I have been looking online about Berrylands’ and Surbiton’s history.

It is apparent that there is an important part of Berrylands’ history that is missing, so I thought it important to share.

When I was three years of age, in 1979, the local Conservative council closed the extremely popular Surbiton Lagoon, which was situated in Raeburn Avenue, in Berrylands.

For those that have never heard of it, it was an Olympic-sized open-air swimming pool with diving boards, tennis courts and a recreation area.

It was closed, along with many other local amenities, as part of a Conservative agenda to privatise everything they could, handing wealth and power from the people to the already wealthy.

The Conservative council then tried to sell off the underlying land for property development.

But they did not count on the resilience and fight of two residents.

Peter Bell and Edgar Scruby – both of whom stood as independents in national and local elections – knew the area well, having grown up there.

They got together and fought the Conservative council, providing a petition, attending meetings and involving an ombudsman.

They argued that the council could not sell off the land because it had been left in a will to the people of Surbiton, not for the council to sell off.

Thanks to the efforts of those two great men, we still have the park for local people in Berrylands, where the Surbiton Lagoon once was.

I hope this inspires and sends out the message that people can win over tyrannical opposition.

It certainly inspired me to become an activist and my father, Peter Bell, will always be my hero.

BEN BELL Via email

 


MORE KINGSTON STORIES »