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.
Consultation on Issues & Options in Local Plan – Briefing Note
Some of our readers will already have completed the online consultation form on the strategic issues and options for the Local Plan (See link below in article of 15th May). If you have yet to complete it, you may find the attached briefing note helpful. It gives an indication of the Association’s initial thoughts on the options being proposed.
It should first be said that we believe the Council has gone about the consultation process in the right way in making every effort to reach out to as many local residents and groups as possible. The online questionnaire is not in the least bit technical and is easily readable. If you still feel the consultation is not for you, you may wish to consider that one of our concerns (and indeed that of the Council) is that without an up-to-date and adopted Local Plan we risk planning decisions being taken out of the Council’s hands.
It should be noted that by responding to this consultation and agreeing to have your contact details stored on the Council’s database, you will automatically be notified of future consultations. The public response to stage 1 of the I&O process will influence and feed into the 2nd Stage, at which point, although comments will still be possible, the main thrust of the Local Plan will have been determined; and any attempt at blocking its eventual adoption will be futile.
An Evening of Chick Corea Featuring Mornington Lockett at the RAC, 10th June
Saxophonist, composer and teacher Mornington Lockett studied at Dartington College of Arts, gaining a first class honours degree, before moving to London to attend the Guildhall School of Music And Drama as a post-graduate. As a member of the Ronnie Scott Quintet, Mornington toured widely, in the U.K. and internationally. He has recorded albums with Ronnie Scott, Jim Mullen, Stan Tracey, Don Grusin, Martin Drew, Claire Martin, Sarah Jane Morris and Ian Shaw. Commercial studio work includes a session with Oasis and even a number of ‘smooth jazz’ albums with Shakatak.
Mornington has also played live with many international jazz artists including Jimmy Smith, Arturo Sandoval, Jon Hendricks, Franco Ambrosetti, Niels Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Dave Weckl, Bernard Purdie, Phil Upchurch, Jon Faddis, Ulf Wakenius, Béla Szakcsi Lakatos, Gabòr Bolla, Nicolas Meier, Gregory Fine, Georgie Fame and Jack DeJohnette.
In 1989 Mornington joined the Jim Mullen Quartet, which became incredibly popular on the UK circuit and effectively launched his career. This led to an invitation for Mornington to lead his own quartet at Ronnie Scott’s Club, and eventually to joining the Ronnie Scott Quintet, which toured all over the world for five years between 1990-1995. On 10th June he will be guesting with the Terence Collie trio in an evening of Chick Corea.
Line-up: Mornington Lockett – sax; Terence Collie – piano; Paul Michael – bass; Paul Cavaciuti – drums
Start: 7.30pm
Venue: Riverside Arts Centre, 59 Thames Street, Sunbury TW16 5QF
Tickets: £12 on the door or £9 via website: www.moodindigoevents.co.uk
Open Patients Participation Meeting at Sunbury Health Centre, 4th June
The next PPG Open Meeting will be held at Sunbury Health Centre at 6.30pm on Monday 4th June. All patients welcome.
One of the doctors and other Practice staff will give an overview of the many positive developments taking place as well as highlighting the challenges faced by the Practice in our ever expanding community.
There will also be an opportunity for general comments, suggestions and questions from patients. Please note that this is NOT an opportunity to discuss individual cases or issues, which should be passed to the Practice in the normal way.
AGM - Wednesday 20th June, Newsletter
The newsletter announcing our AGM is currently with the printers and will be in the course of distribution to all households shortly.
You may also read it online by clicking here
Please note that our guest speaker, the recently appointed Strategic Planning Manager for Spelthorne Borough, Ann Biggs, will be attending to address the AGM on the revision to the Local Plan. This is a very important landmark event which attempts to address the substantial and much publicised increase in housebuilding announced by central government. It will affect all parts of the Borough including Lower Sunbury. The public consultation on the issues and options is now live and all residents are encouraged to spend a few minutes in its completion. (Scroll down to article below for the link).
Public Consultation on Issues and Options for Local Plan Now Live!
https://consult.spelthorne.gov.uk/consult.ti
The easiest and most effective way to read the document and respond to the consultation is by clicking on the above link to the Council’s online consultation portal.
