The WORCESTER PARK Blog, Surrey ¦

Clegg Over

2012-01-30T18:03:00.001Z

As the good folk of this town were distracted by the fierce debate about the misuse of the baskets-only aisle at Waitrose and concern about the whereabouts of Oscar the cat at Pets Place, our esteemed Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg was able to slip unnoticed in and out of Worcester Park on Friday.

Mr Clegg, Sutton Borough’s two Liberal Democrat MPs, Paul Burstow and Tom Brake, and London Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick were at Cheam Common Infants School last Friday to meet local party activists.

The Deputy PM was apparently grilled about a possible war with Iran, the replacement of Trident and the future of the Euro. And then he was gone.

Did you fail to notice Nick Clegg's visit to Worcester Park? Did you not witness anything? Do you have no photos of this event? Have you or someone you know been unaffected by Nick Clegg's visit to Worcester Park? Contact the blog and us know.

Not Very Niceland

2012-01-30T12:46:00.000Z

Detectives from Sutton CID would like to speak to these two women in connection with the theft of a purse from a customer at the Iceland in Worcester Park on Monday 9th January, shortly after 12.30pm.

Police stress that the individuals in these photos may not be connected with the offence and may be innocent.

If you are one of these individuals or you are able to identify who these individuals are please contact Detective Constable Matt Harris at Sutton Police station on 020 8649 0777. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Worcester Park By-election Candidates

2012-01-29T22:35:00.001Z

Candidate nominations for the forthcoming Worcester Park Ward by-election have now closed.

Five candidates will be contesting the single seat on the Council, vacated when incumbent Liberal Democrate Councillor Jennifer Kampbell-Klomps resigned her seat to move abroad.

The candidates are:

Simon Densley - ConservativeParty
George Dow - Green Party
Hilary Hosking - LabourParty
David Pickles - UKIndependenceParty
Roger Roberts - LiberalDemocrats

The by-election will be held on Thursday 16th February 2012.

Off Her Trolley

2012-01-29T09:49:00.000Z

A customer in Waitrose waits in the 'baskets only' queue with a shopping trolley (containing only a few items). There is a baby in the trolley seat:

Waitrose Partner: This is for baskets only, I'm afraid.

Customer: Yes, I know. I'm only buying a few items but I can't use a basket because I've got my little girl with me. I can't carry both - she needs to go in the seat.

Waitrose Partner: I appreciate that, but this is for baskets only.

Customer: So, what do you suggest I do, put the baby in the basket as well??

Waitrose Partner: [Blank look] Erm...

Customer: I tell you what, how about I put these items in the basket and then put the basket in the trolley, would that be OK?

Waitrose Partner: [panicked look] Erm, yes...

The customer picks up an empty basket, puts her shopping items into the basket, puts the basket in the trolley, approaches the checkout and is duly served.

Burglary Suspects Detained

2012-01-27T07:36:00.001Z

Those of you kept awake (or woken up) by the police helicopter hovering over Worcester Park just before midnight last night can take some comfort in the news that two people have been arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit was called in to assist local borough officers and dog units who were searching local gardens in the hunt for the burglary suspects.

The suspects are understood to have been detained in a garden in Hampton Road having attempted to break into a shop on Central Road.

Steampunk comes to Worcester Park

2012-01-26T09:25:00.001Z

If you have heard of 'Steampunk' before then you can skip this first paragraph. If, like me, you have never heard of it (and assumed it was the name of a band) then let me enlighten you. Steampunk, is a movement based loosely around science fiction of the Victorian period started by authors of the time such as Jules Verne and one-time Worcester Park resident HG Wells. The style may be seen in such movies as “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”, “The Three Musketeers” and the new Sherlock Holmes movies.

The 'Surrey Steampunk Convivial', a single day event celebrating “Steampunk”, is coming to Worcester Park and surrounding areas on Saturday 25th February.

The Steampunk style of dress is adopted by many, with corsets, top hats, waistcoats and goggles. The day starts at The Worcester Park Tavern at 10:00am from where the group will take a gentle stroll up and down The Avenue in Worcester Park, where HG Wells lived in when he wrote “The Time Machine.”.

The walk will be hosted by local history enthusiast Clive Popkin (described as poet and descendant of Vlad the Impaler). Following this will be a chance to eat, drink and chat at the HG Wells pub, on Cheam Common Road.

Afternoon events will take place at The Royal Oak in the faraway land of New Malden, with a mini-market full of handmade steampunk items for sale, with a shadow puppet workshop, tea-duelling (a traditional steampunk sport), and snail racing (snails permitting).

An evening of original music will follow at The Royal Oak, including steampunk artists Tom Slatter and 'Moth' who are based in Worcester Park - with eclectic all girl band Smiling Knife and Dick Philpot, with black and white projections by Prof. Kit Krakenspine, and Djing from The Inimitable Sarah Kingham (don't pretend you haven't heard of them all).

All are welcome – Victorian or Steampunk dressing up is not obligatory, but is highly encouraged. Tickets for the whole event are £5 available online. www.harpsfest.com or you can find out more at the event's Facebook page.

I don't know about you, but I am feeling very out of touch. And ever so slightly scared.

UPDATED: Fire in North Cheam

2012-01-25T16:10:00.001Z

London Fire Brigade has tackled a large fire in garages behind Evans Autos on London Road, North Cheam.

Six fire engines and around 30 firefighters from New Malden, Wimbledon, Surbiton, Mitcham and Norbury fire stations were called to the blaze which affected nine garages behind the Evans Autos car dealership.

Fears that gas cylinders may have been involved in the fire led to around 60 residents living in nearby flats being evacuated from their homes as a precaution.

One person is believed to have been taken to St Helier hospital after being injured in the blaze.

The fire was brought under control at 17.15.

Clothed Down, Opening Up

2012-01-25T14:58:00.002Z

My sources tell me that the lease on the former 'Zeus Clothing' shop unit has been acquired by Worcester Park-based loft conversion and building company 'Kingston South Limited'.

Kingston South's offices are currently located in the Fitzroy House office development, so it will be just a sort hop downstairs to move into their new showroom and office on Central Road.

As you will see from their website, Kingston South's corporate colour is distinctly orange so expect a bright future for that particular shop unit when they open in a few weeks' time.

Fighter jets over Worcester Park...

2012-01-21T20:42:00.001Z

Fear not - the fighter jet that flew over Worcester Park on Saturday evening was one of two Eurofighter Typhoon jets taking part in practice sorties in preparation for their security role during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

The fast fighter jets (normally based at RAF Coningsby but due to be stationed at RAF Northolt during the games) have been flying sorties at 1,000ft over a number of areas of London and Surrey.

Counter Crime

2012-01-19T22:37:00.001Z

Staff at Lloyds TSB bank in Worcester Park have been praised by police for their actions after a 94-year-old woman told a cashier at the counter that she wanted to withdraw £4,000 cash to pay a man to repair her front garden wall.

The elderly woman, who lives alone, had been visited at her semi-detached home in Caldbeck Avenue on Saturday 7th January by a man offering to do work. She recognised the man as having undertaken some work for her previously and she suggested he repaired the pillar which had come away from the main front wall.

The man returned a few days later and told the victim that the work would cost £4,000. The woman gave the workmen some water to mix cement and then left to withdraw the money from Lloyds TSB on Central Road.

Worried bank staff called Worcester Park Safer Neighbourhoods Team. Officers arrived at the woman’s home address and a man in his 50s was arrested for fraud by misrepresentation.

The man told police that he had not had any direct contact with the elderly resident and that he had been offered the work for £80 ‘cash in hand’ earlier that morning from a man named Paddy. The man denied knowing about any payment of £4,000. The man has been bailed to return to Sutton Police Station.

PC Duncan Harris, of Sutton’s Crime Prevention Unit, advised residents not be persuaded to have work carried out on their homes by doorstep ‘workmen’. “If you receive such an approach and are suspicious don’t let any workmen into your home under any circumstances. Close the door on them and call police immediately on 999,” he said.

Det Con Paul Williams, of Sutton CID, said: “The management and staff at Lloyds TSB are to be congratulated for their vigilance and prompt actions which have saved this woman from losing £4,000 for work which should only cost a fraction of this sum.”

Taking A Pounding?

2012-01-14T18:18:00.004Z

When Poundland opened its Worcester Park branch in March last year you could almost hear the anguished cries of 'there goes one's neighbourhood' - the fact that it opened in the former home of an upmarket M&S Simply Food store only serving to rub freshly-ground Atlantic sea salt into the wounds of the appalled middle classes.

The store has been beset by disappointing sales figures ever since and the Worcester Park Blog understands that last autumn the retail giant gave the fledgling branch until the New Year to prove that it could pay its way.

Sources now indicate that after only nine months of trading, the writing could be on the wall for Worcester Park's Poundland.

Watch this space.

Roofless Tactics

2012-01-13T07:47:00.001Z

Beware of what would appear to be a roofing scam operating in the Worcester Park area. Blog reader Glen explains:

"The doorbell rang and a man wearing a sweatshirt with a logo on it asked if he could rest his ladder in our front path tomorrow when he was repairing our neighbour's roof.

We said this wasn't a problem. He then told us that we had 2 loose tiles and would we like him to replace them while he was up there. He wanted £40 to get the tiles. I told him I had no cash so he said he would come back tomorrow evening and sort out invoices then.

I then went and checked with my neighbour who has not booked any work so it is a complete scam.
We then saw them working their way down Colborne Way."

Office Building Ransacked

2012-01-10T21:52:00.001Z

Local businesses are being warned to be vigilant after a Worcester Park office building was targeted by thieves last night.

Offices at Fitzroy House (at the junction of Central Road and Lynwood Drive) were ransacked with hundreds of pounds worth of computer equipment amongst the items stolen from a number of small businesses.

The thieves also caused extensive property damage, kicking down doors in the complex before finding a set of keys in one of the offices which they used to let themselves out of the front entrance.

A Plumb Note

2012-01-10T00:56:00.005Z

Central Plumbing Supplies, on the corner of Brinkley Road, has taken the curious decision to shut at 12.30 every Saturday 'because of the roadworks' on Central Road - which both perplexed and disappointed me when I turned up there at 1 o'clock on Saturday, having walked past Worcester Park's other retailers who all seemed to be going about their business as usual.

It was disappointing too for the other couple who arrived at the shop a few seconds after me and were similarly turned away by the hand written sign in the window.

Fortunately I have never found that the roadworks cause any traffic problems on a Saturday, which meant I was able to breeze out of Worcester Park and take my cold hard cash to B&Q who were most definitely open for business.

Where the other couple took their custom I shall never know, but I can't help wondering if this particular retailer hasn't scored a bit of an own goal.

Goodbye-election

2012-01-06T22:20:00.000Z

A by-election is to be held in Sutton Council's Worcester Park ward, after Liberal Democrat Councillor Jennifer Cambell-Klomps resigned her seat to move abroad.

Ms Campbell-Klomps who lives on The Hamptons (which is much the same as living abroad, really - so why relocate) was elected in May 2010, toppling the incumbent Conservative candidate.

