Congratulations to Janet
Former councillor Janet Bowen-Hitchings, who served the ward loyally for 12 years will shortly be honoured by the Borough with the title of Honorary Alderman.
Janet stepped down at the 2010 election after serving as ward councillor, helping countless constituents and contributing considerable expertise in discussions on planning matters. She was particularly noted for ensuring that all new housing developments contained adequate and well constructed space for recycling facilities and amenity space for residents. In her early years she served as Chair of the Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee and the fact that it was nominally all Tory at the time did not ensure an easy ride for her. She was also Deputy Mayor of the Borough in 2004-5 and fulfilled very many engagements on behalf of the Borough with a nice balance of good humour and dignity.
We, her former colleagues and devoted friends, wish her well.
Congratulations and well deserved. We could do with her expertise now that CNM is planning to put a Tesco on the 2aEllerton Road site if they can convince Kingston to extend their permission which should have run out in December 20110.