Development news

The Raynes Park Association - Notes from 17 January 2013

Fatal Accident A woman was tragically killed trying to cross the road outside Waitrose at 5pm on Saturday 15 December. Whilst members did not want to draw too many conclusions from one accident, it was noted that there had been concerns about the design of the entrance area to Waitrose at the planning stage. One local resident has suggested removing the current pedestrian crossing outside Blockbusters and replacing it with traffic lights at the junction with Durham Road. This would additionally enable free movement in and out of Waitrose in all directions (currently not permitted) and phased crossing opportunities for pedestrians from either side of Durham Road. It was recognised, that, despite the danger, people often cross the road at the point of the accident. Tony Edwards kindly agreed to draw up some plans as to how the junction could look if the recommendation was adopted. It was agreed that Chris would forward this to Cllr Rod Scott & Stephen Hammond MP.

Local Business Matters It was reported that the Business Breakfast on 16 January had been a success. Diana Sterck from the Chamber of Commerce is committed to arranging a meeting with the Council to pursue a more rational parking regime in Raynes Park to meet the needs of local shops and businesses.

Parking in Raynes Park Members were pleased that the proposed free parking in Raynes Park at weekends in December was cancelled by the Council. It would have caused chaos in the town centre. Members reported that the new CPZs have caused increased parking in Cambridge Road and on the Carters Estate.

Raynes Park Enhancement Plan Chris expressed frustration that none of the plans which have been agreed seem to be happening:
List of Remaining Tasks The list was drawn up with LB Merton and agreed. It was always understood that actions would be undertaken as and when money became available. However, there now appears to be some doubts as to how much money will be available in the remainder of this financial year to make a start. Neil Milligan has said that they will prioritise some of the small improvements in West Barnes Lane.

Embankment Network Rail made a commitment to remove 20 tons of rubble from the embankment between the station entrance and the Skew Arch on the north side of the station in October. Nothing happened and we are still awaiting a date.
Wobbly Surface outside Wetherspoons We have asked for this surface to be cleared of weeds and rubbish for some time. It appears to be unclear as to which part of LB Merton would be responsible for such action. Two pieces of Land to be Transferred from, Network Rail to LM Merton This has been an ongoing matter for some years. Both sides have agreed to the transfer, but still nothing has been done.

Moving the 200 Bus Stand The proposal is to move the bus stand to the currently unused bus stand in Pepys Road, thus freeing up Lambton Road from stationary buses. Chris met with Richard Lancaster and a rep from TfL in June. All parties appeared favourably disposed at least to consider this, but it has been impossible to check out how the matter is progressing. This matter is now urgent with the imminent opening of the Medical Centre.

Rainbow Estate Members reported back on the meeting with LB Merton and developers held on 16 January. The plans are still to seek planning permission to develop a mixed site containing both light industrial and residential. At some stage formal plans will be produced. Network Rail has now agreed to let go of their claim for parking spaces opposite Station House. (This would have jeopardised the ‘Park & Ride’ plans for that area.) However, they have insisted that the developers provide replacement parking spaces on the new development. This seems an odd demand, as Network Rail’s customers would have benefited from the Park & Ride facility.

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Public Notice Board Opposite Waitrose Pat E made the suggestion that the hoardings could make a good place for a public notice board. However, the main feeling was that, as we oppose hoardings anyway, we should perhaps not be asking to construct one!
Permission for Christmas Tree at the Bellmounth Pat Ericker suggested we should request this now. Chris said he would do this at the railway meeting.
Raynes Park Community Forum Members requested that we see a draft of the Agenda at our meeting prior to the Forum. Chris said he would try and facilitate this.
South of Skew Arch Tony Edwards said he and Peter Fischer have drawn up some proposals for this area and suggested bringing them to the Community Forum.
LBM Local Plan Tony reminded everyone that this is their last chance to comment on the Council’s draft plan.
South Ridgeway Residents Association Members regretted the lack of attendance from a representative of this important local residents association. Chris confirmed he’d tried to meet with the new Chair. Chris agreed to contact the previous Chair, Peter Ford, to ask if he could assist.
Raynes Park Champion It was agreed that Chris would invite Neil Milligan to one of our meetings so that together we can discuss the state of the Enhancement Plan and Neil’s role in it.
Lower Downs Tunnel The feasibility study has been completed to build a pedestrian tunnel under the railway adjacent to the road tunnel in Lower Downs Road. The result is that it is feasible, but it won’t happen because of the cost!

