We are all used to seeing the currently unused Pavilion building at the playing fields and here is a glimpse of its more illustrious past. Let’s hope that the current leaseholders and the various authorities can get an agreement in place and see this open and thriving again for the benefit of all local organisations and residents.
Read all about the Pavilion here.
On the 8th September the death was announced of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II who has served the country for over 70 years, for which we offer our thanks. She has been an inspiration for many people around the world with her steadfast dedication to duty and remains an example to all.
She is succeeded by His Majesty King Charles III.
God Save the King.
We recently reported that the planning application to demolish the waterboard cottages and build two pairs of semi-detached flat rooved dwellings, was turned down by TRDC Planning committee. The developer has now submitted a new application (ref: 22/0227/FUL on the Council website).
This application has addressed the 3 main reasons for the earlier refusal viz (i) a flat roof out of keeping with the neighbouring properties, (ii) excessive glazing and inappropriate design to the front of the properties and (iii) inadequate parking – the proposals did not meet agreed standards for this size of property.
We are therefore not opposing this application and our comment letter can be viewed on the Council website under the above number.
A further complication is the matter of an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate on the original application. We have heard that this has happened in this case but no-one has yet been officially informed because the Planning Inspectorate has not yet formally started the process. We do not know why the applicant has done this when they have now submitted a new application, but elsewhere this has resulted in the original plan being reinstated.
Planning continues to occupy much of our time. The previous consultation resulted in many objections and the implementation of a further round of consultations. This of course pushes back the date for decisions, the publication of the revised plan (so we have no sight of what is now going to be proposed) and the dates for consultation and decision making expected to be two years away. This leaves an opening for developers as no local plan will exist for some time.
Elmbridge Council has manged to produce a plan that does not involve green belt. Is this a model; for what is needed elsewhere? https://www.theplanner.co.uk/opinion/a-sustainable-future-for-elmbridge .
Much lobbying and questioning is taking place behind the scenes and through the Three Rivers Joint Residents’ Association (TRJRA) – where we are actively monitoring developments. The TRJRA has produced a leaflet which has been distributed Three Rivers wide as part of an attempt to get everyone to consider the overall position, rather than local partisan ones. Some elements of their leaflet are shown in the boxes below.
We want to see a plan based on:
TRJRA have had a recent meeting with both of our local MPs and the Housing Minister where support for the concerns of the TRJRA was recognised.
Did they listen?
It is Government Policy to protect and enhance the Green Belt
What else are we doing?
We are pressing our elected District councillors across TRDC to work together, cross party, to fight the housing target. In the past few weeks we’ve met with all the local political Parties. This work is progressing.
On the 6th of February this year Her Majesty The Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee – 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth.
There will be celebrations throughout the year with the four-day bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June marking the event for all.
https://www.royal.uk/platinumjubilee
The schedule of events can be found at https://platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events/ which shows an interactive map. These will include:
As well as local street parties and many other events.
Message from the Chairman
Dear Residents, this year we held our normal AGM on Thursday 26th May at 8.00 p.m. in the Community Hall in Broadfields Lane as usual, where, as used to be the case, there will be some wine and cheese! Doors will be open early to give time to read the reports. If you come, please be sure that you do not have Covid 19 and in the event that circumstances change we shall notify you via the web site or a note. There follows the announcement of some changes which will need the approval of the meeting.
Constitution
The last 2 years have shown that we can function virtually when necessary but looking to the future it is clear that, for instance, our banking arrangements need to change to take advantage of these new possibilities. We are therefore proposing some modification to our constitution to formalise these changes.
Rather than asking for your approval on a clause-by-clause basis we have taken the opportunity to restructure the document and are presenting it as a single new document for approval. Most of the content is unchanged and we shall explain the reasons for the few proposed changes in more detail on the evening.
Resignation of Chairman
The other change for the evening is to approve a revised committee. It is with some sadness that I have felt it necessary to resign as Chairman. I had thought that I might have a few more years left in me – subject, of course, to you re-electing me! Some 18 months ago I suffered a health setback which, whilst being successfully treated, has left me with an increased uncertainty for the future. In these circumstances I feel that it is the right time to step aside and let someone else take the Association forward. The proposed new arrangements are explained on page 4 & 5.
My involvement started within months of arriving on the estate in 1978. Having bought the house because of the garden I was approached by a ‘developer’ who wished to buy half my (as yet uncultivated) garden. A few weeks later a notice arrived for the AGM of the Residents’ Association, so Pam and I went along to find out what they were going to do. And, as the saying goes, the rest is history.
So, this element of self-interest has led me, along with my fellow committee members, as amateurs with no political mandate and no legal authority, to nag, question and lobby those who have these powers and authority not to make decisions which would harm our estate and the amenities which we enjoy. We have also tried to be the initiator of events and services which our membership can benefit from. I refer here to the social events, theatre visits and the children’s’ Summer playscheme which we organised. In the nagging and lobbying category are the numerous planning applications, both large and small, which we have taken part in including speaking and questioning developers at several Public Enquiries into planning applications which had been refused by the District Council, but which had been appealed. Much of the above happened while I was a committee member and then Treasurer. As Chairman, the success of which I am most proud is the establishing of the Conservation Area. I list all the above to pay tribute to the number of people who have done all the work in ensuring that these things happen. It all has been a genuine team enterprise and I would like to thank all the other members of the committee, road representatives and others for their commitment and support during my 25 years of chairmanship of OHRA.
David Hall
The Agenda will be as normal:
*These items will be covered by written reports which will be available to those who attend on the night and a summary will also be included in the post AGM Newsletter and on the website.
The existing committee is shown later in this newsletter. Any nominations (the name of the nominee and indicating two OHRA member sponsors) for the vacant committee position must be received in advance and these should be made by telephone or email.
The public consultation for the latest round of the local plan closed on August 20th. Your can see our most recent leaflet on this here.
Since then a press release has been issued by TRDC (see here). This says that following consideration of the numerous comments received there will be a further round of consultation before consideration by the planning inspectorate. So there are still several stages to go though, not even considering individual planning applications which will eventually arise.
We remain in touch with the Three Rivers wide Joint Residents Association and their actions in responding to the local plan.
We shall keep you informed of all developments as they arise.
With the current COVID 19 crisis there has been a reduction or suspension of much recycling collection.
On a brief general note our enquiries about recycling have uncovered that:
So the message is that we all need to get better at separating metal, electrical and electronic items if we are to improve things, including stripping metals and plastics off furniture we are getting rid of. This will not be done at the recycling centres and only contaminates the waste. Please be aware of what you throw away.
We make no apologies for repeating scam information as these continue unrelentingly. Now we even have people taking advantage of Coronovirus to attempt to scam people.
This is why we are keen to put known people in touch with each other as there are already cases of people being offered assistance and having money stolen from them and in the worst cases criminals’ once again getting access to your bank details.
Only deal with people you know or who have been made known to you through a trusted connection. With coronavirus scams already passing the £1 million mark and using the latest information from the BBC and ITV, watch out for:
On a broader note (courtesy of Martin Lewis) – facing the scam epidemic:
