Shepperton Matters

Christmas has been and gone, but we continue to live in a storm of political and economic upheaval and uncertainty. Hysterical idiots of all political persuasions bellow and boom at us, and seem unconnected to the world we actually live in.

Maybe you have put a new camera on your Christmas list. Maybe you have one sitting in a cupboard, but you default to your phone to take pictures because it is easier to understand.

One of only 12 Queens Award for Volunteering given out in Surrey, has been won by the Friends of Ash Link. This award is the equivalent of an MBE for voluntary groups.

Spelthorne has been busy marking the centenary throughout the borough. The Shepperton Memorial attracted record numbers in this centenary year when the Armistice was declared after the Great War.

Spelthorne has a lot to be proud of. Some amazing businesses were on show at the inaugural Spelthorne Business Awards at Shepperton Studios recently.

Shepperton Allotments is a little oasis of calm in the middle of the village and a haven for bees, insects and wildlife. Unless you know it is there, you can be forgiven for missing it. With Halliford School, the Greeno Rec and Manygate Lane bordering it, this piece of land is a treasure in the community.

Needless to say our article last month about preserving greenbelt provoked comment. Even if residents and residents associations were supportive of the development proposed on the old Bugle Nurseries site, the council was adamant that this was green belt so could not be touched.

A lot has happened in the year since the Shepperton Hedgehog Sanctuary started gaining more awareness. Sharon Johnson was caring the injured, abandoned or vulnerable hogs out of her house, trying to rehome them in carefully vetted gardens in the Spelthorne area.

It may have been a long hot and dry summer, but the local green fingered put on a great show as always at the Shepperton Horticultural Autumn Show. Kwasi Kwarteng himself is a member of this enthusiastic local group and presented the prizes.

As the new scholastic year starts, your little ones may be setting off on the adventure of a new school or a new term in fresh uniforms. Maybe they wish the holidays lasted longer. Maybe they even tell you they hate school. But imagine if there were no school.

This is a controversial subject! Should greenbelt ALWAYS be greenbelt? Are there any instances when perhaps the rule should be flexible and possibly be considered for development?