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.
Spelthorne Council has become aware of an email phishing scam which is using a spoofed (false) @spelthorne.gov.uk sender address
The email subject typically contains the word "Invoice"or "New Invoice" and the examples that we have been made aware of appear to have been sent by the leader of the Council (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ), although other @spelthorne.gov.uk addresses may have been used.
The body of the email typically contains a URL link to click on, to see the supposed invoice.
Please be advised that this is a phishing email scam and it is not a message from Spelthorne Borough Council. If you receive this email you should not click on any of the links it contains and immediately delete it.
We can confirm that at no point have your details been obtained from our systems and any personally identifiable information we hold is secure.
Spelthorne Borough Council will never ask for credit/debit card information by email.
The next Music Night on Friday 25th August promises to be every bit as much of a special occasion, when, for the first time, the Club welcomes another great Texan blues band JIM SUHLER & MONKEY BEAT. Once again, it’s something of a coup to have secured these guys for a gig at Sunbury, and it’s one you ought not to miss – if you enjoyed Hamilton Loomis, you will love this one too.
When he’s not leading his own band, Jim Suhler is the guitarist with the celebrated and globally-acclaimed blues/rock band George Thorogood & The Destroyers – he has also performed with a variety of blues legends like Johnny Winter, AC/DC Joe Bonamassa, Buddy Guy, Elvin Bishop and Buddy Whittington, and since joining George Thorogood has recorded, toured the world and written songs for the band.
He has been working with his own band Monkey Beat for many years, playing an uncompromising and highly entertaining brand of Texan blues/rock, and their publicity calls the band “blues-rockin’ bad boys with a take-no-prisoners” attitude. The band comprises Shawn Phares (keyboards/accordion) Beau Chadwell (drums/percussion) and Patrick Smith (bass). Buddy magazine wrote about them “Jim Suhler is not just keeping the Texan blues alive, but he’s expanding them with a style that appeals to fans of every music genre”.
The Club would not normally do a Music Night on an August Bank Holiday weekend, but this was the only time they could get them, and it was too good an opportunity to pass up. They are visiting Europe to play at the big SwingWespelaar Festival in Belgium, and the Club has been able to secure a date while they are here – it is believed that this is the first time the band has played the UK.
There’s plenty of info and videos at www.jimsuhler.com, and loads of videos on YouTube – check them out, and in particular the tracks on his “Tijuana Bible” album where there’s loads of great stuff that will certainly encourage you to come.
Note from organiser: Tickets are available in advance from the Club bar or by e-mailing me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you are definitely intending to come, I am also happy to reserve tickets and keep them in an envelope to pay for on the night, so just e-mail and let me know, and I will send a confirmation. That way I can keep track of how many people we are likely to have coming and can keep everyone updated with e-mails about ticket availability as the gig approaches. It will be another memorable night, and we look forward to seeing you there.
The following press release from Spelthorne Council relates to Surrey County Council’s consultation on shaping Surrey community recycling centres (CRCs) which was the subject of an extraordinary meeting of Spelthorne’s Overview & Scrutiny committee held on 31 July:
County Councillor Mike Goodman, Cabinet Member for Environment, and Richard Parkinson, Waste Operations Group Manager at Surrey County Council (SCC) explained to the committee that Surrey faces ongoing cuts to funding, rising costs and increasing demand for key services which has created the need for the County to find savings of more than £100m this year alone across its services.
The proposals for reducing the SCC waste budget include changes at CRCs across Surrey. The consultation about these changes, which closed on 7 August 2017, included options for reducing operating hours and days, stopping no charge allowances and closing some smaller CRCs.
Members of the Committee and Jackie Taylor, Group Head of Neighbourhood Services at Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC), raised concerns that reducing the access and allowances at Charlton Lane for residents created the risk of increased fly tipping which would have both a financial and environmental impact for both the County and the Borough Councils.
Cllr Ian Harvey, Leader at SBC, pointed out that as the Eco Park (on the site of the Charlton Lane CRC) would be operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week it was difficult to see how significant savings could be made from reducing access to residents.
The accuracy of the fly tipping data being presented at the meeting by SCC was also called into question.
