Afternoon, Surbiton. A civic-and-roads sort of Thursday: a Victoria Road application with the clock running down, a food-growing morning out in Tolworth, and Ewell Road having one of its busier evenings. Welcome to the new faces who wrote in this week — Sandra on the Hook borders, Jane in Tolworth, Catherine in Berrylands and plenty more. You genuinely shape what goes in here. Here's Thursday.
Last chance to have your say on Costa's pavement tables
Costa at 27 Victoria Road has applied to put seating out on the pavement — three tables, six chairs and four barriers, for 6am–7pm on weekdays (7am–6pm Saturdays, 8am–5pm Sundays). If you've a view either way, whether it lifts the street or pinches the footway, the window to tell the council closes tomorrow, Friday 24 July. Representations go through the licensing section at kingston.gov.uk.
A food-growing morning out in Tolworth
At Knollmead Allotments in Tolworth, the final week of a Grow Your Own Food course runs Saturday 26 July, 2–4pm — harvesting done right, which plants earn their place in the kitchen (and the medicine cabinet), and how to spot fruit and veg growing in the wild. A good one to take the kids along to.
And a reader question I'd rather chase properly than wing: Catherine in Berrylands asked about the Blake mosaics at the station — the story behind them, who made them and why. I'm looking into it for a future issue. If you know the history, hit reply and tell me.
Ewell Road's the busy one again — and it's a busy night tonight. The cycle-route works at the Ditton Road, Hollyfield Road and Kingsdowne Road junctions with Ewell Road are settled in now, running to 25 January 2027. On top of that, tonight brings temporary lights by the War Memorial for a traffic-counter job, 7.30–10.30pm, and there've been daytime signals near Douglas Road for bus-shelter works. The Dysart School crossing signals stay up until 27 July.
- A3 at Tolworth: unchanged — lane one still closed, no access from Tolworth Junction onto the A3 southbound, TfL still saying 29 July.
- Bus 281: some good news — TfL's live board now has the diversion ending at 10pm tomorrow, Fri 24 July, earlier than the 29th I'd flagged. Until then it still can't serve Tolworth Station; first stop northbound is Princes Avenue on Ewell Road.
- Hook Road — for Sandra on the borders: the old cabling job has finished, but don't expect calm just yet. Fresh temporary signals are up for urgent power repairs and borough works around the Hook Road roundabout, running to 27–31 July.
- Berrylands Road, Pine Walk to Regent Road: still nowhere on the official list, still there if you drive it. I'll keep chasing.
K1, K2, K3 and the 71: all good service, nothing posted. Spot something not here? Reply and I'll dig.
- Sunsara, live: Ram Jam Records, tonight (Thu 23rd), from 7pm. listings
- Crack Comedy Club: Ram Jam, Friday evening — ticketed, check the venue for the bill and time.
- Lifting Spirits wellbeing hub: 96 Ditton Road, Fri 24th and Mon 27th, 10am, free. details
- Saxon Fayre: Kingston Museum, Ancient Market Place, Sat 25th from 10.30am — free family event with re-enactors. details
- Inky Pathways kids' art workshop: Rose Theatre, Kingston, Sat 25th, 10.30am–12.30pm (ticketed). details
- Tolworth Station Community Garden: volunteering morning, Sat 25th, 10.30am — all welcome, no experience needed. details
Out with the kids this weekend: the free Saxon Fayre and the Tolworth garden above, Saturday's food-growing session at Knollmead, and the reliable standby — Bushy Park's deer and big playground, free all summer. Isy asked specifically for family things to do; these are your best bets this week, and I'll keep the fuller holiday list coming.
Warm, with sunny spells breaking through the cloud — high of 26°C, a mild 18°C overnight. Mostly dry, just a slim chance of a stray shower, light westerly breeze.
That's Thursday. Thanks to Sandra, Jane and Catherine for writing in this week — the roads notes especially are better for it. Keep them coming.
Mike, Surbiton Daily
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