Kingston Cycling Campaign (KCC) and Kingston Independent Residents Group (KIRG) have attacked the Council's announcement of the winners for New Malden's Fountain Roundabout design competition.

The new design was selected by six shortlisted ideas in a competition run by Kingston Council and London Festival of Architecture (LFA). The contest asked candidates to propose solutions to enhance the green space on the roundabout.

The KCC criticised the council's announcement for the roundabout's new design as: "Not fixing the real problem but glossing over it. It's like taking something ugly and putting lipstick on it."

It claimed the roundabout is inadequate for cyclists, drivers or pedestrians. The KCC said the roundabout is too big, causing drivers to go too fast around it, as well as very intimidating for the residential area.

Spokesperson for the KCC said: "You only have to stand there to see the speed that people go round that roundabout, people honking their horns…there are no pedestrian crossings, so people take their lives into their own hands."

Several crashes has occurred on the Fountain Roundabout, including a man died last year in a horrific collision with a lorry and even a fire engine rolled onto its side. 

The spokesperson said: "Putting a pedestrian crossing on the high street would make a big difference to people, instead of putting up sculptures and flower beds."

A controversial design

Design layout for the roundabout by Hayatsu Architects, Hortus Collective and 121 Collective. (Photo: Kingston Council)

In a press release from yesterday, Kingston Council and the LFA announced the winners of the New Malden design competition as Hayatsu Architects, Hortus Collective and 121 Collective. 

The proposed roundabout will feature a chimney, reportedly referencing to New Malden's brick manufacturing past, as well as a pond to promote biodiversity. 

The KCC mocked the idea of a brick chimney to stand next to a fibre glass fountain on the roundabout. Users on the Kingston Neighbourhood Facebook group criticised the council's attempt to encourage wildlife on a busy roundabout, calling it a "farce".

The KCC spokesperson added: "The council have gone for creating an ambiance beside a road which has thousands and thousands of vehicles that go past. Clearly not many people want to hang around there."

Where's the money?

The KCC also pointed towards what it called recent "project failures" such as the Kingfisher and the Kingston Station bike hub. The spokesperson said the council "have an idea, run with it and spend lots of money without solving the problem."

Cllr James Giles of the Kingston Independent Resident's Group (KIRG), attacked the announcement in a press statement. He said: "Instead of putting much-needed funds into the basics, this Liberal Democrat administration are instead pursuing vanity schemes like this.

"Worse still is the omission from the Council that this project remains entirely unfunded - not a penny of the £250,000 bill has yet been found within the existing budgets which we are repeatedly told are incredibly tight."

Cllr Giles also criticised why the money was not being spent on maintaining roads, pavements and other parking infrastructure. 

In April 2023, Kingston Council announced it was running a competition with LFA to create an "attractive public space" in New Malden. 

The fountain was damaged by Storm Eunice in early 2022 and the regenerative competition hoped to bring new life into the roundabout to celebrate the area's culture and history. 

Cllr Giles complained there was a lack of oversight given to New Malden councillors in having a formal vote in whether the project should have gone ahead, or deciding the winners. 

The council responds

Kingston Council said in a press statement: "As a council, we are focussed on placing history and heritage at the heart of our regeneration projects, which is why it's lovely that we'll be working with a local design team who really understand the uniqueness and vibrancy of New Malden."

The statement went on to say the proposed design is only the starting point for engagement. It said: "The design team will be working with local stakeholders, residents, businesses, the council and councillors to take the winning concept and create a final design that truly displays the pride we feel in our town."

In response to queries where the money will be raised from, the council said: "Money from Section 106 and Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy, which are collected from developers on qualifying developments, will be used for this next stage as important further engagement is carried out, and a final design is created.

"Proper governance procedures will be followed to agree the funding for construction of the project, as would be expected with any council spending. We expect this to take place over the coming months."