The state of the roads is frustrating many local residents who contact Spelthorne by the hundreds by phone, email, social media and even visiting the Council. However, it is Surrey County Council who are responsible for the upkeep of our roads and pavements, not Spelthorne Borough Council.

A petition has been set up to ask the government to debate Surrey's pothole issues in the Houses of Parliament. The online petition asks the government to reform its funding formula which decides how much cash should be given for road repairs. Surrey County Council says the method for calculating the amount penalises the County because it is calculated on the length of a road and not the volume of traffic. Visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/217930 to sign the petition.

To find out more about Surrey's pothole plans or to report a pothole, click here

Performances are held between 2-4pm at either the Walled Garden, Thames Street, Sunbury, TW16 6AB where a limited number of chairs are available – (you are welcome to bring your own); or at the Lammas Band Stand, Lammas Recreaton Ground, Wraysbury Road, Staines-upon-Thames where you will need to bring hour own chairs or picnic blankets.

Some of our readers will already have completed the online consultation form on the strategic issues and options for the Local Plan (See link below in article of 15^th May). If you have yet to complete it, you may find the attached briefing note helpful. It gives an indication of the Association’s initial thoughts on the options being proposed.

It should first be said that we believe the Council has gone about the consultation process in the right way in making every effort to reach out to as many local residents and groups as possible. The online questionnaire is not in the least bit technical and is easily readable. If you still feel the consultation is not for you, you may wish to consider that one of our concerns (and indeed that of the Council) is that without an up-to-date and adopted Local Plan we risk planning decisions being taken out of the Council’s hands.

It should be noted that by responding to this consultation and agreeing to have your contact details stored on the Council’s database, you will automatically be notified of future consultations. The public response to stage 1 of the I&O process will influence and feed into the 2^nd Stage, at which point, although comments will still be possible, the main thrust of the Local Plan will have been determined; and any attempt at blocking its eventual adoption will be futile.

To see the briefing note, click here

Saxophonist, composer and teacher Mornington Lockett studied at Dartington College of Arts, gaining a first class honours degree, before moving to London to attend the Guildhall School of Music And Drama as a post-graduate. As a member of the Ronnie Scott Quintet, Mornington toured widely, in the U.K. and internationally. He has recorded albums with Ronnie Scott, Jim Mullen, Stan Tracey, Don Grusin, Martin Drew, Claire Martin, Sarah Jane Morris and Ian Shaw. Commercial studio work includes a session with Oasis and even a number of ‘smooth jazz’ albums with Shakatak.

Mornington has also played live with many international jazz artists including Jimmy Smith, Arturo Sandoval, Jon Hendricks, Franco Ambrosetti, Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Dave Weckl, Bernard Purdie, Phil Upchurch, Jon Faddis, Ulf Wakenius, Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, Gabòr Bolla, Nicolas Meier, Gregory Fine, Georgie Fame and Jack DeJohnette.

In 1989 Mornington joined the Jim Mullen Quartet, which became incredibly popular on the UK circuit and effectively launched his career. This led to an invitation for Mornington to lead his own quartet at Ronnie Scott’s Club, and eventually to joining the Ronnie Scott Quintet, which toured all over the world for five years between 1990-1995. On 10^th June he will be guesting with the Terence Collie trio in an evening of Chick Corea.

Line-up: Mornington Lockett – sax; Terence Collie – piano; Paul Michael – bass; Paul Cavaciuti – drums

Start: 7.30pm

Venue: Riverside Arts Centre, 59 Thames Street, Sunbury TW16 5QF

Tickets: £12 on the door or £9 via website: www.moodindigoevents.co.uk

The next PPG Open Meeting will be held at Sunbury Health Centre at 6.30pm on Monday 4th June. All patients welcome.

One of the doctors and other Practice staff will give an overview of the many positive developments taking place as well as highlighting the challenges faced by the Practice in our ever expanding community.

There will also be an opportunity for general comments, suggestions and questions from patients. Please note that this is NOT an opportunity to discuss individual cases or issues, which should be passed to the Practice in the normal way.

For poster, click here

The newsletter announcing our AGM is currently with the printers and will be in the course of distribution to all households shortly.

You may also read it online by clicking here

Please note that our guest speaker, the recently appointed Strategic Planning Manager for Spelthorne Borough,  Ann Biggs, will be attending to address the AGM on the revision to the Local Plan. This is a very important landmark event which attempts to address the substantial and much publicised increase in housebuilding announced by central government. It will affect all parts of the Borough including Lower Sunbury. The public consultation on the issues and options is now live and all residents are encouraged to spend a few minutes in its completion. (Scroll down to article below for the link).

The minutes of the 2017 AGM may be viewed by clicking here

https://consult.spelthorne.gov.uk/consult.ti

The easiest and most effective way to read the document and respond to the consultation is by clicking on the above link to the Council’s online consultation portal.

Please answer the questions at each stage and follow the instructions to submit.

Alternatively, you can email the Council at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Or write to: Strategic Planning ,Spelthorne Borough Council, Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thame, TW18 1XB

All responses must be in writing, as the Council will not accept verbal comments.   

The Consultation runs for 6 weeks and closes at midnight on Monday 25 June 2018.

Further to the article posted here on 12^th March, we are delighted to report that the appeal by the applicant to develop 7 residential flats on the site has been dismissed by the Planning Inspector.

Whilst this is great news we can expect a further and perhaps less ambitious planning application once the developer has studied the detail of the inspector’s report.

As with all Inspectorate decisions few come without a sting in the tail. It was, for example, disappointing to read that scant regard had been paid to the design of new residential development standards regarding separation distances and overlooking. Parking standards were also diminished in importance not least because of unhelpful comments by the County Highways Authority who failed to support the Spelthorne planning officer and LoSRA at the time of the original application.

The Inspector’s report may be viewed by clicking here