Help Stop Surrey's proposal to cease FREE parking in Towns and Villages

Your Market Towns and larger villages in Surrey need your help, and they need it now.

 

Surrey County Council proposes to remove the FREE on-street parking in the centre of our towns and villages,install machines to issue half hour parking tickets at 50-70p, and enforce payment!

The cost of doing this could be considerable for the return, but the folly is in what it could destroy.

We could lose a lot of the remaining vitality in our High Streets people will stop that quick pop and shop, and just shop where parking is free.

 

If you don’t want to see that,  Please sign the ePetition on the www.surreycc.gov.uk website AND tell your friends.  

The Petition URL is http://petitions.surreycc.gov.uk/ParkingCharges

 

This is on www.wurreycc.gov.uk until the 23^rd March, as the Council will be reviewing this matter soon  

- so Act now or lose FREE High Street Parking in a town near you!

 

If we do nothing that is what we will get.

Lets pass a message to Surrey CC that we have had enough of them messing around with  the vitality of our market towns and Larger Villages.

 

Source: 

 

Caroline Salmon

The WOW! Gallery , 78 South Street, Dorking, RH4 2HD

Tel: 01306 743 403  Mobile: 0771 293 2630 Fax: 01306 713 300

email: caroline.salmon@thewowgallery.co.uk

Agenda for Meeting on Monday, 7th March at 7.30 pm in the Letherhead Institute

1. Apologies

2. Ratification of Minutes of 10th January & 7th February

3. Matters arising from the Minutes of 7th February

4. North Leatherhead Community Group -
   presentation by guest speaker, Simon Woodhams, North Leatherhead Project Worker

5. Reports from sub-groups.
   (a) Membership
    (b) Environment
   (c) Planning
   (d) Highways

6. AGM & Newsletter

7. AOB

Home security cold callers warning

Surrey Police and local Trading Standards are warning residents to be wary of cold callers who initially make contact by phone, claiming they work with local agencies to provide home security systems. 

In the past few weeks, a number of residents across the county have reported receiving a cold call about home security and the caller then tries to sell home security products or offers them a free burglar alarm.

During the call it is implied that the company is, either working directly with the local authorities including the police, or undertaking research on their behalf. Some have also claimed to guarantee a police response to any alarm activation. The caller will often say that the alarm is free but fails to mention the installation charge and ongoing maintenance agreement.  Please note that these companies are not local to Surrey and do not have any specific local knowledge.

Surrey Police is not working in conjunction with any private home security company and we do not endorse particular products. Surrey Trading Standards Service is now investigating the companies involved.

If you are considering installing an intruder alarm system, you can obtain independent home security advice from your local Crime Reduction Advisor, PC 1836 Mike Bessent, by calling Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222.

Call 0845 125 2222 for all non-emergency policing matters.

Call 999 if you have a genuine emergency requiring the attendance of the police (e.g. a crime is in progress or someone is in immediate danger).

Call independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have information about crime and don't want to leave your name.

Leatherhead Town Centre Environmental Enhancements

Mole Valley District Council and Surrey County Council are considering a range of projects that would be of benefit to Leatherhead town centre.

The projects are intended to support the vitality of the town and improve access and convenience for customers of the many shops, restaurants and businesses. Funding is available to start the process, but both councils are also looking towards the future and the preparation of an action plan or infrastructure plan.

A public consultation has taken place to gauge reaction to priorities for the town and how these priorities might be implemented. The first stage was the circulation of a questionnaire in the autumn of 2010 and a business survey. The results of both surveys are available as downloads from this page.

The second stage was an exhibition mounted at the end of January suggesting what the main priorities should be in the short term. The exhibition is also downloadable from this page. http://www.molevalley.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=11577

Comments made during the exhibition will be available shortly. Additional comments are welcome and can be made up until 28th February.  A report of this final stage of the consultation with recommendations for future work will be prepared for the County Council's Local Committee on 3rd March and Mole Valley District Council's Executive on 5th April. 

The email address for additional comments is ldf@molevalley.gov.uk and should be marked for the attention of Rod Shaw. 

Making it in Mole Valley

This spring residents in North Leatherhead are invited to get involved in a series of workshops run by professional craft-makers as part of the Making Surrey community project. The project is being organised by Mole Valley District Council and is funded by Arts Partnership Surrey and The National Lottery. 

Residents will get the chance to come together, have fun and get creative through workshops, in which they will explore how to solve issues ranging from anti-social behaviour to littering and fly tipping.

During the project, which will run until Christmas time, the craft-makers will take up residency in Leatherhead alongside the community.  

There will be opportunities for aspiring or established local artists to develop their skills and volunteer for future community development projects. 

