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.
Police College Development Action Group - Appeal for Funds
Thank you to those residents who have responded so far to our appeal for funds to cover the costs of fighting this appeal (See articles of 15th and 19th October).
We would be grateful for any donations, no matter how small. Whilst this particular development concerns one corner of Lower Sunbury we believe the the threat of over-development affects everyone.
We are now able to facilitate your contribution by Paypal. Please click on the PayPal "Donate" button below to make a donation to PCDAG (Police College Development Action Group).
Planning application submitted for gravel working at Watersplash Farm
As expected, Cemex have submitted a planning application to Surrey County Council for the extraction of gravel from Watersplash Farm adjoining Fordbridge Road between Sunbury and Shepperton.
Since the outcome of the Surrey Minerals Plan consultation process which resulted in Watersplash Farm being identified for working for gravel, despite a strong campaign by SSAGE (Sunbury & Shepperton Against Gravel Extraction) we have been in contact with Cemex, the owners of the site, to ensure we are in touch with the process.
Discussions have clarified that, contrary to SCC’s original plan, there will be no aggregates recycling plant at the site, which is good news. In addition, the plan for re-instating the site has been clarified. It would be returned to top quality agricultural land with the current market gardening company working it, while the eastern end of the site along the course of the River Ash would become a nature reserve with enhanced public footpath access. Working would last a total of five years.
We received word as we went to press on 22nd October that SCC has validated the application, which was unexpected as it usually takes longer. There is now, in theory, a period of 28 days when representations and comments on the application can be made. Thereafter, the planning authority then have 16 weeks to determine the application. The reality, however, is that the application is not expected to go before the Planning Committee before the second half of 2013, and comments will be accepted for way in excess of the 28 days and virtually up until determination takes place.
However, now that it is validated, we are working with Cemex for them to stage a further exhibition of the plans so that residents are fully informed. This is likely to be before Christmas, but obviously there has been no opportunity to organise it yet, so please keep an eye on the web site for details of this and how to make comments or objections. We will try to ensure that there is plenty of other publicity as well. There is a lot of information on the Cemex web site at www.cemexcommunities.co.uk in the “Shepperton” section.
One of the main issues remains the access to and from the site on to Gaston Bridge Road, and the effect on local residents, and this is still under discussion. In reality, having fought our case on this for several years through the consultation, we do not think there is a realistic chance of planning permission being refused, and our objective would be to mitigate the impact as much as possible. This is not a position of weakness or abdication of our responsibilities. There is no way that in the long run we can resist the working of gravel on this site. That battle has been fought several times over the last 30 years, and has now been lost. The best we can do now is to work with Cemex to achieve the best possible outcome for residents.
Planning Application to Install Asbestos Waste Transfer Station
Whilst not in the catchment area of our Association, residents may be interested to read a proposal for the installation of a licensed transfer station for asbestos waste at 111 Windmill Road. Details may be viewed by visiting: http://my.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning/ and quoting reference number 12/01265. The full application should be read carefully before deciding whether or not to comment. The closing date for representations in 2nd November 2012.
Top Indie Rock Act Diesel Park West at Sunbury Cricket Club, Friday 2nd November
Sunbury Cricket Club has already welcomed some artists with notable backgrounds in the music business during their series of Music Nights, and the next presentation on Friday 2nd November at 8.30pm maintains that sequence in no uncertain terms as the Club presents Diesel Park West, who enjoyed significant success during their time with EMI during the ‘90s, including chart singles and albums.
Led by the highly individual creative power of John Butler, Diesel Park West remain a respected force in the indie rock scene, retaining their roots in the West Coast rock sounds of the ‘60s while continuing to evolve their music over a series of highly-rated albums. Influenced by seminal California bands like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield and Moby Grape, their music is always accessible and entertaining without ever being too “safe”, so there is no doubt that this will be an exciting evening.
