Kew Village Plan - Achievements So Far (Covering the Period October 2012 - May 2015)

Kew Village Plan - Achievements so far (covering the period October 2012 - May 2015)

The Village Plan describes a vision for your village and identifies what the council, communities, business and partners can do to achieve the vision together. For more information on the village planning process see http://www.richmond.gov.uk/kew_area_village_plan

Below is a summary of priorities you identified during the village planning process and what we have achieved together so far to help shape and improve your village.

1 Council Projects Projects / actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Parks Improvement A Parks’ Improvement Programme, was introduced in 2012 with a budget of £3m aims to provide people with the Programme (PIP) opportunity to live their life through Richmond’s Parks and encouraging residents to make parks part of their day to day life

Improvement proposals will be the subject of consultation locally, but the key projects will be developed in line with the following themes:

1) Access: 2) A river borough: 3) A place to play: 4) A flowered borough

New Pavilion and Cafe North Sheen Recreation Ground benefited from a new pavilion with community room and cafe thanks to a £1m Football Foundation Grant and Council funding in 2012. Supplementary Planning The Council piloted a new process for village planning in two areas of the borough in 2013/14 and Kew was one of Document (SPD) these. A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Kew has been completed, the official public consultation A unique planning process period for this ended on 7 April 2014. Various public consultations were held throughout Kew to ensure that for Kew residents got a chance to have their say, including a Question and Answer session with the Leader of the Council and local Councillors. The Village Plan and SPD outlines the vision for Kew and gives residents and businesses a chance to influence key policies and plans for their village area.

2 COMMUNITY PROJECTS Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Kew Village Community Kew Village Community Market was awarded a start-up grant from the Council’s Civic Pride Fund for a Sunday Market market selling local produce in Station Approach and Station Parade, Kew Village. Kew Village Market has now become a sociable monthly highlight as friends and neighbours meet while shopping and enjoy a bite of lunch while listening to local bands. The market needs more volunteers – if you can spare a couple of hours once a month to help, please visit the Kew Village Community Market website.

Kew Fete Kew Fete is a local event run by volunteers with 3 main aims:

- To provide a great day of family fun and entertainment - To bring together all local community players - To donate the money raised to local charities Crowds of over 10,000 attended in June 2014, raising over £12,000 for local charities. The Kew Fete has now raised over £50,000 since its inception in 2010.For further information please see the Kew Fete website. Civic Pride Fund Awards A number of community organisations have been received Civic Pride Fund Awards to help fund their community projects Richmond Card The new Richmond Card was launched. It combines the previous parking card/discounts, library membership, and the opportunity to join local sports and fitness centres. If you use any of our facilities once a week or more it will be cost effective to add on a leisure subscription when applying for a Richmond Card.

3 HOUSING Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Affordable Housing From April 2010 to March 2014, the Council working with its partners has delivered four hundred and thirty three affordable homes for borough residents; this included the borough’s first specialist Extra Care Housing Scheme and supported housing schemes for the learning disability and mental health services. Two affordable homes have been provided in Kew Village. Tackling overcrowding To help tackle overcrowding the Council has provided £750,000 to extend the homes of 22 families in need of larger social housing borough-wide. This solution has proved less disruptive for the families; additional funding was provided by the Housing Associations involved. New Housing Allocation A new housing allocation policy was implemented in May 2013; it gives greater priority to households where Policy someone is working and who have lived in the borough for three or more years. We are also committed to assisting members of the armed forces and rehoused our first ex-serviceman in Armistice week 2013. Since February 2014 residents have been able to apply to the borough’s Housing Register online. Tenants Champion From January 2011 the Tenants’ Champion has supported tenants and leaseholders who rent or lease their property from a Housing Association in the borough and who have serious unresolved complaints. Tackling issues such as anti-social behaviour, repairs and general housing matters including housing transfers the Tenants’ Champion has assisted one hundred and forty three households. Disabled Facility Grants Between April 2010 and March 2014 the Council facilitated five hundred and fifty four Disabled Facility Grants to help people with adaptations to their homes such as walk in showers and disability access. Coldbusters grants We’re working in partnership with Climate Energy to provide Coldbusters grants to make homes warmer and more

