Cromwell Road Bus Station, Kingston

Kingston Cromwell Road Bus Station

The new state-of-the-art Cromwell Road Bus Station opened last week following a major revamp by Transport for London (TfL).

TfL wrote: “The new eco-friendly and energy-efficient sustainable bus station will provide safer and more convenient travel along with improved passenger facilities (and better facilities for bus drivers and staff too!)”

The new bus station improvements include real-time travel information screens, enhanced LED lighting & CCTV, new PA system and accessible customer toilet, and a wider passenger island.
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New life for old Wilko stores in Kingston and New Malden

According to Love Kingston, the former Wilko store in New Malden is to become a Loon Fung supermarket offering a diverse range of Far Eastern grocery and household products. The future of the former Wilko store in Kingston is less certain. Funbox Entertainment submitted a planning application to convert the store into a sports entertainment venue offering indoor games like skittles, pool, bowling, snooker etc. Food and alcohol and late opening were also included on the application. This application has been withdrawn but, says Love Kingston, a new one has now been submitted. We will keep you updated as and when we hear.

Have your say on pharmacy services

Pharmacy services

Kingston’s Health and Wellbeing Board want to hear how we access and use our community pharmacies and local chemists. This is an opportunity to have your say and help ensure the pharmacy services in Kingston meet your needs now and in the future. If, like many Chessington residents, you are collecting your prescriptions from Boots in North Parade and found the shop to be very busy following the closure of the one on Hook Parade, this provides a chance to raise this issue. The survey deadline is 10th November.
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Ideas wanted to improve our neighbourhood

Shape your neighbourhood

Do you have an idea for how our local streets and open spaces could be improved? Or a local project that would improve the lives of residents and attract business to the area? Richard Dean, Kingston Council’s South of the Borough Neighbourhood Manager, joined our Executive Committee meeting in October to explain why he wants to hear from you. Richard told us that the South of the Borough Neighbourhood plan is being developed and he and his team want residents in Chessington, Hook and Malden Rushett to submit ideas. Find out more

Redevelopment of Chessington Industrial Estate approved

Chessington Industrial Park

A substantial redevelopment project at Cox Lane and David Road on the Chessington Industrial Estate has been approved by Kingston’s planning committee. The existing structures, many of which are vacant, were found to be inadequate for modern industrial requirements and consequently been earmarked for updating. According to the planning report, the proposed development aims to introduce flexible industrial space catering to a wide range of industries.
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Trees of Hope

Sycamore Gap tree

CDRA has applied for one of the National Trust’s Tree of Hope initiative’s sycamore saplings. The initiative is about finding inspiring ways to ensure the legacy of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree lives on. They are gifting 49 saplings to communities around the country. CDRA’s wish is that, if successful, the sapling will be presented to Citizen Zoo for planting at Tolworth Court Farm.
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Quarterly report from Police Ward Panel Meeting

Photo by Ethan Wilkinson on Unsplash

It was encouraging to hear from our Safer Neighbourhood Team that crimes in Chessington, Hook and Malden Rushett during the last quarter have been low. The most frequent crime was motor vehicle theft. The team has organised, attended and/or been involved in several local events including weapons sweeps, and a Violence Against Women and Girls event. They obtained a warrant for a dangerous dog offence, arrested a male for a potential knife assault, and returned numerous motor vehicles to their owners.
Read the full report

Change in GP Out of Hours surgeries

Kingston GP Chambers
By Darko Stojanovic via Pixabay

We have previously reported on the excellent OOH service that we had at weekends. It used to be that on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays if you needed a GP appointment you could ring Kingston GP Chambers, and they would give you an appointment at the nearest surgery available. This has now changed and, sadly, is a reduced service.
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