Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environments and Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said:
“As the weather gets warmer and the mornings a little brighter this is a great opportunity for anyone with an interest in the wonderful wildlife of our borough to learn more from our biodiversity experts.
“It’s an early start but don’t let that put you off. Anyone who’d like to know more about our work keeping Sutton green should definitely make a date in their diary.”
Some of the birdsongs attendees may hear include nuthatch, blackbird, long-tailed tit and greater spotted woodpecker. Prior booking is essential – you can find out how to reserve your place with the Sutton Ecology Centre here.
Diana Hurter, Treasurer for Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers group, said:
“I love the violets that grow here at Queen Mary’s Woodland. The new paths planned for the woodland will make this a real wildlife haven that everyone can enjoy.
“If you manage to get up early enough for our dawn chorus event you’ll have a special experience of what this woodland has to offer!”
Queen Mary’s Woodland originally formed part of the grounds of the former Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children which closed in 1993. The estate has since been developed for new housing, with the woodland being transferred to the London Borough of Sutton.
Notes:
– The Queen Mary’s Woodland project is funded by £300,000 of Planning Gain money, given to the London Borough of Sutton under a Section 106 Planning Gain agreement.
– The London Borough of Sutton will be working closely with Sutton Nature Conservation Volunteers and other local groups over the next two years.
– This is the first public event under this programme. There will be a launch event once the planned walkway improvements are complete.
Honeywood Museum and Age UK team up to offer activities for older residents
A range of events for elderly residents will take place at Honeywood Museum, Carshalton, in association with Age UK Sutton.
Sutton Council’s Honeywood Museum in Carshalton is working with Age UK Sutton to provide a range of activities, events, and a valuable support network for isolated elder residents.
The events are the latest in a range of collaborations between Sutton Council and Age UK, who run a range of social activities and exercise classes for older people throughout the borough in order to reduce loneliness among Sutton’s older residents.
Carshalton Central ward’s Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environments & Neighbourhoods Committee at Sutton Council, said:
“Providing for our older residents and making sure they have access to the support they need to continue to socialise and keep in touch with friends and family is extremely important for us.These events at the wonderful Honeywood Museum are a great way for vulnerable and isolated residents to enjoy company and activities in a safe, friendly environment.”
It is widely accepted that incorporating expressive arts into programmes for older adults and patients can have a very positive effect on mental and physical well-being. The activities on offer range from embroidery and arts sessions to musical singalongs. Music, in particular, can be a useful tool for those with memory loss to recapture lost memories.
Sing-a-long groups at Honeywood Museum take place on the following dates:
28th June 2016
16th August 2016
18th October 2016
13th December 2016
Marion Harper, CEO of Age UK Sutton, said:
“We’ve already had some fantastic joint events with Honeywood Museum and we’re delighted that Jane Howard, the amazing curator at Honeywood, sees the potential that this collaboration can have for both organisations – and, most importantly, for the older people of the borough.”
To find out about the range of activities, and the dates to book, visit www.ageuk.org.uk/sutton or call 020 8770 6959020 8770 6959 for full details.
Jane Howard, Curator of Honeywood Museum, said:
“Honeywood Museum is a community asset and resource, which should be used and loved by all. It’s a place where people can come, be made to feel welcome, and get support to embrace the arts and have a good time.”
Sutton library assistant retires after 50 years of service to borough
Richard Radford (centre) with Wallington Library staff at a presentation in Civic Offices to mark his retirement after 50 years of work for Sutton’s library service.
A Sutton library assistant is retiring at the end of this month following 50 years of unstinting service to the borough.
Richard Radford, 70, is retiring on 29 April, just over 50 years since starting work for the borough’s library service.
Born at St Helier Hospital in 1945, Richard has lived in Sutton all of his life. Currently a library assistant at Wallington Library, where he has worked since 1998, he began his career with the borough’s library service at Carshalton on 12 April 1966 and was there for a year until 1967, when he left for two years to attend library school in Brighton.
After completing his studies, Richard returned to Carshalton library, where he worked from 1970 to 1979. He worked on the mobile library until 1983 then moved to Sutton Central Library’s Music and Arts department for 15 years before starting at Wallington Library.
In 2009 Richard received the Community Engagement Champion Award for his services to the library’s Coffee Concerts, which he has organised and run since 2011.
Richard said:
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working in Sutton libraries. Fifty years is a long time to work in this profession, and I must say that I have found the last 30 years particularly rewarding, from working in the music library in Sutton for 14 years and then moving to Wallington library in 1998 where I got settled in to a busy library with plenty to do. It has given me great pleasure to work on the Coffee Concert classical CD recitals in Wallington Library. Although I am retiring I shall continue to run the concerts there. Working in Sutton libraries has been very enjoyable and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
To mark Richard’s retirement, Sutton Council Chief Executive Niall Bolger presented him with a certificate at a ceremony in Sutton Civic Offices on Monday 25 April.
Niall said:
“Richard’s 50 years working for Sutton’s library service is a tremendous achievement and we would like to thank him for the immense contribution he has made to the borough’s library service over these years. Richard has been a valued member of staff for many years and I know he will be greatly missed by his friends and colleagues as he has always been a great source of support and a fount of knowledge and advice.”