by Paul Scully | Sep 20, 2017 | News |
Residents of Balaam House took me on a tour of the building and its surrounding area to show me some of the issues they were concerned with.
Since the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, I have been working hard to reassure residents in high-rise buildings in Sutton by getting them answers to questions about their safety from fires, particularly in Chaucer and Balaam House at the north end of Sutton.
I was very concerned to learn of some of the problems that residents raised with me, particularly in relation to fire safety, but also about the maintenance and decision-making relating to the building and its surroundings more generally. I am particularly concerned about ensuring sufficient assessment of the needs of vulnerable residents living in Balaam House. Many reported to feeling unsafe, do not enjoy living there and feel as if their views and concerns have been forgotten by SHP and the Council.
I will be taking up their concerns with SHP and Sutton Council, as well as reaching out to every resident in Balaam House to ask them about their individual concerns.
I want to sincerely thank the residents that took me round for showing me the issues they were concerned with, and to everyone who stopped me to raise their concerns with me. I will continue to update residents as I find out more information.
by Paul Scully | Sep 19, 2017 | News |
I joined fellow MPs and dressed in pink to lend my support to Breast Cancer Now’s flagship fundraiser, wear it pink, which will see thousands of people across the UK adding a splash of pink to their outfits on Friday 20 October and raise vital funds for breast cancer research.
I’m encouraging constituents to take part and sign up to take part in the UK’s biggest pink fundraiser. The event, which takes place during October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is in its 16th year and has raised over £30 million to date for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving research.
Anyone can take part in wear it pink, which brings together schools, workplaces and communities. All you need to do is wear something pink, or hold a pink event at home, work or school, and make a donation to Breast Cancer Now. Whatever you do, you’re helping the charity achieve its aim that, if we all act now, by 2050 everyone who develops breast cancer will live.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. One in eight women will face it in their lifetime, and every year around 11,500 women and 80 men lose their lives to the disease. This is why I’m urging everyone in Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park to take part in wear it pink on Friday 20 October. It’s such a fun and easy way to support Breast Cancer Now’s vital research, and help stop breast cancer taking the lives of those we love.
Breast cancer affects so many people in Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park, so as a Breast Cancer Now Ambassador I am proud to take part in wear it pink to raise awareness of the impact of the disease locally and to support for Breast Cancer Now’s vital research. I hope that everybody in Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park will join me and wear it pink on Friday 20 October.
Also in attendance was Sky News presenter and former Olympic gymnast Jacquie Beltrao. Jacquie, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013, is lending her support to wear it pink in the hope that thousands of people across the country will take part in the event.
Jacquie Beltrao said: “I’m very proud to support wear it pink; it’s a great excuse to dress up in pink and have some fun while raising money for a really important cause. I have had breast cancer myself and following my diagnosis and treatment have become incredibly passionate about raising awareness and funds for research.
“Wear it pink has raised over £30 million to date for Breast Cancer Now, which is incredible. The event raises funds for the charity’s world-class research, which will hopefully one day put a stop to this dreadful disease. That is why I’m asking people across the country join me, and the MPs who took part in Westminster, by adding a splash of pink to their outfits on wear it pink day and donating to Breast Cancer Now. I hope lots of people across the UK take part!”
Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, said: “It is fantastic that so many MPs dressed up in pink at our Westminster wear it pink event and we are really grateful for all of the support and enthusiasm shown. We hope that by wearing pink, Paul Scully will encourage his constituents in Sutton, Cheam and Worcester Park to get involved in their local community and help us fund life-saving research this Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
“Wear it pink is a wonderful opportunity for communities across the UK to come together and have fun, whilst showing their support for everyone affected by breast cancer. Simply by wearing something pink and donating, you’re raising funds for life-saving research and helping Breast Cancer Now reach our goal that, by 2050, everyone who develops breast cancer will live.”
To take part in wear it pink this October, please visit wearitpink.org/2017 for further details, fundraising ideas and how to register for your free fundraising pack.
by Paul Scully | Sep 13, 2017 | News |
Complaints about traffic on Central Road often come up on the doorstep in Worcester Park and is something that has been a problem for residents for many years.
