We remind ourselves that we are an A-Political group, but sometimes it is hard not to get angry with local politics when it has a devasting affect on our wildlife and broken promises to residents.
Some people have asked what the relationship is with various organisations, so hopefully this will help.
Beddington Farmlands
At the Full Council Meeting on 27 January 2025, we heard all parties were frustrated with Viridor and now Valencia for not delivering the restoration of Beddington Farmlands by the end of 2023, despite legal planning obligations to do so.
Agreement to take enforcement action against Valencia was denied by the Liberal Democrats who cited one of the reasons would be that it could bankrupt the Council. Also that there was an update to Valencia’s planning application from 2024 and didn’t want to delay this any further.
SDEN expansion
Imagine our surprise on hearing one of the later agenda items that the Liberal Democrats agreed a loan of £1.015 million to the wholly owned council heating network – SDEN (Sutton Decentralised Energy Network) to expand its network from New Mill Quarter, Hackbridge to The Lavenders, Carshalton.
To achieve this will mean digging up Hackbridge Road, part of the Wandle Trail, that was improved in 2021 to lay pipes. Building a bridge over the River Wandle for the pipes and further digging up along Culvers Retreat, through their community orchard, Culvers Avenue to The Lavenders. SDEN are currently waiting for the outcome if they need to do an Environmental Impact Assessment before submitting a planning application
Beddington Incinerator (ERF)
Part of the planning conditions was to provide heat and hot water to New Mill Quarter. Currently this is being provided by the landfill waste gases and Viridor are profiting from selling waste energy back to the grid.
SDEN should not allow expanding their network to extend the life of the incinerator
Hackbridge & Beddington Corner Neighbourhood Development Group 