Chairman's New Blog - October 2025

OPEN MEETING IN MOTSPUR PARK

We are holding our Autumn Open Meeting in Motspur Park, on Tuesday 14th October, from 7pm to 9pm. It will be held in Blossom House School, courtesy of the helpful staff.

GAS HOLDER SITE

The first issue we will discuss is the proposal by Berkeley Homes and SGN to knock down the gas holders in Motspur Park to replace them with housing. The company has held some consultation meetings with residents, and we expect a formal planning application to be lodged with Kingston soon, perhaps in time to be discussed at the meeting.

There will be high-rise buildings, and some may be as high as 16 – 18 storeys. The intention is to build one and two bed apartments and to make 35% of them affordable.   As we reported in the September Guide the gas holders are situated in the borough of Kingston, but there are concerns all around the area, affecting Merton and Sutton as well as Kingston.  Many of the issues relate to traffic, both during the construction work and on completion, and to the proposed heights of the blocks.

Concerned residents from associations around the site will be welcome at the meeting. It will probably be suggested by the planners that the road access to the site during the development and building stages will be from the level crossing at Motspur Park. This is likely to take a number of years and cause major congestion, given the sheer volume of demolition and building work required.  It would only be possible if the heavy traffic turned left at the crossing. When the site is fully developed, many residents will want their own vehicles. The company has already suggested a residents’ parking scheme in local streets, which has also caused concern.

ARTIFICIAL PLAYING SURFACE

Another issue to be discussed is the proposal by the Council to build an artificial playing surface on part of SJHMPF near the playground. We do not yet have full proposals.

​CROSSING OVER BUSHEY ROAD

Bushey Road is a dual carriageway which has a 30-mph speed limit up to the traffic lights at Grand Drive.  Many motorists drive  much faster than the limit. There is no safe crossing between the lights at Martin Way and the lights at Grand Drive, but many people try to cross the dual carriageway, going to or coming from the Apostles Roads.  Some of these are elderly or have small children

Residents and local councillors have requested a crossing mid-way, but apparently a feasibility study  may take two years. 

John Elvidge, Chairman