For their latest album they re-unite with Chris Kimsey, who has produced the Rolling Stones, The Who and The Sex Pistols, and who produced their debut album some 20 years ago. This gig is promoted by Brett Todd, who has brought us Protect The Beat, Buddy Whittington and Barnes Blues Band, and we are pleased to announce another high quality event. The Club is punching well above its weight in bringing an act of this stature to Sunbury, so this is certainly one to put in the diary. Don’t miss it. For further details and to join the Music Night mailing list contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Info, music & video at www.dieselparkwest.com
Coffee Concerts at the Riverside Arts Centre
The Sunbury & Shepperton Arts Association is delighted to announce the 2012/13 season of Coffee Concerts at the Riverside Arts Centre.
The first concert on 17 November features the popular local pianist, Ingrid Attwater. In February we welcome Joseph Tong who gives a piano recital of music by Debussy, Rachmaninoff and Schubert. In March the talented Mirage Trio bring us music for flute, viola and harp and in April a welcome return by baritone, Stephen Willis, and guitarist Steve Christmas, who will present a selection of songs from the Renaissance to the present day.
Tickets for these recitals are £7.50 each and include coffee and croissant and tickets may be booked by phoning the box office on 01932 782788. Full details of the events may be viewed by clicking here.
Police College - Public Inquiry Concluded
After a gruelling 4 days for all concerned, the Public Inquiry into Linden Homes' application to build 44 houses on the Police College site concluded today.
The residents' case turned on the unacceptable levels of planning harm that would flow from seeking to maximise (as opposed to optimise) the development potential of the Appeal Site and can be summarised as follows:
- The Appeal Scheme proposed fails to provide any open space for children's play area and fails to mitigate the harm that this would cause.
- The Appeal Scheme would have a significant adverse impact on adjacent residential amenity in terms of the overbearing bulk and proximity of the proposed built form.
- The Appeal Scheme's density in terms of dwellings per hectare has led to a built form that is inappropriate for the area in which the Appeal Site is situated.
- The Appeal Scheme's proposed access onto Green Street is incompatible with the operation of the local transport infrastructure, namely the Triangle.
- The Appeal Scheme falls materially short of making appropriate provision for off-street parking.
The QC for the Appellants, Linden Homes, declared that "We have spent some time on the fall back position (44 units as opposed to 28 already approved by Planning Committee). As the site is in the ownership of a house builder, the principle of residential development is accepted and a planning permission has recently been granted for 28 units, the likelihood of re-use for a [residential training facility] recedes. However, as [a witness] observed, until this appeal is determined and the recent planning permission remains unchallenged by judicial review we cannot be sure. It would not be the first planning permission issued against officer advice which has been challenged by disaffected interest groups or residents (The Police College Development Action Group do not have the monopoly on local opinion)."
LOSRA has been advised that, in the absence of a challenge by judicial review in the High Court, Linden Homes intend to proceed with the 28 unit plan and, as indicated by the QC's statement, the reasons for appealing the refusal of the 44 unit was simply a precaution against any individual applying for a JR of the 28 unit plan already approved. We hope to be advised of the outcome in the New Year.
More...
Police College Public Inquiry - Appeal for Funds
Dear Resident,
Earlier this week, Spelthorne Council and Linden Homes reached an agreement in principle regarding a Section 106 financial contribution to the Council, in lieu of the lack of affordable housing in the 28-unit plan for the Police College site.
We welcome this agreement, and in particular we welcome Linden Homes’ stated desire to implement the 28-unit plan without delay.
However, as we warned several weeks ago, this agreement in principle has come too late for Linden Homes to withdraw their Appeal on the 44-unit scheme, the public enquiry for which starts next Tuesday, 16 October.
As a result, we are now committed to incur legal costs to fight this Appeal. We have already retained a specialist planning barrister, and we want him to represent us at the appeal hearing which is due to last four days. If we do not put up a robust defence of the Council’s original decision to refuse the 44-unit application, we run the risk that there could be two approved plans for the Police College site, and the 44-unit plan could be built after all – an outcome which no-one wants. It is imperative that we persuade the Planning Inspector that the 44-unit plan should be rejected again on Appeal.
