CURRENT MATTERS, PRIORITIES AND CONCERNS

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Long Ditton:

Windmill Lane's status changes: As many residents of Long Ditton will be aware, the status of Windmill Lane has for many years been the subject of campaigns, appeals, and conjecture. Ever since anyone can remember the whole of Windmill Lane has been used as a road like any other. However, the middle section (just North of the Recreation Ground to South of the railway bridge) has only been recognised by Surrey County Council (SCC) as a public bridleway and therefore, not maintainable by SCC at public expense.

Following lobbying by Long Ditton Councillor Barry Fairbank and myself over several years and supported by County Councillor Peter Hickman, the Elmbridge Local Committee agreed that the whole of Windmill Lane, Long Ditton is a publicly maintainable vehicular highway.

Given the amount of time and energy that has gone into this issue over many years with SCC insisting all along that the middle section is a public bridleway, this is a remarkable decision. I hope SCC will now start filling the potholes and cutting the grass!

Planning in Long Ditton: Both applications for the development of the St James' Amenity Site on Windmill Lane were unanimously refused at the East Area Planning Sub-committee but St James appealed the second of these applications. The appeal was allowed and construction has begun. Landscaping conditions required adequate landscaping in front of some of the houses on Windmill Lane. I considered the landscaping scheme inadequate and the East Area Planning Sub-committee agreed with me and rejected the scheme. As a result, a better scheme has been approved.

There has also been huge opposition to development of 46-48 Sugden Rd and applications have been refused by Elmbridge Officers for a number of reasons. Local residents have also objected strongly to the Phone masts proposed on the Hockey Club on Sugden Rd.

Last year in March-April, there was a 4 day Public Inquiry when Ditton Nurseries' various users/owners appealed all the enforcement notices served on them by Surrey County Council (SCC). SCC officers were forced to issue these notices to stop the importation and processing of waste at Ditton Nurseries which is in the Green Belt. I attended the Inquiry all 4 days and indeed went on the site visit together with the Inspector and Officers. However, the appellants would not allow residents and I as Councillor to go on to the site so we were able to attend only those parts of the site visit which were on public land. I am pleased to report that the Inspector found in SCC's favour and dismissed all the appeals with partial costs being awarded to the appellants. Subsequently, there was an application to retain a concrete base which the Inspector had asked to be demolished and to build poly-tunnels on it. That application was unanimously refused at East Area Planning Sub-committee and the decision has been appealed. I have written to the Inspector objecting to the application and requested that the appeal be dismissed.

On the Portsmouth Rd, BMW Coopers were given planning permission for a car deck etc. Work is nearing completion but it had been a very difficult few months for residents living immediately adjacent to the site. BMW Coopers, were perhaps not as considerate as they should have been and residents complained of radios blaring, work going on late into the evening or at weekends which clearly disturbed residents. However, I liased with the Council's Environmental Health Officer and various warning notices were issued. Lighting has been adjusted, and noise and other nuisance will be monitored.

Recently, there have been several applications for back-land developments, new homes, flats and extensions in Long Ditton. I am pleased to report that a substantial number of these have been refused due to their size, character, and loss of amenity to neighbours. It is crucial that development is in keeping with the character of the area and causes little or no harm to neighbours. Decisions on these types of applications are often difficult, as the Council is also required to build a large number of homes and indeed there is such a shortage of affordable homes in the Borough and we want to protect our Green Belt and open spaces as well. I am committed to ensuring that all development is sympathetic to its surroundings.

Long Ditton comments on the Design and Character Supplementary Planning Document: For the last few months, the Council has been working on getting this very important part of Planning Policy in place. The Council appointed Consultants who appraised the Character of each part of the Borough. They held consultation days where they discussed the areas with those who know it best - local residents and Councillors. I attended the consultation day for the Dittons and Hinchley Wood and highlighted the character and related issues of many areas of Long Ditton. At a subsequent consultation day, I was joined by the Planning Officer of Long Ditton Residents' Association in making comments on the Draft. The process is nearing completion and the Council is expected to adopt the Document in April.

