Construction finally begins on Kingston’s new leisure centre
#46: Kingston Council to ban ads for unhealthy food, vaping and gambling, Thames Water launches public consultation on Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme, nightly closures of Petersham Road for resurfacing, volunteering opportunities for young people at Kingston Hospital, Kingston Giving’s annual Impact report, Kingston Artists Open Studios event continues this weekend, DanceWest Fest Kingston 2025 at Rose Theatre this Sunday, family-friendly ride with Kingston Cycling Campaign, Ham Fair returns, Summer Fayre at St John The Baptist Church, Wimbledon on the lawn at Ravens Ait Island, free netball session in Surbiton, 40 thoughtful Father's Day gift ideas, cheap eats in London, and more.
START WITH A SMILE: Stuff to cheer us up
💚 EU shows record-low energy use amid efficiency gains and renewables surge: Total energy in the EU, what Eurostat calls gross available energy, fell by 4.1% in 2023, the equivalent of about 380 million barrels of oil, marking a record low. A combination of efficiency policies and milder winters means Europe is managing to do more with less. The region’s share of renewables has also grown to 19.5% of total, up 31% on 2013.
LOCAL STORIES: Stuff you need to know
🏗️ Construction finally begins on Kingston’s new leisure centre: Almost five-and-a-half years after its closure in December 2019 and its subsequent demolition in 2022, construction work to replace Kingfisher Leisure Centre has finally begun. Plagued by delays that saw the council’s initial designs scrapped due to costs estimated at near-double the approved budget of £44.5 million, the revised plans were approved in February 2025. But on Wednesday 11 June, construction work finally started on the new leisure centre that is expected to take two years to complete. Projected to be ready for residents to use by spring 2027, it will feature a 25 metre, eight lane swimming pool, a teaching and learning pool, a large fitness gym, three multi-purpose studios, a sports hall, squash courts, a health suite, soft play area and café. Cllr Andreas Kirsch, Leader of the Council, said:
“This is a huge investment in Kingston’s future that we are proud to make. We have worked hard to bring forward this scheme as swiftly as possible, and we can now move with confidence into the next phase of creating this landmark project, which has been shaped by our community and will serve them for decades to come.”
🎰 Kingston Council to ban adverts for unhealthy food, vaping and gambling: Kingston Council is set to restrict adverts for unhealthy food, vaping and gambling to cut rising rates of obesity and chronic disease, reports MyLondon. This plan to introduce a healthier advertising policy across the borough will limit the promotion of unhealthy products on sites the council owns and will include adverts for food and non-alcoholic drinks which are high in fat, sugar and salt, alcohol, gambling products and services, tobacco and related products, including vapes.
🌊 Thames Water to launch public consultation on Teddington Direct River Abstraction scheme: On 17 June 2025, Thames Water are to start their 10-week statutory public consultation on their updated proposals for Teddington Direct River Abstraction (TDRA) with a series of events across Richmond and neighbouring boroughs. The utility company is seeking government approval for TDRA scheme that, if approved, would pipe water from the Thames at Teddington in times of drought to reservoirs in North London and replace it with treated sewage. Construction work involves digging a tunnel under homes, businesses and parks in Isleworth, Twickenham, Teddington, Ham and Kingston, and may take up to two years to complete. Residents can attend public consultation events and have their say on the proposed scheme – there are both in-person and online events scheduled as below. Full details are available here.
25 June, Isleworth Public Hall
28 June, Oaklands School, Hounslow
30 June, Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
3 July, DoubleTree Hilton, Kingston
7 July, York House, Twickenham
8 July, online
12 July, St Richard’s Church, Ham
16 July, online
17 July, The Lensbury, Teddington
19 July, Kingston Academy, Kingston
🛣️ Resurfacing works on road connecting Kingston to Richmond to start in June with full nightly road closure: Overnight resurfacing works will take place on Petersham Road between Star and Garter Hill and Meadow Close, the main arterial road connecting Kingston to Richmond and beyond. Scheduled from Monday 23 to Friday 27 June, the works will involve removing the existing surface and laying a new carriageway, and will be conducted between 9pm and 5am each night, with a full road closure and signed diversions in place. The road will be open as usual outside working hours. Bus routes 65, N65 and 371 are expected to be affected while the works are carried out. More information including details of diversions are available here.
🏥 Kingston Hospital offers summer volunteering opportunities for local 16 to 21 year olds: Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust is offering 16 to 21 year olds an opportunity to gain new skills and acquire work experience through various part time volunteering roles. Whether it’s your first step into the world of work or you want to improve your knowledge and skills to progress your career, volunteering at the Trust’s two hospitals, people’s homes and community clinics represents a great investment in professional development while contributing to local community. Open to anyone living, working or studying within five miles radius of Kingston Hospital – application deadline is 19 June 2025, full details of how to apply are available here.