There will also be apprenticeships aimed at residents who wish to specialise in community engagement work, with the craft-makers as mentors. 

Councillor Vivienne Michael, Portfolio Holder for Wellbeing and Customer Service, said: “The Making Surrey project is a wonderful way for residents to come together to explore ways of solving problems within their community. The Council is proud to be a part of it; it’s a new and exciting way to engage with our residents.”      
    

Workshops will take place in North Leatherhead and involve different community groups, including the new Leatherhead Community Garden at West Hill School. More details will be announced soon. 

Seven other Surrey councils are involved in Making Surrey, and are running similar activities for their communities.

In Mole Valley the project is being organised by the Partnerships and Community Development team.

Ends

Media contacts for further information:               

Sally Horsburgh

Communications & Marketing Officer

Customer Services & Partnerships

Tel:  01306 879269

Email: sally.horsburgh@molevalley.gov.uk

                                                                   

Agenda for Meeting on Monday, 7th February at 7.30 pm in the Letherhead Institute

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of meeting on 10th January

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes

4. Police report by PCs Gaynor Grout & Chris Lewis

5. "Accident Reduction" -
   presentation by PC Tom Arthur, Mole Valley Casualty Reduction Officer

6. Report on outcome of the Sainsbury's negotiations

7. Town Centre Plan Exhibition

8. Localism and the Vanguard Project

9. Reports from sub Groups
   a) Membership
   b) Planning
   c) Highways

10. Newsletter and AGM

11. Any Other Business

Surrey Police: Crime Prevention Advice - DNA Property Marking

THEFT from residential properties in three areas of Surrey has dropped dramatically following the use of forensic property marking solution SelectaDNA by householders.

Burglaries from homes in Guildford, Elmbridge, and Epsom and Ewell, fell on average by 66% in the six months following the launch of the project and 58% when compared to the same time period the previous year.

Following the success of the initiative, part of Surrey Police’s Beat the Burglar campaign, all residents in the county are now being offered the chance to buy a SelectaDNA home property marking kit at a reduced price. 

SelectaDNA is a uniquely coded, non-toxic liquid enabling homeowners to ‘forensically mark’ valuable posessions such as laptops, games consoles, jewellery, electrical items and tools.  It can also be used to mark property stored outside the home, including garden equipment, pedal cycles etc.  Barely visible to the naked eye and almost impossible to remove, the solution glows under ultraviolet (UV) light making it easy for police to detect and return property to the rightful owner,  if stolen.

Mole Valley Crime Reduction Advisor, PC Mike Bessent, has been involved in working in our community and demonstrating the benefits of using this product and would recommends its to residents and businesses.

Householders can buy the SelectaDNA home property marking kit at 40% discount until the end of April 2011. Call 01689 860757 or visit www.selectadna.co.uk/surrey-police.html

Surrey Police
Tel: 0845 125 2222

Here we go again....

Once more because of thoughtless and inconsiderate parking, the bin lorry was unable to access the the higher part of Oaks Close. Once more we have space left only for a car to pass between the parked cars - forget about lorries or larger vehicles.


Long gone is the time when cars did not park on corners, opposite T-junctions and in other places where they were obviously likely to cause obstruction. Now, if there is not a double-yellow line, motorists will park there - to hell with anyone else.

For Surrey County Council to introduce parking restrictions on neighbouring roads in 2009 and do nothing about the road nearest to the station is, in my opinion, crass negligence. For years, cars parked only on one side of this road; it was so obvious that parking on both sides would block the roadway. Then about four or five years ago, as parking got more difficult, they began parking on both sides.

It is so patently obvious that double yellow lines should have been extended at least up to the turning circle on one side of the road. I have spoken with local police and with people from MVDC and everyone seems to be of much the same opinion. So why wasn't it done? Why hasn't it been done?

Do we have to resort again to making our own unauthorized notice asking cars not to part on one side so that the bin lorry can get through? Do we have persuade the local press to highlight our case again?

Children’s Book Festival - 19 February - 12 March 2011

Received from Surrey CC .....

The second Surrey libraries’ Children’s Book Festival begins on Saturday 19 February and continues for 3 fun-filled weeks. 

An exciting programme of events for children of all ages will be taking place in libraries throughout Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge.

There is a fantastic opportunity to meet Darren Shan, the master of horror, at Bourne Hall, Ewell, on Friday 25 February.

Tony de Saulles, illustrator of the popular Horrible Science books, will be running Horrible Science drawing workshops, and manga fans will be able to develop their technique at our manga workshops run by best-selling cartoonist James Parsons.

Children will also be able to make pop-up books, write ghost stories, create their own monsters, join a Roald Dahl workshop, meet Elmer the Elephant and the Gruffalo, and much, much more.

