Useful Links

See latest CARA newsletter for names and contact details.

Often contacting the Council yourself will be will be more effective and faster than CARA waiting for a collective voice. The Council's Helpline (Open Monday to Friday, 8.45am - 5.00pm) is 020 8547 5757, and its Emergency Out of Hours Line is 020 8547 5800. Below are some useful contacts at the Council.

Some specific departments follow. If the department you want is not listed here, please use the link to the Council contacts page above. Noise: 020 8547 5536, or environmental.health@rbk.kingston.gov.uk; Planning: 020 8547 5330 (planning enquiries), or 020 8547 5332 (planning enforcement) or planning@rbk.kingston.gov.uk; Trees, 020 8547 5929 or environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk; Rubbish collections, 020 8547 5560 or environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk; Street lighting, 020 8547 5929 (enquiries) or 020 8547 5972 (24 hour message service) or environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk.

A quarterly e-bulletin from Kingston Council with useful contacts, events and news in the Kingston Town neighbourhood.

"...provide services to ensure the health and well-being of those who live, work or visit this borough"

Find Tudor Ward councillors at http://www.kingston.gov.uk/information/your_council/councillors/councillors_ward.htm.

Home to our current local councillors www.tudorconservatives.com

Council Neighbourhood information - we are in Town Neighbourhood.

How does the CARA area compare to the rest of Kingston, and other London boroughs? On crime, deprivation, transport, health and social care and many other issues, this analysis shows that we are doing quite well.

http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/leisure/museum/kingston_history/photographs.htm There are many thousands of historic photographs in Kingston's archives and local studies collection. For copies telephone 0208 547 6738 (Local History Room) or email local.history@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

Responsible for the Thames: pollution, flooding, moorings...

Information about the Thames Landscape Strategy, a 100-year blueprint for the Thames between Hampton and Kew. Its vision is to conserve, enhance and promote for the future, one of the world’s great urban landscapes, including the CARA area. CARA is a member of the TLS Community Advisory Group.

This page gives the outline of Thames Landscape Stragegy for towpaths, with a link to the strategy for the CARA area.

"A group of anglers who want to protect the River Thames from the many challenges the river faces and improve it for the future."

"Libraries and museums along the length of the River Thames have formed the ThamesPilot partnership to make images and documents from their collections freely available to the public. We are creating a web site and information store, of over 5,300 items by December 2004, for communities along the River Thames. You can search for information on specific subjects or locations and select images of items of personal interest."

A registered charity founded in 1962 that seeks to address threats and challenges facing the River Thames.

"The definitive guide to everything about the River Thames from sea to source, Southend-London-Oxford. 1000's of restaurants, pubs, hotels, B&B's, boat trips, property by the river and canals, days out, short breaks, boats for sale, wedding and conference venues and local information."

An on-line directory intended to help local green businesses and enterprises and environmentally-concerned customers find each other. Find green taxis, green printers, green shops, a green dentist, a green hairdresser...

Kingston Council's info on street trees includes a link to some useful FAQs.

If you are only an occasional car user, and/or have nowhere to park one, you might find Streetcar, which has 3 or 4 cars in or near our area, useful: "All the convenience of your own car but without the cost and hassle. Streetcar has cars parked ...typically within a few minutes walk of your home or work. You can use one for as little as 30 minutes or as long as 6 months."

Transition Town Kingston's Food Cooperative "promotes eco-friendly production and healthier consumption of food... Our aim is to provide the Kingston Community an alternative source of organic fruit and vegetables from certified organic producers, preferably local, at competitive prices."

Kings College London site where you can see current pollution levels in your area - just enter your postcode or select your borough.

This parliamentary report published in March says that Britain is failing to meet European air quality targets, and that Londoners live with the worst air pollution in Britain, caused by millions of vehicles.

If everyone lived as we do in Kingston we'd need 3 planet Earths to support us! Find out how many planets you'd need, and "how you can live better, save money and reduce your impact on the environment. After calculating your impact you'll get a personal action plan and lots of advice and useful local links.

TTK's purpose is to mobilise and facilitate community action in Kingston in order to respond effectively and positively to climate change and peak oil. TTK runs monthly public events and much more that you can find out about on this website.

Environmental Protection UK's vision is of a cleaner, quieter, healthier world. "We seek changes in policy and practice to minimise air, noise and land pollution, bringing together stakeholders to inform debate and influence decision making. We educate, influence and work in partnership with policy makers, environmental professionals, industry, academics and the public..."

A recent study based on the medical records of 96 Dutch medical practices has confirmed previous findings that green space nearby improves physical and mental health. The study particularly stresses the importance of green space close to home for children and lower socio-economic groups.

