Welcome to the LOSRA Website
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.
Please sign up to receive our regular e-bulletins by subscribing via the facility at the top left hand of this page. It goes without saying that, without your continued support we would cease to function so we urge you to join, or renew your membership now Subscriptions (£5 per household) for 2024 are now payable.
Community Flood Meetings, 5th & 6th June
5pm – 7pm market place, Staines-on-Thames, 7pm – 9pm presentation and questions and answers session at Spelthorne Leisure Centre, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1AJ
To see the flier advertising this event, please click here
In addition, on the following day, the 6th June residents will have their chance to put flood related questions to our MP, Kwasi Kwarteng. The editor of Sunbury Matters, Monica Chard, has asked him to meet the community at St. Mary's Church Hall, Green Street at 4pm. All residents are welcome to attend this event.
Latest Trading Standards Alert
The latest Trading Standards Alert draws our attention to, amongst other things, car sale scams conning Surrey residents out of thousands of pounds, parcel scams, Paypal phishing and much more besides.
Do you Receive the Council's Electronic Newsletters?
Many of our readers already subscribe to this service but, tor those who don't, the following email from Spelthorne Council will be of interest:
Good morning
I have been asked by the Council’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee to circulate a link to the borough’s electronic newsletter, to all residents’ associations, with the request that this is sent out to all your members and other contacts as soon as possible.
Please send via email, or include an item in your own leaflets and newsletters.
The Council is keen to encourage as many channels of communication as possible and the monthly e-news is an excellent way of keeping up to date with news and events.
Visit this page on our website http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/enews and click on the green box on the right of the page.
Thank you
Regards
Joanne
Joanne Jones
Community Development
Spelthorne Council
Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1XB
Surrey County Council's Double Standards?
Surrey County Council has refused permission for the Weylands Waste treatment plant in Walton citing:
"The applicant has failed to demonstrate factors which either alone or in combination demonstrate ‘very special circumstances’, which clearly outweigh the harm to the Green Belt by virtue of the harm to openness, inappropriate nature of the development and the other harm from noise, traffic and air quality impacts. The applicant has not produced a robust alternative site assessment or demonstrated that the site would be well related to the source of waste arisings it would receive. The proposal therefore does not accord with the National Planning Policy Framework 2012, Policy CW6 of the Surrey Waste Plan 2008 and Elmbridge Borough Core Strategy 2011 Policy CS1."
It is interesting to note that the County Authority is using in its grounds for refusal the same objections as were advanced by Spelthorne Council and its residents to the construction of an incinerator at the Charlton Lane Recycling Centre, (aka the 'Eco Park'). The Weylands waste treatment plant would have been more efficient than Charlton Lane; and would have used tried and tested technology, unlike the untested, experimental technology approved for Charlton Lane.
It seems that there are two different standards being applied, depending on which side of the river you live.
The Jackie Lynton Band at Sunbury Cricket Club, 23rd May
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club falls on the 23rd May, when the Club is delighted to welcome back The Jackie Lynton Band, who gave a hugely entertaining show last year. Jackie is one of the larger-than-life characters of the British music scene, with a colourful career that goes back to the late '50s when he had a residency at the legendary 2is coffee bar in Soho, and was part of the equally legendary Larry Parnes package tours of the day. He had recording deals with Pye, EMI and Decca during the '60s and early'70s but the elusive big hit single never came, despite numerous releases, produced by the likes of Tony Hatch and Mark Wirtz, and featuring the top session players of the day - his version of The Beatles' "LIttle Child" includes a guitar solo by Jimmy Page. In between times, he helped decorate John Lennon's Weybridge house!
The '70s saw him joining The Savoy Brown Blues Band, touring the USA with ZZ Top, and while there establishing a relationship with Colin Pattenden, a Sunbury resident who was touring with Manfred Mann's Earth Band, and who now plays bass in Jackie's Band. He also hooked up with Status Quo, for whom he later wrote "Again And Again", and with whom he still occasionally guests during their tours. The '70s also saw him establish The Jackie Lynton Band, with an appearance on "The Old Grey Whistle Test" and at the Reading Festival. Jackie is a marvellous raconteur and has written comedy scripts for various well-known comedians as well as appearing in bit parts on TV shows like "The Bill".
The Club guarantees a thoroughly entertaining evening of rock 'n' roll and lively banter with Jackie and his band, which as well as Colin Pattenden on bass, includes Adrian "Spud" Metcalfe, formerly with The Nashville Teens, on drums, and Mike Windus and Chris Bryant on guitars.
Parking Charges to Come Down? This Just Has to be a News Story!
Staines: park all day Sunday for just £2
Spelthorne Council has announced that visitors to Staines-upon-Thames will now be able to park all day on a Sunday in the Council’s town centre car parks for just £2.
The new charge is being introduced as a trial for six months. Previously the charge for parking all day on a Sunday in these car parks varied from between £7 and £12.
The new charge applies to the following car parks:-
- Bridge Street, TW18 4TG
- Tothill multi-storey, TW18 4PN
- Elmsleigh multi-storey and surface, TW18 4TL
- Kingston Road, TW18 4LQ
- Riverside surface, TW18 4UD
More...
7 - 10 Year Old Girls Wanted for 4th Sunbury Brownies
4th Sunbury Brownies now have spaces for girls aged 7-10 years old who would like to have fun, learn new skills and interests, and make new friends.
The Brownies meet in Lower Sunbury on Tuesday evenings.
Please contact Caroline on 01932 789355 for further information
Dave's Not Here at Sunbury Cricket Club, 9th May
Having slotted the Buddy show in at short notice, SCC's next Music Night comes hot on its heels next Friday 9th May when the Club welcomes back almost exactly a year since their last appearance DAVE’S NOT HERE. Led by Sunbury resident and friendly neighbourhood beat era legend Karl Green, bass player with Herman’s Hermits throughout the quarter century of their hit-making and world touring career, they always serve up a great evening of rock classics from across four decades.
