NEWS UPDATE

December 2001 Edition 4

Firstly, the Committee would like to assure all of our Members that we are still here and still working for you ! Chessington Hall Residents' Association Committee Members have not been "banned" from attending Kingston Council Meetings.

All Council Meetings are open to the public and anyone can attend. The only meeting affected is Housing Consultative Committee (HCC). We had 2 seats and 1 vote at Community Services Overview Panel. HCC is a "consultative" Committee and usually "rubber stamps" recommendations by Council Officers. It is very unusual for HCC to go against a recommendation.

Chessington Hall are not affiliated to the National Federation of Residents' Associations. Derrick Johnson is Chairman of the Federation of Residents' Associations. CHRA is not a member of this Federation - we have not been invited to renew our Membership, nor have we done so.

This matter was not just about our Newsletter (printed by RBK on that awful pink paper !) and the printing of it. It concerns funding (or lack of it).

We have still not received from RBK the money that was promised to us in April 2001 It concerns the missing minutes taken by RBK at our AGM on 15th March 2001. We are still waiting for those minutes . . .

It concerns RBK's failure to respond to our complaint that the Federation did not invite us to their AGM on 4th July 2001, whilst we were still Members.

We promised in our last News Update to keep you informed about RBK’s proposal to build a children’s play area on the redundant drying area behind some of the flats in Garrison Lane & York Way.

We are now able to tell you that RBK have withdrawn the plans Thank you to everyone who wrote to Planning about the proposal.

On 23rd August, 2001, Hutchison 3G (A mobile ‘phone Company) submitted a Planning Application to erect a 15 metre (about 48 feet in old money !!) mast, plus the associated cabinets etc, at Chessington Golf Club.

Residents soon realised that this would mean a mast practically in their back gardens.

Residents from Hunting Gate Drive (not actually part of our RA

but we are more than happy to help !) and Residents in Selby Close were quick off the mark and brought this matter to the attention of the Committee.

1. Firstly, on 3rd September 2001, we visited the Planning Department at RBK to view the Application.

2. We then prepared a letter from the Committee and another for any local person who was opposed to the mast to sign.

That was the circular letter, which many of you asked for.

Our reasons for objecting were the following:-

a. There is insufficient information regarding such ‘phone masts and their potentially damaging effects.

b. There are three local schools - Chessington Community College,

Ellingham Primary School and

St. Philips School.

c. Property values would be adversely affected. People will not buy properties where there are ‘phone masts nearby.

d. Such a mast would significantly and adversely affect our amenities

and quality of life.

e. A mast would cause serious anxiety about the potential health effects and there would be an adverse visual impact.

3. After delivering the letters to RBK we decided to email Hutchison 3G with our request for them to withdraw the application. We also went on-line and visited many Websites with information about ‘phone masts and their potential dangers.

On Friday, 14th September 2001, we learned, to our delight, that RBK had refused the application on the grounds that it would impact on the visual amenity of Residents. We will keep you informed of any further developments - those of you with Web Access can follow what is happening on line - Remember you can find us at

 E G M - 4th October 2001

CHRA held an EGM on 4th October 2001, at which the Mayor Jeremy Thorn was invited to speak to Residents about his Charity Fund Appeal. The Mayor firstly told Residents that he had invited Kieron & Chris to his Charity Fund launch and that they had asked how CHRA could help his appeal. He went on to say that he felt his function was to be an effective a bridge as possible between the Borough and the Council, feeling that the Mayor should always be “visible”. He told us that it was important he came to see people - be it large groups or smaller numbers of people such as at our EGM.

The Mayor said that CHRA talked about the same things as the Council, for example, problems with Continental Landscapes. He told us he often wondered which continent it was that they came from ! He had chosen children’s charities for his Appeal. He explained firstly about the Archway Trust, which is a counselling service offering help on everything from panic attacks to drug abuse.

Archway Trust are a very small charity.

Riding for the Disabled he felt was explained by its title.

The Hospice Charity, the Shooting Star Trust Children’s Hospice Appeal, is a charity offering a hospice for dying children. The Mayor suggested holding our own small fund raising events.

We took a collection, raising £41.15 in cash, which was presented to the Mayor.

Many of us have been having problems with rubbish collection - either our bins are not emptied or rubbish is left strewn about after SITA have finished. Not to mention the fact that we never know when the bin men will arrive. We’ve also had trouble with black sacks being left on the pavement by the bin men, blocking the pavement and forcing pedestrians to walk in the road.

Chris went to an Environment Overview Panel Meeting, where Residents were able to voice their concerns to SITA. SITA have promised to clean up their act . . . . . Please remember, any bin related problem can be reported to RBK on 8547 5560.

Please do report problems - I know it’s a pain and to have to speak to an answer-‘phone is unsatisfactory, but ........

Some of you may remember the incident of 5th January, 2001, at the Balti Express by Chessington South Station. There was an incident which resulted in a racially motivated, serious assault on one of the staff. Those of you who came to the EGM on 4th October will have heard Chris speak about the situation.

The 3 youths involved in the assault finally pleaded guilty to lesser charges. Unfortunately we don’t know what those charges were, nor do we know what the penalties were. We understand one youth, who has no previous convictions (despite the fact he regularly “hung out” with the troublemakers), has been given a conditional discharge.

As all this happened in the Youth Court, which is not open to the Public or Press, we cannot give you any more information.

Since then, the same youths were involved in an assault, in York Way, on a Bransby Road Resident, and his brother. The assault took place on Friday 25th May (Spring Bank Holiday Weekend )

The court case on 22nd November 2001, in Kingston Youth Court, resulted in one of these same youths being found guilty.

At last, South West Trains seem to be listening to their “customers”, with the result that there is now a train which leaves Chessington South Station at 6.33 am. What SWT don’t seem to take on board is the need for this train to run on WEEKDAYS not just at the weekend ! Weekday trains run from 6.48 am.

Trains run on Sundays half hourly from 9.03 am to 8.03 pm

But now, a “thank you” to Surbiton SWT who have splendid disabled access. ’Phone 0845-6000-650 for info. on disabled access at stations.

Some of you have asked us to reprint contact ‘phone numbers so here they are :-

Chris Orton - the Publicity Officer

(8397 2500)

Kieron Kirk - the Chairman

(8391 4607).

The Residents’ Association can be e.mailed at