Thetford Road

I would like to thank Chris and Elspeth  for organising a Petition about the state of the Pavements and potholes in Thetford Road.
It was nice working with them knocking on doors and meeting residents some of whom I had already met.
We will keep you updated on its progress.  

Theft Warning

St James Safer Neighbourhood Team

There has been a spate of high value bike thefts across the Borough. 

Please make sure your bikes are locked.

• Always lock your bike up even if left unattended for a few minutes.
• Keep your bike out of view, possibly in a shed, garage or indoors. 
• Use a good lock on your shed 
• Think about the use of one way screws for the hinges on shed doors. 
• Secure it to an immovable object or consider installing a floor or wall mounted anchor lock for extra security. 
• Another tip is to remove the saddle or wheel when locked up.

Please visit http://content.met.police.uk/Borough/Kingston to check for any bike marking events. We appreciate these things take time when people have busy lives but it’s these little acts that could prevent a theft from occurring. 

Feel free to contact us if you have any or wish to know any further information.

Emergency Number; 999

Non Emergency Number; 101

St James SNT office; 0208 7212595

St James SNT email; Stjames.SNT@met.police.uk

The Liberal Democrat candidate declined to talk to the Surrey Comet.

Meet the Kingston Council by-election candidates for Beverley ward - except the one who would not talk to us

9:00am Saturday 20th July 2013 in NewsBy Nazia Dewji, Reporter

Lib Dem candidate Lesley Heap declined to be interviewed by the Surrey Comet

Kingston Council has endured six byelections since 2010.

With the Beverley ward byelection to fill the seat vacated by former council leader Derek Osbourne after his arrest, taking place on Thursday, July 25, the Surrey Comet asked candidates what the borough’s burning issues were.

- The Liberal Democrat candidate Lesley Heap declined to talk to the Surrey Comet.

Social

SOCIAL

Rural elderly isolation report

Elderly people who retire to the countryside face spending their final years in isolation as villages suffer cuts to bus services and post office closures, a new report has warned. The study, published by the Age UK charity, found there were 1.2m people older than 50 who were socially isolated in Britain. Almost 600,000 older people left their houses just once a week or less, the survey says. Loneliness and social isolation "can have a severe impact on people's quality of life in older age", the report adds. It also says rural communities have more elderly members than other parts of Britain, with about half of the rural population aged over 45, compared with 36% living in major urban areas. Across rural England, the number of people aged over 65 who need help with basic washing and dressing every day is projected to increase by 70% over the next 16 years. At the same time, the number of cases of depression and dementia are also projected to increase faster in the countryside than urban areas.

Just News that caught my eye this week

Second Gatwick runway backed

West Sussex County Council has voted in favour of the expansion of Gatwick as part of the solution to increase the UK's airport capacity. Councillors fear that if a second runway is not approved there is a risk of the loss of 10,000 jobs if a new hub for London is built in the Thames Estuary.

BBC News

EDUCATION

Cheating parents

Hundreds of children have been banned from the state schools of their choice because their parents cheated to win them a place. Council leaders, who have demanded greater powers to track down the cheats, said they were being forced to carry out scores more checks every year following tip-offs from disgruntled parents. 

ECONOMY

More positive numbers expected

Figures on Thursday are expected to show that growth has doubled in the past three months. Forecasts predict 0.6% growth in the second quarter of 2013 - double the 0.3% in the previous quarter. Crucially all four major sections of the economy - services, agriculture, manufacturing and construction - are thought to be growing together for the first time since the third quarter of 2010. Consumer confidence is also returning with a rise in the numbers hopeful that the worst is over. One in four of those questioned by consumer watchdog Which? said they were confident the economy would improve over the next 12 months.

Sunday Express, Page: 2

Thetford Road Petition

We will be doing a Petition on the 26th July with local residents in Thetford Road.
More Info Later

Road Works

Traffic Update MALDEN ROAD, WORCESTER PARK Jun Station Approach Manhole Cover and Sewer Collapse – A deep pothole has appeared at this junction. The area has been made safe with barriers and a lane closure on the approach to the junction from New Malden whilst investigatory works were carried out. Our initial investigations led to the discovery of large amounts of water underground and Thames Water were called in to survey the area. They have discovered that a sewer pipe has broken and this will be repaired along with the rebuilding of the chamber. They will be on site to undertake these repairs form 10:00 on Thursday 18th July when they will be erecting 4-way lights at this junction. The repairs and the reinstatement of the road and its wearing surface is planned to be completed by Sunday 21st July 2013 and the road is anticipated to be fully open before the morning rush hour on Monday 22nd July 2013. Congestion at this busy intersection is expected throughout the week and into weekend. Apologies for the inconvenience these emergency works may have caused you.

Lee Rigby

On Friday the 12th July at the New Malden Memorial there will be a short service at 11.00am to coincide with the Service in Bury.
The New Malden Royal British Legion will lay a wreath to  show that they are thinking of the   Family of Lee at this time.

Residents Meeting

Attended a residents meeting last night, a really worthwhile night with residents putting over points of concern.
It's meeting like this that enable us to understand more fully the needs of the local community and to take them forward.
Today I will be attending the Guildhall to meet with officers about issues that residents have asked me to check on (not only from last night)
Tomorrow Wednesday (7.30 pm) I will be Chairing the Planning Committee at Richard Challoner School Manor Drive North, 7 Planning application, and  information Items.
Remember this is a public meeting and all can attend, but must be registered to speak on planning application (law of the Land )
Information items are, enforcement, where buildings have been constructed without permission or whereby changes to permitted plans without permission have taken place.
We can instruct the enforcement team and the legal department to take action.
We also have an item on current enforcement actions
An items on Crossrail , Amendments to planning laws, Consultation on item to go to DCC.
So a long night ahead with hopefully ten Councillors in attendance. allowing two hours for the planning applications the meeting should be finished around  10.00/10.30 PM  
You can find the full Agenda on the RBK Website look up Committees and click on the committees you wish to check on.