The by-election (which will cover just the one seat in Worcester Park ward) will be held on Thursday 16th February 2012.

Happier New Year?

2012-01-05T21:58:00.000Z

Happy New Year all!

Here's hoping that 2012 brings you everything you hope for. For those struggling with the thought of the new months stretching ahead, I thought I would start this year's blogging with some timely words of advice from Richard Cruz of the Worcester Park Counselling Practice:

"Out with the old, in with the new. If only it was as easy as that.

Often it is a challenging time in terms of expectation and a sense of changes needing to be made in aspects of our lives. There can be a struggle to cope with the start of the New Year and turn over that new leaf, particularly if the year gone by had not been easy.

2011 was a difficult year for Britain, with widespread financial instability, redundancies, service cuts, mounting debts, fee increases and riots.Life is tough for everyone, but especially for those suffering hardship and the impact of that hardship on their personal relationships and emotional lives.

Mental health services can’t make people’s lives easier, but they can help people to cope with what life brings, however hard it may be. Here are some tips for improve your mental health in these troubling times:

1. Keep active – exercise really does noticeably change the way you feel by releasing certain feel-good hormones. Not only does it make you happier, it keeps your body looking healthy and working properly. It can also help people suffering from serious mental illnesses such as psychosis.

2. Eat well – research has revealed significant links between eating plenty of fruit, vegetables and protein, with an improvement in mental health. Diet is important – you will notice that if you eat junk food, you feel worse even if you enjoyed it at the time.

3. Sleep well – try to go to bed at a reasonable time, allowing you to have 6-8 hours of sleep at night. Relax before bed – don’t work at the computer, play games, watch TV or drink caffeine before sleeping as these activities act as stimulants and will keep your brain awake.

4. Don’t drink too much – we all enjoy a drink every now and then, but moderation is essential. If you are feeling low, alcohol will act as a depressant and make you feel even worse. Find another way to distract yourself, like immersing yourself in a book or a film.

5. Keep a social life – sometimes it is an effort to socialise when you don’t feel like it. Forcing yourself to get out and keep in touch with family and friends is important and will make you feel better.

6. Talk about it – if you think you might need professional help, don’t be afraid to seek it. Admitting to a problem is the first step towards fighting it. We all feel sad sometimes, but if the feeling won’t go then you may benefit from some external advice or treatment.

7. Go outside – fresh air really is medicine. Going for a walk in the park can do wonders for your mind. It will replenish your oxygen supplies, heighten your senses and maybe even take your mind off things.

8. Think of 3 good things – when things are particularly tough and you struggle to find any positive aspects to your life, force yourself to write 3 good things down. This can involve even the smallest achievement or event – from getting out of bed, to someone smiling at you in the street. Reading back at the end of the week will make you realise that not all is bad.

9. Help someone – sometimes all we need is to feel a little compassion. Doing something good for someone not only spreads goodwill, it also makes you feel better. Human beings are social creatures – it makes sense that helping each other makes us happy.

Whilst tips and advice can go some way to alleviating distress, anxiety or depression, many find that support of a deeper nature is needed such as counselling"

Richard Cruz is a counsellor based in Worcester Park (also available in Oxford Circus) providing support for a wide range of mental health problems. Further details can be found at www.wpcp.co.uk or to book a confidential appointment please call Richard on 07813944146.

Crafty Ideas

2011-12-09T14:15:00.001Z

There's an 'Arts & Crafts Fair' at The Hamptons tomorrow (Saturday 10th December) from 1pm to 4pm in Maple Lodge (near the main entrance road off Green Lane).

There will be a great collection of items created and designed by the crafty people of Worcester Park and wine tasting courtesy of The VinBin.

Afterward, The VinBin invites you to join them for complementary mulled wine and mince pies at their shop (opposite North End Tavern) to celebrate Christmas, the shop's one year anniversary and the launch of their brand new website which allows you to order your favourite wines online, find food matches and select the perfect wines for Christmas.

All our welcome (including children). Mulled wine and snacks are complimentary with other selected wines available to purchase by the glass from just £2.50.

A Common Concern?

2011-12-05T21:43:00.001Z

As the debate continues over possible expansion of Cheam Common Infants School in response to growing pressure on school places in Worcester Park, a concerned parent has contacted the blog to voice his concerns over the impact that this might have on the school and the surrounding area.

He writes: "It seems that the school is now looking to go ahead with the plans to expand having given everyone "comfort" in knowing that the many side streets can be used for parents dropping off and picking up their little ones (this for some reason being the only concern the school has over the expansion).

No consideration has been given to the residents of these streets, nor to the parents (of which I am one) and the children of Cheam Common Infants.

The school is already at maximum capacity and quite frankly the teaching standards have slipped in the three years I have been involved with the school.

Plans that are being thrown around to cater for this expansion include building on the only small green space the kids now have, rotating break periods and no doubt increasing class sizes.

I am embarrassed to say that the education system in this country has hit an all time low by allowing this to happen in favour of school funds rather than putting the well fare of the children first.

I'd urge all parents and carers and local person to voice your concerns and disagreement of this shift in priorities."

Applications for a place at the Infants’ School have increased considerably in recent years. In 2008 there were only 2 children on the admissions waiting list, in 2010 there was none but this year saw 51 pupils, most of whom lived within a mile of the school, on the waiting list.

Class sizes in surrounding schools have been increased to try and mitigate this situation, however demand for school places in Worcester Park is predicted to continue to increase, especially with the completion of a further 88 properties on The Hampton’s development.

Sutton Council's education committee is considering four possible options in response to the demand for school places in Worcester Park:

Delay or discontinue the further expansion of capacity in the Worcester Park area;
Expand Cheam Common Infants’ school by one form of entry from September 2012;
Expand Dorchester Primary School by a further form of entry from September 2012’
Provide a 'bulge' reception class at Dorchester Primary School from September 2012.

It is understood that the second option, addition of another form at Cheam Common Infants, is the most favoured option of the four being considered.

The plan to add a further class to the school from September 2012 has already met considerable local controversy, with a petition presented by concerned locals worried about the impact of further expansion on the local community and roads.

In response to these concerns, Sutton Council has promised to take action through the 'Schools Transport Plan' to engage more directly with parents to encourage considerate parking/discourage aggressive behaviour, advertise a “park and stride” campaign and encourage parking to be further from the schools (agreements were currently being negotiated with local supermarkets to use their car parks as assembly points) and encourage greater levels of cycling and walking to school.

Cheam Common Infants' School received an overall rating of 'Good' in the OFSTED inspection undertaken last year. /

Central Shopping

2011-12-05T09:26:00.000Z

Centrals Bar is offering some additional Christmas shopping opportunities for you in December - local business, 'Danish Kid's Clothin' is going to be there every Tuesday and Thursday from 9.30am to Midday until Christmas.

Another Worcester Park company, 'Munckin & Me', is also going to be there on Tuesdays from 11am - 12 capturing fingerprints, hand, footprints, pictures and handwriting on fine silver jewellery (they can do child, adult and pet prints).

Centrals Bar is at 169 Central Road.

Pilates In Worcester Park

2011-12-04T21:17:00.001Z

For those into a bit of early planning of their New Year fitness resolutions, a Beginner Pilates Course at the St Philip Hall at Christ Church with St Philip in Worcester Park (Ruskin Drive, KT4 8LG) has been confirmed as starting on Saturday 28th January.

Those who book their place before 15th December will get a free pilates mat. At the moment, there are no weekend Pilates classes in Worcester Park - the class numbers will be limited to 12 places as Pilates works better in small groups. There are 7 confirmed bookings so far, so to reserve your place or for more information visit www.svpilates.com

Free Wine Tasting On Now!

2011-12-02T18:36:00.001Z

Free wine tasting on right now (Friday 2nd December) at The Vin Bin wine shop, opposite North End Tavern, until 8pm - featuring Joshua Butler from Bibendum with a range of unique wines from around the world.

Going Warm Turkey

2011-11-30T17:33:00.001Z

I have bemoaned on a number of occasions on this blog the lack of any decent full English in Worcester Park. The last purveyors of this fine meal was Berties cafe, which closed down and was transformed into the terrible La Continental which was more mess than mezze and was promptly rebranded as 'Henry's Cafe' whose luminous fonted signs are only marginally worse than the food they serve up.

Thankfully salvation seems to have come my way in the form of a cracking English breakfast from, of all places, our new Turkish 'Cafe Medusa' which opened last week in the old Avventura/Cafe Espresso premises.

At last we have, in KT4, somewhere that sells a decent full English breakfast, properly cooked with decent meat and served with a cup of decent coffee.

For those more adventurous there are Eggs benedict, Turkish dishes and a range of other great breakfast and lunch options that will set this venue apart from the existing cafes in Worcester Park.

Even better news is that their restaurant, Sheesh Mangal, is going to be opening shortly. I have had a sneak peak inside the venue which is on course to open its doors for business early next week.

Late Night In Pictures

2011-11-27T21:14:00.001Z

Some pictures for you from Friday's fantastic Christmas Late Night in Worcester Park. Did you all enjoy yourselves?

Tonight's The Night!

2011-11-25T09:05:00.001Z

It's the Worcester Park Traders Association Christmas Late Night tonight from 6pm to 9pm

There will be loads of festive fun, rides, entertainment, stalls and choirs to entertain the whole family and, of course, plenty of late night shopping.

Your local retailers who are officially sponsoring and supporting the event include:

One Stop Party Shop
Mr Ink
Trutex
Waitrose
Vin Bin
St Raphael's Hospice
Hendy's Jewellers
Clarkes
Worcester Park Motor Spares
Central Plumbing
AMS Opticians
Worcester Sparks
Kingfish
Dawsons Aerials

There will also be a Christmas Craft Fair in Worcester Park Library tonight from 6pm to 8pm, and the Royal British Legion will be having a special membership table outside their premises on Central Road with a special discounted membership rate for anyone who wants to join this evening.

Wrap up warm and enjoy!!

Christmas Late Night Tomorrow!

2011-11-24T08:20:00.001Z

The weather forecast is looking good for tomorrow night, so we are all set to go. As well as the traders and funfair rides, a number of local charities from Worcester Park will be taking part in tomorrow's Christmas Late Night, so make sure you lend them your support.

Also a Christmas Craft Fair is being held in the Library from 6pm - 8pm (as part of the Worcester Park Traders Late Christmas night) with a raffle, cakes for sale, Name the Bear, Lucky dip, Toy Tombola and Homemade crafts. They will be quite easy to miss tucked away in the Library, so don't forget to pay them a visit.

We'd Like To Help You Learn To Help Yourself

2011-11-22T20:34:00.001Z

The Christmas Late Night, taking place this Friday from 6pm, is a well established local tradition in Worcester Park.

So too, unfortunately, is the annual tradition of blog readers moaning and whingeing about it before and after the event - not enough stalls, the wrong type of stalls, too many stalls, not fun enough, not sufficiently like a German Christmas market, not enough shops taking part, the wrong type of shops taking part. I could go on.

And so I received this comment on the blog yesterday:

"Maybe if they actually spoke to more/all traders we could make the event even bigger. I know for a fact 4 independent retailers were not even approached."