To see the full programme, and to book tickets, visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/childrensbookfestival. Tickets can also be bought at participating libraries or by calling 01483 543599.

To avoid disappointment, please book your tickets in advance.

We look forward to seeing you at our festival events.

Surrey libraries - inspiring a lifelong love of reading.

Press release on the future of Leatherhead town centre

Received from Mole Valley District Council ....

Exhibition Explores Future of Leatherhead Town Centre

Mole Valley District Council and Surrey County Council are working together to make improvements to Leatherhead town centre. Last year they began a consultation on what changes should be made. On Friday 28 and Saturday 29 January the results of the consultation will be explored at an exhibition in Leatherhead.

Nearly 350 people responded to the questionnaire. Questions covered issues such as access and parking in the High Street, the visual appearance of key streets and the allocation of space for events such as the town market.

The exhibition will explore the results of the consultation and look at how the councils’ spending plans can respond to its findings. It is also a chance for residents, visitors and those who work in the town to make suggestions about the key issues surrounding its future and to comment on how the proposals could impact on them.

The exhibition will take place on both days from 10.00am to 4.00pm. On Friday it will reopen in the evening from 6.00pm to 8.00pm. It will be located at 36 Church Street, close to the Church Street car park entrance.

Councillor Chris Hunt, Portfolio Holder for Partnerships at Mole Valley District Council, said:

“We are grateful to everyone who took part in the consultation. The results provide a helpful pointer as to where our priorities should lie. The exhibition allows us to feed back results to the community and encourage further, detailed discussion on how projects that will benefit the town can be designed.”

Tim Hall, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Change and Efficiency, said: “It's important that residents are involved in helping us shape the future of Leatherhead town centre. Local people's views are vital because they know the area better then anyone so I would urge them to come along to the exhibition and let us know their thoughts. If we all work together we can ensure Leatherhead continues to thrive for many years to come."

Ends

Media contact for further information:                 

Sally Horsburgh

Communications & Marketing Officer

Customer Services & Partnerships

Tel:  01306 879269

Email:  sally.horsburgh@molevalley.gov.uk

Agenda for Meeting on Monday, 10th January at 7.30 pm in the Letherhead Institute

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of meeting on 1st November 2010

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes

4. "Transition Towns: different flavours of Bookham, Ashtead & Dorking, and why we like living in the Mole Valley"
- presentation by Flip Cargill

5. Reports from sub Groups

   a) Membership

   b) Planning

   c) Highways.

6. Any Other Business

Communicating with Mole Valley

Dear All

 

Further to my email in September regarding 'Communicating with Mole Valley' I am contacting you because we are in the process of putting together a new look version of our magazine Mole Valley news for the March edition.

 

In it, I would like to run a small amount of local news. I am therefore looking for small articles - no more than 100 words and preferably less, for inclusion. We are intending to run 4 half pages under the following geographical split:

 

Ashtead/Leatherhead

Bookham/Fetcham

Dorking

Rural (Beare Green, Brockham, Betchworth, Buckland, Headley and Boxhill, Capel/Leigh, Newdigate, Charlwood, Okewood)

 

We do of course have some updates/information to include ourselves, so any submissions would need to be on the understanding that we will include them if there is space but it would be really useful to include some 'Community News' in our magazine so if you do have any items to offer, please let me have it, and any photos would be lovely too please. Please bear in mind that this will hit doorsteps in March so we need to think ahead!

I am sorry for the short notice but look forward to hearing from you. Please may I have any articles by Friday 17 December.

Thank you

Kind regards

Louise

 

Louise Bircher
Customer Service and Communications Manager
Mole Valley District Council
Tel: 01306 879155
Email: louise.bircher@molevalley.gov.uk

PUBLIC CONSULTATION NOTICE – PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 40, 44 & 48 CHURCH STREET, LEATHERHEAD

Hague Investments hereby advise that we are holding a Public Consultation to review a new supermarket unit at the above location. The date of the consultation will be Wednesday 15^th December between 12.00 pm and 8.00pm. The consultation will be held in the double vacant units (40-44) on Church Street. We will have our team present on the day to answer any queries or concerns that you may have.

We look forward to seeing you at the venue.

HAGUE INVESTMENTS LTD

LRA Christmas Social

The next meeting of the Association is on Monday, 6th December.

As in previous years, this meeting will be a social evening at which members may meet other members, LRA committee members and local Councillors and chat over mince pies, mulled wine and other Christmas fare. Members of local neighbourhood police will, we understand, also drop in when they can.

All members are cordially invited.


Advance notice:
the first meeting of 2011 will be on Monday 10th January (the 3rd is a public holiday).

M25 Improvements Junction 9-10 Update

Following on from this post http://lrassociation.blogspot.com/2010/08/highways-agency-m25-motorway-junctions.html the Highways Agency has updated the HA Website with this information.http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/23473.aspx. 
In summary:

: As part of the scheme, existing electronic lane control signing will be upgraded and replaced with more modern information signs and variable mandatory speed limit signs.  Many of the existing gantries will be adapted to accommodate the new equipment and some new gantries installed to provide better visibility of the speed limits when they are displayed.  This project will extend the current variable speed limit control operating between J10 and J16 and will be installed on both carriageways.  When the scheme is finished, drivers will benefit from improved journey reliability, safer driving conditions and reduced driver stress.  The system is also beneficial to the environment with recuced levels of vehicle emissions. Estimated completion is for the end of 2011.

Repairs to Footbridge from Ashtead to Leatherhead over M25 & A24

From Surrey County Council:

Regarding providing illumination for the footbridge above the Leatherhead-by-pass, we are not in a position to install new lighting due to restrained budget at present. Further information will be available in the next couple of weeks on our website concerning additional street lights. Please visit:

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/sccwebsite/sccwspages.nsf/LookupWebPagesByTITLE_RTF/Street+lights?opendocument


We notice surface conditions of the footbridge is deteriorating. Repair has been scheduled on 2 December between 7p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day. Please be aware the footbridge will be closed during operation.

Message from Mole Valley Neighbourhood Inspector, Terri Poulton

Dear All,

I would like to let you know that there will be some staff moves within the Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team in the New Year. Continuity is very important and the officers moving have all been in their posts for several years. I have to balance continuity with individual officers wishes to develop either by taking on the challenges of a new area or towards promotion. I feel it is important to explain that these moves are not management led but are taking place in order that I can retain all three officers who are, in my view excellent NSOs and assests to Mole Valley whilst satisfying some of their needs in relation to career development.

PC 2188 Chris Lewis will be moving to the Leatherhead town to work alongside PC 2056 Gaynor Grout.

PC 2175 Jason Woods will be moving to cover the Goodwyns,Chartdowns and North Holmwood area.

PC 3239 Fran Davey will be moving to Ashtead

There will be handover periods, the officers are already attending adhoc key meetings on their new areas and Fran will work alongside Jason and then Jason alongside Chris for one month. Finally Chris will join Gaynor in Leatherhead. It is anticipated that the moves will be completed by March 2011.

Sadly we will be loosing PCSO Pete Yard from Goodwyns. Pete has an injury which necessitates him being redeployed to a role which means less walking. I am extremely proud of Pete's achievements within the community and we will be very sad to see him go. In the short term he remains with the team supporting Chris, Lisa and his area from the office. I am working closely with the Force PCSO Manager to secure a suitable replacement.

PCSO Aimee Lucas from the Dorking rural East team is expecting a baby and remains on protected duties until March when she will go onto maternity leave. Aimee continues to support Dom and Ivor from the office and also at engagement events and panel meetings.

Unfortunately PCSO Clive Hudson from the Dorking town team remains on long term sick leave, I know that Clive is missing work and keen to get back. I don't expect to have Clive back and on full duties for some months to come.

PC 2987 Jo Dootson from the Dorking Rural West team will return from maternity leave in January 2011.

PS Rundle and I are very aware that PCSO visibility and resilience is challenging for the teams that work from Dorking although across Mole Valley we are well staffed and where a need arises we will pull resources from other areas to assist.

If you have any questions or concerns please do contact me,

Kind Regards

Terri

Agenda for Meeting on Monday, 1st November at 7.30 pm in the Letherhead Institute

1. Apologies for Absence

2. Minutes of meeting on 4th October

3. Matters Arising from the Minutes which will not be dealt with on the agenda

4. Police Report from PC Fran Davey

5. Address by special guest PC Tom Arthur, Casualty Reduction Officer

6. Reports from sub Groups:
     a). Membership
     b). Planning
     c). Highway

7. Any Other Business

Hidden History Update

Following a comment added to the Hidden History post ...

The Hawthorn Leslie 3837 Preservation society has just purchased 3837 from Mole Valley District Council where she has been standing on display for over 25 years behind Leatherhead Leisure Centre. We are now in the process of moving her to her new home where she will be fully overhauled into full working order.
For more infomation go to www.3837.pvsonline.com

Topaz Musical Theatre performs at Fetcham

Upcoming musical presentation of the works of songwriters Cole Porter,George Gershwin,Jerome Kern and Noel Coward.

The show is 'S'Wonderful' at Fetcham Village Hall on Saturday 6 November at 7.30pm and Saturday 13 November at 7.30pm at Cobham Village Hall. Tickets from 01372 458163 at £9.50 including light refreshments.

Proceeds are in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Contact Alan Berridge 01737 761168