Welcome to the latest electronic newsletter.  If you have any questions or comments regarding the newsletter please e-mail us at news@spelthorne.gov.uk

News

Brooklands College - facts not fiction Spelthorne Council Leader John Packman started this week’s Cabinet meeting with a 20 minute clarification of the Council’s position regarding recent developments at Brooklands College, Ashford. The Council’s position has been, is, and continues to be, of total support for the College.

Spelthorne Council Allotment Awards 2009
Grants to voluntary organisations 2010/2011

More news in brief

Beyond the boundaries Spelthorne Borough Council was proud to host the launch of the Search Moves scheme on Thursday 3 December.  The new scheme allows those on the housing registers in Spelthorne, Elmbridge and Runnymede to see what properties are available for letting each fortnight in a freesheet available in council offices and local libraries, or on the dedicated Search Moves website www.searchmoves.org.uk.

Garden waste collection

We are now extending our garden waste collection service. Make sure you sign up quickly to avoid disappointment, as this offer is only available to 4,000 properties on a first come, first served basis.

Those already on the waiting list need not re-apply.

Christmas in Spelthorne

Information on Council Office opening times, refuse/recycling collection dates and events over the festive period.

Criminal waste

Following reports in this week’s press about the damage to Long Lane Recreation Ground and claims that Staines Albion Football Club believed the damage could have been prevented had they taken over maintenance of the grounds, Spelthorne Council have clarified the following:-

Staines Albion has used Staines Park for a number of years under a local arrangement with the Council.

Two pitches along with the changing facilities were identified at Long Lane. Staines Albion requested the same arrangement that they had at Staines Park i.e. they would cut the grass, mark the lines and at Long Lane they would clean and maintain the changing rooms (at no point was the flat considered by either the Council or Staines Albion).

As the Council do not have any other clubs self-managing their facilities (unlike bowls etc, it is not possible to fence football pitches as they are in the middle of the park) the Council offered Staines Albion the opportunity to hire the facilities.

It should be noted that the changing rooms were not vandalised but the damage to the mains water and electricity supplies that feed the undamaged changing rooms forced the closure.

The Council is working hard to get the facility back in working order.

Winter Art Open Day

There will be a Winter Art Open Day at the Resource Centre in Commercial Road Staines on Saturday 19 December from 10am until 2pm and it is FREE.

Come along and make wonderful pieces of art with a winter and festive theme. The session is open to all children aged 4-11years and their parents or carers who must stay throughout the session. For more information contact Leisure Services on 01784 446433.

Get Active - January sessions

Leisure Services are running a new programme to help children and young people between ages of 7-15 ‘Get Active’. The 10 week programme is aimed at children and young people who currently struggle to find the motivation or confidence to take part in physical activities and sport.  They will have support and encouragement from qualified coaches. For more information on the January sessions, to see if your child is eligible or to book place contact Leisure Services on 01784 446433 or e-mail leisure@spelthorne.gov.uk

Interactive Dance Mat sessions

12 January – 23 March (exc. half term 16 February)
Age: primary school years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Time: Tuesday 4pm - 4.45pm
Venue: Spelthorne Leisure Centre - Studio
Cost: £10 per course.

Age: secondary School years 7, 8, 9 and 10
Time: Tuesday 4.45-5.30pm
Venue: Spelthorne Leisure Centre - Studio
Cost: £10 per course.

Sport and Physical Activity taster sessions

12 January – 23 March (exc. half term 16 February)
Age: Primary School years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Time: Tuesday 5-6pm
Venue: Mathew Arnold Sports Centre – Sports Hall
Cost: £10 per course.

Age: Secondary School years 7, 8, 9 and 10 - 14 January – 25 March (exc. half term 18 February)
Time: Thursday 5-6pm
Venue: Mathew Arnold Sports Centre – Sports Hall
Cost: £10 per course.

MEND – New Programme starts in January

MEND (‘Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do it!’) is a national programme for children age 7-13 who would like to adopt a healthier lifestyle. It’s free and fun and will help children become fitter, healthier and happier. The programme consists of twice weekly sessions for 10 weeks (2 hours per session) and includes weekly games and activities, interactive sessions that teach parents easy effective ways to improve the children’s behaviour and his/her self confidence, practical demonstrations and tips about healthy food as well as a supermarket tour and a chance to try delicious new foods. The scheme requires the commitment of a parent/guardian to attend all the sessions with the children and to help them carry out what they have learnt at home.

