• FROM JULY 28th, 2006

A newly-created MPs’ group turned up the heat on stalled plans for a South London tram network connecting Kingston to nearby suburbs.

The All Party Parliamentary Group for Light Rail consisted of 20 MPs charged with lobbying for the development of tram and light rail schemes.

In 2004 an £84m development, which would have joined Kingston to the Tramlink network covering Wimbledon and Croydon, was dropped before a study into the feasibility of the scheme had even begun.

Transport for London, which would have shouldered most of the financial burden, decided against the scheme, saying that Kingston had seen an improvement in its bus and train services and the money was needed in other areas.

This led to the Lib Dem-controlled Kingston Council abandoning the idea.

A TfL spokesman said there was no plan for trams for Kingston.

He said: “In 2001, when we produced the Mayor’s transport strategy, there were seven possible extensions to the tram network, and none of them was Kingston.

“We have a shortlist of four at the moment, and of them only one is getting funding.”

But the parliamentary group wanted to put the issue back “on the front burner” politically and make steps to improve Kingston’s transport links.

Richmond Park MP Susan Kramer said she has long called for a full transport review of south west London.

She said: “The work hasn’t been done to see if it is feasible or not. We have to look at it because of the importance of linking up these different areas and taking the pressure off travelling into central London.”

She added that the Mayor’s transport policies concentrated on east London and the Olympics, when more people were moving to south west London to live and suffer from poor transport.

She said: “The new theatre for Kingston is an additional argument.

“It is such a benefit to the wider community and most people will have to drive in.”

Tony Adams from Kingston’s Travellers’ Association said traffic was at melting point, with Kingston Bridge the busiest in London at peak times.

He said: “The initial plans for the Croydon tram link show a connection with Kingston.

“It needs the political will to push to take it through, and the money to do it.”

The planned west London tram link from Ealing to Uxbridge was being opposed by the new Conservative council.

Mr Adams added: “If they don’t want it, can’t they bring the money down here?

“We would love it.”

  • From July 27, 2006

Torrential rain gave Kingston firefighters their busiest night of the year. Multiple calls to flooding and fire alarms kept the Green Watch out for an extra four hours.

The surge in calls was made worse by congestion. A Kingston firefighter said: “We attended a flood in Hampton Court and the traffic was so bad, cars were having to drive onto the pavement to let us through.”

  • From July 5, 1991

Non-emergency ambulances in New Malden were found to be among the oldest in London and to have been in “poor shape”.

According to a report by the National Union of Public Employees, more than half of the ambulances were more than six years old. Government guidelines mandated that the ageing cars had to be replaced after seven years.

  • From July 6, 1966

Head teachers across Surrey came out in support of legislation to lift a ban on teaching sex education in schools. The Surrey county Education Committee met to discuss whether or not to introduce sex education into the curriculum.

Mr T. Crossley, of Wayneflete secondary school, in Esher said: “You can’t just avoid a whole area of experience for young people.”