The Carshalton and Wallington constituency has in the past formed a part of the Liberal Democrats’ south-western stronghold in the capital.

Along with neighbouring Kingston and Richmond constituencies, it stood against Labour hegemony over much of the rest of London.

However, the very narrow swing to the Conservative Party in 2019 saw that block chipped away.

Elliot Colburn MP and 2015-elected Paul Scully, of Sutton and Cheam, have since stood in place as MPs for the two constituencies that cover the same borough, despite its solidly Lib Dem council.

However, it is fair to say that a lot has changed since 2019 and political opinion and the constituents’ priorities may have also changed accordingly.

Issues like ULEZ, healthcare and transport have also become more pronounced in recent years and are issues that seem to have a great effect on the outer London boroughs.

For this reason, many are looking to Carshalton and Wallington as one of London’s most hotly contested swing seats.

So what will be driving its voters on July 4? The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) visited to find out.

While many admitted ULEZ had been an issue with them before, people acknowledged that it was on the back burner now and that other transport issues like 20mph zones had taken its place.

Carshalton Beeches resident and businessman Brian spoke to the LDRS about how he thinks this policy would negatively impact the area.

He said: “Issues around 20mph and around whether that’s sensible or not are important.

“I don’t think it is because I’ve spent a lot of time in Swansea where they are turning that decision around due to congestion.

"It’s just going to cause more congestion and irritation around here, you need a constant flow of traffic for the economy.”

School worker Helen, who the LDRS spoke to whilst walking her dog in Grove Park, shared a similar view on this often controversial policy.

She said: “20mph roads are a bit of a pain in the backside. The A217 is a bit of a nightmare, one minute you’re doing 20, then 30 and 40.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, road and transport issues are of greater concern in outer London constituencies like Carshalton and Wallington.

The London Borough of Sutton is known to have some of the most limited TfL services in the capital meanwhile, talk of Overground and tram extensions into the borough has also gone quiet.

A short distance away in Wallington High Street, residents feel the quality train services in and out of London will be important considerations driving their vote.

Young friends Katie and Alex use Wallington station to see their friends in Central London, but they say they are often unreliable.

Katie, who along with Alex will be eligible to vote for the first time on July 4, told the LDRS: “The connection to Central London is pretty bad. All my friends in North London are spoilt for choice, I’ve got the train and that’s it.”

Alex added: “The trains can be pretty good to be fair, especially if you’re in Carshalton.

"We’ve got two that take us to Victoria and London Bridge, but they’re both run by Southern and you can’t even count on them even turning up in the first place.”

Healthcare was an issue mentioned by almost everyone the LDRS spoke to.

While the area benefits from having the world-leading Royal Marsden Hospital nearby in Belmont, Carshalton and Wallington residents have experienced long wait times and closing GP services over the years.

Carshalton resident Jane had just come out of A&E at St Helier Hospital and had her leg in a cast when the LDRS spoke to her.

She said: “I’ve just come out of A&E, and I’d been up there for hours. I went last night but there were just too many people so I left it till this morning.

“Once you’re in the system it’s fantastic but it’s getting in there that is the problem. Everything’s been left for so long and it’s such a mountain to climb that I don’t know if anyone can really correct it overnight. It will be really difficult.”

Lifelong Carshalton resident Steve agrees that the NHS is a huge issue for the area.

Steve, who lives in a nearby residential care home, said parties must address wait times to get his vote.

He said: “Obviously, the NHS seems to be quite high up on the list of my priorities.

“The problem is you wait some time before you even get into see a GP if you’re lucky enough to get an appointment and then by the time you wait to go up to the hospital it gets worse.

"I am fully aware that the doctors have been on strike and I sympathise with the fact when you look at the money they’re being paid it’s not that brilliant. But which of the political parties will answer the question, who knows.”

He added: “I’ve not really given the election a great deal of thought but already I’m fed up with seeing our two political leaders.

"I live in a retirement home and he has visited the lodge a number of times, but whether he and his party will do what they’ve had 14 years to undone remains to be seen.”

Dissatisfaction with the current government was a common theme among the residents we spoke to, however, there did seem to be some support for the incumbent Colburn as a ‘good constituency MP’.

However, others seemed more convinced by councillor Bobby Dean, who, as the Lib Dems candidate, is considered the other horse in the race.

The last big topic that dominated conversation was education. The London borough of Sutton has struggled with a lack of SEND provision in particular in recent years, and has to send many children out of the area for schooling.

School worker Helen told the LDRS: “We have a massive problem with SEND around here, there just aren’t enough places for kids.

"What’s worse is that the parents are being forced to pay out thousands for care plans so their kids can get proper schooling that meets their needs.”

Special needs education, in particular, takes up a sizable chunk of Sutton Council’s annual budget.

While this is fundamentally a local issue, some believe the council should be given more money and powers to increase their provision to address what some have called ‘Sutton’s SEND crisis’.

Conversely, others think Sutton’s mainstream schooling is some of the best in London.

Gim is an education worker originally from Singapore and he thinks Sutton schools are some of the best he’s worked in.

He told the LDRS: “I work in education, and visit the schools around here a lot. Schools in Sutton too tend to have the character of being quite competitive.

“Staff seem to work beyond their normal hours and that’s not normal for all the other boroughs I have seen. The education is outsourced to COGNUS and therefore does have a more privatised feel to it.”

When asked for his thoughts on the area, Gim said: “I’ve lived in Wallington for two years and I haven’t been in England for that long but Wallington is a fantastic place to live. Among the places I have been around London, Wallington is one of the best.”

Full list of candidates standing in Carshalton and Wallington

Workers Party – Atif Abdul Rashid

Conservative Party – Elliot Colburn

Reform UK – Elizabeth Cooper

Liberal Democrats – Bobby Dean

Green – Tracey Hague

SDP – Steve Kelleher

Labour – Hersh Thaker