Association News, April 2011
ASSOCIATION NEWS in brief
There is not a great deal of news as our AGM and open meeting are somewhat later this year and will not take place until after the print deadline for our April issue.
Planning Applications
The application for permission to develop the AELTC’s Raynes Park Playing Fields has not yet gone to Committee, so no further information on that as yet. We have received notification of a renewed application for the Pine Shop site in Coombe Lane, which we hope will result in some movement on the redevelopment of this eyesore; and at last, the application for the new Medical Centre has been registered. We also understand that Tesco Extra is hoping to take over the retail units that form part of the site currently under development at the junction of Lambton Road and Worple Road. The new Waitrose will probably be open by the time you read this!
Roadworks
Residents in Heath Drive have been informed that Gas works are due to commence in their road on 28th April, 2011.
Books on Raynes Park Station
The project for providing second hand books for the waiting room on platforms 3 and 4 at Raynes Park Station is now well established. Five volunteers regularly attempt to keep the shelves tidy and to find new sources of books. Besides offering a service recycling books, it helps give the waiting room a purpose, and deters vandalism.
The project is so popular that books are taken very quickly. Although people are asked to return them, the number of books available is often small. We therefore ask anyone wanting to discard books to let us have them for the station. Please either take them along yourself, or contact Chris Larkman (020 8542 0612 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) who will be happy to arrange to collect them from you.
Locking of Parks and Gardens
Cllr. Rod Scott has advised us at the Council’s budget meeting, alternative savings were found to enable the present arrangement of locking parks and gardens at night to continue for another year. This `reprieve` will enable discussions between the Friends groups, residents associations and others, with the council to take place with a view to finding a longer term solution while the present needs to find large council money savings continue. For example, this may be `remote locking`, the possibility of which will be examined.
Community Forums
At the same meeting, the council proposal that it would support only one Community Forum meeting per year in each area was modified to provide some support for a further three forum meetings per year - as a means of community engagement and communication - if communities (as we do in Raynes Park) wish to continue themselves.
This matter was discussed in detail at the March meeting of the Raynes Park Association (the umbrella group for local Residents’ Associations and Businesses which includes RP&WBRA) when it was unanimously agreed that the Community Forums in Raynes Park have been successful with attendance and community acceptance continuing to grow.
Councillors from the three wards of Raynes Park, West Barnes and Dundonald were represented at this meeting, and it was further agreed that they would take the lead (working together with residents’ associations, businesses and other community groups, via the RPA’s communications network) in enabling the Raynes Park quarterly forums to continue.
Cllr. Scott suggested that the support that would be required might include:
1. The cost of hire of a venue for four forums per year (i.e. waive the charge for the Library Meeting Rooms for the three additional meetings).
2. Office-type assistance to publicise/advertise the forums, circulate agendas, minutes etc.
3. Someone to take minutes/actions from the forums, assuming a Councillor or community representative can provide chairmanship.
4. Help from relevant council officers in attending meetings and/or briefing Councillors on items coming up on agendas and dealing with actions raised at forums.
It was therefore proposed and agreed that the next (Council arranged) Forum on 24th March would be asked to consider this proposal, and also agree to the following dates for meetings in 2011: 23rd June, 22nd September and 1st December.
In brief the Council would be asked to support the additional Forums by providing the venue free of charge and agreeing - at least - to facilitate 4. above.
Jill Truman, April 2011
