Chessington District Residents' Association
Working for the residents in the South of the Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Chessington Memories takes viewers a step back in time and will be on show at the Hook Centre from 11th May – 6th June, part of Local and Community History Month.
See historic photos and read firsthand accounts of the moments, people and places our community holds dear. There’s also a fun competition to enter to win one of local historian and author Mark Davison’s books about old Chessington.
Residents have been asking us about what is happening with the Spring School – the new SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) school on the Moor Lane site. So, Chessington District Residents’ Association arranged a visit to the site in May 2026 and met with James Beasley, Contracts Manager of contractor’s Baxall, for an update.
If you were wandering along Clarence Street (the main pedestrianised shopping street) in Kingston on 14th May you may have seen the Metropolitan Police’s proactive operation using LFR or Live Facial Recognition technology. The technology is used to identify individuals wanted by the police or the courts.
Chessington World of Adventures (CWoA) has announced a major new addition for 2027: Minecraft World, the first fully immersive theme park land inspired by the best-selling video game of all time.
A brilliant community effort led by CDRA has helped bring new barn owl boxes to Tolworth Court Farm Fields — and we discovered some amazing owl facts along the way.
CDRA has been increasingly concerned about the lack of care, investment and oversight at Charles Lesser House, Chessington’s only council‑owned and managed accommodation for residents aged over 55. For some time, residents have raised serious worries about safety, security and poor communication, and we have repeatedly tried to advocate on their behalf.
Residents have long called for the 281 bus to serve Cox Lane Business Park, as it did in the 1970s. Although Transport for London (TfL) extended the route to Tolworth station in July 2024, it still stops short of the business park and the growing nature reserve at Tolworth Court Farm Fields.
At a recent Safer Neighbourhood Committee meeting, it was revealed that Kingston’s Volunteer Police Cadet numbers have fallen from around 100 to just 30. That means there’s now a brilliant opportunity for young people to step forward, try something new and gain experiences that genuinely build confidence, skills and independence.
Acting Sergeant Oli Shearer was warmly thanked for his service at the South of the Borough Police Ward Panel meeting on 18th February 2026, where residents and colleagues gathered to wish him well. Oli has led our Safer Neighbourhood Team for the past three and a half years, during which he has been a visible and committed presence across the area.
We’re delighted that residents’ memories of Chessington, collected to mark CDRA’s 50th anniversary last year, will be on show at the King’s Centre in Coppard Gardens from 20th February to 22nd March 2026. Thanks to Ben and Sarah at the King’s Centre for their support.