Are you going to San Francisco? Be sure to wear....20 November 2012

The streets of San Fran

In a scenario worthy of San Franciscan author Armistead Maupin's hilarious "Tales of the City," San Francisco lawmakers, faced with increasing numbers of naked bodies around and about, will today vote on whether to prohibit the exposure of genitals in most public places, including streets, sidewalks and public transport, except on permitted occasions like the annual Gay Pride parade and the Folsom Street fair which highlights a variety of sexual themes including S&M. If they vote for the ban, they may face a federal case filed by advocates of free expression.....

All a far cry from 1808 - or is it? I was tracking the movements of Catherine Lambert of Weston Green who, according to her diary, was wont to drive with friends in her carriage to the East Cliffs at Brighton when resident in that town, when I came across the following most instructive case at the Sussex Assizes held in Horsham in March 1809 concerning indecent sea bathing at the East Cliffs the previous year. In Rex v. Crunden Mr Crunden was indicted for "indecently exposing his naked person in the presence of divers of his Majesty's liege subjects... on a Sunday forenoon, in July last, he bathed in the sea opposite the East Cliff at Brighton, undressing and dressing himself upon the beach. Till within a very few years there were no houses near this spot, and whole regiments of soldiers used to bathe there at the same time. There is now a row of houses erected on the cliff, from the windows of which the defendant might be distinctly seen as he undressed and swam in the sea. There was no evidence of his having been guilty of any wanton indecency, or having exposed his person beyond what was necessary for the purpose of bathing."

His counsel argued that he had not been guilty of an indictable offence. He was simply enjoying a healthy recreation, without criminal intention to corrupt public morals. Besides, the practice of bathing at this place had continued for many years; "and if it was a nuisance, the inhabitants of the newly-erected houses had come to the nuisance, and had no right to complain of it. If the building of a house within sight of a spot appropriated to open bathing, rendered it a misdemeanour to bathe there any longer without a machine, the poor might soon be prevented from bathing on any part of the southern coast of the island. According to the principle contended for, all bathing must likewise be put to a stop to in the Thames, and every other navigable river; for they are all public highways on which his Majesty's liege subjects are constantly passing and repassing; and Millbank, at which the Westminster boys have from time immemorial been accustomed to bathe, is fully as much exposed to public view as the East Cliff at Brighton."

Judge Coram McDonald C.B. however ruled that the defendant was guilty of a misdemeanour. "Whatever his intention might be, the necessary tendency of his conduct was to outrage decency, and to corrupt the public morals. Nor is it any justification that bathing at this spot might have a few years ago been innocent. For anything that I know, a man might a few years ago have harmlessly danced naked in the fields beyond Montague House; but it will be scarcely be said by the learned counsel for the defendant, that any one might now do so with impunity in Russell Square. Whatever place becomes the habitation of civilized men, there the laws of decency must be enforced."

An interesting argument, and evidently still relevant. The defendant was found guilty.

But I couldn't help wondering why a couple of smart middle-aged ladies - Catherine Lambert and Lady Julia Howard - would be taking a drive up there in their carriage!

Keith Evetts

They did it their way...7 November 2012

Gaynor on the right side of the law

Resident Gaynor Owen writes:

Last week, runners from around the World were encouraged by the Mayor of New York to still travel to the city to participate in the ING New York City Marathon despite widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy. Many of us felt uneasy about doing this and would have preferred that the Marathon be either cancelled or postponed as residents in Staten Island, Queens and Brooklyn (areas we were due to run through) had been left homeless, without power & water and in some cases, dead. However, the message was clear - “the show must go on” and the Marathon was to be used as a symbol of unity and strength to help get New York back on its feet.

Many of you will have heard that on Friday evening with 36 hours to go and after all international runners had arrived in New York, the Marathon was cancelled. A dreadful situation had arisen in Staten Island making the Marathon an impossible and inappropriate event at this time but while many runners were in complete agreement with the cancellation (including me), many of us were upset by such a late decision when it was clear that it should have been cancelled as soon as the hurricane hit.

So, with no official marathon to run any more, tens of thousands of international runners staged the first Unofficial New York City Marathon in Central Park tagged “Run Anyway” on Sunday 4th November, 2012 instead. Thousands of runners had travelled from around the world, many having raised huge amounts of money for charity or to run in memory of loved ones and many of us didn't want to return home without completing what we had set out to do. We were offered no official help, were not allowed to wear our racing numbers and were forbidden from crossing the official finish line which had been given a police guard for the day! After being poorly treated by the New York media, we decided not to take "NO" for an answer and ran laps of the very hilly (!) park until our tracking devices hit 26.2 miles. None of this was really reported by the press!

