Communities - Chertsey

Do latest shop closures spell end of Chertsey 'high street'?

2009-11-10T21:34:26Z

One of Chertsey's oldest shops - Ethel Taylor greengrocers - is closing due to the recession, as another soon-to-be-ex-trader declares the high street "dead".

Ron Taylor, the 82-year-old owner of Ethel Taylor in London Street, is to call time on his well known and much loved family business after Christmas following two difficult years of trading.

]]> The business was established in 1882 by William Taylor, and the current owner - his grandson - has worked there for 67 years.

Ron said: "I had a bad year last year and a bad year this year. I've got used to the recession, we were jogging along a bit better recently, but at my age it is getting much harder to manage.

"I wouldn't let my family take on the business, I couldn't make it work, and I told them that they would make better money elsewhere which they have."

A member of Ron's staff said: "All the shops in Chertsey are gradually going, I noticed a dip in trade after the Antiques shop closed, that brought a lot of trade to the town.

"People just go to the supermarkets, a lot of young people don't even know how to cook vegetables. It's sad that the shop is closing, it's just another thing going, but it has been long time coming.

Also calling it a day is Denise Evans of the children's craft centre Crafties in neighbouring Guildford Street.

The 42-year-old owner said: "The close has been coming all year, but in the summer I finally thought I wouldn't carry on, and now my heart isn't in it. I've been here four years and I'm still to take a wage, this year has been particularly bad, it's not even paying its way.

"It has been very upsetting, I absolutely love this place, if I could keep going I would.

"My regulars are very upset, I've seen children grow up here, they came in as babies and now their off to school in their uniforms. My children will miss it too, they have a social network of friends that come here after school."

Denise thinks the demise of Woolworths and the Chertsey Book Shop were the turning point for the town, adding: "There is no passing trade in Chertsey now, the high street is dead."

What do you think? Is Chertsey town centre dead? Can anything be done to bring the customers back? Post your comments below.

Council won't spend a penny on toilets

2009-11-10T21:28:53Z

People calling for a public toilet in Chertsey are furious that plans for new loos have been panned by Runnymede Council.

More than 50 residents signed a petition, which former county councillor Ray Lowther (pictured) took to Runnymede Council earlier this year, calling for new public toilets after Sainsbury's closed its lavatories due to repeated vandalism.

]]> Despite the signatures, the council said it could not afford to provide any loos and that it would ask businesses in the town to allow people to use theirs, but traders are not so keen on the idea.

Mr Lowther said: "The idea that there are no public toilets in a town the size of Chertsey with as much historical interest as Chertsey has is just daft. People need to be able to use the toilets and it shouldn't fall on traders to have to open their doors to anyone who needs to go."

In a letter to the petition's organiser, Leslie Condon, Runnymede Council's head of engineering, Steve Fuggles, said: "We know that, ideally, the public should have easy access to good quality toilets for the general health and well being of the whole community.

"The council considered the limited options for providing public toilets in Chertsey, including taking over the maintenance of the Sainsbury toilets. Unfortunately, in the current financial climate, the council is unable to take on this additional cost."

He added that officers were considering asking traders to allow the public to use their toilets, as well as asking Sainsbury's to reconsider opening theirs.

But Sainsbury's said that it was unlikely to reopen the facilities because the repeated vandalism was costing them too much money. And other business owners believe it is not their responsibility to open up their toilets for people who are not paying customers.

Pam Philbey, manager of FARA charity shop in Guildford Street said: "This is not a good idea. We only have a minimal area and we will be at risk of crime. Sorry to those who would like a public toilet, but it is not our responsibility."

And a member of staff from Goodies restaurant in Windsor Street added that once when they allowed people to use their toilets, £700 was stolen, so they would not be doing it again.

Does Chertsey need public toilets? Should the council pay, Sainsbury's or someone else?

Baby Joshua and brave mum take to airwaves

2009-11-10T20:45:11Z

A Woking toddler battling a rare cancer and his mum were praised for their fighting spirit when they appeared on Radio Wey last week.

Little Joshua Deller, who is 17-months-old, and mum Amy, were guests of DJ Stuart Jones at the Radio Wey studios on November 4 based at St Peter's Hospital in Guildford Road, Chertsey.

]]> Amy told listeners about the family's ordeal since Joshua was diagnosed a rare childhood cancer known as neuroblastoma on Christmas Eve last year, and his recent trip to the United States where he underwent the first round of antibody treatment.

Mrs Deller, 29, was described as "A brick," by Mr Jones, the chairman of Radio Wey, who added: "I just hope things keep going well, Joshua gets his treatment, and next year he is back here with us again."

and after the show Amy spoke in detail to The Herald about the antibody therapy that will reduce the risk of relapse and improve Joshua's chances of survival from 20 per cent to 50 per cent.