I was honoured to be the only Councillor asked by Council Officers to be on the steering group producing this document. Not only have I attended all the meetings of that group but also looked at all the comments received from all over the Borough to ensure that the Document truly reflects the character of all the areas. This document will be key in considering planning applications, so it was vital for the Council to get the character appraisal right, and also the design principles. The Document will supercede the Residnetial Design Guide.

Parking Restrictions in Long Ditton: Over the last few years, parking restrictions including permit parking have been introduced in several roads in Long Ditton. The process for introducing Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) is a lenghty one, that is if Surrey County Council, as the Highway Authority for Elmbridge agrees to introduce them. There are still a few roads in Long Ditton where some residents would like permit parking or extensions of yellow lines. I am working closely with those residents to see what can be done. If you would like to see parking restrictions on your road, please do contact me and I will go through the process with you and advise you of the best way forward

Speeding and Safety around Long Ditton's schools: Local residents are rightly alarmed about the safety of pedestrians in many parts of Long Ditton but there is particular concern about the safety of our children around the Infant and Junior Schools. More and more complaints are being received about speeding and as your Councillor, I do try to get the police to monitor the situation.

Long Ditton to trial clothes' recycling: Elmbridge BC and British Heart Foundation are trialling a charity doorstep collection service for clothes, shoes, books, CDs & DVDs in Long Ditton, and other parts of Elmbridge where blue top bins are collected on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Starting in Jan 2012, the trial is expected to last six months with at least 3 collections during that time. All items collected will be donated to the British Heart Foundation. Residents will be notified 2 weeks in advance of when such collections will take place.

The Borough

The Core Strategy: Following consultation, amendments and Examination in Public, the Core Strategy was adopted by the Council and now forms a key part of all planning considerations and informs the production of all Supplementary Planning Documents.

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) : Following the adoption of the Core Strategy, Council Officers have been busy drafting various SPDs. Apart from the Design and Character SPD ( see above) the Council has consulted on tDeveloper Contributions SPD and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) chargin schedule. I have had opportunity to look closely and comment on both these through the Local Development Working Group of which I am a member.

The Arts in Elmbridge.: The Arts Development Officer's post was frozen but following intense lobbying by local residents, some Councillors ( including myself), the Council now has a part time Arts Development Officer.

The Arts budget in Elmbridge is minimal but such as it is, it brings great direct benefit to many residents. The Arts Development Officer is crucial for Partnership working which brings even greater benefits.

The Olympics in Elmbridge: Many parts of Elmbridge are on the route for the Olympic Men's and Women's Road Cycling Races as well as the Men's and Women's Olympic Time Trials. The latter goes through Portsmouth Rd, Long Ditton. The Council has a budget for various project such as additional planting, banners etc to be installed throughout the Borough

My beliefs, my interests.

Protecting and enhancing the environment, particularly through the Planning process is of particular importance. Through my work on the Planning Committees and the Local Development Framework Working Group I am able to have some input into future development plans for the Borough.

Provision of adequate affordable housing in the Borough poses a challenge. The Planning process is a means of increasing the provision of affordable housing but at the moment not enough development proposals in the Borough qualify for provision. I do believe the Council should not miss opportunities to maximise the amount of affordable housing that developers are required to provide. Clearly the Government's housing targets will put pressure on the Borough's Green Belt, which I am committed to protecting as best I can. The Council has revised the amount of affordable housing or contributions towards it which developers will need to provide when building in the Borough. I have been involved in looking at the various options for contributuions both through my work on the Affordable Housing Member Panel and the Local Development Framework Working Group

The Arts My interest in the Arts is well known. I know first hand of the immense joy it brings, and the wonderful sense of achievement in creating even a small work of art. The benefits are so well proven, so well documented that they need no repeating. I have advocated and supported the Arts through my work with Arts Council England South East where I was a Member of the Regional Council for 6 years and the R C Sherriff Trust on which I continue to serve. .

The Community. We need to support the elderly and our youth. I have expressed concerns at many of the cuts which will affect the services we provide to these sections of the community. Whilst cuts are inevitable in the current economic climate, I am opposed to cuts which disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our community.