At the meeting of the Spelthorne Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, 19 September, the 28-unit plan for the Police College site was approved, with a rider attached.

The Police College Development Action Group (PCDAG) have been lobbying for this plan to be approved by the Council for several months. It is not a perfect plan but we think it is the best compromise available, because:

1. It has a much lower density of housing than the previous, rejected, 44-unit plan, more in keeping with the surrounding residential area.
2. It addresses the previous problem with the access point, by proposing a much more sensible exit and entrance onto Thames Street.
3. There is far greater provision of on-site parking, thereby reducing the possible overspill into surrounding streets.
4. It gives the developer financial viability.

There had been an earlier last-minute attempt by the Council to try and demand £1.1 million from Linden Homes in return for approval. This would have effectively scuppered the scheme, as it is most unlikely that Linden Homes would have agreed to pay such an inflated sum. The basis of this calculation was never explained.

Fortunately, Councillor Alfred Friday raised an amendment which will involve the Chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor Smith-Ainsley, and the Head of the Planning Office, Heather Morgan, negotiating with Linden Homes for the maximum possible S. 106 contribution in lieu of the lack of affordable homes in the plan. The negotiations have to be completed within three weeks.

We are now preparing for the Appeal of the 44-unit plan, which is running in parallel with the Application for the 28-unit plan. We had hoped that this Appeal would not have been necessary, but that opportunity appears now to have been lost.

Councillors Friday, Sandra Dunn, Tim Evans, Caroline Nichols, Daxa Patel and Suzy Webb, all from Lower Sunbury, have given residents solid support over the last ten months. We are very grateful to them, as we are to Councillor Chris Frazer and other Councillors from various wards within Spelthorne. It was however very disappointing that, apart from a very few faithful stalwarts, the public gallery was almost empty. This Website urged members to attend as did the e-bulletin; and it's reasonable to suppose (from informal feedback) that had the gallery been filled, the application may have been passed without the difficult condition being attached.

Back again this week with what is also guaranteed to be another highly entertaining evening as we welcome The Mustangs once again. They continue to develop their reputation as one of the most in-demand bands on the blues circuit, appearing at many of the most important festivals all around the country as well as their regular club gigs.

They did the Strawberry Hill Music Day for the second year running in July, playing a great show to around 4,000 people, then played the Cambridge Rock Festival for the second year running in August, and since then have played at the Blues on the Farm festival in Sussex and at the revived Crawdaddy Club in Richmond - the week after their SCC gig they are back at the Swanage Blues Festival for the sixth consecutive time.

As those who have seen them before at the Club, they deliver a real high-energy show, playing almost all original material, and they have quite a few new songs in the set since the last gig as they are preparing a new album. Those who have seen them before will want to catch them again, and if you haven't seen them, you really should come along for this one.

You can get full information, read reviews, listen to all their music, and see some excellent videos, on their web site at www.themustangs.co.uk

The following emailed invitation has been received by LOSRA from Surrey County Council:

"In partnership with the Environment Agency and Runnymede BC, Surrey County Council is holding a community emergency flood plan workshop on Saturday 24th November 2012.
The workshop will be from 10:00 to 14:00 at the Runnymede Centre, Chertsey Rd., Addlestone KT15 2EP. Refreshments will be provided.

"The free workshop is specifically targeted at community groups who live in flood risk areas and are interested in developing their own local community flood plan. The workshop is open to community groups at risk of flooding from across Surrey.

"We will discuss the community emergency plan template and then go through a generic flooding scenario. We will look at the actions responders would take and what local communities can do to help themselves.

"There should also be representatives from Surrey Fire & Rescue Service and the National Flood Forum in attendance to support the delegates in developing their plans.
If a community group would like to attend, please book by contacting John Cooper (EA) before the end of September: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 01276 454623"

We all love Lower Sunbury. That is why we have chosen to live here. It used to be a thriving commercial centre; a Butcher, a Baker, a Green Grocer, a Bank and so on. In recent times, the economic downturn (coupled with the effect of a certain hypermarket down the road) has had a big effect on the village and we have lost a lot of key services.

The Lower Sunbury Business Community was founded 18 years ago for two reasons; to help promote businesses within the village and to work towards making Lower Sunbury a pleasant place for shoppers to come.

Residents will no doubt have seen flags up in the village for the Jubilee & Olympics and we all enjoy the trees and lights at Christmas in Thames Street and The Avenue. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the Council that is responsible for these decorations, it is the LOSBC and its members who put them up and pay for them with the help of financial contributions by some of the Thames Street residents.

The Village Card scheme is another example of their work. It is a loyalty card, rewarding users with discounts or offers from participating retailers. Over the past year around 400 residents have been enjoying the financial benefits by carrying their village card when shopping or eating out.

Members of the LOSBC also run the popular Summer and Christmas markets in the village. Every penny of the money raised through these schemes is put back into making the village a popular and pleasant place for residents and visitors.

