Since the Spelthorne Planning Committee refused the Linden Homes application for the Police College site in Green Street, the Police College Development Action Group (PCDAG) has had several meetings with Linden Homes about their development plans. These discussions have been most positive; and new plans have been drafted for the development of the site and have now been submitted to the local planning authority. To view plans, visit: http://my.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning/ and insert the reference 12/00995/FUL.

We believe this revised plan successfully addresses the concerns raised by local residents and the Planning Committee; and we are happy to endorse it as the best alternative available. The main advantages of the new plan are the reduced density (28 dwellings as opposed to 44 in the previous plan); the entrance/exit being moved to Thames Street from Green Street, thus alleviating the predicted traffic pressure on the Green Street/Church Street/Thames Street 'triangle'; and an increase in on-site parking provision from 1.8 spaces per unit to 2.4 - a figure more in keeping with average car ownership in Lower Sunbury.

In addition, the buildings at the centre of the site are further away from the Stile Path boundary as proposed in the previous plan and the Green Street frontage is further back from the street. In design terms, the siting of various buildings is more organic and less rectilinear; and the frontage of Thames Street with its corner building is a great improvement. LOSRA believes this to be the best alternative scheme but readers will be aware that Linden Homes has also appealed the Planning Committee's refusal of their previous application for 44 dwellings. If this revised plan for 28 homes is approved by Planning Committee, Linden Homes have undertaken to withdraw that appeal with savings for all, including us as local tax payers.

However, approval by Planning Committee cannot be taken for granted and you are urged to write to the Spelthorne Planning Unit to show your support by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 21st August.

Our thanks go to everyone who signed the petition outside Skinners on Saturday morning and gave their support for the 28-unit plan. If you have not yet had an opportunity to sign, you may do so when visiting the LOSRA stand at the Sunbury Regatta this Saturday or, alternatively you may do it online at: http://www.petitiononline.co.uk/petition/yes-in-our-backyard/4607

This lovely view from King’s Lawn and St Mary’s Church in Sunbury is under threat from Elmbridge Borough Council’s outline plans for a ‘sports hub’ to be built in the greenbelt right next to Sunbury Weir. We think this is one of the most beautiful stretches of the river Thames and the sports complex will ruin the setting of the river Thames and the peaceful Sunbury conservation area.

The complex includes an Athletics Stadium, four more football pitches, a huge spectator stand and parking for an extra 250 cars and coaches. There will be 28 floodlight masts, which will look like a wind farm during the day, and spread light pollution from the Xcel building to the Weir Pub at night. The plans for this site include moving two football clubs to this location, which will result in residents suffering the noise of football matches being played most days of the week in the football season. Floodlights could operate until 10pm every day.

Why has Elmbridge Borough Council not considered the impact on Sunbury? Like a typical developer they want to profit from selling the vacated land for housing. The only difference between Elmbridge Borough Council and a commercial developer is that Elmbridge granted themselves Outline Planning Permission!

Come to the LOSRA stand at the Regatta and sign our petition to Save the view of Sunbury Weir from floodlighting in Waterside Drive

Following the Information Day held at the Riverside Arts Centre on 23rd June, Linden Homes have sent this report to LOSRA and, as part of the Steering Group, we are pleased to reproduce it here. The report details the questions and answers to concerns raised by residents.

"We held our first information day on the proposed development of the Environment Agency site in Fordbridge Road, at the Riverside Arts Centre in Sunbury on 23 June, where we shared the initial plans we have developed so far and got feedback from those who attended.

Around 25 people came along, with most living in the roads nearest to the development site. We collected some very useful feedback from them, which will be considered by the steering group as we work together to develop more detailed plans for the site ahead of any planning application.

We have gathered the issues raised at the information day, along with points, questions and concerned raised since the steering group was first formed, and have produced an extensive Q&A for anyone interested in the development. To view Q & As, click here.

We would welcome further feedback from any local residents or other people interested in the proposed development and would be happy to meet with people, if useful. We are currently developing more detailed plans which we will display as part of an exhibition that is likely to take place in September. If you have any questions or queries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or you can speak to Peter Gilheany on 07798 881180."

