Issue - meetings

To receive an update around community matters.

Dan Burton, Community Engagement Manager, Shepperton Studios, was invited to give an update on community matters.

Outdoor community screenings had been scheduled for September. Dramatize, a local charity, would use one of the nights as a fundraiser.

Charlton Village Gates had been refurbished by Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM).

Logs from the oak tree that had been felled on Studios Road had been delivered to Littleton School to support their Forest School learning. More logs would be delivered to Saxon Junior School. Three large sections of log had been retained with the intention of utilising them as benches along the River Ash, and local woodworkers were being sought to create this.

Shepperton Studios and Laing O’Rourke were attending local careers fairs and giving careers talks at Thamesmead Secondary School in June.

Shepperton Studios had helped secure scaffolding for Surrey Canoe Club to enable them to build staging for disabled canoeists.

Shepperton Studios had also contributed to Spelthorne’s Jubilee Celebration packages, sponsorships of Spelthorne Means Business Award, and they were looking forward to supporting Shepperton Big Tree night in December.

Five scholarships to the National Film & Television School would be awarded to local young people, and further communications would be provided on how this could be accessed. Shepperton Studios would also provide further support for training programmes and apprenticeships.

Alick Whitfield, Senior Community Relations Manager, Laing O’Rourke, explained that they were recruiting at the site and were looking to fill roles with local candidates. 

Alick acknowledged there had been failings with working practices on site. Oversized vehicles had been arriving from 6am, and vehicles arriving at site were not carrying proper identification associated with the studios. Vehicles were also not using routes designated by the studios.

The wheel wash had also ceased to work for a period of about a week, but this had been repaired and road sweeping had been increased in the area.

There was a need for out-of-hours work to take place, though they were trying to restrict the amount of out-of-hours work needed. Permission from the local authority was required for this.

Residents and Shepperton Studios representatives expressed disappointment over the failings related to lack of identification on vehicles and oversize vehicles using unapproved routes. Cllr Whitmore queried the penalties for lorries arriving to site were receiving if they did not use appropriate routes, and Alick explained they were not allowed on site, and they had received written warnings and instructions to stop using unapproved routes. Objections were also raised to out-of-hours working.

Alick noted the feedback from residents, Councillors, and Shepperton Studios representatives.

To receive an update around community matters.

Shepperton Studios continued to meet with local residents. Matthew Wright and Andrew Smith OBE, Corporate Affairs Director, explained they had upcoming virtual academy events including a five year Technical Support Services Training Programme that aimed to invest in technical support services training. Five scholarships per year would be awarded for local individuals to attend the National Film and Television School in Beaconsfield, and a Film and Media Learning Support Programme would deliver training and education focused on the television and film industry to local primary, secondary and tertiary facilities.

Shepperton Studios would continue to support community events and hold outdoor film screenings, and there was intention for the Shepperton South site to have facilities to host community events. They would also continue to hold career fairs and continue with their community outreach work. A Shepperton Studios Community Fund had also been established to award £500k to support local individuals and organisations and was open for applications until April 2022 for awards to be given in July 2022.

 Laing O’Rourke provided a summary of their past community support work and pledged a number of community activities and employment initiatives for Shepperton and the surrounding areas.