The effects of the proposed changes to the Surrey Fire and Rescue Service deployments in Spelthorne were computer-modelled, and the results presented on the Surrey County Council website as part of the Public Consultation.

However, we could not find any modelling results on the Surrey County Council website which included the particular configuration proposed for Spelthorne – a single fire-engine based at a new fire-station.

This omission prompted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by LOSRA to Surrey County Council and the results of the modelling relating to the particular changes proposed for Spelthorne are now available to be viewed here

With the benefit of this additional information, LOSRA has prepared a briefing note which comprehensively explains the worrying implications of reducing Spelthorne's fire stations from two to one. To view, click here.

Further to the articles published on 23rd August and 4th September, the Chairman has contacted Surrey County Council and requested an additional public meeting to be held in Sunbury and we await SCC's reply. As soon as details become known, an announcement will be posted on this site.

STOP PRESS:

Further to the articles published on 23rd August and 4th September, The Chairman contacted Surrey County Council and requested an additional public meeting to be held in Sunbury and it has now been confirmed that the meeting will take place on Thursday, 10 October, 7-9pm at the Sunbury Manor School. Residents are encouraged to register their interest and book a place, either through this email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone 01737 242444 (otherwise it's first come first served).

Italian concert pianist Carlo Grante studied in Rome, in Miami, at the Juilliard School in New York, and with Aliza Kezeradze in London. He has given concerts all over the world, in renowned halls such as Wigmore and the Musikverein. He is renowned for his immense technical prowess and for the integrity of his musicianship. Die Presse in Vienna described him as “a knight of the piano, without blemish and without fear”.

Carlo Grante has made over 50 recordings, of the music of Scarlatti, Mozart, Clementi, Schumann, Mussorgsky, Debussy, Godowsky, Busoni and Ravel. This year he is playing mostly works by F. Chopin, but also the world premiere of a capriccio by Czech composer Jan Novak.

On 2 October, he is offering a recital to participants in his Riverside Piano Seminar of 3-4 October, and extends an invitation to the general public.

Click here to view the flyer which gives full details of the programme

The latest TS Alert draws attention to rental fraud which happens when would-be tenants are tricked into paying an advance fee to rent a property. Last year The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau warned students to be careful when looking for university rental accommodation at this time of year. Fraudulent landlords are making £755 million a year from the scam, and costs individuals £2,394 per victim.

Also featured in the Alert is a warning to beware of emails pretending to be from Facebook suggesting "Pages you might like" that direct you to websites laced with malware. To view the full TS Alert, click here.

Further to the article published on 23rd August, LOSRA has just received the following email from Surrey County Council:

As part of the continuing consultation process regarding changing the number of fire engines based in Spelthorne, two public meetings have been scheduled. Residents and other stakeholders are invited to find out more and ask questions to Officers and Myself.

The meetings will take place as follows:

• Tuesday, 17 September 2013, 7-9pm, Hengrove Scout HQ, Station Crescent, Ashford TW15 3HN.
• Wednesday, 25 September 2013, 7-9pm, Staines Community Centre, Thames St, Staines-upon-Thames TW18 4EA

Spaces are allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Please register which meeting you would like to attend and if you have any specific access requirements by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

For more information about the proposals please see www.surrey-fire.gov.uk/psp

Kay Hammond

Cabinet Associate Fire and Police Services

Surrey County Council

A record breaking 1,448 parks and green spaces this year received a Green Flag Award and people are now urged to vote for the nation's favourite.

The annual People's Choice Award, managed by Keep Britain Tidy, is now open - giving the public the power to decide which one of the 1,448 Green Flag sites should be named park of the year with an online vote.

So now is your chance to tell the world how much you value your local park. To vote:

• Visit http://www.greenflagaward.org/ 
• Select the South East region on the interactive map
• Find the Sunbury Walled Garden and select
• Click the 'vote for this site' button
  
  

Paul Todd, Keep Britain Tidy's Green Flag Award scheme manager said: "Our judges have decided on this year's winners of the coveted Green Flag Award but the public now have the opportunity to decide which park or green space deserves The People's Choice Award."

The vote will close at midday on 1 October and the winner of the 2013 People's Choice will be announced on 9 October at a ceremony in London.

Working with Capita, Spelthorne Borough Council has launched a new mobile phone app called 'Engage' to offer residents more choice in the way they contact the Council.