The Hampton Court Rescue Campaign has written to LOSRA with the following release. Whilst not in our immediate area, the site is one of national importance and LOSRA has given its support to the Campaign from the outset. Please take a couple of minutes to view the film and to add your support.

HCRC has made a short Youtube film which beautifully illustrates the 'new plans' for Hampton Court.

Support is gathering pace. Your messages have begun to flow into Elmbridge Planning Dept., and HCRC is very grateful for your contributions. But we must ensure that Elmbridge is given a clear and forceful message about the long term future of the Jolly Boatman riverbank.

You can do this using the instructions below:

HAVE YOUR SAY

Email your comments to Laura Davies, Senior Planning Officer, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL CORRESPONDENCE MUST CARRY THE PLANNING REFERENCE NUMBER OR YOUR MESSAGE WILL NOT BE COUNTED - 2012/2362

Or, by post to Elmbridge Borough Council, Civic Centre, High Street, Esher, KT10 9SD

You can also use the link below to send your message. Just click the link below to 'EBC Planning Application Search'.

http://www2.elmbridge.gov.uk/Planet/ispforms.asp?serviceKey=SysDoc-PlanetApplicationEnquiry

Key in this Reference Number 2012/2362 to open the correct page, and scroll down to the 'submit comments' box at the base. In due course, your message will be published by EBC there, in ‘view attachments’.

LOSRA has been contacted by Jonathan Staddart, Director of CBRE Ltd to notify residents that a public exhibition will be held on 2nd August on behalf of the Salvation Army who have asked the Company to prepare a planning application to replace an accommodation block on their site at Sunbury Court. The plan's aim is to ensure there is sufficient space for the Army’s delegates and members when they need to visit. Below is the poster which is also being reproduced in the Surrey Herald:

PUBLIC EXHIBITION

PLEASE COME ALONG AND GIVE YOUR VIEWS!

The Salvation Army invites you to view our proposals for the partial redevelopment of the Sunbury Court site which involves demolishing the very dated accommodation block and outbuilding, and re-providing modern accommodation on-site with enhanced landscaping.

WHERE AND WHEN?

Date: Thursday 2nd August 2012

Time: From 2.30pm until 7pm

Venue: The Red Room, The Mansion House, Sunbury Court, Lower Hampton Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 5PL

Representatives from the Salvation Army’s professional team will be available throughout the exhibition to listen to your comments and answer questions you may have about the proposals and a questionnaire will be available for you to register your views.

For further information please contact: Jonathan Stoddart or Sam Jackson on Tel: 020 7182 2015 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

* on arrival at reception please ask to be directed to the Sunbury Court public exhibition in the red room

And now, as they say, for something completely different, as the SCC welcomes MOSQUITO-B this coming Friday 20th July.

The Club has had two stunning shows from the visiting North American artists with Buddy Whittington and Hamilton Loomis, and we can be certain that they're going to have another electric night with Canadian indie band MOSQUITO-B.

Their music is hard to pin down and if you check out the tracks on their web site at www.mosquito-b.com, you'll understand why.

It's all original songs, all very up-front and musical, and very exciting, so it's hoped that a big crowd will welcome them to Sunbury this coming Friday.

Further to the article published on 10th July below, the following reply has been received from the Case Officer at the Planning Inspectorate. Despite LOSRA providing evidence that the application would indeed "have significant effects beyond its immediate locality", the Secretary of State, doesn't agree; and signally fails to give a reason for his disagreement. Readers will have to make up their own minds as to the degree of enquiry devoted to LOSRA's request given that the reply appears to derive from a standard template and was turned around within 3 days.

The full text of the email is reproduced here:

Further your email of the 9th July 2012, regarding the above planning application.

Firstly, I would like to explain that local planning authorities have the statutory responsibility for considering proposals for development. Authorities have to determine planning applications in the light of the local development plan for the area and any other material planning considerations. They must also take into account any representations received and give reasons for their decision. The Government is clear that localism and decentralisation are at the heart of their planning agenda and the general approach of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of authorities on planning matters

As requested, the Secretary of State has carefully considered this case against call-in policy, as set out in the 1999 Caborn Statement. The policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively. The Government is committed to give more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues, and believes planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible.

