The following has been issued as a joint statement from Elmbridge Borough Council and Thames Ditton Men in Sheds: Elmbridge Borough Council and Thames Ditton Men in Sheds have reluctantly decided to part company after 9 years as they have been unable to come to an agreement following many months of negotiation on both sides regarding the future terms of operation at the Thames Ditton Centre (Vital Village) Stay up-to-date on council and borough news through WhatsApp and our newsletter.  Join Elmbridge Borough Council’s WhatsApp  Sign up to the Elmbridge Borough Council newsletter Help improve this site by giving feedback Elmbridge Borough Council is introducing 30-minute free parking at the following 10 village car parks across the borough: residents and visitors can benefit from up to 3 hours free parking each week depending on the charging schedule of each car park Drewitts Court and Manor Road will continue to benefit from 30 free minutes every charging day Parking and Local Economy welcomes the introduction of the additional free parking: "Offering 30 minutes of free parking is a win-win for everyone - residents It makes it easier for people to pop in for quick errands or spontaneous shopping trips and it takes the stress out of finding and paying for parking This simple change can really boost our local economy by drawing more customers to our shops and services support for the Business Improvement Districts and local high streets and the introduction of 30minutes free parking all demonstrate our commitment to supporting a thriving local economy in Elmbridge.” We are continuing to invest in parks and recreation grounds to provide residents with increased opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. Outdoor play plays a significant role in children’s development and wellbeing but it is equally important for families to have access to modern and multi-use games facilities providing a wider variety of sports to enjoy Here are the projects we have delivered or will complete this spring: We are delighted that the new play area at Summer Road Recreation Ground in Thames Ditton is now open This exciting new play space was designed based on the feedback we received from families as part of last summer’s consultation We hope the children will have a fantastic time enjoying the new equipment with their friends and families Ongoing works are transforming the Hersham Recreation Ground basketball court into a multi-use games area to maximise the number of sports and activities that can be enjoyed on site works at the Long Ditton sports court will kick off in mid-April with the installation of a similar facility The well-loved outdoor gym in Long Ditton recreation ground will be replaced with calisthenics equipment in mid-April Works are on tracks with the new eco-friendly splash pad in Churchfields recreation ground in Weybridge to open in May 2025 This interactive play facility is designed for both fun and sustainability While guaranteeing hours of fun in the summer it will be also be more efficient in terms of water and energy usage with a recirculating water system and solar panels to minimise carbon footprint.  Planning to spend more time outdoors this spring and summer? Visit our parks, play areas and green spaces directory to find further updates about the play area refurbishment programme we are excited to continue our play area refurbishment programme this autumn ensuring children and families have access to fun and Hersham play areas will all enjoy these fantastic upgrades: Most work will start week commencing 7 October with Grovelands Recreation Ground already started Weather permitting the new play equipment will be ready for use in early November and provide children and families with even more reasons to explore and have fun in their local parks emphasises our commitment to play area enhancements.  “We know how important play areas are to young people and families in the local community We have based our choice of new equipment on their feedback and are planning to continue to get them involved in future refurbishment initiatives Their views are important to make sure we offer the right play spaces to local communities in the future We appreciate their patience while works are taking place and hope that children will enjoy exploring the exciting new play facilities this autumn and throughout the year” Our plans for improving play areas in the Elmbridge will continue beyond autumn The basketball courts at Hersham and Long Ditton Recreation Grounds will be refurbished and the existing fitness area in Long Ditton will be replaced with callisthenics equipment A new play area for Summer Road in Thames Ditton We have heard from residents in Thames Ditton this summer to gather their views on preferred play equipment the next stage of consultation to come out at the end of October will focus on presenting design options in line with their wishlist so we can deliver a brand new play space in the course of 2025 Visit our parks, play areas and green spaces directory to find further updates about the play area refurbishment programme This is a national opportunity to remember the service and sacrifice of all those that have defended our freedoms and protected our way of life In Elmbridge Remembrance parades with road closures are due to take place on Sunday 10 November in At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month – we will remember them To this day we mark Armistice Day (the Armistice: an agreement to end the fighting of the First World War as a prelude to peace negotiations) around the United Kingdom with a two minute silence at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month Visit the Royal British Legion poppy shop. The most wonderful time of the year is on the way there is always so much happening in Elmbridge and we’re here to provide you with a handy guide.  Due to high winds and rain some of these events have been impacted Please find the update on the relevant Facebook pages Christmas is always a truly magical time in Elmbridge; with a variety of events on offer for all the family Walton Festival of Light 2024 will include a Christmas market performances from local schools and community groups and the light procession leading to the ‘Town Tree’ switch on A full schedule of live music including some very special stars Both on the main stage and dotted around the village.  who starred as Elsa in the West End's 'Frozen' musical Santa's Grotto like you've never seen before - the big man himself will be setting up in the coolest location on our high street Thursday 28 November from 5pm join the fun for music If you would like us to give your Christmas event a shout out on social media, please tag @elmbridgebc on Instagram Love Sustainable Elmbridge at Christmas  Our commitment to a Sustainable Elmbridge is stronger than ever at Christmas and we always recommend planning for a sustainable Christmas where possible This may involve choosing recyclable wrapping paper and cards or shopping at eco-friendly refill stores or for second-hand items at charity shops We also encourage our residents to shop local to embrace our small businesses and avoid driving long distances that can produce harmful emissions.  We suggest taking advantage of the below local Christmas markets: Christmas lights switch on week commencing 25 November We will begin the Christmas season with the switching on of the lights across Elmbridge high streets in East Molesey As sustainability is embedded within all we do the Christmas lights are LED and are on set timers to only be on from 6am to 9am and then from dusk until midnight each day There are some temporary changes to bin collections over the Christmas/New Year period. Residents will need to present their bins on a different day than usual Please present your bins at the edge of your property by 6am on your revised collection day Please see below to check your revised collection dates collections will return back to normal and bins should be presented on your usual collection day Should bad weather disrupt collections over the festive period please keep your refuse/recycling bins out We will try to collect any missed bins as soon as we can 1st Weston Green Scouts are running their volunteer Charity Christmas Tree Collection in Elmbridge. For £10 (£15 for a large tree) they can collect and recycle trees from Esher, Molesey, Thames Ditton, Hinchley Wood, and Molesey. To book, visit the Collect my Tree website.  You can also recycle your real tree at Garsons in Esher where they will be collected and recycled as garden waste Take your tree on or before Saturday 11 January (no later than 4pm) we're taking steps to reduce our environmental footprint by moving our waste collection calendar online printed guides will no longer be available for residents Please only put recyclable items into your recycling bin otherwise the entire lorry could be rejected and not recycled The club in Portsmouth Road was founded in 1892 and is one of the oldest golf clubs in the UK Bosses there say they are reeling following a number of incidents A picture of an anti-Semitic slogan carved into one of the bunkers has also been shown to Radio Jackie News The club is calling on patrons and nearby residents to be extra vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour to the police meaning it isn’t possible for the site to be monitored by CCTV or protected by fencing “Waking up to find our cherished course vandalised has sent shock waves through the club This mindless vandalism doesn’t just affect our golfers but the thousands of people who walk their dog We are urging residents to help by remaining vigilant and any information that helps lead to prosecution will earn a year’s free membership or a pizza a month at the club house restaurant as a thank you.” He’s spoken with Jackie’s Lucy Mayer “The club and the team take deep pride in caring for the common land for the enjoyment of all and it beggars’ belief why someone would do this our community can help send a clear message to these individuals and hopefully lead to prosecution “Enquiries remain ongoing following reports of criminal damage at Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club Neighbourhood officers visited the club last Tuesday after we received reports that a swastika had been carved into one of the greens overnight on the 15th of February including checking CCTV footage from the area and speaking to people in neighbouring properties We have also increased our patrols in the area to deter further offences and to provide reassurance to the local community Elmbridge Borough Council has also been made aware of the incident It is believed that two dirt bikes may have entered the premises and caused damage on previous occasions These included reports of dirt bikes entering the premises and causing damage on the 11th of January 2025 and two reports in November 2024 there is no description or number plate of any of the vehicles or those involved If you can help us identify those involved or provide any other information which would help us progress our enquiries please contact us quoting crime ref PR/45250018945 you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.” Club volunteers have been left ‘demoralised’ by repeated acts of vandalism News A golf club frequented by Anton Du Beke and the late Eric Morecambe has been plagued by a spate of vandalism, with motorbikes tearing up the course and culprits carving a Nazi symbol Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club in Surrey stands as one of Britain's oldest golf clubs and a cornerstone of the local community Members have been left shocked and distressed by the recent incidents including Wimbledon Golf Club and Old Cranleighans have also fallen victim to what appears to be the same group raising alarm about this wave of destructive behaviour The club has urged local residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police general manager of Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club we'd have problems with these dirt bikes going on the golf course and using it as a race track making marks on the grass which appeared to be very deliberate." after an initial spate of vandalism last spring and summer there were a few months of relative quiet until the anti-social activity resumed Since October, the site has been targeted around eight times and the trespassers appear to be escalating their activity, with a Nazi swastika carved into the green last Saturday The offensive insignia was spotted by dog walkers and the club has had to handle complaints about it from the public Mr Rodbard said: "The Nazi symbol is completely different to what we've had before It's shored up a lot of interest on social media and it's an accumulation of everything that's been building up since last year "We have reported each and every incident to the police and council but generally speaking it does always end up being the same type of response and the case closes after a couple of days There's not a whole lot you can do to fix the damage because the grass isn't growing We tried to cover up the Nazi symbol with some soil but the next day it was very visible.” The golf club resides on ancient common land Pipers to count down to 80th anniversary of VE Day with 80 days of piping Nazi salute protester among eight arrested during pro-Palestine march Don’t miss this free immersive light experience at Westfield London The green space is cherished by a wide range of people—not just golfers and residents who visit for fresh air and recreation the continued damage is making it increasingly difficult to preserve the area The club has contacted local MP Monica Harding to seek urgent assistance with both the Police and Elmbridge Borough Council unable to provide resources to help identify those responsible and a lot of what we do is led by volunteers "The police have suggested trying to close off the routes to the green but of course it's a community space on common land We're asking the public to help us put a stop to this." Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints The summer looks fun and bright for children in Elmbridge.  