As for whether every single retailer has been approached to take part, I am not in a position to say. The fact remains that this event has been heavily publicised here on the blog and on posters up and down Central Road and in shop windows etc. These posters have a contact phone number for the Traders Association which organises the event (and welcomes all local retailers getting involved) and if anyone contacts me about it I will always pass the enquiry on to the right person.

If there are any local traders still wringing their hands complaining that nobody has personally approached them to get involved then this is, quite frankly, a pretty feeble excuse. If there really are any shopkeepers who will be pulling down the shutters at 5pm on Friday and going home to cry themselves to sleep because there are going to miss out on the big crowds in Worcester Park and a golden opportunity to give their own business a boost then I pity them.

I pity them not because they will be losing out on business but that I pity them because they lacked the motivation and energy (and it would have taken very little of either) to pick up the phone, get themselves involved and get their business talked about locally.

I am all for supporting local businesses, but if local businesses do not take simple steps to help themselves then I will not, quite frankly, lose any sleep over that. Business is undeniably tough - those who have the energy to promote themselves, those who seize the opportunity to be involved in events like the late night (and actually do something creative to promote themselves before and during it) will thrive, or at very least survive during this recession. Those who do not will whither away into an obscurity that is partly of their own making.

I try to do whatever I can to support local businesses who have the enthusiasm and basic marketing nouse to engage with the Blog and recognise it is a great opportunity to drum up some local business, and likewise I always support those businesses who step forward and get involved in great community events like the Late Night on Friday.

Yet I have also witnessed so many businesses locally, and elsewhere, who believe that all they have to do to keep going is open at 9 and close at 5 and custom will magically come their way.

So as you go about your business this Friday night and beyond, look out for those local traders who have the get-up-and-go to actively promote their livelihoods, and make sure you reward their efforts in whatever way you can. And don't worry about those who haven't - they sill have time to learn.

Christmas Late Night This Friday!

2011-11-21T08:40:00.001Z

Only 4 sleeps to go until this year's Christmas Late Night in Worcester Park. As well as the rides, stalls, choirs and refreshments along Central Road and in Stone Place Car Park, a number of your favourite local retailers will be open that evening for some late night shopping.

Do pop in and make sure you support them - as well as playing a vital role in keeping Worcester Park's high street alive, they are also financially supporting this important local annual event, so make sure you reward them with your custom.

Shops supporting the Christmas Late Night 2011 include:

One Stop Party Shop
Mr Ink
Trutex
Waitrose
St Raphael's Hospice
Hendy's Jewellers
Clarkes
Worcester Park Motor Spares
Central Plumbing
AMS Opticians
Worcester Sparks
Kingfish
Dawsons Aerials

Burglary Warning

2011-11-18T12:43:00.001Z

Unfortunately I have received e-mails from a number of blog readers informing me of burglaries in and around the Worcester Park area over the last week or so.

I have had reports of houses being broken into near the Co-Op in Old Malden, in Cuddington Avenue, Shrubland Grove and near Cheam Common Infants School.

It would sadly appear that there has been an increased level of burglaries in the local area recently, so I would urge all blog readers to be vigilant and take a moment to read the Metropolitan Police's burglary prevention advice pages.

Fair Competition

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000Z

The Doris Venner Christmas Fayre is being held this Saturday, 19th November, from 11am to 2pm in the Community Hall on The Manor Drive.

There will be lots of fun and games such as face-painting, arts and crafts, cake stalls, bottle tombola and some fantastic raffles with prizes including a TV, a John Lewis Voucher and a toy bundle.

Meet Father Christmas in his grotto and receive a present from him and your chance to have a photo taken as well as lots of food and refreshments.

There will also be a Charity Craft Fair at St Johns Hall on Malden Road (KT4 7NY) from 11am to 2pm on Saturday 19th November in aid of local charities which help save babies' lives and support bereaved parents and families.

Full details are at http://charitycraftfair.blogspot.com

At the fair you can find out about the vital work these charities do and why they need to raise much needed funds for, as well as buy some wonderful handmade gifts in time for Christmas to support these amazing and vital causes.

Rampant Rabbit

2011-11-14T18:17:00.001Z

It you've lost a pet rabbit in Worcester Park then blog reader BenjyP might just have spotted it. He writes:

"On Friday Evening around 6 p.m. I saw what looked like a grey and white domestic rabbit at the end of Gander Green Lane (up past Green Lane School near the path to the stables).

After 20 minutes or so of repeatedly getting within about a metre of it before it hopped away, it finally leapt into the brambles behind The Hamptons.

I did have a look on the net and on the local roads for any notices but couldn't see anything."

Remembrance Sunday 2011

2011-11-13T13:38:00.001Z

St Philips Churchyard, Worcester Park

13th November 2011

Poppy Appeal Money Stolen

2011-11-11T15:42:00.001Z

It is with great sadness that I must inform blog readers of the theft of a Poppy Appeal collection box from the Worcester Park branch of Superdrug.The collection box, filled with almost a fortnight's donations, was taken from the counter and found empty on Central Road this morning.Anybody with any information on this theft should contact the Metropolitan Police.I am not sure what more I can add by way of comment on this.

Remembrance Sunday

2011-11-10T08:30:00.000Z

Remembrance Sunday will be marked in Worcester Park with the annual special service of remembrance at Christchurch with St Philip featuring members of the local Royal British Legion, Cadets, Guiding and Scouting groups.

The service will begin at 10am on Sunday morning.

This will be followed by a brief service at Worcester Park's war memorial in St. Philip’s Churchyard (at the top of Central Road) which will include the two minutes' silence at 11.00am and the laying of wreaths.

Marching bands will then lead the procession down Central Road to Worcester Park's Royal British Legion club which will be opening its doors to the public and serving food and refreshments.

Eye Sore This And Sought A View

2011-11-09T08:24:00.000Z

A new campaign has been set up to gain popular support to petition Network Rail to clean up and remove graffiti from the railway bridge in Worcester Park.

Blog reader Nick who has set up a Facebook group to gather support for the cause writes:

"Worcester Park Rail Bridge has been covered in grafitti for probably more than a decade. It is a real eyesore when people enter the area and gives a very bad impression of Worcester Park. No other bridges in the area look as bad as our bridge and it really lets the area down.

We are trying to drum up support to get Network Rail (who are responsible for the bridge) to insist they do something about it. Please register your support by 'liking' or becoming a 'friend' of the site. When we have sufficient numbers we will approach Network Rail and demand (ask nicely!) for them to clean up the bridge and particularly to remove all the grafitti. So far it has been very difficult to get them to take action."

The Facebook group can be found at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Campaign-to-clean-up-Worcester-Park-Rail-Bridge/281845198504578

Time For Honesty

2011-11-08T08:47:00.001Z

Last month I appealed on behalf of a blog reader for the return of a gold watch which she had lost whilst out jogging in Worcester Park.

Today I received the good news that an honest Worcester Park resident had found the watch, spotted the appeals for its safe return and has made sure that the watch is now back in the hands (well, on the wrist) of its rightful owner.

All of which restores ones faith in humanity (for those who need it restoring).

Blogger Goes To Parliament

2011-11-07T19:07:00.000Z

Last Thursday night saw me leaving behind the comfortable confines of KT4 to travel to Westminter - the beating heart of UK democracy.

The humble Worcester Park Blogger had been invited to go to Parliament to discuss how online communities and local blogs can become better engaged with the Parliamentary processes and how Parliament itself can tap into these new media channels to engage with a wider audience to capture public opinion and feed it back into the democractic process.

As well as representatives from big online communities such as Mumsnet and Student Room, I was in the company of a motley assortment of 'hyperlocal' bloggers who, like myself, have established thriving local community blogs and forums - WimbledonSW19.com, Greenwich.co.uk, London SE1 and Charlton Champion to name but a few.

As we talked, some common themes emerged - the demand from local people for relevant local news, opinion and debate of issues related directly to their neigbourhood is very clearly evident and is behind the growth and popularity of so many hyper-local sites.

Also clearly evident is the frustration at the decline or even demise of local newspapers - those who do survive so often reduced to a few perfunctory pages of regurgitated press releases or syndicated pseudo-local content draped around swathes of advertisements and estate agents' supplements.

With some notable exception, the days of quality local print journalism look to be numbered. Stepping in to fill this void are an increasing number of thriving local blogs set up to inform on local issues, act as a voice for their neighbourhoods and provide essential scrutiny of the work of local Councils and politicians.

As for the reaction of local Councils to local blog sites, the same theme emerged time and time again - Councils' opinion of and reaction to local bloggers ranges from outright contempt to a stubborn refusal to acknowledge their existence, let alone engage with them. These new fangled local websites and blogs are seen as an irritation, lacking in credibility and definitely not to be dignified by any form of official response or engagement from the Council.

It might be individual bloggers who create them, but it is the hundreds of thousands of local readers who with informed and intersting comment and contribution ensure that these sites continue and prosper.

By association these blog readers (and that includes you) are regarded by so many local Councils as unimportant. These are Councils who are still firmly rooted in a world where an opinion only counts if it is expressed in green-ink on a letter, voiced in constituency surgery, or from a plastic chair in a meeting at a local community hall.

I didn't start The Worcester Park Blog with any grand vision in my mind. It always has been and always will be a bit of fun; yet I like to think that in the four years it has been running it has come to serve some kind of a purpose - to inform as well as to provide some light relief, to act as a forum for the expression of views on local events, to publicise local good causes and community issues, to address the sometimes serious issues of local politics. And, above all, to continue to laugh at the preposterous number of hairdressers in Worcester Park.

So the fact that the great beast that is Parliament recognises the role and potential of online communities and blogs, invited us up to Westminster to hear our views and wants to work with us in the future is in itself a massive step forward.

There were many great ideas shared on the evening about how Parliament can better share its welath of information that is relevant to local bloggers and communities and bring what can seem a remote and inaccessibly instution in touch with its subjects.

Even more encouraging is the news that Parliament wants to use these established sites to tap into the opinions of the wider public - we heard how Parliament worked with Student Room to seek opinion from the site's audience on a range of issues affecting young people, and feed these opinions directly into the work of Parliamentary Select Committee.

The fact that Parliament might one day in the future be directly engaging with, listening to and acting upon the opinions expressed on blogs such as this is a fascinating prospect.

It certainly leaves our local Councils with an awful lot of catching up to do.

Power Cuts

2011-11-06T22:03:00.001Z

Intermittent power cuts in Worcester Park this evening. Thank goodness the first one was after the X Factor, otherwise Mrs WP would never have recovered. We have candles at the ready!

PET ALLIGATOR

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Burglary Charge

2011-11-06T11:00:00.000Z

A Worcester Park man has been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary after approximately £30,000 worth of jewellery and watches were stolen from a property in Leatherhead.

Nathan Beutler, 19, of Lindsay Road, has been remanded into custody and will appear at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday 17th November for a preliminary hearing.

