Merton and Wandsworth AM candidates lay out their views on Crossrail 2, AFC Wimbledon and the three priorities for Londoners

Current member Richard Tracey announced he would be stepping down from the seat and retiring ahead of this year’s election.

January 28: Merton and Wandsworth AM Richard Tracey on the Dons, Crossrail 2 and transport as he prepares to leave City Hall

There are six candidates vying for votes, including Labour’s Leonie Cooper, the Conservative candidate David Dean, Liberal Democrat Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett, Elizabeth Jones for UKIP, Esther Obiri-Darko for the Green Party and independent candidate Thamilini Kulendran.

The Wandsworth and Wimbledon Guardians asked each candidate to tell us about themselves, and answer six questions:

1. What has motivated you to stand for the Merton and Wandsworth seat?

2. What do you believe are the top three priorities for London and for the boroughs?

3. Where do you stand on the AFC Wimbledon stadium application – should it go ahead or be rejected?

4. Should Crossrail 2 be routed through Balham or Tooting Broadway?

5. How would you work to save Wimbledon town centre from demolition if Crossrail 2 passes through?

6. Where do you stand on the Lee Valley payment, made by Merton and Wandsworth councils every year to a park in the north of London to which few people visit?

Leonie Cooper, Labour candidate.

Ms Cooper, pictured, has been a Wandsworth councillor for 10 years and currently lives in the Furzedown area of Tooting. She has lived in Merton and Wandsworth and worked in housing and environmental sustainability.

1. What has motivated you to stand for the Merton and Wandsworth seat?

The desire to get things done. With a Labour Mayor in City Hall again, we can move on from the last 8 wasted years.

The huge innovations introduced 2000-2008 (the Oyster system, the Congestion Zone, the Bike Hire Scheme (negotiated and signed off by Ken), more frequent and better buses, more bus routes – we’ve not seen anything like that and London is falling behind, with overcrowded transport and overpriced housing.

2. What do you believe are the top three priorities for London and for the boroughs?

Housing - to rent. We need control over standards and rents in the private rented sector. Housing – to buy.

The London property market is great for overseas investors but a disaster for ordinary Londoners.

Air Quality –almost 10,000 Londoners die prematurely due to poor air quality, children’s lung growth is stunted. This has to be tackle.

Crime. There have been big increase in some crimes and big cuts in local police. Both need to be reversed.

3. Where do you stand on the AFC Wimbledon stadium application – should it go ahead or be rejected?

I hope the new Mayor approves it, as bringing AFC back home would be fantastic for a great Club.

There are a couple of issues that need attention: we need to make sure we maximise affordable housing on the site and we need to ensure transport / pedestrian routes to the stadium minimise inconvenience to people who live nearby on match days – but with the right conditions attached to the Mayor’s Planning Consent these should be resolved. I will certainly attend the meeting that considers the Planning Approval and speak up on these, if elected.

4. Should Crossrail 2 be routed through Balham or Tooting Broadway?

Tooting Broadway – obviously. Balham already has the overground and we need to relieve the overcrowding from as far south on the Northern line as possible.

It would also allow for the loop to go via Streatham. I will continue to do all I can to make sure this is the Crossrail 2 route.

5. How would you work to save Wimbledon town centre from demolition if Crossrail 2 passes through?

I already have been working on this, discussing it with Sadiq and his team – but also with Cllr Stephen Alambritis and my other Merton Councillor colleagues. TfL need to think again (and I believe are starting to listen) – we need more tunnelling and less destruction of our town centre.

6. Where do you stand on the Lee Valley payment, made by Merton and Wandsworth councils every year to a park in the north of London to which few people visit?

I’ve campaigned on this – Merton and Wandsworth should not be paying for the Lee Valley, we should instead be paying for the development of the Wandle Valley, along with the residents of Croydon and Sutton.

David Dean, Conservative candidate.

David Dean moved to Wimbledon in 1992 and got involved in politics in Merton 10 years ago. He is married with three children and counts sports and guerilla gardening among his hobbies. 

1. What has motivated you to stand for the Merton and Wandsworth seat?

I love this city and I want to play my part in making it even greater for all Londoners. There’s no better role to protect all that is good and to improve what is not so good in London than representing the people of Merton and Wandsworth at the London Assembly. As a Councillor of 10 years, I have been involved in a vast array of projects. As Assembly Member, I will have a wider remit and I will work with more groups on more projects.

2. What do you believe are the top three priorities for London and for the boroughs?

More investment in public transport - a broader network, more frequency and capacity. More homes for Londoners, built on un-used brownfield sites and an electric vehicle/solar panel revolution for cleaner air. And never forget, we must keep cutting crime too.

