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.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend's Urgent Survey Reminder
The following email has been forwarded to LOSRA and we are pleased to reproduce it here:
Thank you to all of the individuals who have already shared the link to this year’s council tax survey from our Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey Lisa Townsend.
The survey is an important chance for local residents to share their views on the amount of council tax that they will pay in 2024/25 towards the Surrey Police budget that, together with a grant from central government, will fund the service they receive in Surrey from April.
There is still time for Surrey residents who have not yet had their say, to complete our survey by 30 January at https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/3BJ307/
If you haven’t done so already, we would greatly appreciate it if all local councillors could promote the survey using the above link to their constituents, so that we can maximise the number of local residents who are able to share their views. Every comment they leave is read by our team and will help to inform the priorities for Surrey Police during the year ahead.
The survey contains four questions and can be completed in five minutes. I have also attached a copy of the survey and our council tax FAQ that can be completed offline and either sent back to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., posted by contacting us for a prepaid envelope or available in an easy-read version on request. The survey is also available in a number of different languages at https://www.surrey-pcc.gov.uk/performance/council-tax/
Please do let me know if you have any questions - we appreciate your support.
Many thanks,
James Smith
Communications and Engagement Officer
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey
John Etheridge, Guitar, Joins the Terence Collie Trio on 4th February at the RAC
John Etheridge rightly enjoys a glowing reputation throughout the jazz world and beyond and has been described by Pat Metheny as, "One of the best guitarists".
He is a prodigiously gifted and creative player whose approach to music can only be described as 'eclectic' as he refuses to accommodate or even acknowledge artificial musical boundaries.
His range is well illustrated by his years of touring and recording with the iconic Stephane Grappelli while simultaneously doing likewise with the legendary jazz-fusion group, The Soft Machine.
John is equally at home on acoustic and electric guitar and his willingness to engage with so many styles is matched by his ability to excel in any of them.
He has played with John Williams, Yehudi Menuhin, Dizzie Gillespie, Herb Ellis, Mundell Lowe, Nigel Kennedy, Pat Metheny, Birelli Lagrene, Barney Kessel, Vic Juris and countless others.
John's ability as an outstanding composer is sometimes overlooked but he is often under pressure from audiences to feature more of his own material.
John joins the Terence Collie Trio on Sunday, 4th February at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street.
Please Support the Bid by LIARFC to Retain Hazelwood Centre
The London Irish Amateur Rugby Football Club (LIARFC) and Brentford Football Club Community Sports Trust (Brentford Sports Trust) have submitted a joint letter of Intent to the Administrators of London Irish Holdings (LIH) setting out their intention to purchase the Hazelwood site and place it in a Community Owned Trust for the benefit of future generations. The letter has been received positively by both the Administrator and DCMS (Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) / Sport England, and they are in the process of organising some direct talks with them to progress their bid.
The LIARFC bid is very much about preserving Hazelwood for amateur sports and community use. The thriving mini rugby section for both boys and girls is renowned throughout the southeast of England and beyond. In addition, the most recent facility for community use, parkrun, is positive, welcoming and inclusive. There is no time limit and no one finishes last. (parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. parkrun is 5k and takes place every Saturday morning. junior parkrun is 2k, dedicated to 4-14 year olds and their families, every Sunday morning).
The future of the Hazelwood Centre has been discussed at our Committee and we unanimously support LIARFC's bid.
We are aware of a competing bid from a football club with ambitions for promotion and which may require exclusive use of the site; and which may have little or no benefit accruing for the local community.
Comments from our readers would be most welcome.
60s All Stars Return to the SCC on 26th January
The next Music Night comes round very quickly and is next week on Friday 26th January, when Sunbury Cricket Club welcomes back THE 60s ALL STARS for a long overdue visit – they haven’t played at the Club since the spring of 2022, because it’s been hard to pin down a date.
They played at our the Club's first Music Night back in 2010, and it’s always great to welcome them, as we know a proper rave-up can be guaranteed with a rip-roaring evening of wall-to-wall beat era classics, and they have always been one of the Club'smost popular attractions.
Their line-up for this gig comprises Alan Lovell of The Swinging Blue Jeans on guitar and vocals, the ever-popular Robin Bibi, also on guitar and vocals, Roger Flavell, formerly with Geno Washington and others on bass, and Mick Avory, original drummer with The Kinks. Put this one in the diary and get a gang of friends together,
Hot food, prepared by resident caterers Surplus To Supper, will be available as usual from about 6.30pm, with the band on stage around 8.30 pm or soon after.
Admission is £10.00 on the door, payable by cash or card.
Planning Enforcement - Questions Answered
Following a planning enforcement question at a recent meeting for residents associations led by the Leader of the Council, their Communications Team, in liaison with the Planning Enforcement team, included an e form for reporting a planning enforcement issue on the `Report’ tab on the front page of the website.
The Council has forwarded a document that explains how the team prioritises suspected breaches of planning regulations, the various ways to report concerns and a link to some frequently asked questions.
Spelthorne Youth Award
The following Council email has been received by LOSRA and we are pleased to reproduce it here:
Do you know a special young person aged between five and 19 years of age who is living or receiving education within Spelthorne and deserves recognition for their achievements? You may wish to nominate them for a Spelthorne Youth Award!
We are looking for nominations for the following categories:
- unselfishness, kindness and bravery
- personal achievement
- community spirit
- outstanding academic achievement
- arts achievement (including performing arts)
- sports achievement
- triumph over adversity
Anyone can nominate a young person for an award. All young people nominated will be made aware of their nominations and then short listed for an award. The top nominees from each category will be invited to a special awards ceremony and presented with a certificate and prize from the Mayor of Spelthorne. The deadline for nominations this year is Friday 9 February 2024.