"We had no choice but to go to America. It has been very stressful," she said. "He is a little fighter, since we've been out of hospital he's really blossomed, he's doing things that all little boys his age are doing.

"Although we can't tell if there has been an improvement in his health, if he doesn't relapse the treatment will have worked, if he does relapse there is no cure."

Ironically the £100,000 treatment will be available on the NHS from next year, and Amy said: "The national health is funding a similar treatment next year, but we need it now."

Having had the first in a series of eight sessions of the antibody therapy Joshua was home for just a few weeks before the family flew out again on Saturday for the next round of treatment.

Despite the psychical toll of travelling thousands of miles with a baby and the financial stress of having to fund-raise hundreds of thousand of pounds by March next year, the emotional turmoil has been a terrible strain on both Amy and dad Stephen Deller, 37, who live in Knaphill Woking.

Amy said: "One of the side effects from the treatment is intense pain, the medication stimulates the nervous system. Eight to 10 minutes after the infusion he was in terrible pain, which they can't control, it was very distressing, my husband and I both cried. Even though you are told about the effects nothing prepares you for that."

The Deller's still have to raise £200,000 to pay for the medical treatment that could save his life. To donate please visit www.justgiving.com/joshua-appeal

For more details join the facebook group The Joshua Deller Appeal - Help Me Beat Neuroblastoma Cancer

Chertsey's public enemy walks free from court

2009-11-09T21:55:40Z

A man dubbed Chertsey 'public enemy number one' has dodged jail despite breaching his antisocial behaviour order (ASBO) with a string of offences including breaking into a church.

Darren Turner, 25, was branded his 'own worst enemy and the worst enemy of your locality' by Judge Peter Moss, after hearing that he consistently breached his ASBO and flew off the handle at figures of authority.

]]> He appeared at Guildford Crown Court for sentencing on 10 different offences and the breach of a suspended sentence order, but walked free.

Laura Plant, prosecuting, said that the first offences were committed in March when police went to speak to Turner at his Barker Road home.
When they searched his room, they found two separate bags of steroids and a small amount of cannabis on him.

Less than a month later, Turner, whose ASBO prevents him entering large parts of Surrey and using or threatening violence against anyone, was spotted cycling at Chertsey railway station. He refused to stop and became aggressive with the rail community officer.

Then on May 6 he breached his ASBO again when he was spotted by a police officer in Virginia Water, where he is banned from going. After failing to answer bail, police went to arrest him.

Ms Plant said: As he was being handcuffed he spat at the Community Support officer who was helping with is arrest."

Once in the police van, he kicked out, catching one of the officers on the hand. Then in June, Turner and an accomplice broke into St Michael's Church, Ashford. They kicked the door in, stole rosaries, the microphone and a large clock.

He admitted three charges of possession of drugs, two of breaching his ASBO, two of using threatening words or behaviour, two of assault on police officers and one of burglary. He was also in breach of a six month suspended sentence imposed for two previous ASBO breaches.

David Castle, defending, said: "He has a short fuse and difficulty accepting figures of authority and the police have a zero tolerance policy as far as he is concerned."

Judge Moss said that a fair sentence of imprisonment would be no more than 18 months, and as Turner had already served 11 months, his hand's were tied.

He said: "You're a product of your own sad life. It is part of your own maladjusted personality and until you adjust it, you're going to be in conflict over and over again."

He sentenced him to a two year community order with supervision, a 12 month drug rehabilitation programme and a three-week curfew between 8pm and 5.30am.

Charity Cards at Chertsey Museum

2009-11-05T16:27:12Z

In response to popular demand Chertsey Museum is again selling charity Christmas cards. This year the Museum has joined forces with the White Lodge Centre and there are 16 different designs on sale. Prices range from £2.99 to £3.75 for packs of 10.

The Christmas cards are on sale in the Museum shop during opening hours until 23 December.

Memory Machine

2009-11-05T16:21:21Z

Chertsey Museum is hosting a Creative Community project, Memory Machine, for three weeks this month from 7th to 28th.

Memory Machine is an audio visual art installation which explores the townscape of Addlestone using informal interviews combined with animation, sound and film. A series of thoughts and stories from the older generation have been filtered through the eyes and ears of young people. All the film footage and sound recording has been made by young people from Addlestone Youth Centre, through a series of workshops with composer Simon McCorry.

]]> The aim of the project throughout has been to allow people to express themselves honestly in a relaxed environment and for young people to explore the media of film and sound.

