Welcome to the LOSRA Website
Like any local community, the policies and decisions shaping the character and future of Lower Sunbury are influenced by a combination of local and national government initiatives, alongside market forces and vested interests operating within these frameworks. As with many areas, Lower Sunbury faces challenges stemming from an aging infrastructure, rapid urban development, increasing traffic congestion, and other pressures that impact both quality of life and the distinctive character of the neighbourhood.
In collaboration with local authorities, other residents’ associations and amenity groups, LOSRA plays a vital role in addressing fundamental issues that affect its members' lives. This organisation not only engages with broader strategic concerns but also focuses on the everyday matters that shape community well-being.
To stay informed, we encourage you to subscribe to our regular e-bulletins via the link at the top left of this page. Your continued support is essential to our efforts, and we urge you to join or renew your membership. Subscriptions for 2026 are now payable at £5 per household. Donations are also welcome.
Invitation to Workshop for Provision of Services for Children and Young People With Behavioural and Mental Health Problems
LOSRA has received the following invitation from Joanne Gravier (North West Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group) and is pleased to reproduce it here:
Come and help us shape the provision of services for children and young people in North West Surrey with behavioural and mental health problems.
VENUE: St James’s Parish Hall, Weybridge. (Nearest parking is Fairfield Road pay and display car park)
DATE: Tuesday 12th August 2014
TIME: 2-4pm or 5-7pm
You may be aware that CAMHS and Behavioural Services for children and young people are one of our priority areas as a CCG. We propose to add behavioural services (e.g. for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders or ADHD) to the forthcoming re-procurement of Surrey Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to get a much more “joined up” service for children, young people and their families.
You are invited to join us on 12th August 2014, when we will be running a workshop during the afternoon and will be repeating in the early evening (2-4pm and the repeat session at 5-7pm) in the church hall at Weybridge. We do acknowledge that August is holiday time, so it’s not ideal, but it’s a continuation of the engagement we’ve been having over the past year and considerable work has been done during that time with local clinicians, schools, education and others.
We are not leading the Surrey CAMHS procurement, but want to make sure the views of our population in North West Surrey are sought and included – so we are being driven by the timeline for the CAMHS stakeholder engagement.
If you are not available on 12th August but know someone who would be interested, please do pass this on.
To book a place for either the afternoon or evening session, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Joining instructions and pre-reading material will be sent out once you’ve booked your place.
(Just attend one – the evening session one will be a repeat of the afternoon session.)
We look forward to seeing you.
Crest Nicholson Plan for London Irish Site Approved by Planning Committee
The full application by Crest Nicholson for the development of the London Irish site in The Avenue (see article of 25th July) was approved by a vote of 10 - 1 with two abstentions.
The meaningful consultation with local residents by the developers may explain why very few objections had been received by the Planning Office.
There is no doubt that the construction phase will cause disturbance or inconvenience to local residents and it is the Association's intention to ensure that there is a direct line of communication with the project manager(s) to keep disruption to the minimum possible; and without obstructing the exacting conditions which have already been imposed for the approval to remain valid.
Walled Garden Wins Prestigious Green Flag Award for Fourth Year Running
The Walled Garden in Thames Street has won the prestigious Green Flag Award for the fourth successive year. The Green Flag Award scheme recognises and rewards the best green spaces in the country and this year the Walled Garden is one of a record number of spaces to receive the Award.
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.
Expert use of trees, shrubs and climbers on the ancient walls, which are 8 to 10 feet high in places, make the garden a lovely place to visit. The gardens provide great inspiration for gardeners and the Lendy Memorial makes a very impressive centre piece.
The Walled Garden is open seven days a week, from 7.30am-8.30pm in the summer months and, apart from Mondays, refreshments may be purchased at the much celebrated Millenium Embroidery Gallery situated within the garden.
Come and Support Sunbury Cricket Club's 'Cricket Week' Starting 4th August
Sunbury Cricket Club’s annual cricket week has been run every year since 1973 features matches every day of the week comprising 6 full scale matches from Monday to Thursday including an all day match against the MCC on Tuesday 5th August and the T20 (abbreviation of 20/20 – or twenty overs per side) Festival.
Mon 4 August Club XI v Jack Frost XI Start 14:00
Tue 5 August 1st XI v MCC Start 11:30
Tue 5 August Club Xi v Valley End Start 14:00
Wed 6 August Club Xi v SKLP Start 13:30
Thu 7 August Club XI v Cookham Deane Start 14:00
Thu 7 August Club XI v Tiffin's Tercels Start 14:00
Fri 8 August 1st XI T20 Festival Start 10:00 (see following article)
Entrance is free, spectators are welcome and the bar will be open.
All Welcome to T20 Festival at Sunbury Cricket ClubFriday 8th August
The highlight of the week is a T20 (Twenty/20 - 20 overs per side) Festival in which 4 cricket clubs will be competing for the Gerald Plumbly Trophy.
