Surbiton Filter Beds - Yes or No!

By Surb_People | Friday, October 28, 2011, 17:22

It's time for Surbiton residents to have their say on the future of the Filter Beds site on Portsmouth Road. Now is the time to have your say by writing to Kingston Council and by voting in the Surbitonpeople poll – on the right of the home page.

The plans for the Surbiton Filter Beds site

Many people have said that they would welcome the floating homes, nature reserve, marina, education centre, restaurant and public access to the riverside. However, there are many others who do not want to see the site developed and would prefer it to stay as it is.

Surbitonpeople has covered the filter beds proposals in-depth for the last year. You can read all our previous reports below.

08/11/2010 New housing & marina plans for Surbiton Filter Beds

12/03/2011 Flats and Houses planned for the Surbiton Filter Beds Site

02/04/2011 Surbiton Filter Beds public exhibition announced

15/04/2011 Decision time for Surbiton Filter Beds plans

23/04/2011 SCARA fury at Filter Beds support

28/04/2011 Surbiton Filter Beds developers claim public support

06/10/2011 Surbiton Filter Beds planning application submitted

Whether you are in favour or against, it is important that you have your say. You can find the full details of the planning application and give your written comments to Kingston Council here. Don't forget to vote on the Surbitonpeople poll on our home page.

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Comments

Can anyone please explain why the filter beds is such an important natural habitat. As someone here points out, any site left derelict for decades (as this one has been) will eventually revert back to nature. The River Thames is one 215 mile-long wildlife reserve. What makes this small, scruffy patch of land so special?

I remember the time, not so long ago, when Kingston had turned its back to the river and you had to come off the towpath at the end of Queen's Promenade and walk along the Portsmouth Road to get into the town centre. Now we have Charter Quay, which may be a bit Marbella, but at least it has opened up the river to all and provides pleasant vantage points from which you can enjoy the nesting wildfowl. I'm sure there were plenty of objections when that was first proposed, but standing on the broadwalk on a sunny day, watching life unfold on the Thames, I don't hear anyone complaining now.

In an ideal world, turning the filter beds into a nature reserve with public access, akin to the Barnes Wetlands Centre, would be the best possible option. But let's face it, it's never been on the cards and given the current climate, it's unlikely to happen anytime soon. So let's not be so hostile to change. With the right tweaking and compromises (on all sides), an imaginative, mixed use scheme such as the one proposed could be a huge asset to Surbiton.

By surbyman at 12:29 on 22/11/11
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What rubbish is being spouted by pennybeco. 'Cabin Cruisers speeding up and down a canal!!! These proposals will open up the entire river so that everyone can have access. I've had enough of the nimbys in Surbiton who are just against any progress and improvements. I think your comments about foreign companies is bordering on racist. What is sustainable about leaving the area to rot and be unused.

By JayneSh at 17:31 on 18/11/11
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pennybeco - Regarding your comments of Kingston Council compulsory purchasing the site. We understand that the Council were offered the site for nothing quite a few years back, but refused to take it as they didn't want to pay for the upkeep.

By Surb_People at 23:02 on 17/11/11
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What a pity that people do not have the full picture and busy lives often lead to a lack of positive thinking and planning for the future. The site is important - if you have any interest in nature conservation, and in a strategic place on the river. If however you want to live in a concrete jungle with cabin cruisers speeding up and down a canal.... then perhaps you should go and live in an inner London estate .....not winge about people protecting a site opposite a Grade 1 Royal Park etc etc. Fortunately an independent planning inspector has now agreed that the site is important and the public consultation on the revised Core Strategy has now closed so we will see the new Core Strategy published in December. It is so unfortunate that some people think our future lies in a foreign compaexploiting our river and then disappearing without any accountability in future decades, but then perhaps those people dont plan to stick around either. Those that do plan to stick around have the opportunity to work with those of us who want positive sustainable plans for the site that are about improving things for the future - and the ideas are there, its just about getting people to work together. RBK should now consider compulsory purchase .....then we all might have some control and potential to improve things for the better.

By pennybeco at 22:16 on 17/11/11
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Why would you want to keep it as it is??? It is ugly, unused and CANNOT be called a Nature Reserve. With this project, a lot of money will be spent in making this area an enjoyable place to walk, read a book or even have a nice picnic. Can you see yourself doing that at the moment? Development can have a positive impact in some location and, in this specific one, it cannot get any worst anyway.

Vote Yes!

By Frenshy123 at 17:21 on 17/11/11
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