Working for the residents in the South of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames
A substantial redevelopment project at Cox Lane and David Road on the Chessington Industrial Estate has been approved by Kingston’s planning committee. The existing structures, many of which are vacant, were found to be inadequate for modern industrial requirements and consequently been earmarked for updating. According to the planning report, the proposed development aims to introduce flexible industrial space catering to a wide range of industries.
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CDRA has applied for one of the National Trust’s Tree of Hope initiative’s sycamore saplings. The initiative is about finding inspiring ways to ensure the legacy of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree lives on. They are gifting 49 saplings to communities around the country. CDRA’s wish is that, if successful, the sapling will be presented to Citizen Zoo for planting at Tolworth Court Farm.
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It was encouraging to hear from our Safer Neighbourhood Team that crimes in Chessington, Hook and Malden Rushett during the last quarter have been low. The most frequent crime was motor vehicle theft. The team has organised, attended and/or been involved in several local events including weapons sweeps, and a Violence Against Women and Girls event. They obtained a warrant for a dangerous dog offence, arrested a male for a potential knife assault, and returned numerous motor vehicles to their owners.
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We have previously reported on the excellent OOH service that we had at weekends. It used to be that on Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays if you needed a GP appointment you could ring Kingston GP Chambers, and they would give you an appointment at the nearest surgery available. This has now changed and, sadly, is a reduced service.
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This glorious Local Nature Reserve on our doorstep was rife with rumours about its future among local dog walkers. So, the newly formed Neighbourhood Watch Dog Watch met up with Ben Stockwell of Citizen Zoo and RBK’s diversity officer Elliot Newton, on a visit to learn more about its fascinating history and future plans.
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Do you provide care or support for someone who suffers from a mental health difficulty? If so, you may find joining Kingston Mental Health Carers’ Forum (KMHCF) helpful. As a community of unpaid carers with loved ones who are struggling, KMHCF can provide one-to-one advice, monthly carers support groups, updates on new services. Membership is free.
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We read in the Kingston Society newsletter that the old cattle market in Kingston is up for sale. Do you remember the days when a very large market was held there each Monday? It was brilliant! Now it is just a car park. Like the Kingston Society, we are unsure why this site was not evaluated in tandem with the adjacent new leisure centre development.
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During the spring, the council sought your feedback on the draft aspirations for the Market Place in Kingston’s town centre and improvements you would like to see in the future. Your feedback is being used to create a brief to find an operator for the space. The council expects to select and appoint the operator by the end of this year. The lease would then start from April 2025 when the current market operator lease expires.
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On 15th July, Kingston Council hosted an event to celebrate Tolworth Court Farm’s vision of becoming one of London’s leading nature reserves. The event featured a series of talks about the Wild Tolworth Rewilding Project. This project aims to transform the nature reserve by maximising biodiversity to make it a valuable nature reserve for wildlife and local communities.
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Kingston Hospital is planning to merge with Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare later this year, subject to NHS England and Secretary of State approval. Join this online meeting to hear from NHS speakers about the plans and ask your questions.
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