We’re always looking for helpers to help deliver FOCUS newsletters in Carshalton Central ward and most other wards need help too.
It only takes 30 mins every six weeks/ two months. Please let one of the councillors know if you could spare us some time! It’s also a great way of keeping fit for FREE and you can deliver your own road or one nearby!
Cllr. Hamish Pollock asked the council officers for a new road sign in The Square to be fitted on the east side at the junction with Talbot Road.
The old one had mysteriously “disappeared” when the wall it was fixed on was demolished a year or two ago. The almost brand new sign is pictured.
The new Carshalton Library opened today 26th January 2013 at the refurbished and extended Westcroft Centre. The old Library in The Square was formerly the original offices of Carshalton Urban District Council at the time of World War One, when the district had a population of only around 6-7,000 people (now it’s around 50,000 people!). The old Library is pictured below awaiting sale by auction.
It is expected that the old library building will be converted by its new owners in due course to either residential accommodation (flats) or offices. The building has some statutory protection so any possible external alterations would fairly be limited and if desired would require planning permission.
Old Carshalton Library on 26th January 2013
Westcroft Leisure Centre, Westcroft Road, Carshalton, SM5 2TG
Tel: 020 8647 1151
Carshalton Library has moved and is scheduled to open in its new home as the Library @ The Westcroft Centre on Saturday 26th January 2013.
New Opening Times:
Monday: 7:00 – 21:00
Tuesday: 7:00 – 21:00
Wednesday: 7:00 – 21:00
Thursday: 7:00 – 21:00
Friday: 7:00 – 21:00
Saturday: 8:00 – 19:00
Sunday: 8:00 – 19:00
Address:
Check the Carshalton Library Map for the exact location
Carter House viewed from the east in Carshalton Road
Councillors Jill Whitehead and Hamish Pollock paid a visit to Carter House on Friday 25th January 2013 now that most of the 44 flats appeared to be occupied and indeed the children’s nursery was occupied too.
The councillors delivered Tom Brake MP’s annual report to the flats! About 3/4 of the addresses of the new flats are addressed as nos. 1B and 1C Shorts Road.
Carter House flats as viewed from the north in Shorts Road
In this long cold snap, the Council has had to work through a lot of requests for pavements to be gritted and grit bins to be refilled.
We have passed on to the relevant council officers a number of recent residents complaints’ that some hillier roads/slopes have not been gritted.
Local councillors have also asked for a grit bin and the junction of Waterloo Road/Sutton Grove, near the boundary with Sutton Central ward. We also asked for the bridge over Carshalton ponds at North Street to be urgently gritted – which was done.
Cllrs Jill Whitehead and Colin Hall outside Sutton Station
The government has safeguarded the future of a popular south London rail service ahead of a major overhaul of the network, Rail Minister Simon Burns announced yesterday.
Passengers travelling to central London on the Wimbledon Loop had faced the prospect of having to change trains at Blackfriars Station from 2018 under proposals put forward under the Thameslink Programme.
However, after extensive consultation with stakeholders and local rail users, the Department for Transport has worked closely with Network Rail to make sure the route continues to operate as part of Thameslink’s core services.
Rail Minister Simon Burns said:
The Wimbledon Loop provides a vital service for thousands of Londoners every day, and we have worked hard to safeguard its future after listening to the concerns of local people and stakeholders.
The Thameslink Programme is having a huge impact on improving rail services across London and beyond, but the department was always concerned that the initial proposals for this route were not quite right.
I am therefore extremely pleased that Network Rail have relooked at the plans and am confident this decision will provide benefits to rail users for years to come.
Currently, 4 trains run every hour from Wimbledon Loop stations serving Merton, Morden, Sutton, Carshalton, Mitcham, Streatham and Tulse Hill, through to St Pancras International and beyond.
Under the new proposals 8 Thameslink trains will run per hour via Elephant and Castle, including the 4 Wimbledon Loop trains, 2 from Sevenoaks via Bromley South and Catford, and 2 (peak only) from Maidstone East via Bromley South.
Press enquiries: 020 7944 3108
Out of hours: 020 7944 4292
Public enquiries: 0300 330 3000
A letter has also been received from Tom Brake MP for the constituency of Carshalton and Wallington
Dear friend,
Today the Government has announced that Thameslink trains services from Carshalton will be safeguarded and rail users will not be forced to change trains at Blackfriars.This will mean that our local area will maintain direct connections with St Pancras International rail station and the new £15bn Crossrail project that will link east and west London.