We are thrilled refurbishment works have been completed in West Molesey Recreation Ground and Molesey Hurst play areas just before the school holiday started and children are now making the most of the long summer days having fun with friends at the play spaces they helped to design as part of last year’s consultation.  These refurbished / replacement play areas are the latest additions to our 2022-2027 refurbishment programme we recognise the importance of outdoor play for children’s development and wellbeing and we want to make sure our play areas deliver a good and fun experience for visitors we welcome and take community views into account before we design our play spaces said: “It is great to see the new play areas come to life with input from families to create safe but exciting spaces for the children We believe play is crucial to build active and healthy communities We hope that the play areas will be enjoyed for many years to come.” We prioritised the order for refurbishment based on play areas most in need of renewal and on an independent RoSPA* inspection report The £419,000 refurbishment costs are met by funding from the strategic Community Infrastructure Levy funding programme and some of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.  For more information about the play refurbishment programme, please email greenspaces@elmbridge.gov.uk RoSPA*: The Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents Receive our news on WhatsApp It’s the latest in a lengthy spate of vandalism on the ancient golf course has been fending off people riding motorbikes on the course for almost a year now But that’s nothing compared to what awaited staff when they arrived at work on Sunday morning A Nazi swastika carved into one of the greens During an appearance on GB News said the problems have been going on “for about 10 months or so now but it’s got a lot worse over the winter time” but nothing that we have discerned as a symbol that we would see “Certainly nothing as shocking as the Nazi symbol.” Speaking to The Standard we’d have problems with these dirt bikes going on the golf course and using it as a race track making marks on the grass which appeared to be very deliberate “The Nazi symbol is completely different to what we’ve had before “It’s shored up a lot of interest on social media and it’s an accumulation of everything that’s been building up since last year “We have reported each and every incident to the police and council but generally speaking it does always end up being the same type of response and the case closes after a couple of days.” it is not possible for CCTV to be installed or for a protective fence to be built around it the area is enjoyed by the local community and it was an early-morning dog walker who first discovered the latest act of vandalism who also noted that golf clubs in nearby Wimbledon have also been targeted by vandals “The police have suggested trying to close off the routes to the green but of course it’s a community space on common land We’re asking the public to help us put a stop to this.” If you have any information that might help Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club, you can contact the club directly Alex has been in the golf industry since 2007 and has helped shape a number of publications in that time He joined Today’s Golfer in January 2025 to lead the brand’s news division. He is a keen golfer who claims to play off 12 and enjoys traveling the world to try new courses and Royal Portrush – with special mentions for Okehampton and Bude & North Cornwall where he first fell in love with the game. He uses a combination of Ping and once bought the Nike SQ driver which he absolutely did not immediately regret By Alex Perry Thames Ditton Island’s 48 houses are home to a close-knit community of water-loving residents Homes & Property | Property News renting and decorating in London from our award-winning experts I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice Thames Ditton Island —known to locals as “The Island”— was created by King Henry VIII who widened and straightened the Thames to expedite his passage from Hampton Court Palace to Westminster particularly amongst Edwardian pleasure-seekers it is home to a “diverse set of residents including CEOs technologists and creatives,” according to the island’s website The island, which purports to be “a brand in its own right”, is managed by its close-knit community of residents, and holds a number of annual island events, such as “Duck Race day”, which features a homemade raft race and a Christmas meal “As you would expect there is a strong sense of community with everyone happy to both have their privacy but also to pitch in and help each other whenever it’s needed,” reads the website boats and island life attracts a healthy mix of people.” the property for sale is raised above the riverside Covering 1,617 square feet over two floors the house’s entire ground floor is occupied by an open plan kitchen with bi-fold doors leading to the south-facing patio garden on the water’s edge landscaped garden at the front of the house also containing a 117 square foot summer house has been recently refurbished inside and out to maximise its “spellbinding” river views and to be “enjoyed in every season” “Homes on Thames Ditton Island are extremely sought-after offering waterfront living just moments from one of Surrey’s prettiest village high streets “The winter months are just as magical as summer with the heated pagoda and log-burning stove in the spectacular open-plan living area plus the ultimate boatie’s perks: a large private mooring and newly built pontoon.” Given the house’s proximity to the capital — trains to Waterloo from Thames Ditton, half a mile away, take 35 minutes, or 16 from nearby Surbiton — the agents believe the property is likely to attract a London buyer in search of a quieter life “It's true to say living on an island is different to a nice semi with a driveway,” reads Thames Ditton Island’s website Every morning and every evening there is a river view with some of the best sunrises and sunsets in the country as the sky and the river change colour simultaneously.” Why this London couple is LAT (Living Apart Together) Church conversion flat opposite Abbey Road Studios for sale Unsold for five years: the inside story of Heathfield House 27 February: The February Elmbridge Borough Council meeting agreed the balanced budget as presented Supporting and enhancing the lives of our residents is the cornerstone of the draft 2025/2026 Elmbridge Borough Council budget being presented to Cabinet on 5 February This budget not only delivers valued services but also prioritises residents through community investment secures funding for our net zero ambitions It underscores our commitment to addressing the needs of our community and listening to our residents Our 2030 Vision has set us on a path to a sustainable and thriving Elmbridge Prudent financial planning and budgeting support that Vision enabling us to achieve for the Elmbridge community as set out in some of the examples below: we are acutely aware of the savings and prioritisation we need to make to retain our financial stability The best interests of our residents are always top of mind Our administration has successfully achieved a balanced budget through prudent financial decisions without using reserves* for ongoing expenditure. This is particularly significant in light of the financial reductions imposed by the government which not only assume council tax increases but have also made effective financial management even more challenging Elmbridge takes immense pride in our parks recognising the need for ongoing investment in 2024/2025 we undertook £200,000 worth of significant improvements at 14 play areas refurbishing or replacing play equipment such as zip lines Our commitment continues this year with upcoming enhancements to the basketball courts at Hersham Recreation Ground and Long Ditton and a complete play area refit at Summer Road Recreation Ground we are introducing a new sustainable water play facility at Churchfields Recreation Ground in Weybridge Residents will also notice new signage around our green spaces.  and we are dedicated to investing in them to ensure they remain cherished by all When we spoke with our residents last year 83% expressed satisfaction with their local area and felt a strong sense of belonging 27% voiced concerns about litter on our streets we have launched an extensive bin replacement programme across the borough and invested £250,000 in improvements to our services we are leveraging Elmbridge community spirit and the outstanding efforts of our local In Bloom groups who enhance our towns and villages with vibrant floral displays we are increasing their funding to further beautify our borough and promote community pride Community groups and the voluntary sector in Elmbridge are essential lifelines for our residents offering critical support through foodbanks They deserve our unwavering support and financial assistance.  we have ensured that vital local community groups which provides weekly meal kits with prepared ingredients and dyslexia-friendly recipe cards to families at risk of food insecurity a baby bank supporting families with the practical items needed to raise children, can continue their invaluable work.  we have secured and invested over £4.2 million in climate change projects in Elmbridge demonstrating our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability we will further our efforts by expanding the electric vehicle charge points (EVC) programme across the borough Building on the work we began in 2023/2024; we are committed to expanding support to more people in need within our community this year. While our current services assist 2% of the Elmbridge population we recognise that at least 9% of residents require additional help.  we believe we can extend our reach and support more community members We are actively collaborating with community partners and will also host resident workshops in February we will present proposals aimed at expanding community support in a financially sustainable manner ensuring our residents know we are here to support them While 54% of our residents surveyed last year feel the council keeps them well informed Our success hinges on the power of community collaboration we actively engaged with our residents to understand what they love about their area and the value they place on parks and green spaces We listened to your concerns about development and planning applications and the importance of preserving our cherished community spaces we will continue to build on this foundation of collaboration with the communities of Claygate following the engagement work from last year.  Last year, we introduced a council-wide engagement framework designed to increase our presence throughout the borough from community festivals to schools and community halls We are committed to meaningful engagement that fosters collaboration with our community to enhance and sustain the services that matter most in Elmbridge To kick off this initiative, we are hosting a series of events around the borough from the end of January through March. Details are available on our website, and we look forward to seeing you at these events.  Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation are progressing at pace and we are dedicated to working with all Surrey districts and boroughs to achieve the best possible outcomes for our residents We aim to enhance local government efficiency and continue providing value-for-money services.  Our 2025/2026 budget allocates funding to support Elmbridge's contributions to Surrey's proposal we remain committed to acting in the best interests of our residents ensuring continued investment in our borough and demonstrating strong stewardship of Elmbridge through Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation We are committed to providing cost of living financial support and civic pride projects underscore our dedication to our 2030 Vision for a thriving and sustainable Elmbridge This budget reflects our unwavering resolve to enhance the quality of life for all residents and ensure a bright future for our community At the upcoming Leader and Deputy Leader events in your area we look forward to discussing these themes with you and listening to your thoughts and views.  This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page News & Views from Kingston and Surrounds South Western Railway (SWR) services will experience significant disruptions across the network due to planned engineering work in Wimbledon on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January.  Long-distance services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, Portsmouth Harbour, and Weymouth will also be revised and diverted adding approximately 30 minutes to journey times.  Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director, acknowledged the inconvenience and said: “We’ve worked hard to find the least disruptive window to deliver these essential engineering works.”  completing the upgrades back-to-back is the most efficient and cost-effective option for the taxpayer.”  Rail replacement buses will operate between Clapham Junction and various destinations such as Surbiton via Kingston Hampton Court via Surbiton and Twickenham via Kingston on specific dates local Barrie Ellis from West Tolworth criticised the reliance on buses saying: “They are unable to take wheelchairs Why use single-deck buses when proper coaches have space underneath for these items?” Network Rail engineers have been upgrading 800m of track ballast and sleepers between Wimbledon and Earlsfield during January along with replacing points and installing 100m of conductor rail to enhance track reliability and reduce faults A Network Rail spokesperson told the Kingston Courier: “This project has a budget of £2m Every time Network Rail takes possession of a line we look to do the maximum amount of work to ensure the best value for money for taxpayers and passengers.”  