Kingston Independent Residents Group

03/09/2026

🚨 PETITION ON THE COOMBE GIRLS SCHOOL STREET ZONE 🚨

Kingston Council is proposing a huge new School Street Zone around Coombe Girls School, covering not just Darley Drive but Buxton Drive, Bakewell Way, Cromford Way, Matlock Way and Branksome Way too. The proposal would be introduced through an Experimental Traffic Management Order, meaning residents would not be 'consulted' until after the restrictions have already been put in place.

We support sensible, proportionate action to tackle dangerous parking and congestion around schools. But this proposal is far too wide-reaching and residents should have a proper say before such major restrictions are imposed across their neighbourhood.

I have launched a petition calling on the Council to reject the scheme in its current form, consult residents properly and come back with a more targeted proposal.

✍️ Sign the petition here: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-kingston-council-imposing-a-huge-school-street-zone-without-a-proper-resident-consultation/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUGQCBwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR7ii5y4hIE5qvgOJO-c_q0B4gy3PesTcLfIvf26MSiZPsQoGMbEHYAZG-HqPw_aem_ykYTGGBYdR-xcCugtAaxLQ #

📢 The proposal goes before the New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee on Wednesday 9 September at 7.30pm at Richard Challoner School. If you’re affected, please come along and make your views heard.

Please sign, share and send this to neighbours who may be affected

Residents must be consulted before sweeping traffic restrictions are imposed on our neighbourhood Kingston Council is proposing a new School Street Zone around Coombe Girls School, using an Experimental Traffic Management Order (ETMO). We support proportionate measures to tackle dangerous parking, c...

21/04/2026

Don’t believe the Lib Dem literature. This election across our area is neck and neck between the Lib Dems and the Independents!

There is NO risk of letting the Conservatives or Reform in, as they claim!

Don’t believe us? Check for yourself! https://www.pollcheck.co.uk/locals-2026 #/kingston_upon_thames

23/01/2026

*Kingston Council has finally agreed to review the two yellow box junctions on Kingston Road/Elm Road after huge public pressure.*

These boxes are a cash cow — bringing in over £450,000 in just eight months — and residents have been telling us for months that the current setup is stressful, confusing and unfair.

I also revealed in the meeting that 15% of all moving traffic PCNs in the borough are issued at the Elm Road junction, with 40,000+ fines issued since 2021.

Now we need to make sure this review leads to real change when it reaches Place Committee.

✅ Please sign the petition now: https://kirg.org.uk/new-malden/yellow-box/
✅ Share it with neighbours + local groups

The louder we are, the harder it is to ignore us.

https://kingston.nub.news/news/local-news/kingston-council-agree-to-review-cash-cow-yellow-box-junctions-following-public-uproar-285756

Kingston Council will review two yellow box junctions earning over £450,000 despite being legally compliant, amid public and political backlash.

23/01/2026

🎉 FOUNTAIN ROUNDABOUT: WE WON – AND IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING! 🎉

After over 100 residents packed the public gallery, the Lib Dem council finally caved in on their ludicrous plans to remove the Fountain Roundabout.

Independents have been fighting this scheme since it first surfaced back in 2016 under the Conservative administration. Time and again, residents said no. Time and again, the Council has tried to bring it back.

In this latest process, the Lib Dems wasted over £200,000 of taxpayers’ money on consultants chasing a plan local people never wanted.

The Mayor of London said NO to funding it.�The Lib Dems still tried to ram it through.�And last night, because residents stood firm, they were finally forced to back down.

Even Cllr Mark Durrant admitted the scale of the turnout gave him “pause for thought”. Funny how common sense arrives when elections are on the horizon… I was pleased that he agreed to remove the proposal to create a crossroads, and was delighted to second that proposal!

The result:�
✅ The roundabout stays�
✅ The Council will now look at improving the existing roundabout, not removing it�
✅ Including a zebra crossing at the Kingston Road end, improving safety without causing chaos

This victory belongs to residents — and to everyone who refused to give up over nearly a decade of this nonsense.

Petitions. Emails. Turning up. Holding the line.
�It all mattered.

🙏 Thank you, thank you, thank you.

21/01/2026

MEETING THIS THURSDAY ON YELLOW BOX JUNCTION (and the Fountain Roundabout)

Your Independent councillors have called an Extraordinary Council Meeting to push the council to scrap the yellow box on Elm Road in New Malden. These boxes have been raking in huge sums (£450k in just eight months!) while residents have been raising complaint after complaint.

The most important bit: members of the public can speak and address the committee. So if you’ve been caught out, you’ve seen the congestion, or you’re just fed up with it, you can tell them directly.

We need a packed room so the Lib Dem administration can’t shrug this off.

📍 Extraordinary Council Meeting
🕖 7pm – Thu 22 Jan
🏫 Richard Challoner School

Hope to see many of you there.

18/12/2025

After the success of our last Mayoral Coffee and Conversation, I’m delighted that the Mayor will be in New Malden again TOMORROW between 10am and 11am.

If you are around, please stop by and say hello!

King Cafe on Kingston Road
Friday 19th December
10am-11am

Free coffee and bite to eat

06/12/2025

🎄 SANTA CLAUS IS IN TOWN FOR THE MARKET! 🎄

The Rotary Club is on New Malden High Street as part of the New Malden Farmers’ Market today until 2pm!

Our Independent councillors also have a stall, alongside local honey, cakes, Christmas gifts, fruit and veg and more!

Come say hi!

09/11/2025

Today, on Remembrance Sunday, we honour all those who gave their lives in service to our country.

Cllr Kamala Kugan and Mihaela McKendrick are representing the Kingston Independents at the New Malden service, and Cllr Jamal Chohan is laying a wreath on our behalf at the Kingston service.

Thank you to all of those who supported the Poppy Appeal this year across our borough.

We remember them. 🌺

11/02/2025

🏡 INFLATION-BUSTING RENT RISE APPROVED BY KINGSTON LIB DEMS 🏡

Tonight Independent Councillor James Giles was the ONLY councillor in Kingston to vote against an inflation-busting rent rise this year for Council tenants in social homes.

Cllr Emily Davey (wife of Ed Davey) said the Council “had to” raise rents, which is of course utter nonsense.

So whilst Council tenants struggle with the cost of living crisis, they’ll now face an extra 2.7% in their rent on top of everything else.

The Kingston Independent Residents Group on Kingston Council will ALWAYS stand up for our council tenants and continue to vote against inflation-busting rent rises.

Attached is the pic of the 11 Lib Dems voting for the rent rise.

Stand with council tenants? Join us: membermojo.co.uk/kirg