Editor: Steve Bax | Email: [email protected] | Web: http://themoleseynews.blogspot.com | Twitter: @MoleseySteve BE A COUNCILLOR The Conservatives are looking for Molesey people with ideas, energy and integrity to stand for election to Elmbridge Coun- The Molesey News cil in May. If you are over 18 and would like the chance to Voice of the Molesey Conservative Residents Jan/Feb 2012 serve your community please email us for more details. Hello and a warm welcome to the first ding officiated by Rev. Carole Bourne Molesey News of the new year! before she retires, and is therefore a great It’s been a busy couple of months since A word from the Editor honour for my fiancee and I. the last edition. In late November the Pa- You and I will also have the chance to vilion Appeal hearing took place at Elm- to be a truly memorable year for Mole- and it will be great to our town centre elect new councillors on May 3. bridge Civic Centre to decide whether 76 sey. The Olympic cycle races in July and bustling with tourists. I hope this gives I will be standing again in East Molesey homes could be built in Hurst Lane, on August will give our town a welcome boost to our local and will be putting forward some positive land that was supposed to be reserved for unprecedented exposure to shops who have endured some ideas on how to improve our area. community leisure and sport. a massive global audience. very difficult times recently. It would mean the world to me if I were I was grateful for an opportunity to The spectacular views Regrettably the road clo- elected your councillor this time, and speak at the hearing and was hugely of Hampton Court Palace sures will bring disruption and when you next hear from me I will set impressed by the passion and profession- and the Thames are sure to inconvenience, but overall the out what I hope to bring to the role. alism of the Molesey Community Action inspire UK and overseas benefits will outweigh the bad. In the meantime I want to hear what Group, who were more than a match for visitors to come here for a 2012 will be a big year for your priorities are so that I can reflect the opposition and carried the day. long time to come. me personally as I will be them in my manifesto so please email A big well done to all of those residents Many of us may have a getting married in July at St your thoughts to the address above. and congratulations on a great victory. chance to see the Olym- Mary’s Church, East Molesey. My best wishes to you for a happy and Looking ahead, 2012 has the potential pics up close and for free, It is likely to be the last wed- prosperous 2012. The eyes of the world on Molesey OLESEY will be seen by millions of people from all over the world Mthis summer when it hosts three cycling races in the 2012 Olympics. A massive global TV audience is expected to tune in to watch the fastest men and women on two wheels, as they race past the grounds of Hampton Court Palace and along the length of Hurst Road in Molesey. They will race on to Walton, Weybridge, Woking, Guildford, the Surrey Hills and Dorking - passing hundreds of thousands of spectators lining the route - then lapping Box Hill several times and heading back to Hamp- ton Court Way in Molesey (via Leatherhead, Oxshott and Esher). The Men’s Cycling Event on Saturday July 28th will see the first gold medal awarded of the 2012 games, and one of the favourites is expected to be the BBC British Sports Per- sonality of the Year (2011) Mark Cavendish. The women’s cycling takes place the fol- lowing day, Sunday 29th, with a time trial cycling event on Wednesday August 1st. Community wins ‘Vast opportunities’ Conservative councillor Jan Fuller (pic- Pavilion appeal tured right) has been overseeing Elmbridge ELMBRIDGE Council’s firm refusal borough’s preparations for more than three to a developer seeking to build 76 years, and told The Molesey News what the homes adjacent to the Pavilion Health Olympics will bring. and Sports Club in Hurst Lane has “There is going to be tremendous media been upheld by a planning inspector. interest from around the world, and Molesey JS Bloor (Newbury) went to appeal in is a key part of the route,” she said. the hopes of overturning the council’s “Elmbridge has taken the view all along that decision, and a public hearing took this has vast opportunities for the residents g Above: Scenes from the Olympic cycling trial event in Surrey last August (pics by place in Elmbridge Council chambers and businesses of the borough. In 2009 our Vicky jg and reproduced with her kind permission). Above