shared her mixed feelings about the ongoing engineering works as she was forced to cancel her plans as a result of the disruptions and weather conditions she acknowledged the necessity of these works adding: “I’m sure if we didn’t have these engineering works things would get worse and we would have more trains being taken out of service and general disruption.” shared her concerns about the replacement bus services from Surbiton to Wimbledon at 8am on Saturday 18 January saying that it did not arrive until 9.20am Commuters can plan their journeys in advance at southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey You must be logged in to post a comment Email us!  For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 05:06 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 it will turn increasingly cloudy from off the North Sea Some bright or sunny spells developing by evening Staying dry with some lengthy clear skies overnight Turning chilly with a touch of grass frost in places Largely dry with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells on Wednesday with variable amounts of cloud and bright or sunny spells throughout the period Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average April 2024: Vital Village at the Thames Ditton Centre The Thames Ditton Centre for the Community is now being managed by the Vital Village Community Interest Company whose goal is to create a vibrant and sustainable community hub with engagement from the local community.  More information on Vital Village and hiring the centre 19 March: Moving forward with the community hub at Thames Ditton   We are delighted to move forward with the community hub at the Thames Ditton Centre Laura and her team at Vital Village will play a huge part in community life before long In supporting Vital Village at Thames Ditton Elmbridge Borough Council is enabling the development of a vibrant We will retain ownership of the building and we are investing up to £130,000 to support the success of this new community hub a board of directors will be appointed by Laura to provide guidance strategic advice to Vital Village’s management The Board will include at least one local ward Councillor We have a positive vision for community services in Elmbridge which will strengthen the support provided to the community Working with our partners and the community we are ensuring we have the most appropriate support in place to meet the needs of the community now and the future Vital Village is contacting existing hirers and Centre users to bring them into the Vital Village family from April 2024 More information on Vital Village. 15 March update: Go-ahead granted for a vibrant sustainable and inclusive community hub at the Thames Ditton Centre it was decided that no further action is to be taken in which case Cabinet’s decision can be implemented without further consideration or delay sustainable and inclusive community hub at the Thames Ditton Centre will go ahead 28 February update: Decision to create a community hub at the Thames Ditton Centre has been ‘called-in’.  The Committee has three options available for decision This call-in decision does not impact the relocation of Dementia Services to the Claygate Centre Further information on the procedure can be found in Elmbridge Borough Council’s Constitution. inclusive and sustainable community hub in Thames Ditton Our overarching aim is to support our residents, especially our more vulnerable residents. To enable this, we have developed the ‘Elmbridge Connects strategy’ This is a positive vision for community services which will strengthen the network of support we are able to provide through a collaboration of council all with the common goal to help the Elmbridge community Our strategy will connect people and provide support across the generations It also sets out that we will engage with the community to enable the delivery of the community services they need Elmbridge Cabinet agreed to lease the Thames Ditton Community Centre to Vital Village a community interest company founded by a local resident As a Community Interest Company the goal of Vital Village is to create a vibrant inclusive and sustainable community hub that serves as the heart of the local community It wants to adopt a holistic approach to community health and wellbeing encompassing not only physical but mental health and understanding that personal wellbeing goes hand in hand with a healthy and sustainable planet Vital Village will coordinate a varied programme of activities and events that will be primarily based on community needs (to be established through community engagement) The programme might include initiatives such as fitness and exercise programmes recycling programmes and community gatherings To explore the potential for what could be achieved in Thames Ditton we engaged with the Health Creation Alliance the leading national cross-sector movement addressing health inequalities  The team at Health Creation Alliance facilitated a series of workshops with representatives from the voluntary and community sector we were approached by a local resident wanting to set up a community interest company to take over the management of the Thames Ditton centre and run a community wellbeing and sustainability hub a third workshop was convened in early December 2023 to explore the value and benefit of this offer It reflected on the aspirations to move from a good to a great community centre and provided a forum to explore community questions and concerns the premise of the Community Interest Company - Vital Village - was supported and recognised as having the potential to increase both the number of activities on offer to the community and usage of the building How would Vital Village be supported to succeed What about Dementia Services based at them Thames Ditton Centre Hirers were reassured of their value and that there would always be a place for them at the Thames Ditton Centre Petition against changes to the Thames Ditton Centre There is a strong feeling among some in the Thames Ditton community that we should continue the management and running of the Thames Ditton Centre in order to secure future services for the wellbeing of the community As a council our focus is on how we can best work together to secure the outcomes implicit in our Elmbridge Connects project We have a central role to play as a convenor The council will continue to own the building and have oversight of how the community is served We believe this collaboration with Vital Village will be better for residents The council will retain ownership of the building and will work in partnership with Vital Village The collaboration will increase the number of activities and variety of support available to residents This will secure the future of the Thames Ditton Centre we will invest up to £130,000 to support the success of this new community hub established by Vital Village at the Thames Ditton Centre which will in turn benefit so many in the local community Vital Village will be monitored by a board of directors who will be appointed on their ability to provide guidance strategic advice and oversight to Vital Village’s management Establishing measurable performance indicators will also be important in supporting success user satisfaction scores plus financial sustainability We will use these to ensure Vital Village delivers the increased services Continuity of care for Dementia Services based at the Thames Ditton CentreProviding dementia services is a key priority for us We aim to provide best in class dementia services; therefore carers and family members can be re-assured that the Vital Village offering will not adversely impact this important service we will ensure continuity of care at all times We are currently considering appropriate accommodation for Dementia Services which is at least as good as the facilities provided at Thames Ditton We fully recognise the importance of ensuring that if Dementia Services does move to a new location it will be a fit for purpose environment which continues to benefit our clients and carers A positive vision for community servicesWe want to reiterate that we have a positive vision – expressed in our Elmbridge Connects strategy - which will strengthen the support provided to the community Watch the February Cabinet on webcast February Cabinet Agenda We have written to our Dementia Services clients and carers to update them on their service and to reinforce the continuity of care they will receive you will see some council communications about Vital Village and its involvement in the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community This is based on a report being taken to Elmbridge Cabinet on 7 February We will of course send you this communications when it is available but importantly we want to reassure you that the Dementia Services we offer will not be lessened by the Vital Village proposals for the Thames Ditton Centre We will continue to provide the best care for those living with dementia We are currently considering appropriate accommodation for Dementia Services which is at least as good as the facilities provided Thames Ditton We hope to provide a further update very soon We are grateful for your support and if you have any queries, please contact us through dementiaservices@elmbridge.gov.uk  Following the third facilitated session on the future of the Thames Ditton Centre we are working through the feedback and actions and assessing the options we have to ensure the Centre supports the local community We expect that to happen over the next few months is hiring the Thames Ditton Centre and inviting residents to come along and hear more about what they do This is not a council event and is not related to the final decision on the Centre It is an opportunity for local residents to find out more about Vital Village Throughout the discussions around the future use of Thames Ditton Centre for the Community we have collaborated with local community partners and always sought to be open and transparent about our aims and actions We have confirmed that the existing groups eg Men in Sheds and Boomerang Bags are valued within the community and will be accommodated within any future proposals To date we have held two facilitated workshops to explore what a ‘great’ community centre looks like A third facilitated session will now be held in December This will reconvene the partners and community stakeholders from the previous two sessions for a further discussion about the potential future use of the Centre The East Elmbridge Primary Care Network and the potential community-led opportunity for the Centre will also both be invited to attend We will report back on the next steps from that meeting in the New Year We want to restate that we are open to listening to all views and that while no decision has been made the intent from all involved is to serve the community in the best way possible We continue to work on the future use of the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community Our discussions with the East Elmbridge Primary Care Network (covering Thames Ditton East and West Molesey) are ongoing and we have been approached about a complementary potential community-led opportunity for the Centre one that would also be aligned with our aim to support those most in need in Thames Ditton and the surrounding area When further work and due diligence has been undertaken we will update you further and host a presentation at the Centre In June we said we would update you in the weeks ahead on the future use of the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community Our apologies for the delayed response.  We reiterate that no decision has been made and that our aim remains to support those most in need in Thames Ditton and the surrounding area. We are continuing our discussions with the East Elmbridge Primary Care Network (covering Thames Ditton albeit those discussions have been delayed slightly over the summer period We will update you further when we are approaching a meaningful solution In addition, while the discussions are underway, we regret that it is not possible to enter into agreements for regular, repeating, long-term hires although short-term and one-off hires may still be possible. Please see Centres for hire for more information We want to be clear about our thinking around the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community Residents may be aware that we have been engaging with the local community in Thames Ditton to explore how we can ensure the Centre for the Community at Mercer Close has a sustainable model for the future while ensuring existing Centre users continue to benefit from the Centre.  We have consulted with community groups to identify how best we ensure the Thames Ditton Centre can meet the needs of many more people in the community those consultations and discussions are leading us towards a number of options including supporting community health and wellbeing with the East Elmbridge Primary Care Network (covering Thames Ditton recognising that the best way to deal with many health issues is to prevent them occurring in the first place.  