Football is the nation's No.1 female team participation sport and currently has 1.38m women and girls up and down the country playing the game regularly.

Sport England’s Active People survey in 2011 highlighted that 275,300 adult women play some form of football in England. This demonstrates that women's football is now the third largest team sport behind only men's football and men's cricket. Indeed, FIFA has recently confirmed that there are 29m females playing football across the world.

It's vital that young girls are introduced to football from a young age if they hope to succeed in the adult game, or, if only for the enjoyment of it and for the fitness benefits that the game confers.

Here in Sunbury we are very lucky to have the Kempton Girls Football Club which is offering mini football to 5 - 11 year old girls on Saturday mornings. To see the flier, click here

The latest Trading Standards Alert may be viewed by clicking here

LOSRA has today seen documentary proof that Linden Homes will now be proceeding with the development of 28 homes on the Police College Site in Green Street.

Readers will remember that the developers successfully appealed against a decision to refuse the development of 44 units but have nevertheless decided to proceed with the lower density development. (see articles for 14/9/12; 27/9/12; 25/10/12 & 16/22/12).

This news comes as an enormous relief to us and to all our members who fought so hard against what we perceived to be an over-development of the site.

Readers will remember the articles published on this Site on 24th July and 31st August 2012 regarding the application by Andrew Roberts to convert to parkland, the Jolly Boatman Riverbank at Hampton Court. In a most unexpected step, Elmbridge Planning Officers used their delegated powers to approve the application. Nevertheless, and despite this, application has been made to Elbridge Council for the part demolition of the Hampton Court Railway Station. Whilst not within the LOSRA geographical area, we along with all neighbouring residents' associations, are adding our support in the campaign to save this important heritage asset but time is running short and you are urged to view the following short video and submit your comments.

Surrey Police are taking over an empty retail unit next Saturday and Sunday the 19th & 20th January to try and reunite owners with bicycles that are believed to have been stolen in north Surrey and borders. If your bike has been lost or stolen you are invited to come along and see if your bike is among the 50 on display. The retail unit is situated in at the bus station end of the Elmsleigh Centre in Staines-Upon-Thames and will be manned by the police from 10am to 4pm each day.

Detective Constable Paul Rennison said: "We have reviewed crimes in north Surrey and just over the border in the Thames Valley and Metropolitan Police areas but have been unable to link these bicycles to any burglaries or thefts. I would urge anyone whose bike has been lost or stolen to come along and check whether theirs is among those on display.

Anyone coming along on the day is asked to bring any documentation they have about their bicycle and any police crime reference numbers they have if it has been reported as stolen property.

If you are unable to attend on either of these days but have had a bike stolen which you have not reported to the police, then please call 101 to report the theft with a detailed description of the bicycle, including a serial number if possible."

For the latest Surrey County Council alert from Trading Standards click here

Modern, with a hint of medieval - that is the promise made by Gill Lambourn, the director of the Shakespearean classic. Gill has been researching other performances of the Play and taking inspiration from their costumes, staging and production to put on a dynamic and modern performance of the 16th century drama.

Ms Lambourn said: "I have tried to make a modern and dynamic production, and easy for people to follow. Without cutting it would have been over three hours long, so I have shortened it a bit."

Costumes for the 21 strong cast include full-length coats and there are several fight scenes in the play, to be staged at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street. The Play will run from Wednesday 30th January at 7pm until Saturday 2nd February. Tickets cost £10 and may be purchased from the box office on 07505 206757.

As an active campaigner against the installation of an incinerator in Charlton Lane, LOSRA is encouraged to report that Spelthorne Council this week applied to the High Court to have a Judicial Review of the Environment Agency decision to grant a permit for the Eco Park in Charlton Lane, Shepperton.

This was because the Council has concerns about pollution and safety issues and the deadline to request a review was imminent.The Council took legal advice following the announcement of the Environment Agency on 8 October 2012 that it had issued a permit to the planned Eco Park.

The Council sought advice on various matters concerning the process by which the permit was issued and the matters which were taken into account by the Environment Agency. On 14 December 2012 the Council wrote to the Environment Agency asking for answers on the following issues:

• The legality of the conditions imposed.

