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.
LOSRA AGM, 22nd June - Minutes of 2015 AGM and Statement of Accounts
We earnestly hope that you will be able to attend our AGM at 8pm on Wednesday at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street when Dr Gill and Richard Fryer will be giving an update on the proposed improvements to our local health centre in Green Street.
If you are unable to attend you can see the minutes of the 2015 AGM by clicking here; and the statement of accounts by clicking here
Hugely Popular TV Comedy Allo Allo Comes to the RAC Stage 29th June - 2nd July
‘Listen very carefully, I will say this only once;’ yes there will be a stage production of the hugely popular TV comedy series ‘Allo Allo’. This is an exciting, ground-breaking joint venture between Manor Players and Shepperton Players who will go under the name of Riverside Players.
The performances will be held at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street, from Wednesday from 29th June to Saturday July 2nd.
The stage version of ‘Allo ‘Allo follows the adventures of Rene, the hapless café’ owner in war torn occupied France, as he and his wife, Edith, struggle to keep for themselves a priceless portrait stolen by the Nazis and kept in a sausage in their cellar. Rene is hiding two British airmen and is endeavouring with the help of the Resistance, to repatriate them.
However, communications with London through a wireless disguised as a cockatoo add to the many embarrassments he endures in the company of his patrons. Matters come to a head with the news that the Fuhrer is to visit the town and the café becomes filled with tricksters intending to impersonate Hitler before the event. Rene will need all the wit he can muster to save his café and his life….
Tickets are already on sale. Call the Box Office 0777 145 8696 or book using your credit card via our website www.sunburyriverside.co.uk
Oyster Card for Sunbury? - Public Meeting on 7th July
A strong campaign team consisting of County and Borough Councillors, members of the Spelthorne Business Forum, our MP and passionate supporters, are currently in discussion with the two train companies to have been short-listed to run the rail franchise (which is up for renewal in 2017), together with Transport for London (TFL) and the Ministry of Transport.
The campaign group has over 4,000 signatures and will be holding a public meeting at the Thomas Knyvett College, Stanwell Road, Ashford, TW15 3DU on 7th July at 7.30pm; inviting the press, representatives from the education authorities, the rail companies, business and entertainment companies and Spelthorne residents.
Sunbury residents are invited to attend and are asked to register their attendance via the Eventbrite web site to be found at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. where they can also find more information about the Zone 6 campaign, answer a few questions on Surveymonkey which will be addressed at the meeting, as well as signing the petition.
The Campaign group has already received an email from a Sunbury resident supportive of the campaign, who described how she and other friends and neighbours travel out of their way to avoid paying the expensive fares from Sunbury station into London. That email is not untypical of many others received.
Spelthorne in Bloom - Best Riverside Garden Competition
Squires, the sponsors of Spelthorne in Bloom, wish to increase the number of entries in the category of Best Riverside Garden.
The River Thames runs through our borough from Staines to Lower Sunbury and the judges have decided that the best way of finding a winner is to judge the entries from the river.
If you live on the river and would like to enter your riverside garden into the competition please click here to read the letter to residents; and the application form which, after printing off, must be returned by Friday 24th June.
The Acoustic Strawbs Come to SCC on 17th June
The next Music Night at Sunbury Cricket Club falls on Friday 17th June, when the Club welcomes The Acoustic Strawbs. The Club has had some pretty big names play at their Music Nights over the years, but the Strawbs certainly count among the most illustrious, having had big hits and released a string of important albums during their heyday in the ‘70s.
They started life in Strawberry Hill as a bluegrass band, and became a hugely successful folk-prog rock group in the ‘70s with hits like “Lay Down” and “Part Of The Union”, and albums like “Bursting At The Seams” and Hero & Heroine”, voted by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best 50 prog rock albums of all time.
A host of major names passed through their ranks over the years, and we will feature their acoustic line-up, comprising members from among their most successful incarnations — Dave Cousins, Chas Cronk and Dave Lambert.
There’s plenty of absorbing info at www.strawbsweb.co.uk.
Patients' Participation Group Meeting, Monday 6th June
The next open meeting of the Patients' Participation Group will be held at the Sunbury Health Centre from 6.30pm - 7.30pm on Monday 6th June.
The meeting, which has previously generated much positive feedback will, as before, be of limited duration and those wishing to attend may like to refer to the latest set of minutes from the Core Group for an update.
More...
Celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday in Conjunction with Sunbury Open Gardens, 12th June
A full day's programme of events including the annual Open Gardens, marching bands, morris dancing, boat rides on the river and children's activities is promised on a day to celebrate the Queen's 90th Birthday on Sunday 12th June.
