Latest news with #Spelthorne
BBC News
15-06-2025
- BBC News
Police dispersal order in place in Spelthorne
A disposal order has been put in place in Spelthorne to tackle anti-social behaviour, police have order gives officers the power to order groups of people to leave an area if they are suspected of committing, or being likely to commit, a criminal offence or anti-social behaviour. Surrey Police said officers would be patrolling the area while the order was in place until 23:59 BST on Sunday. "Anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated across our county," The force wrote on Facebook. "We will deal with offences robustly." The force urged anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour or crime in the area to get in contact.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Kempton Park still at risk of closure as developers have option to build houses on famous track until 2030
KEMPTON PARK is still at risk of being closed and knocked down for housing. The Jockey Club announced in January 2017 they were selling off the racecourse to developers in a bid to raise £100 million. 2 2 But the track was given a reprieve when those plans hit the buffers in the face of opposition from Spelthorne Council and a number of high-profile racing industry figures. So the Jockey Club sold an 'option to purchase' to builders Redrow in September 2018, Sunracing can reveal, meaning they can buy the land for development during a set timeframe whenever they want for a pre-agreed price. The expiry date on the agreement is in 2028, though it can be extended a further two years if Redrow express interest in going ahead with the purchase of the 230-acre site, either in its entirety or part of it. The Jockey Club has not hidden its desire to sell off land at Kempton for housing to raise much needed funds, and in February 2020 they announced revised plans to develop on part of the site which would not involve demolishing the home of the King George. But those plans were also scuppered by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Jockey Club remains in a deep financial hole, with the last set of accounts published last summer showing they have around £54 million of debt. Spelthorne Council said eight years ago the site was unlikely to be considered for housing eight as it was deemed 'strongly performing' green belt land. But the new Labour government has relaxed planning laws to encourage house building, with the aim to build 1.5 million new homes before the next election. The Jockey Club dismissed recent speculation on social media that the racecourse was to be closed at the end of next year, but there is a desperate need for housing in Surrey and Redrow is still interested in developing the site, for all they have yet to trigger their option to buy the land. A Redrow spokesperson said: 'We have an agreement with the Jockey Club to promote Kempton Park for development, lasting until 2030. 'Since this agreement was made, we have been reviewing whether the site, or parts of it, could assist with the delivery of much needed new housing in Surrey.' The Jockey Club said: "Since 2018, Redrow have had the exclusive right to promote Kempton Park as a potential site for residential development, lasting until 2028. "Since the agreement came into effect it has been entirely normal procedure for there to be ongoing discussions to see if the site, or parts of it, could play a part in addressing the need for houses in the local area. "Given the recent changes in wider planning policy, it is no surprise that those discussions are continuing, but in real terms there has been no change in Kempton Park's status.' . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
South Western Railway delays harm Surrey school attendance
Pupils are being recorded as late to school due to consistent railway delays in Surrey, according to an Jopp told the House of Commons that schoolchildren in his Spelthorne constituency who used South Western Railway to get to school are recorded as late on attendance registers that "follow them throughout life".The 07:58 BST service from Sunbury to Shepperton – used by "a lot" of pupils – was recently cancelled four times in six days, the Conservative MP Western Railway apologised for any disruption experienced. Jopp asked Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander if the government would "commit to improving the reliability and punctuality of that section of the line" when it nationalises South Western Railway on 25 cabinet minister responded that the government was "determined to turn this situation around" when it takes over from current operators First Group and said: "We have inherited an abject mess from the train operating company, who over six years have failed to get the new fleet of Arterio 701 trains into service." South Western Railway began operating the first of its new Class 701 trains in rail operator – which runs services between London Waterloo and Hampshire, Surrey, Wiltshire, Dorset, Berkshire and Devon – said its rollout of the Arterio fleet in April was taking "longer than expected".It ordered 90 trains costing £1bn in 2017, which were originally due in service from 2019."Many of the 98 stations the Arterio will serve were built more than 150 years ago, and we have a challenge interfacing the train to some of our older platforms, given their design," a spokesperson said."While the further delay has been frustrating, we now have a way forward that will see increasing numbers of customers enjoying increased capacity and comfort of the Arterio through the rest of 2025 and beyond."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Spelthorne by-election set as councillor steps down
A by-election is set to be held in Surrey in June after a councillor who recently moved to Cornwall announced her decision to stand Rybinski, a Conservative councillor for the Ashford Town ward on Spelthorne Borough Council, said she needed "to focus on [her] expanding family" after recently announcing she was expecting her third said the lack of any maternity leave for councillors, left her with "no choice but to resign", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Boughtflower, leader of the Conservative group, said Rybinski was an "outstanding councillor" who would be "hugely missed". Spelthorne Borough Council said if there were multiple candidates for the Ashford Town borough ward, voters could take to the polls between 07:00 and 22:00 BST on 19 to register to vote must be received by 3 June, the council said.
BBC News
08-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Government steps in to help run Spelthorne Borough Council
Government-appointed commissioners are to intervene in running a Surrey council with debts of more than £1 McMahon, Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said the government had appointed officials to oversee Spelthorne Borough interventions come after government inspectors expressed concerns over its record of implementing recommendations from external auditors and from the Local Government leader Joanne Sexton said the council was "determined to address the challenges facing the authority" and would work "collaboratively with the commissioners to ensure long-term improvement in the areas highlighted". Under the intervention, which will last until May 2030, commissioners Lesley Seary, Peter Robinson, Deborah McLaughlin and Mervyn Greer will oversee changes to council services to deliver "value for money and financial sustainability".Commissioners will be in place until January 2026, at which point their role will be of March 2023 Spelthorne's debt stood at nearly £1.1 authority was found to have the second highest level of debt for a district or borough council in England, after nearby Woking, relative to its size.A letter from the government to Daniel Mouawad, Spelthorne's chief executive, says the commissioners will aim to close budget shortfalls and reduce the council's "exceptionally high level of external borrowing".Costs for the commissioners will be met by the council rather than the government, Mr McMahon inspection of the authority in January found the council had a "culture of optimism bias", lacked consistent leadership, and did not have the awareness to identify issues or areas for some degree the authority had been "blindsided" by the financial situation, the inspection report added.A council spokesperson added that most decisions would continue to be made by the local authority, but with the oversight of the commissioners.
