The above letter was hand-delivered through our door today – folded but not in an ennvelop. Apparently, everyone in our street received this missive from the London Borough of Sutton Council (LBS for short). I had heard rumours that a 20mph zone might be coming to our local area. However, at no time were we consulted about it in anyway. Now, according to Sutton Council, the consultation has been completed – and it is all going ahead. Really? Throughout the UK this policy has been greeted with a general sense of pure hatred. It would seem that driving 20mph is no safer than driving faster – and that the real motive behind this policy is simply to raise extra revenue in fines for Local Councils (a Tory initiative that Labour has not stopped). With the wording of the letter – I smell a rat (no offense to rats) – and penned the following email to Sutton Council:
To: LBS Complaints <complaints@sutton.gov.uk>
Subject: Lynn Robinson – Highways and Transport LBS – MOSuttSL1189 Gander Green Lane Area
Date: Thursday, 6 February 2025 11:21
Dear Lynn Robinson – Highways and Transport LBS
Thank you for the LBS letter dated 6.2.2025 (attached) – hand-delivered to all the properties in the St Albans Road (SM1 2JH) area – concerning Sutton Council’s intention to enforce a 20mph speed limit.
The letter states:
“The responses received from residents within the area were fairly even between those who supported the 20mph speed limit and those who did not support the proposal.”
To allay any fears that a majority of residents may have decided against this proposal – and to encourage and support both democracy and transparency in local government – I would be very grateful if the percentage of the vote could be provided.
Thank you for time in this matter.
Yours sincerely
Adrian Chan-Wyles
Enc.
Reply from Sutton Council:
From: LBS Complaints <complaints@sutton.gov.uk>
Subject: Re: Lynn Robinson – Highways and Transport LBS – MOSuttSL1189 Gander Green Lane Area
Date: Thursday, 6 February 2025 13:16
Good Afternoon,
Thank you for your email.
We have shared this with our Highways team to add to the consultation.
Kind regards
David Bello
Customer Care Team
London Borough of Sutton
Following all this evasion and suspicious activity – myself, Gee, and two dogs ventured out into the streets to seek the official Sutton Council posting of “Planning Permission” – which is required prior to all major changes in structure and routine. Usually, a laminated (plastic-covered) letter is neatly affixed to a lamp-post – positioned for all to read (an old fashioned idea stemming from Victorian days). In tyis incidence, the letter in question is made of thin paper and completely unprotected. It was attached to the lamp-post today – just as rain is starting to fall – so it will not be in position for very long. As we appear to being “ordered” what to do despite living within civil society (as if serving in the British Army) – I carried a swagger-stick and wore a Warrant Officer rank – just to get into the spirit of the thing. It transpires that this speed-limit will be enforced not only on the main-road mentioned in the letter we received – but will include a vast number of side roads (not mentioned in the letter we received):
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 