Welcome to the LOSRA Website
As with any other local neighbourhood, the policies and actions which affect the character and future of Lower Sunbury are generally framed and implemented by a combination of local and national government, along with the vested interests and market forces which operate within those frameworks. Lower Sunbury is by no means unique in being under threat from a creaking infrastructure brought about by rapid urban development, the growth of traffic, and other pressures affecting the quality of life and the character of the area.
Working with the local authorities, we see it as the responsibility of residents’ and amenity groups such as LOSRA to address the underlying issues which fundamentally affect their members’ lives, as well as the minutiae of everyday life with which such groups are often concerned.
Please sign up to receive our regular e-bulletins by subscribing via the facility at the top left hand of this page. It goes without saying that, without your continued support we would cease to function so we urge you to join, or renew your membership now Subscriptions (£5 per household) for 2024 are now payable.
Congratulations Shepperton!
Shepperton named UK’s most courteous town
It’s official, Shepperton townsfolk are the politest people in the country.
Officials from the National Campaign for Courtesy have announced Shepperton as ‘Top Town for 2017’ after scouring the country for towns which demonstrate the charity’s commitment to good manners, respect for others, courtesy to all and rejection of anti-social behaviour.
Established in 1986, the National Campaign for Courtesy works to encourage us all to be more friendly, considerate and respectful of each other and our environment. Previous award winners include Skipton, Epsom, Shrewsbury and Ilfracombe.
Local councillor Cllr Robin Sider BEM who nominated Shepperton for the award explained why he thought the town deserved to be recognised: “When I made the nomination I submitted everything I knew about Shepperton, it ambience and its community, and how friendly and courteous all our shopkeepers are. You can imagine how thrilled I am about this; it reflects everything that is good about our shops, our residents, our history, our Village Fair and Big Tree Night, not to mention the welcome everyone receives when visiting Shepperton.”
The Top Town award will be presented at a ceremony in October.
For more details about the National Campaign for Courtesy visit www.campaignforcourtesy.org.uk
Sunbury parks awarded Green Flag status
Spelthorne Borough Council is delighted to announce that the Sunbury Walled Garden and Sunbury Park have been awarded Green Flag status.
The parks are among a record-breaking 1,797 UK parks and green spaces to receive the prestigious Green Flag Award – the mark of a quality park or green space. This international award, now into its third decade, is a sign to the public that the space boasts the highest possible environmental standards, is beautifully maintained and has excellent visitor facilities.
The historic Walled Garden in Sunbury Park was built in the early part of the 18th Century. Following years of neglect, Spelthorne Council embarked on a restoration project of the two acre garden in 1985. Now home to over 200 varieties of clematis, this ‘hidden gem’ provides a tranquil spot all year round. Free music concerts are being held in the Walled Garden during July and August – visit www.spelthorne.gov.uk/music for details.
Weybridge Hospital Fire – Help and Advice
The following email from Glynis McDonald, NHS North West Surrey Clinical Commissionaing Group, has been received by LOSRA and is published here for the information of residents:
We would really appreciate your help in cascading the following information wherever relevant following the Weybridge fire:
A helpline has been set up: 0203 297 7252
For specific queries relating to community services provided by CSH: Surrey please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Our latest media statements giving further information, particularly for information relating to the two GP practices who were based in Weybridge can also be found here: http://www.nwsurreyccg.nhs.uk/Pages/default.aspx
Latest updates can also be followed via our Twitter feed: @NWSurreyCCG
Highways Customer Panel Survey for July 2017
The following self-explanatory email from Surrey Highways has been received by LOSRA:
Dear Sir / Madam,
The Highways Customer Panel survey for July 2017 is now available for you to complete.
Please follow this link Customer Panel survey to access the survey and follow the on screen instructions to take you through the process. The survey will run until 15th August 2017.
Your responses will be collated into a report which will be published on the Highways Customer Panel web pages by the end of September 2017.
We would like to thank you for taking the time to complete the survey, we look forward to reviewing your responses.
Kind regards,
Clare Johnson
Surrey Highways
Tel: 0300 200 1003
Council Invitation for Public to Attend Committee Meeting on Community Recycling Centres
The following self-explanatory letter inviting the attendance of residents at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee has been received by LOSRA. It will be noted that pre-submitted written questions, which must be submitted by 21st July, are invited.
Please reply to:
Contact: Gillian Hobbs
Service: Committee Services
Direct line: 01784 444243
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Our ref: OS/31/7
Date: 13 July 2017
Dear Sir/Madam,
Extraordinary Overview and Scrutiny Committee – 31 July 2017
Surrey County Council’s proposals for changes to Community recycling centres and their wider implications for the Borough
In response to concerns from the public about Surrey County Council’s consultation on proposed changes to Community recycling centres, Spelthorne Borough Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee has arranged an Extraordinary meeting to discuss those changes and the wider implications for the Borough.
Residents and interested parties from the local area are invited to attend this Committee meeting being held at 7.30 p.m on Monday 31 July 2017 in the Council Chamber, Spelthorne Borough Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames.
Members of the public are invited to observe the Committee meeting and at the discretion of the Chairman may be invited to ask questions. These should be sent to me by email or letter in advance of the meeting, and in any case by Friday 21 July 2017. Whilst the Chairman may invite you to put your question at the meeting, no-one will be called on to comment who has not submitted their question in advance.