No decisions have yet been made – we are still at the early stages - but ultimately we are determined to support those most in need in Thames Ditton and the surrounding area We will provide a further update in the coming weeks Sign up to receive Elmbridge News 'I've never seen such hateful rage' - Jewish memorial VANDALISED by Brighton man A Surrey golf club frequented by Strictly legend Anton Du Beke has been vandalised after yobs carved a Nazi symbol onto the course and tore up the fairways with motorbikes Known for being one of the oldest clubs in Britain the vandalism at Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club has left the local community "shocked" and "distressed" Nearby clubs - such as Wimbledon Golf Club and Old Cranleighans - have been targeted in a similar way Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club said: "Waking up to find our cherished course vandalised has sent shock waves through the club "This mindless vandalism doesn’t just affect our golfers or enjoy the common land every week." He further urged locals to remain vigilant and provide any further information to support prosecution Thames Ditton and Esher Golf Club said: "The club and the team take deep pride in caring for the common land for the enjoyment of all and the green given time to recover." Since the golf club is located on ancient common land it is unable to have CCTV monitoring or protective fencing which can be found at private clubs the land is enjoyed by swathes of the community - including students dog walkers and those out and about for fresh air - and is maintained by those working at the club the club has appealed to its local MP Monica Harding to seek immediate support Rodbard has added that anyone who could provide information that might help lead to a prosecution will be rewarded with a year's free membership or a pizza a month at the club house restaurant "as a thank you" The incident took place just under a month after a trio of quad bike-riding vandals wreaked havoc on one of England's top-ranked golf courses - leaving a £100,000-valued trail of destruction in their wake footage emerged from Thorndon Park Golf Club in Brentwood of three masked riders on two bikes riding roughshod over prestigious green The perpetrators left significant portions of the course unplayable after performing "doughnut spins" on the greens sending chunks of turf flying into the air A statement on social media by the keepers on Tuesday read: "Let's talk facts Two quad bikes got onto the course on Sunday afternoon and decided to do their best to destroy six of our greens and a number of tees "Devastated doesn't even cover it and we will have it back as soon as possible." We recently updated on our plans for community care in Elmbridge. Included within that we explained that we will continue to run our excellent dementia services and that this service will relocate from Thames Ditton to another Elmbridge building We also said that we would engage with the local community to consider future options for the Thames Ditton Centre We understand there are some questions among residents and businesses about the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community and its role in local community life we would like to reassure that the relocation of dementia services will take time and that we will discuss and consult with the community and ward Councillors on the future use of the Centre There are examples around the borough such as Vine Hall in Molesey and the Lower Green Centre where community groups have successfully taken over the running of halls and centres and made them real community hubs – run by the community for the community we expect to come out to the community in the coming months seeking views and proposals we will continue to update you on our aspirations for community care in Elmbridge as we work to connect our community and help improve the lives of our most vulnerable residents Portfolio Holder for Community CareFebruary 2023 Home > News > Marsh Wall directors hail ‘another successful year of trading’ despite profit slump News Franchised car dealership chain Marsh Wall suffered a pre-tax profit slump of almost 43% last year on turnover that went up by nearly 8% According to its newly published accounts for the year ended December 31, 2023, the Car Dealer Top 100 firm which holds the franchises for BMW and Mini and uses the trading name of Berry and Berry Group saw revenue increase from £383.156m to £412.999m profit before tax went down from £12.035m to £6.88m Ebitda sank by 23.8% from £13.146m to £10.021m signed on behalf of the board by director Wayne Berry Marsh Wall hailed 2023 as ‘another successful year of trading’ adding that the increase in turnover showed ‘the success of the consolidation of the group’ the board noted the economic downturn – in particular the rise in the cost of living as well as interest rate increases Directors’ remuneration went up from £250,834 to £333,574 with the highest-paid director receiving £179,318 – up from £143,486 Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £1.5m but the directors didn’t recommend paying a final dividend The average number of employees at the company the board said: ‘The company focus in 2023 was to continue to consolidate the business and rationalise process following the rapid growth of the previous years ‘The successful opening of the approved repair and select used car outlet at Banstead further adds to the representation of the company This site is known as “Berry Banstead” and “Berry Select Cars” The 2023 profit result was above budget.’ the directors said: ‘Trading in 2024 started well as the company took decisions in late 2023 to deal with overpriced used cars due to the falling market values ‘This allowed the company to start the year strong and is expected to continue strong and meet budget levels set ‘There are some new vehicle supply issues but we expect these to be overcome by the second half of the year ‘Our aftersales departments will continue to perform strongly given the high demand in the inner M25 We expect results to be in line with our budgeted profit predictions for 2024.’ They added: ‘The group intends to extend its investment in solar panel technology and will begin phase two of the project with the new freeholds at Banstead and Chiswick and Thames Ditton in 2024/5.’ Pictured at top via Google Street View is the Berry BMW showroom in Thames Ditton John has been with Car Dealer since 2013 after spending 25 years in the newspaper industry as a reporter then a sub-editor/assistant chief sub-editor on regional and national titles John is chief sub-editor in the editorial department Doannee House not only offers six bedrooms and 8,000sq ft of space but also frontage to the River Thames and easy access to some of the nation's best restaurants This is likely my subconscious trying to tell me something but I’ve found another house with water frontage on the River Thames and I am yet again compelled to write about it it will likely wear off sooner rather than later and be replaced by something else To the exclusive shores of the Fisheries in Maidenhead, where Hampton have, for £6.75 million, the magnificent Doannee House. It has six bedrooms The property was originally built in the early 20th century in the Tudor Revival style and has since been modernised and refurbished to create a family home of the highest quality and an enormous principal bedroom suite (with riverside views the gardens are principally set to the rear of the property and lead down towards the river An al fresco dining area and seating area dissolves into areas of manicured lawn the property has not flooded in 20 years and this part of the river is not tidal so you can quite literally jump into the river for a swim if you felt like it for the property offers not only a landing space next to the lawn but also a glorious ‘wet’ boathouse it is a short drive/steam/sail/etc down to either Bray or Maidenhead or the infinite other amenities that inhabit this fabled stretch of England’s most famous river.  Doannee House is for sale with Hamptons for £6.75 million. For more information and pictures, click here The beautiful Lea Hurst has gorgeous views delightful rooms and a fascinating history The River Haven in Thames Ditton might just be the best place in London to sit and watch the world You probably didn't have it on your 'must have' list but Bussockwood Estate's USP is a great talking point — and An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for James FisherDeputy Digital EditorJames Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life The weekly activities programme for all the Centres is available below:  Activities are subject to late notice changes Opening arrangements for the Bank Holiday week of 27 May - 31 May We are sorry to say that we will have some temporary Centre closures during the week of 27 May there are staff shortages which means that some of our Centres will not be open as follows: We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding We are doing this as we always need to ensure our Centres can operate safely at all times.  While we are actively working to address staffing levels at our Centres and have put in additional resources to allow us to provide a safe and fulfilling service for our Centre users a reduced service may be necessary at times.  Thank you for your patience and continued support during this temporary disruption Centres to open four days a week from Monday 29 April Over the past few months our Community Services Team has been working hard to work through the health and safety concerns which required us to temporarily reduce the service at our Centres for the Community.  We are now pleased to be able to announce the following: As part of our commitment to building back Centre services safely we have put in additional resources (£431,000 over 18months) and safety procedures  This will provide the staffing levels to embed the best health and safety practice across our Centre services if not exceed these standards in all our Centres for the Community as we gear up for the future, there may be times when we cannot open a Centre safely or provide Centre lunches due to staffing levels on these occasions we will inform our Centre users as soon as possible and arrange for those who use Community Transport to be taken another Centre We look forward to continuing our support for older and vulnerable people at our Centres for the Community The weekly activities programme for all the Centres is available below: A warm welcome awaits you at our Centres for the Community Monday 18 March: Weybridge Centre open  The Weybridge Centre for the Community is open today between 10am and 3pm the car park at Churchfield Rd is closed.  Centre members can continue to access the Weybridge Centre today The nearest alternative car park is Baker Street For those hiring the Weybridge Centre today please inform your customers of the Churchfield Rd car park closure 14 March: Elmbridge Centres for the Community | Investing in building back safely The March Elmbridge Cabinet has agreed a budget request of £431,000 to support the building back safely plan for the Centres of the Community In the last few months our primary focus has been our determination to offer Elmbridge residents safe and robust community services from the Centres for the Community We know this is a valued service providing support socalisation and enjoyment to our users and we have been working to provide that service in the safest and most stable way possible More employees needed to run a safe service we are resolving the fundamental issue of resourcing at our Centres and the implications that has on the safety and stability of the day services we provide For our Centres to run safely and effectively we need enough employees to run the centres on a day-to-day basis plus those to cover annual leave we also need to continue to build on our programme of training for Centre employees as well as develop the processes and systems that keep the Centres operating safely and effectively This additional budget will support two full time Duty Supervisor posts and four full time Centre Assistant posts which will be required for an 18-month period These extra resources will ensure each Centre has sufficient employees on site not only to provide valued services safely but also to cover absent colleagues and to enable continued training and service improvements The extra resources are required on a temporary basis of 18 months During the 18-month period current resources will be reviewed to ensure they are distributed to meet service needs.  Our priority remains the reopening of the Centres for the Community four days a week by the end of April / early May To do so we have reallocated a significant number of officers from across the council to work with the Community Services team bringing in their experience and expertise to support colleagues and to rebuild the day services so valued by our Centre users To open our Centres for the Community safely four days a week we need to invest extra financial resources to embed the necessary change For our Thames Ditton Centre, we have not been delivering a day centre service in Thames Ditton for almost a year due to lack of demand and we are in the process of working with a local group to take it over as a community hub Our actions in recent months have caused worry and distress for our Centre users and we apologise for that Please know that as a responsible authority We are committed to reopening the Centres and service provision in a safe and robust way We are also committed to understanding why and how the situation developed that warranted the temporary closing the Centres and subsequent service reduction and act on them so this experience can never recur That is why we have put in place a robust Health and Safety review process We have recently agreed the borough's 2024/25 budget A budget which prioritises residents through quality service delivery and a robust Vision for a sustainable and thriving Elmbridge.  We did not include this financial request in the 2024/25 budget report as this is a fixed term budget request which should be drawn from our strategic reserve.  We have also been working at pace to gather the necessary data and information to establish the correct investment figure for our Centres and we have brought it forward to Cabinet at the earliest opportunity Committed to the Centres for the Community We are committed to our Centres for the Community and the valued day services they deliver We are equally committed to delivering a safe and robust service to our community and we are investing budget and people to ensure those services will be available four days a week by the end of April / early May We apologise for the continued disruption and thank you for your patience while we build back safely Cllr Gill Coates                                                                Portfolio Holder for Community Care Elmbridge Borough Council      Cllr Bruce McDonaldLeaderElmbridge Borough Council 1 March - Response to letter from Dominic Raab MP has responded to a letter from Dominic Raab MP on the Centres for the Community dated 21 February Cllr McDonald refers Mr Raab to the statement below 'Day services at Elmbridge Centres to increase from 26 February' and pulls out some of the information related to apologising to residents and learnings for the future.  