The charge relates to a burglary at an address in Highlands Avenue, Leatherhead, on Tuesday 25th October. Several high value items were stolen including a Smythson leather jewellery box worth £1,500, a princess cut diamond ring worth £2,500, a Boodle and Dunthorne platinum pendant with three diamonds worth £3,000, a diamond and ruby ring and a variety of watches.

The stolen items have yet to be recovered, and Police are appealing for anyone with information on their whereabouts to contact them.

A 16-year-old male from Worcester Park was also arrested on suspicion of involvement in the burglary. He has been released on police bail until 14th December pending further enquiries.

Sheesh, You're Brave!

2011-11-02T21:18:00.001Z

As speculated on this blog back in August, the former 'Avventura' restaurant premises are to be turned into a Turkish restaurant - to be named 'Sheesh Mangal'.

Of course I'm delighted to see that these cavernous empty premises are to be filled so quickly, and it will make a welcome change from the traditional fare of Italian restaurants and curry houses.

However, my fears about these premises remain. In my unfortunately prophetic post of June 2010 I wrote:

"No doubt the people behing 'Avventura' are full of optimism and hope that good food and good service will set see them through, but will they too soon be forced to face the reality that the place is simply far too big to be viable in anything other than rosy economic conditions?

Perhaps Avventura will succeed where Piccolo failed. Perhaps they have found the formula that eluded their predecessors. Or perhaps they too will soon be learning the hard way that size really does matter. Either way, I wish them luck."

I look forward seeing this new venture succeed where its predecessors have failed. And I look forward even more to some Turkish food!

Seeing Red

2011-11-02T08:33:00.000Z

Last month I gave you my views on Sutton Council's loathsome traffic enforcement CCTV Smart cars and how unfair I felt their tactics to be.

Now comes evidence from a Worcester Park Blog reader of how these cars openly break parking laws themselves whilst going about their sneaky business.

This photo clearly shows the enforcement stopping illegally on a 'red route' on Malden Road in North Cheam, heading towards Worcester Park. Stopping is strictly forbidden on a red route (even for loading/unloading or boarding/alighting from a vehicle) and, being a double red route, these restrictions apply at all times to this stretch of road.

This is not the first time that Sutton Council's spy cars have been caught breaking the law in order to enforce the law, as reported by the Sutton Guardian back in August.

I strongly suspect it won't be the last!

Green Lane School Fireworks 2011

2011-11-01T08:56:00.000Z

Green Lane School will be having a spectacular fireworks event tomorrow night (Wednesday 2nd November) from 5pm with fireworks going up at 6.30pm.

There will be food available to buy so you can have your dinner there before the show!

Tickets are available on the door and cost £7 for adults, £4 for children 3-16 (under 3s free) and £18 for a family of 4.

Cheaper tickets are available in advance by calling 020 8337 6976. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The display was phenomenal last year, so they've asked the same team at Surrey Events to come back and run it this year. Don’t miss out!

Life After Waitrose?

2011-10-29T21:47:00.000+01:00

Staff bitching about their employer, mucking around in the aisles, overheard singing offensive songs, complaining to each other about customers and swearing on the shop floor - why it can only be the fall and fall of the once great Worcester Park branch of Waitrose.

Of course there are many staff (sorry, partners) in the branch who still uphold the once high standards of Waitrose, but the decline in standards in recent months (particularly in the newer intake, but also spreading to the 'older hands') is so pronounced that there must surely be something behind it. A change of branch manager, perhaps?

Whatever the cause of the collapse of standards in recent months, to Mrs WP an encounter with a surly and unhelpful 'partner' last week was the last straw, and she has vowed to steer clear of the supermarket that she once worshipped and adored.

Quite how successful she will be remains to be seen - for however bad Waitrose in Worcester Park has become recently, the alternatives are hardly a tempting prospect.

I shall keep you posted!

Neighbourhood Watch

2011-10-27T20:54:00.000+01:00

Can you help reunite a blog reader with this 9ct gold watch with mother of pearl face?

It was lost whilst the owner was out jogging on Sunday 23rd October at around 5.00pm. It was lost somewhere in the Dalmeny Road / Sandringham Road / Bridgewood Avenue / Sparrow Farm Road / Stoneleigh Avenue / Lynwood Drive / Donnington Road / Braemar Road area.

It is worth about £500 and there is a reward for its safe return. Contact the blog if you can help!

Hello Wine

2011-10-26T09:30:00.000+01:00

Halloween is almost upon us and there's lots going on in Worcester Park to help get you in the, erm, spirit.

The Vin Bin wine shop is holding a free family-friendly tasting evening this Friday (28th October) from 5.30pm to 8pm with soft and alcoholic drinks from the spookily-name 'Septimus Spyder' brewery, as well as a selection of top-notch autumnal wines.

Fancy dress is optional and candy will be available for little ghosts, witches and superheroes.

Meanwhile Centrals Bar & Lounge is holding a kids' fancy dress Halloween party from 10.30am on Sunday 30th October. There will be face painting, games and prizes to be won - the face painter will be there from 11am to Midday, with a kids' disco and entertainment from 11am to 2pm.

When writing this blog...

2011-10-25T22:10:00.002+01:00

....I try and give each post a unique and unusual angle.

Insulating Our Intelligence

2011-10-24T21:09:00.001+01:00

Incredibly (I forget quite what it was had done in the preceding 12 months to earn such a privilege) I was allowed out one night last week, leaving Mrs WP home alone in charge of the remote control.

Just as my night was getting underway, I received a call from a worried Mrs WP to tell me that she had been paid a visit by a very pushy salesman who wanted to check out the loft insulation and, when refused entry to the house, proceeded to ring the bell incessantly, demanding to be allowed in to see the loft.

Being the caring and concerned husband, I immediately told her how caring and concerned I was, advised her to ensure the front door was locked and got on with the rest of my evening.

Today a concerned blog reader contacted me to tell me about a worrying visit by another loft insulation sales person today:

"My partner and I have just been visited (odd, for a Monday evening) by a young lady advising us we were entitled to local Council subsidised insulation for our loft conversation.

We were advised that a number of other locals had accepted this great offer and it would only cost us around £200.00 with the Council fronting the balance of the cost.

This sounded like a great idea and, as we had already discussed getting a quote, we decided to proceed. However, when asked if we could take the contract, consider it and let the young lady know our final decision in a few days we were advised that we had to accept there and then or we would be ineligible for the grant.

As a person who works in sales this sounded extremely odd so I advised her that we would not be proceeding.

Alas, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to google "insulation scams London" and low and behold it turns out that this is in fact a bit dodgy. Yes you get the insulation but not necessarily the very best deal available.

Has anyone else been visited by this young lady and/or is anyone else aware of this?"

My normal tactic when these loft insulation people come knocking is to tell that that we rent the house. That normally gets rid of them pretty quickly.

Have any other blog readers had unwanted visits from these pesky people?

Age Concerns

2011-10-22T00:05:00.002+01:00

The Office of National Statistics has just released the latest figures for life expectancy in the U.K. - and it's good news for readers of the Worcester Park Blog. Well, for some of you, any way.

Let's take 'Male life expectancy at age 65 for males 2008-2010' as an example. If you live in the Sutton Borough part of Worcester Park, 65-year old men can expect to reach the ripe old age of 83.4 years.

If however you feel that in the words of the late Elvis Presley, you've "still got a whole lot more living to do", simply move slightly westwards under the railway bridge and you can cheat death for a further 8 whole months because in the part of Worcester Park covered by the Borough of Kingston, you can expect to make it all the way to your 84th birthday.

Happy days. But wait, 84 years simply isn't enough to enjoy everything that Worcester Park has to offer. I mean, you'll want to live long enough to see the end of these water mains works, surely?

Fortunately, there is a solution. Simply shuffle across into the part of Worcester Park that falls under the Borough of Epsom & Ewell and you can positively laugh in the face of mortality as you will live until the ripe old age of 84.9 years.

You can check your life expectancy at http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-223356 - after which I suggest you close your browser and start enjoying however many years you find you have left.

[With thanks to blog reader 'Jeff' who inspire this article. Well, when I say 'inspired', I mean 'wrote'.]

Christmas Late Night 2011

2011-10-21T08:44:00.003+01:00

Remember remember the 25th of November, for that is the date of the 2011 Worcester Park Traders' Association Christmas Late Night which this year will be bigger and better than ever before.

As well as late night shopping and plenty of charity stalls and rides along Central Road, for the first time ever Stone Place car park (outside Waitrose) will be closed to cars and filled with rides and other entertainment for all the family.

So put the date in your diaries. Lots more details, as always, to follow right here on the Worcester Park Blog!

One Way To Annoy Me

2011-10-18T20:53:00.004+01:00

An angry resident of Longfellow Road writes:

"I have been living on Longfellow Road for coming up to four years and I am a qualified driver of 20 years so I would say I am well versed on the rules of the road and the reading of road signs - especially those on the road where I live.

What a lot of self-righteous people (who don't live on Longfellow road) don't know is that it's NOT all a one way street.

Yes from Hazelmere Gardens to Central Road the one way rule starts, but not before that.

My gripe is when I drive down Longfellow Road towards Green Lane I get accosted by all sorts of drivers, not to mention pedestrians, shaking their heads at me or hanging out their windows shouting at me that it's a one way system. I just reply and say I live on the road and the one way system starts at Hazelmere Gardens.

Today took the biscuit completely, not being able to find parking anywhere due to all the 'station cars' I had to drive back down Longfellow Road away from Central Road to a spot I'd passed only to meet oncoming traffic.

I pulled in to allow cars to pass yet again to be met with shaking heads and finger wagging! Even a man pushing a buggy shouted at me that it was a one way system.

What is wrong with these people who are so quick to comment? When they seem to know nothing anything.

To these people I say mind your own business!"

Do The Smart Thing

2011-10-10T11:19:00.000+01:00

I do not hate traffic wardens.

There you go, I've said it. I've finally come out and admitted it publicly.

In fact I do have some sympathy for traffic wardens - they are, after all, just enforcing the rules and without them our towns and cities would be even more gridlocked with badly parked cars and obstructed roads and it would be even harder for the law-abiding motorists to get around, let alone get a parking space.

I also have this great working arrangement with traffic wardens whereby I don't park illegally and in return they don't give me parking tickets and fines. It works, and so fare we're getting along great.

What I have less time for, however, are Sutton Council's sneaky, snidey little CCTV enforcement cars (if you can call a Smart car a 'car').

You might have seen this cowardly creations creeping around the roads of Worcester Park, hiding at cowardly distance as their little CCTV camera pops up from the roof to record the fine-inducing footage.

I spotted one in Worcester Park this week, filming a fencing contractor who had no other choice but to pull across a neighbour's driveway in order to unload a large delivery of fencing from the back of the van. Then, this morning, the same van was parked around the corner filming away as builders unloaded supplies for a house on Malden Road in North Cheam.

It all comes down to what you see the role of traffic wardens as being - it is to keep our streets flowing freely or is it to catch people in the act and raise revenue as a result?

In neither of the cases I have seen in recent days were the 'offenders' were causing obstructions or impeding traffic.

