Welcome to my May community email. Below are just some of things I have been doing since the last email:
- Visited Year 5 at Hollymount School to talk about Government and microsociety
- Met with Merton Welcomes Refugees to discuss the refugee crisis and wrote to the Secretary of State for International Development. You can read my statement on the refugee crisis here.
- Asked the Secretary of State for Health about the new junior doctor contract which has been agreed between the BMA and the Government
- Met with local primary school head teachers to discuss education policy
- Attended the welcome mass for the new Dr Uche Njoku at St John Fisher Church
- Met with Adam Doyle from Merton Clinical Commissioning Group to discuss their 5 year plan
- Spoke to the Edge Hill Area Residents Association about local traffic, Plough Lane and Future Wimbledon.
- Went on a tour of the Wimbledon Royal Mail Delivery Office, and then out delivering with a local postman.
- Spoke to pupils from Ursuline Prepatory School when they visited the House of Commons
- Spoke to the Chief Executive of St Helier Hospital about his plan to improve the hospital estate
- Attended the dedication ceremony for the Nelson Healthcare Centre in Raynes Park
- Later this month I will be meeting with Paul Quinn, Director of Regeneration at Circle Housing about the High Path Estate, and with Tom Underwood, Chairman of the MyRaynesPark Festival about Refugee Week in Raynes Park.
Crossrail 2
Last week I met with Michele Dix, Managing Director of Crossrail 2 to discuss the upcoming revised plans.
I raised once more the problems with the previous plans, and my hope that a tunnelling solution could be found to minimise disruption to Wimbledon. I also raised the importance of Crossrail working closely with the Wimbledon Town Centre Masterplan process.
Ms Dix told me that all the comments received in the consultation from local residents have been heard and will be taken into account, and that they are on course to reveal new plans, with a further consultation, in the summer. Unfortunately Ms Dix could not be precise about the timing.
I will continue to meet with Crossrail 2 regularly over these plans, and will do all I can to publicise the next consultation, including holding a public meeting. To help keep residents informed, I have set up a dedicated Crossrail 2 website with local Conservative councillors, where you can sign up to receive the latest news. I have also put a page on my website with links to all the relevant Crossrail 2 information.
St Helier Hospital
This month the local Labour party restarted their campaign claiming St Helier Hospital was at risk of being closed. This is totally inaccurate, and is irresponsible scaremongering.
I have spoken to the Chief Executive of St Helier many times over the past year, including hosting a public meeting in Morden with him at the end of last year. From these conversations, including one this week, Mr Elkeles has made it absolutely clear that there is no threat of closure to St Helier Hospital, but there is a plan to improve the hospital estate for patients.
St Helier themselves have put a statement to this effect on this website, which states “there are no plans to close St Helier Hospital. You can read the full statement here.
Ride London – 31st July
The Ride London event will be returning to Wimbledon this year, on the same route as last year. This will mean road closures for most of the day on Coombe Lane, Lambton Road, Worple Road, Wimbledon Hill Road and Parkside.
There will be two all day vehicle crossing points:
- Approach Road to Lambton Road (northbound) and Pepys Road to Approach Road (southbound)
- Ridgway to Belvedere Grove (both directions).
Then there are three crossing points available until 8.45am and after 6.30pm
- Copse Hill to the A3
- West Barnes Lane to Durham Road
- Lower Downs Road to the Downs
Pedestrian crossing points will be located at the existing signalled crossings, and will be supervised by marshals. I have been reassured that the marshals will be better trained than last year.
I have attached a pdf flyer with much more information about the arrangements for the day. I hope to see as little disruption as possible to those living in the surrounding streets.
District line engineering work this weekend
This bank holiday weekend, from Saturday to Monday, there will be no District line service between Wimbledon and Earl's Court to allow for track replacement work. There will be a replacement bus service, which you can find out more about from TfL here.
Barclays Cyber Security Workshop
This month I visited a cyber security workshop for local businesses, organised by Barclays.
I am hearing an increasing number of reports of Wimbledon businesses being affected by Cyber Crime with the amounts lost to the criminals running into the hundreds of thousands of pounds. Companies of all sizes are being targeted and it is vitally important that business owners do everything they can to protect themselves.
You can find information on how to avoid cybercrime here.
Wimbledon Brewery
I am delighted that the House of Commons has agreed to stock Wimbledon Brewery's appropriately named beer, Common, in the Strangers Bar. My office popped down to join Mark Gordon, the founder of the brewery in the bar this week to celebrate.
Additionally, This Saturday from 11am to 4pm, and every Saturday thereafter, the Wimbledon Brewery will be holding a food and drink market at their brewery.
They will be showcasing food from some fantastic local producers, alongside their Wimbledon beer.
The brewery can be found at 8 College Fields, Prince George’s Road, SW19 2PT – you can also find out more on their website here.
Premier Inn planning application on the Broadway
Premier Inn have submitted a planning application to Henry J Beans on the Broadway into a 176 room hotel.
You can view the planning application here and my Facebook post from February’s drop in session here.
This Saturday your Trinity Ward Conservative Councillors have arranged a drop in session so you can find out more about the application, from 10am to 11.30am at Holy Trinity Church on the Broadway, which I shall be attending.
Dates for your diary
Below are just some community events coming up in Wimbledon. If you or your group is holding a local event, please do let me know and I will help advertise it.
Wednesday 8th June – Parkside Residents Association AGM, St Mary’s Garden Hall, 8pm
Saturday 18th June – Wimbledon Guild Village Fair 1030am-5pm
Thursday 23rd June – EU Referendum, polls are open 7am to 10pm – you have until 7th June to register to vote if you’re not already registered. You can register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
Saturday 25th June – Armed Forces Day
Monday 27th June – Sunday 10th July – Wimbledon Tennis Fortnight begins – don’t forget you can also watch live at the Love Wimbledon Big Screen at The Piazza, Wimbledon