Day services at Elmbridge Centres to increase from 26 February We said we would work to increase community services at our Centres for the Community in early spring and we are now pleased to confirm that plan will begin from 26 February To continue this building back safely plan increase recruitment and extend the hours of existing staff the Walton Centre will close for one day on 21 February – we will contact Walton Centre users directly about this and ensure our Community Transport will be available to bring them to the Cobham Centre The Dementia Services clients who normally attend the Walton Centre on Wednesday will have the option of using the Thames Ditton Centre instead on 21 February We will contact the families directly to arrange this The dedication and support you provide is invaluable and we are incredibly grateful to you We are contacting you directly about our build back plan and how we can work together to make it a success Your hiring agreements will continue to be in place as previously agreed You are not impacted by Centres closures for training but please be assured that we will work with you to allow your group to continue We are committed to providing a best-in-class dementia service for our clients and the facilities housing the service are key to that Elmbridge Dementia Services will be based at their new home at the Claygate Centre for the Community we will be undertaking £50,000 in adaptations which will improve Claygate Centre services and also allow Dementia Services to run concurrently Claygate Centre for the Community provides a much-valued service for the community and we believe that it will be a welcoming and vibrant new home for Elmbridge Dementia Services From April Weybridge library services are temporarily moving into the Weybridge Centre for the Community We are working with Surrey County Council to ensure a smooth transition from April making sure the library and Centres services can share space and continue to offer valued services to the local community There will be additional information on this later in the week we believe this build back plan will provide valued day services to our community and will do so in a safe and sustainable way We do not anticipate the services running five days per week for the foreseeable future we will resume our work on the Elmbridge Connects strategy – our positive vision for community services in the borough The aim of this strategy is to strengthen the network of support we are able to provide through community partner collaboration Our decisions have always been based on the safety of our clients We are not trying to close the Centres by stealth We are not trying to run down the Centres to sell off the land. Instead we have a positive strategy for community services in Elmbridge - one built on meeting community need collaborating with partners and establishing a sustainable model of delivering for the 9.3% of residents not just the 2% (mainly the elderly) our services are reaching we have stated that our actions around the Centres for the Community in Elmbridge have been those of a responsible council putting the safety of its clients We have said that safety procedures had not been adequately in place that employee ratios related to Centre activities and the evacuation of a centre in the event of fire were not at the correct levels and we have said that our employees needed enhanced safety training in order to provide the Centre services We have been working to resolve this situation by providing the necessary training increasing working hours of employees and redeploying teams to different centres is allowing us to build back a safer and more robust service In 2020 an internal audit report was commissioned and produced on community services in Elmbridge which in the spirit of full transparency is below identified various areas that needed to be addressed such as staff supervision and training and recruitment and appointment of staff new senior management at Elmbridge Borough Council we are commissioning an independent review of the situation which led up to the temporary closing of the Centres for the Community in November 2023 managed by Orbis (an independent audit organisation) is to provide reassurance to our Centre users that strategic and operational risks have been identified and control measures embedded The review will also consider the 2020 internal audit report and any necessary actions leading from the report we want to ensure that our services not only meet the needs of the community but that their safety continues to be our highest priority We are sorry for the anxiety and worry caused in recent weeks due to the disruption at our Centres and we thank you for your patience and support while we carry out this plan to build a strong safe and reliable service which meets the need for the community Cllr Gill Coates                                                                 Portfolio Holder for Community Care Elmbridge Borough Council      Internal audit report - The Audit Report itself has one Appendix 1 which specifies the reference The agree action section was further developed by the Head of Community Support Services with the production of Appendix A which is also being disclosed as it is referenced within Appendix 1 These reports have officer names and registration numbers redacted for Data Protection purposes Claygate Centre for the Community to close on Thursday 22 February due to water issue the Claygate Centre for the Community will not openon Thursday 22 February due to a water fault meaning there is no hot water at the Centre.  We apologise to our Centre users and hirers for this issue We are contacting those booked in for lunch tomorrow at the Claygate Centre as well as hirers to make alternative arrangements where possible Those booked on Community Transport will be brought to the Cobham Centre We are working to have this situation resolved as soon as possible Claygate Centre members are more than welcome to attend either our Walton or Cobham Centres The Claygate Centre team are looking forward to seeing their clients next week on Monday and Thursday as the Centre resumes services two days per week 14 February 2024 – Response to Dominic Raab MP Cllr Bruce McDonald has responded to the local MP Dominic Raab outlining that his queries are answered in the statement above 6 February 2024 - Response letter to Dominic Raab MPThe Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council has responded to a letter from Dominic Raab MP addressing the council's prompt and proportionate response to issues of safety at the Centres for the Community We are grateful for your support and if you have any queries, please contact us through dementiaservices@elmbridge.gov.uk  our current community services offering at the Walton and Cobham Centres will be extended to our Centres in Molesey This means that from next week our Centres at Walton Weybridge and Claygate will provide a hot lunch as well as the regular podiatry and hairdressing services to all our Centre clients in addition to our more vulnerable clients These services will be run from our Walton and Cobham Centres Monday to Friday and from the other Centres on specific days each week as you can see below: as a Centre member you are welcome to come along to any of the Centres to enjoy lunch The Hersham Centre for the Community will continue with its popular café offering on its specific opening day We will offer our community services in this way until early spring when we expect to be able to increase the services at our Centres In the last few weeks those vulnerable residents attending the Cobham and Walton Centres have been positive about their experience the activities and the socialising and we are looking forward to expanding this offering to our other Centre members Building back safelyWe are committed to supporting our residents in the best way possible We want to provide an enriching and robust service We have been making sure the necessary safety processes and procedures are embedded within our community support services The previous issues of concern have been mitigated these included employee ratios for a safe evacuation of the Centres in the event of a fire especially considering our clients with higher needs and those who are less abled who attend our Centres We are now in a position to offer services from all Elmbridge Centres for the Community and we will continue to work on expanding that offering in the weeks ahead through investing in the development of our community service employees and enhanced safety training for all core Centre teams This phased and safe return to services is vital in ensuring we are building a robust and resilient service meeting the needs of the community plus podiatry and hairdressing will be available at our Centres from 22 January The Centre Managers are busy planning for this expanded service - their dedication to all our members remains as steadfast as ever We will also contact our clients directly about the services available at the Centres Extending your membershipCentre membership currently cost £20 per year With the service disruption and temporary closure of the Centres we will extend each membership by 6-months as a token of our gratitude for your support and patience To our volunteersWe continue to be grateful to our volunteers for supporting this service and our clients we will be in contact with you to confirm your arrangements those hiring the Centres for clubs and group activities have returned to our Centres with safety processes and procedures embedded in their hirer agreement Community TransportIf you would like to use Elmbridge Community Transport, please contact us Thames Ditton CentreThe Thames Ditton Centre’s operation model has not changed over this period. A full update on this Centre is on our website Our Dementia Services team continue to provide care and stimulation for those living with dementia Positive vision for our servicesWe appreciate this phased expansion of services may seem unsatisfactory to some but as a responsible authority it is vital we provide services in a safe and positive way We are committed to building back safely - our residents and employees expect nothing less We have a positive vision for our services to the community through our Elmbridge Connects strategy and establishing strong foundations will allow us to provide reliable and consistent services for the future Further Dementia Services updates can be accessed via their dedicated news page. Walton and Cobham Centres for the Community to reopen in support of vulnerable customers from 11 December Following the temporary closure of our Centres for the Community in Hersham we said we would partially reopen services for our vulnerable Centres users from Monday 11 December and we can now confirm that those services will reopen at our Walton-on-Thames and Cobham Centres Running services from these two Centres allows us to support our most vulnerable customers across the borough Our dedicated Centre employees are looking forward to offering some festive cheer to our vulnerable customers We understand this message will continue to upset and frustrate our customers who want to resume their daily and weekly activities at our Centres We remain committed to the safety of our Centre users and our employees We have been working through a long list of safety criteria for reopening which includes the following three key areas: The issues of concern include employee ratios for a safe evacuation of the Centres in the event of a fire especially considering our customers with higher needs and those who are less abled who attend our Centres go on the organised trips and take part in special events As we are confident that these safety processes and procedures are embedded within our community support services we will be able to increase our offering to our Centre customers We anticipate there will be a gradual and phased reopening of services across the borough over the next few months This will be prioritised based our safety assessments and key needs of our Centre users and residents If you are a customer who relies on our services for more specific day-to-day support which is not outlined here please contact us on 01372 474474 so that we can find the right support for you at this time External hirers have returned to all our Centres as our team works with them to ensure the correct safety processes and procedures are not only in place but embedded in their hirer agreement It may seem inconsistent that we are opening to hirers but under their hirer agreement they are responsible for evacuating their clients in the event of a fire they are responsible for having the appropriate mitigations in place to ensure the safety of their clients they run independently to the Centre services Thank you for your support for our residents and our Centres for the Community We continue to assess the resources and staffing needed and we will contact you to advise you further in the days and weeks ahead Walton Centre for the Community : Address: Manor Rd, Walton-on-Thames KT12 2PBCobham Centre for the Community: Address: Oakdene Rd During the temporary closure of our Centres our other community support services are still in operation: Our team is working with the hirers to ensure the correct safety processes and procedures are not only in place but embedded in their hirer agreement It may seem inconsistent that we are opening to hirers while our Centre services are temporarily suspended but hirers such as yoga classes or slimming world sessions we needed to reinforce and embed these procedures and we are now confident that hirers can return from Tuesday 5 December we apologise for the disruption caused and we look forward to welcoming back our hirers During recent safety assessments of the services at our Centres for the Community we identified fundamental safety issues for our customers our hirers and our employees that need immediate and dedicated action we had hoped to put urgent mitigations into place for all our Centres but we can see now that a more overarching reset is needed to ensure we can bring back a reliable and consistent service this work is focussed on the services provided we are sorry to say that we are extending the temporary closures of our Centres in Hersham We will instigate a partial reopening of services on Monday 11 December to support our most vulnerable customers with a view to a full reopening in the new year There will be further details