The band includes ubiquitous local keyboard player Kevin Welling, who has played with many line-ups at the Club, and began his performing career in a band with Elaine Paige, and guitarist Richard Scarfe, who has played with Tight Fit, Love Affair, Owen Paul and Jackie Lynton.
Karl’s gigs are always a great gathering of the clans of his local fans, so the Club can expect another full house and another fun night to which all are welcome.
Sunbury Cross - Robbery in Underpass
Two 14-year-old boys were attacked while walking along a subway tunnel last weekend.
The two boys were walking underneath Sunbury Cross Roundabout in the direction of KFC when they were approached by three older teenagers just after 8pm on Saturday April 26.
The three suspects surrounded the two victims and after an altercation made off with one of the boy's wallets containing over £100 in cash.
All the three offenders have been described as black, aged approximately 16-17 years-old, wearing dark clothing and hooded tops with the hoods pulled up tight around their heads and all three are reported as having London accents.
Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference 45140033488, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Spelthorne’s Community Covenant
Following the article published on this Site on 30th March, we can now report that Spelthorne Council became the latest Surrey borough to join with its partners to sign a Community Covenant at a special ceremony held on 24 April.
A Community Covenant is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces Community. In Spelthorne the key objectives of the covenant are:
- Recognise
- Remember
- Integrate
- Support
Surrey County Council was first to sign the Surrey Community Covenant, followed by districts and boroughs throughout the county.
Spelthorne undertook the signing on 24 April, alongside partners from the public, private and voluntary/community sector.
Partners include the emergency services, local businesses, ex-service organisations, voluntary organisations and charities.
The signing precedes Armed Forces Day; later in the year is the commemoration of the start of World War One.
Two “champions” have been chosen to promote the commemorative events in the borough: Cllr Spencer Taylor (Services Champion) and Cllr Robin Sider (World War One Champion).
In the wake of the covenant signing, Cllr Taylor will lead a working group to implement locally the key objectives in the community covenant.
Spelthorne Council Leader Cllr Robert Watts said: “Taking part in this national initiative, which shows our commitment to supporting our armed forces and veterans, upholds our Borough’s core values of community, opportunity, self-reliance and tradition.
“While Spelthorne has no obvious military connections such as an Army base, a large proportion of our residents are, or have connections to, serving or former service personnel and veterans of conflict.”
Photograph: Capt. Neal Archer from the Royal Engineers with the Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr Tony Harman
Sunbury CC V Middlesex CCC This Saturday 19th April
A last minute opportunity means that the full Middlesex County Cricket Club squad will be coming to Kenton Court Meadow this Saturday to play Sunbury CC in one 20/20 and one 10/10 match.
These will be a serious early season warm up matches in preparation for both teams' league and cup competitions to come.
The Middlesex squad will be led by their 20/20 captain and England player Eoin Morgan. The squads will between them include several former and current Sunbury and Middlesex players, such as Toby Roland-Jones (also of England Lions), Sunbury's 1st XI captain Adam London, vice captain John Maunders, former Middlesex wicket keeper David Nash as well as Paul Stirling and Andrew Balbirnie of Sunbury, Middlesex and Ireland. Roland-Jones, London, Nash and Balbirnie are of course also former Sunbury Colts
The cricket will start at NOON and carry on through until about 6.00pm. Entrance is free to all members and non-members. The bar will of course be open with food available.
Buddy Whittington to Pay Unexpected Visit to Sunbury Cricket Club on 25th April
The Cricket Club has just been able to confirm a last-minute addition to their Music Night schedule with a gig by the great Texan blues star Buddy Whittington. Apparently, a planned show as part of his European tour was cancelled and Friday 25th April became available – when the tour was first being booked there were no Fridays available for us to stake a claim. However, through the Club's connection with Buddy’s drummer Darby Todd via his father Brett who has brought us some great gigs, they were offered the date, and of course, jumped at the opportunity.
Buddy was lead guitarist with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers for fifteen years – John Mayall is a demanding taskmaster and you don’t hold down that job for so long without being a very special performer. He is touring with his usual line-up of Darby Todd on drums and Pete Stroud on bass, and we can look forward to another evening of top-class contemporary blues. He is a great entertainer and a lovely guy, always happy to have a chat with everyone as he signs his CDs, and it’s a real treat to be able to welcome him back to the Club.
Another Plot of 'Protected Urban Open Space' at Risk
Appendix 1 of the local Development Plan Document lists those open urban sites which are, or should be, protected from development. The tennis courts at St. Paul's School in The Ridings, Green Street, are listed as enjoying such protection. Despite this, an application for the development of 17 dwellings on the site has been submitted to Spelthorne Council and LOSRA is happy to support local residents who have prepared the attached leaflet. Residents are urged to write in objection to the plans and the main points for inclusion in your representation are summarised in the leaflet which may be viewed by clicking here
Sunbury Health Centre - Patient Participation Group Formed
Residents will remember an article which appeared in our Autumn 2013 newsletter highlighting the problems being experienced at the Green Street Health Centre and in which residents were invited to contact LOSRA if they had personal experiences to share. As a direct consequence of this, and LOSRA's subsequent representations, the Health Centre has responded by creating its own website which allows email access to the Patient Participation Group (PPG)* on: www.sunburyhealthcentre-ppg.com.
* 'PPGs are groups of active volunteer patients working in partnership with Practice staff and GPs - this unique partnership between patients and their Practices is essential to achieving high quality and responsive care.'
Chief Executive of the National Association for Patient Participation (NAPP)
