"The Argonauts of the Air" by H. G. Wells, written in 1895. Economy Central Road (A2043), roughly half a mile in length forms the focal point of Worcester Park. It hosts a number of shops, banks, estate agents, building societies, solicitors, restaurants, pubs and coffee bars including Starbucks, Caffè Nero, Pizza Express, Costa Coffee, and Nando's. In their sum, these include both multiples and independents, one of them being Ross Fruiterers. The largest store is a branch of the Waitrose supermarket chain. Along with neighbouring North Cheam, Worcester Park is a beneficiary of the Mayor of London's "Outer London Fund". See section below. Outer London Fund During 2011/12 Worcester Park and neighbouring North Cheam won nearly £2m from the Mayor of London's Outer London Fund for improvements to the local area. Sutton Council has begun a collaborative project, steered by Councillors and community stakeholders, to spend the money on making improvements to the public realm and supporting the development and growth of businesses in the town centres. Sutton Council's bid for the money stated that: "In The London Plan, London's Mayor recognises the strategic importance of supporting town centres as key locations for a diverse range of activities. Town centres are key nodes for effective land use and transport integration, a focus for local communities, enhance quality of life, and are key focal points for regeneration initiatives. Both Worcester Park and North Cheam are recognised as part of a network of District Centres in London by the Mayor. In this way, they play an important role in the Borough [of Sutton]. Their development is also strategic: the long term growth strategy for Sutton identified in Sutton's Core Strategy, identifies both as ‘Centres for Intensification’ where renewal will largely be achieved through residential and mixed use development." It also notes that: "Network Rail are willing to build on plans to make enhancements to Worcester Park Station, working with the Council to make a welcoming and distinctive arrival to Worcester Park." Transport Rail Worcester Park railway station is in Zone 4, served by the National Rail services of South Western Railway and is on the boundary with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. Worcester Park station is a Category C station (provides important rail feeder services on a busy trunk route with between £2m and £20m in ticket revenues per annum). The railway line runs from London Waterloo, via Wimbledon and