The motion was moved by Councillor Najeeb Latif and seconded by Councillor Stephen Crowe

The Merton Park Ward Independent Residents (MPWIR) amendment, as set out in item 16 was moved by Councillors John Sargeant and seconded by Councillor Edward Foley.

The Labour amendment, as set out in item 17 (b) was moved by Councillors Andrew Judge and seconded by Councillor Sally Kenny.

Councillors Oonagh Moulton and David Simpson also spoke on this item.

The MPWIR amendment was then put to the vote and fell – votes in favour 23, and votes against 33 with 1 abstention.

The Labour amendment was then put to the vote and was carried – votes in favour 33, and votes against 19 with 5 abstentions

The substantive resolution was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council welcomes the recent consultation on extending Tramlink so that it connects Merton to Sutton via Morden and Wimbledon.  Council notes the consultation ended on 17 August and over 10,000 responses from residents were received over the course of the consultation.

Merton Council, in partnership with Sutton Council, put forward the preferred route included in the consultation as follows:

·       A link from Sutton to Wimbledon

·       An interchange at Morden town centre

·       A stop at St Helier Hospital

Additional options of a route via Nursery Road Playing Fields and Abbey Recreation Ground and a route that would by-pass St Helier Hospital were added to the consultation by Transport for London, which is chaired by the Mayor of London.

The final report has now been compiled and has been forwarded to TfL.  It will be published tomorrow. The results show that an overwhelming majority of respondents support the extension of the tram along both councils’ preferred route from Wimbledon to Sutton via Morden town centre, with a stop at St Helier Hospital. Residents have also backed Merton’s position in not supporting any extension via Nursery Road Rec or Abbey Playing Fields.

However, council notes that the Mayor of London’s Infrastructure Plan does not envisage an extension to the tram until 2030 at the earliest.

Council reiterates its support for a tram extension along the preferred route as it believes that, whilst the costs of the final route must clearly be affordable and deliver good value for money for the taxpayer, it is vital that the St Helier Hospital loop goes ahead in order to deliver improved access to the hospital for many local families and older residents. Council also calls on the local CCGs to take into account the potential investment in the tram and the confidence this shows in St Helier hospital as a provider of quality emergency, maternity and related services as they continue to consider the future of the hospital.  Council further reiterates the administration’s position that it is also vital that disruption to residents and local neighbourhoods is minimised and that the option of a route through Abbey Recreation Ground and Nursery Road playing fields is explicitly ruled out by Transport for London and the Mayor of London.

This Council resolves to take every opportunity that arises:

a) to use the results of the consultation to lobby TfL to extend the tram from Wimbledon to Sutton via Morden, thus contributing to the regeneration of Morden town centre; and

b) to continue to press the case for the St Helier Hospital loop with our partners at the London Borough of Sutton, Transport for London and the Mayor of London; and

c) to continue to strongly resist any alternative route option from TfL and the Mayor of London which would impact adversely on Abbey Recreation Ground and Nursery Road Playing Fields and residents’ enjoyment of this open space.

Council welcomes the findings of the consultation and has forwarded the results to TfL with a joint letter from both councils supporting the preferred route.  Council also looks forward to Scrutiny reviewing the findings of the consultation.

Now that residents have backed the proposals in principle, the next step will be to lobby TfL to fund much more detailed consultation on the preferred route.  If TfL agree to fund such a consultation we will be seeking to ensure the following:

1)    That the consultation is over a suitably long period and at an appropriate time of year so as to ensure maximum feedback from residents;

2)    That the Scrutiny unction of both council’s can fully engage in al stages of the process;

3)    That any impact on traffic flows into surrounding residential areas is fully explored and the potential for rat running and congestion is minimised; and

4)    That any changes to bus routes are fully outlined and consulted on; and

5)    That any agreed extension backed by local people would be prioritised for delivery by the Mayor of London so that residents do not have to wait until 2030.