There has been considerable discussion at LDRA committee meetings about the proposals for this site. A group of residents asked St James Homes for access to the site but were refused and 8-foot boards were erected across the entrance. LDRA objects to the development as it threatens green space. A resident was nominated to speak in opposition to the plans at the Elmbridge Planning Sub-committee on 6 September; the application was refused.
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Victoria Recreation Ground
Elmbridge Councillor Shweta Kapadia held productive discussions with Kingston council and the gates are now open.
The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning At The Ditton
The Event: The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning At The Ditton (MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT) & Staff Sponsored challenge. Coffee & Cakes served from 9am-5pm. Friday 24th Sept.
Venue: The Ditton Pub & Restaurant. 64 Ditton Hill Road, Long Ditton, KT6 5JD. For More Details call Sharon on 0208 339 0785. WWW.THEDITTON.CO.UK
St James’ Homes application for 24 more houses in Windmill Lane
This application has qualified for public speaking and no doubt those that have written in will receive letters advising them how they can register to speak at the DC -East Area planning sub-committee. This will be on 6th September at 7.45pm at the Civic Centre, Esher. We hope as many Long Ditton residents as possible will have a chance to attend this meeting. You may attend, regardless of whether or not you have written in. There was a poor turnout at the first application.
If anyone is offering to do a 3 minute speech outlining objections on behalf of the LDRA it would help us greatly. Please advise mark.herbert@longditton.org as soon as possible. He has a leaflet on the procedure. There will be no questions after the speech. St James residents will be putting a speaker forward. The registration line opens from 9am Mon 30th Aug and closes midnight Tues 31st Aug due to the bank holiday.
Councillor Shweta Kapadia has asked for a site visit, which will take place on the Thursday 2nd September. It will be sometime in the morning, possibly at 9.15 but the time will depend on other visits arranged that morning. Please contact skapadia@elmbridge.gov.uk if you require any further information.
PC Andy Grapsas moves on
We are sorry to learn that our local policeman, PC Andy Grapsas, is moving away from Long Ditton and taking up a new role. We congratulate him on his promotion! He writes:
Dear resident, colleague, and friend,
It is with a heavy heart that I write this message to inform you of my impending departure as Neighbourhood Officer for the Dittons and Hinchley Wood where I have spent the last six years and furthermore had the most enjoyable time of my career to date. I feel proud and priviledged to have served a community that I have such an affinity for, covering the area in which I grew up, went to school and still have strong family ties; and this is truly an emotional departure for me.
I am leaving – on promotion to the rank of sergeant – to join Woking Neighbourhood Team, as it is a mandatory requirement for officers who achieve promotion to move to a new area with new staff and fresh challenges. I have always been extremely happy in my current role and it is fair to say that it is solely personal circumstances and the desire to maximise my ability to provide for my infant son that has led me to consider promotion and a subsequent move away from an area I regard as home.
The promotion process is a long one over the course of two years, and I was informed in August that I had been ultimately successful and was given a start date in my new capacity of Sunday 12th September. During the next few weeks Borough Inspector Richard Haycock and Sergeant Greg Turner will be interviewing candidates for the Dittons role, and I know that they are keen to recruit ‘Surrey’s finest’ for the position. I am aware that there are already a couple of strong candidates who I thoroughly endorse and believe will make excellent Neighbourhood Officers. Rest assured we are committed to finding a strong replacement to provide the Dittons community with the high standard of service it deserves.
I leave behind an excellent team who I know will continue to work hard to help make the Dittons a safe and pleasant place to be. Indeed I would like to take this opportunity to thank PCSO’s Richard and Nigel for their considerable contribution to the Dittons during my time here and indeed Laura and Carl before them. You really do have a fine team covering your area and I am certain that the Dittons will continue to flourish in the coming years.
I would also like to thank the residents, councillors and partners who have supported and assisted me over the years and truly made coming to work an absolute pleasure. I will sincerely miss you all.
Many, many thanks.
Andy
PC 3421 Andy Grapsas
Neighbourhood Officer for The Dittons and Hinchley Wood
Surrey Police
0845 125 2222 Ext. 31012
07967 988 177
www.surrey.police.uk
Windmill Lane Photo Shoot
The Surrey Advertiser are writing an article about the vacant land on Windmill Lane where the developers are at odds with residents. They are arranging a photo shoot and wish to photograph residents near the land. They are planning to do this on Tuesday 3rd August at 6.30pm next week. Please attend if possible.
PLEASE NOTE: The photo shoot is event is not yet confirmed. Please contact one of the LDRA Committee for the latest information.
Appointment of Group Scout Leader for The Dittons’ Scout Group
From Neville Biden (Group Chairman)
I am pleased to announce that the District Commissioner, Peter Hanna, has appointed Laura Clarke to be the new Group Scout Leader of the Dittons’ Scout Group.
Laura will be known to some of you and will soon become known to everybody.
We look forward to the future and Laura’s leadership of the group in hope and anticipation, knowing that she will receive the support she will need to fulfil this exacting role.
Information from Surrey Police regarding bogus callers
We have been made aware that a number of Surrey residents have received calls from a company claiming to be a home security firm and offering advice on new and existing security systems. The company asks a number of questions about the resident’s existing security arrangements and offers a home visit from one of their experts.
Trading Standards strongly advise that members of the public do not use firms that cold call.
Residents should be aware that when someone asks you when you are in or whether you have an alarm fitted, you are also telling them when you are out and what security measures you already have in place.
Anyone who receives a call either on the phone or at the property should call Surrey Police immediately 08451252222 quoting reference P10119973 or Crime stoppers in confidence on 0800 555111.
To find a trader you can trust simply log on to www.buywithconfidence.info the Surrey County Council Trading Standards ‘Buy with Confidence’ website
Please pass this message onto your family, friends and neighbours.
Kind regards,
Fran May
Neighbourhood Team coordinator for west Elmbridge.
Email: may8439@surrey.pnn.police.uk
Proposed Development by St James Homes on Windmill Lane.
The proposed development by St James Homes for the vacant land on Windmill Lane is for 24 more dwellings. Objections include the loss of more green space in Long Ditton and the resulting extra traffic in Windmill Lane.
Please send in your comments to Elmbridge Borough Council by July 22nd. Apart from writing (quoting the reference 2010/1528) you can email comments or put comments against the application on the planning link on their web site shown below.
You can object via:
Emailing your objection to: tplan@elmbridge.gov.uk
Visiting the website and adding your comment: http://www.elmbridge.gov.uk/planning/online.htm (and clicking on “Search for a Planning Application” and then entering the reference 2010/1528)
Or by Post to:
Head of Town Planning
Elmbridge Borough Council
Civic Centre
High Street
Esher
Surrey
KT10 9SD
Online Petition
Please find below the link to the online petition objecting to the proposed development by St James Homes for the vacant land on Windmill Lane. If you wish to object please sign this and forward the link onto anybody else who might also want to object.
http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/windmill
Please remember, this petition is complementing individual objections, so if you were thinking of lodging an objection yourself, you may.
Police Meeting
A police neighbourhood panel meeting was held before the main LDRA meeting. PC Andy Grapsas, accompanied by PCSOs Richard Platt and Nigel Oates, reported on events over the last three months. This was followed by discussion of priorities for the next period and it was agreed that crime in the Woodstock Lane area should remain the main priority.
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