Residents' Association Forum

Let's see if it is useful to have a thread like this for bits and pieces that don't warrant a separate title and thread all of their own...

- The filming around the common at Weston Green yesterday 11 September was for a petfood advert for Sainsbury's (at least, I assume it did go ahead).  Cleared in advance with EBC and I think the filmers have to pay some fee to EBC too....

- No idea why the works to relay the gas main in Watts Rd have not started as planned on 4 Sep.

- police chopper overhead as I write (0944) and I'll try to find out why.... seems to be buzzing Portsmouth Rd Area

Was buzzing Hampton Court Way where according to stories in the village this morning, a motorcyclist was involved in a major and fatal accident

that reminds me, we really should keep up with chopper activity.  Maybe the full title of the thread is as above.

One morning this week (Thursday?) there was one around for what seemed 10-15 minutes at 5:30am, though maybe it was more over towards Surbiton...

Two police vans and a squad car parked at Home of Compassion entrance to Boyle Farm estate.

This was because, having for some time stepped up observation of the building, our local police team spotted that it was not secured and called the security company concerned to fix it.

Security has been beefed up but it would be unwise to go into details.

It is good to know that my tax money and the increasingly limited resources of the local police force are being directed towards protecting the investments of absentee landlords. </sarcasm>

<wags finger>Hey, we asked them to! If the building is pillaged or deteriorates some irreplaceable village history would be lost.</wags finger> 

They've also been keeping an eye on Thames House where I believe there were signs of squatters taking an interest and the derelict grounds of which are becoming a nest for youths drinking, graffiti etc. but probably not far off from being a wildlife reserve too....

Oh yes - works to Watts road began (at 0730 on Saturday....).  They started late but the news is not as bad as feared. 

Good news: They have threaded a shiny new yellow plastic pipe along the old main, so that they won't have to dig a 150-yard trench all the way along the road.  Bad news: they will have to dig up the road at each junction of gas main to feeds for individual houses etc.

More bad news: a second lot of road works started for an emergency sewage problem along Watts Road.  Good news: I think it's fixed/close to being fixed.

There's a link on the links page of this website to the police helicopter deployments day by day.

thanks for the tip, I just need a link to the links page now.  ;)

Here it is:  http://residents-association.com/links.php

here are the chopper deployments:  http://www.surrey.police.uk/about/air_support.asp

The B364 is completely closed today on the N side of Giggs Hill Green while some drain digging work goes on outside Dorset Lodge.  I can't give the house number of Dorset Lodge because, although I looked for it, I can't see it!  Sort of a third of the way along from the A307 Portsmouth Road.  This is catching a lot of drivers out...

click on the 'resources' link at the top of the page.  That goes to the links page.  Anywhere on the site outside the forum, if you click on resources you get a load of other resources as well as the links page in the drop-down menu (but the script for that doesn't work in the forum)

That may be connected with the sewage saga.  I thought it was along Watts Rd but it might be this you mention.

The helo deployments for September so far are here: http://www.surrey.police.uk/airsupport_mth1/September%202009%20Helicopter%20Deployments.pdf  There isn't one that matches that time and date, but if it was over Surbiton way it might be a Met police helicopter and we wouldn't learn what it was doing (and sometimes Surrey Police don't know what the Met is doing in shared airspace either...)

Thanks for your help,  Admin.  I've found and posted those links myself in the meantime.

Inside the hole on Giggs Hill Green is a relatively small-diameter blue pipe that looks like it's been repaired - I would guess a mains water pipe?  if it's a drain, it's pretty small...

as for Met/Surrey Police co-operation, if we can't wait until the fireworks, maybe we should rush out in front of the next police horse we see to ask what's going on... ;)

Take your own shovel and sack

there's a thought, shouldn't Met Police vehicle emissions come under the Greater London target? should we all be running off to dump them on the border by the new student accommodation?

What's going on in the Crown?  Work seems to be going on inside the building but cannot see what they are doing.

I went in and asked.  They are refitting.  Apparently a fellow called James from Twickenham has taken it on and will open an upmarket bistro-pub there (you may have heard this before!).  Right market, wrong position - no parking IMO.

Power cut in Hinchley Wood from about 12:40 today.  The affected area stretched down to Claygate Lane by the New Malden Railway, but not as far as the Angel.

At about 11.20pm Saturday (3rd) we saw 3 bright lights in the sky coming across from Esher way towards Surbiton.  They looked liked small hot air balloons but moving vey fast. Anybody know what they were?  Or is it a case for the X-Files??

Particularly late of a Saturday night, these flying saucers can turn out to be small hot-air balloons set to flight by teens (-fire risk); they seem to be moving fast 'cos they're small, low  and wind-borne.

But it could be the Martians returning our lost probes; or some super-secret military conspiracy you weren't meant to see, angel.  If your postings here suddenly cease, we will assume They Have Got You.

It is the Invasion of the Invisible Aliens from Outer Space.  I didn't see one today, which proves it.  Apparently it's the front page in the Elmbridge Guardian.  as in "you didn't see this"...

I came across this little item about a boat called Thames Ditton in a museum in Monte Carlo. Any thoughts?

http://monte-carlo-daily-photo.blogspot.com/2009/10/classic-week-thames-ditton.html

Helicopter!

LOL fancy our little website immediately connected with one on Monte Carlo....

I hadn't heard of this mahogany gaff-rigged sailer with rather sweet lines before...

Anyone know when the Crown is due to re-open?

don't know about the Crown...

...on Thursday night, about 9pm, I saw a white Renault Megane on Thorkhill Road with a big notice on the windscreen.  I thought it might be an abandoned car, then I saw there was someone in it.

The notice said the person was carrying out a traffic census...

EDIT 1

Walking along Portsmouth Road between Brooklands Road and the railway arch this morning, I noticed that, where the Rythe runs between the road and the houses, it seems to have been largely cleared out except in a couple of places (e.g. Brabant House).

It had been quite badly choked with weeds but is now running quite freely.

Anyone know any more?

EDIT 2

Ash Path has been comprehensively cleared of leaves.  Whom should we thank?

EBC, but there seem to be at least two or three different bits.  The Veolia street cleaning contractors are going around sweeping up the leaves and muck that clog up the gullies and gutters - they did Church Walk this morning.  They told me that the Ash Path lot were 'those two youngsters from the agency' (nfi) who had piled up the leaves but then not taken them away.....  Then you have the Council's Environmental dept who do the weeds as well as the graffiti along tha paths.  They have the two-person 'street smart' team who do weeds sometimes and genearlly tidivate and paint up roadside tings - probably not them.  Then you have the 'rapid response' street cleaning tema if you phone about some situation that hasn't been dealt with and is getting bad....it probably wasn't them either.  Then you have complications such as one of the chaps i spoke to this morning was from contractors Veolia but last year doing the same thing he was a temporariily hired gun for the EBC 'rapid response' team.....

The main thing is that the street/path cleaning seems to have got a lot better over the past eighteen months.  More sensible - some manual cleans.  I waas putting pressure on eighteen months ago and David Lowe has been pressing them for quite a while; also the 'street smart' responsibility is a small part of maintenance reclaimed from shambolic SCC.

The Crown will be reopening as a trattoria with a proper pizza oven imported from Italy.  They will still retain a drinking area and should be open by the weekend (12/12/09).  I am looking forward to having a decent Italian in the village and I believe they'll be offering a takeaway service too.

There is something happening with a Securicor van outside HSBC. Another robbery?

Yup, another robbery - the same poor driver.  A van pulled up, guy jumped out robbed the Securicor guy and jumped back in the van.  I think a passerby got a photo on his camera phone of the van.

Oh dear.

I can't help thinking that that branch - which is only open three days a week now as it is - will be following the NatWest and Barclays branches...

07/01/10 - all bin collections suspended:


http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/weatherservices.htm

I think the proofreader must have got stuck in the snow... ;)

The truck used in the HSBC robbery has been found in Hinchley Wood.

http://www.surreyherald.co.uk/surrey-news/news-surrey/tm_campaign=SurreyHerald_email_emailnewsletter:20100111%26headline=police-find-getaway-car-used-by-hsbc-raiders%26method=full%26objectid=25571540%26siteid=86289-name_page.html?campaign=SurreyHerald_email_emailnewsletter:20100111

fancy needing five days to track a getaway vehicle down to Manor Drive!

Double bin collections for some of us this week:


http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/weatherservices.htm

the latest is:


Obviously, everyone should have that page bookmarked.  It seems that bins have been left out all week anyway, but only on the narrowest stretches of pavement d'oh!

1) A short film has been made about Cesar Picton with Rudolph Walker out of "Love Thy Neighbour"

http://www.kingston.gov.uk/information/news_and_events/news/news_archive.htm?id=86967

2) The face of Jesus has been seen in a naan bread at India Dining in Hinchley Wood

(for those of you who are in the Elmbridge Guardian no-reception area) (nelsonian ha ha!)

http://www.surreyherald.co.uk/surrey-news/news-surrey/2010/01/12/face-of-jesus-found-in-surrey-naan-bread-86289-25581764/

Thanks for that.  Picton is among the first on our list for a plaque btw - quotes from plaque manufacturers are even now being obtained...

I've heard a rumour that the Red Lion is closing again soon as they have no one to run it.  Also that the Swan will be closed at some point for a refurb and the car park made into a landscape garden.  Any update on that?

I heard that the Swan plans to 'deck' over the car park. It will make for a much nicer pub, but will people know to park in the pay and display around the corner??

This one has been circulating off and on a few weeks.  It's in the conservation area and would have to be submitted, I'm told.

Frankly, it's hard to believe that the Swan would want to remove the little parking they have, unsightly though it may be.  They aren't short of table space as it is.

I do hope they pay some maintenance attention to the building soon - that gash in the lath-and-plaster bay window is terrible.

its closing for a month in march or april & having total refurb. Yes the carpark is likely to go but the plans for it looks uperb. i think it will be outstanding once complete.

Will the extra outside tables cause a noise nuisance to island residents?

On the basis that the car park is on a bit of a gradient, to build a decked area level with the entrance to the pub will mean about a 10 foot drop by the time you get to the jetty - Its going to be interesting to see how they go about it and keep the area wheelchair friendly.

It sounds on paper like a nice plan - more outside seating but at the expense of 10 or so VERY useful car parking spaces

I would have also thought that would need planning permission, and as they are building in a few months it would already have had to be submission..... will have a look and see what I can find...

The most recent one I can find that relates to timber decking is this one (2002/1111), but the permission expired for that one about 3 years ago...... anyone have any ideas?....  ???

i dont think they plan to deck it, it will be teired down. In my humble opinion a total revamp can only be a good thing, no?

Oh definately it does, it's looking a little tired in there. A revamp can only be a good thing.

the new landlord Mike is a lovely bloke too, very switched on, I'm confident he'll ensure its a real asset to the area.

The crown on the other hand, my god, have they ever been into another pub/restaurant?

you mean Ashley Road?  I suppose that is the logical answer, but who's going to do it?  it's a long way away...

I suppose the danger of that would be that people who would normally have parked in the swan's car park will now be tempted to use the parking slots on the pier (the ones to the side of the swans car park).

Are they also part of the pub ? Or are they private slots for the islanders?

they dont belong to the pub, islanders i believe.

If you mean the slipway, that's public access and is supposed to be kept clear for boat launching etc. (but given the pressures on parking in TD, few are intolerant about parking there unless the launching access is indeed obstructed)

Elmbridge & the GLA

There has been some speculation in the local press that Boris has ambitions to expand the GLA - this would encompass Elmbridge.

I think that having one overall authority delivering joined-up strategies within the M25 has considerable potential merit
- particularly given the poor record of SCC.

A topic for the next Residents Meeting on Tuesday next week?

Watch this space on possible local government reform. 

As to some authority 'within the M25' the main threat here is that to the extent we, on the borders of the metropolitan Area, are lumped with Greater london there will be irresistible pressures for development on our green spaces.  We - along with the Conservatives, working together - resisted this very strongly in the past and would/should do so again.

The shambles of county administration is a separate matter with other possible solutions, more rather than less local and therefore more locally accountable and more flexible.  Abolishing SCC could be a great potential saving.....

well, they'll be looking for council tax to pay for the white elephant Olympics...

They already did!  They appointed a full-time person to 'support Surrey businesses get Olympic contracts'  - no comment....

Incidentally we may see some Olumpics locally - I gather that the long distance cycle race will include Hampton Court Bridge.....

I noticed that the trees along the Hampton Court Way are being damaged quite badly by the work being carried out to the cycle path.  Does anyone know if provision for replacement trees has been made?  It has always looked very pretty along there in the spring with the crocus on the roundabout as well.

Thanks to you (and another resident who phoned this morning to say they wereactaully  cutting the trees down) for flagging this up. You can see the results on our home page.  This seems to be another of these bumbling episodes - apparently a while ago some Elmbridge cycling lobby pressed for the project; county highways officers responded, budget allocation was made, they finally get round to it, the matter has to be put through the Local Area Committee, but at no time was cutting down the trees mentioned by the officers as part of the proposal, it seems!  Short 'notification' apparently put round ten days ago, but I certainly haven't seen it, have any residents been notified?

And lo and behold, here we go again (remember the black slurry they put over Thistledene's pavementa eighteen months ago with one weekend's 'notice' as consultation?).

That said, the cherries are said to be in a fairly diseased state, some of them.  The really key question is whether they are going to be replaced with equally decorative saplings?  Peter H is pressing hard for confirmation that this is the case.

I just saw the Google Earth car heading up St Leonards Road.  I was too late to wave though.

Do you reckon you got snapped though? Nice if so!

Hmm I wonder if they will also do the roads around Surbiton - I was actually trying to use google street view to determine what shops they had on the high st there recently and had to resort to cycling down (to be disapointed!).

You may have heard that the BBC has announced what is being presented as a major programme of cuts involving the axing of digital radio station BBC 6Music.  In fact they are after saving  £600m but 6Music costs only £6-9m a year, or a mere 1-1.5% of that total(!) - or around a third of the planned cost of merely covering the Olympics for two weeks.

I don't think this merits a thread of its own, but 6Music is a quality, interesting station, the equivalent for music from the 1960s onwards of Radio 3 for classical music and I expect a lot of us here (who can use computers!) either already listen, or would love this station.  (Obviously, if this says nothing to you about your life, you can look away now). To me, personally, it represents the bulk of the value I get from my £2.74 a week licence fee.

Give your feedback here:

https://consultations.external.bbc.co.uk/departments/bbc/bbc-strategy-review/consultation/consult_view

Hi I'm new to the forum, but wanted to ask a follow up question to one posted a few weeks ago about the rumour the Red Lion is closing? Is this the case? Many thanks.

Hi Mumps and welcome.

It's only a couple of years since Carl the landlord signed a lease for at least 20yrs with the owners.

But the owners are the "Wellington Pub Company" IIRC - known round here for being interested in closing and selling pubs for development as with Ye Olde Harrow, which they owned for some years.

Anyone got any corroboration for the rumour of closure?

I see that there are workmen's barriers and site notices around the "Youth Club" building on Mercer Close opposite the library.

What's going on?

tried the crown again for their "full english" yesterday morning, they were shut again, good effort.

we walked past it on saturday night, on the way to the rose, and it looked reasonably busy...

and as it happened we were planning on going there tonight as a sort of reward to ourselves (going to the gym first).

hmmm ... its not closed is it? (might be posting this too late to get a response in time)

on fry ups - would be nice to have a decent fry up in the area... I tried giving the palace cafe another go the other week (opposite hampton court) and it wasn't that great. either that or I am getting fussy in my old age.

probably the latter.

Well we went there (err didn't make the gym but that was to be expected) and it was open.

Was a bit strange, when we arrived there was one other couple there but they were finishing up so we had the resteraunt more or less to ourselves (some people came in for a drink later).

Quite impressed with their range of food considering they have been relatively less busy... on top of the menu there were quite a few specials.

The food was decent, the wine lovely and all round a pleasant evening (when we got used to being there on our own!).

I do hope they get more punters in though I suppose a Monday night would be the quietest.

Has anyone tried the Thai Food at the Red Lion yet? Unfortunately on the night I went along the chef had just left.

no but I did go to the curry house last night and it was absolutely superb

Btw - this morning for the 7:56 train from Thames Ditton there were a whole bunch of ticket inspectors and police standing in front of Thames Ditton station...

Literally about 8-10 people of about half police officers and half ticket inspectors...

Anyone have any idea what they were doing?

One stopped me to on my way up to 'remind' me to fold my bike before I board the train (I do this every time I am on a train - regardless of the time I take it as it only takes a couple of seconds) but besides that I can't see what the value add is?

Were they waiting to catch fare dodgers coming out of Thames Ditton (at 8am in the morning)? ...

I can't expect too many people take the train to Thames Ditton to arrive at 8am but I could be wrong .... even if they did I can't see where they would come from in such droves which doesn't have an entry ticket machine to warrant 8 people to nab them...

It is a lovely day so perhaps they were just choosing an easy post to soak in some sunshine. In which case fair do's...

They were there for the 7.26 too but not actually checking tickets.

Aparently its quite common for some to buy only a ticket for one station down the line - just to get through the barrier knowing they wont need one at TD - similarly some people buy zones 1-2 travelcards to get into and out of London for the same reason.

Bearing in mind a Z1-6 travelcard is nearly £50 a week but a Z1-2 is lots less, plus they never check tickets at peak times as the train is packed - if you get caught once a fortnight and get a £20 fine you are still quids in.

I believe SWT do a sweep then follow up a week later to catch repeat offenders - hence why the police are there this time so can do something about it - I think offenders think they assume they wont get caught again any time soon so risk it. 

 

Ah ok - thanks for clearing up...

Still think having 4/5 policemen on hand to catch fare dodgers is excessive at Thames Ditton but I suppose they move as a team from station to station...

We don't want the train companies losing out now do we?

Whereas when it comes to catching burglers? Well they only rob from the insured right? So not as pressing as to catch fare dodgers!

I am being purposely facetious of course and I appreciate fare dodgers do impact us all.

Thursday rant thats all

These are SWT officers rather than the 'polis.'

They need so many because those athletic students run across the track to get down the other ramp, or leap over the railings into the Dell, to try to evade the team.

