News from the Residents' Association
21 May to 15 SeptemberCommunity Heritage Initiative Project
As part of this project, Elmbridge Borough Council in partnership with English Heritage will draw up Conservation Area Plans for Thames Ditton. They are setting up a Working Group for the purpose. Working Groups are two dozen strong, comprising residents, historical, amenity and conservation societies, local councillors and council officers. This one meets on 16 October at the Civic Centre in Esher to discuss the concepts of conservation areas, how to undertake a character appraisal, use historical information and how to look at a place and decide what makes it special. Then there will be a day's workshop on 22 October in the Thames Ditton Cricket Club. The Conservation Area Advisory Committees will co-ordinate their input. Consultants will then compile and circulate draft conclusions and organise a final day's Working Group meeting in November, followed by a six-week public consultation period when information will be sent to all residents and there will be an exhibition (probably in the Library). There is more information on our website and on EBC's.
Boarded up properties proliferate
There is ugly boarding around the former Harrow, where the developer has withdrawn plans for six houses, and on the we want to conserve scenes like thisfront of the former Bakery in the High Street. Now Kingston Primary Care Trust have boarded up the windows at Elmbridge Lodge on Weston Green Road after moving their Day Unit to New Malden, and the Rosemary Simmons Association have boarded up the windows of the Newlands prior to its sale. This is unsightly. We are trying to discover future plans for the two latter sites, which we should like to see continue in use for the community.
Enforcement of planning conditions
Elmbridge Borough Council have begun to get their Enforcement Team up to strength. Sites including 25-29 High Street, where building works have varied significantly from the approved plans, are now being pursued so that developers cannot simply ignore planning conditions set by the Council.Success in planning appealsCongratulations to Councillor Tannia Shipley who led local residents in opposing the backland development of 1, Lime Tree Avenue at the planning appeal on 2 September. The Inspector agreed with all the grounds for refusal: unacceptable harm to the leafy character of the area, loss of privacy to the neighbours, and compromise to highway safety for children attending Weston Green School. We gained another good outcome to the developers' appeal against conditions imposed on them regarding the houses to be built on the now vacant site in Ashley Road, part of Thames Ditton's conservation area. These results show that your Residents' Association councillors with the support of local residents can be successful at appeals if they demonstrate this support to inspectors, and marshal sound planning objections to inappropriate development. There are several other appeals in the pipeline. For the most significant of these, concerning 29 High Street, working with Council officers our representatives have put together a strong argument for its refusal. Subjective views and decisions of Planning Inspectors (based in Bristol) do vary. One thing does not vary: the process takes a great deal of work on the part of our planning convenor Graham Cooke and Residents' Association councillors - but it can be the only way to constrain development excesses.
Trees
The owners of 3 Harvest Lane are appealing against the Council's decision to refuse permission to fell the Holm oak. The Council agreed that bracing and remedial work could be carried out on the tree, which is an important part of the village street scene. We hope the owners will work with the Council and withdraw their appeal. Meanwhile a large old oak at 48 Station Road has had two trunks cut off, which has adversely affected its aspect. The Association is instigating a more general review to identify significant local trees and seek protection for them where they are not already subject to orders.
Schools
It's a delight to report that following Thames Ditton Infants and St Pauls Catholic Primary, Esher College is the third school in Thames Ditton and Weston Green to gain an outstanding Ofsted report this year. The inspectors in May awarded top grade in every category and on 'added value' noted that: "Students' success rates are very high and most students make very good progress compared with their starting points on entry." A-level results are significantly higher than the national average, and two students were placed in the top 10 in the country for their individual performances in Economics, and Applied Art and Design.
A warm welcome to Nick Fry, the new Head of Thames Ditton Junior School. A resident of Hampton, he's married with three school-age children and was lately Head at Pippins School in Colnbrook. Nick's keen on football, cricket and Go, and he means to cycle daily to the school.
School crossing in Station Road
Following the petition organised by residents and with continuing pressure from our County councillor Peter Hickman, Surrey Highways Department have finally gone along with proposals to add a red surface to the flat-top crossing complete with improved warning signs. This should highlight to traffic the existence of the crossing and make it safer. Highways won't fund it out of their budget, so Peter has volunteered part of his small area allocation to get the job done. At the time of writing, the SCC Local Area Committee for Elmbridge are expected to approve the plan at their meeting on 22 September. The safest solution, however, remains the recruitment of a replacement lollipop person - applicants are again encouraged to get in touch with Thames Ditton Infants' School.
