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.
Surrey CC Planning Committee to Re-hear Eco Park Application
We are very grateful to all those readers who took the time to respond to our appeal (see report of 16th January). It was also feared that the application to develop the Eco Park would be approved by SCC officers without the matter again being considered by Planning and Regulatory Committee. We have always maintained that, in view of the material matters which have come to light since the application was referred to the Secretary of State, a further hearing was imperative, if only in the interests of democratic fair play.
The following paragraphs are an extract from an email received from County Cllr Marisa Heath, Chairman of the Planning and Regulatory Committee:
"As it has now been confirmed that the application is to come back to the Planning and Regulatory Committee, I am not going to comment on the specific points you raise as that will jeopardise my position. However, they have been read and noted.
"Just to alleviate any concerns you may have over a lack of information on the process, it may interest you to know that a total of 1908 notification letters covering those who have previously expressed an interest in the application and to properties adjoining and in the locality of the site will be sent out in the next couple of days. A public notice will appear in the Surrey Herald on Thursday 2 February and notices will be placed on site. Our website http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/ will be updated ready for publication on Wednesday and will have the documents referred to in the notification letter available for downloading. Please be assured that members of the public and interested parties will have access to all the information and will have the opportunity to put forward views to be considered by members of the Committee, some of which represent and live in the Spelthorne area."
It should be noted that you are being asked to submit (or re-submit) your representations. For the purposes of the P&R Committee the project is being treated as a fresh application, the last one having been heard before the Advertising Standards Authority published their damning final adjudication on the public consultation. (See also articles of 26th October, 7th & 22nd December). In making further representations you may wish to consider the following points which were reflected in the ASA judgement:
The technology is not proven, as claimed by SITA. Shepperton would receive an untried, untested prototype gasification unit.
The reference sites that SITA claim are "operating successfully with emissions falling within predicted levels" has been ruled as misleading, unsubstantiated and also fail on environmental claims, as the quoted Dumfries site has suffered operational issues since inception and experiences emission breaches on an alarmingly regular basis.
LOSRA has just been notified that the Planning & Regulatory Committee will be re-hearing the application on 9th March at County Hall, Kingston at 10am.
Watersplash Farm, CEMEX Consultation
Further to the article posted on 18th January, the public consultation exhibition at the Holiday Inn was attended by LOSRA at exactly the same time as the details of the plan were being uploaded to the CEMEX Website. It is emphasised that no planning application has yet been lodged with Surrey County Council who will ultimately decide whether to approve or refuse it.
If you were unable to visit the exhibition you may view CEMEX intentions and associated documents by visiting their website: http://www.cemexcommunities.co.uk/
For further information contact: Mark Kelly, Project Planner CEMEX UK - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
You may also wish to visit Sunbury and Shepperton Against Gravel Extraction at: http://www.ssage.org.uk/
Police College, Full Planning Application Now Submitted by Linden Homes
Further to articles published on this Site on 20th October and 3rd November, Linden Homes has now formally applied for full planning permission for the Police College Site in Green Street.
The application follows a period of public consultation and one-to-one representations from neighbouring residents.
The site is a "brownfield" (ie previously developed land) and the number of homes falls within the density limits.
The planning application and associated documents may be viewed by clicking here
Forthcoming Music Events at Sunbury Cricket Club
The following announcement comes from the Chairman of the Sunbury Sports Association:
"A belated Happy New Year to you all, and here’s hoping, among other things, for some great evenings of music at Sunbury Cricket Club during 2012. This is by way of an introduction to the events already in the diary for the first few months of the year, which will be added to and updated as we go along. However, as you will see, we already have some exciting things in the book. We have built on the experience of our first year or so, and have tried to bring you names with a real background and heritage in the business, and also one or two important contemporary stars, including touring American artists. We are also aiming to increase the frequency of the music nights, so that they are occasionally at fortnightly intervals rather than monthly, as we have quite a pool of new bands to bring into the calendar, quite apart from those who have appeared before who we would like to get back."
Gravel Extraction at Watersplash Farm, Fordbridge Road - Public Consultation 23rd January
LOSRA has just been advised that the gravel mining firm, CEMEX Ltd will be holding a public consultation event at the Holiday Inn, Ferry Lane, Shepperton.
So far as we understand it, the event will take place during the afternoon and evening of 23rd January. At the time of writing we have had no formal communication from the Company and this Site will be updated just as soon as more detail becomes known.
Update as at 19th January; the following email has been received from the applicants Cemex Ltd:
"As part of the Mineral Plan, adopted by Surrey County Council, we propose to extract sand and gravel over 4 – 5 years from Watersplash Farm site, off Fordbridge Road, Shepperton.
We plan to extract the material in phases and progressively restore the land back to agriculture and nature conservation, while minimising the environmental impact.
