As with any other local neighbourhood, the policies and actions which affect the character and future of Lower Sunbury are generally framed and implemented by a combination of local and national government, along with the vested interests and market forces which operate within those frameworks. Lower Sunbury is by no means unique in being under threat from a creaking infrastructure brought about by rapid urban development, the growth of traffic, and other pressures affecting the quality of life and the character of the area.
Working with the local authorities, we see it as the responsibility of residents’ and amenity groups such as LOSRA to address the underlying issues which fundamentally affect their members’ lives, as well as the minutiae of everyday life with which such groups are often concerned.
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On Friday 27th November SCC welcomes a big chart name from the early ‘70s to the Club for the first time in the shape of EDISON LIGHTHOUSE. They were originally a studio band who had a huge No.1 hit at the start of the ‘70s with “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”, but with that success, a permanent touring band was put together, and lead singer Brian Huggins and bass guitarist Peter Butt have been with the band ever since, also featuring Simon Aldridge on guitar and Shepperton resident Stephane Booroff on drums.
They are hugely popular on the ‘60s and ‘70s revival circuit, regularly doing the big weekend holiday camp shows plus theatres and clubs across the country throughout the year, and this is a very rare appearance in this area. They are top class, highly professional and polished entertainers, with an act drawing on classic material from the 60s & 70s era, so it’s a show that’s guaranteed to hit the button with their audience. Don’t miss it! There’s plenty of info at www.edison-lighthouse.com.
This Christmas, The Riverside Youth Theatre is proud to present The Snow Queen at The Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, Lower Sunbury, from 10-12 December, 8pm, tickets are £8 each.
Adapted from the story by Hans Christian Andersen. Set in the far North, The Snow Queen is an exciting adventure, but it is also a magical story about love – a child’s innocent and unshakeable love.
Gerda has to go on an unimaginably dangerous journey to save the life of her dearest friend Kai. She encounters trolls, marauding robbers, a prince and princess a talking reindeer and the beautiful but cruel Snow Queen.
Tickets can be purchased online or via telephone 07871 992988.
A group of local artists are exhibiting paintings, photographs, drawings, textiles, ceramics, sculptures, prints and cards in the Orangery at Squire’s in Halliford Road, TW17 8SG
Different interests and materials make for a varied and eclectic exhibition. Some works are figurative, some abstract. Some are humorous and some are thought provoking. All works are for sale and there is a wide price range, from large framed paintings to unframed photographs, prints and cards.
Dates and times: Thursday 19 Nov to Sunday 22 Nov 2015, 10.00am – 5.00pm (Sunday 10.00am – 4.00pm)
Faulty goods, misleading claims and substandard services mean Christmas presents fly back on to the shelves in January, according to new figures from Citizens Advice.
Analysis by the charity shows that people are more likely to call its Consumer Service helpline with complaints about items such as toys, computer games and jewellery in January than any other time of year.
Citizens Advice, Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills are urging people to get to know their new consumer rights as Christmas shopping gets underway. The organisations are highlighting how the new Consumer Rights Act, brought into effect on 1 October, can help people to shop with confidence and get their money back when things go wrong.
The findings reveal that complaints to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service about toys doubled in January 2015 in comparison to the rest of the year, while problems with DVDs, video games, games consoles, and sound systems rose by two thirds.
The top five most complained about personal goods in January 2015 were:
Complaints were most likely to be about defective goods, while one in seven people contacted the service because of misleading claims and descriptions about their purchase. One in twenty complained that businesses didn’t honour their cancellation rights.
Something of a departure from the customary Christmas market, the festive season this year will start with a Christmas Fayre to be held on Thursday December 10th from 5pm - 9pm in the Orchard Meadow car park opposite Avenue Parade. Live reindeer, sponsored by Crest Nicholson, childrens entertainment, Santa’s grotto, stalls and carols . There will also be a large community raffle with many excellent prizes. Tickets will be on sale in the village and proceeds will be going to the Princess Alice Hospice.
Members of the Sunbury and Shepperton Local History Society will be mounting an exhibition of historical photos at Sunbury Library. The one-day free event will take place on the ground floor between 10am and 4pm on Saturday 14th November.
The exhibition promises some previously unseen photos including those with a royal theme to celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Wales. History books will also be on sale.
For more information please visit: www.sslhs.org.uk or call Nick on 01932 564585 or Brenda on 01932 784866.
Cllr Quentin Edgington has been elected as the new Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, following the death of Cllr Robert Watts earlier this month.
Cllr Edgington was elected to the Council in May 2015 and is a Conservative ward councillor for Riverside and Laleham. He works as an Area Manager for a funeral directors and previously served as a councillor for the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames.
