Carshalton's MP tries out the new Westcroft Leisure Centre
Tom Brake was one of many who attended the opening this morning.
Work to the centre has seen the development of a 160 station gym, two different sized swimming pools, an eight badminton court sized multi-use sports hall, a day spa, dance and spinning studios, crèche, café and library.
The new centre will welcome all sections of the community - from young and old, men and women. It will help to meet two of the council's public health aims by encouraging exercise amongst women and older people.
Squatters evicted from their illegal camp at Battersea Park’s adventure playground have left behind a squalid and disgusting mess.
The squatters have vandalised furniture and ransacked the single storey play building within the playground site.
A sofa has been spray painted with obscene anti-police messages, while filing cabinets have been emptied and furniture and other fixtures left damaged. Mess and dirt has been spread over floors.
The clean-up operation is an extra burden for local taxpayers who have already been landed with a £30,000 bill as a result of the squatters' unlawful occupation of the playground.
This is money that will have to be found from already hard-pressed budgets - including the budget set aside to improve and maintain the 200 other playgrounds across Wandsworth.
These costs could increase further when the neighbouring Battersea Park one o'clock centre is recovered from the small group of squatters who broke in there earlier this week in defiance of the court order evicting them from the adventure playground. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 11:06 am
Sutton Leisure Centre Opening
Sutton’s leisure centre will be welcoming sporting and TV personalities this Saturday.
Westcroft will be celebrating its grand opening with a day of free activities open to the public.
Olympic silver medallist rower, Mark Hunter and Kristina Rihanoff from Strictly Come Dancing are just some of those taking part.
Michael Hindmarsh, community development officer, says the centre hopes to encourage people to be more active.
Surbiton Filter Bed Appeal
A developer says he’ll appeal against a decision, stopping him from building homes on Surbiton Filterbeds.
Hydro Properties, made the announcement after Kingston council rejected its plans
The developer wants to build 60 new homes and a marina on Portsmouth Road.
Sutton Leisure Centre Opening
Sutton’s leisure centre will be welcoming sporting and TV personalities this Saturday.
Westcroft will be celebrating its grand opening with a day of free activities open to the public.
Olympic silver medallist rower, Mark Hunter and Kristina Rihanoff from Strictly Come Dancing are just some of those taking part.
Dance workshops, group exercises and swimming activities will be on offer throughout the day. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 10:52 am
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
Massive haul at Gatwick
Customs have made one of the biggest ever seizures of liquid cocaine in the UK.
The drug was detected in carrot juice tins at Gatwick Airport last week.
The 80 kilogram haul, which has a street value of £8 million was found on a flight from Jamaica.
50-year-old William Hayles and Randall St Patrick Lewis, who is 52, have been charged with conspiracy to import controlled drugs and will appear in court on the 26th of April. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 4:12 pm
Air Ambulance called to sledging accidents
Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance has been called to a spate of snow-related incidents in recent days.
The pilot, doctor and critical care paramedic attended a sledging accident in Caterham on Monday.
An 18-year-old boy suffered a head injury and was taken by land ambulance to St George’s Hospital in Tooting.
On Sunday, the Air Ambulance was called to a traffic collision in which a car rolled over on the snow-covered A252 at Molash near Canterbury.
The driver, a 45-year-old female, suffered spinal and limb injuries and was assessed at the scene before being taken to the William Harvey Hospital at Ashford.
And on Saturday, a pensioner in her 70s suffered a leg injury after slipping in deep snow at Merrow near Guildford.
Land paramedics at the South East Coast Ambulance Service called in the Air Ambulance because it was an isolated location and access was an issue.
The helicopter landed on a golf course and the patient was flown to the Royal Surrey County Hospital at Guildford, in four minutes.
Father of 7 month old baby named as fifth British hostage victim
The fifth British victim of the Algerian hostage crisis has been named today as Sebastian John from Twickenham.
The young father, a structural engineer, arrived in Algeria on January the 9th for training.
He was one of around 30 workers believed to have been killed when terrorists attacked at a remote desert facility part operated by BP.
Mr John, originally from Nottingham, was working for BP while living in Twickenham. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 3:13 pm
Can you help our aged seafarers?
A charity that cares for former sea men and women in Banstead is appealing for more help.