Surely, if Sutton Council's enforcement officers really are there to ensure the rules are obeyed strictly and to keep traffic moving they should (as I did this morning) warned the driver to move along, not sneak around filming them from a safe distance away?

I have grudging respect for traffic wardens because they are there on the ground, they are visible. By and large they do their job openly and are man (or woman) to look drivers in the whites of their eyes as they do it.

For Sutton Council's CCTV cars, however, I have no respect. Anyone can sneak about, hiding round corners to raise revenue. That's not fine by me.

God Bye

2011-10-09T14:24:00.001+01:00

I see that 'Closing Down' has appeared in the window of Zeus Menswear shop on Central Road. It's always a crying shame to see shops closing down in Worcester Park - especially small independent ones (which, lets face it, nearly always seem to be the casualties).

That said, should I be bemoaning the passing of a store that I've never even been in to? I wonder how many of my fellow Worcester Parkers 'keep meaning to go in' to Zeus and many other shops in Worcester Park but walk on by every time.

Farewell, Zeus. I did mean to go in and spend some money. But I didn't.

Nice To Eat You

2011-10-01T21:37:00.000+01:00

Worcester Park is fortunate to have many great cafes and restaurants. And KFC. Below are my thoughts on our various eateries. Add yours via the comments form below!

Avventura (Italian): First class, authentic Italian food cooked by chefs with Michelin-starred restaurant backgrounds. Top quality ingredients, great flavours and superb service. Full review here. CLOSED AUGUST 2011

Zarahs (Bangladeshi Indian): Great takeaway food in Windsor Road. Fantastic flavours - definitely not just your bog standard tikka massala here! Great value meal deal offers always available.

The Chef (Chinese): Decent and reliable, but not spectacularly tasty. £16 per head order as much as you like is great, but we never make it past the starters!

Caffe Piccolo (Italian): Part of a small chain of local restaurants. Nothing fantastic, but I enjoyed my recent visit there - accessible food, popular with families. CLOSED NOVEMBER 2009

La Mama (Italian): Looks wonderfully inviting - passing it almost daily for two years I vowed I'd go there and try it one day. Two years' anticipation turned into the disappointment of a lasagne that tasted of canned tomato soup.

Bombay Masala (Indian) formerly Le Kitchen: Once this was my favourite but several management changes on it's very hit and miss. My last order consisted of four different dishes which remarkably managed to taste the same. Won't be ordering from them again, I'm afraid.

De Niro's (Fast Food): CLOSED APRIL 2009

Chubby's (Burgers, Kebabs, Pizza): Have only tried it once. OK, but not a match for the supremely brilliant Surry Nefis

Pizza Express (erm...): Well, it's a Pizza Express.

Meghna (Indian): Decent Indian food. £9.99 Mon-Thurs deal (£10.95 on Fridays) is definitely worth trying and great value for money. Superbly friendly staff compete the experience.

Shalimar (Indian): Well, it's opposite The Plough, so technically Old Malden. But what the heck - decent Indian food, Raja & Sara make excellent hosts but the slow service is a let down.

Surrey Nefis (Fast Food): Chicken kebab, pitta bread, small chips - salad, no cabbage. Extra chilli sauce. Thanks.

Kingfish (Fish & Chips): Modestly decent fish and chips. Does well, but could do batter. Mwahahaha.

Ryan Gate (kebabs, shawarma, miscallenous Lebanese delights): Fantastic shawarma, samosas and lebanses pies. Pizza is actually very good, when they are serving it, that is..

Silks (Italian, Thai, Chinese - Fusion food): Silks closed on January 1st 2009 (Full review here)

Chinese Canteen: Decent takeaway Chinese food, cooked to order in the open kitchen while you wait. Consistent and reliable - my Chinese of choice!

Classic Wok (Chinese): Good food, good value for money. But my loyalty is still with Chinese Canteen!

The Munal (Nepalese): Subtly different to Indian cuisine - more flavoursome and aromatic. Can highly recommend the £9.95 Mon-Thurs set meal. Well worth a visit.

Berties (was 'Cafe Experience'): Closed June 2009

Cuppaholic (cafe): You might have missed this one - it's in the small parade of shops, just by the station. Full marks to the hard working staff here, but the food barely hits the 'average' mark. Closed 2010.

Ginger & Garlic (Sri Lankan / Asian takeaway): CLOSED DOWN. Full review here.

Papa Johns: Cheap, stodgy and nasty when I tried it, but always seems busy. If only they were as good as making pizza as they are at parking illegally on pavements.

KFC: I went there once because everything else was shut. I was so ashamed that I scrubbed myself with carbolic soap for a month afterwards.

Midas Touch: Trendy bar feel to this place. The Midas Touch Burger is a consistent winner, though. A popular choice with families at weekends.

Checkers Sandwich Bar: Can't fault Joe for his cheerfulness, but the food was bland. The floor could do with a deep clean and the waitress dashing outside for a cigarette in between serving didn't create the best impression.

Still to be explored:
Ocean Fish Bar, Royal India, Bellini.

Your comments welcomed - especially on the ones I've missed!

It's Chriiiiisssstmassss!

2011-09-27T21:20:00.000+01:00

It's September, for frick sake. But that hasn't stopped Waitrose putting our their Christmas range on the shelves already.

Mind you, with the new layout still so confusing perhaps it's a good thing that they've given their customers 3 months in which to find the festive section.

But seriously, this is so depressing I nearly shot myself in the head with a self-scan gun. Who the hell buys this stuff in September?

Name and shame, please.

Ass Not A Donkey

2011-09-26T22:19:00.002+01:00

Thanks to blog reader Alex who has provided this snap of the now famous KT4 mule (yes it's a mule, not a donkey, apparently) outside the Worcester Park Tavern.

I have no idea, of course, what a mule drinks. No doubt my quick-witted blog readers will be able to suggest?

Making An Ass Of Myself

2011-09-23T14:42:00.000+01:00

I have been unable to post for some weeks, having been kept under lock and key by Mrs WP who refuses to believe that I keep seeing a man riding a donkey around Worcester Park.

She won't let me out on the streets again until I stop mentioning these 'visions'.

Please help.

Center Of Intention?

2011-08-27T21:48:00.001+01:00

Is this the latest unfortunate signage incident in Worcester Park or has the 'Surrey Door Center' really gone all American on us?

Furious bystander Miss Pelling of Linewood Drive raged: "This town is becoming so Americanised and I won't have it. I have just gotten used to having The Hamptons on my doorstep and now this. Worcester Park should be British 24/7 - it's time we brought some normalcy to this goddam town. I for one will be buying my doors elsewhere'.

Cowboy Builders - Worcester Park

2011-08-23T08:47:00.000+01:00

Back in April I brought you news that Dom Littlewood from Channel 5's Cowboy Builders was in Worcester Park, coming to the rescue of homeowners in Hampton Road.

The team had arrived in Worcester Park to help the Marr family who, having paid out £23,000 for a kitchen extension, were left in the lurch when their builders disappeared leaving just foundations, a floor and two walls.

The builders (and Melinda Messenger) moved in at the end of April and you can now see the Worcester Park episode of Cowboy Builders this Thursday (25th August) at 9pm on Channel 5.

Will it be a heart wrenching tale of woe? Will they run out of money and have to go and beg local businesses for help? Will it all end happily ever after? Of cousre it will. It's telly, after all.

Unwanted

2011-08-22T21:01:00.002+01:00

"Top 10 things not wanted in Worcester Park...", writes Blog reader 'Nichu':

Mosque
Any establishment frequented by children
Italian restaurants (especially if also incorporates 2.)
Hairdressers
Charity shops
Establishments that play music
New water/gas mains
New England style housing developments
Pound shops
Traffic congestion (unless it leads to more custom for businesses not in list above)

Which raises the question, what do we want in Worcester Park?"

Good point, Nichu. That's my plans for a charity mosque for children well and truly dashed.

Flood Alert: Beverley Brook Catchment

2011-08-22T19:41:00.000+01:00

Beverley Brook Catchment
Current status:

Flood Alert
Flood status last changed at 21:11 on 22 Aug 2011

Location: Beverley Brook Catchment in the London Boroughs of Merton, Sutton, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth

Region:
Thames

Latest Information:

The River and Flooding forecast is: River levels are expected to respond to thunderstorms and heavy rain in the early hours of tomorrow morning and could overtop banks in places. No property flooding is currently expected. The weather prospects are: By mid-morning these storms should have cleared away. Further rain is expected to continue through out the afternoon, although this should be much lighter in nature

Paul Burstow Responds

2011-08-19T08:40:00.000+01:00

The MP for Sutton & Cheam, Paul Burstow, has written exclusively for The Worcester Park Blog to respond to readers' concerns about the length of time being taken to complete the water mains replacement works in Central Road.

Blog readers have criticised the slow progress of the current round of water mains replacement works, which are not due for completion until March 2012. Sutton & East Surrey water, whose contractors are carrying out the works, have rejected a suggestion from one local business that working times on site should be extended during the summer months to take advantage of the the lower traffic volumes and longer daylight hours.

Mr Burstow writes:

"I’m sure you remember the large notices erected at the end of the last year in the approach roads to Central Road, warning of a lengthy programme of necessary works which various utilities companies needed to complete to improve the services running under this road.

Your local Lib Dem councillors and I were alarmed to discover that if all works were to be completed independently of each other, there would be continuous road works for 18 months! Obviously, works of this length of time were something to be avoided as much as possible. However, by ensuring good co-ordination between contractors so as much work as possible occurred simultaneously, this was cut to about 10 months.

Once the replacement of parts of the gas main was completed, it was felt that residents should be given a rest from the problems, and a chance of normality for a period of time. However, now the summer school holidays have hit – meaning that traffic is at its lightest - it makes sense to re-start the programme.

The work to ensure the safe and effective delivery of our gas and water supply is essential. Burst water mains are even more disruptive than this work and by their nature unpredictable - and ruptured gas mains are even worse to contemplate.

I realise that this seems to be a problem without end, but I’m afraid that this is a necessary exercise to ensure the smooth-running of services – which could have progressed for almost double the length of time it will.

The scale of the works being undertaken is immense, and the time needed to accomplish each phase is, understandably, substantial. The required works include:

Replacing 919m of water mains – to take 80 days
Making 118 service connections – to take 78 days
Making 12 connections to joining mains in side roads – to take 24 days
Cleaning and sterilising the pipework by carrying out two chlorination procedures – to take 40 days
Carrying out two flushing procedures to flush out the chlorination chemicals – to take 14 days

I have been assured that the working area will be kept as small as practical, in an attempt to minimise the disturbance. The work by local councillors and others has meant that this process is as short as possible, and they continue to press to ensure that the work progresses as swiftly as possible.

At the end of these works, local residents will have the benefit of confidence in their water, gas and electric services, knowing that they are up to date and recently improved.

I will be sending out regular updates about the ongoing work and other issues which affect residents. If you would like to receive these, or if I can be of any other assistance, please email me at paul@paulburstow.org.uk "

Something In The Air?

2011-08-16T19:06:00.001+01:00

Has anyone else noticed that strange slightly foul smell in the air around Worcester Park tonight? Perhaps it's just me.