We, the PCDAG Steering Group, have already put our hands in our pockets to provide money to pay for the barrister to date. Now, however, we need more financial support than we can manage ourselves. We regret that we are therefore forced into asking for contributions, no matter how small, towards paying these costs, but really have no alternative.
If you would like to contribute, please forward a cheque, indicating that it is for the Linden Homes Appeal, made out to LOSRA, (Lower Sunbury Residents Association), to:
Mrs Colleen Cuthbert, The Secretary, LOSRA, 8 Maryland Way, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, TW16 6HR
All contributions and expenditure will, of course, be fully and publicly accounted for. Any eventual surplus will be used by LOSRA to fight further inappropriate development proposals in the area.
Regretfully yours,
THE PCDAG STEERING GROUP
Consultation on Council's Emerging Priorities
The following message to Residents' Associations has been received from Spelthorne Council Leader Cllr Frank Ayers. We are pleased to reproduce it here:
Spelthorne Council is presently asking for views on its emerging priorities. This consultation was launched at the Spelthorne Assembly and is available electronically on the Council’s website at www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/3516/Council-priorities-consultation
A pdf of the consultation is attached
It would be very helpful if you could pass on the questionnaire to your members for their views which we would value greatly. The deadline is 20 October.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Councillor Frank Ayers - Leader of the Council
BBC Surrey Community Heroes Awards
The following email from BBC Surrey has been received by LOSRA and we are pleased to reproduce it here:
I am delighted to announce the return of the BBC Surrey Community Heroes Awards.
BBC Surrey is the BBC local radio station broadcasting across Surrey, North East Hampshire and North Sussex on 104 and 104.6FM, also online. Now in its second year, we are once again searching for unsung heroes from the local community, whose efforts often go unrewarded. This is the perfect opportunity for us to celebrate the people who make our county such a great place to live or work in.
We have ten categories:
- YOUNG ACHIEVER - Awarded to anyone aged 18 or under, who has demonstrated maturity beyond their years.
- COURAGE - Awarded to someone who has demonstrated exceptional courage in the face of adversity.
- 999 - Presented to a member of the emergency services for commitment to their profession.
- SPORT - Awarded to someone who has contributed to local sporting life, either playing a sport or acting as a referee etc.
- GOOD NEIGHBOUR - Awarded to the person who goes out of their way to help their neighbours.
- FUNDRAISER - Someone who has gone the extra mile to raise funds for a charity or good cause.
- VOLUNTEER - Awarded to a person who gives up their time voluntarily to help out a charity or good cause.
- LOCAL ENTREPRENEUR - Recognising an individual or company's contribution to supporting the local business community.
- ANIMAL WELFARE - Someone who goes out of their way to care for animals.
- OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - The one person from all nominations received who the judges feel worthy of special recognition.
There are two ways to make a nomination and it couldn’t be easier! Just tell us in no more than 250 words who you would like to nominate and why. Please include your name, address and contact number, then email your nomination to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Alternatively, you can post your nomination to BBC Surrey, Broadcasting Centre, Guildford, GU2 7AP.
The deadline for suggestions is Midnight on Friday 2nd November 2012 and you can find all the terms and conditions on the BBC Surrey website: www.bbc.co.uk/surrey
All those who make the final shortlist will be invited along to a special awards ceremony in December and receive a certificate. The overall winner in each category will also receive a special trophy.
I really hope that you will be able to make a nomination in at least one of the categories.
Mark Carter - Assistant Managing Editor
History Society to Exhibit at Sunbury Library on 20th October
Come and see photos of Sunbury from the extensive archives of the Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society. Saturday 20th October between 10am and 4 o’clock.
There will be a display on the ground floor at Sunbury Library. Please bring your old photos and memories of Sunbury. Local history books will be on sale.
See the Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society website: sslhs.org.uk
You are Invited to Tell Surrey CC about the Worst Maintained Roads in Your Area
A series of roadshows asking residents for their views on Surrey's worst roads will run in the county this month.Residents will be able to put forward a road for possible inclusion in a proposed new road maintenance programme, designed to renew Surrey roads by resurfacing those in the worst condition.
