Welcome to the LOSRA Website
Like any local community, the policies and decisions shaping the character and future of Lower Sunbury are influenced by a combination of local and national government initiatives, alongside market forces and vested interests operating within these frameworks. As with many areas, Lower Sunbury faces challenges stemming from an aging infrastructure, rapid urban development, increasing traffic congestion, and other pressures that impact both quality of life and the distinctive character of the neighbourhood.
In collaboration with local authorities, other residents’ associations and amenity groups, LOSRA plays a vital role in addressing fundamental issues that affect its members' lives. This organisation not only engages with broader strategic concerns but also focuses on the everyday matters that shape community well-being.
To stay informed, we encourage you to subscribe to our regular e-bulletins via the link at the top left of this page. Your continued support is essential to our efforts, and we urge you to join or renew your membership. Subscriptions for 2026 are now payable at £5 per household. Donations are also welcome.
Kempton Park Green Belt - Much Anticipated Public Information Event at Hazelwood, Green Street, 3rd February
The following email from Spelthorne Council has been received by LOSRA and we urge all residents to attend. Please note the 23rd January deadline for the submission of written questions or, simply, to confirm your attendance. (Note, failure to give notice does not preclude attendance).
Spelthorne Borough Council will be hosting a public information event to clarify issues and misunderstandings relating to Kempton Park. You are invited to attend this event. See below for a list of people who have been invited.
The event will be on Tuesday 3 February at the Hazelwood Centre (London Irish), Croysdale Avenue, Green Street, Sunbury TW16 6QU. Doors open 6.15pm for refreshments and there will be displays of information including planning context, with Spelthorne Council staff on hand to answer questions, followed by the event comprising introduction, pre-submitted questions with responses and finally, an opportunity for questions arising from the floor.
This main event will run from 7pm, and is estimated to finish no later than the venue closing time of 10pm. Please ensure your questions are sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday 23 January. Please let us know you wish to attend; those with booked places will be given priority for seating on the night. To book, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with your name and contact details. These details will not be publicised or used for any purpose other than arranging bookings for the event. For clarification of any the above details please contact Joanne Jones at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 01784 446421
The Kempton Park information event will be attended by:
Roberto Tambini (Chair) – Chief Executive, Spelthorne Borough Council
Liz Borthwick & Lee O’Neil – Assistant Chief Executives, SBC
John Brooks – Head of Planning, SBC
Heather Morgan – Staines-Upon-Thames Regeneration Manager(Former Head of Planning)
Cllr Robert Watts – Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council
Cllr Alfred Friday – Sunbury East Councillor
Cllr Ian Harvey – Sunbury East Councillor
Cllr Tim Evans – Surrey County Council and Halliford/Sunbury West Councillor
Cllr Sandra Dunn – Halliford/Sunbury West Councillor
Cllr Bernie Spoor – Sunbury Common Councillor
Also invited:
Kwasi Kwarteng, MP for Spelthorne
Other Spelthorne Councillors
Kempton Park Racecourse / Jockey Club
Residents’ Associations: LOSRA; Kempton RA; Batavia RA; Green Street Action Group; Stratton Road
Corner Group; Weir Estate RA
Interest groups: Keep Kempton Green; Lower Sunbury Traders; Model Aircraft Club; Model Railway Club
Plus: All residents in the ward and adjoining areas who might wish to attend.
Regards
Joanne Jones
Community Development Manager
Spelthorne Council
Shepperton Players Bring Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit to the RAC, 29 - 31st January
Sceptical novelist Charles Condomine invites self-proclaimed medium Madame Arcati to his home for a seance, hoping to gather material for a new book. When the hapless psychic accidentally summons the spirit of Condomine's late wife, Elvira, his home and life are quickly turned into a shambles as his wife's ghost torments both himself and his new bride, Ruth.
For many years this play was the longest-running comedy in the history of British Theatre and is now brought to us by the Shepperton Players at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street on 29th, 30th & 31st January. Tickets at £10 may be bought through the box office on: 07505 206757.
What Happens to Unwanted Clothes and Home Textiles?
To help encourage more re-use and recycling, Surrey County Council would like to know what you do with your unwanted clothes and home textiles.
The questions in the survey include what happens to items which could still be used, and what happens to items which aren’t suitable to be used again. To complete the survey, click here
Simon Spillett, The Phenomenal Tenor Saxophonist, is Coming to Sunbury Cricket Club, 23rd January
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club falls on Friday 23rd January, and it’s a very special occasion, as it’s a Jazz Night which commemorates the 80th anniversary of the birth of Tubby Hayes, probably the greatest British jazz musician of all time, who died tragically young in 1973 when he was just 38. The gig features THE SIMON SPILLETT QUARTET – Simon is one of the UK’s very best tenor saxophonists, winning the British Jazz Award in 2011, and is recognised as the leading exponent of Tubby Hayes’ style of jazz within the genre – he was described by Jazzwise magazine as “the world’s leading Tubby-ologist”. Simon is also a noted writer and publishes hius biography of Tubby Hayes in a few months’ time.
