Essential health and safety tree pruning and tree removal works within The Wood, Oakhill Grove, Surbiton will be taking place from 11th June 2012 for 5 days.

Kingston’s green spaces have recently undertaken a health and safety tree survey by Kingston Council. During the survey a number of trees were found to be dead, dying and diseased. The trees need to be removed for health and safety reasons, whilst other trees in The Wood will be pruned.

The Wood will be closed to the public between 0800hrs – 1500hrs during the planned works.

Kingston Council’s Tree Strategy can be viewed on the council’s website – www.kingston.gov.uk. If you have any enquiries about these works or any other issue you can contact the council by telephoning our Customer Contact Centre on 020 8547 5002.

The construction of a new health building on the Surbiton Hospital site on Ewell Road is now well underway, and on track for opening in March 2013

NHS Kingston now needs a name for the new facility and they are keen to gather ideas from local people before making a decision. The name will need to be something that’s relevant, meaningful and clear for the staff and patients who will use the building.

If you have any suggestions please email them to communcations@kpct.nhs.uk by 5pm on Friday 11 May 2012, or call 020 8547 5557.

The intention of the NHS is to test the final list of suggestions during on-street testing with members of the public in relevant areas. The Surbiton development project board will then make a recommendation based on strength of support, appropriateness and the practicality of suggestions.

Life Changers Awards 2012 are now open for nominations! Life Changers Award is given each year to individuals, organisations, businesses and civic leaders who have distinguished themselves in various fields of endeavour (or profession). Life Changers Awards offers platforms to showcase, highlights and reward organisation, businesses, individuals and civic leaders alike for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

There are categories to suit every community, see their website for deta www.life-changers.org.uk and the closing date is 31st July 2012. Finalists will be selected at the beginning of August with the winners will be announced at Life Changers Awards 2012 on the 29th of September 2012.?

The Festival is a month of green-themed events and activities around Kingston borough, putting environmental and sustainability issues firmly in the spotlight. The Paint the Town Green Festival has been running for five years and is now the biggest environmental event in Kingston.

With events as varied as a public screening of environmental films through to gardening sessions, going green days, road shows and the broadcast of the first Kingston Green Radio, there’s sure to be something to interest everyone.

More and more organisations in the borough are working to protect our environment. From businesses taking significant steps to reduce their environmental impact, to schools, churches, charities and other community organisations joining national efforts to contribute to tackle climate change.

This year, the Paint the Town Green Festival will be promoting the borough’s Declaration on Sustainability, which brings focus on what is important in our borough and offers practical ideas on how each of us (businesses, charities, churches, schools and other local organisations) can contribute to a better future.

The Festival is your chance to join the growing number of organisations and businesses in the borough doing their bit for the environment and for a better quality of life.

For the full calender see Kingston Council website.

Thanks to Kingston Voluntary Action for producing this easy to use guide to the key Olympic events and their potential disruptions in Kingston. If you are planning to watch any of these, you will need to leave extra time for your journey by car or bus. Or you could walk or cycle!

Surbiton Hill Ward Councillors Neil Houston and Malcolm Self visited Lime Tree School and Surbiton Health Facility today with Edward Davey MP Kingston Council Deputy Leader Cllr Liz Green to see the progress on the building of the new school and health facility.

Lime Tree School will open in September 2012 with 90 reception pupils and 26 part-time nursery children.  The new health facility will open in Spring 2013.

You can really see the school taking shape now and get a feel for the space and facilities.  I am so pleased that the hard work over many years is coming to fruition.  I was surprised that the local Conservatives were against the building of a new school, but seeing it now and understanding the need for these extra places, I am sure even they will appreciate it.

says Cllr Neil Houston

The health centre is built by a different method and is not as far advanced but you can see it taking shape.  Residents tell us they are looking forward to the surgeries moving into the new building and the additional services it will offer.

I’d also like to thank the contractors Wilmott Dixon for their consideration of our neighbours. Despite the size of this construction project we have had only one complaint from local residents since the work began.

says Cllr Malcolm Self

Photos of Surbiton Hospital site

We have just been informed that Southern Gas Networks have started emergency works outside 23 Upper Brighton Road, Surbiton.

The works are for emergency repair to apparatus to stop gas escape.

It will be controlled by temporary traffic lights and is estimated to last for 5 days starting 25th April 2012.

Clearly it is very bad timing with the railway bridge still out of action, however these works would not be taking place unless Southern Gas felt they were necessary and urgent. Safety must come first despite the extra inconvenience it may cause to road users.

says Cllr John Ayles

Kingston Council produces a forward plan of key strategic decisions to be taken over the next 1 to 4 months. All decisions taken by Councillors are taken at public meetings and public participation is welcome and encouraged.

It is important that decisions that are taken by Councillors are transparent and open. This forward plan gives residents details of what will be happening so they can make their views known on some of the most strategic decisions.

says Cllr John Ayles

To see the latest forward plan visit the Kingston Council

Surbiton’s brand new school, Lime Tree Primary School, opening in September 2012, featured this week in an ITV News report on what local authorities are doing to help meet the demand for primary school places.

Lime Tree Primary is a key part of Kingston’s long-term strategy of providing additional school places. When fully open, the two-form entry school will cater for 420 pupils, as well as 21 pupils with Special Educational Needs.

Kingston was contacted by ITN News London Tonight as an example of a Local Authority who is providing solutions to the increase in the number of primary school places needed. I am proud of how we are responding and was very pleased to be interviewed so that Kingston can show all of London how being prepared is possible.

says Cllr Liz Green, Executive Member for Education for All

To see the ITV News story please follow the link below. You will also find a link to more information about Kingston’s Primary School Expansion Strategy.

ITN NEWS: Primary school squeeze: the solutions?

On 3rd May London will elect it’s next Mayor and Greater London Assembly (GLA)members. There are 3 elections in one for London possitions:

• London Mayor
• GLA Constituency member for Kingston, Richmond and Hounslow
• GLA Londonwide members (party list)

To read what the London Liberal Democrat Candidates – including Brian Paddick for Mayor and Munira Wilson for Kingston’s constituency – stand for and what they promise to achieve if elected, see their manifesto