I ran with a British chap who I had only just met called John who was running for a children's cancer charity - this was his second Marathon and he stuck with me every step of the way, refusing to leave my side. We had no idea what response we would get but thousands of New Yorkers came out into the park to cheer us on, offering water, food and apologies for the unfair treatment. The atmosphere was amazing! People from all different countries were shouting out my name (some interesting pronunciations!) which was on the front of my Cancer Research UK vest and John and I carried Union Jacks for the final lap to yet more cheers from the crowd. I am delighted to report that we finished the Marathon distance of 26.2 miles (unofficially, of course) in 4 hours 6 minutes....if I never see another hill, it will be too soon!

I went to New York to run the Marathon in memory of my "Uncle" Alan and to raise money for Cancer Research UK – over £3,600 raised so far and the money is still coming in. While this might not have been the Marathon that I had in mind, it was a marathon none the less and I did it! No one will ever be able to take that away from me......and I do have the medal to prove it but shhhh, the Marathon never happened so officially I wasn’t allowed to wear it in America! I did, however, wear it with pride when I collected my girls from school after arriving back in the UK yesterday.

"Who needs a car park?!"5 November 2012

no consideration...

"Who needs a car park?!" - writes a resident of Ashley Road, who sent in this photo, taken the morning of Monday 5 November, "when you can just leave your vehicle in the middle of the road.

There was no sign of the owner - fortunately the fire engine managed to squeeze round."

Can you cap it? Ashley road car park costs a short stay parker 20p on a weekday.

Residents maintain area of Milbourne Pond29 October 2012

Peter Dodge and young helper add to the pile

Organised by local resident Peter Dodge, who has for many decades taken a close and active interest in preserving Milbourne pond, residents tackled some of the overgrown margins of the pond on Sunday last. Tannia Shipley writes:

"We had a wonderful morning clearing around the pond today. We started at 10am and we were nearly finished by 11 30 so much was the enthusiasm of the volunteers that turned out to help. Peter Dodge organises this event on a regular basis and we had advice and guidance from one of EBC's Countryside Team last week. We had a few youngsters helping us - what a help they were too! They might have had tiny hands and little legs but they were back and forth to the ever increasing mountain of cleared vegetation. They learnt about community spirit and how to stack the greenery in order to facilitate the rapid and efficient loading onto the EBC truck that was to collect it all on Monday morning. Ann Dodge provided us with the much appreciated mugs of tea and coffee and we were all very pleased with our morning's work. "

Keeping it out of the fan29 October 2012

TDIS doings29 October 2012

food for thought at harvest festival

On Thursday October 25th Year 2 pupils from Thames Ditton Infants School visited the Thames Ditton Community Day Centre in Mercer Close to distribute food and goodies collected at the school during Harvest Festival. The children also sang a jolly harvest song and as always, charmed the Day Centre regulars - just before the Hallowe'en celebrations...!

After lunchtime on the same day, the school held a special outdoor memorial service for David Lowe who as well as being a former Residents' councillor, was the Chair of Governors from 2008 until his untimely death last year. Governors, staff and pupils joined with Connie, David’s wife, close family and friends to unveil a plaque, a newly-planted tree and a specially commissioned bench given to the school by David’s family. After an address by the current chair of governors, acknowledging David’s enormous contribution to Thames Ditton Infants School, there followed a moving response from David Lowe’s eldest son. Headmistress Rebecca Hicks also paid tribute to David Lowe’s dedication to and personal affection for the school. Year 2 pupils then rounded off proceedings with an uplifting version of‘Top of the World’ by The Carpenters. To honour David’s memory, the school will make a half-termly award to a pupil for excellence in ICT - a subject always close to David's heart!

Commons clean-up22 October 2012

Organised by resident Lewis McGuinness, about sixteen residents met outside the Chocolate Tea Pot on 19 October, where owner Jane supplied a huge pot of tea before the team went litter-picking on the Common. Elmbridge Borough Council supplied the bags and collection afterwards. Participant Tannia Shipley writes: "We collected several sacks of rubbish – it was an extremely successful event and we had lots of fun! It was interesting to see some beautiful cyclamen on the common, and some amazing fungi! We finished back at the Chocolate Teapot and enjoyed an assortment of goodies and a good chat before we all left for home.

Excellent.