It is not uncommon to hear stories of it taking over an hour to drive from one end of Central Road to the other during peak times, and turning right from Green Lane onto Central Road towards Kingston and the A3 can take just as long.
It has been difficult to get a conversation started about how we might tackle this problem as it involved Sutton Council, Kingston Council, Transport for London and even Highways England all having an input. However, earlier this week I arranged to meet representatives from all of these organisations alongside our local Conservative London Assembly Member, Steve O’Connell, on Central Road so they could see the issue for themselves and start the conversation.
The meeting was useful in order to discuss issues such as the build up of traffic from South Lane and the Malden Junction onto the A3, but also the effect that the traffic and subsequent air pollution has on people’s health and putting people off shopping in Central Road.
There were plenty of ideas shared at the meeting and one resident even stopped as he drove by to plead that the junction of Green Lane and Central Road be turned into a roundabout rather than traffic lights, but what was made clear was that the Councils and TfL in particular need a lot more data before they can begin to look at potential solutions.
Luckily, X26 bus drivers are currently collating information for TfL that will be relevant to this issue and the Councils along with TfL have gone away to look at ways that they might be able to progress the data gathering exercise they need.
I will be sure to keep residents updated on the progress of these discussions. A solution won’t appear overnight, but I am pleased that we have finally got all the relevant parties in one place to start a conversation.
by Paul Scully | Sep 4, 2017 | News |
Sutton United Football Club (“Sutton United FC”), Sutton & Epsom Rugby Football Club (“Sutton & Epsom RFC”) and Sutton Cricket Club (“Sutton CC”) have together announced that they intend to form an alliance to collaborate within the local community (the “Sutton Sports Alliance”).
The Sutton Sports Alliance brings together three major sports clubs in the area, with the common aim of increasing participation and spectator numbers across football, rugby and cricket in the area, with a particular focus on younger people.
Sutton United FC, Sutton & Epsom RFC and Sutton Cricket Club have amassed more than 400 years of combined history. Each club boasts alumni of county and international representatives but importantly, each club is a family club with relevance to all generations.
The Sutton Sports Alliance is further commitment towards extending the reach more broadly to the local community and the clubs have agreed to jointly promote the following initiatives, and I am happy to support it in its endeavours.
For more information, view their press release here.
by Paul Scully | Aug 24, 2017 | News |
I am urging local charities and community groups to consider applying for a share of over £4 million of funding raised by players of People’s Postcode Lottery. Applications for the latest round of funding are now open and will close on the 28th August.
Both charities and community groups are eligible to apply for the grants of between £500 and £20,000.
The funding will be allocated through one of three Trusts, which support different categories of projects:
- People’s Postcode Trust seeks applications for projects that focus on the prevention of poverty, promotion of human rights, equal rights and conflict resolution for some of society’s most vulnerable groups.
- Postcode Local Trust supports wildlife, sustainability, play areas and green spaces.
- Postcode Community Trust focuses on grass-roots sports, arts, recreation and healthy living programmes.
Over 400 projects were awarded with grants in the last funding round. With previously funded projects ranging from sports clubs, to mental health groups, to wildlife conservation charities, this is a fantastic opportunity for groups to access funding to make a difference in the local community.
I know many local charities and community groups do fantastic work on very limited budgets but securing extra funds can make a huge difference both for the charity and the local people it supports. I thus urge all local charities and groups to consider making an application to this funding raised by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery and to do so now. It is not difficult to make an application so I hope as many local groups as possible get involved.
Clara Govier, Head of Charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “More than £4 million injected into grass roots projects across Great Britain will have a tremendous impact in local communities. Between the three Trusts, a very wide range of causes are supported, so I’d urge groups to have a look at the websites to see where their project fits – no matter how big or small – and get applying.”
Players of People’s Postcode Lottery have so far raised more than £221.2 million to date for over 3,000 good causes across Great Britain and internationally.
For more information on how to apply for funding, please visit the Trusts’ websites:
www.postcodetrust.org.uk
www.postcodelocaltrust.org.uk
www.postcodecommunitytrust.org.uk