Last year and this some 30-50% of the student numbers estimated daily to use TD station were caught cheating on fares.  This is a significant number.  Enough to affect the viability of our railway station to some extent.

At the same time, SWT are trying to cut ticket office hours.  Best would be if all passengers actually paid for tickets, and there were enough machines plus human ticket office on all mornings to issue tickets in time to catch the train.....

Very good point Keith and thanks for the clarification re: swt.

I know I should leave earlier when I have to renew but I've lost count the number of times I have had to use Oyster (at the cost of a tenner a day...) as I had not allowed enough time for the queue on a Monday.

And yes I have tried popping in on a weekend but rarely is the office manned and - I've also tried to buy a ticket from the machine on a Saturday starting on a Monday but no chance...

And I've asked if I could get an odd number of weeks but thats not possible either.

Ah well back to monthlys post easter so at least I only have to worry about it once a month.

Fare dodging by pupils from Esher College is a big problem:

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/5051418.Complaints_after_crack_down_on_fare_dodgers/

Don't their parents know?  They'll not be impoverished kids...

Is there a department within the council for removing out of date notices?  For example the one outside the Angel about works to the road in February?  I guess the ad hoc local sales, etc are for those who put them there in the first place to remove them. It seems a type of 'littering' to me.

Sticking with Angel Road (where notices of the railway bridge closure earlier in March are still up) I must say it's great that the Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team is paying such close attention to Thames Ditton, but I was flabbergasted to read that Angel Road is a "speeding hot-spot"(!)

Whoever said that has sold them a dummy I'm afraid.  With the parked cars and limited visibility, the only vehicles that go really fast along Angel Road are emergency vehicles. I think the idea came from the 9 Feb meeting and it is not founded in fact.

Hooray for the Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team!

I did ask for other AR residents to comment/verify this in the past, but nobody did comment!.

A number of Angel Road residents came in a group to an Open Meeting last year and lobbied vociferously for speeding controls.  They wanted a 20mph limit.  Our county councillor went off to find out what the requirements would be.  SCC explained that there would have to be proof of accidents along a stretch of road, (There haven't been any recorded)  A majority of residents would have to agree - there was indeed a petition by residents in 2004.  A 20mph limit would be imposed only where there were physical measures (like speed bumps) in place, or installed, to slow cars down.  These measures are often unpopular with residents. Surrey were considering, in theory, their whole policy on 20mph limits and might relax it to allow more of them.  Lastly, there was no money available right now in any case.

The AR residents  who came to the Open meetings were convinced that cars were doing far more than the current 30mph limit.  It was decided that the only way to confirm whether this was indeed the case was to do speed tests - only real statistics, rather than the opinion of this resident or that resident, would be definitive and might show whether there was a case for more enforcement.

The matter was adopted by the neighbourhood police panel.  This is just one in a series of similar issues over the past two years - other roads where speed limits are allegedly honoured more i'th'breach than th'observance have been Portsmouth Road, Thistledene, Station Road and Ember Lane.

And so, our neighbourhood police being patient and responsive, they decided it would be worthwhile getting themselves trained in the radar guns so that when these allegations arose, they could nip over to carry out speed tests and see what the real situation was.  As Angel Road was the latest expression of (fairly heated) concern by the AR residents who came to the meetings, that was to be one of the first places to look at.

It's hard to find fault with the logic I think....  And yes - I second your hooray for the neighbourhood team who are really very patient with, and responsive to, the neighbourhood!

PS: another thing the AR residents lobbied for was to make it a no right turn into Angel Road coming along the Portsmouth Road.  What would the view of other AR residents be on that? A third complaint was about parking along there...

This has to be the responsibility of Surrey Highways to chase their contractors (before the contract ends...).  You could try ringing Elmbridge Environmental services - it could be amusing to see EBC chasing SCC over a matter like this, and I think they would draw inner satisfaction from doing so LOL!  Call the main number, ask for Environment, Colin Flexman - good fellow - does things like graffiti, litter, fly-tipping...

Or online: http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/forms/forms.htm

Two more bits of gossip:

1.  You probably know that Ali has left the Post office in TD.  The new man is Mayur, from Sri Lanka.  Welcome, Mayur.

Ali wouldn't say why he was leaving.  Word is some close colleagues did for him.  It's a shame - nice chap.

2.  Another word is that the owner of all those buildings along the troubled part of TD High St (former Computer Gym  to the Rose minus the ironing Board) has sold out to another developer.  Anyone got confirmation or more info on that?  If  the new developer turns out to be a person of conscience and respect for the conservation area, that would be nice.

Sorry I didn't pick this question up earlier. 
This is the government-funded upgrading of TD Hall to an 'Intergenerational Centre'  - newspeak for public building used by children and the elderly.  The Ember Centre moves there in April (TDT Spring Issue News).

Good news for TD Hall, which we battled to save for full public use for several years when the SCC 'rulers' wanted to sell it off to a developer.  We got Elmbridge to buy it.  Then when the current 'rulers' of Elmbridge got a majority in EBC, they have been wanting to sell off two or three public halls in the borough to developers (e.g. Vine Hall). TD Hall could have been in the firing line again.

Of course TD Hall also has that very useful car park that is used by visitors to our fine Library and by parents of kids at the Junior School.  SCC had wanted to sell off most of that too.

So all in all this new upgrade, govt. money, and move of Ember Centre there is a Very Good Thing for the secure future of this public hall.

Just seen man in a van put a sign on the bend where Thorkhill meets Ewell Road warning of works in Balaclava Road on 21 - 4 - 10 (No access to Brighton Road).  Nice to know but would have thought rather too soon as sign is bound to be either knocked over or moved in the coming 3 weeks!!!  He also ignored a cone already there, now laying on the path.

I am flabbergasted TBH.  I have never heard any of this stuff.  Speed humps?  Unnecessary, bad for the street, bad for the environment, bad for our cars.  Stupid idea.

I applaud the police for getting the facts behind the story.  Which appear to be that there is no big speeding problem.

Angel Road "no right turn" from Portsmouth Road?  A really, really bad idea. (I have toned the reaction down for this public site).  Who thought of that one? I depend on being able to do that and other cars doing it cause no hardship or nuisance.

If such ideas which are so far from reality are to circulate, all residents need to be involved, e.g. by getting leaflets through the door - or are we to be better-informed on where to get kebabs?

A comment from a non-driver re Angel Road traffic.  The parked cars keep the traffic speed down on most of the road but the stretch over the Rythe bridge and the junction with Thorkhill Road is where there are problems.  Most drivers slow over the bridge but parked cars force vehicles on the 'wrong' side of the road causing some to mount the pavement.  Again due to parked cars vehicles leaving Thorkhill have to pull out a long way to check what's coming.  I believe there was a cyclist killed there a few years ago.

I did put a piece in a website news item late Autumn, and a question in this forum.
echoed.
One resident of Angel Road whose views are as strong as yours LOL!  He was supported by two or three other AR residents who came to the Open meeting  to raise the issue.

That's what we do. Residents feel strongly about an issue, come to a meeting, make proposals (often quite forcefully).  The Association takes this seriously, looks into it,  invites other residents to comment.  Peter trogged off to SCC to find out what the score was (in itself a useful and interesting enquiry).  Fairly recently a highways official visited to look at the wider area including Claygate Lane where residents have problems with parked cars etc.  The police have a look at the real speeding facts.  And most likely, even if a problem is confirmed not much can reasonably be done.  But if it can, then Surrey are pushed to run with it, and as part of that they have legal and procedural obligations to consult residents (e.g. leaflets or advertisements)

Don't worry too much!  These things take ages to explore and longer to get anything done, is the usual experience.  Keep a close eye on the website, forum and magazine.  Get involved with the occasional Open Meeting.  I do what I can to flag up issues - why I do all this stuff is because I believe in democracy & consultation and in a few wee small places of the country it is still alive!

Ah, I can see that.  Whilst the bend in Angel Road opposite Gabriel Cottage is double yellows on both sides, the equally-sharp bend between Thorkhill Road and the bridge is essentially single-track.  I must say in 15 years on the road that I have only once or twice found a 4x4 tanking at me when quietly turning that corner, but that it could be an issue.

In any case, petty fence-damaging crime is back on my agenda now since bits of my fence were damaged again on Easter Saturday night - first such attack since Hallowe'en. How very stupid

http://residents-association.com/forum/index.php?topic=166.0

I'll make an effort to be at the next meeting.

Does anybody know what is happening with the house on St Leonards road that seems to be in the process of being demolished?
I'm sure when it was sold it was marketed has having some quite significant historical interest - the original lodge house for the Boyle Farm estate perhaps?

are you guys aware of the damage that speed humps do to cars, often resulting in life threatening accidents?

I think there are lots of drawbacks to speed bumps compared with e.g. slalom methods of enforcing slower traffic.  My wife was victim of a speed-bump caused crunch when a distracted young lady behind her bumped into her.  And they do increase the problems for cyclists who weave around them.  The ones round here are also erratically built - you can see that as they went from the station along Weston Green Road they got ever more worried about running out of tarmac for the job ....

The fact is they did significantly reduce the accident rate in TD when they were introduced.  And, harrumph, when I researched the history of this I recorded that it was the Islanders who first wanted them LOL!  (and raised £600 to pay for one speed bump on Summer Road)....

But I don't detect any enthusiasm for having any more bumps.

I'm not a fan of speed bumps at all - as both a cyclist and a car driver.

The one time (touch wood) - I have been shunted on a bicycle from behind was in traffic going over a speed bump and the car behind didn't slow as much as me.

But regardless our roads are atrocious enough as it is - speed bumps just ruin them further...

And in Thames Ditton we have both speed bumps and potholes - often combined !

Perhaps we can ask our candidates in the forthcoming local elections to pledge to work for the removal of the speed humps.

A few of those automatic speed warning signs is surely all that is needed for law-abiding TD residents;
given the quantity of traffic it only needs a few of us moving at 20 MPH to regulate would-be speedsters.

Well, there's more to this than meets the eye of course.  If you read the history of residents' struggles to tame the through traffic problem that was destroying the village in the 1960s-80s, you'll realise that the later speed control measures and inconveniences, as well as reducing speeds, have the important effect of deterring rat-runners and lorries from trying to shortcut Portsmouth Road to HC Way.

Those unfortunate enough to have to use their cars in rush-hours may think that speeding isn't a problem; but residents on some bump-free roads may disagree (and some do - strongly).

And the accident rate, which had been considerable - including least a couple of fatalities - was reduced to just about zero in the three years following the bumps.  So if these unloved warts were to be removed (which costs money that isn't there at present) they ought to be replaced with measures that are demonstrably as effective, but kinder to cars (which also cost money that isn't there).

Out of rush hours, speeding can still be a problem e.g. on Station Road in the afternoons (at school times the return of a lollipop officer helps a lot), along Thistledene and Ember Lane.

We need the professionally qualified views of Commuterparker.....come in please.....

IMO as much as a pain the traffic is in TD it does serve a purpose, and realistically even if we wanted it changed it wouldn't be a priority for the powers that be anyway. I would also take a punt that the Police would object to their removal too.

My understanding was that the 'no right turn' was put in at the end of Summer Road to stop the rat run and the cushions and tables to reduce the speed - both seem to work. I note previous comments for chicanes but they need to be designed for the swept path of a bus / refuse lorry which are larger - meaning any wanabe Lewis Hamilton in a souped up saxo can easily negotiate it at 30 and then some - if you drive along the road From Walton towards Brooklands they are along there and don't seem to work - they are very rarely used nowadays. Also the roads in TD are narrow - I doubt there would be the space to put in chicanes anyway.

RE the accidents - its all very difficult to say. In essence the collision rate reduced dramatically following the speed reduction measures and the NRT to Hampton Court Way - but it would have done as the volume of traffic and speed is reduced - throw into the mix the downward general trend in collision severity due to improvements in vehicle design etc over the last 30 years and the situation is even more clouded. It would be impossible to say what would happen if the cushions are removed - but theoretically if vehicle speeds increase then the potential for collisions must also increase - who knows.

The cushions I believe were also designed and implemented when design standards differred, I have never actually measured one but I think they are different dimensions to what we would design now - certainly some are a little higher and wider than used elsewhere.

I also note the call for 'flashing warning signs', these are good on main roads and through roads with high volumes of traffic - a significant proportion of which being unfamiliar with the area - as soon as drivers become aware of the sign, know they have no chance of prosecution from them, and when there is little or any traffic to slow them down then speeds will increase.

My view is if it isn't broke don't fix it - I think the cushions and tables will work just fine but its the maintenence of them that's the problem - I would like to see the roads resurfaced, the cushions and tables re-made to current design standards and the drainage properly cleaned and maintained - but best will in the world that isn't ever going to happen - certainly any time soon.

So - all very quiet lately.  Does this mean we have either solved all the world's problems, or have given up?

What's the gossip from the four corners of TD & WG?

Do you think those new houses they are apparently building out of packing-cases on Ashley Road will last much longer than the ten year guarantee?  Or have I failed to keep pace with advances in housing construction?

What do you think of the 'Elmbridge A Greener Brighter Borough' signs (see news page, example at corner of HC Way/ Embercourt Road)?  They cost you £250 each.  Beautiful or not.....??

Too many sign posts and notices everywhere.  These ones seem completely unecessary and a bit nauseating - I saw one the other day.  Do they really cost £250 each for three foot of aluminium tube, two brackets and a small sign??!!  I could get them done  for half that and still be laughing.  Who gets these contracts?

The ex off-licence on Thorkhill Road - most recently "Threshers" - which has been empty for months now has paper up at the windows and sounds of shop-fitting activity inside...I would have expected an off-licence ready for the World Cup - anyone know?

There has been a small sign in the window from a company I didn't recognise applying for it to be an 'offie' again.  A van was there yesterday unloading what looked like more shopfittings.  Hope it opens soon as wine supplies very low!!

Signs now saying that they will open on 31 May!!

Great.  Let's hope they have some quality wine.  I have certainly found TD to be on the dry side since the offies closed, and will be a more frequent visitor to Thorkill Road!

yes, I think it says Premier Wine which seems not to be a large chain.

The power of google is confirmed as wine thorkhill road returns both Wine Rack and Thresher...

...if it's sunny on Monday,. they may have some opening deals!  (if it's not sunny, they may too!  ;) )

Very helpful and pleasant people in Premier wines. They have 4 shops owned by a former Wine Rack employee so I was told.  Buy 3 bottles 10% discount so you just have to........

A couple of the conkers on Ash Path are looking under the weather, with discoloured, brown leaves - is this the return of Macedonian Moth Munch?

Anybody else noticed the doubtful usernames signing on?

you don't mean "rytheman" ;)

no spam seen yet but potentially iffy names here:

http://residents-association.com/forum/index.php?action=mlist;sort=registered;start=0;desc

On average there are half a dozen attempts a day/night by forum spammers to sign on and clutter the forum with porn, drugs, and 'marketing',  and many more that get caught earlier by the defences.  There are sixty attempts in the log right now, from 16 June to 2 July.

That's why I don't allow new registrants to post here before various checks.  I'm not going to detail those for obvious reasons - the TD virtual village forum was closed down by forum spammers and they are a pain.

You see several of them lately, because I've been a rarer visitor to do the admin during the past month - but other computer-based commitments should be winding down very soon so I'll be back in full swing....

yes, that was a shame.

The police and ticket inspectors were out in force again today !

now THERE's a good way to reduce taxpayers' subsidy to commuters.  The passengers (many college students?) could all afford tickets!

I know we've discussed the validity of having the inspectors but I still can't help but think that having 10+ people to enforce ticketing is not the best use of resource...

especially considering half the staff looked like fully fledged police officers...

don't remember discussing this before.

What all stations really need against fraud is manned ticket barriers.  Every station should have them. IIRC when they put them in at Surbiton ticket sales went up by £50,000 a week and the problem of undesirables hanging around largely disappeared...

but here, the setting doesn't lend itself to them - there's probably not enough space to instal them, especially as the ticket office would be either behind them or on the wrong side of the tracks.  So we need a better idea.

With the country in such deep doo-doo, taxpayers everywhere need to be convinced that the commuter railways are striving for best value before continuing the massive subsidies they pay to keep them going, and passengers need to know they WILL be caught if they steal journeys from us...

Why is the line not single track after the main line fly-over?
All the administration (i.e.revenue management) would then be carried out on the East side.
The West side could be turned into flower beds.

Yes, I can see them singling it and then not doing anything.

Even on a half-hourly service, there are fewer than ten minutes between the up train's departure and the arrival of the next down train.  If the line were singled, operational problems would immediately affect the main line - and passengers!

If the line ever was made to a single track it wouldn't be too long after that it would be mothballed. I think you could follow the history of hundreds of lines that went the same way. Don't forget all those greedy developers would no doubt pay a handsome sum especially for the Hampton Court site.

Midibob

It's only five years to the 100th anniversary of the viaduct at Hampton Court Junction!

An appeal here for respect in the summer.

We can see from the discarded 10-packs of cigarettes and empty, and half full, bottles of sweetened cider around (let alone the plastic bags hanging off fences with empty coke cans and empty miniature vodka bottles in them) that it is the school holidays and teenagers are messing about.  However,I saw a grown-up go into a shop carrying two large paper cups of coffee which he spilt over the counter, spoiling goods on display. He never offered to pay or even apologised. Common courtesy is sadly too often at a premium...

You're right.  What chance is there if they learn about these things by imitating their parents?

Thanks to all who have sent in stories and info over the last two months, some of which will be included in potboilers on the news page.  I'm sorry I haven't been able to spend more time updating the site while I was tied to the computer doing other things, now finished,  Back on stream and hungry for news.....

It seems we thrive on hard times.  I dropped by the dead centre of the village to learn that  the mortality rate is the lowest since 1953.  An article in http://www.funeraldirectormonthly.org.uk/ reflects the suffering among undertakers.  As readers will know, Funeral Directors Monthly was a recent finalist in the Trade Association's magazine of The Year awards, but has not yet featured on 'Have I Got News For You'.

Discuss.

Did anyone take a photo of the note in the door of the funeral directors' -

"PUSH HARD.  CATCH STIFF". ?

I'm digging out an old thread but what did we decide about speed bumps?

