Surbiton Filter Beds
The following intelligence was supplied by OADRA: -
Surbiton Filter Beds
The planned development of a marina, restaurant, 64 ‘floating’ homes and riverside walkway, etc. at the Surbiton Filter Beds site was discussed at the Surbiton Planning Sub-Committee on 11th January. Many objections were aired at that meeting, but also some views strongly in favour.
We have been told by RBK that this major application will not be ready for a decision at the Development Control Committee’s February meeting, and will
possibly not make the next meeting on 22 March either. Therefore, there is still time to let the Council know what you think about this proposal.
There is no definite final deadline, but they recommend you send in your views during February (and at least by one week prior to the 22 March).
Details with maps and plans can be viewed at:
http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/environment/planning/major_planning_applications/surbiton_filterbeds.htm
Or at the Guildhall (and probably at libraries – but sorry, I can’t confirm that).
According to RBK’s website, “If you would like to discuss the application with a planning officer, please telephone the lead officer David Horkan on
020 8547 4707 or the case officer Karen Coles on 020 8547 5362…. You can comment:
- directly on this website
- or you can e-mail (please include your name and address): development.management@rbk.kingston.gov.uk
- or you can write to: Development Management, Guildhall, High Street, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 1EU.
Any comments that you make will be placed on the planning application file which is available for public inspection and copying.”
Council Tax – letter from Boris
Dear Paul,
Now more than ever, the responsibility of any Mayor is to treat every penny of Londoners’ money with care. Because it’s not my money. It’s yours.
And it will only ever be used on the things that take London forward. To invest in transport infrastructure, put more police on the streets, make the Olympics a success and build more affordable housing.
Anything spare should always be passed back to Londoners.
When I was elected in 2008, Londoners were tired of 8 years of successive council tax hikes.
I promised to end the culture of waste created by Ken Livingstone and keep taxes low.
I kept this promise. We’ve frozen our share of council tax every year. And we’ve done this by ruthlessly ferreting out waste.
- We no longer spend £10,000 on a subscription to the Morning Star.
- We no longer spend £3m a year on a personal propaganda sheet for the Mayor.
- And we haven’t spent £20,000 on a lunch for Hugo Chavez. Or £30,000 on a trip to Cuba.
By working over the last three years to turn around London’s finances, I am able – for the first time in the history of the mayoralty – to cut my share of council tax.
The choice at this election could not be clearer. My record shows that, whenever possible, we keep taxes and charges low.
- We scrapped Ken Livingstone’s plans for a £25 tax on family vehicles.
- We scrapped the Western Extension of the Congestion Charge, providing relief to small businesses.
- We extended the Freedom Pass to 24 hour operation. And we put Oyster on national rail, leading to cheaper fares for many.
- And we’ve done this in the teeth of a recession, whilst increasing police numbers and protecting the investment that will help our city grow once more – providing jobs and prosperity.
Ken Livingstone’s record shows he puts up taxes and charges at every opportunity. We couldn’t afford it during the good times, and we certainly can’t afford it now.
His Labour allies on the London Assembly have already voted against a budget that freezes council tax. Next week, they will be asked to vote to cut council tax. I will urge them to do this, and I urge you to join me in sending them a message to vote the right way.
Please visit: www.borisbudget.com
Best wishes,
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London
Greenway scrutiny and petition
Follow this link Greenway leaflet 28 Jan 12 vr4 to a new leaflet with petition sheet in PDF format.
Freeze Council Tax again!
Today, Mayor Boris Johnson makes his case to the London Assembly to freeze council tax for the fourth year in a row.
A council tax freeze benefits every London household during these tough times.
But Ken Livingstone’s hand picked Deputy Mayoral running mate in the Assembly is leading the Labour charge against the freeze, instead promoting an increase in council tax.
It confirms that Ken Livingstone would take us back to the days when council tax went up every single year.
During these tough times, Londoners cannot afford a council tax increase on top of their household bills. It is a tax that everyone pays, so every household will suffer if Labour go back to council tax rises year after year.
That is why the Mayor needs your help to keep council tax frozen. Please visit www.borisbudget.com now to urge your local Assembly member t o support the budget and help save Londoners money.