Please do come and join us at an informal public consultation on Monday 23rd January 2012, from 1 – 8pm in the Hampton Suite, Holiday Inn Hotel, Shepperton TW17 8NP. Our plans will be displayed and you will be able to discuss them with colleagues."
For further information contact: Mark Kelly, Project Planner CEMEX UK - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We are very disappointed at the very short notice given for this consultation and appropriate representations have been made to Cemex.
Eco Park - Not too Late to Make Your Views Known
Despite the numerous articles published on this Site, Spelthorne Council has received a mere 4 letters in opposition to the proposed Eco Park.
The planning application for the Eco Park is back with Surrey County Council for final approval. The Minister for Local Government and Communities has not given it his approval, but handed it back to Surrey to determine.
Despite all the flaws in the application that have been pointed out, Surrey has no alternative plan so it is very likely to be passed.
Spelthorne Borough Council is also aware of the shortcomings of the application and will be opposing it but needs to be able to state that there is strong local opposition. There is a petition going round but individual messages are far more effective.
If, after reading the following facts, you are as incensed as us that Charlton Village will be used as a receptacle for large amounts of Surrey’s waste then please email the Deputy Leader of the Council at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and express your opposition to the plan. You can use some, or all, of these points in your message:
- Surrey says that the technology proposed is proven. Not true – the example it uses is still not working after at least 18 months. It is also potentially dangerous as it produces highly explosive gas by heating unsorted black-bag waste. The plant will be sited only 400 metres from Charlton Village and incorporates a Community Recycling Centre where you drop off your domestic waste. Remember, if it can go wrong it will!
- Surrey says that the Eco Park will not affect air quality. Not true – Spelthorne is already an Air Quality Management Area as it often exceeds the EU guidelines on nitrous oxide emissions. Any further emissions must be detrimental, and the plan doesn’t cover particulates that are especially harmful to health.
- The ‘artists impression’ on the newsletters doesn’t an accurate illustration of scale. The chimney/stack will be at least 165ft high (think Nelson’s Column) and the buildings will cover the equivalent of two football pitches. It will be ¾ the size of Grundon’s at Colnbrook.
- Local estate agents have confirmed that the planned Eco Park is already concerning people looking to buy property locally and potentially affecting prices.
Please act as soon as possible.
More...
Forthcoming Coffee Concerts at the Riverside Arts Centre
The Sunbury and Shepperton Arts Association is delighted to announce their forthcoming Series of Coffee Concerts at the Riverside Arts Centre. Three concerts are to be held Saturday 28th January, Saturday 25th February and Saturday 28th April; and will feature works by Mozart, Brahms, Locatelli and Beethoven. Please see attached leaflet for details.
Walton Bridge - Programme of Works
Residents may have experienced long delays in their journeys along Fordbridge Road and the A244. The full programme of works which is detailed below will entail occasional night and weekend closures of Walton Bridge during its construction which started this month.
January 2011 - Advance construction works start.
May to September 2011 - Archaeological investigation.
September to October 2011 - Earthworks in new open space.
September 2011 - Diversion of pipes and cables commence.
January 2012 - Main construction works start.
June 2013 - New bridge completed and brought into use.
July 2013 - Demolition of existing bridges commences, followed by final landscaping works.
March 2014 - Works completed.
Lower Sunbury Policing Update December 2011
PC Caroline Barnes has forwarded her police report for the month of December. Click here to view.
Has Anyone Seen Dexter?
The following appeal has been forwarded to LOSRA and we are very happy to help the owner trace the missing family pet. If you spot Dexter or know of his whereabouts please contact LOSRA.
"Have you seen our missing ginger cat, Dexter? He is very friendly and social but can be quite nervous too. He disappeared from Woodberry Close, Sunbury on the morning of December 8th 2011.
He is only 10 months old but looks quite large as he has long hair. He was wearing a black collar with a blue paw shaped ID tag and a reflective yellow flea collar. He has not been neutered and has been microchipped so will be easily identifiable.
Please check your sheds or garages and please keep an eye out for him. We are extremely worried about him. If you have seen him or know anything that might help us locate him, please get in touch."
"Eco Park" Surrey County Council to Look Again?
Further to articles published on this Site on 7th and 14th December, we publish below the answer to the question put to SCC by Cllr. Caroline Nichols on behalf of LOSRA. The answer has been written with great care and does not commit Surrey Council's Planning and Regulatory Committee to re-consider the application; merely that officers will re-examine the matter in the light of new factors which might be regarded as material considerations. Needless to say we would contend that the findings of the Advertising Standards Authority, published since SCC approved the application, are unquestionably material considerations and would amply justify re-consideration by the P & R Committee. We await developments.
Dear Councillor Nichols,
I am writing to answer the question you put to the County Council on 13th December about the Eco Park planning application.
You asked whether the planning application would be reconsidered following the ASA’s ruling on SITA’s consultation material. I can assure you that there will be a re-examination of the application.
