Kingston Council is set to fund a vibrant Tamil Heritage and Harvest Festival and provide crucial grants to support mental health initiatives, following a meeting of the New and Old Malden Neighbourhood Committee on Thursday 11 December 2025. The schemes are scheduled for implementation within the current financial year.
The committee considered petitions regarding the PureGym swimming pool and the Springfield Disabled Resource Centre.
Regarding the PureGym swimming pool, the officer response noted that the council does not have a direct regulatory role in the operation or management of private leisure facilities.
Regarding the Springfield Disabled Resource Centre, Hft had notified the council on 14 July 2025 that they planned to sell Springfield Resource Centre as part of their wider efforts to reduce its financial deficit. In September 2025, a financial agreement was reached with Hft to continue to fund the service for the remainder of the Day Opportunities & Meaningful Occupations Framework. The sale is anticipated to be complete in December 2025, with a lease term of 10 years.
The committee approved a £1,100 grant for the Kingston Tamil Heritage Group to support their upcoming festival, scheduled for Sunday 25 January 2026, at Richard Challoner School. The festival aims to celebrate the harvest season and the rich Tamil culture and heritage, offering a unique opportunity for the local community to experience traditional music, dance, art, and cuisine. The festival will feature traditional music, dance, and various cultural performances.
In addition to the cultural celebration, the committee also approved a £3,000 grant for Kingston Giving to support its Catalyst Grants programme. These grants will go directly to local people on low incomes, to support personal development, mental health, and opportunities they could not otherwise afford. This initiative provides small grants to local people on low incomes, focusing on supporting their mental health and wellbeing. The grants will be delivered in partnership with trusted local partners from Kingston Giving's close network of 57 charities. Decision makers on these grants would be from Kingston Giving's pool of Participatory Grant Makers, who are local people paid at London Living Wage to make grant making decisions, based on the anonymised applications.
The meeting also addressed other important local issues, including pedestrian safety and community services. The committee approved the implementation of new zebra crossings on Clarence Avenue and Coombe Lane West, following public consultations. Funding for the Clarence Avenue scheme would come from the current Local Implementation Plan (LIP) budget. The cost of the works for the Coombe Lane West crossing will be met from the Council's LIP grant allocation from TfL, and the budget is sufficient to fund the works. Concerns were raised by some residents about potential traffic congestion, but the council has stated that the crossings will also act as traffic calming measures.
According to the Clarence Avenue Zebra Crossing report, 67% of respondents supported the introduction of the crossing on Clarence Avenue outside number 74. The report notes that Clarence Avenue is subject to a 20mph speed limit. Since traffic frequently exceeds 23mph, the proposed zebra crossing would serve as a traffic calming measure, effectively reducing vehicle speeds and increasing driver awareness. The proposed location was selected based on the road layout and has been road safety audited.
Similarly, the Coombe Lane West Zebra Crossing consultation results report indicated that 60% of respondents supported the introduction of the new zebra crossing on Coombe Lane West outside house numbers 54/56. The report notes that Coombe Lane West is subject to a 20mph speed limit. However, traffic speeds often exceed 23mph. This scheme will help mitigate this issue by encouraging lower speeds. Residents with driveways near the proposed site are concerned that the required zig-zag markings will create a significant safety hazard due to severely poor visibility of pedestrians when reversing in or out during peak times. The final design details will specifically address these concerns about safety near driveways and the potential for flooding. The current location was chosen based on the geometric layout of the road, which is suitable for this type of crossing.