3. Where do you stand on the AFC Wimbledon stadium application – should it go ahead or be rejected?

I want to see AFC back, but this application needs to address the issues raised - and ignored - in the Mayor’s Stage 1 comments; mainly congestion and lack of affordable housing. Politicians cannot bleat about paucity of affordable homes then pass applications without any low cost homes for Londoners. All those interested will now get the chance to speak at the Mayoral hearing.

4. Should Crossrail 2 be routed through Balham or Tooting Broadway?

I’m rooting for Tooting, and so are the residents, for regeneration, transport capacity, connectivity and economic vitality.

5. How would you work to save Wimbledon town centre from demolition if Crossrail 2 passes through?

I am also working closely with Stephen Hammond MP, who has held extensive discussions with the Crossrail 2 team about modifying their plan for Wimbledon. They are now considering four options for the new station, including a tunnel underneath the town centre. An Assembly Member needs to understand and get involved with every nook and cranny on Crossrail 2. They’ve got to know both boroughs well as well as the whole plan.

6. Where do you stand on the Lee Valley payment, made by Merton and Wandsworth councils every year to a park in the north of London to which few people visit?

Lee Valley needed support many decades ago but today, it is the home of the Olympic Park and has had more investment in 10 years than Merton and Wandsworth has ever had. It makes no sense to keep sending our money to another part of London that actually doesn’t need it. 

Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett, Liberal Democrat candidate.

Adrian Hyyrylainen-Trett was the first openly HIV+ parliamentary candidate to stand in a UK general election in 2015. He lives in Lambeth with his husband and has stood to be a councillor in two previous elections. 

1. What has motivated you to stand for the Merton and Wandsworth seat?

I believe that residents of Merton and Wandsworth constituencies deserve to have a candidate fully focussed on the Greater London Assembly role rather than either of the two major party candidates already both whom are local Councillors and will have many other distractions. 

2. What do you believe are the top three priorities for London and for the boroughs?

Housing: building 200,000 houses, and specifically 50,000 council homes with the GLA having its own in-house building company to get on with the job and not relying on private developers but also ensuring communities are supported and maintained through appropriate Housing development. Transport – campaigning for half priced fares before 7.30am in the morning to help those on lower incomes travelling into town reducing financial costs of travelling and a 1 hour bus ticket to travel without having to pay again when changing buses. Both plans fully costed with the scrapping of vanity projects like the Garden Bridge. Policing – employing 3,000 more police officers on the street to firstly deal with the. level of hate crimes across all communities and vulnerable groups.

3. Where do you stand on the AFC Wimbledon stadium application – should it go ahead or be rejected?

Realistically development of the Plough Lane site is the only way to bring AFC Wimbledon back to Wimbledon so it should go ahead. It's not clear why the Mayor has called the planning decision in. There needs to be a joined-up plan to minimise traffic impact on the surrounding area but it would be great for AFC Wimbledon to return to its home turf. 

4. Should Crossrail 2 be routed through Balham or Tooting Broadway?

In my view Crossrail 2 should be routed through Tooting Broadway which enables Streatham to them be connected as well into the route. It was also suggested that Earlsfield could be brought in without any further new stations with an underground tunnel to Berrylands. 

5. How would you work to save Wimbledon town centre from demolition if Crossrail 2 passes through?

The way to save Wimbledon town centre from demolition is to have a "deep tunnel" under Wimbledon that would avoid the widespread demolition of the town centre currently being proposed. Merton Council needs strong, clear and appropriate planning policies and vision in place to guide and manage the significant development that is going to follow Crossrail 2.

6. Where do you stand on the Lee Valley payment, made by Merton and Wandsworth councils every year to a park in the north of London to which few people visit?

The Lee Valley payment needs to be renegotiated. Its unfair to expect residents of Wandsworth and Merton to pay for a park very few, if any visit the other side of London. 

Elizabeth Jones, UKIP Candidate

Ms Jones lives in Clapham and is a family solicitor who has been a UKIP member for six years. 

1. What has motivated you to stand for the Merton and Wandsworth seat?

I am standing to give a platform to Brexit and GLA is a symptom of EU regionalisation policy adding an unnecessary layer of extra government and taking more power away from the electorate.The super constituency is already well stocked with politicians there being 120 councillors, five MPs, two very highly paid local authority CEOs, two mayors and an MEP.Why on earth does anyone want to waste any more of their precious tax on another well paid underemployed politico? Abolish the London Assembly. Its powers only cover scrutiny of mayoral budget and policy and a two-thirds majority is needed to block the budget. Your councillors and MPs already cover much of the "work" of the assembly.