Cllr Colin Davis, Chairman of Spelthorne’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee said: “A key concern for both councillors and members of the public who were invited to have their say at the meeting was how the proposed changes might impact residents using the CRC at Charlton Lane. There are also clear concerns about fly tipping. It is therefore important that the County works with the districts and boroughs to create a common framework assessment for capturing accurate data and measuring the impact of fly tipping”.
Hazelwood Drive are looking for volunteers in the community to help coordinate a new Park Run. A meeting will take place on Wednesday 30th August at 7pm for local people to find out more about Park runs and sign up as volunteers.
For further information about volunteering please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to find out more about park runs visit www.parkrun.org.uk
Full address:
Hazelwood Community Company
Hazelwood Drive
Sunbury on Thames
TW16 6QU
London Irish have advised LOSRA that the Hazelwood Ground will be hosting a pre-season friendly match between London Irish RFC and Harlequins on Saturday 12th August at 3pm which, coincidentally, is also the date of the Sunbury Regatta.
The Club will be deploying car parking attendants but experience tells us that such events attract large numbers of vehicle owners who pay scant regard to the L.I attendants and even less to the convenience of residents living nearby.
If you experience problems, please get in touch with London Irish Amateur RFC at: www.hazelwood-centre.co.uk as the Club is always looking at ways to mitigate the effects of big events on the local community.
Congratulations to Sunbury cricketer Toby Roland-Jones, who has made a stunning Test Match debut for England at the Oval against South Africa in the Third Test. He made his One Day international debut against South Africa in May. In South Africa’s first innings at the oval Toby took the wickets of five out of the top six batsmen to post excellent bowling figures of 5-57. He then made a significant contribution in South Africa’s second innings, taking the prized wicket of their star batsman Hashim Amla for the second time in the match. It is a notable achievement for bowlers to achieve the distinction of a Test Match five-wicket haul in their debut innings but even more remarkable to have finished with match figures of 8 - 129 (becoming the first England bowler since James Kirtley took 8 wickets against South Africa at Trent Bridge in 2003). Although primarily selected as a bowler, Toby has also made a handy contribution with the bat, scoring 25 and 21 not out in England’s two innings. batting at No. 9.
Toby started playing cricket as a junior colt at Sunbury Cricket Club when he was about five years old, and played in all the colts age group teams, representing Middlesex throughout his colts’ career. He played for Hampton School and then for the Bradford/Leeds Universities Cricketing Centre of Excellence when he was at Leeds University. He was a regular member of Sunbury’s 1st XI and, after successful season at the Club in the Surrey Championship, signed a contract with Middlesex in 2010. Last season, he legendarily took a hat-trick in the final game of the season, taking the last three Yorkshire wickets to secure the County Championship for Middlesex for the first time in 23 years.
Toby is the second Sunbury player to play Test Match cricket - another fast bowler Richard Johnson, who is now a coach at Middlesex, also played for England.
I look forward to welcoming you all to the 2017 Sunbury Amateur Regatta on 12th August 2017.
This year will be the 140th year that the Regatta has been held. I do hope that you will enjoy yourselves watching the skiff, punting and dongola races, wandering around the stalls and the taking part in the entertainment on the lawn.
As the evening begins, please stay on the island to watch the final of Has Sunbury Got Talent, listen to live music, watch the illuminated sail past and our famous fireworks.
Everything that makes the Regatta the day it is, is the result of the hard work of a dedicated set of volunteers who give up their spare time to plan, build and run the Regatta each year and that planning is already underway.
The agenda of the Regatta is:
0900 - Racing starts
1100 - Gates open
1200 - Bar opens
1830 - Final of Has Sunbury Got Talent
2100 - Illuminated sail past by the Mid Terms Yacht Club
2130 - Fireworks
We are always looking for new committee members to help run the Regatta and helpers on the day, Please contact us via our website if you would like to help continue the largest family day out in the Sunbury calendar.
We would like to remind all residents of a few simple steps to prevent burglary and protect your home
Criminals look for a number of signs to detect an empty home. How can you protect your property from intruders?
There are a variety of ways to make your home more secure for the future. While some security measures can be expensive, there are other things you can do that cost much less:
Call 999 if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if the crime is happening right now.
