The Journey Continues: Building a Better Sutton Together

As I reflected last week on my first year as leader, sharing some of the progress we've made, it's clear that the work certainly doesn't stop there. In fact, the past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind of activity, demonstrating perfectly how we're constantly pushing forward for Sutton.

Earlier this week, alongside Councillor Christopher Woolmer, Chair of Sutton’s Environment and Sustainable Transport Committee, I had the pleasure of hosting Will Norman, London's Walking and Cycling Commissioner, and his team. Their "Big Community Transport Tour" brought them right here to Sutton, and it was a fantastic opportunity to showcase our borough. 

We highlighted key growth areas like Sutton Town Centre and The London Cancer Hub, emphasising just how vital transport improvements and investment are to our ambitious regeneration plans. Critical to this is securing TfL funding for Sutton Town Centre and advocating for more frequent rail services, using the example of our Belmont Station improvements as part of the Government’s Levelling Up funding scheme. While Sutton Town Centre is relatively well-connected, we stressed the urgent need for further transport enhancements to support planned growth in the borough, especially in areas currently underserved by public transport. 

It was also a chance to celebrate some of the fantastic initiatives happening across Sutton, from our innovative Go Green Scheme businesses to the incredible engagement from our community and voluntary sector. Later in the day, Will Norman and his team held a roundtable discussion, bringing together local residents, community groups, faith organisations, young people and businesses. It was a valuable opportunity to hear what's working well, identify challenges, and explore how we can all collaborate to improve transport across our borough. My thanks to everyone who participated.

Beyond transport, it’s been a week of celebrating the heart of our community. We marked Volunteer Centre Sutton's 60th anniversary and, of course, Volunteers' Week. The dedication and selflessness of our volunteers is inspiring, and they are the backbone of so much that makes Sutton a great place to live.