For further information about Memory Machine and Creative Communities across Surrey, please visit www.creativecommunities.co.uk

Popular grandmother dies age 78

2009-11-02T17:26:04Z

A MUCH loved grandmother had 600 people attend her funeral in Chertsey on Wednesday (October 28).

Janey Lee, 78, from Chertsey, died on October 13 at 10:05am at St Peters hospital with friends and family at her bedside after suffering from a stroke.

]]> Janey was buried at Abbeymoor cemetery with scores of flowers scattered around her grave commemorating her life.

Her son Nelson Lee, 51, said: "She was a lovely woman, I can't let go, it's very hard.

"I learnt a lot from my mum, she taught me respect people, she used to say 'If you respect people they respect you and you can always go back.'

"She was the one everyone went to for advice, she was everyone's mum."

Mrs Lee was born on May 28 1931 in Bexley, Erith to Brogolia and Percy Draper-Smith, she was one of ten children Percy, Margy, Brogolia, Edmond, Benny, Timmy, Betsy, Levi and Francis.

The family lived in Kent, moving to various places before settling in Ashford, where Janey met her husband of 52 years Nelson Lee.

Janey and Nelson started their married life in Shepperton Yard, where they had two children Nelson and Golia.

Janey and husband Nelson moved to Chertsey Lane in 1973 where they stayed until Janey's death.

Janey leaves behind a devoted husband and two loving children as well as grandchildren Janey, Golia, Emma and Louise.

Son Nelson Lee said: "I would like to thank everyone who attended the funeral."

Remembrance Sunday

2009-11-02T11:20:29Z

A service will be held at St Peter's Shared Church, in Windsor Street at 10am.

At 11am on Wednesday, November 11 a wreath laying ceremony will be held at the war memorial in Windsor Street.

Bus stop repairs will cost £9550

2009-10-29T17:13:45Z

A BUS shelter that was demolished by a lorry will be repaired by Christmas at the cost of £9550 say council bosses.

The shelter in Heriot Road, Chertsey, was knocked down in March by a bakery lorry that reversed into it.

]]> It hasn't been replaced because the Borough Council have had to wait for details about the driver to be confirmed by the police which has taken several months.

The council has now extracted the money from the perpetrator's insurance company and have started proceedings to erect another shelter.

Stephen Fuggles from Runnymede Borough Council said: "We now have the money and the shelter has been ordered.

"It should be installed in December."

Ex Surrey County Councillor Ray Lowther, 86, said: "It should have been repaired some time ago, it's good thing but its long overdue.

"A lot of people wait at this bus stop and they include a lot of elderly people who need to sit down.

"Its better late than never, I hope that the weather isn't too tardy before the erection of the shelter.

"Lets hope Christmas doesn't come late this year, they must get cracking on it straight away, it is a very exposed stop the wind blows down Heriot Road and it gets very cold."

Audrey Gray, 81, a pensioner from Heriot Road, said: "They've got the money now, so what's the hold up?

"I think its sad that we have to wait until December, it should have been done sooner.

"There are some bus stops that are hardly ever used, but this one is always busy, it was there for the public to use before and it should be replaced.

"I suppose we will just have to wear extra garments until December."

Man charged over indecent images

2009-10-26T18:33:54Z

A Chertsey man has appeared in court facing two charges of possessing extreme pornographic images.

Matthew Adam Jones, 34, of Bridge House, Bridge Wharf, Chertsey, faces three counts of possessing an extreme pornographic image portraying a sexual act with a dead or alive animal.

He has also been charged with possessing an extreme pornographic image portraying a sexual act likely to cause injury.

Jones also faces three counts of downloading an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child.

He appeared at Woking Magistrates Court on Thursday October 22.

The case was adjourned and he will return to the court on December 17.

Courtesy call for pensioners

2009-10-23T13:55:06Z

A new scheme is being trialled by Age Concern in partnership with Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals.

The 'courtesy call' service is for frail and older people who are being discharged from hospital and may need information, advice or help to live independently at home.

Hospital staff will refer patients by phoning the service on the day the patient is allowed home, or by giving the patient a booklet of information.

A spokeswoman for Age Concern said: "This new service has been going for a few weeks and has already ensured that many older people have been discharged home with the support they need.

"The relevant Age Concern branch will contact the patient within 48 hours to discuss their needs, provide information, and suggest services or a home visit."

One such service, the Road to Recovery scheme operated in Spelthorne, provides free help for six weeks with chores such as housework and shopping as well as accompanying clients to appointments, while they recover.

For more information, contact either Age Concern Runnymede on 02932 566 040 or Age Concern Spelthorne on 01784 444 200.

Chertsey peal rung in Chertsey

2009-10-20T12:01:22Z

For only the second time, the Chertsey Surprise Major peal was rung in a church in Chertsey.

The peal, which involves 5,024 changes and lasts three hours and 25 minutes, was rung on the eight bells at St Peter's Church in Windsor Street, on Saturday (17).

It was rung by members of the Guildford Diocesan Guild of Church Bell Ringers, with representatives from Chertsey, Farnborough, Guildford Cathedral and Old Woking.

Malcolm Loveday, tower captain at St Peter's Church and part of the bell ringing team, said: "The bells at Chertsey are widely regarded as some of the most difficult bells to ring in the Diocese, mainly because they are rung from the ground floor and thus have a very long length of the rope in between the ringers and the bells.

"And Chertsey is a particularly difficult method to ring, and the ringers are not allowed to have any visual aids to help them remember where they should strike their bell relative to the other bells.

"The ringers have to exactly remember the pattern of the method, while they are ringing it."

The first time the peal was rung at Chertsey was in October 1988 and Mr Loveday rang in both peals.

It was the 32nd peal rung on the bells at St Peter's, with the first in 1886.

Museum talk reveals Holloway's poo pills

2009-10-19T12:36:52Z

POTIONS and pills were being handed out at the Chertsey Museum last week.

At the Friends of Chertsey Museum annual AGM on Wednesday History of Medicine Lecturer Emm Barnes from Royal Holloway gave a lecture on the quack practices of Thomas Holloway founder of the university in Egham.

]]> She said: "Thomas Holloway sold pills that he made in his kitchen, most of them were just strong laxatives.

"He made one pill that was supposed to cure anything from cancer to colds.

"Most of them were just designed to make you go to the toilet, they were very similar to Holland and Barrett's colon cleanse.

"What he sold was no different to what other apothecaries were selling at the time, but what made him so successful was the scale of advertising he did.

"He advertised in Europe and America in newspapers and on billboards, he made a small fortune, which he then used to build a mental hospital by Egham station and later the college."

Dr Barnes recreated some of Holloway's remedies in her kitchen and handed them out at the meeting, she said: "The hardest part was finding the ingredients, like pure ginger and pure soap, which I got from eBay in the end."

MP visits youth centre project in Chertsey

2009-10-19T12:24:38Z

MP Philip Hammond visited youth project The Hub on Friday to get the low-down on recent developments.

The building at the Runnymede Centre in Chertsey that has been dormant for nine years and has been victim to severe vandalism is now almost ready to open.

]]> The £140,000 project was taken on by Jubilee Church who base themselves at The Chertsey Hall in Heriot Road.

After six months of work from almost 40 volunteers, the building is expected to open next month.

The venue will be the new home of CORE, the Friday night youth club formerly located at Walton Youth Centre.

Jubilee Church leader Adrian Heywood said: "CORE is going to be the main attribute for The Hub, we want to give kids from Chertsey somewhere wholesome to go on a Friday night.

"But we will be providing counselling for young men and women dealing with unexpected pregnancy."

"There will also be a mums and toddlers group, where stressed out mums can have a coffee and let their kids play in a safe environment.

The church has worked in partnership with Surrey Vinvolved, the Surrey volunteering scheme for 16-25 year-olds who have provided volunteers and support for the project.

West Surrey manager of Surrey Vinvolved Ester Nash, 26, said: "I'm really excited about the potential impact of this place on the community.

"It will be a place where young people can engage with their skills and give them somewhere to belong to.

MP for Runnymede Philip Hammond, who visited the site for the first time on Friday afternoon, said: "It's a great thing, that building has been sitting there doing nothing for such a long time.

"It is fantastic that self motivated young people are taking a lead and running this project.

"It's great seeing it all coming together, I look forward to attending the opening."

Spooky half-term adventures

2009-10-16T15:42:04Z

Spooky half-term adventures are being organised for half term week around Runnymede.

The Halloween themed activities, designed to be fun rather than scary, will be running from Monday October 26 to Friday 30, and has been organised by Runnymede Council.

The first activity is a skeleton scavenger hunt and games at St Ann's Hill, Chertsey on Monday, but there will also be Halloween costume making, arts and crafts and party games.

To round off the week, there will be two sessions of free choice play, where youngsters can choose what they do, and can even have the chance to explore Chertsey Museum.

Emma Parnell, the activity co-ordinator at Runnymede Council, said: "These play sessions are held throughout the year, and have been really popular so far.
"There is something for every age group, ability and interest. We want to encourage children to use their imagination, try something new, make friends, be challenged, and above all, have fun."

For more information visit www.runnymede.gov.uk or call Emma on 01932 425 677, or at emma.parnell@runnymede.gov.uk.