Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Attewell, Councillor Boughtflower, Councillor Clarke, Councillor Howkins, Councillor Mathur, Tristam Slater, Andrew Smith, Matthew Wright, Derek Ferguson, Bernii Langridge and Carl Philipps

To agree the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed as a correct record.

To receive an overview of the construction progress and programme.

Dan Burton, Pinewood Studios gave a presentation that covered the agenda items for the meeting. Dan advised that the Studio had now been formally handed over from Laing O’Rourke and was now operational. Netflix and Amazon were both on site and the ‘Rings of Power’ would start filming soon and continue for the next two years and would be the largest TV series ever made.

Dan identified that the lighting issues raised at the previous meeting had been resolved. Residents urged to contact the studio Customer Services with any problems that came up.

The Group queried why some of the office buildings were still lit up late at night. Dan advised that work was ongoing, with the plan for office lights to be either on timers or sensors. Dan advised that he would find out why the lights were being left on.

The Group queried when the trees along the boundary of the studio would grow to full height and was advised that it would like take ten years for the trees to reach full height.

To receive a progress update on off-site highway works.

Dan Burton gave an update on the Off-Site Highway Works and stated that the timelines were indicative only.

Junction 4 – Shepperton South would be completed Summer 2024. Once completed there would be a 12-month period for Surrey County Council (SCC) to carry out safety audits. The Group identified that at previous meetings concern had been expressed over the width of the road coming off of the roundabout and stated that two large vehicles would have difficulty in passing. Dan advised that issues such as those should be raised with Surrey Highways. The Group raised concern that there was no central refuge for pedestrians crossing from the bus stop near the junction and that this had also been raised with Councillor Attewell at SCC.

Junction 1 – work on the new roundabout at the end of studios road would aim to commence in Summer 2024 and Dan presented some slides showing that there would be three-way traffic lights in place for two-and-a-half months. Dan identified that most studio traffic would be re-directed to the South entrance and that extra measures were being considered to ease traffic flow in the area.

Junction 6 – work on the Laleham roundabout/crossing would aim to commence Spring 2025.

Junction 2 – work on the new roundabout at junction of New Road, Charlton Road and Charlton Lane would aim to commence Summer 2025.

Junction 3 – work on the existing roundabout at Squire’s Bridge Road would aim to commence Summer 2026.

Charlton Crossing – had received ‘technical approval’ from SCC with the programme of work to be confirmed, however the aim was for the work to occur in parallel to junction 6.

Laleham Crossing – work would likely be in parallel to junction 6 (UK Power Network were preventing earlier road access).

To receive an update around community matters.

Dan Burton provided an update on Community Matters.

£100,000 (£20,000 per year for five years) had been provided by the Studio to fund training in Film & TV. The courses would be run by the National Film and Television School (NFTS) and the funding was exclusively for Spelthorne residents.

The Group queried whether there were opportunities for local primary schools to come in and were advised that there would be an announcement on that soon.

Dan provided information on scholarships at NFTS, there would be five scholarships per year for five years, for Spelthorne residents. Residents could apply to do a course with the NTFS and once accepted could then apply for the scholarship from the Studios. The scholarships were open for courses commencing in September 2024.

For any other business to be raised.

There was none.

To receive questions from members of the public.

The Group queried how late staff were allowed on site and whether it would be seven-days a week. Dan advised that production staff had to be finished by 9pm, however most of those people would be inside workshops and sound stages. Dan further advised that it was rare for production staff to work weekends. Dan advised that productions needed to apply for out-of-hours work and night shoots would be heavily regulated in terms of noise. Dan advised that he would find out the exact working hours.

The Group queried whether there was sufficient parking on site and was advised that there were almost 3000 parking spaces on site. Volume of cars on site would vary dependent on productions.

The Group queried if there was a hotel on site and was advised that there was not. The Group further queried whether any consideration had been given to painting the outside of the sound stages green, or with trees painted on them. Dan advised that consideration had been given but the decision had been made to paint them sky grey.

Dan finished by stating that the plan would be for these meetings to cease and move to a monthly drop-in for residents with queries. Further details would be provided in due course.