These are Sunbury CC, Stoics CC, Friars CC and Free Foresters CC. Six matches will be played during the Festival with two matches in progress at any one time. A number of former 1st Class players will be participating. There will be a bar and raffle and a BBQ will operate from 5:30pm.
A 4 course lunch with wine is available for £25 preceded by a Pimms reception. This must be pre-booked through Penny Hughes on 020 8977 6133 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The Festival was started in 2008 on the last day of the Sunbury Cricket Club's Cricket Week. This replaced the traditional all-day match between Sunbury and Stoics.
Free Foresters and East Molesey made up the quartet of teams. Competition was all-play-all on two squares with three matches on each. The T20 cup was renamed the Gerald Plumbly Trophy in 2010 remembrance of the 17th President of the Stoics who had served in that capacity for a remarkable 33 years, and who had died in January of that year. The winners have been:
- 2008 East Molesey
- 2009 Free Foresters.
- 2010 Sunbury
- 2011 Sunbury
- 2012 Stoics
- 2013 Sunbury
Entrance is free, spectators are welcome and the bar will be open.
Crest Nicholson Development Goes Before Planning Committee, 30th July
The long-awaited full application by Crest Nicholson for the development of the London Irish site in The Avenue goes before Planning Committee on Wednesday 30th July. This application follows the approval by the same Committee of the outline plan on 21st September 2012. (Ref: 12/00369/OUT).
Crest Nicholson, the chosen developers, then embarked on a programme of public consultation at which various options were proposed and discussed. Finally, at an exhibition and brain-storming meeting at the Riverside Arts Centre, residents from adjoining roads to the London Irish site expressed a preference for two of these options. The first, and most favoured, did not, in the end, satisfy planning policy, so it is the second of these which forms the basis of this full planning application.
Planning Committee will meet at the Council Chamber, Knowle Green to determine the application (14/00275/FUL) at 7pm on Wednesday 30th July. A copy of the Committee Report may be viewed by accessing 'Planning Applications Online' via www.spelthorne.gov.uk and then inputting the application number and selecting the associated documents option.
More...
137th Sunbury Regatta, Saturday 9th August
The Regatta itself will feature the usual Club and local skiff, punt and dongola racing; tug of war, stalls, entertainments, bars, fresh food and much more besides. For full details, visit the Regatta Website at: http://www.sunburyregatta.com/
Consultation on Anti-Social Behaviour and the Community Remedy Scheme
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Kevin Hurley, is to begin a public consultation into new methods of dealing with offending. In a survey launched today, members of the public have an opportunity to tell him what they think should happen to people who have committed low-level crimes or anti-social behaviour in their area.
LOSRA has been asked to forward this release from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey regarding consultation on the Community Remedy scheme; and residents are invited to take part.
Petition to Reinstate the Cows at Dairy Crest
The introduction of real cows into Sunbury Park may be controversial but less controversial is the preservation of a local landmark on the A316. Dairy Crest (previously Job's Dairy) has stated that the fibreglass cows which stood so proudly on the roof of their building have become worn and their fixings dangerous. Citing health and safety concerns the Company has removed the cows and they make no promises to restore or replace them. These cows have been a delight to many generations of little car passengers and, if Dairy Crest can be persuaded, their restoration could be a delight for many more generations to come.
It's not a world-changing issue but it is local; and if it's one which brings only fleeting pleasure to countless users of the A316 and at minimal cost to a large company, why not click on the link and complete the petition. It will take a matter of seconds!
www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/dairy-crest-restore-the-model-cows-to-the-roof-of-feltham-dairy-crest
Living and Ageing Well in Surrey Awards 2014
The following email has been received from Jo Gravier, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, NHS North West Surrey Clinical Commisioning Group; and we are pleased to reproduce it here:
"We're delighted to announce the launch of the Living and Ageing Well in Surrey Awards 2014.
"The Awards provide an exciting opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the huge range of initiatives, projects, services and individuals in the community that make Surrey a great place in which to live and age well.
"More and more people in Surrey are living longer and we want to embrace this and recognise the many ways older people contribute to society and their local communities, and to build on the opportunities for improving the wellbeing of people in Surrey as they age. The Awards categories are based on the pledges from Surrey’s Commitment to Ageing Well. These have been identified by older people in Surrey as the important things that matter to them as they age.
"If you know of an individual, public service, or voluntary, community or faith sector organisation who you feel deserves an Award, don’t hesitate and nominate them today. You may even nominate yourself!
Award Categories
- Best Local Transport Project
- Technology, Making a Difference Award
- Bringing the Community Together Award
- Best Healthy Living Project
- Help at Home Award
- People’s Choice Award
For more information and details on how to enter visit the Living and Ageing Well Awards page on the Surrey County Council website."
Licensing Application at Hazelwood Centre
This Association has received a number of emails concerning the recent application for the licensing of late night refreshments at the Hazelwood Centre, Croysdale Avenue.