The meeting will be chaired by Councillor Colin Davis from Spelthorne Borough Council. Representatives of Surrey County Council have been invited to attend.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Gillian Hobbs, Principal Committee Manager
Sunbury Health Centre - Latest Newsletter
The Sunbury Health Centre group practice 2017 summer newsletter has just been published and may be viewed by clicking here
More...
Oak Processionary Moth Alert!
The oak processionary moth is a risk to human health. The larvae (caterpillars) are covered in irritating hairs that contain a toxin and contact with these hairs, or their inhalation, can result in skin irritation and allergic reactions. These problems are significant because the moth is often most abundant on urban trees, along forest edges and in amenity woodlands. Oak processionary moth is a native species of central and southern Europe, where it is widely distributed, but its range has been expanding northwards, presumably in response to climate change. It is now firmly established in northern France and the Netherlands, and has been reported from southern Sweden. More recently, colonies of larvae have been found in parts of London.
Their hairs can cause unpleasant skin, eye and throat irritations in people and animals.
You can help the Forrestry Commission control this pest so we can all continue to safely enjoy our parks and woodlands.
Please tell the Forrestry Commission if you see:
- processions or clusters of caterpillars in oak trees; or
- silken webbing trails or nests on the trunks or branches of oak trees
Remember to:
- keep away from the caterpillars and nests
- call NHS111 or see a doctor or vet for serious allergic reactions.
Nests or caterpillars in other trees are unlikely to be OPM and do not need to be reported.
Report OPM with Tree Alert at forestry.gov.uk/opm or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0300 067 4442
Eco Park - Update on progress
For the latest information from Suez on the ‘Eco Park’ development, click here
Invitation to Sunbury Cricket Club Summer BBQ
SUMMER BBQ PLEASE COME ALONG AND SUPPORT OUR SUMMER BBQ - SATURDAY 15th JULY
FOOD: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
LIVE MUSIC: 8:30pm
TICKETS: £10 PER HEAD (£6 for U14s) - available from The Bar, Dave Smith, Karl Burgess
River Thames Scheme - Presentation to LOSRA AGM
At our AGM on 21st June we were very fortunate to have welcomed from the Environment Agency, Justine Glynn, Community Resilience Advisor, and Emma Booth, a chartered civil engineer who gave us an up-to-date presentation on the River Thames Scheme and its likely effect on the Lower Sunbury area. Justine offered to make available a copy of the slides that she and Emma used for the presentation.
BIG STEAM Comes to Sunbury Cricket Club on Friday 7th July
The next Music Night falls on Friday 7th July when the Cricket Club welcomes BIG STEAM. Most of the members of Big Steam are familiar faces at the Club as they were formerly in The Others, the R&B band which was formed at Hampton Grammar School in the 60s, and were signed to the Fontana label, also taking over as the house band at Richmond’s Crawdaddy Club in the wake of the Rolling Stones and Yardbirds. They re-formed a few years ago and have done some excellent gigs at the Club.
They have undergone one or two changes over the last year or so, the main one being the addition of another former Hampton School contemporary, lead guitarist and singer Tim Staffel, who boasts a fascinating musical heritage, in that he was a member of the group Smile, the first group formed by Brian May of Queen when he was at Imperial College, with Roger Taylor, and which recorded briefly for the Mercury label. It was Tim who introduced Freddie Mercury to the band before he left to join Humpy Bong, although one of Tim’s songs, co-written with Brian, was on Queen’s first album.
As a result of Tim’s arrival, the musical profile has broadened from its hard-edged R&B base to include some original material, and having made their debut at last summer’s Ealing Blues Festival, they had done a couple of mini-tours in Europe in the last couple of months, so it promises to be an interesting and entertaining evening.
Food will be available as usual, and tickets for next month’s Hamilton Loomis gig will be on sale.
Another Great Evening of Jazz Coming up at the RAC on 9th July
The Riverside Arts Centre in Thames Street is fast becoming an established venue for monthly Sunday night jazz. Mood Indigo Events, the organisers, is a not-for-profit partnership set up and run by Janet McCunn and Terence Collie to put on and promote high quality jazz events in South West London.
On Sunday, 9th July the RAC will host a tribute to the great American saxophonist, Dexter Gordon featuring:
- Paul Young – saxophone
- Terence Collie – piano
- Paul Michael – bass
- Ted Carrasco – drums
Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Association Presents Arts Festival 2017, 15th – 23rd July
Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Association exists to foster artistic taste and to promote the knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the arts amongst those people living in Sunbury, Shepperton and surrounding areas.
Run entirely by unpaid volunteers SSAA has pleasure in promoting its annual Arts Festival from 15th – 23rd July.
For full details of the very varied programme of events, click here: http://www.ssaa-arts.org/
Benwell Community Centre Summer Fete and Open day, Friday 14th July 2017, 10am – 3pm
Having fought a long battle to maintain this Centre for the benefit of Sunbury Residents, we are delighted to forward this invitation to our website:
“Come and join us at the friendly Benwell centre for our summer fete, featuring various stalls, our line dancers will be performing and weather permitting BBQ and Pimms. We are raising money for our social funds to continue with events, parties and outings. We want to help combat loneliness and isolation.
“Benwell Centre is based within Mitchison Court, with easy access from Sunbury Station or by bus routes, 216, 235, 555, 557 and all have stops close by.
Benwell Centre, Downside, Sunbury-On-Thames, TW16 6RT 01932-784232
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For more information about the Benwell Centre and its programme of activities, visit: https://spelthorne.gov.uk/ benwellcentre
