Month: February 2010

February’s bike ride will be this Sunday 21st at 11:00am.

Despite the depressing weather today it looks like Sunday could be reasonably nice.

We’ll start from outside the Hand and Spear at Weybridge Station as usual. The route will be north across the Thames through Shepperton and then towards Lower Sunbury and Hampton Court. It’ll be the usual format, ride for an hour or two, stop for lunch at a pub and then another hour or so returning to Weybridge Station. 10-15 miles, 3-4 hours.

We’ll be crossing the Thames using the Shepperton ferry so please make sure you have £2 in your pocket to pay for it.

If you want to come along just turn up on Sunday at 11:00am outside the Hand and Spear.

On Saturday 6th February, 18 Cub Scouts from Oatlands Scout Group attended their first Sustrans Ranger event along the River Thames. The Cub pack, which has its headquarters in Oatlands Village near Weybridge, have teamed up with the charity Sustrans. Their aim is to keep the part of National Cycle Route 4 that runs along the Thames FootPath between Walton Bridge and Weybridge in good condition. Their responsibilities include litter collection, foliage cutting, path repairs & general good order.

Oatlands is the first Scout troop to link-up with Sustrans in the UK – they are a pilot Cub Pack which all the Cubs think is great!

One of the Oatland Cub Assistant Leaders, Simon Davey, is a strong supporter of the Sustrans charity which is responsible for a national network of 12,000 miles of mainly traffic free cycle routes across the UK.

Simon met with George James, who is the local Sustrans Liaison Ranger and Julie Tublin from Sustrans in November 2009 to agree what role the Cub pack could perform. Saturday 6 February was the first meeting of the Oatlands Cubs with supporting parents. The group filled 18 rubbish sacks from between Walton Bridge and Weybridge in just over two hours. Luckily it was a fine, dry day and all the Cubs had a great time.

All of the Cubs were prepared with leather gloves, good foot wear & parents attending to minimise the risks and maximise their efforts! This work will contribute towards the Cubs Community Challenge Badge, their Promise Challenge Badge and their Global Conservation Badge but above all, its a great opportunity for these young people to give something back to their neighbourhood.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to Oatlands Scouts to help pay for a new hut floor should send donations payable to Oatlands Scour Group and send to Oatlands Scout Group, Pantile Road, Oatlands Park, Weybridge. Surrey KT13 9PY.

Following are some photgraphs of the cubs hard at work:

In a 12-month period, Elmbridge has seen an increase of over 60% in reported bicycle theft, rising from 279 incidents to 455 (this excludes thefts at railway stations).

In support of reducing future cycle crime a ‘Cycle Secure’ event is being held at the Heart Shopping Centre in Walton on Saturday 13 February, between 9am to 1pm. Please bring your bike and reduce crime.

Surrey Police are running the event, with funding from the Community Safety Partnership and sponsorship from East St Cycles in Walton, who are offering 25% off any SOLD SECURE GOLD certified bike lock. Police officers will be offering free property marking and providing advice about securing bicycles, as well as shed and garage security.