WELCOME to the website of the Raynes Park and West Barnes Residents' Association, designed to inform you of current local issues and to provide a brief history of the local area and the Association.
All our members receive our monthly magazine "The Guide", which continues to be delivered by our volunteers.
"The Guide" has local information, news, events and advertising. For more information about advertising in "The Guide", click this link.
Our Association , which is run completely by volunteers, works on behalf of our local community. We are a NON political association, welcoming everyone.
The current membership year runs from March 2022 to February 2023 and costs the very low annual subscription fee of £3.
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Chairman's Blog - November 2024
RESIDENTS’ AUTUMN OPEN MEETING
We held a very lively and informative Open meeting at West Barnes Library on 8th October. The meeting was packed despite heavy rain.
We heard three representatives of Network Rail tell us about the progress of the accessibility work on Motspur Park station and, with Toby Ewin, we discussed the plans for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the station on 12th July next year. Potential proposals for housing on the site of the gas holders on the Kingston side of the borough boundary were mentioned.
There was criticism of plans to put in more double yellow lines in various roads, and the Leader of the Council, Ross Garrod, was there to listen to these and other concerns. We also raised a toast to Diane Jones who has sadly passed away. She was a former member of the Committee and a long serving Road Steward.
PARKING AT RAYNES PARK STATION
Another issue raised was the inability of cars to stop briefly at Raynes Park station to drop people off or pick them up. This causes major difficulties for passengers with disabilities, or young children, or anyone with heavy luggage. This is despite the clear intention to provide room for cars to do so. Instead, many cars appear to use the spaces to park all day and no enforcement action is taken.
Jerry Cuthbert was able to give the background to the problem. The extensive industrial estate beyond the arch and the access road is owned by the same company right back to the public highway. Some years ago, planning permission was granted for redevelopment of the industrial estate, with a combination of both new homes and new industrial units. This planning permission included a requirement for the new “Kiss and Ride” area at the Station. Whilst much has already been done to improve the area outside the station, the whole project is still only partially completed.
However, as the new (but still only partially completed) “Kiss and Ride” area is on private land, the onus is on the owner to enforce parking controls. Despite pressure from residents’ and business associations, it seems that the company has no interest in enforcing any parking controls. The Council cannot do so, since it is not land in public ownership.
John Elvidge, Chairman
Motspur Park - Access for All - Official Opening
ACCESS FOR ALL - OFFICIAL OPENING
We have just received the news from Jack Wharton of Network Rail that there will be an Official Opening of the new step-free access at Motspur Park Station on Friday 31 January 2025, at 1:00 p.m. More information about the event is expected soon.
Key news and updates
- See our current Advertisers in the Guide
- Motspur Park - Access for All - Official Opening
- Workspace to sell Rainbow Ind Est
- West Barnes Gasholders - Redevelopment
- Helping Hedgehogs
- Grand Drive Update - October 2025
- Lime e-Bikes - Hazards
- Merton Building Control
- Fix My Street
- Picture Gallery of our area.
- Invitation to Join Us
- Data Protection Policy and Privacy Statement