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Hello and welcome to this Sum- Surrey County Council Election results 2013 win is disappointing, but the mer edition of The Molesey News. EAST MOLESEY & ESHER WARD WEST MOLESEY WARD Molesey Conservative Residents, I am Steve Bax, and I write and S. Selleck - Molesey & Esher E. Mallett - Molesey Residents after very near misses in the last publish this newsletter on behalf Residents Associations: 1134 (elected) Association: 1947 (elected) two polls is now upon the heels of the Molesey Conservative Steve Bax - Molesey Conservative S. Clements - UKIP: 353 of our well established politi- Residents: 1110 Christine Elmer - Molesey Residents political group, which T. Marshall - UKIP: 291 Conservative Residents: 265 cal rival the Molesey Residents I chair. Please cast your eye I. Threlkeld - Labour: 107 A. Sturgis - Liberal Democrat: 73 Association and, this contest over the articles here, as there is P. Nagle - Liberal Democrat: 63 M. Willey - Labour: 57 being good for the town’s politi- important information about our "Chinners" - Loony Party: 34 "C. Dave" - Loony Party: 41 cal health we believe, we look community: Molesey & Esher Ward was doubt as frustrating to our sup- forward to the next test with closely contested and this was porters as to me personally. growing optimism. I would like to offer my grati- reflected in the figures on polling But I extend my congratula- We hope you will join us in this tude to all those who voted for night (see the table above). This tions to Councillor Selleck and task in ensuring that Molesey us in this year’s Surrey County time the Molesey Conservative wish him well for the next four is well governed at Borough & Council elections in both East & Residents fell short by a mere years representing Molesey at County levels. West Molesey. 25 votes - about 12 houses! - an Kingston County Hall. Enjoy the summer sun and see The campaign in the East agonisingly close result and no To come so close and not to you in the Autumn! Love your library day Boatman clears final hurdle LADEDALE has cleared the final ob- stacle preventing it from building on Gthe Jolly Boatman site and adjacent land at Hampton Court Station. The developer had to meet 56 planning condi- tions before June 16th when its planning permis- sion would have expired. Elmbridge Council’s North Area Planning Sub- Committee (NAPSC) rejected only one of the conditions, involving an aspect of Gladedale’s proposed road scheme, but the company appealed THE Friends of Molesey and a planning inspector ruled in its favour with Library are arranging a ‘Love just days to go until the deadline. Your Library Day’ on Satur- This means that Gladedale is now free to push day September 14th to encour- ahead with this project which is an over-devel- age people through the door. opment in Molesey and upon the doorstep of It is in response to warnings Hampton Court Palace, a world heritage site. from Surrey County Council Association councillors, with a Residents’ Chair- be sold. If so I hope that a new owner will look that borrower numbers are A done deal? man holding the decisive casting vote. afresh at the whole project. down 29% on last year. To make matters worse it has just been an- Molesey Residents Association Cllrs. Popham, Gladedale’s partner, Network Rail, may yet be The library day will show- nounced the Elmbridge Council may have to pay Eldridge & Donaldson and their allies could have persuaded to pull out if Hampton Court Station case services on offer - from Gladedale as much as £100,000 in compensation kicked out all of the Gladedale conditions, but it is included in the new Crossrail 2 service to Hea- free internet to children’s sto- for its legal costs, following the planning inspec- failed to do so. throw and its car park is required to cope with an rytime, and will seek to recruit tor’s decision.This is a bad result for tax payers if It’s hard to avoid the feeling that the Jolly Boat- influx of additional passengers. a small army of volunteers. this comes to pass. man saga has been blighted by poor handling However as things stand now the developer Conservative councillors on the committee from the start to finish, and Molesey needs better would appear to have a free hand to proceed. Redesign which examined the 56 planning conditions have governance in such matters than it’s currently The Molesey-based Hampton Court Rescue The Mayor of Elmbridge been accused of having a bias in favour of the getting from its elected representatives. Campaign has put up a sterling fight on this issue and MP Dominic Raab will be builder. One glimmer of hope is that work has yet to over an extended period, and it’s regrettable that guests of honour as a picture The truth of the matter is that this Committee start on the site and this has provoked specula- its admirable community spirited labours haven’t hanging system, complete with comprises five Conservatives and five Residents tion that the scheme (or Gladedale itself) could been rewarded with a better outcome this time. locally produced work by the Molesey Art Society is un- We need you! veiled as a new attraction. CAN you spare an hour or two ‘A secondary school for Molesey’ Visitors will also be able see A CAMPAIGN for Molesey to the results of a redesign, as every 2-3 months to help us de- liver the Molesey News? have its own secondary school is library staff will shortly be gathering momentum in the town. weeding out less popular stock We can’t offer financial reward, but we do have opportunities for Some 443 people signed an online in order to improve the layout petition started by West Molesey make it easier for users find some good healthy exercise! You could deliver