++++++ News from your Molesey Conservative councillors ++++++ MAGICAL MOLESEY Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Magical Molesey T to kick off the festivities. This year’s event is on Wednesday H December 2nd in Molesey town E centre, from 5pm-7pm, with Molesey News fun for all the family. Issue 19: Autumn 2015 Editor: Steve Bax | Email: [email protected] | Web: www.moleseyconservatives.com | Twitter: @MoleseySteve STEVE Molesey SAYS: Hospital Hello and welcome to the Autumn Molesey News. I am Councillor Steve Bax and I edit this newsletter on behalf of the Molesey Conservative critical! Residents political group. Local NHS considers I hope you had an enjoyable summer, even if it may feel plan to close hospital like a distant memory now. OLESEY'S 120-year-old Your Molesey Conservative coun- Molesey Conservative councillor, One highlight for me was community hospital could cillors met with retired doctor Ken Dr Peter Szanto, whose wife used to being asked to represent the Mbe closed under new pro- Brown, chairman of the Molesey work for the NHS, visited Molesey Mayor of Elmbridge in the posals by the local health authority. Hospital League of Friends to discuss Hospital on November 5th. annual Riparian Challenge, Surrey Downs Clinical Commis- options for saving the hospital. He was assured staff will not lose part of the Great River Race. sioning Group (CCG) has reviewed Ken said the report is very thorough their jobs if Molesey Hospital closes, That meant being a inpatient and outpatient services at and will be difficult to challenge, but and that the CCG recognises that passenger in a boat rowed the community hospitals in its area he noted that the Elmbridge Commu- lack of public between Molesey and by Peter, Russell and Bob of (Molesey, New Epsom and Ewell nity Medical Team - a pilot scheme Cobham is a major issue. the Dittons Skiff and Punting Community Hospital, Dorking, Leath- where GPs, nurses and healthcare pro- The consultation is expected to Club from the Isle of Dogs to erhead and Cobham). fessional work with elderly residents start in mid November and last for Ham, taking in the amazing It has drafted four options which in the community - is now based at 12 weeks. We will publicise via our scenery of the Thames. will go out to public consultation, Molesey Hospital. newsletter and website. and two involve closing Molesey Ken added: "I hear that it is going Ken Brown said: “The best thing the I’m pleased to report that Hospital and transferring its 18 beds well and Dr Jill Evans (leading the people of Molesey can do at this stage the crew did Elmbridge to Cobham Hospital, which would team) considers that Molesey Hospi- is to make their voices heard at this proud and finished a very become the new community hub for tal is a good site for the community public consultation.” creditable second out of all East Elmbridge. hub. If so, it is a good argument for Surrey Downs CCG can be contact- the boroughs. The review states its overall aim as the retention of the Hospital." ed by email to contactus.surreydown- On the Molesey political ensuring services are "high quality; However the Friends say Molesey [email protected] or by post to: Surrey scene Cllr Szanto and I have delivered in line with best practice; Hospital's upkeep has been neglected Downs Clinical Commissioning n Cllr Szanto at been occupied by a variety of and will meet the changing needs" of for some time, and its offers to re- Group, Cedar Court, Guildford Road, Molesey Hospital issues from Molesey Hospital the Surrey Downs population. place equipment have been rejected. Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 9AE. (see main article) to assisting residents with planning matters, meeting Glenlyn to Shell garage 24 raise patient concerns, and Scouts controversial HQ plan hour alcohol bid grilling Elmbridge’s new THE 1st Molesey (Jaguar) Sea SHELL garage in Hurst Road and under-performing green Scout group is dividing opinion caused alarm in August when spaces contractor. in the town over its plans for a it applied to Elmbridge Coun- We also questioned Surrey two-storey Water Activity Centre cil for a licence to sell alcohol Highways on how Molesey at Hurst Meadow. around the clock. can use next year’s parking The 106-year-old group had a Cllr Steve Bax, who sits review to address long headquarters at the Thames close to on the council’s Licensing standing issues like commuter the Molesey Reservoirs, from the Committee raised residents’ parking, and I am working on mid 1930s until the 1990s when it concerns about anti-social residents’ behalf to pressure was evicted by Thames Water to behaviour with officers. Heathrow to tackle ongoing make way for gravel extraction. Motor Fuels Ltd, who were noise blight over Molesey. Their