Spring 2008 issue

News from the Residents' Association

A very full quarter with lots of contributors. We love receiving your news and views. Alas there is not enough space for everything we'd like to include in this issue - but please keep it coming!

Esher Station Floods

RA councillor Tannia Shipley succeeded in getting Network Rail to do a great deal of work last year on the two-mile system of pipes, ditches and culverts that drains the flood waters away from under Esher Station Bridge. Surrey Highways Department was less responsive. Rainwater now clears more rapidly than it did, but the flooding after heavy rain remains unacceptable. Tannia has secured from Network Rail the video footage of their CCTV probe showing fish swimming in (Surrey's) culverts under the road! In February our indefatigable councillor insisted on a further thorough three-hour investigation, trudging round the ditches with Network Rail and SCC officials, accompanied by our RA county councillor Peter Hickman for additional leverage on Surrey. An action programme was agreed. Qualified opinion suggested that even when drains are fully cleared they might not have sufficient fall or capacity to cope with a complex problem that has endured for over ninety years. Additional drainage structures are likely to be required. Do not believe anybody who glibly tells you this can be solved easily.

Planning:

Planning issues remain of vital concern to residents. Our RA councillors and planning convenor Graham Cooke put in a great deal of detailed work to monitor them, keep residents informed and ensure proper implementation of planning regulations, referring applications to the Council's planning committees when an unsatisfactory outcome looms. We have had good results in this quarter:

72 Ember Lane: we supported the many residents who objected to the proposal to build 4 detached houses following demolition of an existing bungalow. The Planning Sub-Committee refused the application as it would result in cramped development detrimental to the surrounding area, with an adverse impact on adjacent properties.

1 Lime Tree Ave: we supported residents, and the Subcommittee overturned the Planning Officer's recommendation to permit this backland development that would cause access and safety problems, and gainsay the earlier reports of two Planning Inspectors who in rejecting another application highlighted the desirability of preserving the leafy open-ness of the site.

2 Lime Tree Avenue: we supported residents' objections to further expansion of plans already approved to build two semis on the site of a bungalow. The Subcommittee rejected this as an overly large and bulky addition, incongruous with the area.

27 - 31 High Street: we strongly supported residents' objections to the developer's non-compliance with planning conditions and in December the Council issued a legal 'Stop-Order'. Remedial work has now commenced on the new buildings. Some issues remain to be resolved. Thank you to the many residents who supported RA Councillors Karen Randolph and Ruth Lyon at the Planning Sub-Committee, when plans to halve the size of the Old Bakery were rejected. If they had been approved the shop would not be viable and the High Street would have lost another shop. The committee also rejected plans to build 5 flats over Hawes estate agents, as over-development, out of keeping with the character of the Conservation Area and would produce problems for highway and pedestrian safety.

Thames Ditton Tennis Club: Elmbridge Council has now approved floodlighting for three tennis courts, which will give this fine 100-year-old club a new lease of life. Following the earlier Planning Inspector's report, the Tennis Club reduced the number of lights, proposed to switch them off at 9pm and attach baffles to minimise light spillage. RA councillors supported this neighbourly and reasonable compromise.

Royal Thames House, Portsmouth Road: a further application on the old office site was rejected on the grounds of over-development. Developers have gone to appeal.Post OfficeOur vital Post Office passed its inspection with flying colours and we are very pleased that it has not been singled out for the next round of cuts.

Parking

Since our last issue Surrey County Council transport officials have attended three presentations of their parking proposals in the Library. These were amply notified to all in Thames Ditton Today and on our website, by email to several hundred residents who have furnished us with email addresses, and by public noticeboard. One was held on a Saturday (12 January) and two on weekdays extending until 8 pm (11 December and 4 February) so that all who wished to view the proposals directly and make representations to SCC experts have had opportunity to do so. And many did! A Surrey transport official also attended a meeting of the local business community to discuss the matter on 15 January, the upshot of which was summarised on our website. RA county councillor Peter Hickman and RA borough councillor Karen Randolph were on hand at these sessions. Representatives of Thames Ditton Island presented a petition at the Library session of 12 January.

Officials indeed seem to be taking representations into account in revising their proposals, which has caused a delay in the expected issue of a further questionnaire by SCC to those in the affected roads of the Station area. Meanwhile some of their proposals for the High Street area are being considerably modified to reflect your views. All residents may still submit views directly via the SCC website where there is a form available for the purpose. Officials assure us that they will continue to note substantive representations submitted right up until the final stages. In the light of majority responses the final proposals of SCC officials will be debated by Surrey councillors of the Area Subcommittee. Then by law they must be put in writing to those in the affected roads (the 'affected roads' are also defined by regulation) for a final 'yes' or 'no.'

Please keep an eye on our website for updates as matters proceed. The key is to remain engaged and to get the best possible set of solutions Surrey can produce.