I realise this is a contentious topic and some people will point out that speed bumps have slowed traffic in TD... but I have to say the safety benefits are dubious.

And as for the square ones, well large cars and vans don't even slow down to take them.

As an example - just the other day on summer road - I narrowly missed being clipped by a large black merc ml as it straddled a square bump and then had to swerve around me. Ok this is a driver at fault and not just a speed bump but surely the point of these is  to slow these kind of drivers? And if it doesn't work then whats the point.

And as a car driver... I hate them and I dread to think the cost to suspensions, etc.

These are all pro driver views but the arguments are well sounded:

http://www.abd.org.uk/speed_humps.htm
http://www.bromleytransport.org.uk/Humps.htm
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/speed-humps

Personally I would be in favour of removing them, happy to make our roads '20 mph' roads and if they have to be policed then why not the odd speed camera or better yet the warning ones.

(I'm not that keen on speed cameras either, as they are just another stealth tax on motorists, but prefer them to speed bumps).

As an aside - its bad enough to have speed bumps but some of the ones in our village are in woeful condition.

At the least can we campaign that if they cannot be maintained that they should be removed?

The facts are:
- before the establishment of the 20mph area there were quite frequent accidents including fatalities.  After its establishment they fell away to almost zero.
- many residents called for bumps (the Islanders even raised £600 to pay for one bump...).  The traffic management package was introduced after full EBC consultation.
- the regulations to date stipulate that you can't have a 20mph area without physical 'traffic-calming' measures
- the police won't enforce 20mph areas (there is some weird distinction between a 'limit' and a 'zone' IIRC)
- the 20mph area with the bumps has also served to reduce rat-run traffic (believe it or not).  Use of TD as a rat-run to and from HC Way / Portsmouth Road was a very much more serious problem before the bumps
- there is no money to replace bumps with other forms of 'traffic calming'

I'm sure that commuterparker, a qualified traffic engineer, will fill us in on the current facts and regulations.
--------------------------
My view:
What we see now as a problem is a much lesser problem than what was there before.  The bumps are disliked, and are also of irregular size and quality, but drivers' honour cannot be relied on to keep speeds down.  If the bumps were removed there would have to be effective alternatives.  There are no funds for them.

Personally, I was glad my kids could cycle around freely at most times of day, and the bumps (plus the constricting effect of parking along both sides of many roads) were a factor in that.  I don't like the bumps as a cyclist, and they do cause problems of their own (my wife when driving was hit from behind at low speed by a driver distracted by a bump).  I strongly suspect that many motorists don't like the bumps for precisely the reason they were put there: they want to drive at over 20mph, the speed at which negotiating the bumps starts to risk scrapes and damage to suspension!....

yup I agree, the one by the red lion caused me to have to have a new tyre on my Range Rover, in my other car which is a sportscar with tyres like rubber bands I have to take the speedbumps at about 4mph (much to the delight of people behind me in the mornings!!)

I do make up for it once rolling though ;)

That was the pothole, not the bump!  But the icy winter did indeed show up how the poorly-installed bumps are a focus for puddles, ice and surface breakup.

yes, brain freeze, you're right!

Irrespective of what we all think about the humps (I hate them) I don't think we stand a chance of getting rid of them for quite a while - if ever. They are old and very dodgy - different sizes (that don't meet current regs) and breaking apart at the edges, and water ponds at the corners of the tables because the drainage channels never get any maintenance.

First of the many problems is that 20mph zones are self enforceing meaning if removed they would need to be replaced by something - it would not meet the criteria for a camera, there is not enough space for a number of other speed reducing measures so its basically humps is all that's left.

Secondly, the Police would probably not support their removal.

And thirdly Surrey County Council has no money - they are totally skint - so there would be no money to do anything anyway even if it was wanted.

It might be a better priority to try and get some resurfacing done around the village - if they were re-profiled correctly I think it would be a more pleasant experience.

I would very much like to see the start of the 20mph zone extended to the entrance to Summer Road from Hampton Court Way. 

As cars naturally have to slow down because of the level crossing it would be not be out of place.

It would then also encompass Summer Road with its recreation ground, playing fields and sweet shops and Speer Road with its schools and nursery making them both much safer. Furthermore it would reduce the amount of street furniture/ signage required around the village.


What do other people think and what would be the best way for me to mover forward - a petition?

Thats the thing... it might prove to be more costly to Surrey to keep them in their current form!! Especially if they are not to current regulations.

I'm not sure what the rule is - but I'm sure I've read and heard of a few stories where people have damaged their cars over speed bumps and as long as they were driving below the legal road speed limit they were able to claim compensation from the council. I'm hoping thats total crap/not true etc but if it was true and someone had a crap car lieing around - well what would stop them hitting one of those 'not meeting current regs' speed bumps at say 30 mph and claiming?

Summer road is as far as I know 30mph? Again please correct me if I am wrong... personally I never get above 10 mph but I've not seen any signs saying its a 20mph zone.

Heres one example I found:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2008/10/29/london_speed_bumps_s14_w7_feature.shtml

I'm all for a 20 mph road for the whole of summer road and in fact speer road especially where the train station and school meet.

My argument against the speed bumps are that they DO NOT slow down all cars...  and don't get me started on the mopeds and motorbikes that cruise down the roads at speeds greater than 30mph.

Like I said its a shame that gov't councils pay suppliers like Gatso ridiculous amounts of money for what is very basic technology in an expensive casing... it should not be that expensive... !

I _hate_ speed cameras but that has got to be a better (and in the long term cheaper) solution than speed bumps that are totally ineffective and poorly maintained.

And no I do not want to drive more than 20mph down our streets.  I just don't want to have to fork out to fix my car suspensions...

All for this - and also Speer road if people feel the same... err as long as its speed bump less!

Police outside the off license in Thorkhill Road this morning  - I have been told it was broken into during the night.  Shame -  nice helpful people in there.

I'd note first that when EBC and later, SCC, considered the through traffic and parking issues in the late 1990s-early 200os, which led to public consultation and the establishment of the 20mph zone, most of Speer Road and most of Summer Road were not included in the 20mph zone although bumps were laid down throughout.  I expect there will be some history of the consultation and the arguments to explain that decision.  I believe the major issue at the time was the weight and quantity of through traffic including accident statistics that went with it.

Unless regulations in Surrey are changed  (ealier this year they were intending to reconsider the basis for 20mph areas throughout the county) it's first necessary to show from accident statistics that there is a problem.   You can't have a 20mph zone without physical 'traffic-calming' measures - but in the roads you name there are such measures installed.   Also, there's no money.  A petition at this point would likely be a waste of effort (a similar petition from Angel Rd in about 2004 sank without trace!).  The best practical way forward would be for you to speak to Peter Hickman about it, with your ideas.  He'll be able to tell you (perhaps after asking the Highways people) what if anything has gone before and, if there were reasons for or against, what they were.  To take things further, the location could be looked at (with you and Peter present) during some future visit by a SCC engineer.  By that time you would have a better idea of the problems/regulations/possible solutions and could make an intelligent and well-informed choice of what (if anything) would be the next step.  That would be a good time to consult other residents to see what, on the basis of factual information and past arguments as well as present inclinations, would gain consensus or at least majority support.

oh no.  When you hear the stories about high-crime areas with minor crimes rife it sounds a lot like round here TBH.

And I was just posting on another thread about the rubbish left on Giggs Hill Green...

Has anybody tried the Holiday Inn on the Portsmouth Road restaurant?  The offers look tempting but it looks a bit soul less from the road.

Thames Ditton Infants school held their Summer Ball at the Holiday Inn and I was a bit disappointed by the food (dry chicken and tinned vegetables).

Having said that, they were mass-catering on that night and I have since heard that the Indian food options tend to be much better. Apparently the franchisee of the hotel also owns the Raintree down the road (formerly TJ's). The main restaurant definitely looks quite swish.

I think if they were able to open a bar/ restaurant on the top floor with the big balcony overlooking the river and Home park then they could be on to a real winner. At least that way some benefit would come of the building which sticks out like a sore thumb when you're in the park itself -particularly with the neon green lighting in the darker months.

They don't build 'em like that any more. :'(
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11340815

LOL - i'm not really into cars but if I was, that would be the one for me!

Stunning car! Its true eh? All the best looking cars were built around about the 60's...

As a bit of a car fan I am really sad to have missed out on the AC factory being in Thames Ditton!

Interestingly enough - there is a classic car thingy based in the small industrial looking estate between thames ditton and hampton court... right just after the level crossing.

Don't suppose anyone here knows what that is? Is it just a classic car hire place ?

I should remember to walk by, get the name and then google it!

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C181124/

Local one for sale here if anyone looking!

I see it went for £80000

btw I also see that one can drive a virtual Formula 1 Ferrari (if one really wants to).  No need to leave the Island.... (can't help being a bit mischievous): http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2010/9/3/ferrari-to-launch-virtual-academy-on-09-09-2010.aspx

I just saw the news article of the fella that drove up Esher platform!!

So funny! Sorry for the chap but still hilarious!

Luckily our TD footpath is too narrow for a car !

Or is it...

Betcha.....

Yes, and many thanks to Suzan for sending the story in - and (miracle of miracles) having her camera on her at the very time!

It's really nice when residents send in stories.

PS: and the Elmbridge Guardian has now picked it up with amazing speed LOL

A fun article about the changes at Waitrose over the border.

http://www.surbiton.com/news/waitrose-refurb-causes-mental-turmoil#comment-10661

Chuckle.

Meanwhile, the car-on-platform story has now gone national. You Read It Here First!  Keep 'em coming, and keep those cameras handy.

More villager photo journalism:

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/8430905.BA_flight_over_Thames_Ditton_forced_in_to_emergency_landing/?ref=mr

The council tax scam we reported (thanks to BBC) on 26 September has apparently claimed two more Elmbridge victims, according to the EBC web site:
http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/news/news.htm?mode=10&pk=3661

The bottom line whatever the scam - and they are legion - is:
NEVER give your bank or other details over the phone to any enquirer however plausible - even those purporting to be the bank's security department.  Only if the call has been at your initiative to a number (or address) you know is genuine.
NEVER allow any doorstepper or cold-caller to take you into any transaction whatever in an initiative that they have started
ALWAYS get the person's details and check up on them, and try calling them back, before you  take things further - including people who say they are the police.

The safest policy is to put the phone down / shut the front door straight away and ask them to write to you with any proposition.

I work for a small company in Thames Ditton and we like to do a bit of charity fund raising at Christmas.  Does anyone know of a charity actually based in the Thames Ditton area which helps the local community?  Instead of sending cards to each other we make up a poster to write our good wishes on and then donate the money we would have spent on cards.

church has a "thermometer" outside with a notice about donations. Just a thought..

Then there's the Guide Hut Appeal.  There's also the local Neighbourcare, which provides volunteers to field phone calls and drive the elderly to things they find difficult getting to by bus - hospital appointments to hairdos.  See our groups & societies page - there may be more ideas that come up there.

Looks like some klutz has hit the wall outside the Swan along Summer Road, just a few weeks after it was all rebuilt and nicely painted.  Sigh.

I don't know what was happening at the college tonight but the parking arrangements were horrendous! In the widest part of the road cones were put out to stop parking. In the narrowest part of the road people were able to park both sides. Because only one car could go down the road at a time (with major stand offs between car drivers), getting out of my road took 35 minutes. I was tempted to call in the college to ask them to come and sort it out.

Applicants evening - those with places at the college for September 2011 visiting for familiarisation 1600 - 2000h, plus parents I assume.

I think the Head runs an occasional small liaison committee with local residents to 'reach out' - I don't have details but I believe they discuss things like parking, noise etc.  Maybe you could offer your participation, Deborah?

I think my daughter might be interested. It took her half an hour to get into our road and then 35 minutes to get out with me. She had quite a lot to say about the placement of the cones and the absence of any coordination of traffic.

Sad to see the notice in NV Hair that Gary & co have to give up their hairdressers as the landlord has asked for too high a rent.

On a unrelated note does anyone know where the litter and recycle bin outside, what sadly was NV Hair, has gone. Just an empty space there now?

I spoke with the landlord last week. He said that the rent was £14k per annum and this included the flat above. Seems very reasonable. He also said the NV had paid their rent in the past 18 months.

I gather they've moved into the upstairs of la Clinique but I learned that only this afternoon and haven't checked that it is indeed the case.

It says they are moving to clinique in the about thames ditton mag.

I dont know them but it occured to me...Should we be discussing their finances and whether they have paid  rent or not on a public forum? Just a thought.

Gari & partner  made it public in the notice they put on the door giving rent as the reason, it seems very reasonable for people interested in the difficult situation for shops in the village to discuss it

yep fair enough. I was aksing the question. Wasnt aware they had done that.

New proposals to build on the filter beds by Seething Wells:
http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/8621248.Are_floating_homes_coming_to_Surbiton_/?ref=surbiton.com

Important wildlife resource - especially for some rare bats: http://residents-association.com/tdt39/simply_bats.php

They are sensitive to light levels and their habitat would be rendered unviable if there is any kind of development with illumination at night.

I am very good friends with Gari and Jon, and whether or not they posted a notice on the door of NV, giving ( basic ) reasons as to why they have moved on, I still think it is rather crude to sit and gossip about the personal / financial reasons why they choose to leave.
As we now have a few empty shops in the village, is it not more important and beneficial to stop gossiping about people's personal lives, and to try and ensure that local business properties are put to good use and start boosting income and business to the local community.
FYI - and this is not gossip, purely tp set the record straight. Gari and Jon have moved their business to 1 High Street - above Clinque, but are not living there. They have moved elsewhere in Thames Ditton village.

It's finally balanced and I haven't heard their side of the story.  It's very easy to blame "greedy landlords".  If you know them, why not get their side of the story.

I already have their side of the story, and it's just that ' their side '. No-one elses, and I certainly will not be posting any personal whys or where for's on the discussion forum.
Here's hoping the premises will not stay vacant for too long, and that we will soon have a new, flourishing business in the village.

Right so I got in ok this morning (albeit pretty late) but I am appalled at the poor comunication at Thames Ditton station and poor decisions by South West trains.

The 8:26 am train was first delayed multiple times and then eventually cancelled with the 8:56 showing up as delayed until 9:17.

Some (clever) people had already started going across to the other platform to catch the service to Hampton Court as there were 'rumours' that the platform there was quite busy. This was with a view to coming back to Thames Ditton but with a seat I guess?

At 9:05 I decided to follow them (as I also figured it opened up more cafe's to sit at if more delays!!). Just caught the 9:09 (this was delayed as well of course) and got to Hampton Court.

The train sat at hampton court for a while and then announced it was fast to Waterloo, as in non stop. This was a result I thought but surely it must stop at Thames Ditton to pick up all the people stranded there?

NO. It did not.

This meant the people who had been waiting for first the 8:26, then the 8:56 would've missed out on the latter as it went fast through TD.

All the people could've fit on the train as it was not that busy... so thats not the reason... Maybe it saved the train a minute or two to not stop but it was quite slow at times regardless...

So why oh why did it not stop at Thames Ditton?

I watched the platform as the train went by Thames Ditton and people were waiting for it to stop... if they had been told of course they would've all jumped on the train towards hampton court...

shocking decision making I think

thats rubbish, they're so useless

Same as evah - two inches of snow, long forecast, and public bodies fall to pieces.

argh - I have just checked the live board online and looks like all trains to td and hampton court are currently cancelled!!

hey ho - looks like these boots are made for walking ... all the way from surbiton ... err this assuming I can even make it there !

where are you based?

Was at TD this morning at 8.50 and nearl;y waited for the train that subsequently went fast through the station.  Glad I decided to go home and work!

However, just been on the SWT website looking for tomorrows trains.  As at 4pm there will be no service on the Hampton Court line, not even a shuttle to Surbiton.  Need to go to either Esher or Surbiton.  Not impressed.

Latest info on SWtrains website is that there are delays but they are currently running a shuttle service from Surbiton to HC.

There is a 'severe weather' timetable in place for tomorrow which includes NO SERVICE at all on the HC branch line 'to make best use of the trains and crew'.  That puts us in our place!

http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SnowPlan2010.aspx

hi craig - based in the city.

they were running a service between surbiton and hampton court yesterday evening but did not even know about it until I got to surbiton (where I was planning to walk home from).

just checked now and apparantly no trains again (as per your last post tdres).

will have to cycle to surbiton I guess...

ah ok, was going to see if a lift home would have helped

ah would've I think! thanks for the offer all teh same.

Just got to work about 10 minutes ago...

I cycled to Surbiton, spent from 8:05 to 9:05 trying to get on a train, gave up and holed myself up in a cafe across the road

and then tried again at 9:45 and just got in!

all fine but I look at my oyster card (season ticket ran out yesterday) and I have been charged twice!

I know its all electronic and I'll be able to claim it back

but the cheek of it!!! ooohhh !

£12 ish (have to check exactly) for the priveledge of taking more than 3 hours to get to work!!! (not to mention the 2+ mile cycle to surbiton to boot!)

Tree lights look fantastic ... BUT just one observation....who is responsible (and are they coming back) for tidying up and making good all the pavement bricks removed around the lamp post, from where the power to the lights comes from. It looks a mess and not finished... :)

Yep, would certainly be interested to know who if anyone is relaying the pavement round the street lamp. Notice it every time I park up opposite Nicks.

I've been on about that for a year...!  SCC contractors - but will they?

And alternative might be to try the EBC 'Street Smart' team as this is a fairly minor smartening job.  They might even concrete in the galvanised electrics post and paint it green....

Or we could use residents labour if anyone wants to offer, and who would know?

I think the mess round the lamp post is the result of the electricity link up for the tree...so very recent indeed.

O right - I was thinking just of the Octagon (which is what I've been banging on about) and not registering the pavement around the lamp post, which was Skanska (who ought to fix it considering how much they charged...)

Andrew?....  come in please....

They didn't do the neatest job on the octagon bricks but I'm sure I can rebed and tidy up. Obviously not the base of the lampost. Will wait until it warms up a few degrees. Will replant once Nick has finished his Xmas tree sales.

Andrew

There was a burst water main yesterday on the roundabout where Speer Road meets Summer Road.

Not sure if it's resolved yet.