Sustrans (the charity promoting sustainable transport, mainly cycling) has produced guides about how to improve the street where you live by landscaping and traffic calming. You can download a range of design information sheets from http://www.sustrans.org.uk/what-we-do/liveable-neighbourhoods/diy-streets/pocket-guide-and-information-sheets.

Ideas for rolling up your sleeves and making your very own place for nature – right on your doorstep.

A guide to Improving Wildlife on Your Doorstep produced by Surrey County Council gives basic advice on how to look after habitats such as: Grassland/Meadows; Scrub; Woodland; Ponds; Hedgerows/hedges; Verges. Try also http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/Nature+in+Your+Neighbourhood+-+A+guide+to+Improving+Wildlife+on+Your+Doorstep?opendocument.

How to get rid of unwanted stuff locally in a sustainable way.

The River Thames Boat Project is collecting textiles for recycling by the award-winning "Phil" the Bag scheme (all kinds of clothing, shoes, bags, belts, hats, curtains,towels, bedding, in any condition, in bin-bags) on Thursday mornings at the Richmond Venturer, Barge Dock, Canbury Wharf.

Keep stuff out of landfill by re-using or recycling it. If you live in the Kingston area, please offer reusable items to other Freegle members - you have to join the Yahoo group to offer or take free items. Items must be legal and appropriate, and are gifted for free. Freegle is a new UK-wide umbrella organisation, formed by experienced volunteers and members of the free reuse community. Most Freegle groups, including the Kingston one, were formerly part of The Freecycle Network.

Community Furniture collect unwanted furniture from local residents and store it in their warehouse for purchase by other residents, enabling those on lower incomes to furnish their homes with good quality furniture at minimum cost and saving furniture from being dumped to landfill. To find out more about the Community Furniture Project please telephone 020 8942 5500 or email: furnitureproject@kva.org.uk

If you have any white goods, reusable furniture, or IT equipment that you would normally throw away then it can be collected and reused or recycled for a minimal collection charge: £15 for 1-4 items or £25 for 5 - 8 items. Phone Customer Care on 020 8547 5560 or email environment@rbk.kingston.gov.uk.

Freecycle® Kingston exists to find new homes for stuff too good to dump. Whether it's a fax machine or old door, feel free to e-mail the group about it. Or maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself? You have to join the group to use it, but it's a wonderful way to recycle stuff you no longer want.

EcoBees is another free way of giving away, receiving, swapping and sharing stuff, and keeping it out of landfill. It's a website created by Freecycle™/Freegle members who wanted to make things a bit easier and better. EcoBees has maps, distance from you to the items, easier ability to add pictures, integration with Facebook, Twitter and is apparently 100% green. It also has fewer restrictions on what can be offered, and includes reusing/recycling/giving away anything (as long as it's legal) and swapping & sharing such as car pooling. Try it out by joining the site (free), and posting or responding to an ad.

from Kingston Council website

Everything you could possibly want to know about waste and recycling: "WRAP helps individuals, businesses and local authorities to reduce waste and recycle more, making better use of resources and helping to tackle climate change."

"Landshare brings together people who have a passion for home-grown food, connecting those who have land to share with those who need land for cultivating food. Since its launch through River Cottage in 2009 it has grown into a thriving community of more than 55,000 growers, sharers and helpers..."

Useful information from the Metropolitan Police on protecting property in sheds: "Many people take a great deal of trouble securing their house and the property within it whilst at the same time leaving valuable property in a shed which is either unlocked or so old and run down as to prove no obstacle whatsoever to the thief..."

Sharing expertise to help you in your garden, including advice about permeable materials for drives, and driveway planting, at www.rhs.org.uk/learning/research/gardeningmatters/index.asp

RSPB’s Planning and creating a wildlife-friendly garden: "Whether you want to create a new garden, or have an existing one, patio or balcony, try to imagine your garden is a nature reserve and you are the warden..." See also http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-untidy-gardens-make-the-best-habitat-for-wildlife-1783396.html.

BBC’s Make a difference for wildlife in your garden: "From balconies to backyards, choose from a list of ideas tailored to fit your space..."

Advice about planning permission and materials to use.

"We want to help Londoners transform the capital by creating 2,012 new food growing spaces by the end of 2012. ... Capital Growth offers practical help, grants, training and support to groups wanting to establish community food growing projects as well as advice to landowners."

Our local weekly paper, out on Fridays.

A Kingston free-sheet, includes the Green Guardian, part of the Surrey Comet group.

S W London' local radio: "Broadcasting live with hits and local news 24 hours a day. Learn all about us, look up advertisers and local events and listen online."

