More money for the Rose?
The Surrey Comet reports this week that the Rose theatre is now seeking funding of £600,000 a year from the Council for the next three years. This would be in addition to the loans etc. already made.
The Executive is due to discuss this request at its meeting on the 9th December, we believe. We should really like to know your views on this matter beforehand.
Diary dates
The next meeting of Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee is next Wednesday 12th November at 7.30 p.m.
The next Surbiton Hill Ward Surgery is on Saturday 15th November at the Small Hall Surbiton Library from 10.30 to 12 noon.
What’s in ‘Tolworth’?
Paul Johnston with irate residents
New street name plates have appeared in Mayfair Close and (it emerged this morning) in Ditton Road (opposite the ‘Maypole’) proclaiming these streets to be in Tolworth.
This follows a decision of the Tolworth Neighbourhood Committee in 2002, made weeks before Tolworth Neighbourhood ceased to exist, and endorsed by the new Executive in May of that year.
The Ditton Road sign appears in a place which was NEVER part of Tolworth in its history. It is part of the area covered by Southborough Residents’ Association, who are annoyed about the appearance of this sign. Paul Johnston met angry residents of Mayfair Close this morning with a ‘Surrey Comet’ photographer. The Comet is supporting Paul and residents in a bid to get their sign changed. He has also spoken to SRA about a letter of protest to the next meeting of the Neighbourhood Committee on 12th November.
The aim is to get the Neighbourhood Committee to pass a new resolution about the future nameplates for the roads which were once in Tolworth Neighbourhood but which have been in Surbiton and Surbiton Hill Ward for the past nearly seven years now. This will then be passed to Executive.
Paul said,’ We had a major row over the Council doing this to Herne Road a couple of years ago. It beggars belief that we are having to go over the same ground again that we explored so thoroughly then.’
Paul Johnston
Paul will be away until 11th November. Some of the time he may be contactable at pjjohnston55@googlemail.com. Otherwise would constituents please contact either Nick Kilby or Janet Bowen-Hitchings.
Trees in St. Matthew’s Avenue
In case residents are concerned at the felling of some street trees in St. Matthew’s Avenue today the explanation, from RBK’s arboricultural officer is as follows:-
Just a quick message to inform you of the removal of 3 large lime trees outside 35, 16 and opposite 21 St Matthew’s Avenue, Surbiton. The tree outside 16 has fungal brackets (Ganoderma spp) at the base . The three trees have extensive internal decay creating a void inside the trunk which makes them unstable. The upshot of this instability is either that the tree is blown over by strong winds or major bows of the tree break off. The three trees will be removed on Friday 24th of October.
Future of Surbiton Hospital in balance
The PCT has commissioned a report from McKinseys on the future of Surbiton Hospital. The Surrey Comet carries a report which you can read in abbreviated form on the above link.
We take the view that we should not comment on the report until we have had an opportunity to read it. However, as Paul Johnston told the Comet, “Our view is, as it has always been, that the Hospital should remain as a state of the art medical facility for the people of Surbiton. It may well combine other facilities on the same site. Alongside doctors’ surgeries could be other outpatient facilities and quite possibly some Council services could have a base there too. The PCT could perhaps move its offices onto the site to avoid having to pay for its present expensive offices on Hollyfield Road.”
Surbiton Forum 