by Paul Scully | Aug 25, 2016 | News |
Yesterday I went to London Bridge station for a tour in advance of the opening of their new concourse to see the works that have been completed so far, to meet with some front line staff that have helped to deliver the project, and hear about how the new integrated control room at the station unites rail staff for the first time.
I was shown around by the new Managing Director of the South East route, together with staff from GTR and Southeastern.
The newly installed escalators, stairs and two lifts will link platforms 10 to 15 to the new lower concourse. Connections to Charing Cross will resume, but Cannon Street connections will cease for a year whilst the next phase is developed. The station is as long as the Shard is tall and the concourse is bigger than Wembley so it’s quite a feat of engineering.
All of these changes form a core part of the Railway Upgrade Plan for improving performance in London and the South East.
The new state-of-the-art integrated control room is aimed at providing a safer station environment and to provide passengers with the latest service updates 
more quickly. The aim is to provide an improved passenger experience and a station that suits commuters’ needs.
From 29th August, there will also be new walking routes through the station. New entrances and exits will open on St Thomas Street, and in the morning peak, a one-way walking route to Tooley Street will be in operation. At all other times Tooley Street will be accessible via the Western Arcade and Joiner Street. The Tube will also be accessible from this route.
From 25th September, a different route through the Western Arcade will be introduced to facilitate a slight change to the worksite in this area as they begin to fit out the new retail facilities, which will be located in this area upon completion.
Way-finding activities will be ongoing over the course of the opening of the new concourse to aid passengers and make the transition as smooth as possible. These activities include:
- Posters, vinyls, leaflets and banners in the station as well as tailored messages on customer information screens.
- On train announcements where available.
- Internal and frontline staff briefings across Network Rail, TfL, Southeastern and GTR.
There is still a lot to be done to improve the commuter experience to and from Sutton stations, but I am glad to see this progress being made.
by Paul Scully | Aug 22, 2016 | News |
I am backing the launch of a new number that aims to support members of the public if they experience a power cut, which goes live on the 6th September.
Many people don’t know who to contact during a power cut and wrongly call the electricity supplier they pay their bill to. 105 has been set up to help people get through their local electricity network operator – the company responsible for the power network that delivers electricity to their door.
It is a free, easy-to-remember number that people can call to report or get information about a power cut in their area. It puts callers through to the people who will repair their local power network and restore their power.
105 is available to electricity customers in England, Scotland and Wales. The number can be accessed from most landlines and mobile phones. It doesn’t matter who you choose to buy electricity from – anyone can call 105.
105 is jointly funded by electricity network operators – the companies that manage the cables, wires and substations that bring electricity into homes and businesses. Network operators can also be contacted directly by phone or via their website, and most network operators can be contacted through social media too.
The public can also call 105 if they spot damage to electricity power lines and substations that could put them, or someone else, in danger. If there’s a serious immediate risk, the emergency services should be called too.
Visit powercut105.com to find out more about 105 and electricity network operators.
by Paul Scully | Aug 18, 2016 | News |
On Sunday I took part in the Jalsa Salana, an Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Muslims in the UK.
This unique event, now in its 49th year, is the largest convention of its kind in the UK bringing together 30,000 participants from more than 80 countries to increase religious knowledge and promote a sense of peace and unity.
Eminent speakers discuss a range of religious topics and their relevance to contemporary society. The Jalsa is also attended by a number of parliamentarians, civic leaders and diplomats from different countries who also address the gathering and the proceedings are broadcast live globally.
A key feature of this convention is that it is blessed by the presence of His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community. He addresses the convention over each of the three days expounding on the principles of Islam and elaborating on the role of religion in bringing peace to the modern world.
by Paul Scully | Aug 17, 2016 | News |
Yesterday I visited the Sutton High Street branch of NatWest bank to meet with their Business Growth Enabler, Rochelle, and discuss what they are doing to help local businesses to grow.
The role of Business Growth Enabler is a new role recently created by NatWest and she covers 9 local branches across Sutton and Kingston. It involves working closely with small and mediums size enterprises (SMEs), making connections and helping them to explore their options in order to make their business grow.
It was an excellent opportunity to promote growth for local businesses and discuss the work they do in the local community. Each year their staff spend some time volunteering in the local area, and are looking for community action projects to undertake this year. If you have any ideas, please get in touch.
I also met with the Healthcare Relationship Manager at NatWest who explained to me how they are one of the only banks to pay to accredit their staff in various fields, such as Tarek who is an accredited healthcare manager. He deals with GP and Dentist surgeries, opticians, care homes, etc, with their banking needs, whether is be acquiring assets or getting a commercial property for example.
Given the three banks that have closed in recent months in Sutton and Cheam, I raised this with NatWest who confirmed they had no plans to close their two branches in the constituency (Sutton High Street and Central Road, Worcester Park).
I want to thank Rochelle, Tarek and NatWest for meeting with me and discussing these issues.
by Paul Scully | Aug 15, 2016 | News |
I’ve been made aware that Sutton Theatres Trust have gone into administration.
This is disappointing after they rescued our local theatres last year when Sutton’s Lib Dem Council threatened to close them. I will be seeing what support I can offer to ensure our local theatres survive.
I am meeting the Chief Executive of Sutton Council this week to discuss the options for our local theatres moving forward.
Councillor Tim Crowley, the Leader of Sutton Conservatives, said: “I am disappointed that the company that is running the theatres in Sutton and Carshalton has gone into administration. I hope that a suitable buyer can be found to take over bothe the Seccombe and Charles Cryer theatres.”
more quickly. The aim is to provide an improved passenger experience and a station that suits commuters’ needs.