To report non-emergency crime:
Online - Visit report.police.uk
TextPhone - 18000
Report anonymously - CrimeStoppers are an independent charity helping to find criminals and help solve crimes. They run an anonymous 0800 555 111 phone number that you can call to pass on information about crime. Alternatively people can pass them information anonymously via their website https://crimestoppers-uk.org/
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club on Friday 4th August is a very special occasion as it marks the welcome return of the brilliant Texan blues guitarist, singer, harmonica player and songwriter HAMILTON LOOMIS, who visited the Club five years ago - this is first time since then that we have been able to secure a gig on his annual UK tour.
Hamilton was a protégé of the legendary blues artist Bo Diddley and appeared on stage with him as well as performing on his albums. He is a sensational performer, and his ‘live’ show is something to behold.
Guitar Player magazine wrote if him: “If blues, soul, and rock can be said to form a triangle, you’ll find Hamilton Loomis right in the centre of it.”, and he is one of the young artists at the forefront of bringing blues-based American music into the 21st century and redefining it for a contemporary audience.
His album “Ain’t Just Temporary” reached No. 7 in Billboard’s Blues Chart. His band features Armando Aussenac (drums, background vocals) and Fabian Hernandez (saxes, keyboards, background vocals). It will be a stunning evening.
There’s full information about him at www.hamiltonloomis.com and loads of ‘live’ videos on www.youtube.com
Tickets are £10.00 and are available in advance from the Cricket Club bar or contact Paul Watts at the e-mail address below.
For more info e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 07976 334482
Sunbury Cricket Club, Lower Hampton Rd. Sunbury TW16 5PS
Following the recent news item on a failed parking company at Gatwick Airport you may find the following tips useful for ensuring secure airport parking:
Shepperton named UK’s most courteous town
It’s official, Shepperton townsfolk are the politest people in the country.
Officials from the National Campaign for Courtesy have announced Shepperton as ‘Top Town for 2017’ after scouring the country for towns which demonstrate the charity’s commitment to good manners, respect for others, courtesy to all and rejection of anti-social behaviour.
Established in 1986, the National Campaign for Courtesy works to encourage us all to be more friendly, considerate and respectful of each other and our environment. Previous award winners include Skipton, Epsom, Shrewsbury and Ilfracombe.
Local councillor Cllr Robin Sider BEM who nominated Shepperton for the award explained why he thought the town deserved to be recognised: “When I made the nomination I submitted everything I knew about Shepperton, it ambience and its community, and how friendly and courteous all our shopkeepers are. You can imagine how thrilled I am about this; it reflects everything that is good about our shops, our residents, our history, our Village Fair and Big Tree Night, not to mention the welcome everyone receives when visiting Shepperton.”
The Top Town award will be presented at a ceremony in October.
For more details about the National Campaign for Courtesy visit www.campaignforcourtesy.org.uk
Spelthorne Borough Council is delighted to announce that the Sunbury Walled Garden and Sunbury Park have been awarded Green Flag status.
The parks are among a record-breaking 1,797 UK parks and green spaces to receive the prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space. This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
The historic Walled Garden in Sunbury Park was built in the early part of the 18th Century. Following years of neglect, Spelthorne Council embarked on a restoration project of the two acre garden in 1985. Now home to over 200 varieties of clematis, this ‘hidden gem’ provides a tranquil spot all year round. Free music concerts are being held in the Walled Garden during July and August – visit www.spelthorne.gov.uk/music for details.
The following email from Glynis McDonald, NHS North West Surrey Clinical Commissionaing Group, has been received by LOSRA and is published here for the information of residents:
We would really appreciate your help in cascading the following information wherever relevant following the Weybridge fire:
A helpline has been set up: 0203 297 7252
For specific queries relating to community services provided by CSH: Surrey please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Our latest media statements giving further information, particularly for information relating to the two GP practices who were based in Weybridge can also be found here: http://www.nwsurreyccg.nhs.uk/Pages/default.aspx
Latest updates can also be followed via our Twitter feed: @NWSurreyCCG
The following self-explanatory email from Surrey Highways has been received by LOSRA:
Dear Sir / Madam,
The Highways Customer Panel survey for July 2017 is now available for you to complete.
Please follow this link Customer Panel survey to access the survey and follow the on screen instructions to take you through the process. The survey will run until 15th August 2017.
Your responses will be collated into a report which will be published on the Highways Customer Panel web pages by the end of September 2017.
We would like to thank you for taking the time to complete the survey, we look forward to reviewing your responses.
Kind regards,
Clare Johnson
Surrey Highways
Tel: 0300 200 1003