The Association has had another successful year, with perhaps fewer major issues attracting public attention - normally a good thing. However, the Association has continued to fulfil its main objective of protecting the amenities and furthering the interests of residents in the Thames Ditton and Weston Green areas, unfettered by party political constraints.
Thames Ditton Community Centre
Elmbridge Council has bought the Community Centre from Surrey County Council and Elmbridge has earmarked funds for refurbishment, so we can look forward to a revitalised centre for the benefit of the wider community. Thames Ditton Community Hospital The financial failings of the local Primary Care Trust has meant that the future of the NHS beds in the George Tickler Wing at Emberbrook is still uncertain, despite the campaign by the Friends of Thames Ditton Hospital, whose efforts we continue to support. With the reduction in beds in neighbouring community hospitals, it is all the more imperative that the Primary Care Trust continues to fund our 4 NHS beds at least and preferably more.
Flooding and Sewerage
Under Councillor Edward Rowe's leadership, our lobbying and pressure finally bore fruit with the new pumping station and sewer work in Speer Road, with work starting in Thames Ditton village and expanded capacity at the Esher treatment plant. We hope this will alleviate flooding and sewage back-up problems. In Weston Green, localised surface water flooding is kept to a minimum thanks to the efforts of our RA ward councillors, Maureen Sheldrick and Tannia Shipley, to make sure the culverts are kept clear.
Policing
While we have a relatively low level of serious crime we must be vigilant and the Association maintains links with Surrey Police and our new neighbourhood officer P.C. Andy Grapsas and his colleagues who try to attend our Open Meetings wherever possible.
Traffic Highways and Parking
The vexed question with parking remains, particularly around Thames Ditton village, Basingfield Road, the station and near schools. Elmbridge has taken over enforcement of controls over on-street parking as well as car parks where, in common with all neighbouring boroughs, charges are being brought in. Management of on-street parking is Surrey's responsibility and we are told proposals will be put forward this summer. Surrey's difficulties with its maintenance contractor, Carrillion, are plain to see with the long delays in filling potholes.
Planning
We continue to monitor all significant planning applications, to keep a balance between the need for housing and the need to ensure that we oppose overdevelopment. We support residents at planning appeals, such as that in Station Road where the inspector rejected plans to build thirteen houses in back gardens going back to Ashley Road.
We were less successful at Imber Cross, next to the Vera Fletcher Hall, where an alliance between Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors approved a developer's plan for redevelopment with only 35% affordable and sheltered accommodation, ignoring the need for much more housing of this type (up to now it was 100% sheltered accommodation).
In Weston Green, the persistence of our ward councillors paid off when the unauthorised car wash at the Lamb and Star was closed, since it created a great nuisance for local residents. While not strictly a planning matter I would like to thank Councillor Maureen Sheldrick for her sterling work in representing local interests when the new licenses were approved for local pubs, in order to ensure opening hours and noise were kept within reasonable limits.
Thames Ditton Today Magazine
This is our main means of communication with residents and I thank Terry Ford and all who contribute to, distribute and deliver the magazine, not forgetting our advertisers and all the hard work by our new advertising manager, Verity Park.
Other Matters
The Association again worked with local businesses to put on the second Christmas Fayre in the High Street which was a great success. We now have our own website, produced by Keith Evetts, and we are grateful to Keith for this. We also have a new "Welcome Letter" for new residents so if you know of new neighbours, please let us know.
Committee and Councillors
I am normally reluctant to mention individuals because everyone does as much as they can, but we welcome our new Treasurer Keith Baldwin, who took over from Eric Austin. Peter Haynes is our new Membership Secretary and he has worked hard to overhaul our records and improve our subscription collecting. Our five councillors all devote a great deal of time in representing your interests, much of it behind the scenes, unsung and unacknowledged. We were very pleased that last year we saw our first RA County Councillor, Peter Hickman, elected as we recognised that we needed better representation at County where so many decisions are made, not least on highways. Our grateful thanks are due to all who contribute to the well-being and success of the Association in so many ways.
Martin Wilberforce - Chairman