Welcome to the LOSRA Website
As with any other local neighbourhood, the policies and actions which affect the character and future of Lower Sunbury are generally framed and implemented by a combination of local and national government, along with the vested interests and market forces which operate within those frameworks. Lower Sunbury is by no means unique in being under threat from a creaking infrastructure brought about by rapid urban development, the growth of traffic, and other pressures affecting the quality of life and the character of the area.
Working with the local authorities, we see it as the responsibility of residents’ and amenity groups such as LOSRA to address the underlying issues which fundamentally affect their members’ lives, as well as the minutiae of everyday life with which such groups are often concerned.
Please sign up to receive our regular e-bulletins by subscribing via the facility at the top left hand of this page. It goes without saying that, without your continued support we would cease to function so we urge you to join, or renew your membership now Subscriptions (£5 per household) for 2024 are now payable.
Aircraft Noise Complaints
Residents will be aware of a significant increase in aircraft noise over the last couple of weeks.
If you have been affected please use the link below to register your complaint. This is not a matter on which LOSRA can make a representation on behalf of residents as our voice will simply count as one complaint in this automated world.
It is up to individuals to register their disapproval by visiting: www.heathrow.com/noise/what-you-can-do
Modular Nursery Building Proposed in Cedars Park, Green Street
LOSRA has received a number of queries regarding the proposed modular nursery building to be sited on the north side of the existing car park and located to the immediate right (when entering) of the main vehicular access point to the Cedars park site in Green Street. There are currently car parking spaces on site but it is not proposed to increase the existing capacity. The Association is well aware that the car park is frequently used by parents dropping off children at nearby schools and as an overflow car park for the Sunbury Health Centre. Concerns have been expressed by residents that the car park fills up at peak times and that the installation of the proposed nursery building will exacerbate the problem.
Not having been notified directly, we heard about this application a bit late in the day; and it will be noted that the closing date for representations falls on 16th October. This said, the Planning Committee is obliged to consider all representations made up to the date of Planning Committee which will not be held until November. If you wish to make a representation, this may be completed online by visiting http://my.spelthorne.gov.uk/planning/ and searching Planning Reference 15/00614/FUL
Sunbury Cricket Club Welcomes MUNCH on Friday 23rd October
The next Music Night at the SCC is on Friday 23rd October when the Club welcomes MUNCH, led by ace keyboard player Dave ‘Munch’ Moore. The band were initially recommended to the Club by Paul Cox, lead singer of Fire & Water – Dave Moore occasionally deputises in Paul’s band and played at the Club last year with Paul Cox & The Proof – so they come with excellent credentials.
Dave Moore’s career goes back to the ‘70s when he was with No Dice, who toured Europe with Status Quo and did the Reading Festival, and was in Mainsqueeze for the legendary ‘Live at Ronnie Scotts’ session in 1983 with Dick Heckstall-Smith, Eric Bell, Victor Brox and John O’Leary. He was with Heckstall-Smith and Pete Brown for several years, and also toured with Bo Diddley. He is joined in Munch by the fine guitarist Pete Bennett, who opened shows for Cream and John Mayall early in his career and led and produced The Old Pals Act, along with former members of Thin Lizzy and Supertramp, signed to Polydor in the late 70s. Bassist Nigel Hardy was with Robert Palmer and Paul Jones, and regularly appears with Steve Whalley – he is also familiar to Music Night audiences as a member of The Proof. Drummer Gary Bentley has toured with a host of top names, including The Real Thing, George McRae, The Three Degrees and many others.
They are all seasoned players who fit the archetypal Music Night mould, and are guaranteed to bring a rousing night of top class rocking blues and funk to the Club.
Once again, food will be available before the show, with last orders taken at around 8pm – quite a lot of the Club's regulars are now taking advantage of the enhanced offering. Don’t forget that if you are a social member of the Club (£20 per annum subscription) you enjoy lower bar prices, including excellent wines at £10 a bottle – you can find a membership form on the Cricket Club web site at www.sunburycricket.co.uk, or you can join when you are at the Club (and get the lower prices the same night!).
The Patients' Participation Group Announces Open Meeting at Sunbury Health Centre, 19th October
Patients at the Sunbury Health Centre, Green Street, are invited to hear Dr Gill and other Practice staff give an overview of the many positive developments taking place as well as highlighting the challenges faced by the Practice in their ever expanding community.
The invitation to the meeting, which will take place from 6.30pm - 7.30pm, includes an appeal for additional members to join the PPG.
Council Announces Sudden Death of Leader
It is with deep shock and sadness that Spelthorne Council announces the death of Cllr Robert Watts, Leader of the Council, who died at his home in Shepperton on Monday 5 October.