It costs the Royal Alfred Seafarers’ Society £2 million a year to run its 68 bed home Belvedere House.
The charity says waiting list numbers are increasing despite the amount of people entering the seafarer profession falling.
Volunteers are needed to help in the garden, read to residents, drive the minibus or just be around.
Chief Executive of the charity is Commander Brian Boxall - Hunt.
For information on how you can help, click hereposted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 1:19 pm
Red Wine Study In Kingston
A new Kingston University study shows that red wine may help athletes boost their performances by increasing their testosterone levels.
The natural hormone present in both men and women can increase muscle mass, boost stamina and speed up recovery.
The team of researchers have referred their findings to the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The study conducted in test tubes shows that red wine could help athletes beat anti-doping tests by reducing how much testosterone is excreted by the body.
Runnymede wins Fuel Poverty Funding
Runnymede Council has made a successful application for Fuel Poverty Funding.
The council’s been awarded 275-thousand pounds from the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
The funding will be used to to improve the energy efficiency of park homes by installing external wall insulation for private sector residents.
Runneymede has the highest proportion of park homes in Surrey with over 1-thousand 200 homes. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 5:07 am
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Ashley Cole not looking so Blue
Chelsea have confirmed that Ashley Cole has signed a one-year contract extension.
It'll take his time at the club to 8 years.
The full back has played 293 times for the Blues. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 5:10 pm
Something foul
People in parts of south east England are kicking up a stink about a foul-smell that's wafted across the channel from France.
Dozens of people in Kent, Sussex, Surrey and parts of London have called the emergency services to express their concern.
They've been told the gas was accidentally released from a chemical factory in Rouen.
It's said to be harmless and presents no danger to the public. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 2:45 pm
Inquest opened in helicopter crash
The inquest into the death of a pilot killed in a helicopter crash in Vauxhall opened today.
50 year old Pete Barnes died from multiple injuries when the aircraft he was flying clipped a high-rise crane on The Tower at St George Wharf last week.
He’d been flying from Redhill to Elstree but asked to be diverted to Battersea heliport because of bad weather.
Pedestrian, 39 year old Matthew Wood from Sutton, was also killed in the tragedy as he walked to work. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 12:29 pm
New campaign is launched at cancer specialist hospital in Sutton
Jermaine Defoe was at the Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton yesterday to help launch its new Ten10 Campaign.
The England and Tottenham footballer made an appearance at the Oak Centre, which treats children and young people with cancer.
The aim of the campaign is to celebrate the last ten years of service at the site as well as raise another £100 million in the next ten years.
Jermaine told Jackie News seeing the childrens’ faces light up is amazing.
Time is running out Sutton!!
People in Sutton are being asked to put forward nominations for the borough’s heroes.
The Sutton Community Leadership Awards are open to everyone who lives or works in the borough.
They are a chance for residents to nominate whomever they think deserves recognition .
It could be a shop worker, scout leader or even a caring neighbour.
Ian Kershaw is part of the Safer Sutton Partnership.
To vote go to Sutton Council's website.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 12:09 pm
Surbiton Filter Beds Decision
Planning officers will be making their decision on a controversial development on the Surbiton Filter Beds tonight.
Campaigners have been fighting against the development of floating homes and a new marina.
Just before the weekend, Sport England withdrew its official objection against the plan.
Campaigners, Friends of Seething Wells argue the development could damage the so-called “blue lung” of the Thames. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 12:01 pm
Richmond Pothole Relief
If potholes in Richmond have been driving you insane, now is your chance to nominate the worst ones.
You have until March the 1st to put forward the town’s most troublesome potholes via the council’s website.
Last year, over 400 people took part in the pot hole cleansing scheme resulting in a spend of almost a million pounds to fix them.
490,000 pounds has been put aside this year. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 7:56 am
Monday, 21 January 2013
Loop Line saved
Rail campaigners today hailed a U-turn that has saved the Thameslink Loop Line service for Sutton’s train users.
The service - which links Sutton to St Albans and Luton through central and north London, calling at key stops such as the City, Farringdon and St Pancras International - was due to be severed at Blackfriars Station from 2018.
But following a long campaign which has drawn together Sutton Council which led the Loop Line Campaign Group, rail users and MPs, the Department for Transport today announced that the service has been saved.