He has acquired a reputation as one of the most distinctive, hard-swinging and exciting saxophonists on the current UK jazz scene, a regular at Ronnie Scott’s Club (he is appearing there the week after our gig) and performs at major festivals across the UK, as well as recording critically acclaimed albums and broadcasting on BBC Radio 3 with his own group.
His press reviews include high praise from leading jazz observers; “Formidable” (Humphrey Lyttelton, BBC Radio 2); Phenomenal” (Dave Gelly, The Observer) and “saxophone playing of the highest order” (Jazz Journal magazine), and The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings observed that “Spillett doesn’t shake you by the hand so much as grab you by the throat….”
Simon’s quartet features major names from the world of British jazz royalty; pianist John Critchinson was a member of Ronnie Scott’s band for eighteen years; bassist Alec Dankworth is the son of legendary bandleader John Dankworth, and has appeared at the Club with Tony Kinsey’s Quartet, and drummer Clark Tracey is the son of renowned jazz pianist Stan Tracey. There’s more info at www.simonspillett.com and there is plenty of video if you search his name at www.youtube.com
It will be an exhilarating evening of top class bebop jazz. Simon is a really exciting performer. and even if you are not a dyed-in-the-wool jazz aficionado, enjoyment of a really entertaining and electrifying show can be guaranteed. It really is a 'must see'.
Residents Challenge to Eco Park Fails at High Court
Local residents have decided not to pursue the current request for a Judicial Review after the Court advised that there is no case to answer.
Surrey CC were aware of the legal challenge and therefore spent thousands more pounds of residents' money on expensive lawyers ensuring that the planning process used to pass the Eco Park application was procedurally armour-plated.
Surrey have simply ticked the right boxes in the procedure. It doesn't make what they have done, or what they are doing, any more right or good; and certainly not green or 'Eco' in safeguarding the health of Spelthorne's SCC tax-paying residents. The procedure needn't be decent, honest or truthful. That's irrelevant as long as it's legal it would seem.
A far more ecological and lower cost approach for Surrey residents, and one which would have removed the environmental risks (remember, judged too dangerous for the RHS's plants at Wisley!) from surrounding residents and schools, would be to send our processed waste to one of the many larger incinerators already built away from population centres and which are crying out for more waste fuel to remain viable. These facilities would also process the waste more cheaply per tonne with much more efficient energy recovery.
By contrast, Charlton Lane with its low energy recovery disposal, is ranked no better than landfill by DEFRA. In spite of SCC's misleading statements to the contrary, the County is not required to burn processed waste near to where it arises in order to excuse this low capacity inefficient plant. The much more 'Eco' and cheaper solution would also have avoided the need to build an unnecessary and disproportionately massive (for its small capacity) industrial plant at Charlton Lane.
Contrary to Surrey County Council's claims, no exceptional circumstances exist to justify what will be a huge plant in the green belt to dispose of a lesser amount of dry waste (45k tonnes per annum versus 400k tonnes in a not much larger and far higher energy recovery Eco facility). No, the only real benefit of this proposal is to ensure that the PFI grant profits for processing our waste are paid to SCC's exclusive PFI contractor, SITA, rather than to a cheaper and more 'Eco' competitor. It's shameful.
LOSRA together with Spelthorne Against the Eco Park (SATEP), the group campaigning to stop the development, are exploring several other avenues, and will not give up on such a misguided proposal which will soon turn into the biggest and dirtiest white elephant ever proposed in the County.
Happy New Year
LOSRA sends best wishes to all its readers for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year
More...
Nashville Teens Return to Sunbury Cricket Club, 9th January
The first Music Night of the New Year at SCC falls on Friday 9th January, so that the post-holiday depression doesn’t have too long to set in before the fun begins again. The Club welcomes back THE NASHVILLE TEENS, who kicked off 2014 in great style on their first visit, so the Club is delighted to have them back to do the same job this year.
The Nashville Teens were one of the great R&B bands of the ‘60s and the band has been operating continuously ever since. They are best known for their big hits “Tobacco Road” and “Google Eye”, as well as their involvement in one of the best ‘live’ rock ‘n’ roll recordings ever when they backed Jerry Lee Lewis at Hamburg’s Star Club in 1964. Their storming version of “Tobacco Road” will once again be a highlight of the show, but we can look forward to a fine night of classic ‘60s R&B.
They will be led as always by original singer Ray Phillips, who has had an unbroken half-century career with the band, as well as making solo records and performing with other line-ups like the British Invasion All-Stars with members of The Yardbirds, Creation and Downliners Sect. With him in the current Nashville Teens is a line-up of seasoned performers, including Colin Pattenden, member of Manfred Mann’s Earth band when they had their big hits back in the 70s, on bass, with Simon Spratley of The Ian Campbell Blues Band on keyboards, Ken Osborn from Levee Camp Moan on guitar and Adrian ‘Spud’ Metcalf on drums. A great evening is in prospect.
