Andrew McCormack is a composer and pianist who is realising the best work of his career, thus far. Since bursting on to the scene in 2007 with his debut album, Telescope, McCormack has been the driving force behind A-list jazz artists Kyle Eastwood, Eric Alexander, Denys Baptiste and Jean Toussaint as well as a host of home-grown talent including Jamie Cullum and Jason Yarde.

He has been performing extensively around the world, and selected the UK as the starting point in support of his critically acclaimed latest album, First Light.

The new trio album, written and recorded in Brooklyn, New York, represents perhaps McCormack's greatest achievement to date in his composition and performance - recognised as such by critics, musicians and the public - placing him comfortably and confidently on a worldwide stage.

Developing and honing a skillfully original approach to writing and performance in the jazz tradition, McCormack has captivated audiences with his emotional and expressive style; combined with a yearning, emotive aesthetic which might be best described as quintessentially British.

His move to New York has added an even greater sense of swing, dynamic group interplay and a mesmeric live sound. The result is a world-class pianist and formidable composer, who has arguably earned a seat at the top of the jazz trio talent roster anywhere around the globe.

The performance will start at 7.30pm on 6th November at the Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street. Tickets £10 on the door or £8 in advance via website: www.moodindigoevents.co.uk.

For poster, click here

LOSRA is pleased to support local residents’ crowdfunding campaign to challenge Elmbridge Council’s decision to grant itself planning permission for a huge sports stadium in the green belt, next to the river Thames.

We think this is inappropriate development which will wreck the tranquility, views and enjoyment of one of the most beautiful stretches of the River Thames, popular with cyclists, walkers and boaters alike.

Matches and crowds will create noise disturbance on both sides of the river, but ironically the Council says they cannot use acoustic screening, because that would conflict with the ‘openness’ of the Green Belt area.

Over 2,500 local people have already signed a petition calling on Elmbridge Council to remove the floodlighting and look for alternative sites away from the banks of the Thames, but the Council brushed it aside. Only a Judicial Review will stop this going ahead and cause the Council to rethink this scheme and prevent this tragic loss of green open space for future generations. The hearing date has been set for 6 December at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.

You can help make this a reality by pledging what you can to save the Green Belt, the river Thames landscape, the wetlands wildlife, the dark skies, access to the countryside, the peace and tranquility of the Thames Path and riverside pubs, and the picturesque setting of the historic village of Sunbury-on-Thames.

Just click on the link: https://www.crowdjustice.co.uk/case/you-can-help/

It would seem to be a little known fact that the Club is open all through the winter with bar opening hours to suit the change in the pattern of usage of the pavilion.

Hall Bookings

The hall can comfortably seat 80 for dinner, or more for a buffet style event. Discounted hall booking fees are available to members. Hall bookings to 01932 783133.

Hall Hire Opportunities: The hall is available to hire throughout the winter, more so than the summer. The hall is available to hirers on from Tuesday to Saturday evenings and also on weekend afternoons which are ideal for Christenings and children's birthday parties. These afternoons are bookable through to early April when summer activities resume.

Christmas Parties: The hall is available on weekday and weekend evenings for Christmas parties. Anything from a full Christmas dinner menu through to a finger buffet can be provided. Party organisers may bring in their own cold food, but hygiene regulations do not allow the use of the kitchen by hirers. More details are available on request.

BT Sport, Sky Sports and Terrestrial Channels

The Club is now able to offer a wide range of matches to view on our television screens. It is also planned to have a big screen available in the hall shortly.

This selection of channels means that we are able to offer, for example, key Premiership, FA Cup and Champions' League matches during the week and at weekends. We also screen the Autumn Rugby Internationals and the RBS Six Nations Tournament in February and March. Other sporting events can be televised as and when the opportunities arise. All reasonable requests will be considered. Major matches are supported with free bar nibbles and the bar is well patronised.

Start studying those TV schedules now or follow us on Twitter @AtSunburySports or @SunburyCC.

Winter Bar Opening Hours

Following last year's trial the bar will again be closed on Mondays. Other arrangements will obtain over the Christmas and New Year periods and these will be publicised as and when.

Otherwise the following bar hours will operate from Tuesday 4th October:

The Council has an annual grant process for providing financial support to local voluntary groups and clubs. Individuals may also apply if they are setting up a community activity/event that will benefit Spelthorne residents.

Applications are now invited for financial year 2017-18 (starts April 2017).

Deadline for revenue grant applications is 16 November.

Applications are considered in November each year, for revenue grants to be paid in the following April. Applications will thereafter be accepted throughout the year until all funds have been allocated.

For more information about the grants criteria or to submit an application click here

Ms Terri Aston, Senior Parking Administrator, Spelthorne Borough Council advises us that The Walled Garden car park will be closed for tree work to be carried out from 6.00pm on the 9th until 13th October inclusive. The car park will close from 6.00pm on the Sunday 9th so that all the pedestrian and vehicle access can be blocked off ready for the tree surgeons to start work on the Monday morning.