This is not only good news for commuters but good news for the future prosperity of Carshalton and Wallington.
Thank you to all of you who supported the campaign to safeguard this vital link with central London and beyond. I think this really demonstrates what we can achieve when we join together for the benefit of our local community.
Why not share this news with your friends and family on Facebook or via email.
Best wishes,Tom Brake
Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and WallingtonPS. Why not follow me on Facebook or Twitter to find out more about the work I do on your behalf.
Leisure Centres
All Sutton’s leisure centres were open as normal on Friday, although it is advised that you check before travelling, as the situation may change if weather conditions continue as now.
Bins
Bin collections are operating as normal, so far.
Gritting
Progress: Sutton Council’s gritters were operating through the night on Thursday and will be continuing through the snow period. To check their progress, go to @SuttonGrit on Twitter. You can also see precautionary gritting routes here: https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15772.
Will side streets be gritted? Sutton will grit side streets once main roads have been cleared and only when they are deemed a priority.
That road is meant to be gritted but it doesn’t look like it! When the salt goes down it’s hygroscopic which means that it attracts moisture and it only becomes activated when it’s ‘trafficked’. So it can look a bit underwhelming before this happens. When it’s driven over it grinds down and mixes with the moisture it attracts from around it to become brine, a salty water. That’s what you’re ideally looking for because brine is most effective.
Where is my nearest grit bin? You can find your nearest grit bin here https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15190. Grit bins will be checked by Sutton Council over the weekend, but if yours is empty then let us know and we will pass the information to Sutton Council.
Service Updates for Sutton
For the latest service updates for Sutton you can visit:
https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11718 for gritting and snow advice or follow Sutton on Twitter @Suttononline and @SuttonGrit.
Transport
Capital Connect have cancelled some trains and Southern is running an amended service, but you can check up-to-date travel information using the links below.
National Rail: http://nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/indicator.html
TFL: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/tube/default.html
Live bus departures: http://countdown.tfl.gov.uk/
Live road information: http://www.highways.gov.uk/traffic-information/
Main roads in Sutton are all gritted and operating normally. Some back roads especially the numerous hillier ones in Carshalton Central can be a bit treacherous so please drive with care. It’s always difficult when we’re hit by snow, but we hope the necessary steps to minimise inconvenience have been taken to minimise disruption.
Some photos taken a short while ago by Cllr. Hamish Pollock of the progress of the Carshalton War Memorial Hospital site redevelopment into houses.
The site is off The Park, Carshalton between the newish developments of Corbould Close to the north and Ashcombe Court to the south, both formerly in the grounds of the old hospital.
View from north side of the old hospital
View from the west rear side of the hospital from The Park
Many Carshalton Central residents are now using the excellent new Jubilee Health Centre in Shotfield, Wallington.
At the request of local residents the local Wallington South Lib Dem Councillors Colin Hall, Jayne McCoy and Monica Coleman (pictured)are campaigning for a new zebra crossing in Shotfield, Wallington. With lots of people visiting the new Jubilee Health Centre every day, they think that this is essential and are working with the Council officers to find a suitable location.
The Carshalton Central Lib Dem FOCUS team support this campaign!
For more information on this matter and other local information affecting Wallington town centre please visit their web pages:
Sutton Life Centre
Youngsters can flex their acting muscles next week as a borough community centre hosts its first performance class.
The weekly sessions, entitled Presto Performing Arts, will take place at the Life Centre and will give children aged between four and seven the chance to enjoy acting and singing.
Classes will be run by Presto, a performing arts group who like to offer fun and affordable classes that teach and encourage children, stretch their imaginations and boost their confidence.
They will include drama-based games, catchy songs and energetic dances to enhance the learning and creativity of every child.
The first classes will run on Saturday 12 January between 9:30am and 11am, and 11:15am and 12:45pm. They will then run every Saturday following.
Cllr. Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee, said: “Letting children explore their creativity from an early age helps them develop skills that could be useful in later life. We want these sessions to be fun and enjoyable but also help our borough’s children develop a love of acting, singing and the performing arts.”
For more information and to book a place contact Rhiannon on 07525 456736 or email: PrestoPerformingArts@live.co.uk.