Held once a year the Sunbury Open Gardens event allows Sunbury’s keen gardeners to share their passion and generate vital funds for various charities. This year they’re supporting St Mary’s Church and the Princess Alice Hospice.
Everyone is invited to come along and have a nosey around the gardens. There will be coffee, tea and cakes, a raffle, plant and book sales, ploughman’s lunch and free activities on offer. See sunburyopengardens.co.uk for further details.
Altogether, it should be a fun-filled day with something for all generations.
Plastic Bags Can Be Re-used for Food Waste
From 1 June 2016 Spelthorne residents will be able to use plastic bags to line their food waste caddy. New machinery splits and removes the bags which are then taken to the energy from waste plant to be turned in to electricity.
Residents have told the Council that compostable liners are expensive and can tear or leak. Plastic bags are stronger which makes it easier, cleaner and cheaper to recycle food. Old shopping bags, pedal bin liners or salad, cereal and bread bags can be used, but not black bin bags. Newspaper and compostable liners can still be used too.
This advance in technology also means smelly food can be tied up in a plastic bag and put straight in the outside food waste bin. Check the bag has no holes for food to leak out of. Any bags you cannot use for your food waste need to go in your rubbish bin.
All cooked and uncooked food waste can go in your caddy, including tea bags, eggshells, meat bones, mouldy bread, vegetable peelings and food that's past its 'use by' date. Please don't put any liquids, such as milk or oil in your caddy or food packaging. If the food packaging can be recycled, please rinse it and put it in your recycling bin.
If everyone in Surrey put all their food waste in their caddies, we could save taxpayers more than £3 million a year. If you need a replacement caddy, contact Customer Services on 01784 451499 or for more information visit www.spelthorne.gov.uk/food-waste.
Cattle Return to Sunbury Park
Following generally positive feedback to the Council after a trial last year, the cattle, which had been expected to return in April, are finally back in Sunbury Park.
The eight Aberdeen Angus are provided with a permanent water supply and a large kissing gate has been installed at the Green Street entrance.
(See previous item of 29th November 2015 www.losra.org/item/721-sunbury-park-cattle-grazing-feedback).
LOSRA AGM Newsletter Out Now
Our AGM newsletter will be distributed to households in Lower Sunbury from 2nd June. The AGM itself will be held at 8pm on Wednesday 22nd June when we will welcome Richard Fryer and Dr Gill to give a presentation on plans for the Sunbury Health Centre.
A New Mayor for Spelthorne
Our local Sunbury East Councillor, Alfred Friday was elected as the new Mayor for Spelthorne at the Annual Council Meeting held on Thursday 19 May. Cllr Vivienne Leighton was elected as Deputy Mayor.
Cllr Friday was first elected to the Council in May 2011, representing the Sunbury East ward. He is married to Kaye and has a daughter and two granddaughters. The family have lived in Sunbury since 1983.
A professional charity fundraiser until his retirement in 2012, Cllr Friday is interested in all things automotive. Kaye is an actress, dancer and model and has a strong interest in the performing arts.
During his term as Mayor, Cllr Friday will be supporting the following charities:-
- Parkinson’s UK: the Staines-upon-Thames branch offers information, friendship and support to local people with Parkinson’s, their families and carers. They help suffers meet other people affected by the condition and also organise regular events and social activities.
- One-to-One: a friendly hardworking charity that arranges social activities for adults with learning disabilities in North West Surrey.
- Home-Start Spelthorne: one of the leading family support charities in the UK, Homestart helps families with young children cope with challenges and build better lives. Families struggling with post-natal depression, isolation, health problems, bereavement and other issues are also supported.
Speaking during the meeting, Cllr Friday said: “Thank you ladies and gentlemen of Spelthorne Council for electing me as your Mayor this evening and I will do all within my power to repay that trust. We are proud to live in a wonderful borough that has busy, prosperous towns, that is blessed with a lovely river, pretty villages and lively communities. There are hidden gems like St Marys Church in Stanwell with its twisted spire and Sunbury’s Walled Garden. Kaye and I look forward to making ourselves known to all of you as well as representing Spelthorne to the wider world. ‘Let’s make Spelthorne sparkle’ is going to be the theme for my mayoral year.”
Alert for caterpillar pest in oak trees
People in parts of London, northern Surrey, West Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire are being reminded to look out for and report caterpillars of the oak processionary moth (OPM), which could be damaging oak trees in the area. They are also advised to keep away from the caterpillars and their nests, because their hairs can cause itching skin rashes and other health problems, and to report sightings to the Forestry Commission. OPM is a tree pest which was accidentally introduced to England. They feed on oak leaves, and in large numbers they can severely defoliate trees and leave them vulnerable to other pests, diseases and drought.
