What you can post
Traffic and roads
Let people know before they set off: closures, roadworks, diversions and temporary lights.
Good for: resurfacing, utility works, road closures for street parties, bus diversions.
See traffic and roads →Planning applications
The bigger new applications near Carshalton, brought in each morning from the official planning record — you don't post these.
Good for: new homes, demolitions, changes of use, new shops and restaurants.
See planning →Council and consultations
Get more residents to have their say. Link straight to the survey.
Good for: consultations, new services, bin changes, ward surgeries.
See council →Local alerts
Things people need to know today: when the water's off, the power's out or there's a scam going round.
Good for: power cuts, water off, bin collection changes, police appeals, scam warnings.
See local alerts →Can you help?
Quick, one-off asks: a hand for an afternoon, the loan of a gazebo, donations of coats or tins. (A regular volunteer role goes in Jobs.)
Good for: donations of things, borrowing equipment, a one-off hand, help finding something.
See can you help? →Lost and found
Reunite people with keys, bikes, pets and belongings.
Good for: lost pets, found keys, phones, bikes.
See lost and found →
Noticeboard, Events, Jobs or Groups?
Each has its own job, so nothing gets lost:
- Noticeboard — updates people need to know: a road's closed, the water's off, a new planning application, a quick ask for help, a lost cat.
- Events — anything with a time and a place to go: fundraisers, cake sales, meetings, AGMs, open days, litter-picks.
- Jobs — roles people apply for: a weekly food bank driver, a charity trustee, a school reader.
- Community groups — your club, society or group itself: what it does and how to join.
Why post here?
- It's free — for groups, charities, schools, the council and residents.
- Local readers. Secret Carshalton is read by people who live here, so your notice reaches the people it's for.
- No account needed. Just confirm your email address. Members can post as their group.
- Credit for your group. Notices posted as a group link to its page in Community groups.
- No tidying up. Your notice comes down by itself after the date you choose.
Questions
Does it cost anything?
No. Posting a notice is free.
Do I need an account?
No. Give your name (or your group's) and your email address, and click the link we send you to confirm it. If you're a member, log in first to skip that step and post as a group you manage.
How long until my notice appears?
We check every notice before it goes up, and we'll email you when it's live. Members who've had a few notices approved can post without waiting.
How long does it stay up?
Until the date you choose — up to four weeks. Then it comes down by itself.
What can't I post?
Anything with a time and place to go — fundraisers, cake sales, meetings, open days, litter-picks — is an event: put it in Events, where it shows in What's on. Regular volunteer roles go in Jobs. Also not here: selling or promoting a business (use the Directory), party-political campaigning, and anything not local to Carshalton and Sutton.
Where do the automatic notices come from?
Some notices come straight from official open data and are credited on the card: road disruptions and bus and tram status from TfL (Powered by TfL Open Data), flood alerts from the Environment Agency, power cuts from UK Power Networks, weather warnings from the Met Office, open consultations from Sutton Council's consultation hub, and new planning applications from the Greater London Authority's Planning London Datahub. They're checked through the day and come down when the source clears them. For planning, we show the bigger applications near Carshalton with a link to the council's page where you can comment, and never applicants' names.
Can my group look after a section?
Yes — a local group can look after a section, such as planning or traffic. Your logo and a link to your socials go at the top of it, your notices there go live straight away, and it's free. Get in touch.
Can I add a photo or a link?
Yes, both are optional. A link to a survey, sign-up form or your own website works well.
My group isn't listed. How do I add it?
List your group for free in Community groups. Then you can post notices under its name.
Can you write a full article about it?
If it's a bigger story, tell us about it and we may turn it into an article.