UPDATE: Clearly it isn't just me (thanks for all your comments!). The smell of manure has also been reported in places as varied as Wimbledon, Earlsfield, Waterloo and most of Surrey. Very strange.

Health Kick

2011-08-16T08:07:00.002+01:00

There's a distinctly healthy note to this blog post, courtesy of two blog readers who have been in touch to let me know about pilates and slimming classes they are organising locally.

Blog reader and Worcester Park resident Sarah has e-mailed me to let me know about a new pre-natal pilates class that she will be holding in the Christchurch with St Philips church hall at the top of Central Road in September (she will also start a beginner Pilates Class in January next year).

Her new website has been launched at www.svpilates.com.

Sarah writes: "There is no Pilates class available in the Worcester Park are at the moment, so I hope to get a good response and at the same time, meet some similar minded people, which is always nice."

Meanwhile, Luciana has contacted me about her Slimming World classes that she holds at Malden Parochial School on The Manor Drive, Worcester Park every Wednesday at 7.30pm.

Luciana tells me:

"I never had a problem with my weight until I saw a picture of myself holding my beautiful new born twin nephews in Oct 2009. I always say that what a person looks like on the outside does not dictate who they are on the inside and I still stand by that.

But, I hadn't realised just how big I had got and was scared that I would start to get health issues because of the extra weight I was carrying. I have to date lost just over 11st and have learnt that small changes can make a massive difference.

If anyone would like to lose weight, learn how to keep it off and hopefully make new friends come along to the group. You will be greeted with enthusiasm and we can all support each other when things are going well and also when they are not going so well."

For more details contact Luciana Velli on 020 8330 6601.

2011-08-11T21:31:00.000+01:00

Councillor Stephen Fenwick, Liberal Democract Councillor for Worcester Park Ward writes:

"The riots and attacks across most parts of London are shocking and despicable. This sort of violence is an act which should not happen in a modern city, particularly with the Olympic Games under a year away.

Seventeen boroughs were affected by violence in the last few days, with devastating consequences. A lot of police forces in the worst hit boroughs were a little unprepared for the violence which occured. The fact that there was little direction from the Government and a hinderence by Scotland Yard to act swiftly against the mobs resulted in more chaos and damage to people's lives, livehoods and futures.

During a period on Monday night when parts of Croydon and other boroughs were being destroyed by mindless idiots who have no sense of morality or even conscience, Sutton's police force - working with the Council and other intelligence - made sure that as many parts of the Borough were protected.

Whilst there was a small amount of damage to premises in Sutton and Rosehill, attempted break-ins and lootings by some gangs were halted by Sutton police. Credit must be given to them and others who monitored the situation in Central and outer London to make sure that residents across the whole of Sutton borough were best protected.

In Sutton High Street, police intercepted many gangs to stop their attack and police patrolled all parts, including North Cheam and Worcester Park to ensure no trouble occurred.

On Tuesday night, all of London and many parts of the UK were put on alert for more attacks. Sutton police - alert to ensure all parts of the Borough were protected - ensured that shops closed early and that extra patrols across the whole of the Borough were out to deter potential rioters and criminals.

Sutton had relatively minimal damage, mainly due to the quick work of both the police and the Council to ensure our residents, traders and the shops were best protected.

When I watched the riots unfold on the rolling news channels Monday night, I had two concerns. The first was for myself and my family - would we be at risk from any looters or rioters? But also on my mind was the safety of the residents, their houses and the shops in Worcester Park.

I hoped and prayed that any part of Sutton would not get devasted, particularly Worcester Park. It didn't.

Many residents on The Hamptons have contacted my colleague and I recently about arson attacks on damage done to the estate there, particularly as there are four access points which are either not properly locked or have no proper gates to them.

At present, we are working with Sutton council and St James's Housing to ensure proper security can be installed, particularly after this week's events. However, I would also like to ensure that all parts of Worcester Park are safe so that no damage can ever be done by looters or attackers in the future. Whilst I am not a NIMBY, as ward councillor for Worcester Park, I am concerned for the safety of all residents, shops and houses.

Whilst not trying to heighten fears of riotous attacks, I am as much concerned about the level of grafitti and other minor vandalism which sporadically occurs in the ward. The residents of Worcester Park - in both Sutton and Kingston are well protected and the council and police will work hard to ensure that no damage is done in the next few days.

Moreover, we - and myself - are committed to ensuring that Worcester Park is a both a ward and a town where crime is low and that residents do not have suffer from the pains of graffiti or other crimes. Ensuring that we can find the available funds and the right directions - with the assistaance of all residents, regardless of politics, but with a common aim of improving Worcester Park - this can be achieved."

I'll Call You Beck

2011-08-10T20:12:00.001+01:00

Blundering Council contractors are at it again with their mangled spelling of Worcester Park's road names - this time rebranding Caldbeck Avenue as 'Callbeck Avenue'

Blog reader Nick complained:

"Surely a basic skill for the person responsible for making these signs is spelling and accuracy. These people should be ashamed of themselves."

'Little Smiff' contacted the blog to ask:

"Does the Council actually know the names of the roads in this part of the Borough? Having said that this spelling problem is nothing new. Is it only me or has anybody else noticed the signage above Ryan Gate? Have a look next time you're stuck in the queue."

Meanwhile, infuriated local resident Miss Pelling of Linewood Drive fumed:

"I was walking through Worcester Park yesterday, looking for a different supermarket to shop at, when I stumbled on this sign. To be honest I'm less worried about the spelling error and more concerned about my stubbed toe".

Worcester Park Closes Early

2011-08-09T21:08:00.002+01:00

Bellini restuarant have boarded up their premises for the night...

...with Iceland and many other stores in Worcester Park closing down early today.

Anti-Social Media

2011-08-09T13:23:00.000+01:00

Social media is a very powerful tool. Much more powerful, sadly, than the brains of many of its users.

Last night, Facebook and Twitter became perfect vehicles for disseminating misinformation, malicious and misguided rumours. For all the valid information that was shared, equally as much fear seemed to have been spread.

There was, as I posted last night, no truth to rumours of riots in Worcester Park, but that didn't stop the panic and concern spreading and the misinformation continuing. Funny, no doubt, for those spreading it but less amusing for those with friends, family or businesses in Worcester Park who were left fearing the worst.

In Sutton, contrary to the flurry of social media reports, there were no fires and no police officers injured . There was minor damage to a handful of retailers in the town centre and thefts from two shops – one in central Sutton and one in the Rosehill area. Three people have been arrested in connection with the central Sutton theft.

In Sutton there was a large police presence to manage a group of youths aged mostly between 13 and 19 – many of whom were spectators. Reports of an increase in residential burglaries were also unfounded.

Sutton's Town Centre Partnership took the step of advising pubs and clubs to close early last night and Sutton's town centre manager was on the scene to provide advice to traders and local people.

Sutton Council's Street Scene teams were in the town centre from first thing this morning to clear up a small amount of debris so that shops could open on time this morning.

All of Sutton's police officers are now on 12 hour shifts, with rest days cancelled. Tonight the police will again provide a large and highly mobile visible presence to protect local people and businesses.

The council's Twitter feed and website will be regularly updated with accurate information following a number of false reports last night about events in Sutton on social networking sites.

All quiet on the south-western front

2011-08-08T22:23:00.002+01:00

Thanks to some joker on Twitter posting that a riot has broken out in Worcester Park with 'Poundland being done in' I've had a surge of worried visitors to the blog.

So just to reassure you, there is no riot in Worcester Park and Poundland is perfectly safe..

Comedy Of Errors

2011-08-07T22:39:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately for them, by the time that the Sutton Guardian decided they wanted to run a piece on the bizarre and misspelled roadworks signs in Worcester Park that I blogged about nearly a fortnight ago, contractors had corrected their own mistakes leaving nothing for the newpaper's photographers to capture.

Fortunately, the Sutton Guardian asked nicely if they could use my photograph and I agreed, so long as they credited the Worcester Park Blog.

You can see the resulting article and my photo here on their website (can you spot the photo credit for the Worcester Park Blog? No, me neither).

The real revelation in their article, however, is that Bill Bailey apparently commutes from Cheam to Worcester Park every day.

Bizarre.

Going Through A Bad Spell

2011-08-05T08:49:00.000+01:00

The curse of signs with spelling mistakes has struck yet again in Worcester Park - just days after council contractors put their foot in it with this road sign howler, the newly refitted Waitrose has been spotted promoting its range of 'deordorants'.

Enraged Waitrose regular Miss Pelling of Linewood Drive told the Worcester Park Blog:

"I fined it completely unacceptable that Waitrose don't spell check their signs. I will not be shipping their again."

Bailiffs Enter Avventura

2011-08-04T08:40:00.001+01:00

The premises of Italian restaurant 'Avventura' has today been repossessed by bailiffs whilst its owners are away on their summer holidays.

The restaurant, which celebrated its first anniversary last month, closed its doors on Monday for a scheduled two week summer break and was due to reopen on 16th August.

Dawkins bailiffs, acting on behalf of the landlord, re-entered the premises in the early hours of this morning and the lease on the premises has been determined.

Byte Back

2011-07-29T08:47:00.001+01:00

Computer store 'Megabyte' may have closed their shop on Central Road to make way for 'Surrey Doors', but fear not as they will be reappearing in Worcester Park very soon.

Due to the end of their lease they shut their store at 90 Central Road, but are shortly due to reopen at 3 Windsor Road (The old Mike's Music shop).

The store had hoped to move from their old premises into the new store straight away, but delays mean they are still two to three weeks away from completing their new home.

In the meantime, they are still repairing PC's and laptops on a collect and return basis- call 07775 166 309 if you need to get hold of them.

The First Of The Summer Wine

2011-07-28T06:55:00.000+01:00

The Vin Bin wine shop is holding another of their popular free wine tasting events tomorrow (Friday) from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

They will be showcasing a selection of their best bottles, including some fantastic Croatian wines. As always, you can expect some fantastic tipples which you won't find in the supermarkets or bog-standard off licences.

A Sign Of Stupidity

2011-07-26T08:33:00.002+01:00

So the roadworks have begun. One day down, seven long months to go.

Fortunately, Sutton's finest brains have been put to work on the masterplan for ensuring that Worcester Park is unaffected by all these works.

Starting in Longfellow Road, where Sutton Council has banned parking in an area where no parking has ever been allowed. Parking has been 'suspended' and cones have been placed across a stretch of private driveways in the street. Blog reader Longperson observed:

"Only Sutton council would go to the trouble of putting signs and cones up announcing that parking was temporarily banned on a stretch of pavement where parking has never been allowed in the first place!"

The on to Central Road, where signs have helpfully been placed announcing that left turns into Longfellow Road are prohibited, to the fury of Longperson:

"Longfellow Road is a one way street, so left turns from Central Road have never been allowed anyway. Genius. Another pointless roadworks sign!"

And finally, those residents of Lynwood Drive have not only had their road closed off for a week or so, but have had it renamed 'Linewood Drive'.

Is this a sign of things to come?

