The introductory Line to the Eco Park Story on the SCC Website reads as follows: "Plans to create an Eco Park to treat waste and generate green electricity have been given the go-ahead by the Government".

This statement is of course pure spin and factually untrue. The Secretary of State did not "call in" the application so has not expressed a view one way or the other. He simply referred it back to SCC. The County Council should not be allowed to hide behind the Minister by implying that the decision had nothing to do with them.

The following question has been submitted by the Hon. Chairman, LOSRA, for reply at Council on 13th December 2011:

"Council will be aware that the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has, after 5 months of deliberation, declined to call-in the application to install a gasifier and anaerobic digester at the Charlton Lane Waste Management Facility in Shepperton, thus referring it back to SCC for determination.

Council will also be aware that it was after approval by the Planning & Regulatory Committee of the application by SITA UK that the Advertising Standards Authority found that Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) Code had been breached in respect of rules 3.1, 3.2, 3.3 (Misleading advertising), 3.7 (unsubstantiated claims), 11.1 and 11.4 (Environmental claims).My question comes in 4 parts:

1. Will the Council accept that the public consultation which was required to be undertaken by SITA UK was flawed in that the Company misled the public in the critical areas highlighted by the ASA?
2. Since the ASA has found against SITA UK in these critical areas will the Council accept that the public have not therefore been consulted with the full and unvarnished truth; and that SITA UK’s obligation to consult the public has therefore not been fulfilled?
3. Given that the ASA adjudication was published on 26th October 2011, ie after the application had been approved by the PRC, will the Council now take the procedural/legal steps necessary to revoke the approval?
4. If the Council does not, will it accept that for the historical record, and for the enlightenment of future generations, it has approved the installation of the gasifier in a populated area of Sunbury/Shepperton, and in an Area of Air Quality Management (AQM), without evidence that it is a proven environmental technology; and without evidence that it has operated successfully elsewhere?"

Once again, the late outcomes of two very significant planning applications have delayed the publication of our Autumn Newsletter. Whilst the Website has carried news of these items and other matters of interest, the Newsletter provides more detail. It will be delivered to all Lower Sunbury households from next weekend but it is available to view and download by clicking here.

The Lower Sunbury Business Community is holding the annual Christmas market on Avenue Parade outside the shops on Thursday December 15th this year from 5pm - 9pm. It is on the same day as the Carols in the Meadow, so come along, sing some carols and get in the Christmas spirit.

There will be lots of gift ideas, tempting tastes and purchases to make. The shops will be staying open later that evening and you may find a few serving mulled wine! Don’t miss this occasion.

The LSBC looks forward to seeing you there. Further details of the Carol Concert will be published on this Site in the next few days.

The following is an extract from a letter received by LOSRA today from the National Planning Casework Unit :

"The Secretary of State has carefully considered this case against call-in policy, as set out in the 1999 Caborn Statement. The policy makes it clear that the power to call in a case will only be used very selectively. The Government is committed to give more power to councils and communities to make their own decisions on planning issues, and believes planning decisions should be made at the local level wherever possible.

The Secretary of State has carefully considered the impact of the proposal, and the key policy issues which this case raises. In his opinion, the proposals do not: involve a conflict with national policies on important matters; have significant effects beyond their immediate locality; give rise to substantial regional or nation controversy; raise significant architectural and urban design issues; or involve the interests of national security or of Foreign Governments. Nor does he consider that there is any other sufficient reason to call the application in for his own determination. He has therefore decided the application should be determined at local level, and has not called it in. The decision as to whether to grant planning permission will therefore remain with Surrey County Council."

It goes without saying that we are staggered by this mystifying decision as we believe that at least two grounds for a Secretary of State's determination are satisfied, namely; that the application for the incinerator will have significant effects beyond its immediate locality; and that there are significant architectural and urban design issues. Readers will doubtless make up their own minds as to why, after the application had been deliberated for 5 months by the DCLG (Department of Communities and Local Government), it has taken so long to reach this decision. All the more puzzling when we consider that the Secretary of State had been made aware of the Advertising Standards Authority findings that SITA, the contractors, had misled the public in three important respects during their public consultation (See entry for 26th October).

The latest news on the Skate Park in Green Street, initiatives to tackle speeding, fly-tipping and the Sunbury Football Project are all featured in Caroline's November report.

In April,2010,the Old Hamptonians Amateur Dramatic Society,(OHADS),a local amateur drama group of some 80 years standing, were privileged to present an evening dedicated to the genius of Tony Hancock, and his writers, Alan Simpson and Ray Galton, both of whom live locally. The production was completely sold out and it received consistently enthusiastic reviews. Indeed, the performance of "Hancock" received three nominations in last year's Richmond upon Thames "Swan Drama Awards", and Andy Smith received the "Best Actor" award for his portrayal of Tony. Alan and Ray were also kind enough to come along and see the production, and were very appreciative of OHADS's efforts.

As last time, the cast will perform six shows. These shows will consist of two studio "Half Hour" recreations of the classic radio series in the first half of the evening, followed by a fully dramatised show drawn from the TV series. This year, the two drama productions are the classic "The Lift" and " The Reunion Party". A very strong cast is in place, and again Andy Smith with be portraying Tony in "The Lift" and the "Reunion Party".

As the shows are being performed close to Christmas, two Christmas shows are to be performed, one of them being the relatively little known "Department Store Santa" half hour, which is a real gem.

The details are as follows: 

Monday 12th December, Wednesday 14th December, Friday 16th December at 7.45 pm; and Saturday 16th December (matinee) at 2.45pm

• "A Sunday Afternoon at Home"
• "Hancock's Happy Christmas"
• "The Lift"

Tuesday 13th December, Thursday 15th December, Saturday 17th December at 7.45 pm

• "The Wild Man of the Woods"
• "The Department Store Santa"
• "The Reunion Party"

Tickets for the show will be £10, and all enquiries for tickets should be addressed to Mr. Bernard Wigginton,who can be contacted on 0208 979 4596.

This is the first time that Old Hamptonians Amateur Dramatic Society has performed at the Riverside Arts Centre, so it would be great if they were to be given a warm reception by our local community.