The 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta is being celebrated in style along the borough’s stretch of the River Thames on 13 June.

Everyone’s invited to enjoy a joint river spectacle featuring a flotilla from Sunbury to Staines-upon-Thames, taking in Shepperton Village fair and culminating in a free Medieval community celebration at its destination.

Click here for further details

People in parts of London and Surrey are being reminded not to touch the caterpillars of the oak processionary moth (OPM), which are now emerging in oak trees in these areas.

They are also advised to keep children and animals away from the caterpillars and their nests, because the caterpillars’ hairs can cause itching skin rashes and other health problems. Residents are also being asked to report any sightings.

Affected areas include: several boroughs in West and South-West London; Bromley and Croydon and southern parts of Lewisham in South London; and Elmbridge and Spelthorne in Surrey.

OPM caterpillars are a tree pest which were accidentally introduced to Britain. They feed on oak leaves, and in large numbers they can severely defoliate trees and leave them vulnerable to other pests and diseases.

Their tiny hairs contain a protein which can cause itchy skin rashes and, less frequently, eye and throat irritations and breathing difficulties in people and animals. The hairs can be blown on the wind, and left in their nests in and under oak trees. The greatest risk period is May to July, although nests should not be approached at any time.

The Forestry Commission, councils and land managers are tackling the pest with a carefully controlled programme of tree treatment and nest removal. Ian Gambles, the Forestry Commission's Director England, said the public could play an important role in helping to control the pest by reporting sightings, but advised caution: “We need reports of the caterpillars or their nests from the public or others, such as gardeners, tree surgeons and ground-care workers, who work or relax near oak trees,” he said.

“However, they should not try to remove the caterpillars or nests themselves. This needs to be carefully timed to be effective, and is most safely done by specially trained and equipped operators.”

Dr Deborah Turbitt, Deputy Regional Director for Health Protection, London, endorsed the ‘don’t touch’ advice, saying: “We strongly advise people not to touch or approach the caterpillars or their nests because of the health risks posed by the hairs. Pets can also be affected, and should be kept away as well. The Forestry Commission website has pictures to help identify the pest.

“See a pharmacist for relief from milder skin or eye irritations following possible OPM contact, or consult a GP or NHS111 for more-serious reactions. Contact a vet if animals are affected. We have issued advice to local GPs and health professionals to help them identify when patients have been affected by the caterpillars and to advise them on appropriate treatment.”

Trees are treated by fully qualified operators under strict health, safety and environmental controls to ensure it is safe for people and animals.

• Sightings must be reported to the Forestry Commission, preferably with its Tree Alert on-line form available from www.forestry.gov.uk/opm.
• Maps of the ‘core’ and ‘control’ areas are available in the oak tree owners’ manual at www.forestry.gov.uk/opmmanual.
• Health advice is available from the “Insects that bite or sting” area of the NHS Choices website, www.nhs.uk/livewell.
• Working on oak trees – Anyone having oak trees pruned or felled in the affected areas must contact the Forestry Commission’s Plant Health Service beforehand on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0300 067 5155 for advice about safe removal of the material.

Further information is available from www.forestry.gov.uk/opm.

From the article published on this site on 30th December, many residents will be aware that an appeal had already been submitted following the refusal of planning permission for application 14/00322/FUL.

The Association has now been advised that another appeal has been submitted following the refusal of planning permission for application 14/02189/FUL. The Planning Inspectorate has decided that both appeals will be heard together at an informal Hearing on 23rd and 24th June at 10am to be held at the Council Offices, Knowle Green.

Residents who have previously objected to either or both of these applications should have been notified separately. If you have not been contacted before and wish to make representations to the Planning Inspector, this should be done in writing to the Planning Inspectorate, Room 3/06 Temple Quay House, 2, The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6PN, quoting the inspectorate appeal reference numbers: APP/Z3635/W/15/3009449 in respect of 14/02189/FUL; or APP/Z3635/W/14/3000993 in respect of 14/00322/FUL.

Any comments or representations must be submitted in writing and in triplicate by 26th May. (This antediluvian method of communicating with the Planning Inspectorate is still current practice it would seem!).

The next music night at the SCC falls on Friday 15th May, when they welcome back the 60s All Stars Band who pioneered their Music Nights four years ago, and are firm favourites at the Club.

The band will need very little introduction to most of you, featuring Mick Avory, the original drummer from the Kinks, guitarist Alan Lovell, who is still playing with the Swinging Blue Jeans, bass guitarist John Dee from The Foundations, and guitarist Del Mandel, who was with Crispian St. Peters and also played with George Harrison’s band.  

They are one of the very best of the ‘60s revival bands on the circuit, and guarantee a hugely entertaining evening of beat era classics as they draw on their amazing repertoire – challenge them with a request for something really obscure – It's never beaten them yet. The cricket season is now well under way, so bring friends along and make it a real early summer party night.

The saga of this untried, untested, unnecessary and unwanted monstrosity lumbers on, with Surrey County Council (SCC) brushing aside valid technical objections. Delays to the planning process have, however, caused the contractor to call for a revision of the pricing and construction timetable.  This, in turn, has made SCC revisit affordability and value for money aspects.  Unfortunately this value for money examination was carried out behind closed doors, despite many relevant questions posed by LOSRA and Spelthorne Against the Eco Park (SATEP) members.

The value for money report was reviewed by SCC’s Cabinet on 28th April and passed, despite the estimated cost rocketing by £16M in the past 18 months.  LOSRA and SATEP believe that there are simpler and cheaper methods of disposing of waste, and so does the contractor SITA!  Watch:

SCC and SITA, its waste consultants, are still insisting that the technology is ‘gasification’ despite Ofgem’s definition that it can’t possibly be.  Two possible reasons for this stubbornness; if the definition is changed to incineration rather than gasification the original planning consent is void and the whole thing goes back to the beginning, and gasification attracts three times the subsidy for electricity generation over straightforward incineration (think windfarms and solar panels).  Gasification is the Holy Grail of the waste disposal business, and at present it’s just as unattainable especially on a site as small as the Community Recycling Centre at Charlton Lane.

Click here to read a recent Private Eye article giving a whistleblower's account on the monitoring of highly toxic particulate emissions caused by incineration.

The Rotary Club of Shepperton and Sunbury will be holding a tutored wine tasting event with Richard Black on Sunday 17th May at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street. The event will include a charity raffle, quiz with prizes, and a light buffet supper. For further details and booking, click here