It is the County Council's standard practice for all committee planning decisions to be re-examined by officers where there has been a delay in issuing the decision notice following a committee resolution. This is done to assess whether any new factors have arisen since the committee decision which might rationally be regarded as a material consideration, and which might require the committee to consider the application again. This process was established by a protocol that was agreed by the Planning and Regulatory Committee in 2003.
We have sent you a copy of the protocol and committee report under separate cover. The process is known as the Kides review, as it followed a Court of Appeal judgement on the case of Kides vs Cambridgeshire District Council. This process is the one being followed for the Eco Park.
So far officers have carried out an extensive consultation exercise to assess whether any new factors have emerged since the resolution to grant. We have written to around thirty organisations and individuals including yourself, the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. Some respondents have drawn our attention to new factors which they state are material considerations and this information will be examined carefully by officers including Legal Services.
Clearly I cannot speculate on the outcome of this process at present. The results are expected in the next month and will be made public. However, there is no specific timescale governing the Kides review. We will aim to complete the process as soon as possible in order to reduce public uncertainty about the application and I will write to you if for any reason there is a delay.
Thank you for your questions.
With best wishes,
Marisa
County Cllr Marisa Heath, Chairman of the Planning and Regulatory Committee
Alert - Increase in Door-to-door Tradesmen
The following alert has been sent to LOSRA by our neighbourhood officer, PC Caroline Barnes:
Over recent weeks we have seen an increase of door to door sales persons knocking on residents doors offering to sell goods or do work to their properties in Sunbury.
A resident reported recently that a trader who they had employed to complete some work on their property following the company doing door to door sales calls continuously raised the price for the job and therefore put a great amount of pressure onto the resident to pay the extortionate amount of money. Thankfully we were informed and were able to take the necessary action to ensure the resident did not pay any money to the rogue trader.
I would like to remind residents to consider the following advice in an effort to try and prevent you from becoming victims of distraction burglaries or rogue traders during the festive season:
Whenever anyone calls at your door:
STOP
And think. Are you expecting a visitor? Are all your doors locked?
CHAIN
Put the chain or bar on BEFORE opening the door.
Use a spyhole or the window to see who it is.
CHECK
Ask for a caller's ID. Check it thoroughly, call the company (look up the number yourself). A genuine caller won't mind waiting, or coming back later when you have somebody you trust with you.
I would advise all residents not to employ anyone who has knocked on your door offering to do work. If you need any works done to your property contact a company directly yourself. If you need assistance with choosing a company please contact Trading Standards who will be able to assist you further.
Should you not wish to buy anything from door to door sales persons then politely say NO and shut the door. Should they become intimidating, abusive or refuse to leave call 999 immediately.
Please do not be afraid to report any suspicious activity to police by calling 101 or 999 in the case of an emergency. We want to stop this crime from occurring to others and any information available is very much appreciated.
Orchard Meadow Nominated for QE11 Field Status
The following press release has been forwarded to LOSRA by Spelthorne Council and we are very pleased to reproduce it here:
Spelthorne Council has decided to nominate two open spaces in the Borough for Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Field status.
The spaces earmarked in Spelthorne are Orchard Meadow in Sunbury and Stanwell New Start open space.
The QEII Field project is an opportunity for residents of Spelthorne to be part of a high profile national campaign to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and also the London 2012 Olympics.
The aim of the project is to protect outdoor recreational space and, in so doing, raise the profile of parks and open spaces, encouraging the public to make better use of them. Further, it is hoped that extra funding may be made available to community groups, could mean further improvements can be made. The QEII Field status is in perpetuity although there is some flexibility for developments should these be considered necessary.,
Councillor Penny Forbes-Forsyth, Cabinet Member for Parks and Leisure commented: “I am delighted that two valuable open spaces in Spelthorne can go forward to be considered. This will ensure that this Borough can be part of a high profile national campaign to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics next year in London.
“The project will certainly raise the profile of the Borough’s parks and open spaces and also, I hope, make sure they are used and appreciated by members of the public”.
Surrey Police Rogues Gallery and crime prevention advice
Rogues Gallery launched to name and shame convicted burglars and ask for information on those ‘Most Wanted’
Surrey Police has launched a new section on the Force’s website today to trace those both wanted and suspected of being involved in various burglary offences across the county. The section also names and shames those recently put behind bars.
http://www.surrey.police.uk/media/rogues_gallery.asp
The Rogues Gallery is split into three sections - 'Behind Bars', 'Most Wanted', and 'Do you know these people?' and it will run for an initial three month trial period. The Rogues Gallery will be updated on a regular basis with new convictions to highlight how the public have helped Surrey Police put criminals ‘Behind Bars’. It will also be updated regularly with those ‘Most Wanted’ or suspected of being involved in burglaries.
