When Cllr. Richard Dunn learnt that developers had applied to add an extra two storeys & 28 flats to Oakhall Court in Oakhall Drive, he worked closely with local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, Alan Mockford, and immediately wrote to warn residents. His street letter was delivered to 250 local households in Oakhall Court, Oakhall Drive, Kinross Drive, Kinross Close, Cumbernauld Gardens, Groveley Road & King George's Close to advise them of how they might write to Spelthorne Council to register any comments and the legitimate grounds for objection. These included the lack of any off-street parking, loss of light & privacy and a building which would be totally out of keeping with neighbouring properties and a hundred letters of objection were subsequently received by the council.
Most importantly, concerned residents established that Oakhall Court had been built before 1948 and was therefore not exempt from planning application laws as the developer had falsely claimed.
Cllr. Dunn is delighted that the application has now been refused as records were found to support the claim that it was built before 1948. However, the developers could still apply again, with another planning application, so we must not drop our guard.
At the recent combined Runnymede and Spelthorne AGM, the motion to separate into two separate parties - Runnymede and Spelthorne - was passed. Subsequently, officers were elected for the Spelthorne Liberal Democrats as follows:
When we celebrated Christmas and New Year in 2019, we could not have predicated what was to come in 2020. This year has been very challenging for everyone and for Spelthorne Liberal Democrats Covid-19 has meant a different way of working, not only amongst your local Councillors, but also in May when a split in the local Tory party meant a new Leader was appointed to run the Council.
The many Opposition groups now outnumber the remaining Conservatives and local democracy has now become very different but with the possibility of making changes to policies. We also have a member of our own group - Lawrence Nichols - as Chairman of Audit and we are working to ensure that transparency and scrutiny takes place on issues that in the past we had no control over.
We have continued to remain active in the wards that we represent, whilst observing the restrictions that exist and our residents have kept us very busy with many problems which they have wanted us to resolve.
Want to walk off some of the Christmas excesses? We have Focus Newsletters that need delivering between Christmas and New Year and we'd be delighted if you can help at a time to suit you, although this is subject to any changes/clarification of Covid regulations
If interested, please call Chris Bateson on 07958 654204 to find out the latest
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In November at our AGM, a vote took place to separate Spelthorne and Runnymede local parties and we are now two groups. We will be keeping in close contact with our fellow Councillors in Runnymede and will continue to join forces to help one another out at election time. This meant the appointment of a new Chair for Spelthorne Liberal Democrats and we welcomed John Turner to take on this role which he will be starting in January 2021.
Elections in 2021
We look forward to welcoming in 2021 and the start of a New Year which will include campaigning for the upcoming Surrey County Council Elections in May. If you would like to get involved, in any capacity, we would be delighted to have your help.
Please contact either me, Sandra Dunn (01932 787854, councillordunn@aol.com) or our parliamentary spokesperson - David Campanale (07873 625396, redcampo@sky.com).
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year.
Keep safe.
Sandra Dunn Group Leader Spelthorne Liberal Democrats
The swimming pools at Sunbury Centre were closed earlier this year when a problem was identified with some of the pool tiles. The Council had to wait for the results of a full structural report to identify the cause of the problem but is now in the process of appointing contractors to carry out remedial work to safeguard this popular facility for many more years. The work is expected to be completed in the spring of next year and residents will be kept up to date with its progress.
As you may have seen, Spelthorne Borough Council has just launched a consultation on whether to transition from a Strong-Leader & Cabinet model to a more democratically accountable Committee-Based System. The Link can be found at the end of this article.
The runway is inconsistent with our commitment to tackling the climate emergency
Responding to the Supreme Court's decision to green-light a third runway at Heathrow airport, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency Sarah Olney said:
"The plans for a third runway at Heathrow have always been a disaster for the UK's commitments to tackle the climate emergency. Just as the UK is hosting the UN Climate Conference, we cannot be expanding the UK's biggest single source of emissions.
"At a time when aviation demand has dropped significantly, spending money on expanding an airport seems like a waste of money and risks creating a white elephant.
"Liberal Democrats are calling for the Prime Minister to firmly rule out a third runway at Heathrow - we know he personally objects to the project and if we are to achieve net-zero he must cancel expansion."
But, because of the intransigence of Tories in Spelthorne, we remain the only borough on the area officially in favour of Heathrow expansion - as long as ten demands are met.