Please answer the questions at each stage and follow the instructions to submit.
Alternatively, you can email the Council at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or write to: Strategic Planning ,Spelthorne Borough Council, Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thame, TW18 1XB
All responses must be in writing, as the Council will not accept verbal comments.
The Consultation runs for 6 weeks and closes at midnight on Monday 25 June 2018.
Manor Farm Cottage, 126 Green Street - Appeal dismissed!
Further to the article posted here on 12th March, we are delighted to report that the appeal by the applicant to develop 7 residential flats on the site has been dismissed by the Planning Inspector.
Whilst this is great news we can expect a further and perhaps less ambitious planning application once the developer has studied the detail of the inspector’s report.
As with all Inspectorate decisions few come without a sting in the tail. It was, for example, disappointing to read that scant regard had been paid to the design of new residential development standards regarding separation distances and overlooking. Parking standards were also diminished in importance not least because of unhelpful comments by the County Highways Authority who failed to support the Spelthorne planning officer and LoSRA at the time of the original application.
More...
The New Local Plan Consultation - Important Announcement from Council!
The following news release has just been circulated by Spelthorne Council and announces to all residents the opportunity to have their say on the first stage of the New Local Plan’s preparation:
From Monday 14 May, Spelthorne Borough Council is consulting on a new Local Plan which will set out how much development is needed in the borough for the next 15 years and where it should go. The finished Local Plan will contain policies for deciding planning applications and allocated sites for housing, employment and other forms of development.
The Council is at the first stage of preparing the new Local Plan, known as Issues and Options. The consultation paper sets out the key issues affecting Spelthorne to 2035 and the options the Council will consider in order to meet the borough’s needs. It will identify the challenges and constraints for development but also the opportunities Spelthorne offers for growth.
Presentations are being held on 21 and 24 May and there are also a number of information events where residents can talk informally to staff:
|
Date |
Venue |
Time |
|
Monday 21 May |
Presentation at the Council Offices, Knowle Green |
7pm - 8pm |
|
Thursday 24 May |
Presentation at the Council Offices, Knowle Green |
7pm - 8pm |
|
Friday 25 May |
Tesco Sunbury |
10am - 12 noon |
|
Friday 25 May |
Tesco Ashford |
1pm - 3pm |
|
Saturday 26 May |
Ashford North Residents Association AGM (Association members only) |
10.30am - 12 noon |
|
Wednesday 30 May |
Elmsleigh Centre/High Street/Two Rivers in Staines |
11am - 2pm |
|
Thursday 31 May |
Ashford High Street |
10am - 12 noon |
|
Thursday 31 May |
Stanwell - Clare Road shopping parade |
12.30 - 2.30pm |
|
Friday 1 June |
Notcutts in Staines |
11am - 2pm |
|
Saturday 2 June |
Sunbury - The Avenue shopping parade |
11am - 1pm |
|
Wednesday 6 June |
Spelthorne Business Forum, Shepperton Studios (Forum members only) |
6pm |
|
Saturday 9 June |
Shepperton Village Fair |
11am - 5pm |
|
Wednesday 20 June |
LOSRA AGM (Association members only) |
8pm |
Whether you are a resident, worker or business owner in Spelthorne, the Council wants you to have a say in shaping your Local Plan. The consultation document will be available from 12 noon on Monday 14 May. You can read it and respond online at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/localplan
Alternatively, email your comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to Strategic Planning, Spelthorne Borough Council, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1XB.
After this consultation, the Council will draft the new Local Plan before carrying out further consultation later this year. The Plan will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by an independent inspector who will confirm if it can be recommended for adoption. We expect this process to be completed by September 2020.
The 60s All Stars return to SCC on 18th May
Following a really fun night and full house at the Nashville Teens gig last month, Sunbury Cricket Club carries on in similar 60s vein with the next Music Night, which is on Friday 18th May when the Club welcomes back THE 60S ALL STARS. They regularly do an early summer gig for the Club to help get the league cricket season off to a lively start, and we are delighted to have them back – they did our very first Music Night more or less exactly seven years ago so it’s very appropriate that are at the Club again with their usual programme of wall-to-wall beat era classics.