I'm trying to find something that my 96 year old Dad can do at home through the day.  I've suggested our very good Day Centre - won't go as it's full of old people - his words, not mine.  His short term memory is awful so reading, apart from magazines is no good. TV is awful in the day. Old hands are too clumsy for jig saws.  He loved it in November when he peeled pound upon pound of onions to pickle for us.  Any ideas??

Is he up to doing things outside? Or is the weather too cold?

If so then fishing is an excellent outdoor activity ... and I hear Albany Reach is a good spot!!


(brilliant response from him below btw!!)

If his memory is bad take him to the Ember Centre for one of their lunches with entertainment, and remind him that he specifically asked you to do so!  Or tell him that if it's full of oldies, he's going to feel that much younger by comparison.

Or, book him in for a massage at Colets?

If he likes reading but the memory can't handle a novel, how about a book of short stories?

Or maybe he could try writing down stories/snippets from his life like a mini memoir - assuming it's short term memory that's the problem, not longer term. If dexterity for writing is an issue he could record it on a cassette player or similar - depending on what he could cope with.

Some indoor suggestions:

1. Audio books - our local library has quite a few.

2. Re- telly:
Would you consider getting a PVR (or perhaps the luxury of Sky +) to record decent telly and watching it during the day?

There is enough 'good' stuff on free view to record.

Also most PVR's can record radio shows.

3. Pod casts
If you have internet then pod casts (if he is not computer savy you can set these up for him on some mp3 player + speakers)

4. Pottery
Does not require that dexterious hands?

5. Carving (depends on his dexterity)
A good friends of mines uncle who used to do this - carving with wood! We had a few goes and its hard but very satisfying. He had very shakey hands (too much alcohol I think) except when it came to carving... used to worry my friend as when he handled the knife it was all over the place - but once it was set to some wood it was fine!

Or, if you have boxes of old pre-digital photos like most people have, could he sort them into albums?
Or if they're his photos he could do scrapbooks of them and add notes/comments.

The local history angle would be excellent!  If he has some good stuff I could forsee an article  here or in TDT.

Thanks for all your suggestions.  I'll give some of them a try.

Around 11am today there were police cars round a motor bike on the ground along the Hampton Court Way.  Hopefully not another biker casualty along there.  Anyone know the outcome?

They've announced the cycle route for the Olympics and its going to pass right through us en route to Walton on Thames.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12416914

Still an age away but promises to be a fun day!

i'll watch from the water, be chocka everywhere else!

Suspicious youths on bikes

Probably being a bit paranoid but I noticed today two sets of men on bikes riding up Ashley Road and back again looking into all the houses, one was on a mobile phone. They then cycled down the high st towards Boyle Farm. Might be nothing but they just looked out of place and not the usual village youths that i often see. Just keep vigilant. 

I found an interesting book at a car boot sale yesterday.  One Thousand Practical Receipts (date about 1860). It has all sorts of useful tips for example, Edinburgh Wash, for Scurvy, Red Face, etc
and a recipe for Spanish Ladies Rouge.  I thought this might be helpful for people using the river.  A couple of tips on Restoring Drowned Persons -

1.  Never to be held up by the heels.
2.  Restore breathing - Introduce the pipe form a pair of bellows into one nostril, close the mouth and the other nostril, then inflate the lungs, till the breast be a little raised, the mouth and nostrils must then be let free.  Repeat until life appears.
3.  Tobacco smoke is to be thrown gently up the fundament, with proper instrument, or the bowl of a pipe covered so as to defend the mouth of the assistant.  And so it goes on....

I'm sure a H&S officer would faint at the thought.

PLEASE DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!!

So if anyone wants the recipe for Daffy's Elixir, Jonquille Pomade, etc then please let me know.

Anything on how to repel mangy foxes?

(Our new neighbours have two cats, and my womenfolk were most impressed to see them putting a fox to flight on Friday night......)

I'd offer to lend you our cat for this but lately she has turned from being the queen of her domain to losing the territory battle to the neighbouring toms.

The other day I came home with no cat to greet me and turns out she was hiding up in our bedroom with 'big ginger cat' also in our house - upstairs staring her off!

I now know where the expression 'scaredy' cat comes from...

I've had to change the cat flap now to one of the microchip jobbies. Hey ho.

We do have a cat, but unless she sees something edible she is lazy.  The new greys next door are, by contrast, very much cats-about-town.

For fun: http://www.catsthatlooklikehitler.com/cgi-bin/seigboardbest.pl?4196:1

Somehow I don't think I wil be clicking on that link whilst at work! Might have to check it out at home!



To return this thread to something related to local news (and not about cats as I know I can go on about them!)  - did anyone else hear about this?

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/elmbridge/8964302.Censorship_claim_after_campaigners__banner_withdrawn/

ref foxes, get a dog and cat repeller (unless you have either of course)

I was thinking about the parking thing btw.

I wonder what would happen if (assuming this gets through and p&d is rolled out across surrey)..

if everybody just didnt pay, ie if we led a large campaign, along the premise of at the very least, we have all always had the right to park in our villages at our leisure and with no payment and that this p&d has been rolled out against the wishes of the electorate. so unless free residents permits are given, then we just all refuse to pay any charges.

The amount of admin this would create for them would be enormous if everyone simply refused to pay any fines.

I'd imagine between every household in every village we could afford some pretty hefty lawyers too.

Juninho:  Yes - the same thing is happening here - there was a proper application in to string a banner over the High St, but Surrey censored it as 'the message is against our policy.'

i.e. the public, in a 'public consultation' on the matter where a vast majority of residents oppose the policy, is not allowed to make their views known over the highway!

A resident emailed Chief Executive David McNulty to protest and question this policy on the assumption that it had been a decision made out of hand, and out of order, by one of his officials.  But so far, he has not replied.  We were going to wait a bit longer to give him a chance for reply, but now the similar story has broken in Claygate.

So meanwhile residents hung the banner in the former Bakery by enthusiastic permission of the agent, where SCC can do damn' all about it.  See photo: http://residents-association.com/images/thames_ditton_says_no.jpg   And if the eventual reply is negative, we're going to hang another whacking great banner  underneath it protesting the attempt by Surrey's leaders to muzzle the public voice because 'it's against their policy.'

Residents' permits are another snare - once a permit scheme is in place with enforcement, you'll never get rid of it and they can alter the charges at any time.  Like Elmbridge more than doubling the car park charges overnight two years ago, last year Surrey doubled the rates for residents' permits and if you read the accompanying documents it is clear that they are going to double them again over the next year or two. 

Once these things are in place they can charge what they like - unlike council tax under the previous regime, these other 'sources of revenue' from the citizen are not capped.

Relax - it's a work-safe site (although I know the very mention of Hitler in some parts of the City is risky) and I think not long ago the Daily Mail gave it as a link - the Daily Mail not being exactly noted for risque  and exotic material.

Have cat & parrot, tried dog repellant but that had no effect whatever on the foxes.  At one stage I ringed the back garden with Jeyes Fluid - phewee - but that had no effect either.  Foxes are notoriously hard to repel.  What a mess they make - crap everywhere and we can't let the kids run barefoot on the lawn without getting out there first with the cleaning stuff and disinfectant.

And, in case you didn't already know, the food bins supplied by the council are NOT fox proof.

We have tried ours locked with the handle up and with the handle down and it is now twice that they have been emptied and partially deposited over the garden. (Although the first time the whole bag just disappeared, so apologies if it ended up in your garden!!!) We know it is a fox because of the muddy paw prints on the side.

Any ideas? We have thought of hiding the food bin inside the recycling bin until it goes out, but am not sure if this would help.

Oh dear!  Though we have loads of foxes every night, they haven't worked out how to get into the Elmbridge slop bucket (yet).  You must have a particularly foxy one.  What if you hang it up by its handle?  That ought to fox Reynard, at least for a bit.

I have just found a fox curled up right at the back of the garden and it seems to be injured, so I've called the RSPCA though I doubt there is much they will be able to do.

As far as hanging up the bin goes, not sure what I would attach it to - and I have visions of the fox treating as some kind of pinata -but it's worth a thought. Thanks.

Re Foxy - RSPCA man came, caught foxy, foxy struggled a bit so he let him go and he jumped over the wall and ran off so nothing much wrong with him. I think he was just having a long nap. Silly me.

RSPCA man a bit miffed. Made a donation. RSPCA man a bit less miffed. Ah, well, I did what I thought was best at the time.

Latest health'n'safety idiocy: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8472394/Butlins-bans-bumping-on-the-bumper-cars.html

It could happen here: http://www.newsbiscuit.com/2011/02/14/big-society-success-as-community-choir-takes-control-of-policing/

and this one has! - your money:
http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/news/news.htm?mode=10&pk=3911 Royal Wedding Carpet Bedding Display
"A stunning carpet bedding display has been designed and installed at Churchfields Recreation Ground, Weybridge to commemorate this wonderful event"

Go, Parks Team!  Your award for award-winning award winners will be announced after the honeymoon.

LOL.  This must be another Fullerine initiative - Cllr. Jan Fuller (Conservative, Oxshott) - she of the little signs on posts defiling our green verges for over £2K to din into us in Big Brotherly manner the slogan that Elmbridge is Beautiful

Isn't she also the one who removed the poop scoop bags to save a few thousand while they transferred millions into the reserves, accoridng to your figures?

Yes.  And tried to put through even more draconian dog control legislation on the commons than we ended up with a year ago.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8475561/Police-hunt-joker-who-drew-Hitler-moustache.html
"At least four officers are said to have visited residents in the hamlet of Pitcombe, Somerset, after a poster of the Conservative councillor Mike Beech had a Hitler-like moustache drawn on it. After seeing the poster, Mr Beech reported it to the police. Officers began an inquiry under the Public Order Act, saying that the poster could be deemed to cause “harassment, alarm and distress” to the councillor. "

Altogether now:  "Awwwwwwww"

Anyone know why the (Chinook?) helicopter was in the playing field in Summer Road today?

Interesting!  RAF lost and asking for directions, or US Seals looking for Al Quaeda?  Or measures to control unruly voters of Thames Ditton?

So turn out for Thames Ditton was only 48%?

I suppose that is not bad but - I was expecting a much higher turn out with the AV vote being held as well ?

Hey ho.

Yes, AV vote.  When is that? There wasn't much coverage at the beginning of the week...

Thanks for the info on the fly past.  I'd be grateful if anyone knows a more specific time so I can get my Dad to see it as it takes him a while to get about and cannot stand for long.  Don't think I'll take him to the Beer Festival though!

I don't have a specific time to the minute but 'lunchtime' has been mentioned and also 'about 1 o'clock'.

It seems to me to be a good reason to spend a congenial hour sitting in front of the Angel with a pint and a pie, assuming good weather.

For a more specific time you could contact TDCC/ Geraint Morgan maybe Friday?  (let us know...)

gutted I'll miss this. I'm out playing cars, my dad would love it too. Pls get some pics Keith (need I ask!)

2.40PM apparently, taking off from Biggin Hill around 2.30PM.
Reliably informed by a friend of mine that works in ATC - air traffic control.
Apparently a Hurricane involved in the fly past too.

Unfortunately got a family lunch on - so will miss the fly by but planning on making it back in time to catch some of the evening and the evenings entertainment! Should be great - just hope the forecast rain does not arrive or has gone by the afternoon !

LOL - this is one of the things I love about this place! Well done, VALENTINO.

As for photos, I'll try, but distant objects whizzing past against the light are not too easy to photograph effectively from a pub. A challenge!

On the other hand, I did get this small whizzing object last Sunday on the Green: http://residents-association.com/news/images/sunday_cricket_small.jpg

Afraid I underexposed - another couple of stops and I might have got a much better shot of the plane and also those desirable blurry props rotating.  However, for Craig here are a few (rather crappy) photos.  http://residents-association.com/news/Lancaster_Fly_past/index.html

Anyone get a really crisp and bright one?

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9027138.Hero_helicopter_pilot_hit_by_Taliban_bullet_touches_down_at_his_old_school/

Great pictures Admin - gutted we missed the fly by!

We did make it along in the evening to drink a few pints of doombar - and have to say they are a very friendly lot at the cricket club.

Stuck around long enough for Tristan Mackay started singing but was too hungry by then so moved along.

Fantastic shots, thanks matey!

Great photos. Was there and it was brilliant. Great that the pilot came back for a 2nd time after flying over Ember Court and did a brilliant bank right round the green.
Brilliant to see so close up.

Agreed - fantastic!  It was flying so low - almost made the china in my house rattle!

My other half wants to pass on her thanks to everyone for organising it as our welcome to the village! ;)

I see you have your boxes unpacked now!

Amazing how the Battle of Britain aircraft and the Lancaster make everyone feel a bit emotional, even if grown up after the War, isn't it?  I had an uncle who was killed when his Lancaster was shot down on a bombing raid.  He was only twenty. 

totally agree ref that.

I take it you're referring to the ones that were in the conservatory: we're getting there!

I totally agree re: the emotional side, was really touching.
Like your uncle, my other half's father flew Lancaster Bombers in the 2nd world war, and also flew them in the Dambusters film afterwards.
Made the fly past even more poignant.

Rumour has it that The Raintree indian restaurant will be closing sometime in June.  Shame as the food is very good and the staff helpful and friendly.  Hope it will stay an bar/eating place and no plans for residential development.

Another one bites the dust :(

Re: Raintree It always seemed strangely cannibalistic that it is owned and operated by the same people as the Holiday Inn just down the road.

is it really??

Yep it is!!

On a slightly different note, Nick who owns the veggie shop in the High Street has sold his business and is relaocting with his wife and family.
Shame, as I am sure he will be missed. Although he has realiably informed my other half, that he has sold the business onto a good friend, with the agreement of it still being a green grocers. Fingers crossed, as love being able to pick up fresh fruit and veg each day, that isnt from a huge supermarket and in loads of packaging.

Nick - if you are reading this, good luck in whatever you and family hasve chosen to do next.

some of the online reviews for the rooms at the raintree could be a spoof, hilarious.

Good luck to Nick, glad the business is keeping going.

Yes, I'm mentioning this in the mag.  They will be missed.  Nick and Marlene are selling their house and moving closer to  family near Glasgow; but they are retaining ownership of the High Street premises (along with the florist and the Lime Tree) and Eileen will remain in the flat above so they are going to be visiting down here from time to time.  The couple taking on the greengrocery are the Paulls - we must give them a good welcome and our custom.  The greengrocery is one of the key shops that keep the High Street alive.

Oh no! That is a real shame.
We'll miss Nick muchly - especially at Christmas when he always picks out a great tree for us!

Sadly not a spoof, my parents stayed there not too long ago and it was awful.  Fortunately only had to endure it for one night.  I am truly shocked that it is owned the the same people as The Holiday Inn, shame on them!

Was speaking to Nick last night, and they are hoping to have moved back up nearer to Glasgow, July time.
His Mum Eileen is sticking round to help out the new owners / do a hand over etc etc.
Nick confirmed, it will still be a fruit and veg shop, so here's hoping that it will be of the same quality and we will still be able to pick out a nice Xmas tree each year.

tragic isnt it, there's just no excuse these days. The Holiday Inn by contrast I was most impressed with, far from a generic holiday inn of old it was very contemporary and fresh

anyone know whats going on with the HOC?

Mrs. Admin reports that she has just seen the first TV advert this year for Christmas 2011.

Aaaaaarrrrgggh!

Haha! Brilliant!

At a pub near my work -> there was a poster advertising 'have your work xmas party here'! I was worried about how early it was and was relieved when they took it down last week... I assumed that that meant it was a legacy poster and was actually left over from last year.

But reading your post below I am now worried that perhaps it was indeed for this year and that they are already booked out !!

No - reports of men in suits visiting late last week.......

Where the CEO of Caring Homes left it at our AGM was that he hoped very soon to make progress with the bankers concerning the finance of this 'flagship' project.  Perhaps agent Norman Dolland can clarify what's going on.  I'll ask our people to inquire.

The HoC now has live in Guardians through Camelot, i.e professional people who pay a reduced rent to live in the property in exchange for keeping an eye on it.

News coming in that EBC's planning/enforcement staff visited HOC about a week ago to check on its condition and were satisfied pro tem.  Reportedly has dried out and weatherproof, option of heating some rooms if necessary. 

No news of any imminent plan to start the development though.  In that context one can't help wondering what a cluster of visiting suits might be doing.

Any ideas who would like my excess chilli and tomato plants?  I have about 2 dozen of each that I would like to go to a good home.  They need potting on but with some tlc will do fine.

a plant that makes excess chili?  ;D

Heads up:

Manor Road North to be closed on the night of 10-11 August.

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/livetravelnews/realtime/information.asp?incident=1105012_TfL

As a side note - from what I can work out based on the website:
http://www.gosurrey.info/cycling/august-14-2011-cycle-race/

AND on the newsletter: http://www.gosurrey.info/cycling/august-14-2011-cycle-race/

The roads from our village going South East (i.e. towards Surbiton) will NOT be affected, i.e. will remain open?

Is that right as I'm sure someone said there would be no access in out of the village at all ?

Not in a thread of its own as only relevant to those Dittonians on an odyssey towards somewhere far away.

Like Leatherhead.

The Oxshott lorry rail bridge crash appears to be blamed on poor maintenance of the bridge.

No mention of the driver's nationality!

http://www.elmbridgetoday.co.uk/News/Oxshott-lorry-train-crash-report-0000000684.aspx

Juninho - I think this is in the wrong thread - but there is a race on 14 August going up Hampton Court Way and one next year going along the Portsmouth Road (and Hampton Court Way?)...

Hi yes sorry I know we have the thread on the cycle race but I was talking more about what roads will be closed this Sunday for the road race so thought I'd post it here?

I have worked it out though - and it is as per what I thought in my post that the roads south east (i.e. to portsmouth road) WILL be open this Sunday so am ok (and yes will be shut for the time trial as you pointed out - now it makes sense what someone told me!!).

Ta!

Not seen this before -- 2 youngsters, one each side of the road pretending to have a piece of string or rope across the road making drivers slow down.  I did speak to them and suggested not a good idea.

all good fun until a motorcyclist comes around the corner and throws himself off, probably for the bike to then hit one of them.