on this next week The Thames Ditton Centre for the Community remains open as usual on Monday and Thursday This Centre is primarily dedicated to our Dementia Services and to our hirers including Men in Sheds and Boomerang Bags therefore its operating procedures are different to the other Centres We have a positive vision for our services to the community through our Elmbridge Connects strategy which reflects the value of those services and the need for them in the community But the reality is that they have been stretched very thin especially since the Covid pandemic and the recent cost of living crisis both of which have put a huge strain on organisations caring for people albeit unexpected and disappointing for our customers will enable us to restore strong foundations allowing us to bring back reliable and consistent services for the future We have been working through a long list of criteria for reopening but they will be by Monday 11 December to allow us to partially reopen the service Our customers need to know they are in a safe environment Our employees need to know they are also protected all of which have to be considered as part of our assessments Anyone who has been to our Centres knows our Centre teams are completely dedicated to our customers and it’s our role to ensure that dedication is supported with the appropriate levels of safety processes and procedures risk assessments and that we have the correct capabilities in place to welcome back our customers and hirers and the anxiety this decision creates and we are truly sorry for this but please be assured that the services Centres provide are as important to Elmbridge Borough Council Our Centre teams have been at the epicentre of this decision They share the disappointment in not being able to support all our customers at this time but they know the correct safety procedures and processes need to be in place we thank you for your loyalty to our Centres and to our employees You know more than anyone how much our teams are committed to supporting you to providing hot meals and to the social activities much loved at the Centres We are truly sorry to have disrupted your plans If you are a customer who relies on our services for more specific day-to-day support we apologise wholeheartedly for the disruption this causes you We will reach out to you directly to allow you to continue your businesses Meals on WheelsFor our meals on wheels customers please bear with us while our teams contact you to arrange this This is not the message we want to deliver We know our Centres are a source of much support to our customers and we apologise for the short notice and for the disappoint this extended temporary closure will cause as a responsible council we are reacting quickly to ensure the safety of our customers and our employees as well as ensuring that our services are robust and sustainable moving forwards The safety of our customers and employees is of paramount importance to us On Friday we explained that we would instigate adhoc Centre closures in order to provide enhanced safety training to our Centre teams Following an assessment of services and the safety training required we have made the difficult to decision to begin the first closure sooner than intended It was anticipated that the closure would be limited to one day but we need to extend the closures for the next two days – meaning that all Centres will close on Tuesday 28 November and Wednesday 29 November The Centres for the Community that will close temporarily on Tuesday 28 November and Wednesday 29 November are: Claygate The Centre for the Community at Thames Ditton is not impacted We know our Centres are a source of much support to our customers and we apologise for the short notice and for the disappoint this will cause We will directly contact those customers and hirers who have bookings with us and we will of course refund any activities that have been paid in advance and look to rebook hirers We will also do our utmost to reschedule the special seasonal events we have had to cancel and while it in no makes up for the disappointment we will have boxes of chocolates for our customers when they return to the Centres on Thursday It will be necessary to continue with ad hoc closures over the coming months but we will be able to give our users advance warning of these closures We are very grateful for your understanding and we look forward to seeing you again soon For the last year, we have been working on our  Elmbridge Connects strategy The strategy and the response to it have caused some concern in a few parts of the borough We want to restate that we have a positive vision – expressed in our Elmbridge Connects strategy - which will strengthen the network of support we are able to provide together in a joined-up way and we are developing our approach with our communities and partners We also want to be clear about what we are not doing Concern has been expressed by some that we are closing the Centres for the Community and that we are abandoning our older residents working with our partners and the community is make sure we have the most appropriate support in place to meet the needs of the community into the future We are sorry for the anxiety caused and would like to set out a few updates on what we are doing Activities at the Centres for the Community: thanks to our dedicated Centre teams we are running as many enriching activities as possible for the benefit of our Centre members To ensure the wellbeing and safety of our clients and employees we will unfortunately have to cancel some activities such as outings at short notice We will notify our clients directly and apologise for the disappointment this will cause We will close our Centres on certain days to support our staff with enhanced safety training We may also need to revise the opening times of some Centres; this will include day closures at some allowing us to consolidate our staff at other Centres Thames Ditton Centre for the Community: we updated you earlier this month that we continue to work on the future use of the Thames Ditton Centre for the Community No decisions have been made and we continue to work with key community stakeholders to reach the best solution for both the community and EBC Community Alarm: our community alarm customers are now being served by Mole Valley Life which is operated by Mole Valley District Council Dementia Services: our highly valued dementia services team continues to support their clients while we work to find them a more permanent location in the borough and we have streamlined our operating processes We are committed to supporting our residents in the best way possible and we thank you for your understanding and support West Sussex-headquartered Sigma Homes has acquired a prime 1.2-acre (0.487-Ha) site in the prized Surrey village of Thames Ditton to deliver 26 eco-efficient mixed-tenure homes Known to be one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods within the county residential sales values in Thames Ditton can exceed £800psf the brownfield site has been purchased from a private landowner with full detailed planning consent in place The plans for the £18m scheme feature a range of 14 one- alongside 12 three-bedroom semi-detached houses Eight of the apartments are designated for affordable housing while a further two will be sold under the Government’s ‘First Homes’ initiative which enables selected first time buyers to benefit from a 30-50% saving on the open market value of the home The initiative will be coordinated by the local authority and the discount factor will be attributed to the two apartments in perpetuity said: “We are thrilled to have secured this rare opportunity to deliver much-needed new homes within Thames Ditton This village is highly sought after because of the connectivity into central London array of picturesque buildings and traditional architecture boutique shopping and community facilities “Our collection of 26 eco-efficient houses and apartments will enable local people to climb onto or up the property ladder as well as boosting the village’s supply of high-quality affordable housing This will be the first Sigma Homes development to offer ‘First Homes’ and with the imminent conclusion of the long-running Help to Buy initiative we are pleased to be able to cater for those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford to buy a home of their own “We are already underway with our pre-construction preparations and the team is looking forward to commencing work on site in the New Year.” All Sigma Homes developments are built utilising timber-frame construction to maximise thermal efficiency The 12 houses at the newly acquired Thames Ditton development will each be installed with EV car charging points while the 14 apartments will have access to communal EV charging points The development also provides ample secure storage for bicycles The scheme has been designed in three distinct phases drawing on architectural references from the local vernacular and bordering character properties detached villa style property will contain eight affordable apartments A contemporary-designed mansion property will house six apartments for open market sale and ‘First Homes’ The largest phase will feature the 12 semi-detached houses with the internal accommodation designed across two and half floors The triangle-shaped site is bound by private residences along the western and southern boundaries while the north east boundary borders Esher Sixth Form College The development is located half a mile from Thames Ditton train station which offers frequent 30-minute commuter services into London Waterloo A further three train stations are also within walking distance an independent co-educational school for two- to 11-year-olds Local amenities – and bus stops offering connections to the nearby towns of Esher and Kingston-upon-Thames – are found on Hampton Court Way (A309) Located within the district of Elmbridge Borough Council the other nearby towns include Walton on Thames – five miles away The Borough of Elmbridge directly borders the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames The company currently has five live developments in premium locations across the south of England and is on track to deliver 200 homes per annum by 2025 © London West (powered by ukpropertyforums.com) Sign up to receive your free bi-weekly London West journal here and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" UK Property Forums enable forums and events in the property sector which help to create business development opportunities Office Address:UK Property Forums Ltd is located in Reading 0203 478 7340info@ukpropertyforums.com We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again 22 March: A warm welcome awaits in Claygate we are working hard on our move to the Claygate Centre for the Community We are thrilled to be creating a centre of dementia care excellence in Claygate and we can’t wait to show you our new home We have been undertaking adaptations to ensure the Centre is safe and welcoming for our dementia clients We have been decorating and co-ordinating the blinds and soft furnishings to improve the interior in a fresh and appealing way We are also working on bright new signage which will include the forget-me-not flower We remain on target to enable the Dementia Service at Thames Ditton to be operational from the Claygate Centre on Tuesday 2 April Improvements to the Centre will continue over the next couple of months to benefit both our clients and Claygate Centre users For our Dementia Services clients at Walton we are planning to relocate to the Claygate Centre in early June now and therefore we will host an official opening event during June – full details to follow We look forward to welcoming our Dementia Services clients and carers to Claygate on Tuesday 2 April 11 March -  Dementia Services and Claygate Centre working in partnership  As part of our commitment to providing a best-in-class dementia service for our clients we would like to update you on the work to relocate the service to its new home at the Claygate Centre for the Community In addition to our service being located in a secure environment at the Claygate Centre we are also investing in fresh new interiors such as new carpets and we will also integrate some soft furnishings from the dementia service into the Centre We are on target to enable the Dementia Service at Thames Ditton to be operational from the Claygate Centre on Tuesday 2 April Improvements to the centre will continue over the next couple of months to benefit both our clients and Claygate centre users.  as well as allowing Dementia Services to run concurrently but independently within the building.  we are planning to relocate to Claygate Centre during May.  We will continue to keep you updated and look forward to welcoming you to an official opening event in May – full details to follow 5 February - Elmbridge Dementia Services to relocate to the Claygate Centre for the Community We are committed to providing a best-in-class service for our clients and we believe that it will be a welcoming and vibrant new home for Elmbridge Dementia Services.  Providing Dementia Services in Elmbridge is a key priority for us and the facilities at the Claygate Centre will enable us to enhance the excellent dementia service support we already provide Portfolio Holder for Community Care is committed to continuity of care: “Our Dementia Services provide incredibly valuable support for our residents living with dementia and their carers and loved ones  We are confident the move to Claygate will give us the flexibility to improve the service and meet demand as it Of course a move is naturally disconcerting for some of our clients but we are determined to offer continuity of care and a smooth transition when the time comes.” is delighted that Claygate can provide a warm welcome to Elmbridge Dementia Services: “Through collaboration with our clients and their carers plus the provision of £50,000 to building enhancements will are ensuring Dementia Services and Community Services can thrive together at the Claygate Centre.” We will continue to provide updates to our Dementia Services clients and carers as we work through the details of this relocation 2 February - Responding to Dominic Raab MP the Leader of Elmbridge Borough Council Cllr Bruce McDonald responded to a letter from Dominic Raab MP and confirmed both continuity of care for our Dementia Services clients and carers but also that the service will be relocating to Claygate Centre for the Community in April 1 February 2024 - Dementia Services at Claygate Centre for the Community from April We have issued the below email to our Dementia Services carers we provided you with an update that we are looking at providing alternative suitable accommodation for Dementia Services which is at least as good as the facilities provided at Thames Ditton We are pleased to let you know that we aim to open our Dementia Services facility at Claygate Centre in April we will be undertaking adaptations which will allow Claygate Centre services and Dementia Services to run concurrently We believe that the Claygate Centre for the Community will be an excellent new home for Elmbridge Dementia Services.  