Massive steel beams needed by the railway bridge widening works block access to St. Mark's Hill junction.

The widened road bridge is intended to improve traffic flow from Kingston to the M25, but as the final stages of installation take place, the inevitable snarl-ups are happening. Six 100 foot beams are being places across the railway cutting over September.

View the current traffic conditions with Surbiton Web Cams...

After months of resident protests, Hutchinson 3G have decided not to go ahead their plans to erect a mobile phone mast in Berrylands.

However, Raeburn Avenue residents were not so lucky, as it appears the proposed mast now has the go-ahead and will soon be erected.

The Hutchinson 3G statement follows:

An 800-strong petition raised by Berrylands residents has been accepted by Orange telecoms group.

Orange representatives were said to be very helpful when they met with residents at the offices of local MP Edward Davey.

Residents were angered by the minimal consultation the council gave when the decision to site the mast was approved.

Though there is no scientific evidence that the masts are harmful, local tradesman Sam Saber said, 'I object to the mast on health grounds because there is no scientific evidence that masts are not harmful.'

Thames Water are still undecided over how to develop the filter beds site by The Thames on Portsmouth Road.

Though they intend to continue talks with residents, they have yet to make any decision as to what to do with the land.

Last year, after many years of local opposition, government officials rejected Thames Water's plans to build houses on the site.

Read more in the Kingston Guardian...

Ian Malcolm, secretary of Aberlady Conservation Society recently inferred that Surbiton is comparable to a barracks and is a 'huge carbuncle'.

In a Scottish TV interview discussing a proposed development of homes in Aberlady, East Lothian, he said that 'Aberlady now has a huge carbuncle - nearly a hundred new houses styled on Surbiton, or a barracks.'

It is unknown whether he has ever visited Surbiton.

Read more in the East Lothian Courier...

You can contact Ian Malcolm by email here...

Having reduced the height by three stories, the Terence Conran design has finally been approved by councillors. Construction is expected to start early next year.

After making a major re-design which reduced the building from nine floors to six, CNM Estates Ltd have had their plans approved. The building will contain 65 flats as well as offices and potential shops, restaurants and bars.

Initial opposition to the plans have been quelled somewhat after re-working the designs to reduce the height, make the outside more fitting with the surroundings and re-thinking the building's waste management.

Controversial Surbiton sorting office developers have said they will not make many more concessions to their designs.

Read more in the Kingston Guardian...

A planning application has been submitted for the old Post Office building and Sorting Office. The plan includes a new pedestrianised street from Victoria Road to St. Mary's Road.