Workspace Ltd, the owners of the Rainbow Industrial Estate, are currently consulting on renewed plans for the site. The area is currently used by a range of businesses including a coach company, in the area southwest of Raynes Park station between the railway tracks that head south to Motspur Park.

There have been a range of proposals for the site over the years as the owners of the site would like to see greater use of the area. Below is an outline of the proposals, our thoughts, plus detials of how to find out more and have your say.

The proposals

The current proposals would see the site developed with:

• 200 – 250  flats;
• 3400  square metres of small scale industrial units.

Other community venues, etc would not be provided on the site.

It is important to note that the proposal would not create any new access to the site. Access would be solely via the existing access road by the south entrance to Raynes Park Station. As part of the redevelopment, a new passenger drop off area (the ‘kiss and ride’) would be provided – also next to the south entrance to the Station and the only entrance to the entire Rainbow Industrial Estate.

What we think.

Your local Liberal Democrats support investment in Raynes Park and accept that better use could be made of the Rainbow Estate. However, we are fundamentally opposed to development that occurs simply because a site is available where it doesn’t enhance, let alone worsens, conditions for local people.

Our concern with the Rainbow Estate proposal is that all traffic – pedestrian, business, deliveries, commuters or otherwise – will need to travel through the one access point.  This is not good design. As a multi-use site, traffic will be using the already very busy junction by the station throughout the day and evening. In addition, more people will be encouraged to drop off and pick up passengers at this junction. This not good for Raynes Park and local noise, pollution and congestion. Importantly, it will also create an isolated local community solely accessed via a long and winding roadway and cut off from easy access to neighbouring services.

We challenge Workspace to develop a proposal for the Rainbow site that enhances the local area and doesn’t put undue pressure on the local streets.

What is key is for local residents is to let their feelings and concerns be known. We need everyone who supports our concerns to respond to the consultation, even with a short email. Consultation details are below:

Consultation documents – http://www.merton.gov.uk/rainbow_exhibition_boards.pdf

There’s more information on their website here: http://www.rainbowindest.co.uk/

Send your views to [email protected]

And let us know what you think ([email protected]).