The Station Members were pleased about the decorations to the interior of the station and especially the new tiling. Chris announced that Stephen Hammond, MP, met with Ed Wilson, Head of Public Affairs at Network Rail, at the station to request external decoration e.g. the bridge, the parapets and the decor either side of the Cattle Arch. Stephen reported that Ed has agreed to this request.

Merton's Builders' Code of Practice

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With all the building work taking place in the Borough, Members should be aware of the code of practice governing the control of noise and pollution that must be followed by builders and the action residents make take for their infringement. The Code of Practice may be downloaded here.

Rainbow Estate - The Planning Brief is not adopted by Merton Planning Advisory Committee

Members of the Association will be aware of our objections to the Planning Brief for the Rainbow Estate, which was prepared on behalf of Merton’s Planning Department by the land owner, “Workspace Group”.

Our concerns were set out in the August 2012 copy of The Guide and may be read here. These were also submitted to Merton Council, as part of the public consultation exercise

The key issues are:

The loss of jobs from the Borough, despite what the owner claims.
The inappropriateness of the site for a residential development of 250 dwellings, surrounded as it is by railway lines and with only a single restricted access point,
The pressures such a development would put on infrastructure, particularly the lack of local primary school places,
The severe lack of car parking provisions,
The total absence of any thought being given to alternative proposals,
The impracticality of the sketchy proposals to improve the southern access to Raynes Park Station, which were offered as a “carrot” to the community.

The most recent stage in this process was that the Planning Department’s proposals, together with the results of the public consultation, were submitted to the Merton Planning Advisory Committee on the 20 September 2012.

The (currently draft) minutes report that at the meeting, the Councillors debated the report and the Rainbow planning brief. Strong concerns were raised by Councillors Chris Edge and Diane Neil Mills, and David Freeman (Raynes Park and West Barnes Residents Association) regarding the brief. Issues raised included the level of involvement of the landowner Workspace in drafting the brief, examples from other councils of planning briefs being prepared with the landowners’ involvement; whether it would be viable to start the planning brief again; concerns over the impact on infrastructure of the proposals within the draft brief. The Meeting resolved:

That the Borough Plan Advisory Committee recommends that the draft Rainbow planning brief is not adopted as it stands and that officers undertake the investigations set out in the report and report back to a meeting of the Borough Plan Advisory Committee with the results.

Further details may be found at: http://www.merton.gov.uk/environment/planning/planningpolicy/bpac.htm

More about our views on this proposed Planning Brief for the Rainbow Estate may be read here , together with the conclusions from a public meeting held on 10 July 2012.

Railway Meeting - 14/09/2012

EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES OF THE RAILWAY MEETING

In attendance: Stephen Hammond, Member of Parliament for Wimbledon; Cllr. Chris Edge, Dundonald Ward; Chris Larkman, Raynes Park Association; Tony Edwards, Place, Design & Planning; Neil Milligan, London Borough of Merton,; Terry Killeen, South West Trains, Wimbledon Station Manager; Eoin Maher, South West Trains, Assistant Manager, Wimbledon; Paula Williams, Network Rail

Railway Embankments. It was reported that following a survey of the embankment (between the station entrance and the Skew Arch on the north side) 200 tons of rubble will be removed in October. This paves the way for some planting on this embankment. The railings will be painted. It was agreed to undertake a survey of the bank once the rubble has been removed to make recommendations for planting. Network Rail has a small pot of money available towards this. It had also been suggested to get a local firm to sponsor plants. However, there are problems about accessing the bank for maintenance purposes

External Decoration at Raynes Park & Wimbledon Chase.
Stephen Hammond said he’d written three times to Richard O’Brien at Network Rail on these matters, but had not received a reply. Paula Williams to Raise with Mr. O’Brien or his Deputy.