your street mum Rebecca King and the issue the books that interest them. made the front page of the Elm- For more about Love Your plus a neighbouring street. All help is grately received. bridge Guardian paper in June. Library Day visit www.friend- Around 240 pupils currently leave sofmoleseylibrary.co.uk Please email MoleseySteve@ gmail.com if you can help. Molesey’s four primary schools each year and have to travel to neighbouring Esher High or Rydens Academy in Walton (or further). This adds to the congestion on the roads whereas a school in Molesey would be in walking or cycling dis- tance and be a healthier option. senior school again, after a 30 year that it believes it can address the This is also an issue about Mole- gap since its last one was closed. demand by expanding existing sey, a not insubstantial town, being The initial issues for debate are schools and does “not feel there is a able to ‘stand on its own two feet’ where a school might it be sited and basic need for additional secondary by providing for its own children how it would be funded. school places in the Moleseys”. rather than having to bus them out I raised the matter with Cllr. Linda So the way forward may be for to neighbouring districts. Kemeny, who is responsible for local campaigners to appeal over Rising birthrates have sent the de- schools’ policy at Surrey County the heads of Surrey, and seek funds mand for school places soaring, and Council. She said the council is from the Government in order to Surrey County Council is respond- already providing 870 places in four open a Free School. ing by spending at least £261million Elmbridge secondary schools. The Molesey News will keep you to expand provision. It forecasts the demand to reach a updated on any progress, and you I am of the view that it is time for high point of 891 in 2015 but then can support the campaign by search- a serious consideration of whether fall to around 837 in 2019. ing for the Secondary School for Molesey should have a high quality The official line from Surrey is Molesey page on Facebook. MP Dominic Raab will be holding a public meeting at St Peter’s Church Hall, West Molesey on COMMUNITY Thursday September 26th, 7pm. Come and ask a question about any local or national issue. NEWS A FARMERS Market is to be held in Molesey town centre once a month from August Action at last on local roads until December. Stalls will be set up in Walton ESIDENTS of some of Molesey’s most Road between Tesco and the potholed and worn-out streets can Averna restaurant with the have some good news at last. R first event on Tuesday August Surrey County Council is spending £100 mil- 20th, 9am to 2pm. lion to overhaul and repair the roads network, David Jupp, of the Molesey and has announced that Molesey is to receive Business Association, said: substantial attention in this programme over the “This will be for a trial period next two years. and next year’s dates will be As part of the ‘Operation Horizon’ project of dependent upon its success.” road-works, Hurst Road, Hurst Lane, Bedster Please support the market Gardens, Bridge Road and Seymour Road are and spread the word. It will being resurfaced in the current municipal year. also be held on September This will be followed in 2014/15 by repairs 17th; October 15th; November to Grove Road, Kent Road, Palace Road and 19th and December 3rd. Wolsey Road in East Molesey, and also to Island Farm Road and Poole Road in West Molesey. GYPSIES who camped illegally During the spring election campaign this year at Molesey Hurst recreation I had the opportunity to meet and talk with sub- ground in June, moved on just stantial numbers of the electorate whilst canvass- hours before the council ob- ing door-to-door, and many residents told me tained a repossession order. that the deteriorating condition of the roads was Inspector David Hollingsworth a priority for them. said: “Throughout their stay, we received regular reports of anti- Lobbying roads requiring urgent maintenance. reappear in that time frame the company must social behaviour. Some of these Some Molesey streets like Island Farm Road In Surrey 17% of roads are classified as ‘poor’ bear the cost of their servicing, not the taxpayer. involved the children and when in the West, and Grove Road in the East side of and in need of structural repair - a surprising fact Other roads to be resurfaced this year include we provided words of advice the town are in a very shabby state and have been so in one of the nation’s wealthiest counties. First Avenue, Molesey Avenue and Langton behaviour improved.” for far too long a time. I have been lobbying at The administration took the difficult decision Road, plus Molesey Park Road, Poole Road and The council supplied a bin and County Hall over this issue and am glad that it’s to increase council tax by just under 2% in April Molesey Road, next year, and Orchard Lane, cleared the site after the travel- now being addressed seriously by the authority. to raise the revenue over the next four years to Boleyn Drive, The Crescent, Berkley Drive and lers left. Metal fence posts have The action from the Conservative adminstra- finance road repairs and as other pressing prob- Buckingham Avenue & Gardens in 2015. since been installed and a height tion at Surrey follows a study by the Automo- lems such as expanding educational provision. It is a relief to see that this area of Molesey’s barrier is being considered. bile Association last year which concluded that In Elmbridge, £9million will be spent on roads, infrastructure is at last being attended to. several seasons of unusually adverse weather with almost 30 miles being resurfaced in around Any issue about the structural condition of SOME 