Richmond & Twickenham's weekly newspaper.

RBK events list - a good way to publicise your own events as well as to find out what's on locally.

Find out what's on at our local theatre here.

Concerts in the Bandstand take place on Sunday afternoons from June to September. Check the programme here.

Lots going on at our local university - and not just for students!

One of Thames Ditton's best kept secrets - a network of miniature steam railways. A great day out with the children!

The National Trust website - local NT properties include Ham House, Claremont Gardens, Osterley House, Polesden Lacey, Standen and Winkworth Arboretum. Hit the "visit" button on the NT website to search by area or alphabetical index.

"A Partnership company, designed to work with residents within boroughs and Counties to promote easily accessible non-regimental or Boot-Camp style exercise. Groups meet in parks of each borough (or district) promoting natural outdoor exercise in their local environment - after all the parks are there to be used!" A friendly group meets in Canbury Gardens by the Pavilion every Saturday at 10.00am for an hour's gentle exercise.

Based in Canbury Gardens

Based on Lower Ham Road

Located on Stephens Ait, an island in the River Thames on the reach above Teddington Lock, below Kingston Railway Bridge and just downstream of the Boaters Inn pub.

On the other side of the river from the CARA area, they're the club you can see sailing on Thursday evenings and weekends. "One of the most active and popular sailing clubs in south west London. Races on the River Thames for five dinghy classes every Sunday. A friendly, family club that welcomes new members."

In emergencies phone 999. Our Safer Neighbourhood Team number is 0208 721 2580. When the team is off-duty or for non-urgent matters, leave a message or try 020 8541 1212. Anti-Social Behaviour co-0rdinator - 020 8547 5031. See also www.kingston.gov.uk/safer_kingston_partnership.

"Our team is comprised of Police Officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and we are dedicated to making your neighbourhood a safer place to live in, work in and visit. We listen and talk to you, and find out what affects your daily life and feelings of security. Our priorities are then set by the local community and we work with you and other agencies to find a lasting solution." From this page you can access the latest Tudor SNT newsletter, find out when and where the next local SNT meeting is, or contact the team by email |(or try tudor.snt[at]met.police.uk).

The crime mapping website show where crime and anti-social behaviour are occurring at local neighbourhood and street level - just type in your postcode.

"The Pavilion is a wonderful community resource in North Kingston which you can use for parties or to host a regular class or event...run by a charity called the Canbury Community Trust."

Digital TV switchover begins here in April 2012. Is your TV ready?

Information about local services, organisations, events and activities to help you stay independent, healthy and well.

Report problems such as grafitti or abandoned cars or contact LibDem councillors, MPs, or MEPs via this website

Enter a post code to get local information

Kingston Town Centre Management website - contains information about events in Kingston town centre amongst other issues to do with improving the town centre.

This site is an e-Voice portal. Find local organisations here, or get your Voluntary or Community Group a free website + support and training provided by Superhighways. Provided by the Royal Borough of Kingston in Partnership with Kingston Voluntary Action. (This is a e-Voice website and we recommend it.)

Lots of useful information, a picture (photo) gallery and much more.

"Transition Town Kingston (TTK) is a voluntary community-led initiative addressing the twin challenges of diminishing oil and gas supplies and climate change. We seek to raise awareness of these issues and implement practical projects to reduce cardon dioxide emissions and our dependency on oil."

"Vital Kingston is a community-led social enterprise. Our mission is to put the heart into our community by ensuring that our residents, our visitors and our workers, have and use a full range of informal places for social interaction, by day and by night."

Kingston Local Involvement Network (LINk) is one of 150 LINks set up nationally to help make sure that people get the health and social care services they need, and anyone can get involved. LINk wants to hear about your experiences of health and social care services and your ideas for improvements or changes.

"The Kingston upon Thames Society exists to promote high standards of planning, conservation and design in the Royal Borough. It seeks to inform the people of Kingston about major planning issues affecting our town."

"The local community organisation for residents in Burton Road, Richmond Park Road and Gibbon Road. Originally formed to organise the Royal Wedding Street Party in April 2011, BRaG now intends to continue the good work in the community. BRaG now has a formal committee structure and constitution. This will enable your committee to take a more active role in the community on wider issues. We hope to arrange future social events and continue to support local charities."

Friends of Ham Lands is a voluntary group dedicated to the conservation, protection and management of Ham Lands Nature Reserve, including the Thames Young Mariners site.

A voluntary society and charity whose objective is to conserve Richmond Park, its natural beauty and wildlife, and to advance public education about the Park.

Residents Association for those living in nearby Ham & Petersham

A small, local charitable group founded in 2006 to improve and enhance the environment and quality of life in Ham.