Sadly, we have to report that one of the band members, guitarist Del Mandel, died quite suddenly a couple of weeks ago after a short illness. However, as they have made clear to me, “Del would have wanted us to carry on”, and so the band will continue around their core line-up of guitarist Alan Lovell of the Swinging Blue Jeans, John Dee of The Foundations and Mick Avory of The Kinks, with other members added as available.
It’s obviously a difficult time for the band, so it would be great if we can give them a full house and a proper Sunbury atmosphere. They always give us a really fun night of Sixties hits and rock ‘n’ roll, so put a party of friends together and come out in force. Food will be available as usual.
A Tribute to Kenny Garrett at the RAC on 13th May
Roberto Manzin (sax) will be leading the Terence Collie Trio in a Tribute to Kenny Garrett on Sunday 13th May. described as "An expressive player with an attractive sound, his improvisations reveal a skilful strategist, a melodist first and foremost, who gradually unfolds a solo and builds up to a compelling conclusion." (Charles Alexander, Jazzwise).
He will be performing with Terence Collie – piano; Stuart Barker – bass; and Ted Carrasco – drums.
Venue: The Riverside Arts Centre, 59, Thames Street, Sunbury
Doors: 7.30pm
Entrance: £12 at the door or £9 via the website: www.moodindigoevents.co.uk
A Brand New Arts Festival for 2018
A brand new Arts Festival for 2018 is launched for the week 7th – 13th May and is jam packed with activities for all ages and abilities, including live theatre, music and comedy, arts, crafts, dance workshops and much more.
For further details, click here
Take Part in Annual Sunbury Health Centre Patient Survey
The annual Sunbury Health Centre patient survey is now available on the website, and at the health centre. Here's the website link:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/V8DJ2NW
Anyone for Tennis?
Weybridge Lawn Tennis Club are holding their Annual Open Day on Saturday 12 May from 1 pm to 5 pm.
This is a great opportunity for Sunbury residents who play tennis or would like to take up tennis to come and look round their local riverside Club, play a set of tennis if they wish and chat to the Coach and Members. Players of all ages and abilities are most welcome.
The Club is set in a beautiful riverside location at Dorney Gardens, Walton Lane, Weybridge, so only a very short journey over the river from Sunbury. There are quite a few residents from Lower Sunbury who are already Members of the Club, but the Club would always welcome more, no matter what their standard, as all the facilities are available to improve players technical skills.
The cost of membership is extremely competitive, for example Midweek Membership (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5pm) for adults is only £150 per year. Parking is available on site and the Club would be delighted to welcome all tennis players and prospective tennis players to show your round and encourage you to join.
Drones - Have You Been Buzzed?
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A local resident has recently been buzzed by a drone in her back garden and, with the advent of fine weather, it is not unreasonable to suppose that the recreational flying of drones may increase during the summer months.
As was evident from the resident’s experience, not all drone users act responsibly either deliberately or through ignorance of the UK Drone code published by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Simply put, the Code states:
Don’t fly near airports or airfields
Remember to stay below 400ft (120m)
Observe your drone at all times – stay 150 ft (50m) away from people and property
Never fly near aircraft
Enjoy responsibly
For further information visit dronesafe.uk and if you have any concerns about drones being used in your area, either from a safety or privacy perspective, contact your local police on 101. The Council is not the enforcement agency.
London Irish Mini Festival, 29th April - Advance Warning
This advance warning will be of interest to all residents living in roads close to the London Irish Hazelwood grounds off Green Street.
The 2018 London Irish Mini Festival, one of the biggest in Europe, will fall on 29th April. Despite the best efforts of organisers to prevent inconvenience to local residents, there is little they can do about visiting parents and supporters who choose to disregard the travel and parking arrangements provided by London Irish Amateur RFC. Blocked streets and driveways are a real likelihood.
The busiest time for traffic will be 8am to 10.30am, peaking between 9 - 10am as teams arrive for a 10.am start. The event has a staggered finish from approximately 2pm (age group dependent), with the last games finishing about 4pm.