This election is a choice between Boris Johnson, who will keep council tax low and Ken Livingstone who will put taxes up.
‘Sunrise’ site starting soon?
I notice fence posts have appeared around the houses near the Upper Brighton Road/ Langley Avenue junction and ‘Cumbrae’ and ‘Oakdene’ were in darkness last evening.
This could mean that work will soon start on the site which will now be developed by Star and Garter Homes rather than Sunrise Senior Living.
Let us hope that the development will be completed with as little disruption to the area as possible. We shall watch what happens with keen interest.
Kingston events in 2012
The RBK website has announced the following calendar of events linking Kingston with the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee.
The Olympic Games will be held in London between 27 July (opening ceremony) and 12 August 2012.
The Paralympic Games taking place between 29 August (opening ceremony) and 9 September 2012.
But you don’t have to wait until then to enjoy the unique atmosphere of the Olympics – the Cultural Programme provides you with a unique opportunity to be involved with special events taking place in Kingston and across the Capital in the build up to the Games.
The Cultural Programme is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.
The culmination of the Cultural Programme will be the London 2012 Festival, bringing leading artists from all over the world together from 21 June 2012 in the UK’s biggest ever festival planned to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. All London boroughs are committed to participating in the Cultural Olympiad.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Kingston to engage in an historic event of global significance and to use the interest and excitement it generates to attract visitors and investment into the borough.
Use the navigation bar on the left hand side of this page to find out more about the borough’s involvement in the Cultural Programme and how you can get involved.
Key Dates for Kingston
Date Event 02 – 05 June Queens’ Diamond Jubilee Kingston Aviation Festival
Launch of Kingston’s Cultural Olympiad Programme
29 June to 22 July International Youth Arts Festival (IYAF) 7-8 July River Kingston Regatta and River Festival 15 July Dragon Boat Challenge 24 July Torch Relay (Day 67) – start at Hook Centre through Kingston to Richmond Borough 27 July Torch Relay (Day 70) start Hampton Court up River Thames to Olympic Stadium Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
28 July Men’sCycle Road Race 29 July Women’s Cycle Road Race 31 July Familiarisation for Cycle Time Trials 01 Aug Cycle Time Trial 05 Aug Sports Events 12 Aug Olympic Games Closing Ceremony 29 Aug Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony 02 Sept Kingston Carnival 09 Sept Paralympic Games Closing Ceremony
Value for money?
In the last few years the Lib Dems in Kingston have
- Given £13 million of taxpayers’ money to the Rose Theatre
- Spent £160K on consultants for Ancient Market Place
- Spent £8.8million on ‘failing’ One Council Programme
- Hiked parking charges by 200%
- Lost £600k in parking revenue.
- Kept us paying the highest Council Tax in London.
CLEVER, ISN’T IT?
SNC Planning Committee
From OADRA, with thanks:
This Wednesday 11 January, the Surbiton Planning Sub-committee will discuss the planning application for the Surbiton Water Works – Filter Beds development. This is a controversial proposal that has been covered in several articles in the local press.
It is an opportunity for anyone from Surbiton to express their views.
So far objections have been based on the environmental impact and the effect on river users. Members of the public will have an opportunity to express their views, without the time restriction of a formal planning item. The committee will then make comments and recommendations to be fed into the Development Control Committee meeting on 23 February, where the decision will be made.
The meeting on Wednesday will also decide upon an application for a new 4-storey block of flats on the site of the garages in South Terrace. Only registered speakers can contribute to this item.
The meeting starts at 7.30pm at Dysart School (190 Ewell Road), and details and background documents can be found on RBK’s website at:
Surbiton Matters December edition
Follow this link to access the December edition from the RBK website.
2011 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 7,800 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 7 trips to carry that many people.
Carols at the corner HOUSE
The now traditional pre-Christmas event at the cornerHOUSE. A seasonal get-together with musicians and singers from St Matthews; join in with much loved carols of the season.
Doors open at 6.30, mulled wine and mince pies provided; first come first served
Singing at 7.00pm : Song sheets available.