In recognition of the extra work that has been undertaken by Spelthorne Borough Council Officers, Key Workers and Volunteers in Spelthorne, at the last Council meeting for 2020, our group decided it was important to bring the following motion forward. It is in recognition that Officers at Spelthorne have gone above and beyond their normal duties to ensure that the community, especially the vulnerable, have food, medicines and in some cases a friend to talk to over the telephone. We also wanted to recognise the Key Workers who have worked tirelessly to keep our buses running and our shops open and, of course, our NHS workers who have put their own health at risk in treating patients with Covid19.
Local residents had been complaining about the state of planning of large developments in central Staines-upon-Thames and the planning seemed, well, unplanned overall.
Lib Dem Councillor Chris Bateson (Staines South) brought this motion to council asking the council to put plans on hold, pause major developments and consult local residents.
The Residents' Riverside Coalition, representing the interests of some 600 residents both sides of the river, afterwards commented:
We applaud Cllr Bateson's initiative in bringing his motion to Council. It has shone a bright light on a matter of desperate concern to residents. The issues at the heart of this are the historical absence of democratic accountability and proper due diligence.
The motion was PASSED by council will all voted for except three councillors.
The motion:
The Staines Masterplan has evolved in administrative changes, but the document remains important as the framework to establish sustainable development of Staines Town Centre.
In recognition of this importance, this motion states that the council shall henceforth order that:
1. Any proposed development of Staines Town Centre by Spelthorne Borough Council and Knowle Green Estates shall be kept on hold until the Staines Masterplan has been approved.
2. Developers of Major applications proposed in the Staines Town Centre shall be invited to defer their applications until such time that the Council has established policy direction from the Staines Masterplan.
3. The Staines Masterplan needs significant consultation with the community of Spelthorne from the outset.
Not considering this motion now would mean development with no clear strategy that we will be having to attempt to remedy too late. Residents expect clarity for what Staines will look like in the future to ensure they can buy into a positive and ambitious future for Staines Town that respects its heritage but developed for a sustainable future.
Proposed by Councillor C. Bateson (Liberal Democrats)
Seconded by Councillor T. Lagden (Green Party)
Chris Bateson's proposing motion:
Thank you Mr Mayor
May I start by posing the question why should such a motion as this be necessary to bring to Council? The motion presented here tonight is a watered-down version of what we wanted to present. It was deemed that the wording first chosen and published was such that it jeopardised the Councils position and left it open to a possible legal challenge from developers. The bringers of this motion are less convinced of this argument, especially where the Council would be the applicant. However, it was important to ensure that this very important topic was brought for debate tonight.
We as Councillors, all of us, have before us the responsibility of helping formulate and produce a development framework for the future look of Staines Upon Thames. What we decide will affect how the town will look for generations to come. Such a framework needs to coordinate both preservation and development of a future sustainable town. This is no easy task.
There is increasing alarm from both Councillors and Residents alike about how things in relation to Staines are developing. The task groups set up by the Leader, both that for Staines and the Local Plan, are inextricably linked in their work and have been set specific remits to make recommendations to Cabinet. A clear vision as to what a future Staines will look like is still in the development stage. The process rightly in my view must include significant consultation with Residents.
Our concern as that as things stand, we have on offer a series of proposed high rise developments all sited well within a one mile radius, without necessary accompanying infrastructure to deal with very important issues such as traffic, parking, schools and medical services. If they came to pass unchallenged or with very little debate, they would quite simply blight the face of the town and with it destroy its character. We do not want another Woking in our Borough. On specifics, questions also remain, as yet unanswered as to exactly what the Council has tied itself into in respect of the Arora development in Bridge Street. At what cost and if the need become apparent what financial penalties could it face if contemplating withdrawing from this agreement. Councillors and Residents need to know exactly where we stand on this one.
This motion does not in any way seek to set the Council on a path where it becomes in direct conflict with the protocols of Planning law. As the wording in the motion states where the Council is the applicant, it asks that it reflects and by so doing ensuring that it achieves the best possible outcome for Staines. Where outside developers are concerned, it merely requests, not instructs or demands that they defer any such application, again until the development framework is nearing or at completion. They are of course under no obligation whatsoever to comply.
I hope all members this evening feel that can get behind this motion and demonstrate that we are listening to what our Residents are telling us and acting accordingly."
Cllr Tom Fidler has been making sure we get the infrastructure in Spelthorne we need and communities want
What is CIL?
The Community Infrastructure Levy (the 'levy') is a charge which can be levied by local authorities on new development in their area. It is an important tool for local authorities to use to help them deliver the infrastructure needed to support development in their area. - See more at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy
Boris Johnson must negotiate an adjustment period of three to six months with the EU
Exporters still don't know what rules of origin will apply; there is no clarity about how goods will be traded from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, while key customs software remains unready; and food and drink exporters still don't know how they should label their products.
