Summer 2008 issue

Chairman's Report to the AGM

It has been a busy year as we deliver against our objectives; to protect the amenities and further the interests of inhabitants of the area and encourage a community spirit. We have a strong and increasing membership and five Borough Councillors, representing residents on Elmbridge Borough Council. In addition Peter Hickman continues to represent us and Long Ditton on Surrey County Council. It is a great advantage having RA councillors to represent you directly without being constrained by a national party agenda. They make sure Council Officers are aware of your concerns, represent residents' interests in council end ensure the councils fulfil their obligations. You see all they do through our regular reports back to residents.

We keep you fully informed through three main channels of communication. We provide the opportunity for face to face communication in our frequent Open Meetings, open to all residents whether members or not. You can hear directly from RA councillors and officers, ask questions and provide input. We also publish news in Thames Ditton Today, delivered quarterly to all homes in the area. Thanks are due to the volunteers who contribute material to it and produce it and to the many who distribute the magazine. We get regular feedback from residents on how much they appreciate it. We have moved firmly into the internet age with our excellent website. It gets over 6,000 visitors a month and provides people with many resources, and the opportunity to let us know what they are thinking as well as learning of local news. It's had plaudits from as far afield as the Isle of Man.

Planning

We live in a time of a voracious demand for housing and consequent development in our attractive and sought after area. Graham Cooke is doing a sterling job monitoring development applications, making representations where proposed developments are inappropriate and assisting local residents in making their voices heard. No community can stand still, but we want to make sure development is appropriate for the area and does not adversely affect its inhabitants. We make representations on a large number of planning applications and I intend to pick out just a few to illustrate successes, some disappointments and some salutary learning points.

16-18 Embercourt Road: The final application of many for a 'single storey' development still with 6 apartments on two floors was refused by Elmbridge following efforts by residents and councillors. Alas, permission was granted on appeal.

The Planning Inspector rejected issues related to high density. It seems we will now have to show that high density applications will cause harm rather than merely contravene the local planning guidelines.

13 Queens Drive: Residents strongly objected to 3 applications for development at 13 Queens Drive. The first two were refused at appeal, but the developer continues to come back with proposals that do not appear to be substantially altered. We need to remain vigilant.

The High Street: The properties from 25 to 31 the High Street are all owned by one company seeking to develop its holding. Permission to build houses to the rear of number 25 and to demolish and rebuild the office building was granted in 2001. However the work only really started to take shape last summer at which point it became evident that the buildings did not look like the plans, drawings and specifications submitted in the application. Persistent efforts by local residents (over 100 letters were received by the Planning Officer) and letters from the RA and the Conservation Committee resulted in meetings with planning officers and the issue of a rare 'stop order' until the developer undertook to rectify some, if not all of the concerns. This brought to light unsatisfactory shortcomings in the detail accompanying planning approvals in Elmbridge's Conservation Areas, and in Council staffing required to enforce their implementation.

We have also opposed in particular attempts to reduce retail space in favour of accommodation. It is imperative to maintain the retail and office space in Thames Ditton to ensure that we have a real village and avoid the High Street becoming a dormitory.

Parking

Surrey County Council's public consultation process is still running its course. SCC sent out questionnaires to households, drew up different proposals and requested feedback from residents: there have been three presentations of the proposals by SCC officials in the library. These presentations were widely advertised by us to ensure people had the maximum opportunity to make their views known. Currently SCC is updating its proposals based on the feedback given; although we are still waiting for a further questionnaire to be distributed to a number of roads around the station. SCC tells us that it will continue to take account of representations until the final stage of the process at which point the Area Subcommittee will debate and agree a final proposal which will be put in writing to those in the affected areas for a final yes or no decision. At this point I would like to thank Peter Hickman for the effort he has put in and continues to put in to keep this on Surrey's agenda, make sure the process is thorough and provides full opportunities for consultation.

Policing

We live in a relatively low crime area. The decision by Surrey Police in early 2007 to stop holding Police Community Partnership Group meetings concerned local residents. We invited the Elmbridge Neighbourhood Inspector Paul Yearwood, to address our July open meeting on future plans for consultation. As a result of that session it was agreed that Surrey Police would hold a short panel session to report back to residents and hear their concerns, just before our Open Meetings. This has the advantage of keeping local consultation going and we will continue to press for an occasional senior presence at those meetings.

Highways & Drainage

Fortunately this year has not seen a major issue with flooding in the village at the height of the flooding elsewhere in the country. Our efforts to get Surrey to unblock some of the drains in the village meant that there was less standing water than previously around the village roads. Flooding around Esher Station has been a perennial problem and one that does not have a once and for all fix. However in February Cllr. Tannia Shipley succeeded in getting Network Rail, Surrey Highways to join herself and Peter Hickman and undertake an extensive review the whole area and agree a programme of work to keep the area clear. Local householders also have a part to play in maintaining drainage ditches on their property.

One of my favourite website pieces was the imaginative "Dittons in Bloom". For some months last year Peter Hickman had been trying to get Surrey County Council to discharge their obligations to keep our streets and footways clear of weeds. In August the latest of a number of excuses was that they had no resources available because they were "heavily engaged in 'Cobham In Bloom'". We therefore photographed the weed growth round these villages as 'Dittons in Bloom.' This was picked up by BBC Regional news and local media. The exposure had the desired effect and over the four weeks that followed both Surrey and Elmbridge took action to clear the weeds.

Public Health

County Councillor Peter Hickman and Borough Councillor Ruth Lyon both sit on the SCC Health Scrutiny Committee and they, along with the Friends of Thames Ditton Hospital led by Karen Randolph, continue to challenge the Surrey Primary Care Trust's decision unilaterally to close the remaining NHS beds at Emberbrook. Breaking news is that the Chairman of the SCC Health Scrutiny Committee has received a letter from the Surrey PCT stating that the contract with Four Season for the 4 beds at Emberbrook Care Centre still existed unchanged. We know that it important to local people to have intermediate and postoperative care available locally and we are keeping the pressure on. Meanwhile the Friends have provided valuable equipment for local NHS patients that are reducing waiting times.

In conclusion:

We delight in supporting that spirit which makes this a special place to live, whether supporting the splendid Christmas Fayre and other events where residents socialise, or planting more bulbs to celebrate the Spring. We now look forward to another year and further change. Maureen Sheldrick is going to stand down as Elbridge Borough Councillor (and former Mayor) at the imminent election. She has served residents of Weston Green tirelessly since 1992 and we thank her very much for all her hard work. Finally, our Association can prosper only with the participation and support of its members and on behalf of the Officers and Committee I would like to thank you all.

Libby MacIntyre