energy efficient, helping to keep fuel costs down. If you are an owner, occupier or private tenant and in receipt of an income or disability related benefit or over 60 and on a low income (subject to a means test), you may be eligible for a Coldbusters grant. Check the Coldbusters leaflet (pdf, 1194KB) to see if you are eligible. Discuss your needs with one of our energy advisers on 0800 358 6668. 4 HIGH STREET AND COMMERCIAL CENTRES Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Supporting businesses/ The Council recognises the value of local small businesses and encourages the development of business/traders’ traders networks as well as providing a forum for all the local networks to share their ideas and engage with the Council to help boost local trade. Mix of shops/ retailers The mix and number of retailers is largely out of the Council’s control and beyond the application of our existing planning powers. What the Council can do is to maintain the best possible business environment in Kew and our other town centres to ensure it is an attractive investment proposition for retailers. Empty Shops Grant Although the borough has a relatively low level of empty retail units, residents and businesses would like to see more of these used. Temporary use of empty shops can enliven high streets, provide an outlet for community creativity and entrepreneurialism and also lead to permanent use of the unit. We have put in place a small grant scheme to encourage temporary use of empty shops, along with guidance on how to do this. Individuals or groups can apply for up to £2000 towards the costs of opening or operating the shop. For further information, see our empty shops grant page. Town Centre Opportunities The Council supports its key town and district centres through funding from the Town Centre Opportunities Fund Fund which is available for a range of projects and management support. Funding for celebrations We have also provided additional funding for Christmas and Jubilee festivities, including the Kew Sparkle Christmas event. Richmond Business Card Introduced the Richmond Card business offers scheme, providing independent local traders with a free promotional platform. Businesses provide offers or discounts for the 67,000+ card holders and the council promotes these through dedicated web pages and its many marketing channels. 5 PARKS AND OPEN SPACES Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Protect our open spaces The majority of our open space is already protected under planning regulations. from developers Trees obstructing Residents are encouraged to report where trees are obstructing footpaths. This can be reported online. footpaths Every year trees are inspected and recorded by the Council. Any appropriate work is identified and instructions are given to the Council’s contractor. Routine pruning maintains the trees in safe condition and addresses many residents’ concerns such as overhanging branches, controlling the growth and size of the tree, improving light to houses.

Westerley Ware Play area The children’s play area at Westerley Ware was upgraded in 2012 to increase play value and add new equipment. Working with the Westerly Ware Association in 2013 we replaced some of the older benches and carried repairs to steps within the gardens. May 2013 also saw the arrival of Bob’s Bees – Bob has been a member of the British Beekeepers Association for 75 years. The bees are safely enclosed behind a 4ft enclosure to protect them and any inquisitive dogs or children! Green Flag for Westerly We applied for a Green Flag for Westerly Ware in 2014, judging took place in the summer and we were awarded Ware the Green Flag status in the autumn. 6 SCHOOLS Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Develop schools and Darrell Primary School, which is now rated as ‘good’ by OFSTED, is being expanded to two full forms of entry from provide more places September 2014. It has also been refurbished to provide additional facilities for children with special educational needs, as well as a new entrance area and reception class toilets. More non-religious state At secondary level, Richmond Park Academy does not admit children on the basis of any reference to faith. school places Sixth form provision The borough has a ten-year primary school expansion strategy to increase the number of permanent additional forms of entry, also resulting in improved school facilities. There is also a Sixth Form programme underway, and millions of pounds have been spent on developing modern, cutting edge and high quality Sixth Form buildings in the Borough's schools. 7 LIBRARIES Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Library Refurbishment Kew library was refurbished and improved in July 2013. There are currently no plans to expand or relocate the library. The Council would only move the library if it were possible to co-locate it with another service for example a school or health centre. At present there are no opportunities to do this. However the Council is interested in extending the library opening hours and will continue to investigate the possibility of doing this. Extended opening hours Included lunch-time opening as part of the standard opening schedule. New ICT Free Wi-Fi has been available since March 2014. Adults can log in via the password available in the library while children at schools on the London Grid for Learning (LGfL) network will use their Universal Sign On (USO) and pick up their school’s Internet filtering policy. This is the first time this system has been used anywhere in the UK and is another innovative first for Richmond upon Thames Libraries. Volunteers We encouraged volunteers to work in partnership with library staff to spread knowledge and learning. Over 100 people have now volunteered to work with library staff. Improving our resources We have continued to improve the range and quality of resources in consultation with library users, through a rolling programme covering adult and children’s libraries, e-services and home bound services. Reading activities We have extended the range of reading activities and events for children and adults.

