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.
The Council Is Seeking Your Views and Asks You To Take Survey
The Council says:
"If you live in Spelthorne, then you can really help us to understand about your views on the services that Spelthorne Borough Council provide you and your family."
Sunbury BESS planning application withdrawn – just days before planning committee meeting
Those who were at the LOSRA Annual General Meeting on the 19 th June will have heard Daniel Mouawad, the Chief Executive of Spelthorne Borough Council, unexpectedly announce that the planning application for a huge Battery Energy Storage System on Green Belt land adjacent to the Eco Park in Charlton Lane had been withdrawn by the applicant.Spelthorne Design Code Officially Launched - How to Get Involved
The following email has been received from Spelthorne Council and we are pleased to reproduce it here:
Dear Residents Associations,
The Spelthorne Design Code project officially launched today!
How to get involved
Work on the Design Code Project will be kicking off with Walking Tours and Digital Tours of the Borough, running from the 20 June 2024 to 18 July 2024. For more information on the project and to sign up for a tour, visit the Spelthorne Design Code Hub
Spelthorne Launches Design Code Hub
- Have you wondered about how and why the buildings, streets, parks, and gardens you see around you were designed and built?
- Do you ask yourself why homes, offices and shopping centres look the way they do?
- Have you got a favourite building?
- Do you want to find out more about architecture, urban design, and town planning?
- And do you want to help shape the future of the place where you live?
What is a Design Code?
A design code is a manual or handbook that contains drawings, plans and a set of rules that will influence the how all new buildings, streets, parks, gardens, and public spaces across the borough should be designed and built, or how existing buildings should be modified.
Spelthorne Borough Council has recently committed to prepare a design code for the whole borough, and it wants local people – the people that know and love the area best – to help it write this code. We want to put local people at the heart of the process. Over the next few months, the project team will be meeting with diverse groups across the area to find out what they think of Spelthorne today and what it could be like in the future.
Contact details
The email address for the project is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and the weblink for commonplace is https://designspelthorne.commonplace.is/
Should you wish to be removed from the Residents Association mailing list please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Many thanks,
Design Code Team
Spelthorne Borough Council
Council Offices, Knowle Green, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1XB
Tel: 01784 446 397
A Major Project Development Project for Ashford Hospital Is Underway
A major project to increase surgical capacity and help to reduce waiting times for people across Surrey Heartlands and neighbouring regions is underway with a surgical centre of excellence being developed at Ashford Hospital.
Duncan Lamont Jr. Joins the Terence Collie Trio at the RAC on 7th July
Duncan Lamont Jr. on saxaphone & flute joins Esther Bennett and Janet McCunn (vocals) with the Terence Collie Trio in a celebration of the late Duncan Lamont at the Riverside Arts Center on Sunday, 7th July at 8pm.
View Our AGM Newsletter Here
The Annual General Meeting of the Lower Sunbury Residents’ Association will take place at The Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, Sunbury, on Wednesday 19th June at 8 p.m.
We are privileged and delighted that Daniel Mouawad, the Chief Executive of Spelthorne Borough Council, has accepted our invitation to be the Guest Speaker.
To read the AGM newsletter, click here
More...
Draft Air Quality and Spring/Summer Activities
The following email from the Council has been received by Residents' Associations within Spelthorne and we are pleased to reproduce it here:
Dear Residents Associations
The Spelthorne Borough Council pollution control team have just launched a draft air quality action plan. They are keen to receive feedback on this. The links to the consultation are below.
Below this and attached there is some information from my leisure colleagues with information about Spring and Summer Events in Spelthorne.
I would appreciate it if you could share this information with the members of your residents association.
Thanks and Best Wishes, Lisa
Draft Air Quality Action Plan
We are very keen to get your views on the measures and actions included in our Draft air quality action plan available at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/AQAP
Your feedback will help us to refine the measures in the AQAP. Please complete our questionnaire online at https://spelthorne.inconsult.uk/AQAP before 30 June 2024 at 6pm.
Do feel free to share this correspondence with any interested party. Also contact us via the following inbox: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need further details.
Your response will take approximately 2-3 minutes of your time.
Spring/Summer Events
Spelthorne Summer Events Programme 2024
June-August 2024
Looking for something to do over the summer? Our Summer Events leaflet is packed with activities and events to help you make the most of your leisure time.
What's on - Spelthorne Borough Council
Saturday Morning Craft Club
Saturday 8 June-Saturday 13 July
10am-11am or 11:30am-12:30pm
5-9 years
Spelthorne Resource Centre, Staines Park, Commercial Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 2QJ
£4.80 per session or £28.80 for the term. Fees are payable in advance at the beginning of each half term and must be pre-booked as spaces are limited.
The club provides children the opportunity to take park in art and craft activities, learn new skills and have fun. With guidance from staff the children will be able to make and create their own art and craft masterpieces.
Saturday morning craft club - Spelthorne Borough Council
Music in the Park 2024
Sundays, 2 June-1 September
2-4pm
All Ages
The Walled Garden, Thames Street, Sunbury-on-Thames, TW16 6AB & The Lammas Band Stand, Lammas Recreation Ground, Wraysbury Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 4XZ.