Cllr Watts was elected to the Council in May 2011, representing the Shepperton Town ward. Upon election he was given Cabinet responsibility for the Environment where he oversaw a number of projects including the introduction of food waste collections.
In February 2013 he took up the post of Leader of the Council and also served on the Local Plan Working Party, Surrey Waste Partnership and the Surrey Local Committee in Spelthorne.
Prior to entering local politics he enjoyed a successful career in Civil Engineering. He was 64 years old.
Chief Executive of Spelthorne Borough Council, Roberto Tambini, said: “We are all terribly shocked by this sad news. Robert had a passion for politics and an unfaltering desire to improve the lives of the Borough’s residents and the place will be all the poorer without him. I very much enjoyed working with Robert and will miss him greatly.”
Fellow Shepperton Town ward councillor, Robin Sider, said: “I am devastated by this news. Cllr Watts was a great friend and colleague and his untimely death will leave a large void in our ward. He lived to work hard for the community and will be sadly missed by all.”
Hospitals Merger Given the Green Light
LOSRA has received the following emailed announcement from the Chairmen of Ashford & St. Peter's and The Royal Surrey County Hospitals:
As you may be aware, Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust are proposing to merge. We have recently received final clearance on our proposed merger from the Competitions and Markets Authority which means we can now proceed with the next stage in our planning.
Our proposal to merge is based around securing a stronger future for our two organisations which will allow us to deliver a number of important patient benefits, including more consultant care at weekends and increased investment in facilities and technology. This was recognised by the CMA during their investigation which highlighted the commitment and professional pride in the provision of high quality care by the staff of our organisations.
The next stage in the process will be for both Boards from both Trusts to consider the full business case and detailed financial plans for the proposed merger and to make their decision on the next step forward. Subject to their approval the process will then include an assessment by Monitor, the health sector regulator, and at a later stage, final approvals from Boards and Councils of Governors.
Subject to full regulatory, Board and Governor approvals, the earliest start date for the proposed new organisation would be Summer 2016.
In the meantime, we would like to talk to as many local stakeholders and residents about our plans and answer any questions that you may have. We are really interested to hear your views and any concerns you may have. We welcome any invitations to attend your group meetings.
Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 01932 723800 to arrange a meeting.
Yours sincerely
Aileen McLeish, Chairman, Ashford & St Peter’s Hospitals
Peter Dunt, Chairman, The Royal Surrey County Hospital
More...
Invitation to Sign Petition to Include Sunbury in Oyster Network
The following link takes you to a petition to connect Sunbury to the city centre with more affordable travel costs. Many people commute from Sunbury into London and despite being much closer to the city centre than many other zone 6 stations, they are forced to incur far greater travel costs due to being two station stops outside the Oyster network.
Trains going through Sunbury also only go to either London Waterloo or two stops further out to Shepperton. Therefore it seems illogical for it to remain outside the Oyster network.
If you agree and wish to add your name to the petition, click here
Volunteer Hosts
Do you have a spare room? Do you think you might have the skills to support a young person?
The Homelessness Prevention Service are looking for volunteer hosts who have a spare room and could offer it as a safe respite place to stay for a few nights to a young person aged 16-21. This period of respite will allow family mediation to take place in order to support them to return home or into other types of accommodation.
You will receive full extensive training, guidance and ongoing support to help you in this role. Out of pocket expenses would be paid including a nightly allowance for Hosts to cover the cost of food and utilities.
The Homelessness Prevention Service is interested in people from our diverse community to support our young people across Surrey. If you are interested in joining this new and exciting project they would like to hear from you.
For further information please contact The Homelessness Prevention Service on 01483 519198 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Trading Standards Alert
A malware campaign simulating a fake email alert from City of London Police and scams involving Amazon UK customers are among the topics published in the the most recent circular from Trading Standards. It was also predicted that the recently announced Facebook 'Dislike' button would attract scammers. It seems that the prediction was justified....
Spelthorne relaunches phone app
Spelthorne Borough Council is relaunching its mobile app on Monday 28 September to make it easier for residents to contact the Council and find out about local services.
Updated with a new look and feel and clearer navigation, the free app can be downloaded to any smart phone or tablet and allows residents to access a range of the most frequently used Council services at a time that suits them best. The app includes:
- Pay your Council Tax or Business Rates
- Set up a Council Tax Direct Debit
- Pay parking fines
- Report missed bin collections
- Report dog fouling problems and problems with parks
- Report abandoned vehicles, graffiti or fly-tipping
- Register a move
- Receive news, traffic, travel and weather updates
- See ‘what’s on’
- View job vacancies
- Contact the Council
The Spelthorne app allows residents to access Council services whilst on the move – no need to make phone calls, log on to the website or have internet access. Residents can report problems such as dog fouling and graffiti directly to the Council, with the facility to attach a photograph and location marker.