For more information on the scheme go to www.mendprogramme.org. The next programme starts on 11 January 2010, so for more information and to see if your child qualifies for the scheme based on age, weight and health contact Leisure Services on 01784 446433 or email leisure@spelthorne.gov.uk.

Fly-tipping

Fly-tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. It can vary in scale significantly from a bin bag of rubbish to large quantities. Fly-tipped waste may be found anywhere, such as roadsides, lay-bys, recreation grounds or on private land.

A wide variety of waste is fly-tipped including general rubbish, fridges and mattresses, garden waste, tyres and clinical waste and also waste from construction, demolition and excavation activities. A quarter of illegal dumping incidents dealt with by Spelthorne Borough Council involve this type of waste.

300 tons of illegally dumped waste is cleared by the Council each year, which is the same as the weight of 10 refuse collection vehicles.

Fly-tipping is a serious problem borough-wide. Fly-tipping adversely affects local environments threatening the health of rivers and recreation areas and even reducing property prices in the area.

Spelthorne Borough Council is now able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to anyone found not to have taken care to ensure that their waste is passed on to an authorised person.This could affect you if, for example, you have hired builders, gardeners or scrap metal merchants who take materials away from your house. If these materials are found as part of a fly-tip you could be liable and may get fined.

If you have any excess rubbish you can take it to the Recycling Centre (tip) in Charlton Lane, Shepperton (TW17 8QA) for disposal. There is no charge if you are disposing of general household waste and you are a Spelthorne resident.  

If you see anyone fly tipping, or are affected by the problem, contact: Natalie Jones or Maureen Findell (Streetscene Enforcement Officers) on 01784 446 411.

VAIS is coming to town

From February 2010, Voluntary Action in Spelthorne (VAIS) will be running its own ‘shop’ in the Elmsleigh Centre, Staines. The shop, which is initially open for a trial period, aims to promote and encourage participation in voluntary and community activities within the borough.  

VAIS ‘shoppers’ will be able to browse the Volunteer Centre’s wide range of volunteering opportunities, whilst staff will be on hand to offer assistance and to answer any queries.  

For local voluntary and community organisations, the ‘shop’ will provide an opportunity to showcase their activities to the public.  Additionally, VAIS can provide advice, information and support on important matters such as funding, governance and training.

Further details to follow, including the date of our big launch!  Or telephone the VAIS office at Community Link 01784 446358.

Spelthorne Together Assembly 2009 - Report

The annual Assembly meeting of Spelthorne Together (formerly the Local Spelthorne Partnership (LSP)) took place on 21 September 2009 at Spelthorne Leisure Centre.

'My Spelthorne'

My Spelthorne allows you to find out about the services and facilities in our Borough.  Simply set a location and use the my house, my nearest or my maps tabs to access a wealth of local information.

Recent planning applications

The provides a list of all the planning applications either validated or decided by us each week - View the planning applications

Job vacancies

Current job vacancies

Events

View the calendar of local events

Calendar of Council meetings

View the Calendar of Council Meetings

Publications

Borough Bulletin
Rubbish and recycling calendar

Follow us on Twitter

You can now follow us on Twitter, visit http://twitter.com/spelthornebc (external website)

Find us on Facebook

You can now find us on Facebook - visit www.facebook.com (external website) and search for 'Spelthorne Council'.

Roadworks in Spelthorne

Surrey County Council's website provides information on roadworks in Spelthorne.

Useful contacts for those having difficulty in the downturn

Money worries information page
Age Concern (external website) - 0800 009966
Citizens Advice Bureau (external website) - 01784 444220 or 01932 765041
Revenues Team (Council Tax and Business Rates) - 01784 446490
Housing Section - 01784 446380
Housing Benefits - 01784 446374

Partner links

Community web (external website)
DirectGov (external website)
Spelthorne Together
Surrey County Council (external website)
Surrey Alert (external website)
Surrey Police (external website)
Surrey PCT (external website)

Media links

Radio Jackie (external website)
Star FM (external website)
BBC Sussex and Surrey (external website)
Eagle Radio (external website)
Radio Wey (external website)
Staines and Ashford News (external website)