Join us for a free afternoon of music. Please bring your own chairs or picnic blankets. Refreshments are available to purchase at both venues.
Flautist, Gareth Lockrane, Joins the Terence Collie Trio at the RAC on 2nd June
Gareth Lockrane is arguably the UK's premier jazz flautist and a prolific and versatile musician who will be joining the Terence Collie Trio at the Riverside Arts Centre on Sunday 2nd June.
Difficulty Paying for Rotary Club 75th Anniversary Dinner?
With reference to the article posted here on 6th May, we have received this further email from the Rotary Club:
Further to the invitation below we have been advised that a few people have had difficulty using online banking to pay for their tickets to this event.
The information we provided was:
Barclays Bank, Walton-on-Thames
Account name: Shepperton & Sunbury Rotary Club
Sort code: 20-90-56
Account number: 70793930
Reference: your surname and, if possible, add “75th Dinner”
It seems in some cases the bank isn't verifying our bank account unless the account name is written in the following specific format - ‘Rotary Club of Shepperton and Sunbury’.
Also, in case you haven’t dealt with the Holiday Inn, we’ve had to set a deadline of May 17th for responses in order that we can then comply with their deadline just a few days later. All numbers we give are then a firm commitment which is why we must ensure we have bookings by the date we have set.
We’re really hoping bring local organisations together to celebrate our lovely local area and all the voluntary work done. Also just to say, proceeds raised on the night will be used to support local charities especially Homestart, Purple Angels, White Lodge and my President’s charity Thames Sailability.
BESS Application - Further Developments
Those who have been following the saga of the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) being proposed for Green Belt land in Sunbury will recall LOSRA’s update article from 19 March on our concerns around Spelthorne BC’s assessment that the application did not require the provision of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Since then a number of new documents have appeared on the application website. These include not just a new EIA Screening Assessment by SBC, but also a ‘PDAS Update Note’ and a ‘Response to Residents Associations’ by the Applicant. SBC has also posted an intriguing consultee response dated 12 February from the Surrey Fire & Rescue Service.
The Standard Consultation Expiry Date was also extended, to the 3 rd May, but we understand that comments will continue to be accepted until the application is decided.
We have also recently had confirmation that the BESS application (24/00017/FUL) has been called in by one of the ward councillors and will therefore be going to a SBC Planning Committee meeting in due course. It is of course only right that this unprecedented (for SBC, at least) scheme should be fully understood and assessed by councillors of the several wards that would be adversely affected by such a very large industrial installation on Green Belt land.
In the meantime we have studied the new documents noted above. As LOSRA we will be posting our comments onto the SBC planning website and we would encourage other residents who feel strongly about this proposal to do likewise, even if they are one of the 271 objectors out of the 278 who have previously submitted comments.
LOSRA’s latest views are included in an article that can be found here
Shepperton and Sunbury Rotary Club 75th Anniversary Celebration
The President of our local Rotary Club has asked LOSRA to announce its 75th Anniversary Celebration and we are to happy oblige.
"We hope that you will join us for our 75th Anniversary Charity Dinner on Saturday 28 June 2024 from 6.30pm until 11.30pm in ‘Storyboard’ at Holiday Inn, Felix Lane, Shepperton, TW17 8NP."
For poster and details, click here
The link for booking: https://forms.office.com/r/Mbvg6VwCLH
Lower Sunbury Hedgehog Project
The Lower Sunbury Hedgehog Project is a campaign initiated by the Lower Sunbury Residents Association in partnership with Friends of Sunbury Park and Spelthorne Borough Council. Our aim is to arrest the decline in our local hedgehog population and if possible improve their numbers.
Hedgehogs are in danger across the UK – the population has declined drastically through loss and fragmentation of habitat, and our situation is no different. We see very few hedgehogs these days compared to 20 years ago. We can all help.
You can access the Project via this QR code which will take you to the Facebook page:
Cows Make Their Annual Return to Sunbury Park
Nine Aberdeen Angus returned to Sunbury Park last week as part of the successful conservation grazing regime.
They help control invasive grassland species and make way for a diversity of wildflowers.
They’ll be there until October/November.
Jump 66 Return to the SCC on 12th April
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club is on Friday 12th April and features the welcome return of JUMP 66, who have done a couple of fabulous, fun rocking shows for the Club in recent years.
Now sporting a beefed-up six-piece line-up, they play a distinctive good-time mix of retro rhythm & blues, early soul, jumping swing and infectious ska Led by former Commitments member Rhod Davies, they now include the charismatic front man Paul Kissaun (ex-Flying Pickets) and keyboardist Pete Saunders (ex-Dexy’s Midnight Runners).
They regularly appear at the Swanage Blues festival, Wolverton Folk & Blues Festival and the Ealing Blues Festival, and there’s info, music, photos and gig list at www.jump66blues.com.
They’re guaranteed to deliver a fun, rocking night to bring our winter season of Music Nights to a close - this is the Club's last Music Night before they shut down for the cricket season during the summer, so get along and make the most of it.
It's £10.00 on the door payable by cash or card. Hot food will be available as usual from about 6.30pm, and the band will be on stage at 8.30pm or a bit later.