Regional Health
Peter Hickman was made Vice Chairman of SCC's Health Scrutiny Committee in June. He reports a continuing tussle with Surrey's Primary Care Trust to maintain financing for NHS rehabilitation beds at the George Tickler Wing of Thames Ditton Hospital. Meanwhile 'polyclinics' have been in the national news: large-sized clinics to provide a wide range of centralised services for 50,000 or more patients at the expense of smaller, localised practices. These are regarded with well-reasoned scepticism by GPs across the country. The Association has been concerned that any plans should not work to the detriment of the practices we have in these wards, particularly the surgery at Giggs Hill where facilities are modern and fairly extensive, and where the Friends of the Hospital have worked hard to sponsor additional equipment for NHS patients. Government is somewhat arbitrarily insisting that every PCT should have at least one polyclinic. Surrey PCT are considering locating one in the densely-populated Borough of Spelthorne. The Health Scrutiny Committee will meet the PCT soon to consider the implications of this.
Local shops
With our County Councillor Peter Hickman's active support, plans to create a parking lay-by for the shops at Winter's Bridge are moving ahead. Bachmann's Patisserie contributed £3000 and our Residents' Association has added another £500 to help fund it.
In recent months AlleyKatz has moved to Thorkill Rd; their former shop in the High Street has been let to a clothing enterprise. The former Rose has been let to an Italian bistro. There are reportedly no takers for the lease of Threshers in the High Street, where at least two other commercial premises are empty and to let.The attractions of the High Street on Thursday lunchtimes and Saturday mornings have been reinforced by the arrival of The Fishman. Originally from Antigua, now a resident of Claygate, Alan Weston drives to Billingsgate every morning for his supplies. He's properly registered, insured, and also accredited with the Marine Stewardship Council that monitors sustainability and traceability of fish supplies. His fish is good. Alan likes Thames Ditton where he says he's found a unique welcome. He brought his friend and cricketing legend Richie Richardson to visit, and has plans for other involvement with the community. Alan's also looking to arrange a weekly stand at Weston Green. Now we need a butcher….
Environment
Peter Hickman has battled again this year to get Surrey and their contractors to fulfil their obligations to cut grass on roadside verges and kill our weeds. The transfer of some responsibilities to Elmbridge, who are setting up two-person 'Street Smart' teams to tidy the streets, may see some improvement. Meanwhile our special thanks to Ted Woolley, gardener at the Home of Compassion, for planting and tending the summer flowers in the fountain at the Boyle Farm roundabout.
Crime and policing
The reported crime rate remained at around 30 a month in Thames Ditton and under a dozen in Weston Green. The most frequent category was criminal damage, but nothing on the scale of the major spree of damage to cars in May reported in our last issue: police have forensic clues and a lead but are still seeking the culprits. Youth disorder over the wet summer was at a lower level than last year. This may reflect a more evident police presence at likely trouble spots and hours.
The period was not without some drama. Metropolitan Police cordoned off 33 Embercourt Road on 17 June before searching for the body of the owner's wife who disappeared in June 1999. Martin Hale was formally charged with murder in Kingston Crown Court and remanded for trial commencing 25 September at the Old Bailey.
The police helicopter was deployed over Thames Ditton on two or three occasions, including the control of a 'robust' arrest of two men in a black BMW on Portsmouth Road on 1 August, by a group of undercover police. This is described as an ongoing operation and details are scant, but police assure us that the event does not impact on local public safety. Police cordoned off Watts Road temporarily on the night of Friday 15 August: a man hurt himself falling off his motorbike, having failed to stop for police. He then failed a breath test. A week later, a car demolished the front porch of a house along the Thames Ditton section of Claygate Lane. A further motorbike accident on Watts Road occurred on the morning of 27 August where a van was involved. At 09.30 on Monday 9 September a woman drove at speed off the end of Ashley Road (cul-de-sac), narrowly missing nearby pedestrians and ploughing through the front gardens of 14 and 16 Church Walk. Fortunately nobody was injured. After breathalysing she was removed in a police van. In the early evening of Friday 22 August a police cordon was thrown around the buildings on the High Street between hairdresser's Stuart Lane and the George and Dragon, while police followed up a serious report apparently relating to the flat above the pharmacy. They were able to resolve the situation satisfactorily: for reasons of privacy we cannot give details but police say there is no cause for public concern.
Meanwhile there was insufficient identification or evidence for prosecution of the four people arrested following attempted armed robbery of Assimi jewellers over last Christmas and they are unlikely to be brought to trial. The three youths from Longmead who were arrested following a spate of burglaries in Thames Ditton last year (after which the burglary rate dropped to normal levels) were convicted of receiving stolen goods, given community orders, curfews and ordered to pay costs.
Please make use of the neighbourhood police panel meetings, which for convenience are generally held immediately before the Association's Open Meetings in the Vera Fletcher Hall. Our neighbourhood police teams note residents' priority concerns and follow up on them. Latterly, criminal damage and antisocial behaviour in the region of Church Walk, Speer Road and the Station area were singled out for action. Police stepped up patrols in the area at sensitive times. They are pursuing the acquisition and deployment of CCTV there and at other points where such problems arise. Justification under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act is required, so it's important that criminal damage and antisocial behaviour does not go unreported. For even minor crimes in the course of being committed, call 999. To report crimes after the fact, call 0845 125 2222.
