Spelthorne Council and the Food Standards Agency are calling on people to check the food hygiene ratings of restaurants before booking meals out with family and friends this Christmas.

Christmas is a time to enjoy good company and good food without worrying about food poisoning. But the truth is, you can’t tell a restaurant’s hygiene standards by how clean and tidy the staff look or by how busy it is. It’s the things you can’t see - like germs spread by bad hygiene practices - that you need to consider.

There’s one easy way to set your mind at rest - check the food hygiene rating. This shows the score the business was given by Spelthorne Council’s Environmental Health staff after its last food hygiene inspection.

Currently in Spelthorne an impressive 93% of food businesses are rated satisfactory, good or very good. 55% of these businesses have achieved the top rating ‘very good’.

To check the food hygiene rating before you eat out this Christmas, visit the Food Standards Agency website http://ratings.food.gov.uk/authority-search/spelthorne

The expansion of Heathrow Airport is a subject which polarises views across our membership but, whether for or against, residents will be interested to read the latest press release from Spelthorne Council:

Spelthorne Borough Council has told the Airports Commission that it continues to support plans for an additional runway at Heathrow.

Councillor Robert Watts, Leader of Spelthorne Council appeared before a special meeting held by the Airports Commission on Wednesday 3 December to hear the views of people around the Airport following the launch of a consultation in November inviting comments on the shortlisted runway options.

Councillor Robert Watts said: “The future of Heathrow is critical to both the local and national economy. Nearly 4,000 residents work on the airport and another 3,500 in support businesses. Doing nothing is not an option as that would simply lead to a decline in jobs.

I have no illusions about the challenges any airport expansion can bring; and the noise, air quality, transport and other environment issues will need to be resolved. I have stressed to the Commission that effective and comprehensive mitigation is a prerequisite.”

The Commission, which is led by Sir Howard Davies, is currently investigating the best option for a third runway in the South East and is due to present its final report to the government in June 2015.

Speaking about the consultation in November, Sir Howard Davies said: “Since our interim report last year we have undertaken a huge amount of work. We have carried out a thorough assessment, across a comprehensive range of subjects, looking at the benefits and impacts of each proposal.”

“We have not yet taken a view on which proposal strikes the most effective balance between the assessment criteria. It is important first that we provide an opportunity for this evidence to be examined, challenged and improved. This consultation gives everyone with an interest in the issue of airport expansion that opportunity.” 

“Responses to this consultation will be a valuable addition to our evidence base and will directly inform our recommendation to the government when we publish our final report in the summer of 2015.”

The consultation runs until Tuesday 3 February 2015. For more details and information on how to respond to the consultation, click here

This year, once again, the Christmas Market, which is organised by the Lower Sunbury Business Community, will take place outside the shops in Avenue Parade from 5pm on 11th December.

There will be 14 stalls offering mulled wine, arts and crafts, food sampling, presents, jewellery and accessories; and for the children, rides, glow toys, face painting and Santa with his 3 live reindeer. A community raffle in aid of the Princess Alice Hospice will be run by Laura at the hairdressers.

All are welcome to join in the fun and get into the festive spirit.

Residents living in the vicinity of the White Horse Pub at 69 Thames Street at the junction with The Avenue will wish to be aware of an application for full variations to extend the finish time for the sale of alcohol to midnight on Mondays to Sundays inclusive; and to permit late night refreshment from 2300 to 0030 on Mondays to Sundays inclusive.

(Application No.14/00852/LAPRE). We are aware of concerns that the granting of these variations may lead to an unwelcome precedent in the Village.

Unlike planning applications where LOSRA has frequently made representations at Planning Committee, objections to Licensing Committee can only be made by individuals and businesses in the vicinity.

'In the vicinity’ is a term that is not defined. Ministerial Guidance asks licensing authorities to consider if the individual is ‘directly affected’ and says: ‘it is expected that the decision will be approached with common sense and individuals living and working in the neighbourhood or area immediately surrounding the premises will be able to make representations'.

Any representation must address one or more of the four licensing objectives. In this respect, objectives b. (the prevention of crime and disorder); and d. (the prevention of public nuisance) could apply and must be submitted by 25th December

Details of the application my be viewed on the Council website: www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/1985/Alcohol-entertainment-and-late-night-refreshment. Click on 'Licensing search' and enter reference 14/00852/LAPRE.

To make a representation by email, click here:  https://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/1984/Licensing-and-registration?sendtoid=1887&formid=2509. Alternatively, by post to The Licensing Manager, Spelthorne Borough Council, Knowle Green, Staines TW18 1XB.

This Christmas, The Riverside Youth Theatre are proud to present Wind in The Willows at The Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, Lower Sunbury from 11th -13th December, 8pm. Tickets £8 each. The Play, adapted by Alan Bennett from Kenneth Grahame's famous book is a 'must see' for adults and youngsters alike.

Tickets can be purchased online http://riversideyouththeatre.co.uk/ or via telephone 07871 992988.

Click here for the poster

The final Music Night of 2014 at Sunbury Cricket Club is in on Friday 12th December, when the Club welcomes THE MERSEY LEGENDS once more for their Christmas bash. You know them from their previous gigs as The Beat Legends, but they have felt for a while that the name didn’t convey the Liverpool roots of their music clearly enough – they had previously had to change their name from The Merseybeat Legends and The Cavern Legacy because of copyright issues. Anyway, they are now The Mersey Legends, but it’s the same guys playing the same music.

They are led by Yanni Tsamplakos, who was born in Liverpool and who played at The Cavern with his band The Seftons in the heyday of the beat boom – the band were top of the bill at the Cavern when it re-opened in 1967. They play wall-to-wall Mersey era classics, with a show that’s true to its roots, and we’re guaranteed an evening of non-stop ‘60s favourites that are always guaranteed to get everyone dancing, so come along with your friends and have a bit a rave-up to get the party season under way.