The Covid-19 pandemic has affected businesses across the country causing many to cease trading for several months while others have had to significantly modify their operations.

As the economy started to re-open, new provisions were introduced under the Business and Planning Act 2020 which came into force on 22 July to allow a range of businesses in England to apply for a pavement licence to allow food and drink to be sold and consumed immediately outside their premises at tables.  

The Act introduces a simplified temporary fast-track process for registered food businesses to obtain permission, in the form of a 'pavement licence', from Spelthorne Council for furniture to be placed on the pavement, helping businesses to maximise their capacity whilst adhering to social distancing guidelines.

Probably a bit late in the year but, if you want to find out more information and to apply for a pavement licence, you should visit:

http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/pavement

Social distancing has made it impossible for the Open Meeting at Sunbury Health Centre scheduled for 20th October to go ahead and is therefore cancelled.

To see poster, click here

Graeme Flowers will be joining with the Terence Collie trio on Sunday 11th October at the Riverside Arts Centre in a tribute to the great Chet Baker.

Graeme Flowers graduated from the London College of Music in 2000. The list of artists in which he has collaborated, recorded or with whom he has toured is enviable: The James Taylor Quartet, The Brand New Heavies, Lisa Stansfield, Workshy, Dina Carroll, Kyle Eastwood, Quincy Jones, Shakira, Moloko, Duran Duran, James Morrison, Joey Negro, Brenda Russell, Just Jack, Hard-Fi, Jamie Cullum, Craig David, Tony Hadley, ABC, Go West, Charlotte Church, Lemar, Michael Bublé, Will Young, King Salsa, Rhian Benson, Lulu, Emma Bunton, Jools Holland, Cathy Dennis, Melanie C, Kelly Clarkson, Midge Ure, Jamelia, Mica Paris, Ronan Keating, The BBC Big Band, Cubana Bop, Manu Katché, Dominic Miller, Snowboy and Matt Bianco.

In addition, Graeme is a member of the Funk/Soul band Down To The Bone, Latin/Funk/Soul band Saravah Soul, Funk band Most Wanted, the freelance horn section The London Horns and the musical project Motimba.

For details of venue, date and times, click here for poster

This year saw virtual judging being held in the prestigious South & South East In-bloom Awards and the Council rose above competition from hundreds of entrants to pick up four gold awards.

Sunbury, Ashford and Staines Cemeteries all picked up gold awards in the same category. The ever-popular Sunbury Walled Garden also struck gold in the Small Park competition. This matches their successes from 2019.

The judges' comments read: "The Walled Garden is a valuable asset in training and developing horticulturists. The Council, staff and volunteers can rightly feel pleased and proud of their involvement, contribution to the management and maintenance of an outstanding walled garden. Congratulations and well done! You clearly deserve the Gold Award."

The following is a very welcome Council press release dated 17th September:

As part of Spelthorne Borough Council’s continued drive to improve community safety, a new, modern CCTV camera has been installed at Orchard Meadow car park in Sunbury.

The camera will be monitored 24/7 along with cameras in Staines-upon-Thames town centre and elsewhere in the Borough.

The installation was arranged in response to concerns regarding anti-social behaviour in the area. The Council will continue to listen to residents’ concerns and, where necessary, take action to help combat anti-social behaviour. We are also taking feedback from our Community Safety consultation earlier this year in order to formulate a strategy for the future.

Cllr Richard Barratt, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety, said: “We want to reassure residents that anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated in Spelthorne. We hope that installing this modern CCTV camera will act as a deterrent as footage will be used to identify any perpetrators. All of us have a responsibility to deal with anti-social behaviour and to help people who are suffering because it. If you have any concerns about anti-social behaviour, contact your community safety team or call the non-emergency number, 101.”

If you wish to report fly tipping, graffiti, anti-social behaviour, noise pollution or dog fouling, please contact the Council direct.

If you have concerns about other forms of crime, please call police on 101. In an emergency, always dial 999.

Following the success of a similar event in August, where 80 stalls took part in just one week, a similar event is planned for Saturday 26th September.

The feedback from the last Jumble Trail was very encouraging. It should be remembered that social distancing rules (however they may apply on the day) must be observed.

It is free to have a stall or follow the trail. Join the facebook group to view photos of the stalls on the day and get alerts about the event.

facebook.com/groups/sunburyjumbletrail

Along with other residents' associations across the Borough, LoSRA was invited by the Leader of Spelthorne Council to take part in the newly formed Residents' Forum on 21st September. A fairly detailed list of concerns was submitted in advance by our Chairman and, unsurprisingly, many of those concerns were shared Borough-wide.

The following is an extract from the email which has now been received by our Chairman:

"Thank you for confirming to wish to join our Residents Forum and for clarifying details of your priorities of concerns.

"We have in the first instance established, as was expected, that there are a number of shared concerns and of course some more individual to your communities. I am able to clarify the priorities that have emerged as follows:

1. Local Plan (including preserving green belt land within your community)
2. Proposals for Unitary Authority
3. HGV Traffic
4. Regeneration of and Promoting & Supporting your High Street
5. 20 MPH Speed Limits
    

Other individual issues raised:

1. Ward Councillors Not Supporting Residents
2. Police Authority
3. Anti-Social Behaviour
4. Studios Expansion – Increased Traffic Flow
5. Eco Park
6. Youth Provision
7. Climate change
8. Active Travel Plans
9. Housing Policy – Increasing Developers contribution of Affordable Housing
10. Poor conditions of Footpaths
11. Litter along Main Roads – Removal of Shrubbery
12. Parking 

"It has been helpful to establish these priorities and there will be an opportunity for us to at the very least discuss your collective concerns at our first meeting."

Simon Allen began his career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Pendulum Jazz Orchestra, performing alongside the likes of Jazz Stars Art Themen, Gerard Presencer, Jamie Cullum and Peter King.

After being a winner in the Daily Telegraph ‘Young Jazz’ competition, and a finalist in the ‘Young Jazz Musician of the Year’, Simon gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, and was selected to join UK drummer Clark Tracey's acclaimed Quintet, winning further awards and touring the UK over 7 years.

Simon is also a member of the Laurence Cottle All Star Big Band, and works with Colin Towns Mask Orchestra for the Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Matthew Herbert Big Band.

To see poster and booking arrangements, click here. Please note, pre-booking is essential as no cash can be taken on the door.

To see latest newsletter with programme of upcoming events, click here

For everyone who knew Dennis Brock, his funeral will take place on Tuesday 25th August at 12 noon at St Mary's Church, Sunbury.

It will be a private family funeral but it will be live-streamed on St Mary's fb page (details including order of service are here).