There are natural concerns as to how the granting of this licence may affect our local residents with noise and other disturbances being the most common concerns. It should be noted that any representation by a resident should be made by 22nd July and be evidence based. In this connection, it may be difficult because any evidence will have been collected prior to the change of ownership of Hazelwood; and the new licensees will justifiably argue that any previous problems had nothing to do with them.
It's a matter of judgement but it may be preferable to see how the premises are managed and, if necessary, apply for a review should there be an adverse effect on public tranquility. (see below)
A key feature of the Licensing Act 2003 is to allow local communities a say in licensing decisions that may affect them, as well as ensuring that professionals such as the police, fire authorities, trading standards and environmental health officers are able to scrutinise applications and take action if problems occur.
The Licensing the Act allows the views of local people and businesses to be taken into account when someone first applies for a licence or certificate to carry out a regulated activity such as selling alcohol, providing entertainment and/or providing late night refreshment.
Where a licence has already taken effect, the Act also allows local people and businesses to request a review of a licence or certificate of any licensed premises that may be causing problems e.g. noise or other disturbances.
Full application details can also be viewed in the licensing authority's "licensing register". Using the Register, applicants will be able to check all opening hours; licensable activities and any steps the applicant has volunteered to take to promote the four licensing objectives. These are set out in the applicant's "operating schedule".
The four licensing objectives are:
- The prevention of crime and disorder;
- Public safety;
- The prevention of public nuisance; and
- The protection of children from harm.
If anyone is concerned that granting a licence in the terms it has been applied for is likely to have an effect on the promotion of one or more of these objectives, they have 28 consecutive days starting on the day after the day on which the application was given to the relevant authority, to make a representation to that authority. (In the case of Hazelwood, the closing date is 22nd July).
Representations should be made in writing to the licensing authority where the premises are situated. Licensing authorities may also accept representations by email.
All representations must be about the likely effect of granting the licence or certificate on the promotion of at least one of the four licensing objectives. It would be wise, therefore, to explicitly link any representation to one or more of the objectives.
It will also assist if the representations are specific to the premises and evidence based. (as indicated above, this may be difficult). Interested parties may, therefore wish to talk to local police beforehand, or document problems themselves by, for example, keeping a diary or photographic evidence of any incidents. Licensing authorities will need to be satisfied that there is an evidential and causal link between the representations made, and the effect on the licensing objectives.
See the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy: http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1264&p=0 with particular reference to Paras, 17 (enforcement), 18 (The Review Process), 24 (Crime and Disorder), 24.1 and 24.7.5 .
The Latest Private Eye Edition of "Rotten Boroughs"
Regular readers of our Website and e-bulletins will recall two earlier articles published by Private Eye under their regular 'Rotten Boroughs' feature. Both articles were highly critical of Surrey County Council's persistence, contrary to all the scientific and economic evidence, in going ahead with the installation of an incinerator at the Charlton Lane Recycling Centre.
The earlier PE articles (see entries for 11/12/13 and 23/1/14) made specific reference to SCC and the Charlton Lane Site. The latest article of 9th July is more generic and, whilst the Sunbury site is not specifically mentioned, the arguments are the same; and have been precised with the customary brilliance so characteristic of Private Eye.
We can only hope that this satirical periodical is read by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government who has yet to decide whether to 'call in' SCC's approved planning application for public inquiry.
New Parking Charges for Blue Badge Holders at local Hospitals
The Ashford and St.Peter's Hospitals' NHS Foundation Trust has recently taken the decision to re-introduce parking charges for blue badge holders at both hospitals.
A public meeting to discuss these changes will be held at 3pm - 5pm on Thursday 17th July at The Hythe Centre, Thorpe Road, Staines.
All are welcome to attend but notice of attendance is required.
Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Festival Less than a Week Away!
The next music event at Sunbury Cricket Club is on Saturday 19th July when Sunbury Cricket Club hosts a jazz night as part of the Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Festival. It’s promoted by the Arts Festival (see article of 23rd June below), who hold most of their events at the Riverside Arts Centre, but they have chosen to use the Cricket Club's rather more informal surroundings for their jazz event.
This year they present AFRO BLUE, a Brighton based band specialising in Latin and Afro-Caribbean-flavoured interpretations of modern and mainstream jazz styles. The band was originally the brainchild of percussionist Paul Burnett-Kirk, who has been a regular on the London and international jazz scene since the’50s. His musical influences range from Miles Davies, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk to George Gershwin & Cole Porter, and he specialises in bringing an Afro/Latin/Funk vibe to well-known tunes. The band comprises Andy Ferguson (sax & flute), Paul Chapman (vibes), Tony Williams (guitar), Nigel Broderick (keyboards), Steve Edwards (bass and Ed Hopewell-Ash on drums – they have all played extensively in the UK and abroad.
It promises to be another entertaining and somewhat different musical evening at the Club, and it's hoped that it will be well supported. Please note that the show starts earlier than their normal music nights, with the band on stage promptly at 8pm. Tickets are £10 on the door or in advance from the Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Festival Box Office on 01932 567365.
For more details of this year's events, visit: www.ssaa-arts.org