Resident has just emailed in to say that HSBC is notifying customers that the branch at Winter's Bridge will be closed finally from 25 November.

I assume that means the end of the cash machine too.  That leaves just the Post Office, and the pay-for cash machine in Colets foyer, doesn't it?  Difficult for more vulnerable villagers without transport to get cash out.

Also a negative sign for retail at Winter's Bridge?

I totally agree, what a pain. I drive, but still appreciate a cash point I can use, within walking distance.

The only other machine is in Mrs Patel's in Summer Road, however, I am always a tad loathed to pay £1.75 each time I want to draw cash out of my own bank account!

Will also be a pain for my other half, as he does not drive, and that is his registered bank. He knows everyone in there and goes in quite often for one reaosn or another. Will be a real pain for him, having to traipse to Kingston to do any personal banking.

Even more so for the more vulnerable or elderley residents of TD!

free cash machine at the swan, go for a pint and some dosh!

Didn't know about that one - worth knowing indeed.  The Colets one is around £2-50 per cash fix.

That cash machine attracts a steady stream of customers. Without it, one more reason to go to Hinchley Wood.

They have only just added a ramp for disabled access. I thought the banks were under pressure not to close the last branch in a place. How can we lobby them?

This cash machine in the Swan - does it feature even more gaudy flashing lights and bleeps than normal?

Well, account holders there can write to say they will remove their accounts to somewhere more convenient like Barclays in Esher (where you can park short-term round the back)..... but then, when Barclays relocate out of UK because they can't or won't meet (conceivable) UK restraints  to be imposed on banking, one may wish to withdraw one's accounts from Barclays....

I'll raise the question of the Association lobbying.

I checked out the cash machine at the Swan, which is reasonably discreet although more recent than its seventeenth-century surroundings: (a) it works (b) it is without administrative charge (c) you can withdraw up to £100 and (d) it is of course less exposed and vulnerable for e.g. an elderly person withdrawing cash than a street corner might be.

And yes, you can buy a pint too which is more inviting than having financial 'products' thrust at you.

The pottery-painting shop in the High St is closing (hearsay is that it will focus on its online business).  Things are looking grimmish.  While there does not appear to be an imminent threat to our Post Office, I fear that it's only a matter of time and government sellout - and it is not exactly in tip-top state.  That will be the crucial battle to keep a meaningful High Street in the village, perhaps?

I got put off going into the village to do my shopping when the bakery moved, TBH. That left arguably two proper shops - the post office and the greengrocer's...

Its tough all round.

Sadly a lot of people who live in the village do not work in close proximity to it... i.e. we (as I am one of them) commute either to central London or other places.

As I work in town - it actually makes sense for me to do my shopping near my work for any incidentals (such as clothes, presents, etc). Though to be honest I try to do as much shopping as I can online (the only exception being clothes). Online shopping is another competitor to all high street shops not just those in our village but thats another story...

For groceries - I cannot ignore the convinience of supermarkets: the large selection and later opening hours are hard to turn away from.

So for example for someone like myself - the only opportunity I would have to 'shop' in our village would be on days off or Saturday mornings. Much as I would like to support out shops I would not want to spend Saturdays nor days off in shops...

Some people like spending the time shopping as an activity in itself (those crazy people!!) but if for example I take my partner, who falls into this 'crazy person' bracket -> she would choose to go somewhere with a greater selection of shops like Kingston to make an activity out of shopping.

So yes it is tough for our high st - and I am not sure what the answer is ...

if i was (taking as an example)  the greengrocer, I would be mailshotting everyone in village offering fruit and veg baskets delivered, its only the personal service that can beat the major supermarkets in my opinion.

In the present economic climate, as much as people want to support the high street and would clearly be devastated if more shops closed, the facts are, that people have less disposable income and less time than ever and the online market makes things very easy to just order over the web.

The other way of course to look at this is that say for example (taking the time factor away), you save maybe £500 a year ordering online rather than direct with our local shops, imagine if the whole high street became devoid of shops and ceased to be a village, the impact on the price of local property would make the £5000 saving over say, 10 years, seem inconsequential.

Nick did try that, and did home deliveries, especially at Christmas (I assume that Jason and Katie are doing the same)

Shopping patterns have changed, and also working habits, with far fewer people especially married women at or near home in workday hours, compared with thirty or forty years ago.

But, with the prices in Waitrose especially soaring astronomically, not to mention the price of transport and the growing overhead and even inconvenience in using the car, just possibly (faint chance!) we may have a retail renaissance....... for quite a while now, the price differential in favour of our greengrocry as compared with Waitrose, coupled with the produce being fresher and riper, has made the greengrocery worthwhile to shop at.  If only that could be replicated by a good-value butcher; and a late-hour general grocery (but that would impact on the Post Office, which is already looking rather sad inside).

Also, I take a fairly apocalyptic view of economic decline and maybe serious unemployment to come will drive more people to try making a living from a shop?

I do keep coming back to the question:

What type of shops are needed and would be used in TD?

What do people frequently travel to kingston/Surbiton/Esher for that would be a good business in the village.

Itching to do something!!

(btw, have explored many of the ideas from the other thread about this and am going into online sales of one of them so I wasnt ignoring suggestions) Its just that none so far merit taking over a shop (and I have one in mind!)

I personally, and it is only personal preference, would love to see a butchers in the village again.
I believe there was one in the village quite a while ago - before our time, and we have been resident for nearly 10 years now.
I regularly buy meat from PJ Dales in HC who are brilliant, but would still love to support an even more local shop closer to home.
If I don't go to the butchers, I buy meat from Waitrose, but even then it's not as good as a freshly cut joint or piece of meat, which you have told the butcher you want.

Our local corner store gets a lot of business as its open late (the one on Summer Road).

Its so handy and although not as cheap as supermarket reasonable enough for the convinience it provides. I use it for the odd item (though why it does not sell organic milk I do not know!) and I also try and get most of our alcohol from there (i.e. beer plus the odd bottle of wine too).


As above though - I'd shop from a local butchers for sure... BUT it would have to be open after I get home from work!

And ditto a local bakery... but that would have to be open before I went to work... (mmm fresh bread in the mornings!) !

So thats a tough ask on opening hours for either of the above.

We do have a very good butcher's and baker's in Hinchley Wood - though I tend to think we have three proper shops in the village (or 2+1) - the Post Office, the greengrocer's, and the baker's (not a whole as you now have to squeeze past tables to get bread).

I'd really miss the chemist too, and the dry cleaner's.

I didn't think the last butcher's was that long ago - it was a lovely little shop and had great sausages but only seemed to be there for a year or less.

I suppose it's very difficult for businesses to survive on occasional trade and we can't really complain if the shops aren't there when we want them, if we then do most of our shopping in the supermarket, as most of us do.

I go to Hinchley Wood for dry cleaning because I can park there.

At today's fuel prices I think the cost of driving to and from the supermarket is easily £1, maybe £2. So walking to the shops makes financial sense!

Wednesday's gridlock around Hook and Tolworth was caused by a lorry driver who got stuck under at least TWO separate bridges and had concrete falling onto the A3. People are going to jail for taking looted clothes given to them as they lay in bed but this driver has got off!

http://www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/news/9204446.Lorry_hits_four_bridges_in_two_hours/

We discussed the HSBC branch within the RA Executive Cttee and will lobby HSBC against the closure.  Meanwhile, in a positive sign for cash availability, planning application 2011/6753 includes the replacement of an existing BT phone kiosk with a combined phone/ HSBC ATM (free withdrawals) outside Debonair Hairdressers. This is about 30 Metres from the HSBC branch which is due to close.

Anyone know the reason for the temporary traffic lights by the Swan on Summer Road? They have been there for a couple of days now, but no sign of any roadworks! ???

no idea but reversing out of the slipway is ahem "interesting!"

all work on crown defo stopped again.

Some patching was made to the pavement (badly) which took 30 minutes, the debris was swept into the convenient drain beside it and the traffic lights and cones remain days later. Unbelievable were it not for the many precedents!  ???

[img width=500 height=373]http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff485/TDRatty/IMG_3050.jpg[/img]  [img width=500 height=373]http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/ff485/TDRatty/IMG_3051.jpg[/img]

Seems absurd

There are now some markings painted on the road that look like they may be putting parking spaces there, right on the corner. Surely not??

See http://residents-association.com/forum/index.php?topic=204.msg4579#msg4579 (http://residents-association.com/forum/index.php?topic=204.msg4579#msg4579) for SCC's final maps of markings, which I posted yesterday.  Except for the area by the Red Lion (small section of no waiting at any time, by the speed hump), the existing no waiting etc. restrictions will remain in force from there, round the bend into Summer Rd, and along to just past Riversdale Road.

Hmm, that's interesting.

They certainly do look like new parking bays though.

I think I remember on the original propsals that were on display in the Library ages ago there were parking bays there that were objected to on the grounds of safety. Contractors working off the wrong plans possibly?

Red Lion road markings.  The white hatch marks are being replaced by double yellow lines as everyone ignore the polite request not to park here. The disabled bay is being enlarged slightly as it is below the regulation length.
There are no other proposals here.

All of this is on the SCC website.

Those were the complex proposals of about four years ago, for curfew parking / residents' parking / one-way in the High St etc.; which ran into the sand as there was bitter disagreement between inhabitants.  See http://residents-association.com/news/parking.php (http://residents-association.com/news/parking.php), scroll down to the 'background' section

Bad fire at sheltered homes in Hinchley Wood early this morning - see headline on our home page.

here's the report from the Elmbridge Guardian which I clicked on there:

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9280283.Pensioner_missing_after_Hinchley_Wood_fire/

I heard yesterday that the missing resident had in fact died. This must be one of the saddest news items I have ever seen on here.

Very quiet lately - what's up?

For the first time in six years, news has been sparse since early summer.

There was some ad being filmed in TD earlier this week I think, by some celeb I have never heard of...

I wonder if people are so generally transfixed by the ever more appalling national and international news that there's less interest in local news?

I have a few news items to compile for the website "when time permits"

where was it being filmed?

Middle of the High St I gather.  Source is a well-known purveyor of fine fresh fruit and veg, up and about early !

ha ok

I see loads more work is being done to Atherton cottage!

Anyones guess what they are doing?

1. doing it up to sell?
2. converting to flats?
3. a n other ?

You'll find the planning application if you search the EBC site.  There was a thread in the Planning part of the forum too.  I seem to recall, it's flats.

Ah ok - thanks Admin.

Clever developer I would say - flats will go well there!

I think it is still intended to be a single dwelling as per the original planning application.

http://www3.elmbridge.gov.uk/WAM/showCaseFile.do?appName=planning&appNumber=2010/2131

It looks like they have invested in a very high quality job and it will make an amazing home for someone.

It is scary to think what price it will go on the market for now!

Here is the original thread (http://residents-association.com/forum/index.php?topic=261.0)

Hmm I was thinking flats might work better?

The thing is they were pricing it at over £1million... now we all know a house that size in decent nick in Thames Ditton does go for that if not more (evidence all the million pound houses on speer road, basingfield, etc -also the > million on the boyles farm,etc) BUT ... well if I had that kind of dough for a house I'd want a bigger garden than that of that property!

What do I know though - outside my realm of affordability until I win the euro millions ...

Perhaps one of the conservative councillors' developer cronies....

They definitely seem to be fitting it out as a single dwelling judging by the kitchen.

I agree about the lack of garden though.

is it the house on the corner? Could be amazing. Judging by the new ones on st leonards which sold for circa £950k then this would be substantially more. Busy road though

Not sure if you have seen this link yet...

Bit of an eye opener on road deaths - specifically where they occur etc


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15975720

There is generally a huge lack of awareness on our roads and some incredibly poor driving. Given that, and the amount of time we spend in our cars these statistics whilst shocking, dont surprise me.

I drive from td to belgravia every day and the drivers (particularly around the scilly isles which I know is a tricky one) and the kingston btpass never cease to amaze me. A total lack of awareness of whats around them and what speed they are doing given the conditions.

I only looked at the local area and it is tragic how many young men die riding motorbikes.

It is also somewhat bizarre how many of the other victims are very elderly men, often on foot. ???

After three years, Elmbridge knocked off its pedestal as top place to live (http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/24/north-hampshire-quality-life-survey?newsfeed=true)

Only to second place mind you.... and with friends in Hart (Fleet to be precise) quite why, is NOT clear. Built up, high density, featureless modern housing estates where the car is king. Long torrid car commutes to modern green field business parks to work, with no amenities, which facilitates yet another car journey to get lunch. Or a long tiresome commute to town on delayed and expensive trains (and not forgetting the need to drive to the station in the first place!). Weekends, yet again stuck in cars taking kids out (everyone has kids in these areas) in an attempt to entertain them as the gardens are too small.....No diverse cultural experiences - unless you go to the local curry house.... everyone is white and from the same mold......  to my mind Hart is welcome to its #1 status it has too little available to make me envious!

Give me the 07.56 to town any day, work in the delightful surroundings of the West End, I need to drive less than once a week, can walk to the shops for the essentials, enjoy the amenities of living in essentially a suburb of the capital - and the delights of Bushy Park and the river - I wouldn't give you a thank for the characterless 'new towns' of Hart.... and if you want the the village idle in Hart - then you need to be Banker! And we know what we think of those! LOL :-)

No doubt the effect of the tory elmbridge rulers - who certainly put profit before people. 

One only has to think of attempts to close the Ember Centre and the village halls; building on the Walton Pool Site, selling off the Stompond Road football club ground; and forcing through the Jolly Boatman scandal (about which Councillor Grey does even bother to reply to us...) 

What do all these have in common ?  The smug tories use their majority to overrule the views of local people.

You may not like the Tories but we do live in a democracy and they have been fairly elected into Elmbridge.

I personally feel Thames Ditton would sit far more comfortably in the Borough of Kingston (where it as far more in common with - both historically and character-wise) then Elmbridge.

Yes, I hope we can avoid strident political tribalism here - while reasoned criticism is fair game.
TD's history is intimately connected with that of Kingston, although to read the local histories of TD and those of Kingston you would not think so, for neither mentions the other.  Indeed it is a subject on which I have the makings of an hour's talk or an article, sometime when time and space allow.

While the various manors within them came under disparate ownerships, Elmbridge Hundred as well as Kingston Hundred came under Kingston for centuries, for purposes of administration and jurisdiction.  24 Henry VI  17 July 1446 refers to "the demesne of Chingestune and Amelebridge" in clarification at the request of  "the men and tenants of Kyngeston upon Thames and Amelebridge.'" and the Charter for Kingston of Edward IV in February 1463 reaffirmed petty jurisdiction and the various administrative and revenue-raising rights of the bailiffs and men of Kyngeston "within the town and liberty aforesaid, the demesne of the said town and hundred of Kyngeston and Emelbrigge".

However, the forces have been centrifugal rather than centripetal as communities gathered their own weight.  Currently one of the main reasons to avoid merging with Kingston (and the metropolitan area) is the much higher housing density allowed there, which would threaten the character and greenery of our area.

And, I see that Kingston ranks at only #30 in the Halifax's quality of life survey, for what it may be worth...

The point I should probably have made is this: after the conservatives won Elmbridge with a slender majority, they have used this majority to repeatedly overrule the Residents Association Ward Councillors on the issues I mentioned below, and on others. 

One had only to witness the unedifying spectacle, at a recent meeting, of the Molesey RA councillors reasonably requesting an important adjustment to the Molesey Conservation Area, only to be rubbished by a conservative councillor from another area.  Finally, the residents' motion was predictably overruled by the conservatives, according to pre-arranged en bloc voting according to party whip, disregarding whatever was said in debate.  A dismal and depressing spectacle.  Sadly, enlightened, intelligent and reasoned debate simply doesn't exist in Conservative-ruled Elmbridge Borough Council.

Is this really true democracy...?

That is why a Residents Association majority is essential to preserve our local communities and environments. It will not be easy to win the majority from the conservatives, who enjoy the luxury of a salaried secretary and office funded by tory party funds to canvass for votes, while the Residents Associations are just a group of dedicated volunteers who care about local issues.   

Apologies if this appears immoderate (or unseasonal) - but I would encourage residents to attend Elmbridge Borough Council meetings where important ward matters are on the agenda, to witness for themselves the way the Elmbridge conservative councillors conduct themselves.

You're right.

Meanwhile....it is with pleasure that I note a google search for the term "residents association"  brings up as the first non-paid-for hit, even above Wikipedia:  you guessed it.

And, if you google for "Thames Ditton conservatives" the second hit is..... you guessed it.
And, if you google for "Thames Ditton liberals" the second hit is..... you guessed it.
And, if you google for "Thames Ditton labour" the second hit is..... you guessed it.

That's how I like it LOL

Emberman - Not disagreeing with your sentiment about the obvious lack of 'ward' appreciation by the majority Tory council (since I've live in THD i've voted RA in the local elections) just perhaps the intonation which is perhaps a little too polemic for a non-political site as this! :) But essentially i'd love to see the council go to majority RA's and away from one of the big political blocs.

Hampton Court way yesterday (Tues) - http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2105607_taxi_passengers_injured_following_thames_ditton_crash

2 car collision on HCW on Tuesday - saw the ambulance helicopter land on weston green - nasty accident

Are those not the same incident (hopefully)?

yes

There was another accident half way between Lion Gate and Hampton Wick, and a badly mangled car was left on the erge there today.

Congratulations to Miss Jennifer Anne Edwards, for being awarded in the New Year's Honours list for services to People with Disabilities in Surrey.

Yes indeed - flagged up just now in our headlines.  Well done, Jennifer.

It has been brought to my attention that the old Wine Rack site on the high street has a planning application in the window for a new off licence - anybody know anything about this?? Hope they plan on dispensing a nice selection real ales too.

a decent off license would be great for the village and I agree, more specialist beers and wines would be very welcome

Looks like a positive step. I don't think it is a planning application as such, but they are applying for a license to sell alcohol.

thats always a positive step ;)

Hampton Court to Surbiton closed due to a fallen tree at Thames Ditton blocking both lines.

I have one seat spare from hyde park corner to td departing in 20 mins, short notice I know

Wrong kind of tree perhaps?  ;D

Midibob

So - bakery not reopened; rumours that a baker from Molesey was seen casing the place.  Missing my granary loaf.