Local Bus Services in Surrey - Public Consultation
Further to the article published on this Site on 24th October 2014 (Savings to Local Bus Services - Public Consultation), as part of the ongoing review of local bus services in Surrey, a number of public 'bus events' are scheduled for the New Year to which the public are invited to attend.
The venues at Walton or Addlestone on 8th January would appear to be the nearest and for full details, click here.
Council Offers Free Christmas Tree Collections
Spelthorne Council is offering a free kerbside collection of real Christmas trees from 12 - 23 January 2014. Please call the number below before 9 January to book your collection.
The tree must be left on your property boundary by 6am on your collection day. Trees should not be decorated or be left in pots or stands. Spaces are limited so please book your collection soon.
Alternatively from 2 - 23 January you can take your real tree to one of the drop-off points around the Borough:
- Manor Park, Shepperton
- Old Bathing Station, Fordbridge Road, Sunbury on Thames
- Fordbridge Park, Ashford
For more information call Streetscene on 01784 446411.
Sunbury Health Centre - Daily Mail Front Page 23rd December
Many residents will be aware of an article which appeared on the front page of the Daily Mail on 23rd December. The photograph of patients queueing outside the Sunbury Health Centre served to illustrate the plight of struggling GP services across the country.
Residents should be aware that the Patients Participation Group (PPG) has been working closely with the Practice to improve current systems and tackle the issue of outdated and cramped facilities that were designed for a patient population of 6000 rather than the current 19000.
No one criticises the quality of clinical care that the Practice provides but the systems and infrastructure struggle to cope with demand. The last PPG meeting saw the beginnings of a glimmer of hope that, at last, NHS properties, who own the building, are taking the situation seriously. The Acting Practice Manager is also making progress on reviewing and developing the admin systems.
It is hoped that this national paper’s article will add strength to the PPG's cause rather than undermine the hard work it has been putting in behind the scenes.
Cala Homes Appeals Against Refusal of Planning Permission at The Ridings
Our Association has become well used to controversial planning applications or appeals being lodged just before the busy Christmas holiday period when residents are occupied with family festivities and Yuletide celebrations. It therefore comes as no surprise to receive a notice from our local planning authority advising us of an appeal by Cala Homes against the Planning Committee's refusal to allow a development of 17 houses at The Ridings.
The notice (click here) outlines the steps to be taken in making representations to the Planning Inspectorate and includes the original planning reference number: 14/00322/FUL which should be entered in the Planning portal of the Council Website: http://my.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning/ All relevant documents, including letters of representation already submitted and the reasons for refusal may be accessed here.
2014 Autumn Newsletter, Carols in the Meadow - Correction
The following email extract is published as a correction to an article published in our Autumn Newsletter (See Home Page and click on Newsletters) LOSRA apologises for any inaccuracy in its original report.
"The [Newsletter] report says that Carols in the Meadow “cannot take place because there is an event at Riverside Arts Centre, which prevents them from supplying the lights”. This is not true. The problem was that the crew who rig the lighting and sound are the Riverside Youth Theatre Technical Team, who would be operating on the opening night of their Christmas production at the Arts Centre on that evening.
"I pointed out the problem to Gerry Ceaser in October who said he would try to move the event to the following week. When he told us this was not possible we made alternative arrangements to obtain wind-up lighting stands from a hire company, at no cost to the event (to save rigging scaffold towers), and found two technicians from the Arts Centre to rig and operate the equipment. We asked that Gerry should see if he could get them some help to derig, and help to take the equipment back to RAC.
"Gerry sent an email on 31st October to the churches and myself which included:
This is to confirm to you that the Carols in the Meadow will NOT take place this year due to a number of unforeseen problems that have only just come to light.
It is hoped that, provided these can be overcome, that Carols will return in 2015.
Can I thank Ian in particular for the alternative lighting arrangements that he put forward which were most appreciated but then other difficulties arose thus leading to the reluctant decision not to go ahead this year
"Myself and others at the Arts Centre have received critical comments from those who believe the cancellation was due to us saying we couldn’t help, which is unfair as we went to considerable trouble to find a solution.
"I would ask that you publish a correction in your next Newsletter, and on the website.
Thanks,"
Ian Dow
Technical Director – Riverside Youth Theatre
The 12 Online Frauds of Christmas
LOSRA wishes all its members a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Our seasonal felicitations are nevertheless tempered by the reality that cyber-criminals see Christmas as an opportunity for lining their pockets at the expense of an unsuspecting and trusting public. The City of London Police launch ‘The 12 online frauds of Christmas’ national campaign to keep you and your electronic devices safe this December.
Surrey County Council Gives Official Recognition to Cycle/footbridge Study
It was very gratifying for the Association to read that our now much reported cycle/footbridge feasibility study has been officially recognised on the Surrey County Council Website.