The Council will then need to close The walled Garden Car Park from 6.00pm Sunday 23rd to 28 October 2016  inclusive for the following maintenance work:

• Resurface the car park
• Remove white marks from the walls
• Update Signs
• Replace Pillars
• Remove the number and resident bays
• Remark the parking bays.

The gardens and café will still be open to the public and can be accessed from Orchard meadow and Green Street/Sunbury Park car park but access via The Walled Garden car park will not be possible.

Many residents, and especially those who were involved in the original application by London Irish to develop the Hazelwood golf course, will already have received notice of the application to install a moveable 50 seater covered stand on the north side of the main pitch.

LOSRA Committee members met with the applicants on Thursday 29th September and were given a full explanation of the reasons behind the application which are summarised in the application thus:

"In order to provide a very small amount of seating, particularly for our less well able members and to ensure full compliance with disability discrimination legislation the proposal is to erect a 50 seat covered stand on the north side of our main pitch between the 10m line and the 22m line. The dimensions of the stand are 6617mm long by 3000mm wide and 2927mm high.

"The stand is a simple covered seating area that is pre-fabricated and delivered as one piece and fixed to the ground. It will be painted green on the outside to blend with the surroundings and the seats will be of a similar green colour." [NB. On visiting the site it would appear that the stand is actually intended to be positioned on the west (not the north} side of the main pitch].

LOSRA has absolutely no reason to doubt the good faith of the Amateur Club who are sponsoring this application but we would remind residents, (and especially those who were actively involved in the Hazelwood Action Group (HAG)) that in order to protect the tranquility of the cemetery and living conditions of nearby residents, we secured this important condition at the 2011 Public Inquiry:

'Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (or any order revoking and re-enacting that Order with or without modification), no moveable structure for the use of spectator accommodation shall be erected on the land'. Reason: 'to ensure that the noise scenarios remain accurate and valid, in the interests of protecting the amenity of visitors to the nearby cemetery and the living conditions of nearby residents'.

LOSRA will be making a representation before the closing date of 6th October but it's important that individual residents should also make their views known by visiting http://my.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning/ and commenting on planning reference 16/01495/FUL.

The following press release has just been issued by Spelthorne Council:

Beating national and international competition, Spelthorne Borough Council has purchased the BP campus in Sunbury-on-Thames.

The funding given to Spelthorne Borough Council by central Government will be withdrawn completely in 2017-18, a situation which is forcing Spelthorne to find innovative ways to fund services and create new revenue streams, whilst continuing to keep a tight control on costs.

To fund the project, Spelthorne Borough Council has borrowed money at a very competitive rate of interest from the Public Works Loans Board (PWLB).

Under the terms of the agreement, BP will remain as tenants at the Sunbury site, leasing back the offices from Spelthorne Borough Council for a minimum period of 20 years. The arrangement will generate a significant income for the Council year on year.

The BP campus is the largest privately owned office park in the UK and is currently home to approximately 3,000 employees. The site comprises 11 office buildings which provide 620,000 sq ft of accommodation, with surrounding land and car parks.

The purchase was recently approved by Spelthorne Borough Council and BP and encompasses the entire campus, excluding the South West corner. The acquisition forms a key part of the Council’s strategy to develop new ways of generating long term income streams to protect its services.

Cllr Ian Harvey, Leader of Spelthorne Borough Council, said: “Securing the Council’s financial stability is our highest priority and after exploring several options and taking advice from a number of independent experts, we are confident that this forward-thinking agreement represents a very sound investment for Spelthorne. It will be key in helping us to close the budget gap and protect the vital services which our residents and businesses need and deserve. We have had an excellent relationship with BP for many years and we are very pleased to be working with them on this exciting initiative.”

Peter Mather, Head of Country UK, BP, said: “For almost 100 years BP has had a significant presence at Sunbury-on-Thames. Here we have conducted research, developed leading technologies, and run our global businesses. We are pleased to commit to at least a further 20 years at the site through this new and exciting long-term relationship with Spelthorne Borough Council.”

The following email has been received from Spelthorne Council:

Following last year’s successful and popular Older Persons’ Safety Day, Spelthorne Council is organising another event, on October 19 at the Orangery at Shepperton Studios.

The day will feature presentations on issues of safety and security including bogus callers and online scams.

A pharmacist will talk about all the different services available from the service.

See the attached flier for details and how to book. Transport is provided from local pick-up points.

Please share with any older people who might be interested in coming along; for example Good Neighbour scheme users, fellow residents, club members and so on.

Bookings are on a first come, first served basis.

Thanks

Regards,

Joanne Jones - Community Development Manager - Spelthorne Council

Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1XB

01784 446421

07703 468847

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