Further to my letter published in the Guardian in June, once again I really must complain about the latest “Dear council tax payer” letter which arrived from Sutton Council today.

Did we need another puff piece just three months on from the last one? Why have they failed to listen to their constituents again?

Apparently the council are “working hard to protect frontline services” but  they make no mention of the cut in hours to Sutton Central Library.

It also does not list any way in which the council have fought to protect our much loved and needed hospital.

St Helier Hospital remains under serious threat of at least partial closure, with the A&E, Children’s Hospital, neonatal unit, maternity unit, renal unit, path lab and 170 beds all in imminent danger.

The sad fact is the best our council and MPs have done is collect a few signatures. They could take action and coordinate proper campaigns to save our hospital, such as those supported by Lewisham council, which recently won a Judicial Review to protect their hospital.

The efforts of the neighbouring Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh and Merton Council (who do not even have the hospital in their constituency) show us all how much more can be done, if they put their minds to it.

The last paragraph on the front page of this newsletter tells us all exactly what our Lib Dem elected personnel will do for our hospital: sit back and wait for us all to do the work.

High time they publicised the plight of our hospital, recognised how valued it is and formed a strategy to help us save it.

At the Environmental Fair, Labour were informing the public of the danger to our hospital and NHS. The Lib Dems focussed on selling jam and old books.

Paul Burstow (co-writer of the Health and Social Care Act breaking up our NHS and putting it all at risk) voted against publishing the risk register.

And neither he, Tom Brake, nor our council have commissioned any activity or events to coordinate efforts to save our hospital.

They haven't even had the “investment” poster removed from the front of the hospital, which gives false hope to residents.

They’d rather leave the work and campaigning to us. Campaigning should be about more than a photo opportunity or the odd Tweet.

This summer I was at the London NHS rally and was proud to be asked to be a speaker on a platform at the end of Downing Street to declare that I will work to save our hospital and our NHS.

Tens of thousands were on that march and heard what I and others had to say. There were excellent speakers taking their stand for our NHS. Where is the commitment from our elected representatives?

It is hypocrisy of the highest order that our council are asking us to “help us recycle more” when they have approved plans for an incinerator to be built in Sutton to burn the waste of other London councils.

This greenhouse gas factory will ensure that recycling rates will fall through the floor. How can residents be asked to save the environment while our Lib Dems are ensuring that we are polluted by increased traffic and lorries shipping waste in, not to mention the toxic fumes and waste this incinerator will cause. What’s the point in sorting our cardboard out when Sutton residents will be forced to breathe the toxic fumes of south London’s rubbish being burned on our doorstep?

With regards to the developments in our town centre, there are major concerns.

Firstly, there are already many empty and underused units on the High Street and elsewhere in Sutton, which ought to be occupied before developing any more.

There are also many empty office buildings. While people are homeless or inadequately housed it is wrong that planning should be granted in this way.

The first priority should be for affordable and appropriate housing. There is absolutely no point in providing more business spaces when we already have a surplus. These stand to be more white elephants, like the Life Centre. 

Sutton Point will also cost us one of the car parks in the town centre, which will create a bigger problem for the existing shops as it gets harder to park.

Whilst I applaud the job creation from these initiatives, they could still be generated from building social housing, and solve one of the growing crises we have.

The council could also build a new primary school to accommodate the increasing number of children in the borough. This would provide more lasting opportunities for teachers, caterers etc., as well as solving another big shortage we have locally.

I hope that proper safety and standards are employed on the construction sites, unlike the dangerous practices of the people who did the roofing work over Paul Burstow’s office.

Contracts should only be awarded to quality assured, safe companies, who are registered locally and pay the London minimum wage at the very least to all staff. Not only will this boost the local business economy, it will also offer employment opportunities for our excellent skilled trades men and women.

Why are our elected representatives still failing to represent the people who pay their wages, and were our taxes spent on this propaganda?

I asked these questions last time. I am still waiting for answers.

Bonnie Craven; Labour Wandle Valley Action Team

 

TODAY'S TOP SUTTON STORIES