Future of Red Cross office uncertain28 September 2012

Elmbridge Council have commented on claims that its Conservative-led Administration has ordered the Red Cross Medical Loans office at Elmgrove in Walton to quit its office at Elmgrove, Walton, just before Christmas. The Red Cross medical equipment service, staffed by volunteers, provides short-term loans of equipment for the recently handicapped or incapacitated residents of the Elmbridge area, helping them return to their own homes after a hospital stay, enabling them to go on holiday with friends or family, and promoting independence. Equipment loaned includes wheelchairs, backrests, bath seats, walking sticks and frames, and commodes, bedpans and urinals.

A senior council officer has acknowledged that EBC did serve notice on the Red Cross in February this year, but said that they intend to discuss a suitable alternative location for the office within the Borough.

Problems with school policy and planning23 September 2012

At Dominic Raab MP's Town Hall meeting in Thames Ditton on 19 September several searching questions were asked by parents, school governors and Nick Fry, the Head of the Junior School where the meeting took place. The burthen of the questions was that the government gives support and funding to academies and new free schools, which can limit the number of pupils they accept, while our outstanding schools in the state sector are required to accept increasing numbers of pupils leading to overcrowding and threatening the standards attained. The population is growing and it is easy to predict that the bulge now experienced in primary education will surge upwards to secondary education but county planning, particularly for new schools or expansion of facilities where space allows at existing schools is woefully inadequate or incompetent.

The Hon Member for Esher and Walton replied that it was not the case that Government regarded state schools as lower priority. Of the approaches to him by constituents on this matter, the majority were about choice - not getting a child into their preferred school - rather than any shortage of overall capacity in the area. He said that this was the first time he was hearing such arguments about local inadequacies and urged constituents to put the case to him in writing.

The following day Nick Fry, with the full support of the governing body of the excellent Thames Ditton Junior School (and, we are sure, of all concerned residents of the area) wrote to Mr. Raab outlining the issues as below:

In 2009 and 2010, Thames Ditton Infant School was asked to expand on a temporary basis to provide additional reception places and was given a portable classroom to enable them to do so. The first of those classes have joined us this term and the second will do so in September 2013. TDIS have subsequently been asked to take another additional class in September 2012, and although a promise was made by Liz Hanrahan at a meeting in February that TDIS would only be asked to take another additional class in 2013, ‘if no other option could possibly be found’, there appears to be no viable alternative. Those children who join TDIS in 2012 and 2013 are likely to join us in 2015 and 2016; therefore we appear to be in the position of having a ‘permanent temporary’ expansion.

My belief is that an ideal size for a junior school is in the region of 300 to 350 pupils. The ethos of which we are very proud, is to create a secure environment and close-knit community in which our children can flourish. The significant increase in numbers not only puts pressure on the physical resourcing of the school, but also affects our ability to sustain this ethos. If the decision is made to expand further, serious consideration to provide adequate communal facilities is a necessity. Initially when a permanent expansion to our school was being discussed an architect visited to consider the feasibility of a new hall etc. When this idea was abandoned, we have been left with a de facto expansion of the school, but without the facilities needed. Funding has been provided for us to build a science lab which we very much appreciate and this will make a real difference to the quality of teaching that can take place within the school, but various pressures have been created including:

• the increased number of children in the building and on the playground will create health and safety issues which could potentially lead to more accidents as a result of more children playing in a restricted space; it is therefore likely that we will need to stagger playtimes and lunchtimes which in turn will present us with timetabling issues;
• the hall will no longer be big enough to accommodate all of the children and therefore we will no longer be able to hold whole school assemblies which are an integral part of our school week;
• there will an increase in the number of staff creating pressure on the use of the staff room, staff toilets and car park;
• more children will be coming to our school from further afield leading to an increase in the amount of traffic and congestion around the school. As well as putting the safety of the children at risk, many more cars are now parked in the area around the school which has led to complaints from local residents; the manager of the doctors’ surgery raised a planning objection before our recent expansion, as a result of parents parking within their car park;
• an increase in the number of pupils – and the consequent increase in the number of parents - will also increase pressure upon the school office.

We will mange all of the above – because we will have to – but this is not a situation with which I am happy.

I realise that there is a demand for places throughout Surrey and we also need to look at this from a wider perspective, but I am concerned that there is no long-term plan (or even medium-term plan) despite projected figures that show that the demand for primary places will continue to rise until at least 2020.

Last term I met with several very concerned parents of pupils in year 6 who had been allocated secondary schools a long distance from where they live (including Epsom and Ewell, Thomas Knivett and Southborough). They were particularly worried about the long journeys that would be necessary to get to and from school and the difficulty in making social contact when living a considerable distance from the school. Most of the children were subsequently given places nearer to their home, but in the meantime there was a lot of stress and uncertainty. Bearing in mind the increased numbers in local primary schools at the moment – as you recognised - this situation is going to get worse in the near future.