Wait & See

2011-07-25T12:08:00.000+01:00

Sorry about that - I've been wandering around the new look Waitrose desperately looking for the pasta section for the past couple of days.

I found it eventually. Then I got to the self-scan checkout and the machine didn't trust me as I was selected for a 're-scan'.

I had to stand nervously as Waitrose customs officials rooted through my bags to check that everything was in order. I was preparing my "I didn't know that was there, honest" line, convinced that they were about to find some illicit package concealed in a false bottom of my bag for life.

I passed the re-scan, and I left happy in the knowledge that I am a decent honest shopper, and do not have a false bottom.

Free Wine Tasting Tonight

2011-07-08T14:15:00.000+01:00

The Vin Bin wine shop in Worcester Park is tonight welcoming Cape Wine Cellars as hosts of a free wine tasting evening from 5.30pm to 8pm.

Cape Wine Cellars is owned by passionate professionals offering a growing selection of South African wines that are not widely available in the UK.

The tasting will be hosted by Daan Coetzee who has spent the last sixteen years in the South African wine trade, working with Franschhoek Vineyards and managing the award winning Doolhof Wine Estate in Wellington.

All are welcome to this free event at The Vin Bin (at 194 Cheam Common Road, opposite The North End Tavern).

Water Joke!

2011-07-05T20:56:00.002+01:00

They were billed as the roadworks to end all roadworks.

At the start of 2011 an army of road cones, diversion signs and heavy digging equipment marched into Central Road and for months on end unleashed their horror on the good people of Worcester Park.

This, we were told, was the new 'clever way' of doing things.

Gone, they said, were the days of contractors digging up the road and repairing it only for another bunch of high-viz warriors to ride into town and churn up the very same section all over again. Instead, these were to be essential coordinated works - gas mains, water mains and electricity mains replacement works would all be done at the same time.

Ladies and gentlemen [drum roll please] we give you not one, not two, but three utilities companies working together as never before. Yes, it would be horrendous. Yes, the traffic would be even more diabolical than usual. But it only had to be done once, and that then we could all live happily ever after.

We just had to bite down hard on our collective pillows as the sticking plaster of roadworks was ripped slowly from the hairy leg of Worcester Park. Then it would all be over, we could go about our daily lives unimpeded and tell heroic stories to our children, and our childrens' children, about how we came together and survived the Big Dig of 2011.

That, unfortunately, is not where the story ends.

Just weeks after the end of the massive essential coordinated roadworks comes news that Worcester Park is braced for 7 months of traffic chaos as Central Road is to be dug up yet again for replacement of water mains and connections to properties.

The works in Central Road are set to begin on 25th July, and will be ongoing until March 2012. Works will initially begin on the south side of Central Road, running from the junction with Lynwood Drive (by Barclays Bank) up to the junction with Balmoral Road (by Sainsburys Local).

Works will then take place along the other side of Central Road, running from the junction with Longfellow Road (by Halifax Bank) up to the junction with Lindsay Road (by The Vin Bin).

The duration of the replacement works will see temporary traffic lights in Central Road which will be manually controlled during peak hours.

There will also be temporary closures of a number of side roads at their junction with Central Road: Lynwood Drive, Longellow Road, Caldbeck Avenue, Washington Road, Brinkley Road, St Philips Avenue, Stone Place, Windsor Road and Balmoral Road.

Let the digging commence...

The Worcester Park Bog?

2011-07-03T19:51:00.000+01:00

I feel I should apologise (again) for the lack of posts recently. You see it isn't for want of interesting and exciting things happening in Worcester Park, but purely down to the chronic lack of free time on my part to sit down and put fingers to keyboard.

In fact to remedy this problem I am seriously considering putting Internet access into the 'smallest room' in the house so I can put those otherwise idle sedantary moments to better use.

Quite whether my readers can stomach the musings from 'The Worcester Park Bog' is an altogether different matter.

Having reassured you that I am sat on the sofa in one of the larger rooms of the house as I type this, I turn to what has been going on in Worcester Park in recent days.

The former CAZBAR premises opened its doors on Friday night as 'Centrals Bar' - as I wandered past it the bouncers were bouncing outside the door and the drinkers drinkning inside but I didn't get the chance to venture in, so if you have tried out Worcester Park's newest venue then be sure to add your thoughts on it using the comments form below.

Meanwhile, it's slightly old news now but we have yet another hairdressers in our midst - the latest has opened in the old 'Flower Parade' premises at the top of Central Road (near More Than Lofts).

I have lost track of the number of hair cutting emporia that we now have in Worcester Park and don't have the time to count them all up.

If somebody could do the maths and let me know that would be greatly appreciated. Must go now - I need the toilet....

Group Discount

2011-06-20T07:36:00.000+01:00

Discount voucher website Groupon is offering you the chance to buy a 3-course meal for 2 at Avventura Restaurant in Worcester Park for just £26.

Buy online at http://www.groupon.co.uk/deals/south-london until midnight tonight (or until all vouchers have been sold!).

Motorvation

2011-06-19T09:59:00.000+01:00

Calling all Worcester Park bikers (the motor, not the push variety)!

A group of local motorcyclists who head out regularly from the Worcester Park (and nearby) area are looking for like-minded local bikers to join them.

It's all very informal and open to all abilities - rather than having set or planned dates for rides, the group just maintains an email and mobile phone list of people interested in going for a ride with others.

When one of the members is going out for a ride, or planning one for a future date, they simply text or email the group to see if anyone wants to join them. As a list member you get the text / email and if you want to participate then great, if you're busy then no problem. There is no cost to join or get on the list. The whole thing is run purely for fun.

During the summer there is usually one ride-out on a weekday evening (usually but not always a Wednesday) from about 5.30pm till 9ish. In addition there are often weekend morning blasts and occasionally they will go a bit left-field in pursuit of biking fun (Ron Haslam School, plans to maybe go off-roading in Morocco next year etc).

If you're interested in joining the list, or want more details, contact Jed Spink (jedkt4@gmail.com) and he'll be happy to help.

Let Down

2011-06-14T08:20:00.001+01:00

The owners of the former 'Seasonal Shop' unit on the corner of Caldbeck Avenue have been left frustrated and out of pocket after a deal for a new tenant to take on the lease of the premises fell through following months of delay.

The shop unit at 112 Central Road (the smaller of the two Seasonal Shops) has only 18 months left to run on the lease, but the Worcester Park Blog understands that the landlord is prepared to issue a new lease on the property which includes the flat above (complete with sitting tenant).

The shop unit is now back on the market - contact claire.gant@live.co.uk for details.

Currying Favour

2011-06-13T20:52:00.000+01:00

A warm welcome to Worcester Park's newest takeaway - Zahra's Bangladeshi cuisine opened last week in Windsor Road (next to the former Mike's Music shop).

In an act of tireless and selfless service to the people of Worcester Park I popped along on Friday night for a takeaway (a steal given that they are running at '50% off' special opening offer) - absolutely fantastic food, with wonderful flavours and none of the bloated feeling you normally get after a Friday night curry session.

Do check them out - and tell us your thoughts on this or any other Worcester Park eatery on the restaurant/take away review page of the blog.

British Legion Open Day Today

2011-06-11T11:16:00.000+01:00

The Royal British Legion is celebrating its 90th Birthday this weekend- to celebrate, the Worcester Park club on Central Road is holding a 'poppy party weekend' to raise money for the poppy appeal.

As part of the celebrations they will also be holding an open day today (Saturday 11th June) for new members to join with discounted joining fees.

Ploughing On

2011-06-11T11:09:00.000+01:00

It's the 1st Old Malden Scout fair on Plough Green this morning from 11.30 until 3.30. It’s their main fundraising event of the year so do pop along and lend your support - there will be a bouncy castle, face painting, tombolas, guess the weight of the cake, and loads of other stalls as well as entertainment in the arena.

In Cider Trading

2011-06-01T09:06:00.000+01:00

Seeing as summer seems to have begun in April this year and we're heading for a half-term heatwave this week, I thought that rather than the blog's usual 'Wine Of The Month' from The Vin Bin, some cider is more in keeping with the unseasonably good weather.

Vin Bin owner Miz took a trip to Devon recently and came back armed with a selection of ciders - from the traditional Gray's Devon Cider, to the cheekily entitled Fanny's Bramble (cider with blackberry) and a deliciously drinkable strawberry cider.

All you need to do is pop along to the Vin Bin, fill the bottles provided with the ciders of your choice and enjoy them in the Worcester Park sunshine.

Cheers!

Drink Up

2011-05-30T11:08:00.000+01:00

Worcester Park is set to get a brand new drinking establishment after plans to open the former CAZBAR premises were given the green light.

Sutton Council has now approved the application submitted by Sutton based cabbie Stephen Moore and wife Sarah to open 'Centrals' bar at the premises in Central Road, with an extended licence at weekends.

Centrals will be open from 8.00 am to 11 pm Sunday to Thursday and 8.00 am to 00.30 am on Fridays and Saturdays 0800. The late licence has initially been granted for one year, after which it will be reviewed.

Officials have also imposed other strict conditions on the new licensees, in a bid to avoid the noise complaints that surrounded CAZBAR.

As a condition of planning permission, the garden at the rear of the premises cannot be used for barbecues on any day apart from Sunday during 'family only' events. Live or recorded music and the use of televisions are also banned from the garden, which must also be closed at 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights.

Council officials will also insist that the licensees display notices on the premises and in the garden reminding customers to respect the neighbours and keep noise to a minimum.

In submitting his application, Mr Moore had said he is pitching 'Central's' at a more mature audience with no live bands or karaoke (although there will be a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights) and wants to encouraging the venue to be a 'community hub' with coffee mornings and a childrens' play area during the daytime.

Chamber Of Secrets

2011-05-18T08:35:00.000+01:00

Regular blog readers will recall last year's controversy over plans for the Worcester Park mosque (or Islamic community centre to give it its official title) at the former Bank Chambers site in Green Lane (next to Kingfish).

Those behind the proposed mosque went to ground and within hours of being contacted by the Worcester Park Blog their website was swiftly taken offline.

Nothing more has been heard of the plans and no planning application has ever been submitted for the premises.

Now, though, the exterior of the building has been repainted and the interior is also being done up. What could possibly be in store for Bank Chambers?

Trolley Dashed

2011-05-09T21:39:00.001+01:00

Fleet-footed staff at Waitrose in Worcester Park this afternoon foiled the theft of around £250 of stock from the supermarket.

A male and female shopper fled from the supermarket at just after 4.30pm today with a trolley full of items which they had failed to pay for.

Supermarket staff gave chase and were able to recover the items as the would-be thieves made their getaway.

An onlooker told the Worcester Park Blog:

" A male and a female left the supermarket and were challenged by a member of Waitrose staff who had spotted that they were leaving without paying.

They raced across the car park with the trolley, with supermarket staff in hot pursuit. The couple abandoned the trolley - the female fled onto Central Road whilst the male climbed onto the properties a the back of the car park and fled over the rooftops."

The couple are understood to have escaped in a people carrier - the registration number of which has been passed to the police.

