Chessington District Residents' Association
Working for the residents in the South of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames
We’re delighted that residents’ memories of Chessington, collected to mark CDRA’s 50th anniversary, are now on show at the Hook Centre until the end of October. Huge thanks to Leon and Fran at Hook and Chessington Library for their support.
Is something at home not working quite right? Instead of throwing it away, take it to Transition Town Kingston’s Repair Café. Held on the first Saturday of every month at Kingston Library (10:30am–1pm), volunteers offer free help to mend everyday items – from worn-out clothes to misbehaving gadgets – giving them a new lease of life and saving them from landfill.
Each year, Kingston Council sets a budget to balance the money coming in with the cost of local services. In February 2025, the Council approved a £190.62m budget to keep services running across the borough. Now they want to hear from you: how should future budgets be planned, and what priorities matter most to local residents? Share your views before 31 December 2025 and help shape Kingston’s financial plans for the years ahead.
Kingston Council has unveiled its redesigned website, launched in August 2025, with the aim of making it easier for residents to access services and information online. The new site offers a fresh look and feel, improved navigation, and additional features designed to help you find what you need more quickly. It’s also more cost-effective for the council to run, ensuring better value for money while improving communication with the community.
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust has been ranked 31st out of 134 acute hospital trusts in England, placing it firmly in the top quarter nationwide, while Epsom and St Helier ranked 61st. The new Aggregated Metric Ranking (AMR) brings together a wide range of measures – from A&E waiting times and delays to planned treatments, to cancer care, patient experience, and financial stability. The ranking puts Kingston in the top quarter of acute hospital trusts across England.
Chessington & Hook Voluntary Support (CHVS) is looking for friendly individuals to join their team of volunteer drivers, supporting local residents who face mobility challenges. Volunteers provide lifts to vital appointments – medical, social, or otherwise – when no other transport options are available.
The UK Government will be carrying out a nationwide test of the Emergency Alerts system on Sunday 7th September at 3pm. Mobile phones and tablets will make a loud siren-like sound and display a test message on screen for approximately 10 seconds. No action is required. The Emergency Alerts system is designed to warn the public about life-threatening emergencies, such as severe flooding, fires and extreme weather. This is only a test.
If you know someone who may be unsettled by the unexpected alarm sound, please ensure they are made aware in advance that this is a scheduled test and not an emergency.
You can preview how the alert will sound by playing the animation below.
Ashill has opened an online consultation regarding its plans to build 256 new homes on the former Chessington Golf Course site. The proposal features a mix of family housing, with 128 designated as affordable. According to the developers, half of the land will be retained as open space, accessible via existing public footpaths. They also state that views toward Epsom from Huntingate Walk will be preserved.
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Looking for activities to amuse the kids, grandkids or even yourself during the summer holidays? We have some suggestions and useful links to discover more of what’s going on locally.
Ongoing groundworks at Sir Francis Barker Recreation Ground, near Leatherhead Road and Barwell Lane, are part of Kingston Council’s broader efforts to manage local flood risk. These improvements form part of the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy, aimed at tackling issues caused by increased development and limited sewer capacity.
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