There is no charge for this event; there will be a retiring collection for the St Matthews Organ Fund
Carols at the Triangle
200 locals people gather for carols at the Ditton Road/Ellerton Road Triangle
Community seasonal spirit was brilliantly on show at the annual carol singing gathering around the willow tree at the Ellerton Road – Ditton Road junction. The event was organised by EBRRA and more details can be found on their website. using the link in the right hand column on your screen.
It would seem that, after my words of encouragement to him at the EBRRA AGM, Cllr. Self did get active and the long awaited bench may appear before next year’s event.
Anyway, our thanks to the organisers and our very best wishes for a
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
AND
A PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR
TO EVERYONE IN SURBITON HILL
AND OUR READERS EVERYWHERE!
Neighbourhood on Tolworth Broadway
We are indebted to John Tellick of EBRRA for these observations:
I don’t think I need to tell you that the proposal got through at the joint meeting this evening?
A bit of a foregone conclusion, me thinks?
All the SoTB councillors (3) were in favour, Neil Houston and Mary Heathcote abstained.
There were 35 – 40 public there, all were against the proposal for various reasons, but few got satisfactory responses from officers, TfL or designers.
There was actually a lot of time spent on comments from the floor – perhaps 3/4′s of the meeting which started at 19:00 and ended at 21:45.
So, we had our say – but did anyone listen?
Alas it ended in a bit of a political spat between the Cons and LD’s and vice versa.
Neighbourhood meeting tomorrow
The next Surbiton Neighbourhood meeting is at Dysart School (190 Ewell Road) at 7.30. on Thursday 15th December.
A major item for discussion will be the design of Tolworth Braodway. As this is a consultation it should be possible for any member of the public to air their views to the assembled Councillors.
Energy saving scam – BEWARE
We are indebted to John Boshier of EBRRA for this warning:
TSI warns of dangerous energy saving scam targeting elderly
Trading Standards Institute is urging consumers to be aware of rogue telephone cold callers offering energy saving devices after trading standards up and down the country reported hundreds of complaints.
Trading standards are currently dealing with more than 200 complaints about people claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug in device which they say can save them 40 per cent off their energy bills.
Trading standards have had a number of the items tested which not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards but do not deliver any tangible energy savings.
Ron Gainsford from the Trading Standards Institute said: “Consumers are warned not to use the product as they pose a risk of fire and electrocution and a safety recall has been issued for the items traced so far.
“Unscrupulous criminals are using the rising energy prices as an opportunity to lure in cash strapped consumers – elderly people seem to have been deliberately targeted.
“The number of complaints we are currently dealing with is bound to be only the tip of the iceberg.”
Westminster trading standards have been investigating the scam as the caller gives a London W1 Oxford Street address for the company.
Sue Jones from Westminster trading standards said: “The address they give is that of a virtual office provider, the companies involved in these scams are not actually situated there - we believe the call centre they use is based abroad and the appliances appear to be distributed by a number of individuals in the UK.
“We know that these fraudsters have been duping consumers across the country into paying £99 for the energy saving device and have been told the caller always appears to be very credible by already knowing the consumers’ details, their energy supplier and sometimes some or all of the digits of their credit/ debit card.
“Often consumers do not realise that they have been defrauded until they receive the dodgy looking device with instructions in broken English and the accompanying invoice which names an unknown supplier and often gives an American address.”
So far four different suppliers have been named, 1 Stop Marketing Solutions, ITC Development Corp, Power Saver and Athico Ltd. but the fraudsters could be operating under other names too. Some of these names could be very similar to genuine companies – for example Power Saver Ltd, based in Tonbridge, Kent is not involved in this fraud.
The director of Athico Ltd appears to have been a victim of the scam himself. He fully cooperated with trading standards and the company has now ceased trading.
Advice to consumers
If consumers have responded to one of these cold calls they should report the matter to Action Fraud on www.actionfraud.org.uk 0300 123 2040 or Consumer Direct on 08454040506 . They should also contact their bank to stop their debit/ credit card. If a device has been received they should not use it and dispose of it carefully.
Consumers should be cautious about giving out any personal or financial information. They should independently verify a caller’s identity before agreeing to purchase any goods or services.