School crossing

We have supported residents, particularly parents of young children, in efforts to improve the safety of the school crossing on Station Road Thames Ditton. Residents raised a petition of more than 400 signatures to Surrey County Council, which gives RA county councillor Peter Hickman more leverage with officials. The narrow road and pavements at that point prevent a technical solution (Pelican) within regulations. We urge people witnessing dangerous incidents at the crossing point to record these, either in our website forum or in writing to the schools' parents associations, building up a body of evidence to convince Surrey officials who are sceptical that the crossing, unassisted, is as unsafe as we know it to be. Meanwhile, is there really nobody who will take on the post of lollipop person?

Councils and Council Tax:

You will have seen in the local media much 'spin' from the Council administrations about Council Tax. Here are the facts:

♦  Before 1992, Elmbridge Council was inefficient. The auditors refused to pass the accounts. The Residents formed a minority administration in that year. The next 14 years saw things made shipshape. Elmbridge's Council Tax rose by less than inflation during that period overall. The Residents administration left healthy reserves to the current Conservative administration in Elmbridge when the latter regained office two years ago. Residents support a tight policy on Council Tax. In February your Residents councillors approved keeping the Borough's Council Tax at the same level as last year. We are pleased that good reserves earning higher interest, income from Walton Heart (developed under the Residents' administration) and earlier efficiency reviews have helped to make this possible. We don't want erosion of the quality of vital services your tax pays for. Nor should you pay more in real terms for them.

♦  Residents have reservations about the Elmbridge administration's trend over the past two years to raise revenues by increasing charges beyond inflation for some services to the elderly and to the bereaved. Residents' councillors have resisted this. Further proposals to raise parking charges in Ashley Road and other car parks by several times the rate of inflation were successfully opposed in December by Residents councillors and Liberal Democrats. Car parks are community assets and charges should be adjusted to help our local shops and short-stay parking.

♦  In December, Conservative councillors joined with some Liberal Democrats to vote themselves increases in pay and allowances many times the rate of inflation, paid out of your tax. Your Residents councillors voted against this.

♦  In the County Council the Conservative administration has voted in a Council Tax increase of twice the rate of inflation. They blame the Government (with some justification) but there were options for a lower increase: Residents' councillors voted for a lower option. Residents are critical of the performance of the County and the commercial contractors whom it still retains, for failing properly to maintain our roads, drains and street lighting. We'd like this responsibility returned to Elmbridge who ran it better in years past. Meanwhile Surrey is reportedly borrowing an additional £25 million for Highways - to be paid back from your future tax.

RA Secretary

We promised to present to readers Lorraine Sharp, who took on the job of Secretary of our Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association when Libby MacIntyre became Chairman last year. Lorraine is also a Committee Member of the Friends of Thames Ditton Hospital. A university graduate, she's an erstwhile international swimmer, and co-manages a local boys' football team. Lorraine was formerly Company Secretary of a group of technology companies listed on the LSE and NASDAQ. Married, with two children, she has lived in Weston Green for 18 years. Lorraine plays an impressive part in the continual renewal and regeneration of the Association. She introduces herself on the next page.

Annual Subscription

Yes, it's that time again - the year runs from March. If you enjoy this community magazine and value the work of the Residents' Association, please send in your 2008/9 subscription. A subscription form is thoughtfully enclosed with this issue. Subscription details are also on page 3 of every issue and on our website. In 2007, it was heartening to see our subscribing membership increase to nearly 1100 households and voluntary contributions also increased. Thanks to you all, and to our many distributors and collectors for their effort.

Local elections on 1 May

Please turn out to vote - it's important to stay engaged. We appreciate residents' support for your Association. Thank you.

Jubilee Quilt

The fine quilt depicting scenes from village life in Thames Ditton and Weston Green, a major work created by many villagers to mark the occasion of the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, has been restored and reframed following deterioration of the original frame. It has been enclosed in high quality non-reflective glass and should be better protected against both ultra-violet light and damp penetration. The Quilt Committee is very grateful to Surrey County Council Local Committee (Elmbridge) for funding the restoration, which made the undertaking possible. You may view this unusual work, which can now be seen more clearly and with vibrant colours, in the Dittons Library in Watts Road where you may also purchase a "poster" of the whole work for £2.

Cover photo

"The suburbs are good for the children, but no place for adults to be," wrote poet Judith Viorst*, tongue in cheek. In this issue, Ruth Lyon extols our corner of suburbia as a great place for children and adults alike. And of course pets. Thames Ditton resident Finley, a wonderful Bernese mountain dog, is frequently to be seen in the High Street taking charming Sophia for a walk. Scott Hortop photographed them in front of Secret Garden Floral Designs. Our prized florists won another accolade in January - accreditation as a Master Florist. Congratulations!

* from: "It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty"