Colliers Wood Residents' Association Minutes

Tuesday 5th January 2010

Present:

Keith Spears (Chair); Keith Allen (Treasurer); Myra Sae-Heng (Secretary); Community Support Officers; Residents of Colliers Wood

  1. Introduction: Greetings and introductions from all present.

  2. Minutes of the last meeting: thank you Fiona.

  3. Matters arising from the minutes:

Residents' and Visitors' Parking – ‘Council can use profits from CPZ for transport initiatives including the Freedom Pass...’ This statement is incorrect, and misleading. The profits are not being used in this way.

  1. Update on local developments with John Hill (j.hill@merton.gov.uk) –

    1. The Unfinished bridge – A detailed scheme of what will be done should be available during March, with final details due July/August.

    2. The Tower – New consultants have been engaged. Trying to use Section 215, whereby the owners should at least clean the building.

    3. The Islamic Seminary – If extensions are being used for learning purposes then no more planning applications are required. However, if people have concerns about how the building is being used then contact John Hill.

  2. Residents' and Visitors' Parking – time for a review

Review of the parking scheme due within 2010/2011. Operational times, the controlled parking zones and pricing mechanisms will be reviewed.

  1. Donald Hope Library – staffing and improvements

Library will remain in the current location until 2017. It will be closed for a week 25th February 2010 – 4th March 2010 for some refurbishing and improvements.

Action: Please continue to write in the comments book, especially if you have any ideas about how the library could be improved. If people want the library to go out into the community and meet groups to encourage new members and more users, then contact the library manager, Chrysella.

  1. Update on local developments – The Health Centre

The PCT have decided to move the Colliers Wood and Lavender Fields surgeries into Cavendish House – the old Job Centre above the library - so that they are able to extend their range of services and offer improved access and parking. This may be to the advantage of Colliers Wood Residents but would disadvantage residents from the Lavender Fields. The general consensus was that this new centre would be a good thing for the area and get a large empty building back into community use again.

  1. Community Police Report – an update about local policing issues, incidents and priorities

Presented by Tony Richardson. Crime levels are relatively low, and there were only 8 burglaries in the last two weeks of December. Six reports of anti-social behaviour have been made, with the possibility of following up with ASBOs. Priorities at the moment are tackling robberies, and extending the dispersal zone around Singleton Close.

Action: If would like regular updates on how safe Colliers Wood is, then visit the Community Safe Website (CommunitySafe.gov.uk)

  1. The Community Newsletter

To be distributed to all 4,000 households in the Colliers Wood Ward at the end of February.

Action: Contributions to the newsletter have to be in by 10th February 2010.

Unfortunately not everything on the agenda could be covered due to time constraints.



14) Time and date of next meeting: Tuesday 2nd March 2010 at 7.30 p.m.

End - thanks to all who attended and contributed to the discussions and decisions.