An ice rink, a multiplex cinema and a library have all been ideas brought up in public consultations for a major redevelopment in New Malden.

Surrey Comet:

New Malden Future Group plans 

Forward-thinking residents have put their thoughts on to paper for the Cocks Crescent and Blagdon Road site – and what is more, they are consulting their neighbours on it too.

In collaboration with Kingston Council, the New Malden Future group has already had a series of consultations for the public and have more lined up.

The group propose to turn the area into a “new heart and community focus for New Malden”, with a town square, leisure centre, library, cinema complex, shops and a residential development.

Beverley ward Councillor Terry Paton has been working with the group.

He said: “To start with, people were saying the council is forcing this on us then they realised that this is resident-led and it started to feel like we were getting a lot of support.

“It is interesting because the ideas that people are coming up with are similar to the New Malden Future group.”

The site has had a chequered history with complaints about the lack of public consultations, proposed plans for a leisure centre and community spaces, 200 homes and a “super surgery” all falling foul of residents in the past six years.

Zbig Blonski became involved in the group after becoming disillusioned with former plans for the site.

He said: “We need something to inject life into the town centre. New Malden is potentially a thriving centre, it just needs to build on its strengths.

“At the moment we just have a development brief because we want residents to be fully involved and consulted on what Cocks Crescent will be.”

New Malden resident and former councillor Lynne Finnerty said: “I am looking forward to seeing the plans.

“I just hope that people do get involved with it. It’s important to know what is going on and form informed opinions about that site.”

The public consultation will run till August 10.

To see the consultation online visit kingston.gov.uk/consultations.