SEVEN DAYS OF SUNBURY - An Arts in Education Project
Father Paul of St.Mary's Parish is pleased to announce the Seven Days of Sunbury, an Arts in Education Project.
The aim of the project is to unite seven Sunbury Schools (Chennestone, Hawkedale, Springfield, St Ignatius, Beauclerc, Bishop Wand and Sunbury Manor) to produce a stunning artwork entitled “Seven Days of Sunbury.”
Each School will be assigned a “Day of Creation” and will create their own artistic interpretation of the creation story incorporating aspects of life in Sunbury.
This unique artwork will consist of seven separate panels, framed by two Angel panels by Donagh Curwen. It will be on show in St Mary’s Church on Saturday 13th October, 2012 until 15th October between 10.00am and 4.00pm together with individual displays from each School expanding on their creation theme.
Revised 28 Dwelling Plan for Police College Site Gets Qualified Go-ahead
At the meeting of the Spelthorne Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, 19 September, the 28-unit plan for the Police College site was approved, with a rider attached.
The Police College Development Action Group (PCDAG) have been lobbying for this plan to be approved by the Council for several months. It is not a perfect plan but we think it is the best compromise available, because:
- It has a much lower density of housing than the previous, rejected, 44-unit plan, more in keeping with the surrounding residential area.
- It addresses the previous problem with the access point, by proposing a much more sensible exit and entrance onto Thames Street.
- There is far greater provision of on-site parking, thereby reducing the possible overspill into surrounding streets.
- It gives the developer financial viability.
There had been an earlier last-minute attempt by the Council to try and demand £1.1 million from Linden Homes in return for approval. This would have effectively scuppered the scheme, as it is most unlikely that Linden Homes would have agreed to pay such an inflated sum. The basis of this calculation was never explained.
Fortunately, Councillor Alfred Friday raised an amendment which will involve the Chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor Smith-Ainsley, and the Head of the Planning Office, Heather Morgan, negotiating with Linden Homes for the maximum possible S. 106 contribution in lieu of the lack of affordable homes in the plan. The negotiations have to be completed within three weeks.
We are now preparing for the Appeal of the 44-unit plan, which is running in parallel with the Application for the 28-unit plan. We had hoped that this Appeal would not have been necessary, but that opportunity appears now to have been lost.
Councillors Friday, Sandra Dunn, Tim Evans, Caroline Nichols, Daxa Patel and Suzy Webb, all from Lower Sunbury, have given residents solid support over the last ten months. We are very grateful to them, as we are to Councillor Chris Frazer and other Councillors from various wards within Spelthorne. It was however very disappointing that, apart from a very few faithful stalwarts, the public gallery was almost empty. This Website urged members to attend as did the e-bulletin; and it's reasonable to suppose (from informal feedback) that had the gallery been filled, the application may have been passed without the difficult condition being attached.
Sunbury Cricket Club Welcomes Back the Mustangs, Friday 28th
Back again this week with what is also guaranteed to be another highly entertaining evening as we welcome The Mustangs once again. They continue to develop their reputation as one of the most in-demand bands on the blues circuit, appearing at many of the most important festivals all around the country as well as their regular club gigs.
They did the Strawberry Hill Music Day for the second year running in July, playing a great show to around 4,000 people, then played the Cambridge Rock Festival for the second year running in August, and since then have played at the Blues on the Farm festival in Sussex and at the revived Crawdaddy Club in Richmond - the week after their SCC gig they are back at the Swanage Blues Festival for the sixth consecutive time.
As those who have seen them before at the Club, they deliver a real high-energy show, playing almost all original material, and they have quite a few new songs in the set since the last gig as they are preparing a new album. Those who have seen them before will want to catch them again, and if you haven't seen them, you really should come along for this one.
You can get full information, read reviews, listen to all their music, and see some excellent videos, on their web site at www.themustangs.co.uk