🫶 Kingston Giving publishes its annual Impact report, mental health a key priority: Following the release of its groundbreaking What Kingston Thinks report in March 2025, Kingston Giving has this week released its Impact 2024 report. Along with delivering its popular rolling grants programme, the charity has launched new initiatives to support local people through Participatory Grant Making and collaborations with a network of 57 Kingston charities. In 2024, Kingston Giving gave out 52 grants to local charities and organisations across a range of areas including mental health & wellbeing, children & young people, older people, and food poverty. In 2025, guided by insight from What Kingston Thinks report, one of charity’s key priorities will be mental health and wellbeing. Part of the London Funders movement, Kingston Giving supports local charities and volunteer organisations that tackle inequalities across Kingston. Both What Kingston Thinks and Impact 2024 reports are available to download here.
LOCAL DEMOCRACY: Stuff that affects your neighbourhood
📢 Have your say on “Experimental Traffic Management Order” covering Crescent Road, Kings Road and New Road, North Kingston: The council is currently carrying out an “Experimental Traffic Management Order” covering Crescent Road, Kings Road and New Road in North Kingston, to gather traffic and air quality data. If you are a user or live close to these roads, here is your opportunity to let the council know what you think of the scheme. The order can last up to 18 months and it is expected that the council will make a final decision on the scheme in September 2026. Share your thoughts here.
COMMUNITY, CULTURE & EVENTS: Stuff to do, experience and enjoy
🎨 Reminder: Kingston Artists Open Studios event continues this weekend: Featuring around 60 artists in 23 venues across Kingston, Teddington, East Molesey and Thames Ditton, Kingston Artists Open Studios event continues this weekend, 14-15 June – full details including list of artists and a map of locations is available here.
💃🏻 Reminder: DanceWest Fest Kingston 2025 at Rose Theatre this Sunday: Ballet or bhangra, ballroom or breakdance, modern or folk – whatever your preference, West London’s most exciting community dance festival returns to Rose Theatre on Sunday, 15 June, with a variety of dance styles. Join in and celebrate the spirit of dance as part of the Kingston 2025 cultural programme.
🚲 Surbiton-riverside-Berrylands family-friendly ride to celebrate London Cycling Week: To celebrate both national bike week and the London Cycling Festival, Kingston Cycling Campaign is inviting residents of all ages to cycle into summer and boost their confidence on two wheels. The easy-paced 6.5 mile free, fun and family-friendly group bike ride will be coming to Fishponds Park in Surbiton on Sunday 15 June (10.45am start). There’ll be 20 free bike hires for anyone keen to join in without a bike of their own. Full details and how to sign up are available here.
🎉 Ham Fair returns this Saturday: The traditional annual village fair returns to Ham Common this Saturday 14 June. With over 140 stalls, the day offers great fun for the whole family and features dog show, children rides and activities, bands, vintage vehicles, food and drink, and much more.
🎉 Summer Fayre at St John The Baptist Church, Kingston Vale: Enjoy a great day out for the whole family at St John The Baptist Church Summer Fayre this Saturday 14 June. There’ll be tea and cakes, BBQ, donkey rides, petting farm, kids’ face painting and a live steel band to transport you to sunnier climes! Fun starts at 1pm.
Wimbledon on the lawn at Ravens Ait Island, Surbiton: Here’s the next best thing if you don’t have a ticket for Wimbledon – watch it live on a huge 4-metre screen on Ravens Ait Island in Surbiton riverside, right in the middle of the River Thames. It’s a great way to soak up the sun and watch one of the best tennis tournaments in the world in a one-of-a-kind island setting. Why settle for Henman Hill when you can have a whole island! Action starts on 30 June and runs through to the final on Sunday 13 July.
🎽 Free netball session in Surbiton: Play Netball is hosting a free netball session on Tuesday 24 June at Hollyfield School in Surbiton. Whether you currently play, or want to try netball for the first time, the session is open to players of all abilities. There’s no scoring, no formal teams, just a relaxed opportunity to get on court, re-fresh the rules and have some match play alongside other local women. More information and how to join the session is available here.
👨 40 thoughtful Father's Day gift ideas: Whether he’s into tech, fitness, relaxing with a cold drink, or even tidying up with high-end gear, here are some of this year’s most thoughtful, practical, and genuinely impressive gifts — courtesy of and tested by Netmums. The list includes Smart Swim 2 Goggles, Amazfit Helio Ring, and 2-in-1 grass and hedge trimmer!
LONDON CALLING: Stuff to do, experience and enjoy in the big smoke
🥡 The best cheap eats in London: London might be a foodie’s heaven. But it’s also a pretty expensive city to eat out in. So as the cost of living continues to bite, here is a list of best cheap eats to sink your teeth into for less than £10 – courtesy of Time Out. Expect pie & mash, burgers, naan, lahmacun, baps and more.
WHAT ELSE? Stuff we couldn’t quite fit anywhere else but thought you’d still find interesting
👑 Designs unveiled for a new national memorial honouring Queen Elizabeth II: Five design concepts to build a new national memorial honouring Queen Elizabeth II at London’s St James’s Park have been unveiled. These include statues of the Queen on horseback, interweaving bridges over the park’s lake and an exact cast of an awe-inspiring oak from Windsor Great Park. Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee (QEMC) that is overseeing the project will announce the winning design in summer 2025. You can view all five designs here.