20,000 cyclists will race - involving a sustained battering from the ele- 100 separate projects. The council’s contract Molesey streets can be reported by emailing through Molesey on Sunday ments in the form of heavy rains, floods, and with May Gurney plc also involves a 10-year Surrey County Council at improvemyroad@ August 4th in an event echoing snow - had left nearly a fifth of the country’s warranty for its work, meaning that if potholes surreycc.gov.uk last year’s Olympics. Hurst Road will be closed for Garden party raises the roof the RideLondon-Surrey event, Mole Hall investment from 5am until around 4pm. I WELCOME Elmbridge Coun- Residents are reminded cil’s decision to double the money that cars parked on the event it is investing in Mole Hall. routes will be removed from The council had planned to spend midnight on Sunday morning. £200,000 to refurbish the hall in For more information go to - West Molesey’s Bishop Fox Way, http://www.gosurrey.info/ as part of plans to relocate Molesey Day Centre and Meals on Wheels HAMPTON Court Flower Show services there. judges have given their seal of But it has been able to secure an approval to the shops in Bridge extra £60,000 from Surrey County Road, East Molesey. Council, and will contribute more in They visited the local shops, cafes and restaurants on July 9 A MID-SUMMER’S garden very little outside funding and turn from its own budgets to boost and selected Ellu Amour clothes party raised an amazing £7,200 therefore it is beholden on us to the total to £400,000. and accessories store as the towards the restoration of St provide funding or watch it fall Cllr Christine Elmer, Conservative even turned into pitches for travel- winner of the best Flower Show Paul’s Church in East Molesey. into disrepair.” cabinet member for social affairs, lers! Some of this uncertainty seems themed window display. Ted and Deirdre Goddard Local people and businesses told me: “The extra money will to a degree to have been Lucinda Costello from the opened their garden in Palace donated over £2,000 of raffle allow us to install a got up irresponsibly by Royal Horticultural Society, Road to 300 guests on June 23, prizes and an artist painted a suspended ceiling “This will be a elements of the Molesey said: “To see such overwhelm- and charged £15 a head, with picture of St Pauls which the across the whole hall, high quality re- Residents Association, ing support for the Show within proceeds going to the church. subject of a Silent Auction. remove the heating but it has not helped at the the local community was a won- There are urgent repairs need- Guests also enjoyed a string stacks, provide ad- furbishment.” same time that the site fea- derful testament to the positive ed to the roof, spire and tower quartet band, wine, Pimms and ditional partitions and Cllr Christine low level windows, tured on a list drawn up by spirit of the area.” that will cost around £100,000. canapés. civil servants of possible Mrs Goddard said: “Many Mike Stephens of the Friends and new lighting. Elmer future development areas. A TV CREW recorded local of us take it for granted that of St Pauls said it had been “This will be a high However, having lobbied police officers arresting a sus- the church - this lovely piece of a “major success”in raising quality refurbishment. The work on the matter I have received assur- pected conman in Molesey. architecture at the heart of our awareness of St Pauls. is due to begin in October with the ances that the future of Mole Hall Elmbridge police and Trad- parish - will always be there for The total funds now raised for centre being operational next year.” is safe, and the signficant invest- ing Standards officers picked us. In fact our church receives the repairs stand £44,000. Christine (pictured above at Mole Hall) confirmed that hall hirers have ment of £400,000 should assuage up the individual in April been personally consulted on the any doubts (and gossip from certain on suspicion of defrauding changes, and will continue to be. green rosetted quarters) as to the vulnerable people out of thou- Molesey councillors have also councils’ commitment to the long- sands of pounds. been consulted via meetings with term future of Mole Hall. I am sure It was part of a crackdown officers and cabinet members and that it is here to stay. on rogue traders screened on the leader of the council. I recently went around its exterior July 29th and 30th on ITV. Elmbridge Council is making the with a concerned resident and pho- changes because Molesey Day Cen- tographed broken gutters and the LOCAL website Molesey and tre has outgrown its current home in damaged fencing and having drawn Ditton Mums has become a huge School Road and needs to expand. them to the Council’s attention success since it was launched by At the same time Mole Hall was had it confirmed that this will be a busy Molesey mum of three in being hired only 27% of the time, repaired with the refurbishment. March this year. but by combining the successful day The site is a place to share centre and the hall it is believed the MOLESEY Art Society mem- information and publicise events long term future can be secured of bers are holding an open air and is attracting around a thou- both. exhibition along the Towpath at sand unique visitors per month. There have been a few excitable Molesey Lock on Sunday August Check it out yourself by log- rumours going around that Mole 25th and Bank Holiday Monday ging on to www.moleseyanddit- Hall could be sold for housing or (26th) from 9am to 5pm. tonmums.co.uk

The Molesey News summer 2013 edition, published by Steve Bax and Esher & Walton Conservative Association of 3 Bridle Close, Kingston-Upon Thames using party funds.