I would also like to make a few wider points on education:

The two main teaching unions, the NUT and the NAS/UWT have issues guidance for their members on ‘Action short of strike action’ as a result of government policy. Personally, I feel that this is misguided and I expect most of the teachers within my school will work as normal; their talent and hard work have been the main factors in ensuring that we are an outstanding school. However, please don’t assume that if the majority of teachers do not follow this guidance, it is because they support the government policy on education – it is because of their professionalism. I would also suggest that this a battle in which the government need to think very carefully about their position; although it may be possible for them to ‘win’ it, at what cost? The wish to drive up standards is commendable, but I believe the biggest factor in creating a successful school is the quality of teachers; by creating a demoralised and depressed profession, this is unlikely to happen; comments by Sir Michael Wishaw, the chief inspector of schools such as, “If someone tells you morale is at an all-time low you know you are doing something right,” can only exacerbate the situation.

At the meeting yesterday you made several comments in support of free schools and academies. There is no great desire for further independence from the majority of primary headteachers – I believe that only 4 out of 300 primary schools in Surrey have become academies. Although far more secondary schools have converted, surveys suggest that the majority of these have done so for financial reasons. The figures with which we have been presented have suggested that an average-sized secondary school would be better off by about £150,000, most primary schools would benefit by about £40,000 – a relatively small figure when the amount of additional work and responsibility is taken into consideration.

I realise that there are huge budgetary pressures on all departments and appreciate that the overall school’s budget has not been cut, but there still has been a real impact on our school as a result of:

• the cut in our delegated annual capital funding from approximately £50,000 to £7,000 has created problems in maintaining and improving our school building;
• the introduction of the pupil premium. As Thames Ditton is in an affluent area, we have a small number of children entitled to it;
• the stand-still budget does not allow for increase in energy costs of 10% and other inflationary costs of up to 5%

I look forward to your response to the above points

We are not part of Kingston23 August 2012

Residents in parts of Thames Ditton are protesting that deliveries to them of the Elmbridge Guardian have, from yesterday, been replaced by the Kingston Guardian. "We are not part of Kingston," they say. This is a pity: the Kingston version carries no news about Elmbridge, coverage of which has been particularly good over the past year in the Elmbridge Guardian.

Calls to the Guardian reveal that the driving force behind this change is the advertising department, which faces pressure from Kingston-based advertisers to extend their market coverage to surrounding areas. "But," as one resident observed, "that won't do them any good if disgusted readers now stick the paper straight in the bin because there's no Elmbridge news in it!"

The Guardian's got this wrong. It's another sign of the immense pressures the local press conglomerates are under. The syndicated Advertiser (Trinity Mirror) carries less and less relevant news, and much of it seems a huge amount of waste paper to those concerned with the environment, while its price has more than doubled in the past couple of years. The syndicated Elmbridge Guardian (Newsquest) has hitherto provided good coverage considering that the paper is free and the space allotted to news is limited. Those with internet access can still read most of the news items in the Elmbridge Guardian online, whereas the Advertiser puts only a few news articles online, and often slightly delayed, in the hope that readers will shell out for the hard copy.

We support the local press - although coverage is not what it was several decades ago, it is still important to have local media that are not controlled by corporate PR in the state and private sector and are therefore less partisan. But people won't read them if their news content is not relevant to them.

Ashley Road car park - use it or lose it11 July 2012

Last week the Elmbridge Cabinet, one hundred percent Conservative, which takes decisions for the borough that are then voted through by the Party, approved a continuation of its strategy for off-street car parks. This includes a review of underused car parks (Ashley Road car park is under-used). Options mentioned for such car parks are to seek alternative use, partial or complete disposal, or retain the status quo.

They want individual car parks to operate at a net surplus. A number of village car parks (for example Ashley Road car park) run at a loss. The Cabinet is unwilling for part of your tax to be used to subsidise them (but they have not consulted taxpayers on that matter). They also want a price index link approach for charges to ensure that there is a rise in income from car parks around the borough every year, although they may stagger this around Elmbridge's car parks (making it harder for objectors as they pick the car parks off one by one rather than hiking the lot, as three years ago, which made an easier target to protest against)

Note that the policy of the previous Conservative Administration could be summed up as follows: raise car park charges to commercial levels; car parks that are commercially viable can then be privatised (= "small government"); car parks that are not viable can be sold to developers. Informally, the present Conservative Administration has lately given the impression that the likes of Ashley Road car park will not be "disposed of" - but it seems that the policy is back in contention.

The full agenda item can be downloaded here