The app can be downloaded from Monday 28 September from the App Store, Google Play or Windows Store and residents who download the app before 23 October have the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win an iPhone.
Spelthorne Neighbourhood Watch Shortlisted for £500 Grant. Please Vote!
Spelthorne Neighbourhood Watch has been shortlisted for a grant of £500 from the Skipton Building Society for their good work. Of the 3,000 organizations which applied we have reached the final shortlist & have a 50% chance of being selected.The decision is down to the public who are invited to vote on the Skipton Building Society website using this link.
Anyone can vote. You just need to go to the bottom of the page, enter your email address, tick the box so that you receive no communications & click on VOTE. (The email address is to prevent you voting more than once.)
The closing date for voting is 8th October. Please ask all your family & friends to vote too.
SNW have no funding so could use the money for street signs, stickers or crime prevention measures such as CCTV cameras etc. If all our 12,000 members vote, plus their family & friends we have a good chance of winning.
Shepperton Players present The White Carnation at the RAC, 8th - 10th October
The Shepperton Players have great pleasure in bringing their production of The White Carnation to the Riverside Arts Centre on the 8th, 9th & 10th October
The play by R.C.Sherriff and directed by Emma Dow depicts Christmas Eve, 1951. As Britain rebuilds itself after the war, John Greenwood has it all – a successful business, a beautiful house and an aristocratic wife. But as he bids farewell to the guests leaving his annual Christmas party, a gust of wind slams the front door shut, starting a chain of events that makes him doubt everything he has ever known...
Writing in the Sunday Times, the critic Harold Hobson called the original production of the play "extremely and touchingly human".
Performances commence at 8pm. Tickets £10 from the box office 07505 206757, or on the door subject to availability. Website: sheppertonplayers.org.uk.
SCC Welcomes Back Fire and Water, Friday 25th September
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club falls on Friday 25th September, when the Club welcomes back FIRE & WATER. They were one of the very first bands the Club presented when they launched the Music Nights over four years ago, and helped put SCC on the map, not least since singer Paul Cox has been a great ambassador for our venue among the musicians’ fraternity.
Paul, of course, has been back to the Club several times, not only with Fire & Water but with his own band The Proof and with French blues guitarist Charlie Fabert, and when he contacted the Club a while back to say that Fire & Water had decided to call it a day after fifteen years, and would like to include Sunbury on their farewell round of gigs this autumn, the Club was naturally more than happy to oblige. Their great rocking show features the music of Free, Bad Company and Led Zeppelin and so it’s a natural fit with the Music Club style.
Paul is one of the finest entertainers on the circuit – Radio 2’s Paul Jones cites him as one of his favourite singers, and says he is “one of the best voices in Europe”. The other members of the band are guitarist Mike Summerland, who has worked over the years with Blodwyn Pig, Georgie Fame, William Bell, Hershey and even Val Doonican. Paul is supported by drummer Steve Dixon, who was with Gary Moore until Gary’s sad demise, and has played with The Real Thing, Micky Jones Band, Ray Davis, Buddy Whittington, and the John Slaughter Blues Band; and bassist Al McLean was with Kokomo, having previously played with the Micky Jones Band, Brent Ford and the Nylons, Hershey and the 12 bars, Juice on the loose and most recently Soul Intention.
A very good evening is in prospect!
Vote for the Sunbury Walled Garden as UK’s favourite park
Spelthorne Borough Council is encouraging residents to vote for the Sunbury Walled Garden in this year’s Green Flag People’s Choice Award.
This year a record breaking 1,582 parks and green spaces were awarded the prestigious, international Green Flag Award and now everyone has the chance to vote for their favourite.
The vote closes at noon on 30 September. The winner of the People’s Choice will be announced in October.
To vote, simply go to www.greenflagaward.org, type in ‘TW16’ in the search box, find the Sunbury Walled Garden and click the 'vote for this site' button.
Cllr Colin Davis, Cabinet Member for Environment said: “The Sunbury Walled Garden is a wonderful place to visit and the fact it has received the Green Flag award five years in a row is a real tribute to everyone involved in its upkeep. We know the Walled Garden is loved by local residents and we hope they will show their support by voting for this beautiful park.”
Paul Todd, Green Flag Award manager said, “We all have a favourite park, whether it’s our local green space or a special park we’ll travel miles to visit. Following another record breaking year for the Green Flag Award, we are urging everyone to vote for their own favourite park, so we can crown one of these 1,582 special parks as the People’s Choice 2015.”
All Green Flag Award winning sites are entered into the annual People’s Choice Award vote. Last year saw over 35 thousand votes from the public, with Victoria Park in London’s Tower Hamlets receiving thousands of votes to be crowned as the People’s Choice.
