Boris supports local Tram campaign

Boris supports local Tram campaign

Businesses are keen to bring the tram to Sutton, allowing people to come from St Helier along the High Street to Sutton station and hopefully beyond to the Royal Marsden in Belmont. Boris is supportive of this but has warned that the council needs to do more to engage residents, making them aware of the benefits and ensuring that they express a clear view that they want to see this happen. The council has approved £32,000 of taxpayers’ money to lobby for the tram. Steve O’Connell and I have lobbied the Mayor at no cost to residents and are keen to hear from you. Would a tram benefit you personally? How might this help Sutton? What are the downsides? Please do let me know.

Showcasing local businesses

Showcasing local businesses

Boris thumbsup

I’ve written to the Sutton Guardian to highlight some of the excellent examples of successful small businesses that we have in Sutton. The multimillion pound investments are crucial but equally entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the borough providing jobs and opportunities and ensuring that we have a thriving local economy

“Dear Sir

Boris Johnson’s recent visit to Sutton enabled me to show him how local businesses are taking the lead in improving the town centre through Successful Sutton. They are far better placed to set and deliver a vision for business in Sutton than politicians. The key issues raised by local retailers were their support for the tram extension and high business rates.

I was delighted to take him to Tazza coffee shop because it has a great story to tell. UnitedLife Church wanted to run a business at the heart of the community to be able to bring people and businesses together in the middle of Sutton. So the town centre ends up with a community hub, a successful business and excellent coffee. That’s definitely win/win.

After the usual bustle of a Boris walkabout on the High Street, pausing only to check the tennis score on the big screens on Trinity Square, we met the owners of Uno Tapas who have decided to invest in Sutton rather than their home town of Croydon. As well as the multimillion pound schemes, these independent businesses are the sorts of positive examples that we need to build on to revitalise our Borough as a whole, not just limiting our ambitions to Sutton town centre.

 

Paul Scully
Conservative Parliamentary Candidate
Sutton & Cheam

Read about Paul: http://www.scully.org.uk/
Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/scullyp
Like Paul’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/scullyforsutton”

Matthew Maxwell Scott completes our team

Matthew Maxwell Scott completes our team

DSC05147I’m delighted that Matthew Maxwell Scott has been selected to contest the seat of Carshalton & Wallington for the Conservatives in the 2015 General Election. I’ve known Matthew for a while now and he’s going to bring energy, ideas and sheer hard work to that part of the borough. He’ll do really well against the sitting MP. I’m looking forward to working with Matthew on issues such as the planned changes to St Helier hospital, the shortage of school places and the need to boost our local economy. Matthew has bags of experience as a local councillor in Wandsworth, a council that has led the way in running effective, affordable local services for years now and I’m excited about the ideas that he will bring to Sutton.

For news about Matthew and his campaign keep an eye on www.cwcanet.com

You’ve raised £1800 for our heroes

You’ve raised £1800 for our heroes

H4H Asda Nudge1Thank you to all of you who bought wristbands, keyrings, bags or just donated money at Asda over the weekend. You have raised a magnificent £1,800 for Help for Heroes. I have raised money for a number of causes over the years but Help for Heroes strikes a particular chord with people who are generous to a tee and give freely. We were joined by Sergeant Major Mark “Lofty” Taylor. Anyone who met Lofty could not have failed to be impressed by the man,dressed up in his medals on the Sunday, sharing his story of how Help for Heroes helped him deal with his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at their Tedworth House recovery centre and being an amazing ambassador for the charity.

My Nudge Factory business partner Az and I organised this as part of our company’s community work but it was great to be joined by friends from across the borough who are always happy to help such a worthwhile cause. Lofty explained how Help for Heroes was not politically affiliated in any way, making no judgement on the politics of the battlefield. Instead they are there solely to concentrate on rebuilding the lives of those who return. As someone supported by the charity, Lofty is a member of the Band of Brothers and travels around telling people about the amazing work carried out using your donations. The charity is very lean. Donations are treated like any other charity with gift aid enhancing the money raised. Merchandise sold goes through a trading company, Help for Heroes Trading Co Ltd which is making enough to cover all overheads and provide donations to the charity. It is running at 106% efficiency.

All of the merchandise was sold including the wristband from my arm and our own bag such was the demand. If you were unable to buy what you wanted the whole range of merchandise is available at the Help for Heroes website here.  I’ll leave an update confirming the final total which is still coming in after a couple of last minute pledges.

 

Sunshine in the Marsden

Sunshine in the Marsden

zipposBelmont Councillor, Peter Geiringer has used one of his more unusual contacts to put a smile on children’s faces at the Royal Marsden. As a result of the longstanding friendship Peter and Martin Burton, the owner of Zippos Circus, Peter was able to persuade Martin that whenever the “circus comes to town” in Beddington Park, he would send some clowns to the children’s unit of the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital in Belmont, to help brighten up their lives.

Cllr Peter Geiringer and Cllr Pam Picknett are shown here together with the clowns during their visit in May. Pam said of her visit, “Just to see the smiles on the children’s faces was a heart-warming experience”.

Zippos Circus is one of the UK’s largest and most popular travelling circuses and has been touring the country for the past 25 years. Owned by Zippo the Clown himself, Martin Burton, the show has brought sunshine and laughter to a great number of communities. It’s good that Peter has brought some of that the Marsden to lift the spirits of the children there.

Join me in helping our heroes

Join me in helping our heroes

H4H Asda

I am looking for volunteers to join me and business partner, Ahzaz Chowdhury, raise money for Help for Heroes at Asda in Sutton on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th July as part of the supermarket chain’s collection weekend across 500 stores nationwide.

During the weekend of 6th and 7th July, our company Nudge Factory Ltd will lead local volunteers in taking over the foyer of the Asda store on the High Street in Sutton. We will be fundraising and selling the latest merchandise straight from Help for Heroes HQ.

Help for Heroes is all about doing your bit and this event is a great example of how our local community can do its bit by raising money for a wonderful cause whilst also having fun. The barbaric murder of Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich last week whilst wearing his Help for Heroes top makes this event even more poignant. As well as collecting for the charity, we are doing this to bring everyone in our community together to show their support.

The road to recovery is a very long and hard path and these young men and women will need life enabling support as they grow old. They deserve the best and with our help they will get it. The money we raise is needed, it is being used and it is hugely appreciated.

If you can help, please contact Ahzaz Chowdhury on 07572 941 274 or email him at suttonforheroes@nudgefactory.co.uk for further information on how you can do your bit to help or visit www.asda.helpforheroes.org.uk to register online.