Cllr Edgington said: “This is a real honour and I would like to thank my colleagues for putting their trust in me and electing me to the role of Leader. Spelthorne is a fantastic Borough and I am pleased to have the opportunity to serve the residents and continue the excellent work undertaken by Cllr Watts. I have lots of plans and ideas and I look forward to implementing them together with my fellow councillors and all the staff at Spelthorne Council.”
Cllr Edgington has appointed Cllr Maureen Attewell and Cllr Joanne Sexton as Deputy Leaders. Cllr Maureen Attewell replaces Cllr Colin Davis as Cabinet Member for Waste, Environment and Parking following his resignation from the Cabinet.
The other Cabinet positions remain unchanged.
LOSRA has been updated on the following works at the Community Recycling Centre (CRC) at Charlton Lane which are due to be completed during the month of November:
Our Autumn Newsletter is back from the printers and will be delivered to Lower Sunbury households within the next few days.
The Manor Players bring to the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, an evening of four short plays by Neil Simon that feature various visitors to two suites in a prominent Californian Hotel.
This witty production, full of comical situations and delightfully outrageous characters, is set in the Beverly Hills Hotel, California. From the acclaimed author of The Plaza Suite, we are again treated to Simon’s comedic take on situations that people create for themselves as the stories unfold. Is the wife going to catch her husband out? Will the Academy Award nominee win and, if not, find comfort? What will be the culmination of four friends’ tennis-playing vacation? It’s all nicely set up for us to laugh, squirm and enjoy this great family entertainment.
Residents will be aware of a significant increase in aircraft noise over the last couple of weeks.
If you have been affected please use the link below to register your complaint. This is not a matter on which LOSRA can make a representation on behalf of residents as our voice will simply count as one complaint in this automated world.
It is up to individuals to register their disapproval by visiting: www.heathrow.com/noise/what-you-can-do
LOSRA has received a number of queries regarding the proposed modular nursery building to be sited on the north side of the existing car park and located to the immediate right (when entering) of the main vehicular access point to the Cedars park site in Green Street. There are currently car parking spaces on site but it is not proposed to increase the existing capacity. The Association is well aware that the car park is frequently used by parents dropping off children at nearby schools and as an overflow car park for the Sunbury Health Centre. Concerns have been expressed by residents that the car park fills up at peak times and that the installation of the proposed nursery building will exacerbate the problem.
Not having been notified directly, we heard about this application a bit late in the day; and it will be noted that the closing date for representations falls on 16th October. This said, the Planning Committee is obliged to consider all representations made up to the date of Planning Committee which will not be held until November. If you wish to make a representation, this may be completed online by visiting http://my.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning/ and searching Planning Reference 15/00614/FUL
The next Music Night at the SCC is on Friday 23rd October when the Club welcomes MUNCH, led by ace keyboard player Dave ‘Munch’ Moore. The band were initially recommended to the Club by Paul Cox, lead singer of Fire & Water – Dave Moore occasionally deputises in Paul’s band and played at the Club last year with Paul Cox & The Proof – so they come with excellent credentials.
Dave Moore’s career goes back to the ‘70s when he was with No Dice, who toured Europe with Status Quo and did the Reading Festival, and was in Mainsqueeze for the legendary ‘Live at Ronnie Scotts’ session in 1983 with Dick Heckstall-Smith, Eric Bell, Victor Brox and John O’Leary. He was with Heckstall-Smith and Pete Brown for several years, and also toured with Bo Diddley. He is joined in Munch by the fine guitarist Pete Bennett, who opened shows for Cream and John Mayall early in his career and led and produced The Old Pals Act, along with former members of Thin Lizzy and Supertramp, signed to Polydor in the late 70s. Bassist Nigel Hardy was with Robert Palmer and Paul Jones, and regularly appears with Steve Whalley – he is also familiar to Music Night audiences as a member of The Proof. Drummer Gary Bentley has toured with a host of top names, including The Real Thing, George McRae, The Three Degrees and many others.
They are all seasoned players who fit the archetypal Music Night mould, and are guaranteed to bring a rousing night of top class rocking blues and funk to the Club.
Once again, food will be available before the show, with last orders taken at around 8pm – quite a lot of the Club's regulars are now taking advantage of the enhanced offering. Don’t forget that if you are a social member of the Club (£20 per annum subscription) you enjoy lower bar prices, including excellent wines at £10 a bottle – you can find a membership form on the Cricket Club web site at www.sunburycricket.co.uk, or you can join when you are at the Club (and get the lower prices the same night!).
Patients at the Sunbury Health Centre, Green Street, are invited to hear Dr Gill and other Practice staff give an overview of the many positive developments taking place as well as highlighting the challenges faced by the Practice in their ever expanding community.
The invitation to the meeting, which will take place from 6.30pm - 7.30pm, includes an appeal for additional members to join the PPG.