• Whether the permit satisfies the requirements of EU law.

• Whether the Environment Agency’s approach to the adoption of this novel technology is permissible given experience elsewhere and the requirements of EU law.
  
  

On the basis of the answers the Council may receive, it will then consider whether it should continue with the Judicial Review of the Environment Agency’s decision to issue a permit.

Council Leader Frank Ayers said: “Issues of safety are high among the Council’s priorities.This move is obviously not something which we wish to take on lightly, but when the Council received legal advice that the permit appeared to allow pollution from vents at three times the level permitted under EU law – we had to take action to protect our residents.“The decision to act was made after consultation with the Cabinet Members for Environment and Planning – Cllrs Watts and Forsbrey. We look forward to the response of the EA and we hope that our concerns for residents’ safety can be satisfied without the need for expensive drawn-out litigation in the High Court”.

Further information and documents relating to the Eco Park can be found on our website at http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/2760/Eco-Park-proposal

By way of further explanation it may be helpful to explain that on Monday this week, 7 January 2013, the Council issued High Court proceedings for a Judicial Review of the Environment Agency decision to grant a permit to the Eco Park in Charlton Lane Shepperton.The formal “letter before action” delivered to the High Court is a required part of the process to make an application for a Judicial Review under the rules of the High Court.

The Environment Agency has not responded to these points yet but has indicated that it will be able to do so by 18 January 2013.  In order to protect its position the Council was forced to issue papers with the High Court in London yesterday as the deadline for the Judicial review ran out on 8 January 2013.

SITA (Surrey) Ltd and Surrey County Council are interested parties to the Judicial Review and have been sent formal copies of the letter before action.

To see the BBC News story, "Shepperton Eco Park may face judicial review", click here.

A Happy New Year is extended to all and Sunbury Cricket Club brings a fun night of music to ward to ward off the January depression. The first one of the New Year is on Friday 18th January when SCC welcomes back The Good Old Boys, who made their Club debut just about a year ago and gave us a great evening.

They feature a formidable array of experienced performers from a variety of big name bands, led by Nick Simper (bass/vocals) who first played professionally with Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, going on to play with The Flowerpot Men before becoming a founder member of Deep Purple.

After he left Purple, he played with Marsha Hunt, that band morphing into Warhorse, who made albums for Vertigo. After Warhorse, he went on to form Flying Fox and then Fandango.

Peter Parks (guitar/vocals) was also in Warhorse,and then stayed with through the Fandango era in the ‘80s. Simon Bishop (guitar/vocals) toured with Renaissance, High Society, and The Monks (of “Nice Legs, Shame About The Face” fame), while Richard Hudson (drums/vocals) had been a long-time member of the south-west London scene as percussionist with high profile hit-makers The Strawbs and then Hudson Ford. He was also with Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, High Society and The Monks; Alan Barratt (lead singer) was with the British band Jo Jo Gunne and has worked alongside the likes of Chip Hawkes (Tremelos) and Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers.

It goes without saying that they are a top class outfit and we know from their last gig that the contrasting lead guitar styles of Peter and Simon makes for a really entertaining range of rock, blues, R&B and country material and we very much look forward to seeing them again. Doors open at 8.30, entrance £7.50.

There’s more info athttp://www.myspace.com/thegoodoldboysofficialmyspace, http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/related/gob/gob.asp and www.nicksimper.com

As our regular readers will be aware, Thames 21 extended its remit to include the non-tidal reaches of the Thames and will again be coming to Sunbury Lock Island on Sunday 27th January from 10am - 1pm. This location is a charming part of the Lower Sunbury riverscape and we are being asked to join a team to give it a clean-up.

Volunteers are needed to help with removing litter and managing the vegetation. It will also be a great opportunity to learn about the environment, spot wildlife and meet new people. Volunteers are asked to report to the footbridge ahead of the lock at 10am. Old clothes recommended but all necessary equipment will be provided.

Details of the public events are also on the Thame21 website www.thames21.org.uk/events/

Luke Damerum of Thames 21 adds "Additional events may be added as we develop the winter programme so watch this space and please feel free to offer up any ideas and new contacts. I very much look forward to meeting you and your friends at these events."