right: Cllr Jan Fuller. on November 22-23 with inspector ‘visitor economy turnover’ was worth nearly Lesley Coffey presiding. £230million. The Olympics will be a wonder- host borough, added Cllr Kelly. “This year you are going to get the tour- Her report dismissing the appeal ful advertisement for us.” One Olympic-inspired innovation the coun- ists,” she said. was published on January 10th to the Surrey County Council, which is respon- cil plans to roll out is a ‘tourism App’, which One downside of the Olympics passing delight of campaigners in Molesey. sible for roads, will be decorating the route visitors to the borough can download to their through Molesey is that the Hurst Road and Sharon Bolton of the Molesey Com- with bunting and flags and Elmbridge will phones to get directions and information on Hampton Court Way will be closed before, munity Action Group - which mounted be using funds which it has secured from approved local attractions and businesses. during and for a time after the race has a vigorous campaign against the Bloor Central Government for ‘one off projects’ to Cllr Fuller said: “People will be flooding moved on. proposals, told The Molesey News: celebrate and commemorate the games. into Hampton Court Station. There will be This will mean residents in some streets will “This is an absolutely fantastic result tourists coming in, whether British or from be unable to leave except on foot. However if and just shows what can be done when ‘Lasting legacy’ overseas, and station is the emergency services need Cllr Fuller, who is the Elmbridge Cabinet the community pulls together. going to be an enor- “Hampton Court Station to reach any homes cut off “Now we need to get the site in use for member for leisure and culture, set-up a mous hub. by road, then the race will cross-party task group of back bench council- will be an enormous hub. leisure and sports purposes as it was “People will walk be stopped. intended.” lors to draw up a list of projects to celebrate out and be right on the People will walk out and For the Saturday and the Olympics and the Queen’s 60th Jubilee. When planning permission was route. We hope they be right on the route.” Sunday races the roads will granted for Kings Chase in 1984 it was The idea being to leave a “lasting legacy” in will watch the race and shut in the early hours to be the borough. - Cllr Jan Fuller agreed that the remaining land would then come to Hamp- swept clear of debris. Any be retained for recreation. Walton councillor Andrew Kelly, who ton Court Parade or cars left on the street will be chaired the group, said: “We will mark the Bloor had sought to mitigate this by the Walton Road shops to buy a coffee or a towed away, but residents will receive leaflets promising football pitches at Waterside route in a permanent way and this will allow meal. I would encourage businesses to think in advance to warn them of the danger. cyclists to enjoy it in future; we will invite Drive in Walton and money for play outside the box and make the most of this Cllr Fuller said: “We hope this will be a re- facilities in East Molesey. sports clubs to apply for funds; put table ten- opportunity.” ally good celebration and will leave a lasting nis facilities in some parks; as well as extra An offer of 30% affordable homes The Molesey News heard anecdotal evi- legacy for the borough. It will be a once in a was increased to 50%. But the inspec- plants on roundabouts and hanging baskets in dence that some businesses lost trade during lifetime opportunity and I hope people enjoy Olympic or Jubilee colours.” tor decided Waterside Drive was “too the Olympic trial run in August, but Cllr the spectacle.” remote” from the appeal site, and the The ‘Welcome to Elmbridge’ signs includ- Fuller believes this is because many specta- Will the Olympics be good for Molesey? ing the one in Molesey will be replaced to harm to the surrounding area would tors last year were local people who simply Go to http://themoleseynews.blogspot.com outweigh any benefits. reflect the borough’s status as an Olympic went home after the action had passed by. to post your comments. COMMUNITY ‘Free car park could de-clutter roads’ NEWS SURVEY conducted by in the last financial year due to its WHAT was it like to live in the Molesey Conservative £48,000 ‘operating costs’, which Molesey during the dark days AResidents suggests there include lighting and maintenance of World War Two? is a groundswell of support for and enforcement, and business A new exhibition from the the Walton Road car park to be rates.