Take Your Pic

2011-05-09T06:59:00.001+01:00

'Worcester Park Life' magazine is looking for your pictures of Royal Wedding Street Parties in Worcester Park for the June edition of the magazine.

If you have any suitable pictures, e-mail them to jenny@wplife.co.uk

Bowling Club Open Day

2011-05-06T09:00:00.000+01:00

On Sunday 15th May, between 11.00 am and 4.00 pm, Auriol Bowling Club is holding its Open Day at the club’s bowling green in Auriol Park, Salisbury Road, Worcester Park. People of all ages are invited, whether they have bowled before or not.

You can turn up at any time during that day, and there’s no need to wear any special clothing other than flat-soled shoes or trainers. Equipment and coaching will all be provided free of charge.

The new 2011 season is an important one in the club’s history as at the end of 2010 the ladies of Auriol Park Ladies Bowling Club and the men belonging to Auriol Bowling Club voted to come together to form a single, mixed club.

If you can’t make it to the club’s Open Day on Sunday 15th May, you are welcome at one of the informal ‘roll-up’ sessions, held on Monday mornings, and Tuesday and Thursday mornings and afternoons each week during the season, which started this year on 23 April.

For further information please contact David Regan on 020 8337 8919 (email: clubsecretary@auriolbowlingclub.com), or visit the club’s website at www.auriolbowlingclub.com

Ale Be There

2011-05-06T08:22:00.001+01:00

'The Vin Bin' is holding its first ever ale tasting event tonight, from 5.30pm to 8pm. The free tasting will be hosted by Julia Perthen from the Hepworth Brewery who will be showcasing their ales and beers including the fantastic blonde organic lager.

Now employing 20 staff in West Sussex, Hepworth & Co. produce beers and lagers of distinction in cask, keg and bottle, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

All are welcome to the free event this evening - and inspired by this I shall, in future, no longer be apologetically informing Mrs WP that I am 'off down the pub' but I shall be declaring in my best posh voice that I'm 'just going for an ale tasting session, dear'.

Sounds much better.

AV You Remembered?

2011-05-05T08:46:00.000+01:00

Today is AV referendum day. There are no local elections except for those of you Worcester Parkers living in that little corner of our town that is forever 'Epsom & Ewell' who can enjoy the double thrill of choosing your local political representatives.

Blog reader 'Irritiated from Worcester Park' who lives in the Epsom & Ewell part of town, is feeling quite uninspired by the whole thing:

"The only reason I know that there is an election for the local candidates today is that I have received a polling card and,yesterday, a card from something called the Residents Association.

Apparently the Residents Association are "constantly in touch with all residents". Err, I have lived in Cuddington ward for over 16 years, and I have never met these people who purport to have my best interests at heart.

And I'm not being party political here, as I understand that there are a few other parties that have my best interests at heart as well. I couldn't tell you who they are though. But an educated guess tells me that they are the "mainstream". I've never met any of them either.

So, who are these people? Are they like gods? People say they exist, but you have no real proof and so just have to believe?

I think there should be another change in the polling system, and in brief, this is it. The candidates are provided with a list of names and addresses. They should be obliged to get off their lazy backsides and visit a substantial number of these addresses, have the courtesy to introduce themselves and obtain a signature as proof of visit.

Only when they have at least 80% proof of visit should they be allowed to stand.

Or everyone can vote for me instead, purely on the basis that I'm not going to make any effort to introduce myself to anyone and I am not going to tell anyone about my policies that I can make up if pressed.

Oh for a box on the voting slip where we can enter "NO CONFIDENCE".

Happy voting everyone!

Train Delays

2011-05-04T08:33:00.001+01:00

Major delays expected on South West trains from/to Worcester Park this morning after a person was hit by a train at Clapham Junction.

Passengers may use Southern train services from Cheam as an alternative.

Moving Plea

2011-05-03T08:09:00.001+01:00

Kerry has been in touch with a desperate plea to blog reader to help find her cat, Rocky, who she fears has stowed away in a removals van to Worcester Park. Kerry writes:

"I live in West Wimbledon and two weeks ago our lovely one-year-old, black and white cat, Rocky, went missing.

It happened on the day that our neighbours moved house and when he didn't come home that night, all I could picture was the large blue removal van that loomed outside our house all day.

I said to my husband that I was worried he might have snuck inside and been whisked off to Worcester Park, to the neighbours' new abode, but my husband reassured me that he'd probably just gone for a wander.

After two days and still no sign of him, we put up posters everywhere and through peoples' letterboxes. When our neighbours popped back to collect some post from their empty house they saw our poster. They suddenly called us to say that a black and white cat had been in the van, but it had been so scared and scratchy that they let him go!

So our normally timid gentle cat is let loose on his own in Worcester Park. He is all black with four white paws, a white chest and white cheeks.

We are absolutely gutted and would love it if anyone in Worcester Park could keep an eye out for him and contact us if they see him call 07799 405 526."

Nasty Pizza Work

2011-04-29T21:13:00.000+01:00

Fran has been in touch with a cautionary tale of an unfortunate experience she had whilst dining at Pizza Express in Worcester Park recently:

"A white male in his 40s/50s came into the restaurant which was practically empty except for my table, and three others.

He chose to sit directly behind us. We thought this was weird and he had told the waitress that he was waiting for friends - even she admitted it was an odd choice to sit right behind us and right next to a couple.

I was catching up with school friends, so naturally we paid him very little attention but it seems most of the other customers noticed him and his odd behaviour as well as many of the staff. Eventually, after he had left, and as I went to pay the bill I realised my bag had been stolen. A brand new lilac blackberry curve phone, cards and nearly £40 in cash went missing as well as my driving licence and my keys.

As a result, I've spent the entire day and night blocking my phone, my cards, and getting new locks on the house just for safety measures.

The couple next to us said that they recognised this man, he was a local in Worcester Park or at least he has been sighted a few times in the area. When I rang my phone network they'd said international calls had been made too, so he might also be a foreign man, maybe someone new to the area.

As far as I can remember he is a slim man, with greying hair and glasses and was wearing a light shirt and a long, dark trench coat at the time.

This has caused me so much hassle, and to be honest, made me feel quite unsafe in a place I have always felt very comfortable."

You have been warned!

Pet Rescue

2011-04-27T14:21:00.001+01:00

Jane has e-mailed the blog to try and track down a mother and daughter who came to her rescue when her dog was seriously injured in Nonsuch Park recently. Jane writes:

"Our dog cut her leg on something in the park near the entrance on Friday (15th April). She had in fact severed a small artery and was bleeding profusely.

I was with my two young children and my friend's dog and was quite worried. A woman came up to see what was happening and said 'Don't worry, my daughter is a veterinary nurse' and went to get her from the path.

The daughter came up, immediately realised how serious it was and tourniqued it off with a clean pair of her small son's pants and my daughter's hair tie.

She got blood all over her as well and i didnt even really thank her as I just rushed off to the car to go to the vets.

I wondered if you could put this on the blog and ask her to get in touch with me, maybe through you?"
If you came to the rescue of Jane and her dog in Nonsuch Park, or know the people who did, do e-mail me so I can put you in touch with Jane.

Out Foxed

2011-04-27T10:14:00.000+01:00

It's nearly three years since I first blogged about feeding the foxes of Worcester Park - a blog post which quite unexpectedly lead to a furious debate over our four-legged friends (and made the pages of the Sutton Guardian to boot).

Back then it was the anti-fox brigade leading the calls to stop feeding the foxes- but now I receive an e-mail from a fox lover imploring Worcester Park residents to stop feeding the local foxes:

"Feeding foxes makes them accustomed to human food (or dog/cat food if that's what you are doing). As human food is high in calories the foxes will develop a taste for it and prefer it.

Once the cute fuzzy cubs grow up and leave the den they will have to find their own food. If their mother has only been bringing them sandwiches left out by well meaning locals the cubs won't know how to hunt vermin (which we want them to do) and will instead be looking for the food they are used to.

Leaving aside the aesthetic concern that residents of several streets spend time every morning cleaning up the half eaten crusts scattered over thier gardens, if the foxes are hungry enough they will override their instinctive fear of people and will enter homes through open windows or doors, lured by the smell of familiar food.

This is why young foxes start coming into peoples' houses - they are looking for food. They are also opportunistic carnivores and may attack the family pet, or worse, if they see the prospect of an easy meal.

By feeding the foxes, residents are creating a potentially tragic situation, such as we all read about in the news last summer. And for those who, like me, love foxes, it would be a gross injustice if, through well intentioned ignorance, some people cause foxes to lose their fear of humans and be branded a menace. I for one would not like to see wholesale poisoning or trapping and killing of foxes because they have been made aggressive.

Please, stop feeding the foxes so we can keep enjoying them for many years to come."

Get The Party Started

2011-04-26T21:48:00.000+01:00

With only a couple of days to go, are there any Royal Wedding street parties planned for Worcester Park?

Blog reader Donna writes:

"Many people i have spoken to would like to be part of something like this as it doesn't happen every day but do not know of anyone to contact. I am aware of only one which is to take place in Leyfield but is purely for residents and direct family of people from that road."

So if you know of any local celebrations, do let me know!

Happy St George's Day Worcester Park!

2011-04-23T13:26:00.000+01:00

Pit Stop

2011-04-13T09:04:00.001+01:00

Worcester Park's 'essential coordinated roadworks' may have finished a number of weeks ago but for residents of Lynwood Drive, by Barclays Bank, there is no end in sight to their 'two week' road closure which began way back on 17th January.

For it seems that contractors working on the 'Streets For People' scheme to resurface parts of the footways in Central Road have deemed that the junction of Lynwood Drive and Central Road is just too convenient a place to dump their mountains of sand and store their plant and equipment.

So months after the completion of the advertised two weeks of water mains replacement works, the road remains closed for the convenience of our beloved contractors, with residents having no idea when the road will finally be re-opened to traffic.

Never mind Streets For People. What about getting back our roads for residents?

Post Mortem

2011-04-06T08:43:00.000+01:00

I was so worried last week when, for three whole days, there was no sign of the postman bringing Mrs WP's daily deluge of online shopping parcels that I called the bank to check whether her credit card had been stolen.

Sadly it turned out it her card hadn't been stolen (which is a real pity as I'm quite sure that any thief would have spent less than she does) but it was all down to issues with delayed and erratic postal deliveries in Worcester Park.

It seems we are not alone - lots of you have been complaining on the blog about an unreliable postal service in recent weeks.

Liz contacted me to say:

"I am currently missing two parcels sent by John Lewis by Royal Mail around 22nd March, a small package also posted on 22nd, two e-bay parcels from different sellers sent on 22nd and 23rd and a parcel from my husband's work sent about 10 days ago. Oh and an Amazon delivery is very late.

Also post is very erratic. We get no post at all for 4 days, then a big delivery, then nothing for a couple of days and so on. God only knows what else is missing!

I’m about to make a formal complaint but wanted to know if anyone else is having any problems too."

Apparently there is a 'backlog' of parcels at the sorting office which they are struggling to sort through. Do let me know if you are still being affected by the current disruption.