Community Libraries A Community Libraries Manager has been appointed to develop links with the local community and ensure that the Manager library is a well-used community meeting space and actively supports local community initiatives.

8 Art and Culture Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Garden Festival All villages participated in the 2013 Gardens Festival and over the next 4 years will take part in the borough’s World War One Commemorations at the borough’s ARThouse Open Studios and the Richmond upon Thames Literature Festival. Kew Library Kew Library was refurbished and reopened in July 2013. In addition to some structural repairs, this small community library has benefited from new wooden flooring and improved lighting. Sky lights have transformed the rear of the library making it much lighter, and the redecorated walls and new furniture have added to the sense of space. 9 Community and Sports Facilities Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER St Luke’s House St Luke’s House education centre provides a range of activities for all ages and includes a hall for local events. The Village also contains Kew Studio, a registered educational charity, offering opportunities for artists. Leisure activities Local sports centres have activities which are specifically targeted at the over 60s which include things like swimming pool discounts. Protect community The Council will continue to apply adopted development plan policies (Core Strategy CP16 and Development facilities in terms of lease Management Plan DS SI 2) which resist the loss of community facilities; the local relevance of these policies are renewals/ protected status included in Section 2.3 of Kew Village Supplementary Planning Document which is due for adoption in July 2014. Champion for Sport The Council has appointed a Champion for Sport (pdf, 78KB), Councillor Richard Martin, whose role is to promote participation in sport and physical activity throughout the borough. 10 Health Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Live Well Richmond (New LiveWell Richmond is a free NHS health improvement service available to anyone over the age of 16 who lives in health and wellbeing the borough of Richmond. LiveWell Richmond can help you to work towards living a healthier lifestyle service) NHS Health Checks The NHS Health Check programme aims to help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease and certain types of dementia. Everyone between the ages of 40 and 74, who has not already been diagnosed with one of these conditions or have certain risk factors, will be invited (once every five years) to have a check to assess their risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes and will be given support and advice to help them reduce or manage that risk.

11 Children and Young People Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Additional Funding We have made additional funding available to the Castelnau Community project to maintain and support the youth club programme. Online media presence We have increased our online media presence with a Facebook page specifically for Powerstation Youth Centre which is providing local information to young people Improved our ICT We have further improved the ICT facilities on offer in Powerstation for children and young people to use Supporting young people We are offering information and support through our Youth Enquiry Service (YES) for young people and parents and parents who would like to talk or meet with a professional either at Powerstation or at the one stop hub in Heatham House. Engagement with Young We have consulted with young people to obtain their feedback and gauge their satisfaction with our facilities. Out of People 428 responses 412 (97%) rated their satisfaction of youth services as good or excellent. 12 SENIOR RESIDENTS Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Champion for Older  In July 2013 the Champion for Older Residents, Councillor Frances Bouchier, commissioned a publicity Residents leaflet (pdf, 1319KB) highlighting a range of befriending services offered by the Neighbourhood Care Groups across the borough.

