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.”

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

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.

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.

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

• 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?

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:

http://www.kingston.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/committeeminutes/moderngov.htm?mgl=ieListDocuments.aspx&CId=293&MId=6424&Ver=4

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.

Click here to see the complete report.