Possible One Way System, Diamond Jubilee Way (in), Damson Way (out).

Residents have complained to us about the delays caused by the virtual single lane system between the new houses on Diamond Jubilee Way. This is not seen as the fault of the residents, who considerate in their parking on the left hand side of the road. There have been a number of near misses and we fear that it will only a matter of time before someone is involved in an accident or injured.

Initially the council maintained that it was excess builder’s traffic but as we suggested that was completely inaccurate as the traffic flow / congestion remains a constant problem. They also maintained the position that the planning application for the new houses allowed for plenty of parking at a reported 1.5 spaces per house – which on the situation we now find ourselves in would seem to be inadequate.

Now that the builder’s traffic has gone we can see the scale of the problem. We also know that there are 160+ daily vehicle movements to the nursery and increased parking as people are attracted to the new play area.

Cars coming towards Kenny Drive roundabout have dangerously appalling sightlines to Damson Way and to the roundabout as they are on the right hand side of the road. Whilst the installation of the play equipment is very welcome this has made this even situation worse.

Subject to the appropriate resident consultation we have suggested to the Council that we should have a one way system, as above. The Councillors, Moira Butt and Tim Crowley support us in this.

Drivers become exasperated and fail to give way reasonably and there have been numerous incidents of ‘road rage.’ Also parked vehicles are in danger of damage as traffic tries to squeeze through.

There is a Local Committee of the Council, attended by the Carshalton and Clockhouse councillors and any necessary Council officials which QMPRA attend on your behalf. This matter has been dragging on and we became insistent that it should be discussed at the last meeting in July, offering all assistance beforehand with the information we have collected and the views of the residents. We had some months earlier met with a Council Officer on site. Despite representations to the Chairman of the Local Committee the situation was still unresolved when we arrived, although an undertaking had been given that we would be kept informed. We had told him that if this was not an agenda item we would assert our right to speak from the floor.

We were surprised to find that there was to be a report from Highways. We had heard nothing of this. It was claimed that five visits had been made to site, and they appeared convinced that the problem would go away with the builder’s traffic and decided not to take any action. We were annoyed and spoke heatedly from the floor but the Chair accepted the report. We followed the Highways representative from the meeting and complained at what we saw as an ill informed and convenient decision.

As always the Council claimed lack of finance for the road signs needed and the process. As our council is always very strong on democracy and consultation but had seen fit to decide without that process it seemed a flawed and hypocritical argument!

After a heated discussion Highways agreed to attend a meeting on site with QMPRA and a councillor in late September to hear the arguments for the one way system. This meeting is to be organised shortly and when we have more information we will update you all.

We understand that it will cause some inconvenience to some residents who have to drive a bit further but consider that we have an accident waiting to happen or an altercation that could get out of hand.

We encourage residents to email councillors so that they can bring more pressure to bear on Council officials.

There is a direct link to all Carshalton and Clockhouse Councillors on the QMPRA website and please feel free to copy any correspondence to the association using the Contact Us page so we are aware of everyone’s views.

• Council subsidises halls and theatres by £5.65 per visit on average; 22% of residents use them
• Options include retaining historic buildings and improving our heritage offer; community groups taking ownership of theatres or council selling them
• Arts development outreach service could be created to support local groups

Sutton Council has launched a review of it arts and cultural services in order to help make £40m worth of savings to its annual budget over the next five years.

The council has come up with proposals to protect the borough’s heritage as much as possible while having to make difficult savings in arts and culture where a minority of residents use the services.

From 8 September residents will be able to give their views via an online survey at:

http://www.opinionsuite.com/sutton/chief-executives-group/suttons-future

The council is also running a telephone survey and a workshop for arts groups. The review is part of the Sutton’s Future campaign which encourages the public get involved in shaping the borough’s future.

Sutton has eight cultural venues: Secombe Theatre, Charles Cryer Theatre and workshop, Wallington Hall, Grove Hall, Whitehall, Honeywood Museum, Little Holland House and The Life Centre.

The venues cost £2.2m a year to run, and generate around £420,000 a year in revenue – meaning the council has to spend £1.8m a year on them. The theatres require investment to modernise and improve them, and Wallington Hall needs major renovation work.

Sutton Council is trying to be as fair as possible by making savings in some non-essential services that are not used by everyone.

A recent survey has shown that they are used by less than a quarter of residents (22%) and every visit costs the council an average of £5.65 to subsidise. The majority of local people (60%) who go to cultural events, do so outside Sutton.  Since the Sutton’s Future survey launched on 10 July, residents have ranked cultural services as the least important service out of 14 services.

The council is proposing to protect the borough’s heritage by retaining the three historic houses and museums – Whitehall, Honeywood Museum, Little Holland House – and enhancing their offer through external grants such as the Heritage Lottery Fund. The council will match 10% of funding secured and has already successfully bid for £251,000 for a major restoration of Beddington Park. It currently has a further £6m worth of (HLF) bids in the pipeline.

In order to make necessary savings, the council is proposing to relinquish ownership of its four theatres and halls except Grove Hall which it would lease.

Cllr Jill Whitehead, Chair of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee, said:

“Sadly, some very tough decisions must be made and we are trying to be as fair as possible. Each of these buildings and services are competing with private sector offerings and the cultural hub of central London.

“On average, we subsidise each visit to a cultural venue to the tune of £5.65 yet less than a quarter of residents use the services. That is a big drain on our finances at a time when we need to make £40m in savings to protect universal services and support for our most vulnerable residents.

“We believe museums are essential to protecting the borough’s heritage. We are working closely with the Heritage Lottery Fund to bring in external funding that will improve our offer for future generations. 

“We are looking very closely at all the options, but some closures are inevitable to make savings. If there was another way, we would be taking it.”

Proposals include: 

• Boosting the borough’s heritage offer by securing external funding for Whitehall, Honeywood Museum, Little Holland House along with other sites including Beddington Park and The Grange Garden
• Meeting with arts groups to see if they want to, and are financially capable of, taking over the ownership and management of Secombe Theatre and Charles Cryer Studio Theatre. If that is not possible, the sites will be sold.
• To sell Wallington Hall as it is in extremely poor condition both internally and externally.
• To lease Grove Hall which is currently mainly used as a nursery
• To review The Sutton Life Centre. The educational facility was used by 137,976 visitors in the last financial year. It includes a library, a community centre, meeting space, a climbing wall and a multi-use games area.  
• To set up an Arts Development Outreach Service to support cultural and community groups. It could deliver an arts programme, deliver grants, help groups get funding and find venues.

There will be a workshop where arts groups can meet with councillors and council staff to register their interest in taking over one of the two theatres, and give their views on the Arts Development Outreach Service.

Residents have until 3rd October to take part in the online survey. It is expected that a decision will then be taken on the proposals at Novembers Environment and Neighbourhoods Committee meeting.

Environmental Fair @ Carshalton Park, Ruskin Road on Bank Holiday Monday.

Kick off at 10.30am and Under 12’s go free of charge – for full details see below and http://www.envfair.org.uk