The Engage app is free and can be downloaded to any smart phone/device and allows residents to access a range of the most frequently used Council services in just a couple of clicks, at a time that suits them. The Engage functions include:

• Pay Council Tax and Business Rates
• Pay parking fines
• Pay for collection of large household goods
• Report missed bin collections
• Report dog fouling problems and problems with parks
• Report abandoned vehicles, graffiti or fly-tipping
• Receive news, events, travel and weather updates
• Find your nearest leisure centre, doctor, recycling centre or library.
• See 'what's on'
  
  

Engage allows residents to access Council services whilst on the move - no need to make phone calls or log on to the website. Residents can report problems such as dog fouling and graffiti directly to the Council, with the facility to attach a photograph and location marker.

In addition to being the first to receive Council news, residents can also find useful information about their local area including restaurant hygiene ratings, crime rates and traffic news.

For more details click here: http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/4436/New-app-engages-Spelthorne-resident

Exhibiting art that appeals to a multitude of senses and is inclusive to all. This was the challenge the Embroidery Gallery gave to teachers and pupils from Manor Mead and Sunbury Manor schools. The brief was to design and create a visual and tactile art piece with an audio component. The project was led by artist Stuart Simler. The finished work sits alongside a prestigious collection produced by blind artists. The collection is on loan from Moorfields Eye hospital to which it was donated by BlindArt, a registered charity.

The Event closes on 1st September.

Click here to see the autumn brochure giving details of other events and workshops at the Gallery

The following are excerpts from the latest Trading Standards Alert:

Scams

Consumers are being cold called and offered savings for radiators and windows. The Government is running a savings scheme but beware of companies trying to associate themselves with the Government scheme to con consumers out of money. Credit card details and payment are reported to have been requested over the telephone in this alleged scam.

The usual “inheritance” scams are continuing to operate and our advice is to report and dispose of such letters coming from the Netherlands, Hong Kong and The USA.

When was the last time you asked your elderly neighbour, friend or relative about scam mail? Would they let you look at some of the letters they receive? Many scams carry on for years because of a lack of support or intervention so please help the vulnerable if you can.

Consumers who may have been a victim of a scam can report the matter to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06. Friends relatives or neighbours can also do this on the consumer’s behalf if the consumer is vulnerable or feels uncomfortable doing so.

Click here to download the latest newsletter

The evenings are drawing in and autumn is just around the corner which means that the first Sunbury Cricket Club Music Night of the new season is less than two weeks away.

On Friday 6th September Sunbury Cricket Club is delighted to welcome, for the first time, THE KING EARL BOOGIE BAND. The Club wanted to kick off the autumn run of gigs with something special, and has been trying to book this band for some time. They are a rocking, bluesy outfit whose blend of straight ahead blues, r’n’b, and rock’n’roll has earned them a reputation that gets them booked back at venue after venue. They have played UK festivals like the Great British R’n’B Festival (Colne, Lancashire), Blues At The Fort (Portsmouth) and Maryport Blues Festival (Cumbria), and also at a range of festivals across Europe in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.

The Club looks forward to seeing you on 6th Sept. and hope you will support them through the autumn season.

The following email has been received from Surrey County Council and is self-explanatory. Readers are being asked to submit their views on the proposal to reduce the number of fire stations within Spelthorne from two to a single, centralised facility.

I am writing to ask for your input on important proposals regarding how fire and rescue services will be provided in the Spelthorne area.

As you may recall, in Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority’s Public Safety Plan for 2011 – 2020, we proposed changing the way fire stations in Spelthorne are crewed and also the location of some of our fire stations in order to achieve a more balanced level of emergency cover across Surrey.

Currently there are two fire stations in Spelthorne – Staines and Sunbury – both providing 24-hour emergency cover with one fire engine each. To continue to provide an effective fire and rescue service within the resources available, the Service now needs to consider the provision of one fire engine in Spelthorne, located more centrally within the Borough.

The benefits of this proposal are the more efficient use of resources across the whole of Surrey and the provision of a new, modern fire station.

Today (5 August 2013), marks the start of a thirteen-week consultation with residents, businesses, staff and unions. Further details about the proposed changes are available at www.surrey-fire.gov.uk/psp.

Please do take the time to give us your views via the online questionnaire and encourage your local residents to do the same. Please contact us if you require postal questionnaires. You can also feedback via these additional channels:

• Email comments to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Write to us at: Public Safety Plan team, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Croydon Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0EJ
• Call us on 03456 009 009
• Minicom: 020 8541 9698
• SMS: 07527 182 861
• Fax us on 01737 222857

Your feedback and our analysis will be presented to Surrey County Council’s Cabinet at the end of 2013 for decision.

I would like to take this opportunity to personally reassure all our stakeholders that we will continue to work together to provide essential and excellent fire and rescue services throughout the borough. The safety of the public and our firefighters is, and always will be, the top priority for our service.

Kay Hammond                        
Cabinet Associate Fire and Police Services
Surrey County Council