The facilities at the Claygate Centre will enable us to improve our services and there will be more to follow on this at a later date I can reassure you that continuity of care for Dementia Services clients and carers remains our priority therefore moving will not take place until our new accommodation is ready I will continue to provide you with regular updates We have been asked for some additional information on the topics below We hope this provides the information required we have been actively recruiting internally as well as increasing employee hours and upskilling team members to take on additional responsibilities for example there is a Centre Assistant post in Walton currently live (closing 16 February) Our Centre Managers know their clients and have carried out assessments on those most vulnerable to assess their needs and to ensure they have the appropriate level of support at out Centres In December we contacted our vulnerable Centre users for a check-in call and to invite them to either the Walton or Cobham Centre when services resumed on 11 December For those who could not make their own way to the Centres we worked with them to make travel arrangements In opening the Walton and Cobham Centres to vulnerable residents in December and then extending to all Centres members in January we considered a variety of factors including level of need (which incorporates data on income Surrey County Council data (which includes national datasets) identifies the top 20 areas within the county with the highest level of need Elmbridge Cabinet will consider a report recommending an independent review of the situation which led up to the temporary closing of the Centres for the Community in November 2023 The aim of this review is to provide reassurance to our Centre users that strategic risks have been identified and control measures embedded has responded to a letter from Mr Dominic Raab MP on Elmbridge Dementia Services Cllr McDonald has reiterated the importance of this service and the continuity of care which will be place for client and carers: "Providing dementia services is a key priority for us We aim to provide a best-in-class dementia services which is part of the life of the Centre within which it is based We are committed to continuity of care for Dementia Services." Our overarching aim is to support our residents, especially our more vulnerable residents. To enable this, we have developed the ‘Elmbridge Connects strategy’ Elmbridge Cabinet will be presented with one such collaboration as it considers a proposal on whether to lease the Thames Ditton Community Centre to Vital Village As a Community Interest Company the goal of Vital Village is to create a vibrant Providing dementia services is a key priority for us We want to reiterate that we have a positive vision – expressed in our Elmbridge Connects strategy - which will strengthen the support provided to the community Being situated within close proximity to rivers and open water has many advantages for Elmbridge but of course it brings responsibilities and consequences While many of our residents and visitors safely enjoy the river both in terms of hospitality and water activities the dangers of open water should never be underestimated; cold water shock and the risk of being caught in rocks is ever present Elmbridge has a complex range of water courses with a variety of landowners who each have their own responsibilities for river safety In the absence of a single body responsible for water safety in Elmbridge and in recognition for the important role that the rivers and other water courses have in the borough Elmbridge Borough Council is leading the way in Surrey with a ‘Respect the Water: Drowning Prevention Plan’ which was agreed by Elmbridge Cabinet on 11 January Working with our partners at the Environment Agency and Surrey County Council the plan sets out to reduce the number of water incidents in the borough through training and improved awareness and commits £30k for 2023-2024 to deliver additional drowning prevention projects including: targeted communications and community engagement events will be established to continue to warn of the dangers of open water swimming The latest additions to water safety have been the installation of two new throw lines Albany Reach These has been made possible with funding from SCC County Councillor Nick Darby who used his ‘Members Community Allocation’ to fund the throw lines Deputy Leader wants to reassure residents that Elmbridge Borough Council will continue to consider water safety as a priority: “The dangers of open water cannot be underestimated which is why we continue to prioritise water safety in conjunction with our partners The proposed additional £30k of funding for free swimming lessons lifeguard courses and additional throw lines shows our commitment to keeping our residents safe.” “We need a multi-layered approach to water safety in Elmbridge as well as establish practical measures such as throw lines to protect our residents and visitors We will continue to review our Drowning Prevention Strategy to make sure we are delivering all we can for our residents in terms of water safety.” The Elmbridge Community Safety Partnership has been leading the way in Surrey for a number of years with its multi-agency Drowning Prevention Strategy Working with our partners at Surrey Fire and Rescue the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) the partnership educates and informs about the dangers of open water and acts to keep the open water safe in the borough The Partnership also consults with ROSPA about safety equipment such as throw lines This education takes the shape of regular sites visits to our more popular river locations where in 2022 over 1,550 year 6s from around Elmbridge participated in an interactive session on water safety run by RNLI have also held a number of water safety events in recent months demonstrating throw line use and highlighting the dangers open water For more information on water safety please visit the Elmbridge Borough Council website. Who is responsible for water safety in Elmbridge The Elmbridge Community Safety Partnership is leading the way in Surrey with its multi-agency Drowning Prevention Strategy it educates and informs about the dangers of open water and acts to keep the open water safe in the borough What does EBC do to help prevent open water incidents Education is an important aspect and takes the shape of regular sites visits to our more popular river locations where over 1550 year 6s from around Elmbridge participated in an interactive session on water safety run by RNLI as well as social media messages and more targeted communications in high usage areas with water safety banners up at Hurst Park and Albany Reach to advise users of the risks of open water I know there are throw lines along the river To further protect our residents and visitors two new throw lines have been installed at Albany Reach This is in addition to the four throw lines already situated at Hurst Park We will continue to invite ROSPA to inspect areas of the river in Elmbridge to advise on throw line locations Why do we have throw lines rather than throw rings Following advice from ROSPA and looking at best practice elsewhere with our partners throw lines are far more suitable than throw rings The advantage of these throw lines is that the user has to call 999 to access the line and this alerts the emergency service to the exact location and to mobilise urgently to the site Should we have safe swimming areas on the river Open water swimming is dangerous due to cold water shock river currents and the risk of being caught in rocks is ever present as well as the potential water quality of the open water None of these are under our control and therefore we could never comfortably designate any area of open water ‘safe’ This suggestion will be reviewed with our expert partners as part of our Drowning Prevention Strategy How do we educate people as to the dangers of open water swimming Who patrols the riverside in the summer to help prevent incidents Elmbridge Borough Council and the EA patrol the riverside as part of their regular Borough wide patrols and site visits Further information is available on the Elmbridge Borough Council website. The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Sign up to our free daily newsletter for daily roundups of the biggest headlines and breaking news from SurreyLive Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters A Thames Ditton family say a proposed Aldi store which plans to chop down trees for a ten-metre high concrete wall will "stop us using our garden" Nick Hudson lives in a house which immediately backs onto the proposed site for the supermarket in Portsmouth Road, which as of January 12 had received more than 260 letters of objection on Elmbridge Borough Council's planning portal Read more: Aldi launches bid for second Elmbridge store The application for the budget retailer's second Elmbridge store will close for public comments on January 14 and the proposed development is on the site of the former Guy Salmon Jaguar Land Rover showroom have counted 19 leylandii trees on the other side of their back garden fence that will be taken down to make way for the building Instead of the leafy cover between their garden and land behind - where they say they also sometimes had issues with the car showroom when cars were brought right up to the boundary - they will be faced with the approximately ten-metre back wall of the store Mr Hudson said: "It will probably stop us using it "The enjoyment of our garden is lovely at the moment They're going to take down all those trees So we're going to look out onto 9.6 metres of concrete wall Do you think Thames Ditton needs an Aldi? Join the discussion with other SurreyLive readers here He said what they may have to consider doing is planting big trees on their side of the fence He said that as well as his concerns for their garden he is worried about increased traffic and pollution on the Portsmouth Road and the routes the delivery lorries will take to get to the store Plans include 50 parking spaces for the store He thinks there should be a pedestrian crossing put in Portsmouth Road but recognises that may then cause more congestion along the road into Kingston The couple had a one-on-one zoom meeting with Aldi early in the process for the retailer to hear their concerns as other neighbours on the street have too But Mr Hudson is worried that all plans for planting focus on the front of the store though one neighbouring family have heard mention of a "living wall" on the back of the store Mr Hudson said: "You look at a plan your mind goes to worst case scenario "So what we've got is a nine metre wall He said he is not objecting to development on the site or to the fact that it is a budget retailer and not a more "high end" shop calling Aldi a "fantastic retailer" He said: "I think people forget we're a village the likelihood is it may not and it may become retail "So we're not objecting because it's Aldi Signing up to the SurreyLive newsletter means you'll receive our daily news email It couldn't be simpler and it takes seconds - simply press here, enter your email address and follow the instructions You can also enter your address at the top of this page in the box below the picture on most desktop and mobile platforms There's an 'unsubscribe' button at the bottom of every newsletter we send out "But I think they will ultimately have an impact on our local shops as well And we've seen how brilliant they've been during covid "We've got a whole array of great butchers I don't think they'll be able to compete I just doubt that's the right site for them." Concerns raised by others on the planning portal also include the risk to wildlife in the area According to a response from the Surrey Bat Group a report prepared by Ecology Solutions as part of the planning application which classed the buildings as having "negligible potential to house roosting bats" was "superficial" The statement said: "We cannot feel confident in recommending it as sufficiently detailed to enable a safe determination of the application." At the time of writing there were 263 letters objecting to the plans and 97 in support The public have until January 14 to submit comments via the borough council's planning portal Aldi did not respond before publication when approached for comment Download the SurreyLive app for a better reader experience and to get news from the areas you care most about. Download it via the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android. Want to know what's happening on your doorstep right now? Share your email here to get top local stories from InYourArea tailored to you and your community Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right Planning and Environment, Local Government A Planning Inspector has rejected a proposal for a two storey 1,611 sqm Aldi supermarket in Thames Ditton Surrey following a two-week planning inquiry The proposal was located adjacent to a Conservation Area on the Portsmouth Road between Esher and Surbiton The Inspector accepted the Council’s case that the scheme caused harm to the adjacent Conservation Area and Grade II listed pub (DL66) as well as presented an unacceptable impact on the living conditions of neighbouring properties (DL96) The Inspector also accepted the Council’s argument that many of the benefits of the scheme could be delivered by an alternative scheme without harms he identified the weight to attach to the benefits was reduced (DL167) That argument is based on the observations of the Court of Appeal in First Secretary of State v Sainsburys Supermarkets [2007] EWCA Civ 1083 at [37]: “There may well be cases where the degree of harm which would result from a proposal is such that it is decided that the benefits which the proposal would bring must await a new scheme with an improved design The decision-maker may properly and lawfully reach that conclusion in appropriate cases …” Ashley Bowes acted for the successful Elmbridge Borough Council A copy of the decision can be found here Get alerts about our latest news & upcoming events Subscribe Cornerstone Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board. Website by Square Eye Ltd Elmbridge Borough Council has received funding to encourage clean air in our borough The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has awarded us £11,700, for the second year running, to cover enforcement costs on Thames Ditton Island – our one Smoke Control Area (SCA).  