Chairman's Blog - Feb 2023
I hope that you all had an enjoyable break. Hopefully, as the warmer weather approaches, widespread worries for residents about excessive energy costs should subside a little.
The RPWBRA’s last activity in 2022 was an enjoyable, well-attended thank-you event for the volunteers – the committee members, the PMG, the Area Coordinators and the Road Stewards - who keep the Association going. We deliver 2,000 Guides to households and venues, and we are grateful to all the members who pay their annual fee of £3.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Meanwhile we have had a busy start to 2023 and we would like to give you early notice of our AGM which will take place on Monday 24th April 2023 at 7.30pm in Raynes Park Library Hall.
All members will be welcome, so please do note the date. We will print the details in the March edition.
LESSA APPLICATION
As we go to press, we are still awaiting a decision by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about whether he will call in the Council's intended planning approval of the Bellway application. A holding direction has been issued to prevent the Council from issuing a decision until that decision is made. This is to allow sufficient time for him to consider the requests made. Both we and Stephen Hammond MP, as well as other residents, strongly urged him to do so. A decision is promised shortly.
The grounds on which the decision can be called in are quite limited. But these include a case where planning issues of more than local importance are involved. We believe that building over sports grounds is one such matter, and in this we are supported by Sport England.
208-212 BURLINGTON ROAD
There is a new application (22/P3479) to build 16 flats in a 4-6 storey block on this site, with a commercial unit underneath. This would involve the demolition of the present Auto Repair and MOT facility.
The RPWBRA has put in an objection to the whole of this application, which can be read on our website.
Our grounds for objection, submitted by Jerry Cuthbert may be read here, are that this site is not suitable for residential development, has poor air quality and noise pollution, is not well served by public transport, and is in a flood plain.
It is supposed to be used for employment. It is also out of keeping with the local street scene, which is of 2 and 3 storey buildings.
The applicants had withdrawn a previous application (20/P1688) for a 7-storey building with 20 flats.
THAMES WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN
An important consultation is taking place throughout the Thames Water area. It is the largest UK water and wastewater service company, dealing primarily with the south-east region.
The information and online survey (which closes on 21st March 2023) can be accessed at https://thames-wrmp.co.uk/
PREVENTING CAR THEFTS
Click here to read the article about a resident’s problems with car thefts and the police advice to keep vehicles safe from theft.
Wishing you all a happy 2023
John Elvidge
