Sutton Smarter Travel festival included a Councillor’s Cycle Race. Tim Crowley, Paul Scully, Colin Hall and myself participated in this gruelling event. We all finished and were awarded medals for our efforts, with the “race” being won by TV’s Ben Fogle.
In between our Surgeries John, Tim & I called in to speak to stall holders and stayed for lunch. The weather and turnout was good. I purchased a jar of hand cream made from the local lavender. A demonstration of distilling to produce the lavender oil was on display. The Local Beekeepers were in attendance, they would like bees to be kept once again on the site.
An Arboriculture & Woodlands Officer visited the site and confirmed and agreed to carry out an uplift of the branches to a minimum of Eaves/Top Gutter level in approximately two weeks time, and that thereafter they will maintain this level annually. This will also ensure that the telephone cables always remain free from branch obstruction.
There is, however, still a major concern amongst residents in the road that before too long (and certainly no later than the Summer of 2009 when the Council are due to be carrying out the proper scheduled cyclical pruning) that the Crown of the Trees will need to be reduced to keep down the long extended branches at the top which tower above and hang over the rooftops.
A resident said “thanks to Cllr Moira, Ben Morris and Maggie Toms”
I asked a question about the Housing Survey 25,000 were sent out and the confusion it had given the residents regarding was it a hoax or not after an article in the paper about a hoax survey that was going through residents letterboxes. This has unsettled the residents as the housing survey is asking for their financial details.
Members Allowances were discussed especially the back pay for the two deputies. The Conservatives fought long and hard against accepting this but as usual it was agreed by the majority party.
We discussed various charity events, the charity this year is Parkinsons Outreach in Sutton.
Events:
Garden Party 26th August Mayor’s Garden Bring & Buy Plant Stall, 8 Cornwall Road, Cheam SM2 6DR 2.30pm tickets £3.50 includes afternoon tea.
Buffet Supper Sunday 2nd September Saregama Indian Restaurant 52 Banstead Road, Carshalton Beeches SM5 3NW from 6pm £15 (drinks not included). Apply for tickets to Cllr Moira Butt c/o Sutton Civic Offices St Nicholas Way, Sutton SM1 1EA. See the Event Flyer
I am joining the Group this evening for a Picnic in Beddington Park, I will let you know how it goes.
Update: We picniced on the shore of the boating lake in Beddington Park and played Bowls until the sun went down.
Took a photograph of new Barrier in Kenny Drive, entrance to Queen Mary’s Park:
I visited the Saragema Restaurant (52 Banstead Road, Carshalton Beeches) where I am organising a Charity Dinner for the Mayor of Sutton on 2nd September. The Charity this year is to raise funds for a Parkinson’s Nurse for Sutton.
Please contact me if you would like tickets (£15 each), the event starts at 6pm, and of course there will be a raffle… should I have tickets or not is the question!
I visited the Residents in Anglesey Court Gardens, regarding the anti-social behavior and litter.
Attended MERU (Medical Engineering Resource Unit). I met staff and volunteers who demonstrated their design and engineering skills to transform the lives of disabled youngsters.
MERU’s new Patron, television presenter and interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, unveiled a plaque during the event. It commemorates the founding of MERU by his late father Trefor Llewellyn Bowen - an orthopedic surgeon, and medical engineer Bill Bond - who is now MERU’s President.
There were also fun activities for all the family, including BBQ, Raffles and side shows. I left before the raffle was drawn but the following day I received a phone call to say I had won a prize. I think I will buy a lottery ticket!