We at the Lower Sunbury Residents’ Association were extremely disappointed to be told that, contrary to expectation, we will not have the opportunity to contribute to the new Sunbury monthly magazine that is being established following the closure of Monica Jones’s ‘Sunbury Matters’.

LOSRA was a regular contributor to Sunbury Matters for many years, covering a wide range of issues that have been of significance to Lower Sunbury. In this article, which we had originally submitted to TW (the ‘replacement’ publisher) for the first edition of its successor magazine, we are highlighting some of the current challenges that our village faces and which we will continue to review and question on behalf of our residents. 

Planning issues inevitably represent a considerable proportion of those challenges, and these increasingly involve threats to the valuable areas of Green Belt land in Sunbury. We fought the application to build a large industrial Battery Energy Storage System off Charlton Lane, only to see Spelthorne Council’s planning refusal overturned on appeal by an appallingly inadequate Planning Inspectorate judgement. Housing is now the main initiator of Green Belt applications, with major proposals for both Kempton Park and Stratton Road; we have already set up a separate LOSRA sub-committee to focus on them.

We also contributed to the Scoping Consultation phase for the new Spelthorne Local Plan. This is not timetabled for submission until March 2028 and will thus transfer to the responsibility of the new West Surrey Council that formally comes into being on 1 April 2027. We support the development of new Neighbourhood Area Committees to ensure that our residents can continue to be key stakeholders in local decision-making, despite the loss of borough councils. 

Many of these decisions must focus on the deteriorating quality of our area’s infrastructure. Whilst it is good news that the Lower Sunbury Local Street Improvement Scheme will receive £2.9m of funding from Active Travel England’s Consolidated Active Travel Fund, other threats are coming from both the air and the water that require our ongoing diligence. While Heathrow Airport is now actively developing its plans for a third runway, the use of airspace around the airport for departing and arriving aircraft is also being re-designed. Both of these initiatives will potentially have an adverse effect on Lower Sunbury’s environment. 

On the river side the River Thames Scheme for flood relief may currently be in limbo but it has not been stopped. We remain concerned at the impact on river levels in Lower Sunbury and we will continue to monitor this scheme closely. This and the other concerns noted above will certainly continue to feature in future LOSRA articles to come, to be published on our website, e-bulletin and tri-annual printed Newsletters.

For many years, whilst Monica Jones owned and was editing Sunbury Matters, she generously allowed LOSRA a page each month to keep residents informed and up to date on matters of interest that often required action on their part.

We are sorry to report that the new publishers are not prepared to continue this arrangement; neither are they agreeable to LOSRA utilising the same distribution company to piggy-back distribution of the tri-annual Newsletter, despite LOSRA offering to contribute towards their costs. However, they have agreed to continue to publish monthly articles authored by the Patient Participation Group at Sunbury Health Centre, where c20,000 residents are registered.

LOSRA has approx. 1000 subscribers (free) to our weekly e-bulletin, so we urge you to consider signing up for this now to make sure you don’t miss out on potentially important news – see the box below to the right ‘Join Our Mailing List’. We expect to set up a Facebook page too. 

Thank you.

Spelthorne Borough Council is inviting residents, businesses, community groups, visitors and other key stakeholders to have their say on the future of the borough's parks, green spaces, rivers, woodlands and natural environments.

The survey, which opened on Monday 17 August and closes at 11.59pm on Monday 21 September, will help inform the Council's emerging Green Infrastructure Strategy, a long-term plan which will guide how Spelthorne's network of green and blue spaces is protected, enhanced and expanded in the years ahead.

Green infrastructure includes parks, rivers, reservoirs, lakes, woodlands, allotments, nature reserves, playing fields and walking and cycling routes. These spaces play an important role in supporting health and wellbeing, tackling climate change, improving air quality, reducing flood risk, supporting biodiversity and creating attractive places to live, work and visit.

As the local area develops and grows, the Council wants to ensure that these valuable spaces remain accessible, connected and resilient for future generations.

The Council wants to hear the views from people who live, work, study or spend time in the borough to understand what matters most to them and how the borough's spaces can be improved for future generations. The survey asks participants to:

• identify parks, green spaces, waterways and routes they use and value
• highlight barriers or problems that affect their enjoyment of these spaces
• suggest locations where green and blue infrastructure could be improved or created
• share views on the priorities that should shape the future Green Infrastructure Strategy

Participants can use the interactive map to highlight places and routes that are particularly important to them. No specialist knowledge is required, and the Council wants to learn about people's everyday experiences, ideas and local knowledge.

The survey takes approximately 10 to 12 minutes to complete, with most questions being optional. Anyone interested in the future of Spelthorne's open spaces is encouraged to take part.