The Secretary of State has carefully considered the impact of the proposal, and the key policy issues which this case raises. In his opinion, the proposals do not: involve a conflict with national policies on important matters; have significant effects beyond their immediate locality; give rise to substantial regional or national controversy; raise significant architectural and urban design issues; or involve the interests of national security or of Foreign Governments. Nor does he consider that there is any other sufficient reason to call the application in for his own determination. He has therefore decided the application should be determined at local level, and has not called it in.

In considering whether to exercise his discretion to call in this application, the Secretary of State has not considered the matter of whether the application is EIA development for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011. The local planning authority responsible for determining this application remains the relevant authority responsible for considering whether these regulations apply to this proposed development and, if so, for ensuring that the requirements of the Regulations are complied with.

I appreciate that you will be disappointed with the decision. It is, however, now for Elmbridge Borough Council to determine this application.

Kind regards

Mrs M Peart

Casework Officer

Further to the article published on this Site on Wednesday 23rd May, LOSRA has now formally requested that the application by Elmbridge Borough Council be 'called in' by the Secretary of State.  The following email was sent today:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Land Adjacent to Xcel Leisure Complex, Waterside Drive, Walton on Thames KT12 2JG, Ref: 2012/1185, Elmbridge Borough Council, Civic Centre, High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9SD - Richard Morris, Head of Planning Services, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Further to recent correspondence from Mrs Muriel Bankhead, I write on behalf of this Association to support the request for a call-in by the Secretary of State in relation to the above application on the grounds that it falls within the criteria for the Secretary of State to 'call in'; namely, that it is "a development that could have significant effects beyond its immediate locality".

The Borough of Spelthorne has a duty as the local planning authority to prepare proposals for the preservation and enhancement of its conservation areas (S.71 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation areas) Act 1990) and it has acquitted itself of this duty as far as it falls within its remit do do so.

The character of any area derives primarily from its physical form both visually and from the expression of history which it represents; and secondly from the uses and activities within the area. A number of distinct elements have had an influence on the development of the Lower Sunbury Conservation Area and its character today, not the least of which is the River Thames and the residents or visitors, who enjoy its amenity.

In the nineteenth century many visitors began to be attracted to Lower Sunbury to use punts and rowing boats on the River. Recreational boating has in the last century largely taken the place of freight river traffic and both moored and moving boats remain a distinctive feature of Lower Sunbury. It goes without saying that views both towards and from the River Thames are one of the most important characteristics of the Conservation Area.

Alongside the River Thames to the south of Thames Street areas of open space provide direct views from the Conservation Area to the River and beyond. They provide both windows to the River and an important green backcloth for views from the River. The interspersing of these open spaces between building development is a very distinctive feature of the Conservation Area. In particular, Kings Lawn is a sloping grassy area opposite St. Mary's Church and the old brick wall boundary of Sunbury Park. It is a popular area for walking, sitting and fishing; and provides mooring for private and hire boats.

Whilst PPG2 has been superceded by The National Planning Policy Framework, para. 81 of the NPPF is quite specific: "....local planning authorities should plan positively to enhance the beneficial use of the Green Belts such as....to retain and enhance landscapes, visual amenity and biodiversity. This obligation is most certainly not confined to areas which fall within the purview of one local authority area alone but must necessarily extend to those adjoining it. This is a woeful oversight on the part of Elmbridge Borough Council who, it would seem, are minded to approve their own application.

Furthermore, as para. 89, NPPF allows for the provision of appropriate facilities for outdoor sport and outdoor recreation....it contains the important qualification: "as long as it preserves the openness of the Green belt". In this respect the application manifestly fails to meet the requirement when viewed from the River or its northern bank.

I would be grateful if this request for 'call-in' could be treated as urgent. It is intended that the application will be determined by the LPA on Tuesday 10th July, 2012.

Yours faithfully,

John Hirsh,

Hon. Chairman,

Lower Sunbury Residents' Association (LOSRA)