LOSRA

Not literally an invitation of course; merely an announcement of a forthcoming production by the Manor Players who will be staging the Hitchcock play about a psychology professor who sets the scene for murder when he offers married couples the opportunity to have a spouse killed.

Anyone for Murder will be staged at the Riverside Arts Centre from Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th February. Performances will start at 8pm with tickets priced at £8. For tickets or more information call 07771 458696.

Following the success of the Farmers' Market on 23rd January (see article posted 20th Jan), the Market will return to Shepperton on Saturdays 20th February and 20th March. It will be held in the same place, the Village Hall Car Park between 9am - 2pm.

LOSRA received a number of positive comments from residents supporting the idea of Lower Sunbury hosting a market. We have noted these comments and will be liaising with the Lower Sunbury Business Community to hear their views. In the meantime, if you will be going on 20th, do get in touch via the 'Contact LOSRA' button to share your impressions.

In a damming report published last week the GLA Environment Committee said that the conditions the Government put in place to limit the impact of a third runway at Heathrow on noise, air pollution and emissions were ‘not fit for purpose’. The all-party report calls for fundamental changes to the conditions.

When the Government last year gave BAA the green light to draw up detailed plans for a third runway it said that use of the runway would be limited unless it met key environmental conditions. It said that the size of the 57 decibel contour should be no larger than it was in 2002; that air pollution levels should stay within the European Union legal limits; and that CO2 emissions should be consistent with the Government’s reduction targets. These three conditions would be monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority, the Environment Agency, and the Committee on Climate Change, respectively.

The GLA report says it has “grave concerns” about “all aspects” of the conditions. It calls on the Government and BAA to set out clear strategies on how air pollution and emissions will be reduced before any expansion can ever even be considered. It is unconvinced about the Government’s belief that the much-vaunted ‘green planes’ will be able to play a key role in cutting air pollution and emissions.

It is dismissive of the Government’s noise target. It argues that it should have been based on a more recent year than 2002 to prevent the distorting effects of Concorde. It also criticises the method the Government has used to measure noise, arguing it should use the up-to-date method required by the European Union.

The report also criticises the number of bodies that will be involved in monitoring the conditions: “no less than three government departments, two quangos and a Committee all charged with overseeing the various environmental aspects.”

John Stewart, Chair of HACAN, who gave evidence to the Committee, said, “This report is scathing about the so-called environmental conditions that the Government said a third runway should meet. It is hardly surprising since many of these conditions were cobbled together to prevent a split in Cabinet. This report is another nail in the coffin of a third runway.”

The Lower Sunbury Neighbourhood Team Police Report for the month of January may be viewed by clicking here.

How cheering it is to publish an item which tells us that Spring is just round the corner. The Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Association is delighted to announce its Coffee Concerts for Spring 2010. To view the poster advertising the details, click here.

Today is the closing date for the receipt of letters objecting to the London Irish applications. However, informal enquiries with the Planning Office indicate that late submissions will still be considered for those who have not yet written in; and that a few days grace will be allowed. The Chairman has made his representations on behalf of the Association as a whole, and his submissions may be viewed below:

• Letter of objection to Hazelwood application (Microsoft Word format)
  
• Letter of objection to Hazelwood application (Adobe Acrobat format)
  

• Letter of objection to The Avenue application (Microsoft Word format)
  
• Letter of objection to The Avenue application (Adobe Acrobat format)
  

Readers may recall the reports on this Site (3rd, 10th & 11th November 2008) which drew attention to development plans for the Hampton Court Station and Jolly Boatman site. A request to have a public inquiry was denied by the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears; and the application, having been approved by Elmbridge Council, is now the subject of application for judicial review.

Whilst not within the strict geographical remit of this Association, the site, and its implications for impairing the visual impact of Hampton Court Palace is a matter of both local and national concern.

LOSRA is pleased to support HCRC by publishing this on-line petition which is self-explanatory; and all residents are urged to view it and sign up. This will take but a few moments of your time.

Click here for the online petition