Residents who live within this zone can face fines of up to £ 1,000 for not complying with regulations The SCAs which tend to be in densely populated areas cover many parts of the UK including most of London and there are strict rules on what can be burned and on the type of appliance which can be used Thames Ditton Island came under our control following a boundary change with the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames As a council we are trying to discourage wood-burning of any kind across the borough and supported the Clear Air Night campaign last month The main pollutants in Elmbridge are the same as the rest of the country - oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM10 and 2.5). We are focussing on PM2.5 as this poses the most risk to health. Reducing PM2.5 is one of the key priorities in the borough’s Air Quality Action Plan Defra also recently launched new and ambitious UK limits for PM2.5 These fine particulates can cause and exacerbate life-threatening illnesses and research suggests it may even cause dementia and effect unborn babies Defra estimates that particulates from wood burning accounts for over a fifth (22 per cent) of PM2.5 emissions Wood burning not only harms your health but also your wallet and the planet Pressures on household finances or wanting to be more eco-friendly may tempt people to burn wood but research shows that wood burning not only produces more CO2 than oil or gas for the same amount of heat but is almost always more expensive than other forms of heating.  welcomed the Government SCA funding and added: “It might seem cosy to burn wood on an open fire or wood burner on a winter’s night in your home but there are hidden costs can affect your health and that of others in your community “The increased CO2 and chopping down trees to burn in open fires and wood burners can also have a detrimental effect on our climate and planet So please think carefully before burning wood of any kind.” You can also sign up for air quality alerts We use cookies to provide you with a great experience and to help our website run effectively a technology company that is revolutionising education halfway round the world sQuid – the British company based in Thames Ditton that created smartcard and digital wallet technologies used in school payment systems across the United Kingdom and provides safe cashless payments on buses for those without bankcards – showed off to Mr Raab its projects in Kenya which include pioneering education technology programmes and large scale cashless payment distributions which help marginalised communities improve children’s education and family livelihoods explained:“sQuid’s projects are perfect examples of British cutting-edge technology solving very complex problems worldwide We’re very excited that Mr Raab has shown such interest in our company and encouraged us to continue flying the flag Our new project working with Nigerian schools will help build a better future for thousands of children in over 100 communities using digital tools and on-the-ground support to encourage greater engagement in education in often very difficult situations.” sQuid has recently signed a contract with the Nigerian Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) to assist some of the northern states focusing on improving attendance of children at school driving up teaching standards and improving children’s learning sQuid’s approach takes in the whole community and aims to offer microfinance to help improve livelihoods aims to offer microfinance to help improve livelihoods.sQuid’s award-winning iMlango project in Kenya has already boosted the education of 285,000 pupils and the training of nearly 5,000 teachers with its online tools and encouraged sustainable growth in the communities by making microfinance available for parents – improving family incomes which in turn enables their children to attend school regularly.Adam added: "We are leading a new approach in tackling issues which have long been the sole preserve of well-meaning but ultimately low impact humanitarian agencies who don’t have a digital delivery capability We bring proven technologies and practical experience to really help drive long-term scalable and economically viable improvements in education and payments management We are now really excited by the opportunity to work with our colleagues in Nigeria."ENDS Contact:For more information please contact Toby Burnham +44 7990 555 290 / toby@tbcomms.comNotes to editorsAbout sQuid:sQuid is a multi-use transactional platform providing payment and e-learning solutions for businesses Through its end-to-end platform and proprietary technology processes and settles high-integrity digital transactions – enabling organisations to launch new secure and cost-effective digital services sQuid also operates as a Central Bank regulated eMoney Issuer in Kenya ‘sQuid’ and ‘sQuid SchoolPay’ are registered trademarks.sQuidcard Limited is registered in England Terms of ServiceCustomer Portal Terms & Conditions | Website Terms & Conditions |Cookie Policy | Privacy Policy A decision could be made next week on Aldi's latest proposed Surrey store The application for a store in Portsmouth Road with more than 650 letters of objection and 245 letters in support being sent Elmbridge Borough Council's planning committee will discuss the application for a new store on the site of the former Guy Salmon car showroom and garage next Tuesday (August 16) Plans for the store have been updated to include widening of Portsmouth Road and a right turn lane for cars turning into the car park as well as adding in one signalled and one "uncontrolled" crossing for pedestrians Read more: Aldi's proposed Thames Ditton store 'will stop us using our garden' as trees threatened for concrete wall it would be the second Aldi in Elmbridge with the other in Walton The nearest Aldi store to the proposed site is in Kingston, around two miles away and there are two Lidls in Elmbridge, one in Walton and the other in Weybridge Plans were also updated in June to increase the height of hedging at the back of the site Residents have raised concerns about their gardens being overlooked by the proposed store The proposed store would have 51 car parking spaces and 18 cycle spaces An officer's report into the planning application said concerns had been raised about the sustainability of the location, because people would use their cars to get there rather than walking to existing small shops a number of representations have been received from local residents in support who have said that they would now be able to walk to a supermarket rather than have to drive to Esher or Surbiton Disabled Ewell wheelchair user injured going to Aldi due to state of pavements 'Teen drowned in Tagg's Island heatwave tragedy - let's make sure it never happens again' ULEZ expansion could see Surrey drivers charged to cross river to Kingston Future of Weybridge paddling pools to be put to public The four Elmbridge schools awarded more than £100k for projects including new outdoor play area Following on from the success of popular independent markets held across the borough we're really pleased to share that we’ve signed two new agreements for this year Community interest company The Court Circular ran a series of markets in East Molesey last summer and autumn and have asked to run them again this year and we’ve signed another deal with Weybridge Farmers Market to run their events again throughout 2024 The agreements ensure that our residents have access to the best local producers in the area culture and creativity in and around the Hampton Court area We're also extending the Weybridge Farmers Market agreement for a further 12 months These markets are held on the first Sunday in – March September and December in Churchfields Car Park Developed by McLaren Fine Foods the market continues to support Weybridge as a great place to shop offering residents and visitors the best local tasty treats delectable delights and fresh local produce Portfolio Holder for Enterprise and the Local Economy said he was delighted the council was able to continue to support both markets "We’re committed to supporting our high streets the best way we can Markets selling local produce and crafts are a great way of attracting people into town centres adding vibrancy and supporting local traders They are also a great way to bring the community together.  “Both markets are also a great example of how we can think differently about how we use our assets by safely using car parks to hold these events but also leaving plenty of space for residents to park so they can check out the market and visit the high street too I look forward to both markets going from strength to strength in 2024.” Kim Craig and Alex Riley from The Court Circular team said: “We really enjoyed holding the markets last year They did so well that we want to hold more and see the community coming together more frequently We look forward to welcoming people again in March.” Weybridge Farmers Market organisers Maria and Adam said: “We are really pleased Elmbridge Borough Council has renewed our agreement and look forward to seeing regular customers and welcoming new ones in 2024!” For more information on how we are supporting local businesses and our high streets, please see Support for businesses Home > News > Man charged with attempted murder after stabbing outside BMW dealership A man has been charged with attempted murder after two people were stabbed – one of them outside a BMW showroom The victims are in a serious but stable condition after the attacks at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and outside Berry Thames Ditton BMW next door about 1.45pm on Sunday has also been charged with having a bladed article He appeared before Guildford magistrates yesterday and will appear at Guildford Crown Court on Thursday Elmbridge borough commander Insp Bert Dean said: ‘We are working with our partner agencies local schools and the staff at the hotel to support those most impacted by the incident ‘We appreciate that the heightened emergency services’ presence and the nature of the incident may have caused distress to the local community and officers will be out and about in the local area over the coming days to answer any questions and listen to any concerns ‘The investigation itself remains ongoing and we are appealing for anyone who has any information which could assist our inquiries to contact us.’ told the PA news agency shortly after the incident: ‘I saw someone in handcuffs coming out ‘There was another guy that came out with a bandage around his head and his bicep With fantastic views of Hampton Court Palace across the river Albany Reach in Thames Ditton has always been a popular destination for those who want to spend leisure time by the Thames there has been an increased number of visitors with people using the site as a base to swim and for water activities there is always danger associated with water proximity and we want to make sure that visitors understand the risks of open water Thanks to the ongoing commitment of Thames Ditton resident Nell Hickman who has tirelessly been raising water safety awareness in the local community two new throw lines have recently been installed at Albany Reach These have been funded by Surrey County Councillor Nick Darby from his ‘Members Community Allocation’ in partnership with the Elmbridge Borough Council's Green Spaces team who helped to source the throw lines and information panel that go with them Nell Hickman said: "I am pleased that people are enjoying Albany Reach but would like them to stay safe when spending time there The throwlines are an invaluable addition to the site given the unpredictable under currents of the Thames and lack of safety awareness when it comes to open water swimming I am pleased to hear about the Drowning Prevention Plan and look forward to getting Thames Ditton residents onboard and involved with it." "I am delighted to have contributed to this project and hope the throwlines and signage will encourage visitors to respect the water It is vitally important for residents and visitors to understand that the Thames can be as treacherous as it is beautiful It is our duty as County Council to do everything we can to keep our residents safe and making the most of their local area." “My thanks go to the green spaces team at Elmbridge Borough Council for delivering this water safety project in Thames Ditton in partnership with local resident Nell Hickman and Surrey County Council I can’t wait to see the Drowning Prevention Plan being implemented to keep residents and visitors fully informed and safe around water." This project is part of the safety measures Elmbridge Borough Council has pledged to deliver in the run up to this summer.* We will be rolling out a £30k Drowning Prevention Plan working with partners at Surrey Fire and Rescue More information on water safety in Elmbridge