2. What do you believe are the top three priorities for London and for the boroughs?

EU open borders migration policy has caused a hike in population numbers in London causing a considerable strain on transport, housing and infrastructure, even queuing in Asda takes forever.

The issues are transport and kindly note the roads are the arteries of commerce especially in these days of internet shopping further EU policy is to shift freight from rail onto road. There needs to be a review of bus lanes and there can be no justification for 24/7 bus lanes save as a means of ideological bullying.

Indeed Liverpool City Council has abandoned all but four of its bus lanes after an intensive review. Kindly note that the dream of nationalisation of transport cannot happen whilst we remain in EU and the Overground is a German/Hong Kong venture.

London needs 24/7 underground to be a world leader.

Housing is critical and a brownfield register is needed to make land available with priority going to local people kindly note that any extensive building scheme will involve EU competition, procurement and state aid rules.

3. Where do you stand on the AFC Wimbledon stadium application – should it go ahead or be rejected?

If the majority of the local residents support this move then it should proceed. It is about time that Dons played at home having been out of occupation since 1991 further this move should engage local youth to play rather than simply spectate and move the game forward.

It is proposed that 602 new dwellings will be built which should ease the housing burden however would add greatly to the existing pressure upon road space and infrastructure further there would be much congestion during match days.

It is a balance which the Mayor has left for the new mayor to decide.Merton Council voted to support it unanimously. This is crying out for the UKIP policy of local referenda. Match day disruption is likely 25 days per year the application should go ahead only if supported by a local referendum.

4. Should Crossrail 2 be routed through Balham or Tooting Broadway?

Issues around the route from central London to Wimbledon – should it go via Balham or Tooting Broadway. My view would be that inclusion of Tooting Broadway would be desirable in view of previous question, as it would improve transport links close to the new stadium.

5. How would you work to save Wimbledon town centre from demolition if Crossrail 2 passes through?

My general view would be that the tunnel should emerge to the South West of Wimbledon Station, and that extra platforms required at the station would be better underground. However, there is an opportunity to improve road layout around the town centre, to enhance traffic flow and remove bottlenecks, which would be helpful. Unfortunately this risks causing planning blight which wouldn’t be acceptable to significant parts of the electorate.

6. Where do you stand on the Lee Valley payment, made by Merton and Wandsworth councils every year to a park in the north of London to which few people visit?

That is beyond the scope of the London Assembly remit. It is a pretty toothless talk shop. This park tax is an outrage and must end and is an excellent example of what happens when there too many underemployed politicos in one's hair.

They have to be watched like a hawk.

Thamilini Kulendran, independent. 

Thamilini Kulendran lives in Tooting and is married with one daughter. He has been practicing law for the last 24 years.

1. What has motivated you to stand for the Merton and Wandsworth seat?

Mainstream politicians have never been truthful with the electorate. They have failed to give correct and accurate details and reportage on the benefits of Brexit as an example. They often promise much but deliver less, unapologetically. They disconnect from the people immediately after elections and re-connect again during elections just to win vote.

The honourable and good people of Merton and Wandsworth deserve more than that. They must be acknowledge and their views must be respected. I decided to stand as an independent candidate because I am on the side of the people; to serve the constituents and to voice their concerns and views without fear or allegiance to any political party's manipulation or pressure.

2. What do you believe are the top three priorities for London and for the boroughs?

Housing, policing and health care. Merton and Wandsworth constituents and Londoners in general need an affordable housing schemes. Secondly, I have always advocated that we must recruit police volunteers from people who are unemployed and are on benefit. Thirdly, we must have more walk-in centres to make it easier for people to access health care readily.

3. Where do you stand on the AFC Wimbledon stadium application – should it go ahead or be rejected?

It must go ahead.

4. Should Crossrail 2 be routed through Balham or Tooting Broadway?

Tooting Broadway.

5. How would you work to save Wimbledon town centre from demolition if Crossrail 2 passes through?

With every new development which will benefit the people of Merton and Wandsworth, there is bound to be sacrifice in the process. In this way, the demolition may be unavoidable.

6. Where do you stand on the Lee Valley payment, made by Merton and Wandsworth councils every year to a park in the north of London to which few people visit?

The constituents of Merton and Wandsworth must be consulted in a town hall meeting fashion to be informed about the reasons and rationale behind such payment arrangements. Also the views and opinion of the constituents must be sought as to the continuity with the payment arrangements.

Esther Obiri-Darko did not respond to request for comment.