 The befriending leaflet has been published and distributed to the neighbourhood care groups, GP surgeries and to the borough’s Social Care Access Team.  You can find out more about the Champion for Older residents in her first annual report (pdf, 668KB). Dementia Services The Council has commissioned The Alzheimer’s Society to help develop dementia friendly communities throughout the whole borough. In September 2013 work started to establish what activities can be made available for people with dementia, such as leisure centres, museums and art classes etc.

Coldbusters Grant Coldbusters Grant - The Council’s Coldbusters scheme is continuing to offer grants to help people in cold homes and is available to owner, occupiers and private tenants for central heating, replacement boilers and insulation works. Residents in receipt of means tested benefits and those over 60 on a low income (subject to a means test) can apply for help. For further information please call Coldbusters on 0800 358 6668. 13 TRAFFIC AND CONGESTION Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER 20mph consultation In March 2014, we carried out an area wide consultation in Kew to gauge local views on the introduction of a 20mph speed limit. The results are currently being analysed and the outcome of this will be published on the Council website in Autumn 2014.

Reducing congestion There are ongoing discussions with TfL relating to traffic and congestion issues that may arise from the construction of Brentford Football Club’s new stadium with the aim of reducing congestion. Specified routes for We are have imposed more stringent planning conditions so that building contractors and suppliers have to use building contractors and specified routes to ensure that overweight lorries avoid smaller streets. It is not possible to introduce restrictions suppliers based on the size of cars. There is a London Wide Lorry Ban in place to control HGV movements. Traffic flow TfL undertake a programme of traffic signal timing reviews annually to optimise capacity at signalised junctions and the Council will request junctions are put forward for review based on feedback from residents. You can provide feedback by emailing [email protected] Working to reduce road We are using new powers to limit road works disruption and congestion caused by utility companies. This means work disruption that a permit is required every time works are to be carried out and as a result fewer works are being requested. Enforcing traffic offences The Council sought and gained new powers from the Greater London Authority to enforce moving traffic offences so that Penalty Charge Notices can be issued to drivers stopping in yellow box junctions. These powers came into force May 2013. School Zig Zag line All school zig zag marking adjacent school entrances have been reviewed. Enforcement has increased reducing enforcement congestion outside schools at key times and residents benefit from parking during key holiday periods. 14 Transport Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Speed indicator devices Speed indicator devices (SID) are being deployed across the borough to manage vehicle speeds, a SID has been (SIDs) installed on Ennerdale Road in Kew. If you have any nominations for additional sites, you can nominate these by contacting the Highways and Transport team by email: [email protected]. 15 PUBLIC TRANSPORT Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Improving accessibility There is an ongoing programme of delivering accessibility improvements at bus stops borough wide. We are programme (ongoing) currently assessing the accessibility of all stops on routes 65, 391 and R68. There is an on-going programme of delivering accessibility improvements at rail stations borough wide. There is regular dialogue between the Council and London Underground, LOROL (Franchise holder of the London Overground) and Network Rail on stations that need improvement. 16 CYCLING Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Convert towpaths to cycle There are currently no plans to convert the towpaths to cycle tracks following discussions with Councillors. tracks Improve cycle The Council identifies poor quality routes and missing links in the Borough's cycle network, improvements will be infrastructure to make it made as funding allows. Currently there are no improvements in the cycle network scheduled in Kew however there easier to cycle is a proposal to install further cycle parking at Kew Station is in progress.

17 WALKING Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Promoting walking Working in partnership with the Councils in London, Walk London provide free information on interesting walking routes including the Capital Ring Walk which goes through the borough. For further information please see the Walk London website.

18 PARKING Projects/ actions WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED TOGETHER Fair Parking Policy Made changes to enhance the Council’s ‘fair parking’ approach including: If a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) hasn’t been issued when a driver returns to their car, they can leave knowing that a PCN will not be served in the post.