old site has since become applying on the Shell garage’s Cllr Szanto and I are a nature reserve and discussions behalf, then curbed their looking forward to taking between the scouts, Elmbridge request to 10pm in line with part in the Remembrance Council and Thames Water over the neighbouring Tesco and were services and to being active years have failed to find an alterna- accepted by the council. on your behalf in the run up tive riverside location. vessel from the early 20th Century, Mr Quinn explained it currently The garage is subject to to Christmas. The group, which takes its name is now seeking public support for takes two hours to transport boats 11 conditions ranging from from HMS Jaguar, a Royal Navy a long narrow waterside building and children from the scouts’ HQ at CCTV to age checks, training and boat storage adjacent to the tow 193 Walton Road to the riverside, and storage restrictions and path at Hurst Meadow, within easy so a facility by the water would be a could lose its licence if it fails distance of Sadlers Ride car park. major improvement for the group. to adhere to the rules. The facilities would include room Alternative sites could be land next Cllr Bax said: “It was clearly for manoeuvring boats, plus chang- to the Sadlers Ride car park which inappropriate for the garage ing room and showers, a briefing was recently used by the Environ- to be selling alcohol so late room and waste tank. ment Agency for storage, or further into the night. I am glad that But it would entail building on upstream, perhaps at the former common sense prevailed. unspoilt wilderness Hurst Park School site. “We want the garage to be and the felling of Cllr Bax said: “The viable but also to do the right three trees, which the “It is a question community in Molesey thing by the community.” group has promised of finding the has always supported to replace. right location.” our scout groups, and The Friends of would support the idea Hurst Park and of a new waterside HQ. numerous residents have stated their “But the question is where. I don’t opposition due to the location. believe the current location is right Cllr Steve Bax met with 1st and will encourage the Council and Molesey scout leader Liam Quinn in the scouts to explore alternatives.” September to discuss the plans and The project would cost £500,000, the community’s concerns. mainly paid by Sport England. This newsletter Dish, 3 Bridge Road, East Molesey, KT8 9EU. Tel: 020 8941 1095. is sponsored by We are open from 6am Monday to Sunday so join us for breakfast COMMUNITY Answers needed over aircraft noise NEWS YEAR has passed since Heathrow KENT’S Chemist in East Airport suspended the airspace trials Molesey has been Grade II A which had brought an unprecedented listed by Historic England. level of noise and disruption to Molesey. The shop in Walton Road Cllr Steve Bax and Dominic Raab MP were was inspected earlier this able to secure the agreement of Heathrow direc- year and praised as a “rare tor Nigel Milton to curtail the trials early, rather survival” of 19th Century shop than allow them continue through Christmas. architecture. Since then Heathrow Airport Ltd, the airport It falls outside of Molesey’s operator, has continued to maintain that air traf- Kent Town Conservation Area fic has returned to pre-trials patterns, which is at but was felt worthy of special odds with residents’ (often daily) experiences. attention. Steve was appointed Elmbridge’s representa- tive on the Heathrow Community Noise Forum ELMBRIDGE is backing a (CNF) earlier this year and receives a steady Surrey Waste Partnership to stream of correspondence from residents of Matt Gorman, as well as the National Air Traffic aircraft are “flying slightly lower”. increase the amount of food Molesey, Esher, Walton, Thames Ditton, Claygate Service (NATS) and Civic Aviation Authority He added: “We are absolutely prepared to take waste being recycled. and Hinchley Wood, complaining that planes are (CAA) to acknowledge the noise problem and a lead on engaging airlines about their behaviour In October and November getting lower and louder, or flying over at night. commit to doing something about it. practices.” teams from Keep Britain Then, at the most recent CNF meeting on No- Steve will continue to work with CNF to pres- Tidy have been delivering a Incessant noise vember 5th, tensions bubbled to the surface with sure Heathrow, NATS and CAA to take action leaflet about the importance of We often hear how Heathrow is the engine of the Teddington Action Group (TAG) reading out a over aircraft noise, and is due to meet Heathrow recycling food along with a free the London economy and vital for jobs, but we statement on behalf of councillors and campaign- director Nigel Milton again in mid November.