The Mayor of Spelthorne, Cllr Denise Saliagopoulous, said: "The Spelthorne Youth Awards are about recognising and celebrating inspirational young people within our wonderful Borough. If you know a special young person who has excelled in a particular field, made a big difference to their local community, overcome very challenging circumstances or shown exceptional personal qualities, then we would love to hear about them and their achievements."
Further information and nominations can be made online at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/youthawards.
More...
Nashville Teens to Perform at SCC Music Night, 12th January
The first Music Night of the New Year at Sunbury CC is on Friday 12th January, when the Club welcomes back THE NASHVILLE TEENS in their traditional January slot to blow away the January blues.
THE NASHVILLE TEENS are one of the great names from the ‘60s who had two memorable Top Ten hits in 1964 with “Tobacco Road” and “Google Eye”, and have played storming gigs for us over many years, so we’re delighted to have them back again.
The line-up features their original lead singer Ray Phillips, who has had an unbroken half-century career with the band, as well as making solo records and performing with other line-ups like the British Invasion All-Stars with members of The Yardbirds, Creation and Downliners Sect.
With him in the current Nashville Teens is a line-up of seasoned performers, including on bass Colin Pattenden, member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band when they had their big hits back in the 70s with Simon Spratley of The Ian Campbell Blues Band on keyboards, Ken Osborn from Levee Camp Moan on guitar and Adrian ‘Spud’ Metcalf on drums.
It will be another night of classic ‘60s R&B, featuring in Ray one of the great voices of the beat era. There’s more information at www.Nashville-Teens.com.
Hot food, prepared by the Club's resident caterers Surplus To Supper, will be available as usual from about 6.30pm, with the band on stage around 8.30 pm or soon after.
Admission is £10.00 on the door, payable by cash or card.
Pantomime at the RAC, 18th -21st January
The Riverside Players of Sunbury bring Robin Hood and His Very Merry Men to the Riverside Arts Centre from 18th - 21st January.
Lester Brown, Trumpet, Heads up the Terence Collie Trio at the RAC on 7th January
Lester and company will be celebrating one of the most important modern jazz groups of all time.
Riverside Arts Jazz presents the music of Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers.
For venue and booking details, click here
LOSRA New Year Newsletter Out Now
We use this item to wish all our readers a happy Christmas and a (more) peaceful New Year for 2024.
Our New Year newsletter will be circulated shortly after Christmas with your copy of Sunbury Matters but, if you cannot wait, you can read it here.
The front page is devoted to a possible BESS proposal (what? you may ask) for land adjoining the so-called EcoPark.
Roberto Manzin, Saxaphone, Joins the Terrie Collie Trio, 17th December at the RAC
Roberto Manzin continues to be a popular session player (he recorded on eight albums in 2010, ranging in style from Pop to Latin, Rock/Blues, Ska and Jazz) and appears in music festivals throughout Europe, as well as performing regularly at many venues around Europe.The Liverpool Echoes to Perform at the SCC on 8th December
The last Music Night of 2023 at Sunbury Cricket Club on Friday 8th December, sees the return to the traditional tried and tested party formula as the Club once again features THE LIVERPOOL ECHOES. They are led by Yanni Tsamplakos, who is a great supporter of our Music Nights and has appeared at many of the Club's Christmas party shows with his band The Mersey Legends. The Club are delighted to welcome him back once more with his new line-up, with whom he appeared for the first time last year.
As always, they will give us a rip-roaring evening, performing a non-stop selection of wall-to-wall beat era classics, with Yanni on guitar and vocals, Billy Allan on guitar, John Joce on bass and Rick Daniow on drums. We can guarantee that it will be a great party night to kick off the festive season in style, so get a gang of friends together and come along for a proper rave-up.
There’s more info at www.liverpoolechoes.co.uk.
It's £10.00 on the door payable by cash or cards. Hot food will be available as usual from about 6.30pm, and the band will be on stage by around 8.45 at the latest.
Riverside Youth Theatre Brings Jane Austen's Emma to the RAC, 7th - 9th December
Bad Influence Band Comes to SCC on 24th November
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club is on Friday 24th November, and features BAD INFLUENCE, which is a change of plan from the previously advised schedule, which listed SKELETON CREW. Unfortunately, they have a health issue in the band and have had to pull out, so BAD INFLUENCE stepped forward from their scheduled February date to fill the slot.BAD INFLUENCE is one of our most popular bands, and have done some storming shows for the Club, including headlining one of their Beer Festivals, so we are always delighted to welcome them back as it’s been well over a year since they last played at the here.
They feature Val Cowell on guitar and vocals, Richard Hayes on guitar, Pete Stroud on bass, and Johnny Brister on drums, performing their distinctive brand of hard-hitting up-front blues/rock, blending original material from their albums with interpretations of material from the likes of Tom Petty, Bonnie Raitt and Fleetwood Mac. It will be a fine evening of archetypal Sunbury Music Night fare. There’s more info at www.badinfluence.org.uk.
It's £10.00 on the door payable by cash or cards.
As previously noted, we are starting the shows a bit earlier these days, as the room tends to be full by about 8.30, so the band will be on stage by about 8.40 - 8.45. The bar is open from 6pm and hot food will be available from around 6.30. It promises to be a great night and we look forward to seeing you there. The fliers for the event are attached - please share them with any friends who might be interested. We look forward to seeing you there.
Please note also that the website where Music Night information is carried is now www.sunburysports.org/music-