Their tiny hairs contain a protein which can cause itchy skin rashes and, less frequently, eye and throat irritations and breathing difficulties in people and animals. The hairs can be blown on the wind, and left in their nests on and under oak trees. The greatest risk period is May to July, when the caterpillars are active, although nests should not be touched at any time.
The Forestry Commission, councils and land managers are tackling the pest with a carefully controlled programme of oak tree treatment and nest removal. Alison Field, the Commission's South-East England Director, said the public could play an important role in helping to control the pest by reporting sightings: “We need reports of the caterpillars or their nests from the public or others, such as gardeners, tree surgeons and ground-care workers, who work or relax near oak trees,” Ms Field said. “However, they should not try to remove the caterpillars or nests themselves. This needs to be carefully timed to be effective, and is most safely done by specially trained and equipped pest control experts.”
Dr Deborah Turbitt, London Deputy Director of Health Protection for Public Health England, endorsed the ‘don’t touch’ advice, saying: “We strongly advise people not to touch or approach the caterpillars or their nests because of the health risks posed by the hairs. Pets and livestock can also be affected, and should be kept away as well. The Forestry Commission website has pictures to help identify the pest. See a pharmacist for relief from milder skin or eye irritations following possible OPM contact, or consult a GP or NHS111 for more-serious reactions. Contact a vet if animals are more seriously affected.”
Infested oak trees should be treated by qualified operators under strict controls to ensure it is safe for people, pets, livestock and the environment.
• Report OPM sightings to the Forestry Commission, preferably with its Tree Alert on-line form available from www.forestry.gov.uk/opm1. Anyone who cannot use Tree Alert may email or telephone reports to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0300 067 4442.
• Health advice is available from the “Insects that bite or sting” area of the NHS Choices website, www.nhs.uk/livewell.
• Anyone pruning or felling oak trees in the affected areas should contact Forestry Commission England’s Tree Health Unit beforehand on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 0300 067 4442 for advice about safe removal of the material.
• Further information is available from www.forestry.gov.uk/opm1.
Xcel Sports Stadium - Residents to Apply for Judicial Review of Elmbridge Council Planning Approval
We’ve covered a series of planning applications for the ‘deeply unpopular’ sports stadium at Waterside Drive on the south bank of the Thames since 2012. First there was an outline planning application which lapsed in July 2015. Elmbridge tried to renew that with a full planning application in the same month, but that was halted by the Secretary of State who ordered them to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment to consider the impact on the Thames landscape, Lower Sunbury Conservation Area and local residents.
Once the Environmental Statement was complete, the Sports Stadium was debated at the North Area Planning Sub-Committee on the 14th December 2015 followed by the Full Planning Committee on the 5th January 2016. LOSRA wrote to object to the impact of the floodlighting and the noise on residents; and along with Spelthorne’s planners we requested that Elmbridge consider planting evergreen trees to mask the floodlights and acoustic barriers to reduce the noise, and asked Elmbridge to consider restricting the number of days the stadium and pitches would be in use to give residents some respite.
Unfortunately the planning application was approved, despite it being in the Green Belt. In our view, it conflicts with their National Planning Policy Framework requirement to preserve the openness of Green Belt.
LOSRA understands that there will be a preliminary hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand on the 25th May 2016. This has been brought by a group of Parke Road residents, along with the Weir Hotel, to decide whether they can appeal against the planning decision in a Judicial Review. They maintain the impact on local residents’ lives will be significant. We will report on whether they are successful in securing an appeal.
Noemi Nuti Sings AC Jobim on Sunday, 5th June at the Riverside Arts Centre, Thames Street
Born and raised in New York City from Italian descent, Noemi Nuti is an up-and-coming jazz vocalist and songwriter currently residing in London.
Embracing her love for Brazilian music, Noemi is one of the lead singers of the British samba band, Rhythms of the City (ROTC), led by Barak Schmool and has toured in Brazil. She has also collaborated and performed with lead Brazilian acts Monobloco and Sargento Pimenta, with whom she has represented ROTC when playing on BBC Merseyside, Liverpool.
Most recently, Noemi has headlined on the closing night at Ipswich Jazz Festival (opened by Clare Teal) and she opened for the City of London Festival, which was recorded live for broadcast on Jazz FM.
Singing from the repertoire of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Noemi will be accompanied by Terence Collie, piano; Richard Sadler, bass; and Chris Nickolls, drums.
Performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets may be purchased on line at http://www.moodindigoevents.co.uk/ (£8) or £10 on the door.
