A delegation of three of Sutton’s top politicians, Council Leader Ruth Dombey, Paul Burstow MP and Tom Brake MP visited the Department for Health very recently to press the case for St Helier Hospital with new Health Minister, Anna Soubry MP.

Speaking after the meeting Tom Brake MP commented, “The Minister understands the overwhelming importance of St Helier Hospital to hundreds of thousands of local people. We want to see the Better Services Better Value (BSBV) review – which is recommending the loss of our A+E, maternity and children’s ward – stopped and the demolition of Ferguson House proceed to prove that the St Helier re-build project is alive and well.”

Paul Burstow MP added, “It was a useful meeting. We were able to impress upon the Minister the failure of the NHS BSBV team to convince clinicians that their plans to close A&Es and maternity units are sound. We’ll carry on campaigning for the plug to be pulled on these disastrous proposals.”

Cllr Ruth Dombey, Leader of Sutton Council said “The campaign to save vital services at St Helier hospital got an adrenaline shot today. We discussed our concerns with the Health Minister who listened carefully and was clearly shocked that the uncertainty about St Helier’s future had been dragging on for so long. We’ll carry on piling on the pressure to save our local health services.”

Last Thursday, 10th January the two Sutton South ward Liberal Democrat councillors met some local residents and the Council’s traffic engineers at the King’s Lane south bridge to inspect the proposed works and discuss the practicalities of implementation. Alan, Jill and Hamish mention this as King’s Lane south bridge is right on the border with our Carshalton Central ward.

Following discussions with residents, the original proposal to build out the kerb on both sides at the Hillcroome Road end (shown above) has been reduced, with a bollard and kerb build out on the left hand side in the above picture. However, there will be hatching on the road which will have the effect of moving traffic to a more central position. The overall effect will be to make the traffic coming from the Hillcroome Road end more visible to pedestrians on the bridge, and motorists will see pedestrians earlier. The signage will be replaced and improved. Work will commence during this month and there will be a traffic light system on the bridge during the period of the works. We see this as a small but useful safety improvement after much waiting for “something to be done”.

Snow at Carshalton Ponds a winter or two ago

Some things to do when severe winter weather is forecast…

• Monitor the weather forecast. Ensure you are stocked with food and medications in advance.
• Take the weather into account when planning your activity over the following days. Avoid exposing yourself to cold or icy outdoor conditions if you are at a higher risk of cold-related illness or falls.
• If you or someone else is likely to be restricted to one room during the winter period or during a cold spell, make sure that it can be kept at or above the recommended temperature and that you plan what resources you/they will need to keep them safe and warm.
• The minimum recommended daytime temperature for rooms occupied during the day is 21°C (70°F)
• The minimum recommended night-time temperature for bedrooms is 18°C (65°F) – no health risk, though rooms may feel cold.
• Check room temperatures – especially those rooms where disabled or vulnerable people spend most of their time.
• Discuss with friends and neighbours about clearing snow and ice from the front of your house and public walkways nearby.
• Maintain regular contact with vulnerable people and neighbours you know to be at risk in cold weather

Responding to severe winter weather

• Continue to monitor the weather forecast.
• Check and maintain daytime room temperature at 21°C.
• Check bedroom night-time temperature and maintain it at 18°C or warmer.
• If you have to go out, make sure you dress warmly and wear non-slip shoes. Also tell someone where you are going and let them know when you get back. If you have a mobile phone, keep it charged and on you at all times.
• Keep active.
• Dress warmly, eat warm food and take warm drinks regularly.
• Check on those you know are at risk.
• If you are seriously concerned about your own health or welfare or that of others, alert the emergency services.
• Clear pavements of ice or snow if you are able to do so safely and if essential. Guidance is available by clicking here.

In December, the government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) released further statistics on the ethnicity, religion, health, housing tenure, qualifications and immigrations status as part of the 2011 Census. The data has also been issued to each council. For Sutton the statistics reveal that there has been a shift in housing tenure, as although 68 per cent of residents are homeowners, 14.2 per cent are privately renting, which is a 6.2 per cent increase since 2001. We also know that Sutton’s population is 78.6 per cent ‘white’ a 12.8 per cent decrease since 2001. The remaining 21.4 per cent is made up of; 11.6 per cent ‘Asian/Asian British’, 4.8 per cent ‘Black/Black British’ and 3.7 per cent ‘Mixed’. In terms of religion 58.4 per cent of Sutton’s population is Christian which is a 21.1 per cent decrease since 2001.

