The AGM on the 20^th June attracted a full house and attendees were urged to complete their responses to the consultation on the Issues and Options for the Local Plan following a very helpful presentation by Ann Biggs, the Strategic Planning Manager for Spelthorne and Geoff Dawes, the Principle Planning Officer.

If you were unable to attend and have not yet completed the consultation form we urge you to do so as the closing date is midnight tonight.

The form will only take a few minutes to complete by clicking on the link below. We have published a specimen (scroll down to article of 18^th June) which was compiled after the Association had taken legal advice.

https://consult.spelthorne.gov.uk/consult.ti

LoSRA has received a notice from County Councillor Tim Evans which announces pavement repairs in Thames Street commencing 2^nd July.

To see his notice click here

Since publication of our initial briefing note (see article of 28^th May) the Association, in conjunction with Keep Kempton Green (KKG), has now had the benefit of legal advice from which a specimen of ‘model’ answers has been produced. Readers who subscribe to the KKG mailing list may already have received this.

There is nothing particularly contentious in the model which departs marginally from our earlier briefing note but it accords greater emphasis to the status of Kempton Park Green Belt.

The model is not intended to be prescriptive but residents may wish to adopt some or all of the answers in their responses. If you have already completed your questionnaire but have a preference for answers contained within the model, fear not as Spelthorne have confirmed that responses already submitted can be amended.

The closing date for submissions, 25^th June, remains unchanged and if you are still unsure what to do, or need further clarification, why not come to our AGM on 20^th June, 8pm at the Riverside Arts Centre. Our guest speaker Ann Biggs, the Strategic Planning Manager for Spelthorne will be available to answer questions.

To view specimen of ‘model’ answers, click here

Get your tickets for the next show, Terry Pratchett's 'Guards! Guards!', showing at the end of this month. Following the successes of ''Allo! Allo' and 'Are You Being Served?', the Riverside Players are joining forces with Shepperton Players to bring us another fabulous comedy this summer.

'Guards! Guards!' is full of fantastical themes - terrifying and comic in equal measure. The security of the city of Ankh-Morpok is in the hands of its City Night Watch, an undervalued and underfunded bunch. When they suddenly find themselves up against a massive fire-breathing monster, they need to up their game – and fast!

For poster and booking details, click here

The state of the roads is frustrating many local residents who contact Spelthorne by the hundreds by phone, email, social media and even visiting the Council. However, it is Surrey County Council who are responsible for the upkeep of our roads and pavements, not Spelthorne Borough Council.

A petition has been set up to ask the government to debate Surrey's pothole issues in the Houses of Parliament. The online petition asks the government to reform its funding formula which decides how much cash should be given for road repairs. Surrey County Council says the method for calculating the amount penalises the County because it is calculated on the length of a road and not the volume of traffic. Visit https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/217930 to sign the petition.

To find out more about Surrey's pothole plans or to report a pothole, click here

Performances are held between 2-4pm at either the Walled Garden, Thames Street, Sunbury, TW16 6AB where a limited number of chairs are available – (you are welcome to bring your own); or at the Lammas Band Stand, Lammas Recreaton Ground, Wraysbury Road, Staines-upon-Thames where you will need to bring hour own chairs or picnic blankets.

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 15^th 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 2^nd 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.

To see the briefing note, click here

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 10^th 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