Anyone here using home breadmaking machines for more than a year i.e. past the initial stage of novelty?  Tell us about their pluses and minuses....

I don't qualify as I used mine for about 6months and then lost a bit to it (the mixer steel bit thingy) - never got it replacd and went back to buying bread!!!


But as no one else has responded I'll come up with the pros/cons

pluses: the smell of freshly baked bread-> its awesome to wake up too (set the timer the night before so its ready in the morning!), you can choose your bread composition (my favourite was my own mix of white and brown flour)

minuses: the per loaf cost is not that good value for money and really does need to be eaten on the day, or the day after

it takes up too much room (we have a tiny tiny kitchen now ... so I have gifted mine (sans missing bit) to my sister)


I ended up only using it on weekends when I did have it but do miss it...

I use mine once or so a week, as you say, it doesnt last long though.

The bakery is under offer so something must be happening with it, I wanted it but found out too late.

I think the lease has a few years to run?  Someone mentioned about five?

far less from memory but an automatic right to renew so shouldnt be a problem. hope the new owner does something decent with it as it has so much potential.

Snow patrol on BBC Surrey website (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-16515383)

The bounders make no mention of the Residents' Association which organised it, & funded most of it, although they were given the full background by Peter Haynes. 

Only in Conservative Esher would the cinema be packed at three on a damp Wednesday afternoon - for The Iron Lady.

Two films in one - a rather indifferent and shallow caricature in news flashbacks and reconstructions of Margaret Thatcher's heydays; and an absolutely stunning portrayal of incipient senility, beautifully and sensitively handled with wonderful subtlety.  A totally outstanding, amazing,  performance from Ms Streep.

Maggie's earlier greatness (shades of Ozymandias, one of the nation's favourite poems) gives poignancy to the questions about life, work, family and purpose delicately posed, and wisely left unanswered.  I can see why the critics had difficulties assessing this flawed masterpiece.  But highly recommended for grey heads.  It will be a hundred years before this very significant figure can be got into full perspective.

sounds good, I was a bit unsure whether it was right to portray her dementia whilst she is still alive.

It's sensitively portrayed as incipient rather than raving, and using also the device of ghostly Dennis - which banal contrivance shouldn't work, but does.  Meryl Streep's quite astonishing performance is also very subtle, and transcends the movie.  You will shed a tear.

(I met Maggie once at a reception at Lancaster House, but as soon as she had established that I was just a middle level functionary the conversation was over!  I did  manage to get her policy changed one time, by devious means, and have a few other stories which must remain locked in the cupboard)

Missing cat alert I've just posted: http://residents-association.com/announcements.php#kernow

Want me to put the alert on the about thames ditton new Facebook page?

The more the better.

thx Keith, i'm sure she'll turn up

This particular cat belongs to Siobhan the Pilates teacher & family, a few doors away.  I have photographed it several times as it always looks at me with an expression of regal disdain.

[img width=375 height=500]http://residents-association.com/images/cat_sinister.jpg[/img]

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Join in.  Where have all my house sparrows gone this year? 
(http://residents-association.com/images/animated_kittens.gif)

I gather that the bakery, the front window of which is now covered with newspaper to prevent kibitzers from seeing in, may reopen even next week.

And that its name in Molesey is: "Nice Buns"  Very Molesey, but is it quaite Thames Ditton?

Perhaps "Fancy a Roll" might be better?  No?  Your suggestions would make a nice diversion....

Roll of Honour?

Use your Loaf?

Well Bread?

The Best Thing Since...?

I understand they are approaching td in a different way to the molesey shop which would make sense.

Well Raised

What you Knead

Loads of Dough

Excellent.  I think "Well Bread" has the right ring to it.

What about "Flour of England"  (as the Scots are going indie)  or "Insane Grain" or "Sweet Wheat"?

Special Kneads ?

Pain et Grain ?

Delighted to report that Kernow was found locked in an empty house on Station Road that is undergoing building works.  Spotted by a neighbour who saw Siobhan's flyer mailed through letterboxes.  Kernow had been there a week and was starving.  Apparently ate a whole packet of ham on return (and now wants that rather than catfood!).

I gather that Kernow is now gated for a while....

What super news. :)

Great news, thx for letting us know

One of the reasons I love Thames Ditton is that so many characters here are interesting and, not eccentric exactly, but different, just ever so slightly out of the mainstream  - like the village itself.  Down by Albany reach this afternoon, a venerable and robust lady, who must have been approaching 80, in a coat and headscarf, was feeding the ducks.  I commented that the bank was slippery in the snow.  You get the picture.....

"Oh, I'm all right," she replied, "I have these boots I bought in Greenland"
I had to ask.  It turned out this was on an adventure holiday when the party had to climb a frozen waterfall.
Crumbs gone, she said: "Right, I'm off to watch the rugby."
So was I.  Thoroughly warmed by this encounter!

--------------

On Saturday a 33lb pike was reportedly caught on livebait just up the Mole/Ember outlet by the little weir there, from a boat.  The record for the Thames is I think about 34 lb (correct me if wrong) though the national record is 46lb 13oz.  My source was the angler's friend, himself fishing for the wily Esox lucius along the snowy Reach, but having less success....

This isn't the same pike, but one also of 33lb caught elsewhere, to give you an idea of the size:
[img width=500 height=334]http://www.gofishing.co.uk/upload/25919/images/Christian-Paschmann-33lb-pi.jpg[/img]

Any ideas who would want 2010 & 2011 RHS Garden magazine & 2010 Gardeners World? I've tried local Doctor Surgery but they have plenty.  Seems a shame just to put in bin.

Presumably their content is t quite as time critical as other topics so maybe a charity shop or maybe a care home?

Hope no one was caught up in the traffic following a nasty looking accident on Portsmouth road.

It looked like it had just happened when I cycled past at about 8am and it was tailing back to the lights at the Thorkhill rd junction.

Accident was just where the road to Nuffield is. I don't think (hope not) anyone was seriously hurt as I did not see any ambulances.

heard about this, thought same. It may not be the cause on this occassion but it never ceases to amaze me how on the whole, people dont adjust their driving at all in this weather.

Last year whilst in a Jeep I had 3 seperate people (yes really!!) crash into me driving from TD to Wimbledon. Each time I was stationary and each driver of the other car was equally incredulous that upon slamming their brakes on full, they didnt come to the usual immediate stop when driving on snow and ice.

Thanks for the reminder - I've headlined the guidance on driving in winter (http://residents-association.com/pdfs/driving_in_winter.pdf) which can be downloaded from our pdfs directory.  You might like to comment on any particular points in it.

At Esher Tyre and Exhaust on Saturday, I was surprised when they told me there was usually a rush for winter tyres about now.  Winter tyres?  In SE England?...  The reply was that large rear-wheel drive, boat-like Mercs and BMWs might just as well be parked up in snow without winter tyres....

I don't think I've driven a rear-wheel drive car since, ermmm, 1988 (in the Caribbean) !

winter tyres are probably the single most important factor in driving in adverse conditions. A car with winter tyres will go places a 4x4 without them wont and more importantly will stop quicker.

Some people in 4x4's in bad weather are a total liability because they think they are immune to the laws of physics. Certain 4x4's are next to useless too. I'm generalising slightly but BMW X5 drivers are among the worst In my experience.

Its worth noting, in any car, if you get stuck, turn off your traction control, you may need to hold the button for 5 seconds or so to disable it, then be very gently with your right foot.

Even without snow winter tyres provide much better performance (I dont mean speed) through the colder months, we are years behind our European cousins in this regard.

The majority of modern BMW, Audi, Mercedes are RWD and useless in snow or ice, skinny front wheel drive cars far better, a decent 4x4 moreso. Just worth investigating which before you buy as some vast differences between them.

The main things though above all else is, be prepared, drive considerably slower than feels safe, and on a long journey have some provisions in the car in case things get messy.

as an aside, just read the winter driving download you posted up. Really very comprehensive and very good.

I'd particularly advocate what it says about driving to a deserted car park when snowy and having a go, one point though, keep it between 5 and 10mph, you'd be amazed how fast that feels and how far you travel once you start to lose traction!

Admin messes up again.....Oops - edited your post when I thought I had hit the reply button!  Sorry. - Depends on the time of day - Sunday mornings for many public car parks find them empty, as opposed to weekdays when workers, shoppers and those in search of meals or  entertainment fill them up.  I can't recommend privately owned  or club car parks without risking trouble, but you might well find one practically empty during silent hours, e.g. (theoretically) at some major racecourse, particularly if racing cancelled because of snow....

traction control eh?

whats that!!!

;D

My merc is rubbish, particularly on the Surrey hills! I have contemplated winter tyres but have no where to store them. I'm contemplating an old 4 wheel drive vehicle and taking it of road in the summer.

One thing I did notice is that someone appeared to have gone for a drive on Giggs Hill Green on Saturday night, including on the cricket square.  Having fun in a deserted car park is one thing.  Having fun driving on the cricket square.... well it's just not cricket!  ::)

Or get a Mini.... (there speaks my age....)

Groan.  Dreadful.

I expect residents will be demanding yet more and bigger signage......

Easier to store some tyres in summer than a 4x4 ? Just a thought!  You might find Mercedes will store your tyres for you also.

ref driving on the green, thats disgusting

Off road driving is great fun but they are closing down all the green lanes where it used to be allowed!!!

(I know thats not what you meant but if you have an off roader - why not!)

yeah i always meant to go and do some of that, never got around to it, although go to some pretty extreme places when back in Wales, its really good fun.

Yeah - to be honest rightly so some of these green lanes are being shut to motor bikes and cars.

Used to be ok but as with a lot of these things some irresonsible/selfish people spoil it for the rest and it was not always fair on the cyclists/walkers.


Still get plenty of pay n play off road type areas though.

They're good fun and definately will help to practice good off road car control!  Sort of like a track day for off road cars!!


Now where is that empty car park (ideally with nothing to hit) that I can use to 'test' my cars snow/ice ability in a safe environment?

b&q, places like that find a quiet corner

Straws in the wind:

Straw A:  An old college friend and wife, both retired, have just given up their car. They live in Ealing, and use public transport (tube and rail) a lot, and their car mileage had dwindled to around a thousand miles a year.  No brainer - they've joined a car club for those odd occasions where you need one.  I will be interested to see how it goes...

Straw B:  An in-law who lives in a Devon village close to Dartmoor came to visit.  He was delighted with our village; for in his own there are no shops left, and no post office, just a pub and a bus stop....

Watching paint dry during this freeze takes longer than usual.

We know this because the eagerly-awaited opening of the Nice Buns bakery is delayed, probably till a week on Monday, because (according to the decorator working there today) the paint isn't drying at these temperatures.

OK, this is a crumb of news; I'm sure we'll all toast the opening; it's a make or bake situation...

I hope they still make a profit or all will be lost.

(You asked for that!)

hahaha thats truly awful!

tray'd roll, as the French would say.

whatever brings them in some dough I  suppose (if you cant beat 'em)

I've have been using my loaf trying to come up with something witty to say, but I'm not sure I can rise to the occasion: any ideas I've had have scone before I could put pen to paper.

this delay is quite painful

when they do finally open we must all make an effort to rise early every morning and support them - its the yeast we can do

anyone who doesn't will be getting a pizza my mind (shamelessly stolen from some movie/comedy)

edit: darn I was beaten to using the rise pun - I doughnut think I'll be able to come up with any others...

Arrrggghhhh!  Enough!

tdres is the winner, sandwiched between the other posts.

Any news on when it will open?

In the meantime, the newsagent next to Bachmanns sells very nice bread.

Latest this morning is that they will open next Monday now - 5 March.

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9555703.Family_waits_for_news_on_missing_son/

I had avoided writing about this in order to keep people and the press off the backs of (and off the phone of) Graham and Pat Cooke - but I see that the information that they are the parents of the missing Andrew is now out in the public domain.

Understandably,  our planning convenor Graham has not been able to devote attention to planning matters lately.

Any clues to the whereabouts of missing Andrew would of course be gratefully received.

very sad indeed, I hope he will be found safe and well soon and thoughts with the family. Must be an incredibly distressing time for them.

And now for some good news -  Paddy Riley, the Vicarage cat, has returned after being missing for a week (must have seen our home page news item).  Reliable sources report that he is a bit thinner.  His whereabouts during this period remain obscure, in the manner of Old Possum's Macavity.

ah good news, will update as that esher forum had a post about it I noticed, stop people handing in random tabbys!

Anyone know (of) a Tony Portelli, of Thames Ditton?  A distant chum tells us he won the Sunday Times cartoon caption competition..... I am curious!

But although I was a Times reader for 45 years, increasingly dissatisfied with its Murdochization, I stopped reading it altogether when they went full subscription online.

there is a Tony Portelly at Surbiton Hockey club, v similar name, could be misprint?

Yes, that must be the one.  Congratulations, Tony!

New roadworks at the Winters Bridge traffic lights are causing long tailbacks in both directions on Portsmouth road and St Leonards road.

Moles (http://residents-association.com/announcements.php#killamole)
Hate 'em, or love 'em?  Your views?....

Quirky Press Release from Surrey Police:
Seven members of Surrey Police’s ice hockey team, the Surrey Lions, will be running the London Marathon dressed in full ice hockey kit.  The team consists of Karim Tayar, Glyn Leighton, Karl Loveday, Dale Hathaway, Jay McLeod, Tom Brown and Dean Leighton, plus Gavin Stephens and Kelly Tayar who will run the 26.2mile race dressed as referees.  Target is to raise £20,000 for Crimestoppers charity.”

If you would like to sponsor them, and who wouldn't, visit: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/IceHockey or text LION99 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070 e.g. LION99 £5.

Hmm price of stamps due to rise considerably next month.

Thats if the Telegraph is to be believed:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/royal-mail/9095098/Stamp-price-hike-will-have-disastrous-effect-on-elderly-and-vulnerable.html

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4170490/Frank-Lampard-pays-Boycie-councillor-to-help-him-net-3m-profit.html#comment-rig

I've linked to this Sun on Sunday article from the home page.  You should read it and draw your own conclusions.

Please note that the Sun is careful to state that "There is no suggestion that Lampard or Archer broke the law or any planning rules or that the decision was improperly reached.  And a Sun investigation confirms Archer and his fellow councillors followed all procedures to the letter in declaring an interest. "  The same care should be taken in any replies to this post.  It's an interesting read, though.

That Archer (Esher, Conservative) is nicknamed "Boycie" is well known around Elmbridge.

Does make you wonder what other gossip there is about our local councillors!  The not-really-surprising story of how planning may or may not be influenced by who you know, all within the letter of the law (is that OK, Admin?), makes me wonder what on earth Councillor Lake and Councillor Salagiopolous had to do to get sacked and dragged in front of the standards committee?!

I won't post the name but I heard from a horrified resident of Esher that one of their councillors is married to a former bondage queen and Sun page 3 girl but this was kept out of the largely conservative press round here.

My question would be: whether this was an unfair electoral advantage?!  The country has a cherished tradition of Bishops and actresses.  Not to mention kings and actresses, judges and all sorts.  And the few council meetings I have attended as observer have been indescribably dull and pompous....

Huge solar flare to hit Earth within the next 24 hours, press reports.  Sunglasses on and make sure you get the beer cold before the fridge blows.  Tell us all your Thames Ditton solar flare stories.

(http://residents-association.com/forum/Themes/default/images/post/thumbup.gif) Admin likes this

What is the meaning of this?  Is the forum going all Facebook-esque?   ;D

LOL Whimsy.  I was looking for some of those hilarious  Facebook extracts online - but you can never find one when you want one.

BBC: The storm - the largest in five years - will unleash a torrent of charged particles between 06:00 GMT and 10:00 GMT

Drat.  The solar flare seems to have struck.  No heating or hot water this morning - looks like the flare took out the little motorized valve in an impossible position under the hot water cylinder.  Admirable neighbour (expert plumber) called.

Anyone else suffered collateral damage yet?

Fixed.  New boiler fan - electrics had gone.

Does our oven breaking down last week in anticipation of this storm count?

Keith - speaking of the solar storm apparantly the sunset is supposed to be really nice today!

So hope you have your camera out.

Also for anyone who has the afternoon off - might be worth a trip up north to maybe see the northern lights!!

I have one somewhere of the sunset over Whitstable Bay...

ah yes, here it is:
[img width=375 height=500]http://residents-association.com/images/whitstable_bay_sunset.jpg[/img]

A young guy had just been knocked off his bike at St Leonard's road junction with Portsmouth rd. Seems okay, if a little dazed. The traffic queues and jostling because of the roadworks are making it dangerous for cyclists and people crossing.

Ah thats horrible to hear... I cycle that way often on the way to Surbiton station (this morning in fact).

I think its too narrow for a car and a cyclist after the light - and car drivers will naturally get a little impatient if the car in front is going slow (and not know there is a cyclist slowing the car in front) -> the net result being cars will try and pass cyclists.

Glad he is ok.

Its always a mess there!! And I cannot fathom why,

What are they doing there???? If they are digging up that road again just after laying a new surface ....

Anyone know anything about the squatters said to be in the empty Stuart Lane shop?

where is that?

Travellers:  I gather that the oaks caravan site Claygate looks like being overpopulated as there are reports of sewage from the site overflowing downhill and accumulating in the small underpass there.  SCC are investigating likely health hazard

Details yet to be firmed up but there are plans emerging for a Summer Fair in the High Street Saturday 26 May (i.e. after the Scout fair and before the Jubilee).  The High St Retailers' group will organise, schools may be involved producing window-dressing themes, and as with the Christmas Fair the Residents' Association will be offering the essential insurance cover under its auspices, and up to £500 toward printing, publications etc.

Whether everything including road closure can be sorted before that date remains uncertain but thought you'd like to know what is being discussed and how far it's got to go.

Stuart Lane: High St between Maybury Cottage and pottery shop. Formerly hairdressers (in the days when TD was overrun by hairdressers!).  Been empty a while.

i cant abide squatters

Following Sharon's birthday in Lime Tree, it is now Michael's turn today.  And also Jason Paull, who is 34 or was it 43?  (Great cake, Sharon btw!)  Congratulations. 