Albany Reach
Last year resident Brian Rawles highlighted problems caused by some anglers who camp overnight along Albany Reach, though the majority are peaceable and fish at night with decorum. RA Councillor Ruth Lyon took this up with officials. A year further on, small signage has been added (some now covered in graffiti) and better signs are imminent. There will be no extra bin capacity for rubbish but officials say they will arrange for existing bins to be emptied more frequently during summers. Patrols by both council officials and police have approached anglers. River Officer PC Halstead notes that fishermen are 'camping' and thereby in breach of by-laws only if using a tent with an integral groundsheet. Using a bivouac with a separate ground sheet is not considered to be 'camping'. Police report that fishermen know the legislation, and have had valid licenses and the correct type of equipment. Meanwhile a few bivouackers are still lighting fires that leave scorched patches on the turf, cans are thrown into the bankside bushes and there too is to be found occasional evidence of human ordure. Dog mess is another feature of the bankside turf - but that's not due to anglers. We urge all who visit this delightful reach - the only stretch where villagers have public access to the river - to use it with consideration.
Sport and achievement
Last year two young men from Speer Road were selected as oarsmen for the exacting Sporting Giants programme that aims to produce athletes for the 2012 Olympics. One of them has had health problems but the other, Nick Fitzgerald, rowed stroke in the eight of the Giants contingent at Molesey BC, which won at Wallingford, Metropolitan and Molesey Regattas, qualifying for the Thames Cup at Henley Royal Regatta - where they lost to eventual semi finalists Ghent. Nick is one of two in the eight who will be recommended for the GB training squad this winter. Steve Gunn of GB rowing who manages the World Class Start programme tells us that overall the Sporting Giants initiative has been a success, enabling British rowing to recruit and develop over 100 young men and women of the right size and strength, many of whom had not rowed before, to have a chance of making it to the top.Colets' terrific squash team won this year's knockout England Club Championship again - the eighth time they've done that in fourteen years - and will represent England at the European Club Championships in late September, after this is written.
Cover
This month's cover photograph by Scott Hortop shows the children's race during the Harry Hawkes 8 on 7 September. 2009 will see the 25th anniversary of this annual event that epitomises community life in Thames Ditton. Organised by the Cricket Club, the 'HH8' is part of the running calendar and attracts a wide field - including, this year, former Olympic silver medallist Sonia O'Sullivan. It raises funds for the club and for several local charities. It's great to see ever more children having fun, and running hard, in their own race.
Stumped
Elsewhere in this issue Brian Spooner introduces us to the mysteries of local fungi. Dr. Spooner, who lives just over the border in Molesey, is no less an authority than the Head of Mycology at the Jodrell Laboratory, Kew Gardens. He writes: "In the Winter 1979 issue of Thames Ditton Today a quiz included a question concerning the whereabouts of a huge old hollow tree stump near the Harrrow pub. Its rough location was subsequently given as ' on the NE corner of Weston Green at the side of the old Harrow'. A search recently for this stump failed to find it or any trace of it. If any reader knows whether it still exists or if not, or what became of it, I would be interested to know." If you can help, please get in touch with Brian on 0208 332 5381 or tell the Editor.
Membership and subscriptions
Our thanks to residents who have responded with their subscriptions and contributions for 2008. A gentle nudge to others - your support ensures the continuity of this community magazine and of the Association, which is based entirely on voluntary contributions and effort by residents to preserve an independent local voice for Thames Ditton and Weston Green. For how to subscribe see foot of page 3, or our website where you can download a form.
Dates for your diary
This year's Residents' Association Christmas Party will take place on Saturday 13 December at the Vera Fletcher Hall. Enjoy a three-course dinner among friends together with your favourite music. At £29 a ticket, it's the greatest party of the year. For tickets phone Lorraine Sharp on 07970 874 925The Christmas Fair in Thames Ditton High Street, arranged by local businesses under Association auspices, will be held on Wednesday 10 December. The High Street will be closed for the occasion from 6 to 10 pm and you can expect a feast of fun, late-night shopping, mince pies, mulled wine, carols and of course, Father Christmas. Contact Stitchery or Lottie and Thomas for further information in the meantime. In the run-up to the Fair, Stitchery & Lime Tree Deli are holding evening shopping sessions on Wednesday 19 November and Wednesday 3 December until 9.30 pm: speciality cheeses, charcuterie, chocolates and many goodies will be available.
Thames Ditton parking proposals
Only a footnote, because nothing is happening. SCC Highways matters can resemble a shambles, with acrimonious Area Committee meetings and wild budget swings. Cuts have meant deferment of further work on parking improvements in Thames Ditton until 2010 - 11. A pragmatic Yorkshireman has been appointed new overseer for Highways and Transport. We must look on the bright side…