Two local residents and Cllr. Hamish Pollock addressed the meeting of the Council’s development control committee on Wednesday 9th January 2013 on behalf of local residents about the planning application for Cedar Close, off Salisbury Road, Carshalton. 

Cedar Close off Salisbury Road as viewed recently

We spoke about the planning application for the 9 new two storey “mews- type” houses in place of the existing mixed two-storey and single storey sheltered housing which has all been vacated. The committee agreed to grant planning permission and agreed to two significant improvements on the planning conditions which were to ensure that the proposed development was not fitted with entrance gates and to ensure better screening with “new” semi-mature tree planting to the north of the site facing no. 43 Salisbury Road to reduce some of the potential overlooking. The building works are expected to start soon.

We took some progress photos of the front of Wentworth Hall, 80 Ruskin Road, Carshalton on Saturday, 12th January 2013.  

Front of Wentworth Hall as viewed from the corner of Ruskin Road and Woodstock Road

The building works of this still-council-owned building are nearing completion and the re-opening of the building by the leaseholders, the Muslim Cultural Welfare Association of Sutton, is due to take place soon, date to be advised. There seems to be very slow progress on the front of the building and hard landscaping is evident both in front of this building and the next door property which we understand is linked to the site. We have taken up concerns about the seeming lack of soft landscaping at the front (that was expected to be installed) and we have asked the council’s planning officers to look into these matters a number of times. More in a future posting….

Wentworth Hall as viewed from opposite side of Ruskin Road

Councillor Jill Whitehead, chair of Sutton Borough Council’s environment and neighbourhood committee, Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake and Simon Courage, BioRegional’s head of One Planet Sutton, at the launch of the Community Challenge

Sutton-based sustainability charity BioRegional recently launched a major competition for great ideas from local people to improve their neighbourhood or school. Two winning projects will get support and coaching to take their projects off the drawing board and into reality.

Speaking at the launch, Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake said: “Sutton’s residents are bristling with ideas  – this is their chance to put them into practice. It’s a fantastic opportunity to get the support and advice needed to implement them.”

The One Planet Sutton Community Challenge is being run by BioRegional, based in the BedZED eco-village, with funding from the City Bridge Trust. It aims to reach hundreds of Sutton’s community groups, schools and local activists, seeking their ideas for projects which boost their surroundings and communities while protecting the planet we share.

Stephen Edwards of BioRegional said: “Winning ideas might include a neighbourhood scheme to cut household energy bills, a cycle training and bike maintenance project or a community shop supporting local crafts or local food. But really it’s all up to local people, who we’re sure will think up some really inspiring ideas. And it’s also local people who will decide on the winners.”

Entries need to improve Sutton’s environment and green spaces, help residents reduce their ecological footprint and contribute to at least one of the ten principles of One Planet Living. Together, these principles aim to secure a sustainable future that people find attractive, affordable and achievable within their fair share of the earth’s resources. This grass roots challenge is part of the borough and BioRegional’s goal for a One Planet Sutton.

The competition will involve a big communications campaign with a roadshow and a dedicated website.  Ten silver award winners will be chosen from the project ideas submitted. These ten will receive free advice to help improve their plans and present them for a public vote. Then in the summer of 2013 two gold award winners will be chosen by public vote. These two finalists will be given extensive, expert advice on project development and fundraising with mentoring support continuing  until March 2014.

The application deadline is noon on Monday, April 29, either via the One Planet Sutton website (oneplanetsutton.org/communitychallenge) or using a print application form obtainable from BioRegional. Further information can be obtained from Stephen Edwards on 020 8404 4896.

The challenge was launched at Wallington’s Holy Trinity Centre, during a One Planet Sutton workshop attended by dozens of representatives of local groups, organisations and businesses and Sutton Council. The workshop celebrated progress since 2009, when the borough became the first One Planet Council, and considered future targets for the ten one planet principles.

Real Christmas trees will be collected from Monday 7th January until Saturday 2nd February. Please put them out next to your recycling bins on your collection day. 

Have you a Christmas Tree for recycling?

We do hope you had a great Christmas and we wish all our growing numbers of website readers a very very happy and healthy 2013.