New Tolworth Broadway page
Please note we have inserted a new page for comments on plans to redevelop Tolworth Broadway, beginning with considerable input from Daniel Goodger. To access the page please click on the words ‘Tolworth Broadway’ in the header bar.
Freedom Pass renewal: 2010-2015
Just received from Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL):-
The London Boroughs Freedom Pass 2008 – 2010 will expire on 31st March 2010. Below is information about the process to obtain the new style Freedom Pass 2010 – 2015 which will be a single card with the holders photograph displayed.
Older Persons Freedom Pass 2010-2015
Those aged over 60 years living in a London borough are automatically entitled to the Older Persons Freedom Pass. They will need to obtain an application form from the Post Office or download it from the Freedom Pass website at www.freedompass.org . The forms will be available later in December.
Disabled Persons Freedom Pass 2010-2015
Those eligible for the Disabled Freedom Pass will receive their authorisation form from the Council at the end of December or early January 2010.
Discretionary Persons Freedom Pass 2010-2015
Those eligible for the Discretionary Freedom Pass will receive their authorisation form from the Council at the end of December or early January 2010.
The Discretionary Freedom Pass, valid for travel within the London Boroughs, is issued at the Councils discretion, to people who meet specified criteria.
Entitlement to the Discretionary Freedom Pass will be subject to re-assessment within a period specified by the Council.
Acceptable Photographs
Freedom Pass holders will need to obtain a new photograph which must comply with the requirements set out in the attachment below.
Over 26,000 eligible Freedom Pass holders in Kingston will need to obtain a new photograph, so please can you suggest people obtain their photograph now.
Process and Dates for the Renewal of the Freedom Pass at the Post Office
To renew the Freedom Pass, eligible Kingston residents will need to take their application/authorisation form, their photograph, evidence of identity, and evidence of residency in Kingston to the Post Office during the period specified in the ‘A to Z dates to renew’ attachment below.
The Post Office Counter Clerk will check the documentary evidence, insert a barcode on the authorisation form and dispatch it with the photograph to the company manufacturing the Freedom Passes. It will take up to 10 days to process the new style Freedom Pass which will be sent to the applicant.
The London Councils website is in the process of being updated with this new information which will also be displayed in the local press and other advertising outlets.
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Dates to apply between (2010)
Surnames that begin with:
A/B/C/D/E 04-16 Jan
F/G/H/I/J 18-23 Jan
K/L/M/N/O 25-30 Jan
P to Z 1-6 February
If you missed your week, please apply
8-13 February
THE FREEDOM PASS IS PROVIDED BY YOUR LOCAL BOROUGH COUNCIL www.freedompass.org
Blocked drains
The fall of leaves often causes problems after rain, especially in the Lovelace, Oakhill and Southborough and Ellerton, Bond and Douglas Road areas.The Council is responsible for the maintenance of roadside surface water drains (gullies) normally situated in the kerbside channel or gutter on the Council’s highways. The Council’s responsibility is to keep the gullies clear and allow water to run away freely. The gully consists of a grating on top of the gully pot leading to the pipe which conducts the water into the surface water main sewer (the main sewer is the responsibility of Thames Water).
Drainage problems on Council Housing property (e.g.School Lane) should in the first instance be reported to the Estate Manager.
The Council’s contractor is scheduled to cleanse of all the Council gullies by neighbourhood once a year, those on classified roads twice. There is also responsive gully cleanse of any gullies reported as blocked by residents or council inspectors.
If there is a drain that you suspect is blocked/not freely running away, please contact us or RBK Environment Call Centre on 020 8547 5560.
Thames Water Customer Care Line: 0845 920 0800
New ‘Safer Neighbourhood’ page
Please note our new Safer Neighbourhood page, on which we will post matters specifically relating to our ward Safer Neighbourhood Police team. Click on Safer Neighbourhood above now and follow the link to the latest SNT Newsletter for Surbiton Hill.
Released on 04 November 2009: thanks to Cllr. Dennis Doe (Con. Tudor Ward) for drawing my attention to it.
The government’s decision today (Wednesday) to reopen the third year of the funding settlement for the national bus concession has angered London Councils.
Under a three year package announced by government in 2008, London was set to receive around £58 million in 2010/2011 to help cover the cost of providing free off peak bus travel in the capital.
However, today Minister for Transport, Sadiq Khan announced that he was reopening the consultation on the final year of the settlement – which could result in London losing around half of this funding.
London Councils fears the capital is losing out because it has run a statutory concessionary fares scheme – the Freedom Pass – for over two decades.
Lib Dems treat Leaseholders with contempt
At a fractious Council meeting last night the Lib Dems had to admit they had taken no action in relation to leaseholders concerns for repairs and maintenance.
Cllrs. Ian George and Paul Johnston put forward a motion calling on the Lib Dem Administration to honour its contractual obligations to leaseholders under their leases. Cllr Johnston pointed out “These are legal documents and money has changed hands in return for undertakings by the Council which have frequently been neglected.”
Cllr. Ian George pointed out that the motion had been put because of the grave concerns voiced by Leaseholders , most recently at a meeting of the Executive. He said, “ Hearing their case we just couldn’t stand idly by as the complacent Lib Dems have done all these years.”
The Lib Dems used their majority to deflect Conservatives’ criticism by replacing the Conservative motion with one of their own, mixing leaseholders with tenants in an attempt to camouflage their lack of action.
After 8 years in power the Lib Dems accused the Conservatives of not having a policy!
Conservative policy is quite clear, said Cllr Howard Jones Leader of the Conservative Opposition ‘The Lib Dems have repeatedly failed to solve this problem and leaseholders continue to suffer. It is symptomatic of a poor, tired and incompetent Administration. We will honour the terms of leaseholders’ leases and we will successfully manage a stock transfer during the time of the first full Conservative Administration since 1986.’
Surbiton Forum 