"They say that life begins at 40.
What they say is true.
But what they do not tell you is
it ends at 42"
- Admin

---------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile overheard in Paull's: a lady (who shall be nameless) seriously objecting to being called "love":  "I have white hair.  That's ageism!"

Hmnnn.  Katie calls me 'love' too but I rather like it! 

Post deleted at request of member who has left forum - Admin

Personally, I prefer to be called Ma'am

The so-called "Eco Park" (what bureaucrat thought that up?!) at the Charlton Lane tip  recycling centre will go ahead.  It's Surrey Council's own baby and they gave their contractor SITA planning permission last week.

It will burn some waste and "anaerobically digest" other waste, so I suppose it is a good thing, unless you happen to live downwind.

I wonder whether they will wait until it is built before awarding an award to this award-winning project?

"artist's impression" -->
[img width=500 height=333]http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/Documents/Images/Our%20work/CABE/DesignReview/Infrastructure/Charlton%20lane%20Eco%20Park%20-580.jpg[/img]

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9584649.Schools_take_a_bite_out_of_lunchtime_rubbish/

The one we really want to join in this kind of scheme is Esher College - the worst offenders for lunchtime snack packaging left on our green spaces.

Father Rob's Water Challenge ()

Very quiet lately but a lot going on behind the scenes - more anon.  I'm off to lunch with old chums in London tomorrow, so will be 'out of action' (especially after lunch which is unlikely to end much before 5 pm on past form LOL)

A summers day in March tomorrow!!!

;D

Highs of 23 in London with a still very nice 20 degrees in Thames Ditton:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/kt7?day=1

Pick of the April Fool stories: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/amnesty-for-hosepipe-owners-as-drought-bites-7606223.html

Very good.


I'm very disappointed that I completely forgot it was April fools day today.

Ah well.

Rail replacement yesterday (and today) as they replace/repair the bridge in Surbiton.

Got from Paris to Kings Cross in just over 2 hours and took just under 2 hours to get from Kings Cross to home (and that entailed having to take a taxi from Surbiton as decided not to wait for the Thames Ditton bus).

>:(


What odds its fixed and fine by tomorrow morning?

Hope so - or its going to make for a miserable commute...

Should've stayed on holiday.

I am so glad I no longer have to commute on home postings.  One of the small but significant compensations for being on a lower income!  It all sounds horribly familiar though....

So - how was Paris?

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9661378.Train_problems_after_vehicle_hits_bridge_in_Esher/ I think this was the Portsmouth Road Long Arch

Just found another article on that website but have posted it on the petrol head thread!

What happened about the Home of Compassion?  I couldn't get to the meeting

See news

So

-  Mehra's stores (off-licence) is improving in aspect and contents, going for the basics.  They tell me they have taken a fifteen year lease on the premises.  Their first priority at the moment is improving security defences before getting more drink in (they are well aware of the fairly frequent robberies when it was Thresher's).

- Francesco in former Stuart Lane is making it into a delightful-looking coffee shop inside, should be formally open Saturday.  Will serve cakes / slices of temtpting-looking tarts; expect to get in ice cream.  Let's hope Francesco's Italian flair comes through in the ice-cream department.  I am not (at all) sure what the leasing arrangements are there.

With Nice Buns doing fine, I'd like to point out that despite the gloomsters about retail in the village. and the hard times, that's three shops lately let and still open and functioning, one of which was formerly a hairdresser's. All three are the kind to attract footfall. Net win.

More gossip:  the Case of Mrs Patel's Bloomers.

Planning application 2011/8047 Retrospective application for single storeyside extension and a rear first-floor extension.  Refused by planning officer - rear structure not satisfactorily designed due to its prominence of siting and the appearance and inappropriate use of materials, considered harmful to the character of the property and the street scene.  (Note to sceptics: the RA has not been involved with this at all) Gone to appeal. 

This is Mrs Patel's.  One objector refers to the first floor structure at rear being used for some kind of laundry function.  While on an exercise bike at Colets yesterday, I learned from a passing resident of Queens Road that the inhabitants along there get a fine view of Mrs P's bloomers on the line.  Intrigued, I have asked for a photograph...!

Dangerous deer in Bushy Park - might be just the one difficult one, might be more: http://teddingtontown.co.uk/2012/05/25/bushy-park-deer-warning/

There have been problems with Hinchley Wood School pupils lately.  I think quite a bit of this is caused by the strange GCSE exam period which, because of the jubilee and half term, has started early with that break in the middle before exams resumed this week.  Pupils had been required to attend school to spend all day in personal revision when not actually sitting exams.  Many became restive and rebellious and there were incidents (water bombs etc) leading to some 'exclusions'.  Things seem to have come to a head on 31 May when a large number of them gathered at Giggs Hill Green  then moved on to outside the school.  The police broke them up and confiscated  fireworks and a smoke bomb.  Flour and eggs had been thrown outside school two days before and the same was tried again.  There had also been threats on Facebook etc. to target younger pupils as they left school.  One boy was handcuffed by the police for a short while because he  had two BB guns and  fireworks. 

Head Steve Poole observes that the problems were caused by only a small group of students but a significant number of students decided to join in: "This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and undermines all that we stand for as a school. "

Tensions remain as the school grapple with these problems, made difficult by the abnormally extended exam period and of course by the fact that so many parents are both working so home revision may not be an option for many students.

There's a bit more to this.  Following the earlier disturbances at the school, parents were told in an email that students should remain at home and not come in on 31 May (they had been threatening to come in and muck about).  So on the Thursday (31 May) a large number of them hung out instead - with the result above.

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9771776.Thames_Ditton_man_wins__expedition_of_a_lifetime_/

Excellent!

Just to say that I have loads of interesting stuff to put on the website, but so little time!  Coming soon....

Deep in historical researches meanwhile.  - in case you're wondering.

There's a meeting at the Swan at 19.30 on 17 July to discuss the recreation ground on Summer Road.  The idea is that funds might be secured from Surrey (Olympic Legacy etc) for an upgrade of the recreational facilities there.  Peter Hickman as our SCC councillor will be there.  If you have an interest, you may wish to go along.

Thanks for the heads up on this - I'll try and make this.

I did make it along - albeit a bit late (I got there just after 8 ). The fact that it was in the pub made it an easy draw for me!

;)

It was an excellent discussion and some wonderful ideas put forth to improve/expand our current rec ground at Summer Road. I believe minutes are going to be emailed and I will post up on a new thread a summation of what was discussed.

The group involved are very keen to get additional input/information so if anyone fancies coming along to the follow up I believe it will be next Wednesday at about 7:30/8 (also at the Swann so worst case you can enjoy a pint or two).

Excellent.  I know that Simon Munro has some good ideas for the site, he was there too I understand.

I love it when residents get involved.

Incidentally I think they were very keen to have 'Admin' along at the next meet!!!

Peter Haynes tells me that some brainless bozos vandalised the floral bikes mounted on Embercourt Roundabout.  I know he has a photo of it and may post one here - and has reported it.

My wife took a few photos this afternoon. Not sure what's been vandalised but there were two bikes, one with a rider. Very picturesque they were too.
Apparently floral displays have been done at the Scilly Isles and the two roundabouts on the way to Hersham. Lets hope there's no other incidents.

Midibob

Happy birthday to Craig.  From here on in it's all downhill!

Ah thanks matey, very kind indeed :D

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2118473_thames_ditton_woman_hit_and_killed_by_train

Sad case - said to have thrown herself in front of the train; lived on the former MMB estate off Giggs Hill Green.

how tragic.

http://residents-association.com/news.php#guardian

I'm afraid that the Elmbridge Guardian is being replaced by the Kingston edition in some parts of Thames Ditton.  Apparently driven by advertising pressures.  Residents are getting the first ones now, and complaining - the Kingston edition carries nothing about Elmbridge - which is where we are!

Come in, Laura.....

Meanwhile, in some parts of Thames Ditton, we don't get any either the Kingston or the Elmbridge version!

(We do get plenty of free glossy 'lifestyle' magazines though)

But do you get the important ones?

The Thames Ditton Today (RA mag) and the About Thames Ditton mags?

These two mags are one of the reasons we chose to live in this village!! That and the Swan!! I had lined up 8/9 places to see in a day and at the half way point we stopped for lunch and had a copy of I think the About Thames Ditton (and had picked up a spare Thames Ditton Today earlier) - leafing through the mags convinced us this was where we wanted to love.

The gorgeous sunshine and the atmosphere in the pub didn't hurt either!!

Sponsor Gaynor for Cancer research in the NY marathon - http://residents-association.com/announcements.php#gaynor

Also, news of a potentially useful not-for-profit website being set up by two Mums to collate info on local facilities and amusements for parents of young nippers: http://residents-association.com/announcements.php#nippers

Great feedback on the mag from as far afield as Brisbane and Chichester this morning LOL.

Just revisited the Raintree reviews as I was bored, I almost want to try it to see if it really can be that bad.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g504175-d1555400-Reviews-Raintree-Kingston_upon_Thames_Surrey_England.html

Yikes! Strange that it is owned by the same franchisee as the Holiday Inn on Portsmouth road which has garnered great reviews.

Yup the Holiday Inn is very good, odd isn't it

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9936098.Grenades_and_suspected_cannabis_plants_found_at_Molesey_flat/

Grenades are in the news following the dreadful murders in Manchester.  But these in Molesey were "quickly determined to be very old devices that were not live and did not pose any danger to members of the public."

Nonetheless, if you are confronted by a drug dealer holding a grenade you wouldn't take any chances would you?

I heard Johnny Depp was in the Swan last night. It's like Beverly Hills round here lately!

LOL - I confess I am not into celeb culture (and I frequently have to ask Modom who people are) but I do like J. Depp who is hilarious on screen and always seems to out-act anyone there with him, by a factor of ten.

...so this morning I get two letters from the taxman.  I open the first.  It says I owe £**** in back tax.  I open the second.  It says they owe me £**** in tax overpaid........

He giveth with the right hand and taketh away with the left.  Fortunately I seem to be in net credit, but I now have to write a letter to ask which is correct!

Intaxication : 1. (n.) Euphoria at receiving a tax refund, which lasts until you realise it was your own money to start with.

Tired of knocking back Manhattans at Friday Happy Hour?  clear the cobwebs with a Bat Walk on the evening of Friday 5 Oct (Free!)

And if you tend to feel mouldy on a Sunday morning, then there is a Funghi Walk to look forward to on 14 Oct.

Both on EBC's website at: http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/news/news.htm?mode=10&pk=4483

(I went on a river bat cruise here a few years ago, which was fun, sort of, and yes we did remember to see some bats, not to mention one or two batty fellow-passengers too.  & used to love this season when posted in Warsaw: the Poles take the grzybobranie - mushroom-gathering - very seriously and we relied on the home help to tell us which ones were OK to eat.  Some were truly delicious - one kind tasted like bacon)

Hearts go out to Gaynor Owen who, after training for eighteen months to do a sponsored run in the new York Marathon, flew out there after the city said the event would go ahead only to find they then cancelled it!  Apparently a group of them did a marathon set up as an alternative around Central Park and so she received a participant's medal, at any rate.

Well done, Gaynor.

Game Gaynor back from NYNY writes in with this story (http://residents-association.com/news.php#gaynor).

Lovely write up and well done Gaynor Owen !

Seconded!  Nice story.  What a mess the city authorities made of the marathon decisions.

So, today's the day I switch from BT broadband & phone to a Virgin cable package and they are supposed to install it this afternoon.  If I am off the web for a long time, you will deduce why!

Well, that went OK and we have 30Mb broadband and essentially the same phone and TV package for around £12 a month less than before.  However, things were not flawless - the engineer did not know we were switching phone provider (but fortunately a call to base confirmed it); he found the people who had installed the cable TV had not secured the cable to the external box, which "could have fallen out at any moment;"  and he drilled and fixed the interior boxes by eye which are even less square than if I had done them!  But he was a nice fellow and did the job, and so far everything seems to be working well.

Congratulations to Rhodrich on the recent birth of a son (I gather that Mrs Rhodrich also played an important role in the matter).  Dad is looking bearded and strangely haggard.

great new, congrats matey

Can I just say that a Virgin exec lives in Thames Ditton (my husband) so don't "diss" Virgin!!! LOL

Oh good!
So now we know who to complain to when it all goes wrong.  ;)

(Not that I've had any recent problems, but getting broadband installed a few years back was a nightmare!)

I had better not give our address out ... just in case ... LOL  !!!!

Well, this is the third day and speed tests show I am indeed getting around 31MB download speed and 1.9Mb upload speed - so far, so good.

Thanks for that description Keith!  Just getting back into the swing of sleep deprivation!

Also, congratulations need to be given to Junhino on the recent birth of a daughter (two days after our son!).    Many mummy meetings to follow at Nice Buns I'm sure!

hear, hear.

Yes, we need a Men Only evening to discuss our childbirth experiences....

Yes sorry - I've not been as active as of late on the forum as we have just had a baby girl !

I don't think I am allowed out just yet... maybe in a few years?

No wonder it has been quiet in here!  Well done and congratulations

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9514259/Waitrose-boss-plans-online-drive-to-grab-market-share.html

"UK's fastest-growing grocery retailer thanks in part to a 60pc rise in online sales in the last three months....Waitrose as a whole is likely to see stronger growth in the second half of 2012 than the 7pc achieved in the first six months of its financial year.....predicts Waitrose will reach annual sales of around £6bn this year as it opens six more supermarkets and at least two convenience stores.  Sales have been boosted since Waitrose.com began operating inside the M25 last year after the end of a block on selling in London under a deal with online e-tailer Ocado. "

Just trying it now..... got fed up with Ocado's comparative prices some years ago

I always wondered about this and what would happen to Ocado once Waitrose did venture into their own. Should be interesting to see.

I did try Waitrose instead of Ocado a while back, but as their deliveries come from a store rather than a warehouse there were many more out-of-stock items and dubious substitutions. So I stuck with Ocado. Still, I suppose Waitrose might have improved since then so may be worth another foray.

On this evening's news it seems that waitrose even deliver a baby, or nearby security staff with the help of Google!

You can instruct online Waitrose not to make any substitutions, tdres, by the way.  Maybe that's a good idea with babies!

Congratulations to daddies Juninho and rhodrich!

Re: heavy rain, how do we hear if there is a flood warning? Haven;r heard the Tuesday Hampton flood siren for a while...

Keep checking our home page - or the Environment agency site.  If the siren sounds (will it?) I guess it may be too late....if it is gurgling then it will be much too late.

Here you go:
http://environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/34678.aspx?page=1&type=Postcode&term=KT70SQ

Thanks for the link.

Incidentally, I remember the question about "what has happened to the AC Cobra?" and finding it had been made in Malta but that that venture had collapsed so that since 2009 the rights had passed to Gullwing AG near Dresden.

Mercedes has closed that company down.

http://www.mercedesheritage.com/2012/mercedes-benz-crushes-unlawlful-gullwing-replica/

Interesting - I wonder if that will be the last footnote to the Cobra story?

Did anyone here attend John Spencer's talk for EDLHS on AC Cars a couple of weeks ago?  (It clashed with England v Australia at Twickers)

No I had no idea - though it might have clashed with us having our baby too!

'Twas on our what's on page for ages!  But in the circumstances, you are excused!

Spectacular Colets Bond-theme party last night.  Alas somewhat sombre when some unfortunate fellow had a heart attack in the casino room (I haven't yet heard who and don't know the outcome)

I have it on impeccable authority that at least one real Bond was there and one if not two Moneypennies.  I'm also nearly sure I saw Sean Connery with a Martini.  All the ladies looked stunning in black.  How did they know, unconsciously, to dress similarly? - could be a theme for David Attenborough's next series of Life's Events.

What a terrific Saturday afternoon watching the rugger in Colets bar.  Hilarious, joyful and uplifting, like Mo Farah's face this summer when he crossed the line and realised he'd won the double gold.  There I was, an old cynic, rolling home in a mood of total benevolence, helped by an innocent barman who used two sherry measures for my double whisky.

If you are normally the only male in a household, including the cat and the parrot, there's something deeply satisfying about watching sport with a roomful of blokey blokes.

Excellent to see that problem building at 29 High St occupied by a shop at last; and good luck to her.

Despite the recession and divided opinion over planning matters, where there were empty shops or imminent risk of same the village now has Mehra's, this new shop, Nice Buns, Lunch; plus the Lion refurbished.  We've lost the antique shop and I await news of what will happen in the old Bakery at 31 High St, but overall that's all pretty good for the preservation of our High Street's vitality.

"Simply Fresh" is planning to open in mid-January, I gather.

There was insufficient support for the investment scheme to give villagers a say in the tenancy/tenancies (and therefore over the lines marketed) so I understand that this new arrangement is a direct tenancy with the owning company.

See http://www.conveniencestore.co.uk/news/simply-fresh-sets-off-on-a-national-expansion-path/215954.article 
and http://www.simplyfresh.info/

And here's the link to the new make-your-own clothes shop in the High St: http://angelakane.com/

yep, whilst it looks pretty & I hope it succeeds that is one I simply dont understand. I do believe its very sucessful online though

I'm sorry but who has time to make their own clothes ?!

For a business that sells online but also needs somewhere to have their stuff, and where people can touch and feel it, a place like Thames Ditton is a good idea.  Enough people who like the idea of making their own clothes but want some kind of kit to do it can be reached online.  If the business depended on physical visits TD would not be so good as a choice.  At the same time, being in a decent location in the village looks classy enough to support the online brand and might attract a few visiting customers too, as well as providing somewhere Angela can sit to do business, and keep her stuff, while being available to a few likely middle-class visitors around here.

I think if the quality children's clothes shop that was at no 1 Station Road had got things together with online sales from its beginning, it would have done well on the same principles!

like I said, I wish it every success and I think the branding is nicely done. I'm just amazed anyone has the time to do such things these days.

Blimey, our draw for the World Cup 2015 looks tough!  The two surviving teams from Pool A will have hardly any players left in one piece for the q.finals!

Hot book tip for new parents:  you will need children's books.  'The Elephant and the Bad Baby' is available from Amazon again. 

Synopsis: an elephant takes a baby on a shoplifting spree, taking one cake etc for himself and one for the baby, then being chased down the road by each shopkeeper in turn.  At the end of the story the elephant reproves the bad Baby for not once having said "please."

