Notes of the Colliers Wood Residents’ Association meeting

held on 9 November 2024

Chair: Bryony Pollock

Apologies: Cllr Stuart Neaverson, Kevin Godding, Cllr Laxmi Attawar and Margaret Rogers

It was confirmed that there was no police presence at the meeting.

AGENDA & DISCUSSION

TfL engagement and changes impacting the High Street and the Colliers Wood-to-Balham walking and cycling route

1. Bryony advised the attendees that TfL representative James Pickard had contacted her only the previous day to confirm his unavailability to appear at today’s CWRA meeting in person as originally planned. This came as a disappointment to a number of local business owners who had turned up to the meeting specifically to raise questions and points of concern with James.

2. James had provided Bryony with some written responses to a number of questions which had been emailed to him prior to the meeting. James had been asked to address a longstanding and ongoing concern on the part of the residents about the impact of changes made to the High Street and the C27 cycle route since 2020, but had also been provided with a list covering a range of related topics including:

• the cleanliness of the area around CW tube station;
• the TfL consultation process and how people can escalate any concerns;
• future plans for the A24;
• impact of ULEZ and cycle lanes;
• malfunctioning traffic lights in the Tandem Centre area;
• charging of buses behind the Merton garage causing nuisance to Wandle Bank residents;
• delays to emergency services vehicle caused by the cycle lanes

3.  Bryony provided a summary of what James had said in his emailed response:

Balham - Colliers Wood route

• Residents had online access to a “Healthy Streets Monitoring Report” which provided data on the impact of upgrades to the C27 route between Colliers Wood and Balham which had been introduced in summer 2020 in response to the Pandemic https://haveyoursay.tfl.go.uk/colliorswood-balham The data covers impacts on cycling rates, bus journey times and accident rates.

• There had been an announcement in September 2023 that a series of improvements would be implemented over two phases, with the final delivery date currently set as Spring 2025 albeit this was subject to change depending on road works carried about by other agencies, including Thames Water;

• Once the second phase of improvements, there would be a local consultation to give people the opportunity to feedback on the impact of the changes and raise and issues for TfL to address;

Emergency vehicle access

• TfL had worked with all London emergency services when the changes were first being implemented, including to agree the spacing of wands.It had been agreed that an 8m gap would be sufficient to enable drivers to pull in to give way to emergency vehicles. Residents could access further information about this online at  https://content.tfl.gov.uk/guidance-for-the-use-of-traffic-wand-with-cycle-infrastructure.pdf

• TfL would be replacing any missing wands which Thames Water had not replaced following road works and would chase Thames Water for the cost of this.

Malfunctioning traffic lights (Tandem Centre)

• James was not aware of any issues regarding this. Residents could report faults via the TfL Streetcare web address:

 https://tfl.gov.uk/help-and-contact/contact-us-about-streets-and-other-road-issues 

Electric bus charging at Merton garage         

• Again James was not aware of any issues but invited residents to provide him with further details.

Future plans for the A24

• Residents could feedback on forthcoming changes at the junction of the A24 Merantum Way / Morden Road at https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/a24-morden-road

4. The attendees raised ongoing concerns about lack of visibility and consultation on TfL’s proposed changes. The website links were not well publicised. There was a feeling that changes were simply implemented and only afterwards were residents then being invited to feedback -  retrospectively - on their impact.
5. The local business owners in attendance expressed their particular concerns about lack of space for customer parking and loading. They were aware of real adverse consequences in terms of job losses and shop closures directly related to the loss of parking spaces to enable cycle lanes.  
6. Further points were raised about the floating bus stop design and how this, combined with the cycle lanes, created a safety hazard for pedestrians.
7. It was agreed that efforts to get a TfL representative to attend the CWRA meeting in person should continue. It was suggested that future invitations should be copied into the local MP and relevant local councillors.      

Councillor’s reports 

8. Caroline C-M addressed the meeting:

Leaking fire hydrant

• A previously reported fire hydrant leak was still being chased up by Laxmi A who had written to the relevant department

Fly tipping

• Previously reported fly tipping issues were again being chased up and there were no specific updates for the meeting

Local Plan

• A decision at Secretary of State level meant that the Local Plan, which residents had provided feedback on during consultation specifically with regard to building height restrictions, would now be proceeding on the basis that developers would not be limited to construction up to the maximum height of Britannia Point.
• Local planners were aware of the residents’ general disapproval of this. It was intended that a  “Design code” for the area would be drawn up which developers would be asked to adhere to, albeit on a non-compulsory basis.
• Caroline provided some initial information on how residents would be able to have some input into the Design Code.

“Borough of Sport”

• Caroline provided information on this local council initiative. Free concessions were now available for -16s and +65s at various sites including swimming pools. Caroline touched on several other examples, including a scheme to enable footballs to be borrowed from local libraries.
• Further information available at  https://www.merton.gov.uk/healthy-living/sport-and-healthy-living/borough-sport

Matters arising     

‘Vision’ sub-group

9. The sub-group discussed and agreed at the previous CWRA meeting was now aiming to convene in January 2025. The purpose of the sub-group is to generate ideas for raising awareness of and interest in the CWRA across the local community.        

MertonVision / GP surgery 

10. Bryony had previously submitted an enquiry seeking information on proposed plans for these local services but to date had received no response. Bryony said she would chase up.

Parks & Green Spaces sub-group 

Wandle Park

11. There was discussion on improvements to the Baltic Close entrance to the park. There had been a useful meeting with Merton council’s Jonathan Turner. “Community Infrastructure” funding was available but minimum bids were set at £20,000 and needed to be backed by support from relevant local councillors. A bid which included a number of items, for example cleaning the fountains and restoring the reed beds in order to reduce the flooding had been submitted.

Bulb planting activity

12. An update was provided on upcoming activities.

Other

13. There was a reminder about the current plan to install an outdoor gym at the CW recreation ground.

AOB

14. There was a brief discussion about the apparent cessation of a National Trust project in the Savacentre / Prior Retail Park area.
15. A complaint was raised about motorbikes shortcutting through pedestrian areas and traffic barriers. Fiona said she would raise the issue at the next police panel.
16. There was a reminder that residents could sign up to the CWRA newsletter via the website. The CWRA Facebook page was to be discontinued.  
17. Date & times of next meetings

Next year’s meetings will all held at the Community Centre at 11am on a Saturday morning on 15 February, 26 April, 20 September and 8 November.