To take part in the survey and find out more about the Green Infrastructure Strategy and the consultation, visit the Strategic Planning Engagement Hub here.

The feedback received will help shape the Green Infrastructure Strategy and the future of Spelthorne's parks, green spaces and nature. It will also help ensure the strategy reflects local priorities, supports climate change and nature recovery goals, and enables local communities to continue to benefit from high-quality green spaces as the borough's population grows.

For enquiries, please view the FAQs or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cllr John Turner, Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee, said: "Spelthorne's parks, rivers, woodlands and other green spaces are among our most valuable assets, providing important benefits for residents, wildlife and the wider environment. As we develop our Green Infrastructure Strategy, it is essential that we hear from the people who use and value these spaces every day. I would encourage everyone who lives, works or spends time in the borough to take a few minutes to complete the survey and share their views. Your feedback will help shape how we protect, enhance and connect our green spaces and rivers for future generations."

Riverside Players of Sunbury are excited to be working on their Autumn Production, The Watsons, and can’t wait to be able to show off this hilarious play to you in October!

The Mayor, Cllr Sandra Dunn, will be raising money for her four charities during the year and will be holding several events to raise awareness.

All event details are attached for you.

1. Mayor’s Timeless Tea

An elegant afternoon in support of the mayor’s charities.

When: Friday 24 July 2026

What time: 1.00pm – 3.30pm

Where: Hazelwood Community Centre, Hazelwood Dr, Sunbury-on-Thames TW16 6QU

Cost: £30 per person Including:

• Sandwiches: Classic fillings
• Scones: Plain or fruit, with jam and clotted cream
• Sweets: Cakes and pastries
• Drinks: Refreshments, including prosecco

Raffle tickets will be sold on the day to WIN a spring floral container for your patio.

Book now: contact the Mayor's PA Maxine Cole at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01784 446275 or use the QR code on the flyer.

2. Mayors Rat Pack Evening

Saturday 8th August 7.00pm to 11.00pm, Thames side Brewery, 1 Hale Street, Staines. TW18 4UW.

Cost: £25 pp (including BBQ) Live Entertainment.

Jason Searle won the 1998 Grand Final of the ITV television show Stars in Their Eyes. The then-23-year-old from Egham, Surrey, captured the public vote by successfully impersonating legendary singer-songwriter Neil Diamond.

Following his victory, Jason Searle appeared in subsequent Stars in Their Eyes "Champions" specials and continues to perform as a professional tribute artist today. While he is best known for his award-winning Neil Diamond performance, particularly his rendition of the song "Hello Again", he has also expanded his repertoire to include tributes to Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, and the Rat Pack.

Book now: contact the Mayor's PA Maxine Cole at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01784 446275 or use the QR code on the flyer.

3. Mayor's quiz night

Thursday 24 September 7.30pm, Lower Sunbury, TW16 6AF; The Mayor of Spelthorne invites residents to come together for a fun-filled evening at The Magpie Pub for a special Quiz Night aimed at raising funds for local charities.

Cost: £5 per person with a maximum team of up to six people.

Book now: contact the Mayor's PA Maxine Cole at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01784 446275 or use the QR code on the flyer.

Spelthorne Borough Council is currently consulting on the first stage of its New Local Plan. The stage is known as a Scoping Consultation and is a very early opportunity for anyone interested, whether they are a resident, local businesses, worker, visitor to the borough or other key stakeholder, to help shape the new Local Plan and how the area develops over the coming years.

At this stage, we’re not making decisions about specific development sites, but asking for views on the key issues facing the area, opportunities, and challenges that the new Plan should address. You can also share your views on specific matters and on how we communicate with you in future.

The consultation is running for six weeks and closes at 11.59pm on Monday 3 August. Once the consultation closes, all responses will be reviewed and used to inform the next stage of preparing the New Local Plan.

Consultation links:

• Main consultation web page - Have Your Say Today - Spelthorne Local Plan Scoping Consultation - Spelthorne Borough Council Local Plan where you can find, and respond to the consultation via, an online survey and interactive map.
• Further information about the new Local Plan and Scoping Consultation - Have Your Say Today - About the New Local Plan - Spelthorne Borough Council Local Plan
• FAQs- this page contains frequently asked questions and provides the opportunity submit further queries.
• A timeline of the process for preparing the New Local Plan under the new plan-making system can be found at Timeline.

For any further questions about the consultation, please contact the Strategic Planning team on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 01784 444 205.

Join Lincoln Jopp MP to receive an update on the proposed Kempton Park development on 2nd July. Further details are attached below.