 Greater discretion for considering mitigating circumstances in the appeals procedures.  Clearer warnings for suspended bays so they can be more easily identified by drivers.

 More information on parking (pdf, 292KB). 30 minutes free parking  We have reviewed the experimental parking scheme providing 30 minutes free parking outside the shops in Kew Road (near its junction with Shaftesbury Road). This scheme has been made permanent.  There is now 30 minutes free parking for residents in any Council run car park or on street pay and display using the Richmond Card. Yellow Line removal Anyone who would like to suggest unnecessary yellow lines near their home or business could safely be removed requests should email the location to [email protected]. 19 MAINTENANCE OF ROADS AND PAVEMENTS Project/ action WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVIED TOGETHER Online reporting system The Council has improved and updated its online forms so that it is easier to report road and pavement faults. improved Coordinated work of utility New powers to limit road works disruption and congestion caused by utility companies have been put in place. A companies permit is required every time works are to be carried out. Council gritting policy We have reviewed the Council’s Winter Service (gritting/snow clearance) and following public consultation the revised policy is available.

Roads and Pavement Fund Following the All in One survey and village planning events, the condition of roads and pavements were two

key issues that emerged across nearly all areas as priorities for improvement. The Council has made available a specific annual funding pot of £35,000 per village area through the Community Road and Pavement Fund. This is in addition to the routine maintenance work being carried out.

This sum (in total £490,000) is in addition to the maintenance work being carried out by the Council, and each year local residents will be invited to suggest how the money should be spent in their area.

First Round (2012)The improvements made as part of the first round for the Kew area were:

 Elizabeth Cottages – Road and footway repairs  Kew Green – Footway repairs

Second Round (2013) Improvements made or will be made to the Kew area as follows:

 Marksbury Avenue – Footway repairs  Sandycombe Road – Footway repairs  Lawn Crescent – Footway repairs Third Round (2014)

 High Park Road  West Park Road

20 Crime and ASB Project/ action WHAT WE HAVE ACHIEVIED TOGETHER ASB on the green  The SNT carry out patrols in the open spaces in Kew and respond to anti-social behaviour concerns and reports.  Dogwatch is a joint Metropolitan Police Service and Safer Neighbourhood Scheme which operates in Kew Village. It is similar to Neighbourhood Watch but its members are the people who walk their dog regularly in an open space. Members can report crime, graffiti, vandalism, fly tipping, injured wildlife

and anything else encountered while walking, to the police or council Dog fouling  SNT officers have been carrying out extra patrols in identified areas  Dog owners have been given words of advice about fouling  Street Scene Enforcement have conducted patrols in hotspot areas Cycling on the footpath  SNT officers have conducted hourly patrols in and around the Sandycombe Road area and stopped individuals who are cycling on the footpath  Cyclists have been given words of advice and warnings, with the Police instructed to use their discretion in these situations Phone Scams  As these scams are very difficult to trace and vary in their nature, the best response has been to warn residents and raise awareness about this type of scam.  Both the Council Community Safety Team and the Police have sent out communications to raise awareness about this issue. At least two residents have thanked the police for this information which has helped them to avoid the scam.  At the last Kew Police Liaison Group Meeting the Police agreed to place leaflets in shops, on notice boards and in clubs for the elderly to try and raise awareness amongst those who are more vulnerable or who may not have access to online warnings. Thefts from motor vehicles  SNT officers have been offering crime prevention advice by visiting and leafleting the local area.  Foot, cycle and vehicle patrols have been conducted around the Bushwood Road area for one hour daily.  A police CCTV van has been used around Kew Green and car parks areas to try and deter would-be thieves, prevent and detect crime.  The local SNT team have been doing ‘Street a Week’ where a whole street is visited and every door knocked on to offer advice.