Platform Extensions. Work will commence 0n 20 January for 4 weeks. This will entail the Cattle Arch being closed overnight from 00.00 to 05.00. (Following some clarification after the meeting, it was reported that platforms 1 and 4 will be extended at this time.) A storage area will be erected on the south of the station.

Kiss & Ride Plans for South of the Station. Some controversy has arisen because a Planning Application had been submitted to turn the Railway House into flats. The plans claim four parking spaces outside and opposite the house, thus jeopardising any plans for a Kiss & Ride. Various letters and emails have been circulating. (Paula Williams said that they had received several from Jan Bailey from the Raynes Park & West Barnes Residents’ Association. Chris Larkman said he would ask Jan Bailey to copy him in to such emails so that there was one voice coming from Raynes Park.) It was suggested that it would be useful to call a meeting of all interested parties i.e. Network Rail, South West Trains, Workspace, LBM, local Councillors and Chris Larkman, representing the Raynes Park Association. Neil Milligan said he would call such a meeting. (Post meeting note – Tara Butler, LBM, already plans to call such a meeting.) It was felt that there may be a possibility of moving on the debate if all parties could meet together.

Two Pieces of Land to be Transferred to LBM. Neil Milligan & Chris Larkman reported they’d spoken to Pip Howson in LBM. She said that the Council are about to pay a fee to Network Rail who would then action the work needed. However, Paula Williams reported that their surveyor reported no movement on this matter. Paula is concerned this is progressed swiftly. Neil agreed to follow this up with Pip and to report back asap.

Unopened Shop on North Side. Terry Killeen reported this is opening soon as Estate Agents. Whilst people were not excited at the prospect of another Estate Agent, it was agreed that it would be good for the site to be filled.

Grab Rail. A request had previously been made to provide a Grab Rail on the slope up to platforms 1 & 2 to assist frailer passengers. Terry Killeen said he would follow this up.

Bellmouth & Christmas Event. Stephen Hammond recalled the evening Christmas event at the station entrance some years ago and suggested something similar would be welcome – now that the Bell Mouth is completed. It was agreed to raise this at the Community Forum. Tony expressed disappointment at the Bellmouth with just one tree (of the wrong variety) and a brick box.

Public Meeting - Rainbow Estate

Consultation on Draft Planning Brief for Rainbow Estate

The well-publicised Public Meeting was held on 10 July 2012 to consider the Draft Planning Brief. At this meeting;

The Council Planning Officers made a presentation,
A question and answer session took place,
Residents’ spoke from the floor, expressing a range of views.

At the conclusion, Rod Scott, Councillor, Raynes Park Ward, asked the meeting to consider some resolutions, which he subsequently reported by e-mail to Merton’s Planning Department, as follows:

`This meeting rejects the Draft Supplementary Planning Brief and urges Merton Council to produce its own planning brief in accordance with planning rules`

This was passed unanimously (the meeting objected to a brief prepared with substantial resource and input from the owner/developer and without review and consultation on alternatives to the proposal put forward in that brief), and;

`This meeting rejects residential/housing on the Rainbow site`
This was passed by approximately two thirds majority.

Rod Scott asked the Planning Department to assure that these important expressions of residents are considered and that these views are given full weight in the future plans for the Rainbow site.

For more information, click here.

Rainbow Estate - July 2012

rainbo_ estate Merton Council Planning Department has now concluded the formal public consultation phase in relation to the contraversial Planning Brief prepared by the owner of this site on behalf of the Council. However, the Brief can still be downloaded here.

The documents may also be viewed at public libraries or a paper copy may be requested by phoning 020 8545 3837 / 020 8545 4141 or via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

A pubic exhibition of the proposals took place in Raynes Park on 29th &30th June 2012 and a public meeting, called by the Ward Councillors, was held on 10 July 2012. To read about the result of the meeting, click here.

The closing date for submitting comments on the proposals to Merton Planning Dept was 25 July 2012.

WHAT’S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT?