Cllr. Hamish Pollock recently took up residents’ concerns about parking at the junction of Fairview Road with Hawthorn Road, in the Carshalton Central neighbourhood. He has asked the council’s officers to look into possibility of installing some double yellow lines just at this junction to hopefully improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians and hopefully prevent vehicles parking too close to the junction.  More in a future posting….

Chairman Councillor Hamish Pollock says: “Do come along to our meeting of the Carshalton & Clockhouse Local Committee on Tuesday 10th September 2013 from 7.30pm. We’ll be meeting at Carshalton Beeches Baptist Church, Banstead Road, Carshalton, which is quite near the shopping parades.”

The agenda items will include:

LOCAL TRAFFIC AND PARKING SCHEMES for Grosvenor Avenue Traffic Calming Measures; Environmental Improvements Programme Report, then Stanley Park Road; Park Lane/Ruskin Road Traffic Lights/Crossing; Woodmansterne Road Pedestrian crossing;  Butter Hill Traffic Management proposals; Bandon Hill Primary Woodfield School Pedestrian Crossing- Stanley Park Road; Woodcote Road/Woodcote Green Traffic Management update for noting

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT: Local Councillor Jill Whitehead is to give an update on Future Plans for Sustainable Transport in Sutton.

HEALTHWATCH SUTTON: Doris Richards is to introduce the new organisation

PUBLIC HEALTH: Sue Tree, Senior Public Health Commissioning Manager to talk about new local Public Health Functions.

THE WANDLE TRUST: Tim Longstaff, Development Officer to talk about The Wandle Trust’s projects including riverside improvements by Mill Lane etc.

USE OF STANLEY PARK RECREATIONAL GROUND: To note the decision of the Environment and Neighbourhood Committee.

PUBLIC REALM: There will be an update on Public Realm Projects.

Applications for Neighbourhood Grants will also be considered.

The next meeting will be held on 19th November at the same venue with the same start time. SEE YOU THERE!

Parents applying for a school place next year are being urged to make their application online.

Local school governor Cllr. Alan Salter says: “Borough parents and carers applying for places for their children at nursery, primary, junior or secondary schools can put forward their preferences online any time from now in order to apply for a place for September 2014 entry.”

This year is the first time applications made for nursery and junior schools will also be accepted online.

Anyone with children in Sutton must apply through Sutton Council before the deadline of Thursday 31 October 2013 for secondary school places and Wednesday 15 January 2014 for primary, junior and nursery school places. Parents who miss these deadlines risk not getting a school of their preference.

Parents who apply online will receive early access to the notification of the outcome, no risk of forms going missing in the post, no postage costs, and a safe, secure online system.

There is also an online guidance booklet which outlines the full application process and explains what parents need to do in order to apply for a school place for their child. Parents can view this, the new home to school distance checker, watch a tutorial video, and apply online at www.sutton.gov.uk/admissions.

Cllr Dave Callaghan, Chair of the Children, Family and Education Committee said: “We are proud of our borough’s schools and know our residents feel the same with many of them moving to the area so their children can attend one. Reports have also shown that while our schools remain extremely popular, for example, over 80% of applicants get their first choice secondary school – more than almost anywhere else in London. I’d urge parents and carers to log-on before the deadline and fill out the online application form to make their preferences known.”

Parents without internet access at home can use the internet for free at any local library or attend assisted sessions in the Library @ the Phoenix Centre, Wallington, on Monday 16 September 9.30am-1.30pm and Tuesday 17 September 2-6pm; and at the Civic Offices, Sutton on Wednesday 25 September 2-6pm and Thursday 26 September 9.30am-1.30pm. No appointment necessary, drop in at any time.

The 10th of September is a date with two evening time events of some interest for local residents to choose from. We not only have the Carshalton & Clockhouse local committee at Carshalton Beeches Baptist Church, Banstead Road from 730pm (see our web site posting of 7th September) but also Sutton Question Time is on 10th September 2013 between 7pm and 9pm at The SCOLA Business Centre, North Cheam

Sutton Question Time is for local people to put questions directly to leaders from the council, business and other local organisations.

At this Question Time event the Council Leader, Cllr Ruth Dombey, will be joined by a panel of experts; our host Saboohi Famili, Principal of Sutton College of Learning for Adults (SCOLA), Cllr Jayne McCoy, Chair of the Housing, Economy and Business Committee, Peter Dosanjh, Chief Executive, The Monarch Partnership, and Ross Feeney, Chief Executive, Successful Sutton.

There are only 100 tickets which will be issued on a first come, first served basis. To get your place email: questiontime@sutton.gov.uk

Councillor Jill Whitehead recently received the following message from the Westcroft management:-

Dear Jill

I would like to assure you we do take pride in our facilities and endeavour to constantly improve our standards.  As an example, Cheam, David Weir and Phoenix Leisure Centre have all been nominated and shortlisted for the Members Choice Health Club Awards 2013.

Unfortunately we were unable to enter Westcroft this year as it needs to be open for a whole calendar year  These awards are the only ones within the leisure industry where winners are selected purely on the feedback from the people that use the facilities – The Members.  The Health Club Awards are open to all private health clubs, gyms and leisure centre’s in the UK. Each year competing clubs encourage their members to complete an on line questionnaire rating them on their facilities, customer service and importantly value for money.  This year 37,000 members voted for their respective facilities. Last year the Phoenix Leisure Centre was shortlisted and came in the top 3 sites in the country, this year Sutton has three centres shortlisted and we are hoping to pick up an award! However it is a great achievement to be nominated and make the final, which I hope will go some way to demonstrate to you that we are serious about ensuring we are providing leisure facilities at a high standard and to our customer’s satisfaction.

Kind regards

Mark

Mark Basker
Contract Manager – Sutton Contract

Sports and Leisure Management Ltd.
E: MarkBasker@slm-ltd.co.uk
M: 07850509265 

A message has been received from a good cause…

Hi, we’re raising funds for three youth club projects in Sutton, in the estates in Clockhouse, Shanklin and Roundshaw; 

Could I ask you please to send this information on to anyone you think would like to donate, volunteer or help in any way, for more information on the individual projects please visit

Clockhouse: https://www.justgiving.com/local/project/clockhouseyc

Shanklin:  https://www.justgiving.com/local/project/suttonshanklinyc

Roundshaw: https://www.justgiving.com/local/project/suttonroundshawyc

Or to find out more about our charity and the work we do, visit www.scyp.co.uk or call or mail me at the addresses below if you have any questions.

I hope you feel these are interesting and you will want to help. Thank you for your time.

Kind regards

Joyce Quinnell
CEO

Surrey Clubs for Young People 

Office: 01306 898006
Mobile: 07824 380121

Email: joyce@scyp.co.uk

Carter House flats as viewed from the north in Shorts Road

News in from Metropolitan Housing about residents concerns over management issues…this was sent to councillors prior to the meeting that is to be held on Wednesday 4^th September 2013 between 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Windsor Castle Pub function Room, 358 Carshalton Road, Surrey SM5 3PT.

Dear ……

I’m sorry for the delay in replying to you on this. I’ve now looked at the case and my updates are below.

Residents’ meeting

A meeting has been arranged for the residents of Carter House. We delayed in holding this meeting as we were told that several residents were away until 02 September 2013. We have invited the local Councillors who previously attend meetings at this site.

Anti-social behaviour

A block letter was sent to all residents of Denny & Jennings House regarding the complaints made of children playing ball games in the communal garden which could potentially damage cars and allegations of kids scratching cars by riding bikes and scooters in between the cars in the car park. Following receipt of this letter a number of residents contacted our housing services officer and identified the properties the children live in. We have interviewed and warned two households of their children’s behaviour and rearranging an interview for another household.

All tenants of Denny and Jennings House are signed up to a Good Neighbourhood agreement and are being reminded of implications if this continues to be breached.

Security of the car park

It was initially reported the vehicle gate was vandalised, an urgent repair order was raised to have this repaired. The contractors who attended reported someone had used a manual override key causing the gate to remained open and not close. We have spoken to a number of residents and no one can identify who did this. The incident which involved someone attempting to steal a motorbike from the car park area was reported to the police. However, by the time the police attended the individual/s had already left the site.

The emergency button which leads from the car park and communal garden opens a gate which leads to the side main entrance door to Carter House. If an unknown person enters this area they are still unable to gain access into the block as they would need a fob. Fobs have only  been issued to the residents of Carter House.

This development was signed off by local Police, with a Secured by Design certificate issued by the police confirming no security concerns caused by the design or access arrangements.  We have also carried out a joint visit with a Fire Safety Inspecting officer from the London Fire Brigade and the set up of the fob / release button system was not a breach of fire regulations as the gate leading on to Carshalton Road would only need to be changed if is classed as a fire exit. They did say this could be changed to a snipe lock to exit instead of a code. We are investigating the feasibility of this.  

Lighting

Lux calculations were carried out to ensure the development met the required light levels.  In the area in question, there is illumination from bulkhead lighting, bollard lighting, street lighting column. In addition, Carter House is a fully glazed door, with the stairwell lighting being emitted from the block. This area has been checked at night and we feel  the area is sufficiently lit. We will discuss this with the residents at the meeting.   

Please let me know if you have any questions on the content of this email.  I will be on leave until 09 September 2013, but my emails will be checked during this time.

Regards

Daniel Thurlow | Head of Housing | Housing Services (South)
e: daniel.thurlow@metropolitan.org.uk
We now have one customer contact number – 020 3535 3535
1 Horizon Park | Barton Road | Comberton | Cambridge | Cambridgeshire | CB23 7AF
Metropolitan | www.metropolitan.org.uk

Please urge as many people as possible to read this web page/posting and sign the petition:

AN URGENT REQUEST – To all supporters of St Anthony’s Hospital and St Raphael’s Hospice Re: http://sutcliffej.wix.com/save-st-raphaels

You may be aware that there is a proposal from the Daughters of the Cross, which is the parent charity of both St Anthony’s Hospital and St Raphael’s Hospice to sell the hospital to a commercial concern, and separate it from St Raphael’s Hospice. St Anthony’s Hospital supplies all the essential admin and support services to the hospice such as  IT, payroll, catering, to name but a few. The combined value of those services is over £1 million a year, for which the hospital  has never charged the hospice (being part of the same charity) If the two are separated, St Raphael’s will need to find an extra £1 million a year, just to pay for those existing services.

The local Member of Parliament for Sutton and Cheam, Mr Paul Burstow, raised the matter in the House of Commons on 16th July.  Because the Daughters of the Cross is a Catholic charity, it needs  approval from the Vatican to dispose of catholic church assets.  If St Anthony’s Hospital is sold commercially, it will also without doubt lose the catholic/Christian ethos that it has had for more than a century, and a sale will put the future of St Raphael’s Hospice into serious jeopardy.   Both Mr Burstow and I have asked the Vatican to block the sale of St Anthony’s Hospital, and support the creation of a new Catholic Charity, to take over the running of St Anthony’s Hospital and St Raphael’s Hospice combined, as at present, so that both may continue long into the future.   Paul Burstow MP has now established a website with links to two on-line petitions, one he is organising, the other which is on the 10 Downing Street Website asking the Prime Minister for support.   The website is http://sutcliffej.wix.com/save-st-raphaels  and I would ask you to please visit this, and add your name(s)  to BOTH petitions, and to ask your family, friends and  neighbours to do likewise.

Please feel free to pass this email on to others who you know, and ask for support.   Yours sincerely and thank you.   DR RON MCKERAN Chairman, St Raphael’s Hospice Advisory Committee

Jill, Hamish and Alan took up local residents’ further complaints recently about their on-going management concerns of the 44 newish flats at Carter House/Denny House/Jennings House at the corner of Carshalton Road with Shorts Road.  An initial meeting was held a few months’ ago as we reported.

A message and invitation has just been received from Metropolitan Housing Association.

Carter House flats as viewed from the north in Shorts Road

Dear ….

Following below concerns raised by the residents of Carter House, Metropolitan has arrange a residents meeting with the Carter House residents to address the issues raised and any further concerns they have regarding the scheme.

The meeting will be taking place on Wednesday 4^th September 2013 between 6:30pm – 8:30pm at the Windsor Castle Pub function Room, 358 Carshalton Road, Surrey SM5 3PT.

Please confirm if you are able to attend.

Regards,

Karla Powell |  Housing Services Officer | London South

t: 020 3535 3535

e: contactus@metropolitan.org.uk

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