During the campaign rail users highlighted that severing the line would force travellers to struggle across Blackfriars with heavy luggage to catch connecting services and they also proved that Loop Line services are becoming increasingly popular.
Sutton Council sent the DfT figures that prove Loop Line stations are carrying more passengers every year. In 2010/11, 5,768,694 passengers used Sutton station up1.4 per cent on the previous year, while West Sutton and Sutton Common also recorded rises of 8.5 per cent and 14.7 per cent respectively.
Other stations that recorded year-on-year rises included Carshalton, where passenger numbers rose by 3.6 per cent and Hackbridge which recorded a small rise of 0.7 per cent, but the submission stressed that significant development in Hackbridge will bring about an increased demand for rail services.
Here's Lib Dem Councillor for Carshalton, Jill Whitehead.
Michael Winner dies aged 77
Film director and restaurant critic Michael Winner has died at the age of 77.
The news was confirmed by his wife Geraldine earlier.
The pair who met in 1957, only tied the knot at Chelsea Town Hall at the end of 2011.
In October, Mr Winner, who had been given only 18 months to live, said he hadn’t ruled out using the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end his life.
It’s believed he had cancer. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 3:06 pm
New programme launched by charity in Hounslow
A charity in Hounslow is launching a new programme to improve care for disabled people.
Speak-Out has identified ten qualities that every carer should exemplify that will make them a good support worker.
The Support Worker Promise is being launched today at the House of Commons by Feltham and Heston MP Seema Malhorta. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 3:04 pm
Have you cleared your windows properly?
Surrey Police is reminding us to make sure all of the ice and snow is properly cleared from our windscreens before setting off on our journey.
It's all part of the force's Drive Smart Campaign.
Drive SMART is a partnership between Surrey Police and Surrey County Council (including Surrey Fire and Rescue Service), with the aim of reducing road casualties, tackling anti-social driving and making the county's roads safer and less stressful.
Sutton Hero Awards
Time is running out to nominate your community hero.
The Sutton Community Leadership Awards are open to everyone who lives or works in the borough.
They are a chance for residents to put forward whomever they think deserves recognition – whether it be a scout leader or business owner. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 12:12 pm
Sign up and give the gift of life
New figures have revealed a dramatic decline in the number of youngsters donating blood in 2012.
Now the NHS is planning to recruit one hundred thousand new donors in just 100 days.
Doctors at Epsom, St Helier and Sutton hospitals are putting their weight behind the campaign.
They’re reminding us men can give blood every 12 weeks, while women can donate every 16 weeks.
Sessions are taking place at St Paul's Church Hall in Banstead on January the 29th from 2pm, The Thomas Wall Centre in Sutton on February the 7th from 2pm, and the Sacred Heart Presbytery in Edge Hill in Wimbledon on February the 4th.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 11:22 am
Royal unveiled as new face of cancer campaign
The Duke of Cambridge is the new face of a campaign launched by the Royal Marsden hospital in Sutton.
Prince William has starred in a specially made film which is launched later today.
Ten 10 - a decade of innovation at the Royal Marsden is a year long campaign celebrating the last ten years of service at the site.
Over 100 million has been raised over the last decade funding ground breaking developments in cancer research, diagnosis, treatment and care. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 10:45 am
Special Needs Boost In Richmond
Parents of children and young people with Special Educational Needs in Richmond could have new purpose built facilities.
A proposal’s been put forward to expand a local special school onto the site of three schools in the borough.
Under the plans the services currently available at Strathmore School in Ham would be re-located on the sites of Russell Primary School and Grey Court Secondary.
The proposals will be discussed at a public meeting on February 11th at the Ham Youth Centre.
Winter weather is still causing cancellations and closures - including some schools in Banstead
The snow and ice is continuing to cause chaos across Surrey and South West London.
Ten per cent of tomorrow’s flights out of Heathrow have been cancelled.
Brooklands College is closing its Ashford and Weybridge campuses to all students except those who have exams.
Warren mead infant and junior schools in Banstead are also shutting their doors.
Head teacher of the infants, Alison Downing is asking parents check parent mail and the website for updates.
Rydens school in Walton is asking pupils to arrive at a later time of 10.30 tomorrow morning – except those with AS level psychology exams. posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 6:39 pm
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