Always one of my favourites, especially as I love (Snowman author) Raymond Briggs' delightfully spicy sense of irony.  Children (2-6) love it too.  Good preparation for Life - e.g. MPs, city folk ripping you off then making self-righteous statements (or even passing laws).....

a question: we're back into winter.

Last week I had the misfortune to follow five separate gritting lorries and even had to pass one. The car got covered in salt.

The nearest car wash I know with underbody spray is at the BP in Ashford - but there must be one nearer! (not the Esher Filling Station, not the one on Portsmouth Road, not Hampton Court).

Any tips?

depending on what the car is I'd really try to avoid car washes where possible.

the guys on portsmouth rd are good and dont use those plasticy rubber blades to dry the car which cause untold damage to paintwork

yes, but I'm specifically looking for a car wash with underfloor wash as it is winter.

those guys will jetwash underneath if you ask them. TBH if its a relatively new car it should be extensively rustproofed underneath so whilst not leaving crud on there forever, I wouldnt panic.

Thanks for the tips.

I have seen my rusty petrol tank from before it was Waxoyled lol.

The car wash at the BP in Ashford waxes the car and has a blow dry!

sounds like a beauty parlour! :D

Probably costs as much as well!!

;)

As some of these hand car wash places go - the portsmouth road place is actually not so bad but still not great.

Personally I quite enjoy washing my own car (though I reckon on average I manage this about once or twice a year!).

If like me - you're unable to wash your car at home (i.e. no driveway and no hosepipe!) then there is always the garage next to the tesco on hurst road which has a jet wash that you can use yourself (and rather more sympathetically than the hand car wash places! the risk with those is that grit on the car could easily translate to a scratch)...  then I know of some magic wax that you can apply whilst it is still a little wet and polish off et voila -> nice and shiney until the next bird poop.

As for the undertray - again I would prefer to (softly0 wash off any salt myself using the power wash at the garage.


Edited to add: the magic wax I use is Autoglym Aqua wax. I am not one of those car detailer/garage queen/ constant car washing bores I promise... I can count on one hand the number of times I have washed my car in the last 3 years! But it is still satisfying when one does!

This has made me realise my cars havent been washed since last serviced 3 months ago, how bad is that?

I believe a maxi cosi baby seat will fit in the back of a 911 no?

Tell you what... how about you lend me your car for a weekend and I'll return it washed!!

Hand washed by myself no less- or if not then I'll pay for a proper nice wash and wax (none of these dodgy £7 a wash drive and go jobbies!)

;)

:D I'll take it under advisment !

Congratulations to Hilary Whittaker - see our home page headline,  other local media will doubtless replay this but - you read it here first!

Well done Karen, Ruth and dairy Crest for raising a few more thou towards cardio monitoring equipment so that local NHS patients will not have to wait for appointments go to Tooting or Kingston to get a 24-hr recording pack but should be able to get one and return it conveniently right here in Thames Ditton.  See news page.

For those new around here: while keeping the lobbying pressure on the NHS to restore funding for, and make use of, the beds provided at Raphael Drive for short-term intermediate care, the Friends of the Hospital have for some years been raising a rather large sum to buy equipment which is then put at the disposal of Giggs Hill Green for local NHS patients.  The Friends retain ownership of the equipment so that the NHS cannot annex it for deployment elsewhere.

Background to the Hospital in TDT Winter 2010 issue, by Karen

As you probably know by now, Gianna is closing Adiva (and selling off her good quality clothes, Mrs Admin has already been in there!).

The landord will advertise it probably in Feb, I think, and there has been at least one informal enquiry already.  It's a pretty shop, although storage space is limited.  It used to be an antique shop, then was taken by that young lady seamstress who later moved to ?Thorkhill Road.

shame, seems a great site though. Begs the question yet again, what sort of business might work there.

Organic meat sales? Would people support it or use for 2 weeks then go back to waitrose.

suggestions?

Not enough space for  the necessary cold storage, I fear.

It's two-thirty in the morning in Perth, Western Australia and I am just watching #3 son's plane about to land there on flightradar24.com 

What an amazing thing the internet is!

Another fascinating and illuminating conversation, today centred around the recent republication of George Orwell's  'Politics and the English Language' on BBC Radio 4 'Start the Week' Programme

Listen again to edited 30mins TODAY at 21.30hrs http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01q8l31 or full 45mins programme on iplayer.

You know summer is on the way when the discarded packets of ten fags are everywhere.

There have been piles of rubbish as though from a picnic on Giggs Hill Green yesterday and this morning.

Today, I found discarded styrofoam trays and sachets of red sauce together with the debris of deliberately-shredded styrofoam cups there.

I cleaned half away at ten and the other half at noon. Those anti-dog police patrols are clearly not in evidence! ;)

That is a shame indeed.

I did see the odd bit of litter on Albany reach but I really think the situation there has improved massively over the years.

So we finally got round to eating in the Italian restaurant, the name of which I can never remember (would be much easier if called Luigi's or similar!).  Rather good.  Tasteful and although the prices are not cheap the value was fair and some of the food excellent: perfect bread & olive oil dip and an outstanding salmon ravioli in creamy dill, just right.  Gnocci good.  House red an adequate workmanlike Merlot in a glass of good size.  Service discreet and charming, no pressure.

yup agreed very nice food, pricing was a bit punchy and lack of variety of wines a shame though

We went couple of months ago and it was an interesting experience.

Husband loved it. I was a bit mixed as, given that I don't eat fish, the choice was very limited when we went. Also there was no pizza available as they'd used all their dough at lunchtime.
That said, what we had was very nice, if a little pricey.

Not sure about the singer - don't know if she's there every night. She was very good and it was quite entertaining watching her carry on singing while she opened and closed the door as people arrived, but it's rather a small place for something so dominant and it made conversation a little difficult.

Overall, we would probably go again, but I won't be rushing back.

anyone been into fresh place yet?

Was going to ask the same... any one been to Simply Fresh?  Not sure if today was its opening day but looks quite nice from the outside.  Not sure what their opening times are yet.

Thanks for the Italian place (Osteria..?) write-up... haven't tried it yet but want to.  Did most go at the weekend or during the week?  Also curious as to what the atmosphere was like inside - plenty of other diners etc?

The blank one said: We hadn't booked, but went on spec at about 1930. After another hour, most of the tables were occupied. A pleasant, informal but tasteful, quality bistro-like atmosphere. No singer! (slightly naff recorded music). We had only the (perfect) bread, one platter each, house wine and an Amaretto, and I liked the fact that we were not pressed to have more items.. About £55 - for that price one expects good quality food, and it was.

Not sure what the bug is but this is the third time I have seen a blank post reply!

Weird
This will be buried somewhere in Simple Machines' PHP coding and will likely be the very devil to ferret out and fix, particularly as it seems not to be 100% reproducible (I have made two other posts without problem). Thanks for flagging it up (I guess!)

I went in there this evening (simply fresh) - I think I was told they would be open until 9 weeknights and 7 on Sunday (not sure what time it opens in the morning).

I happened to be cycling pas en route to home and I asked the other half if she wanted anything... Half fat, ideally organic,  creme freche she said... Felt like a scene out of little Britain but they had it in store (and yes organic to boot!!)

And picked up some beers (mmm red stripe) for myself!

Winner!

Margaret!

Had a look round there today.  Prices seemed uppish - 10-25% higher than supermarkets -but the range was good and while I don't think it will replace supermarket shopping, for out-of-hours urgencies or top-ups it looks a useful addition.

Red Stripe here doesn't taste like it tastes in Ja. !

For convenience is perfect with better opening times than waitrose/other.

Actually for fruit and veg it is reasonable and I sense Paul's will soon move on. If he does, his shop would make a quaint clothes shop, especially good for socks.

Whilst I'm sure you you believe you are being clever or funny, as per most of your absurd posts in the past, You really can be extremely unpleasant. You're talking about someone's livelyhood and even in any distorted sense of jest it's simply not appropriate.

I popped in today for a look round and was a bit surprised to see how much was general groceries as I was expecting more fresh food, given the name.

However, it looks like a good wide range and will be useful for the village.

I don't think Paul's need worry, and I didn't check prices, but there seems to be quite an overlap with Mehra's and the post office.

Just got back from a two week holiday this morning - and what a pleasant surprise with Simply Fresh. They had everything in there we needed for a bit of a restock without schlepping to Waitrose - and with an additional trip across the road to Paulls for the fruit and veg and we were done!
They seem to have some really nice products at first glance (though still filling the shelves) including organic products and it's fitted out nicely. At the end of the day its a convenience store so you'll expect to pay 10-15% more for that very reason. The front is a nice grey too, breaking up the monotoned dirty white of the rest of the shops in the village.

I concur - this was my experience too! It passed the test as it was the one item we had left out !

And call me an optimist but I can see all of the above shops surviving and thriving. 10-15% is not that much of a premium for the convinience.  The beers I bought were (notwithstanding any special offers) the same price they would be in an offie / super market.

We generally do one big weekly shop (either online or to waitrose) and rely on the fresh fruit veg from the village and our convinience store on Summer road. The last has been very useful but its not one I could hussle a nice meal out of whereas simply fresh has what I need for that and the premium is a fair price.

I hope they do well and its a nice addition to our village set of shops!

Now.... back to the new shop and the subject of pricing.

You'd reasonably expect to pay ...in any convenience store, a premium for the very reason that it is convenient and you don't have to get into your car and drive to a supermarket etc. I've also been pleasantly surprised so far with my purchases in Simply Fresh that the pricing is on par with the supermarkets - and the products are premium and great quality.
However I was VERY happy to find that our dog food (organic Lilys Kitchen) is cheaper in Simply Fresh then anywhere else, £2.14 a tin compared to £2.20 in Waitrose and elsewhere. This is a great example of a premium product being competitively priced.
This place will be such an asset to the village!

So how was the Fair?  Sad to say, I was stricken by gut cramps yesterday, and just managed to cover the Guide Hut launch before staggering home to bed at 11.30, from which I have only just risen.....  Mrs Admin says it was good!

Fair was brilliant fun and helped in no small part by the excellent weather to create a lovely atmosphere.

Perhaps less of a turnout than the xmas fair but still great fun!

Hope you're feeling better.

They tell me business is a little slow.  But they have Teachers at £11.88 a bott (Post Office £13.99...) so we have helped them out a couple of times.

So I am the new antique shop's first customer!

While toiling through the heat and the damn' flies to Simply Fresh for emergency supplies of gin (at a very competitive price I might add) this afternoon I noticed suitably  used hats hanging off a stand outside the former Adiva.  One is now mine.  It was shopkeeper Susie Simons' first day trading in an eclectic mix of ever-so-slightly quirky stuff which looks well in keeping with this village.   Susie is a long-standing resident, lives on the island.

I could not help noticing the head of a fox on a wall plaque.  It looked in quite good condition.....  I bet that will be, ermmm, snapped up!!

Welcome Susie.

Welcome Susie

So that's what happened to the Church Walk Fox that magically "disappeared" when you wrote about him in the magazine !!! (life long anti hunt/vegetarian just so that anyone reading this knows .......)

It looks like Mehra's has closed down.  A pity.  After getting the opening range wrong they did make efforts to stock things suitable for the village, and we did try to buy from them where convenient, but it seems that Simply Fresh was the coup-de-grace.

Speaking of which, SF has run out of decent size, good value Gordon's in the heatwave!  I suggested an urgent emergency re-order...

Oh that is a shame for them.

That shop location has not had much success at all in the time we have been here.

I wonder what would work there...

Well, I thought that Mehra's would do better to build up a specialism in exotic, good quality, fair value food products and cooking ingredients - starting with, but not exclusively, Indian.  It would offer the chance of attracting shoppers from a much wider area than just TD, and it might go well with an online extension.  Indian, Bangaldeshi, Thai, Japanese, Chinese ingredients, relishes, spices etc. going well beyond local supermarket items &c &c, good shelf-life....

70% or respondents in the 'farmers market' survey said they would like to see speciality foods available in the village and apart from Lime Tree's Italian material, there are none.  So it would not be competing with other TD High St shops.

This is a wealthy and foodie area and I'm not aware of such a store in Elmbridge.  Money would need to be spent on marketing.

The shop was a disaster, simply fresh is a great addition.

There is enough food shops - how about a men's clothes shop, there is a demand for this.

Please no more gift shops or interior design places.

I'd like a computer consumables shop - printer paper, cartridges, etc.  Though this wouldn't fill a shop would it?  Maybe a men's clothes shop would be a good idea.

I understand that the post office will be shrinking in size so yes some computer consumables may be a good idea there.

As a men's shop, they could for office dress or casual or both - but hopefully lifestyle brands

Did any of you watch "Ambassadors" ? If so, did you find it funny? 

I have to say that if I didn't find it all totally uproarious, that was only because it was just a slight extension of the realities one knew in Third World (or "difficult") postings.  Clearly an inside job, with quite a bit of detail based on reality, like conversations in the safe room and the confidential folder with "Strap 2" across it!  Not to mention the Royal Visitation, the staff hopelessly compromised from the vetting point of view, the ghastly official functions and the difficulties of separation from parents, children and job opportunities for a spouse.  Not to mention the eavesdropping, the heavy baggage gone astray, the power cuts...... brought it all back....!!

By complete coincidence - being berefit of my tablet this morning (having left it at work yesterday) I decided to download some things to watch on iplayer and I downloaded both that and live at apollo.

I decided to watch live at apollo this morning but will get round to watching ambassadors later I think?

Rather a good Autumn Statement, I thought. Balls in a quandary.  Markets completely unmoved (but they are not back from lunch yet).

Funny how stats read and are presented...

Dressed up as borrowing is decreasing - and the numbers sound like they are but the total debt is actually going up. i.e. we may be decreasing the amount we borrow per year BUT we are still adding to the debt burden!

Scary also how the recession in 08-09 was even worse than we thought - now figures of GDP down by 7.2%. In one year we lost 7.2%... that puts into perspective the revised 'growth' figures!

This is positive:
"Employer National Insurance contributions are to be scrapped on 1.5 million jobs for young people."

Whenever people talk about our tax rates they often forget NI... dress it how you will but its tax... and even people who remember employee national insurance often forget employers NI.

Funnily enough this is never mentioned when people talk about overall tax rates but it is effectively a tax paid on your salary by your employer... I know people will dress it otherwise.

This is a good idea though to encourage companies to employ more young people by removing the otherwise prohibitive costs of taking on staff...

New issue of Thames Ditton Today now being distributed - see home page if you want to download it.

Thank you Keith!

Glitter should be banned.  Gets everywhere.  Dreadful stuff.

I blame girls, mostly.

Bah humbug.

Haha

I concur!

... however, it helps me make a strong case that those responsible for it should do the hoovering until the last pesky glittering piece is gone.  That should take us up to next December.

Very true.  Whereas he was banned from travelling for 3 years due to incidents with girls, I believe that this has now been lifted.   :P

And a Merry Christmas to everybody.

I'm not a big fan of Christmas Present, but prefer the ideas of Christmas Past (i.e. before Macy's made it commercial).  It's nice to see family and friends though.

Here's to 2014!

Merry Christmas to you too.

Merry Xmas everybody!

Yes it's become very commercialised and all about presents but still a lovely time of the year in my book!

A real character of Thames Ditton dies.

Regret to report that Tighe Nickalls died in her sleep last night, at home in Wells Cottage at the end of Ashley Road, where she lived since 1968.  She was 102.

A great local character, daughter of Maj. Gen. George Carey, posted to India where at the age of 20 she met and married Tom Nickalls, then a polo-playing captain in the 17/21st Lancers, somewhat against her father's wishes.  Tom, who died in 1995, later became chief racing correspondent for The Sporting Life, and their love of horses and horse racing led to a personal acquaintance with the late Queen Mother who on one occasion visited Wells Cottage (named after its 19th century owner, Joseph Wells, a market gardener) for tea.

In latter years Tighe held court in Wells Cottage over glasses of champagne surrounded by like-minded characters, always forthright and correct.

Please refer to Thames Ditton Today Autumn 2002 for a profile of Tighe.

Very sorry for her families loss.

Sounds like an absolutely amazing woman and one can now only wonder what stories she could have told us.

I would very much like to read the profile -> admin if its not too much trouble and you're able to post it up on here that would be great (unless I am missing something I could not seem to go that far back on the past issues?)?

Otherwise if you have an old copy of TDT for autumn 2002 that I could borrow for a few hours?

I never met Mrs Nickalls but when I passed her house I used to think about her appearance on the following TV programme :



Her bit starts at 8:30.  I've had a quick look on the net and think she was contributing to online racing messageboards only a few years ago. She seems very "no nonsense". A great character.

I used to live next another remarkable old lady who reached 102. She died about 2 years ago and she was such an active person that when I told my brother she had died he expressed surprise and asked what she had died from ! As if old age wasn't enough. She used to deliver meals on wheels to pensioners decades younger then her. I was very interested in the cause of her longevity and she put it down to doing the Guardian crossword everyday and going for long walks. I also noticed that she never had a fridge or central heating. She used to chat to my great grandfather and he was born in 1860.

Great find! Definitely a character :D

Well found Ratty.

Not, me. The credit goes to Sandboy above.

Every household in England will get a free copy of The Sun in today's post.

Here's the return address: FREEPOST, The Sun, London E98 1AX  ;)

Thanks! I certainly will return mine.

All our congratulations to Katie and Jason at Paulls who have won the category of Best deli/grocery/speciality foods store in the Elmbridge Retailer of the Year Competition 2014.  The judges comment: "Always friendly and helpful and the best fresh fruit and veg around. Free delivery service."

Well deserved, I say.

Congratulations indeed!!

Well deserved!

Wow! Well done!

Don't forget to turn your lights off tonight at 10pm!



http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28632223

Story sent in from a rail passenger that a train yesterday morning from Putney to Waterloo reached Waterloo about 5 mins late. The excuse given by Network Rail was that the delay was "caused by passengers getting on and off the train at various stations en route"

The railways would run with fewer problems if there were no passengers, I feel.

Talking about Network Rail, does anyone know when Hampton Court commences.

That made me chuckle!