Since November 2011 the Council has ceased all funding to local business chambers and this has put the LOSBC under severe strain. Chairman of the LOSBC, Dennis van Wonderen says: “As the LOSBC is a non for profit making organisation all of our members donate their spare time to run the chamber. Raising money in these difficult times is not easy. Even the local Council has felt the impact of the recession which has caused funding to cease. All we can do is try and encourage our local residents to continue to support their local shops and businesses by promoting ourselves. Without our residents we don’t have a business, without our businesses Lower Sunbury doesn’t have a village. We need your help”.

Some members give time and some give services. For example, local Tree Surgeon Clive Cummings helps in his way. He works with the Tree Wardens to put wood chippings down on TP26 to help establish saplings. LOSBC members need your support. You can find a list of members and their services on the website: www.losbc.org and there is a link from the LOSRA Home Page.

Are you a local Sunbury business and would you like to join? We offer a thriving website and you can participate in the Village Card scheme. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Thames Corner in French Street, at the junction with Thames Street, is a site for which planning permission has been granted; and it's one of those sites specified by the Government which would, and could, provide its share of the 450,000 dwellings just waiting to be built. When it comes to 'banking' land, developers seem to care little for the degrading effect such sites may have on the resident community and adjoining properties - and this site is an example of that lack of care.

When such plots are neglected, it is only a matter of time before the security of the site becomes compromised by fly-tippers and other anti-social elements who are drawn to it like moths to a flame.

The Thames Corner site has been on our agenda for a very considerable time but it seems that, legally, there is nothing that can be done to enforce the commencement of construction. Residents should however be aware that we are in constant dialogue with the Council in order to minimise the worst effects of the neglect and to call the owners to account. If you have cause to complain it would be well worth remembering that your local councillors for Sunbury East ward, Suzie Webb, Caroline Nichols or Alf Friday are only an email or phone call away.

Linden Homes, whilst appealing the Planning Committee's refusal to build 44 houses on the Police College site in Green Street are nevertheless to be commended for coming back to the table and responding to residents’ concerns. They have re-drawn the site plan with the much lower density of 28 dwellings and an access from Thames Street rather than Green Street. It is this plan which will now be considered by the Planning Committee this coming Wednesday, 19th September. If approved, it is highly likely that the Company will withdraw its appeal against the Planning Committee's refusal of the original application.

This story may sound an improbable one and, indeed, it's almost unique in the experience of our Association; but it does demonstrate that when developers and the community act in concert, it's possible to conceive a scheme which fits well within the local vernacular; and one which will dignify its location as a gateway to the Lower Sunbury Village. It now remains for the Planning Committee to demonstrate its resolve to uphold the principles of localism once more by supporting its community in approving this application. LOSRA is very grateful to all those residents who have signed the petition in support of the revised scheme, which numbers in excess of 700 signatures. We are now asking that you go the extra mile by attending the Planning Committee at 7pm, to show your support.

The next great gig is on Friday 21st September, when SCC welcome back Paul Cox and Charlie Fabert during one of Charlie's visits from France for a mini-tour to take in the Boogaloo Blues Weekend on the Isle of Wight.

Charlie is one of the real rising stars of the international blues scene, playing a constant round of Festivals in his native France, and with a style that one critic described as "Hendrix meets Reinhardt - total magic".

When he visits the UK he is joined by the great blues and rock vocalist Paul Cox, who on other days leads Fire & Water, his Free/Bad Company/Led Zep tribute band, and sings with the Alan Glenn All Stars.

They will be joined by Paul's regular finely-honed line-up of Nigel Hardy (bass), Peter Stroud (drums) and Roger Cotton (keyboards). On both their previous appearances at the Club, Paul and Charlie both ended up on the tables, and we can expect similar no-holds-barred stuff this time around - we know they are very much looking forward to coming back, as they really enjoy playing at the Club, so it is hoped we can deliver a packed house for them.

They are doing a session for the Paul Jones Monday Night Blues Show at 7pm on Radio 2. Check Charlie's web site www.charliefabert.com - it's in French but has some fab videos, and check out Paul & Charlie's CD at www.note-music.co.uk/ThatsWhatWeWereBornFor.html

The following email has been received from the Council with a request that it be published for the attention of our readers. We are happy to oblige:

"The Government is planning to abolish Council Tax Benefit and has asked local councils to develop their own schemes to replace it.

We have started a consultation period which goes on until 30 November – asking for views on a series of proposals.

We would be most grateful if you could distribute this email to your members and ask them to complete it online at: http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/benefit_consultation

Or recipients can print the questionnaire and fill it in by hand and return to FREEPOST, Revenues & Benefits, Spelthorne Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames TW18 1XB.

If you would prefer to distribute paper copies of the consultation questionnaire to members, please let me know how many you require and they will be delivered to your postal address. The questionnaires can be posted back using the FREEPOST address provided.

Please encourage your members to pass on the message to family, colleagues and other contacts in Spelthorne.

Thanks"