Olympic Torch Relay

Hello,
 
Today, LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) has announced the journey of the Olympic Torch in the 70 days leading up to the start of the Games.
The Torch will travel through Surrey on a number of occasions:

10 July – Egham
17 July – Felbridge
20 July – Godstone, Bletchingley, Redhill, Reigate, Dorking, Westcott, Shere, Godalming and Guildford.

The Torch will stay in Guildford during the evening of 20 July for an evening of events at Stoke Park.

Surrey County Council will be working with District and Borough Councils, Surrey Police LOCOG to make the torch relay run as smoothly as possible. This will mostly involve ‘rolling road closures’ that will be reopened as promptly as possible after the torch has passed along a street.
More information about the impact on roads will be provided at a later date.

To find out more about the Torch Relay, visit http://www.gosurrey.info/torch-relay.

Many thanks

2012 Team

Open Committee Meeting Monday, 7th November Leatherhead Institute 7.30pm – 9.00pm

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence.

2. Minutes of the 3rd October.

3. Matters arising from Minutes (not covered later in the agenda)

4. Correspondence

5. To receive and consider reports from:
   Environment Subcommittee
    Planning Subcommittee
    HighwaysSubcommittee
    BLeAF (meeting of chairs of Bookham, Leatherhead, Ashtead & Fetcham RAs)
    (If any more are received they will be added to the agenda)

6. Any Other Business
    (None received so far)

Have a Spooktacular Halloween in Leatherhead

Leatherhead town centre will be taken over by creepy crawlies, stilt walking devils and gargoyles on Monday 31 October when the town once again hosts an afternoon of fun and games for your little ones from 3.30pm to 6.00pm. 

                                                                         

Be terrorised (only slightly) by Animazing’s real life creepy crawlies, including snakes, spiders and cockroaches. Be wowed by the stilt walking devils that will tower above the crowds and be mesmerised by the Whizzers; strange sprite-like characters that will glide through the streets. Also, look out for the two gargoyles in the town centre.

Are you feeling lucky? Find the key to the locked treasure chest and you could be in for a treat! But be warned, if you’re unlucky you will be in for a trick. Are you brave enough to find the magic stone in amongst the body parts? How about guessing the name of our real tarantula or testing your aim at skull hoopla? If this isn’t enough, enter the Witch Word Competition and you could be in with the chance of winning a £15 gift voucher. 

Students of Therfield School will perform Halloween Hits such as the Monster Mash and the Harry Potter theme tune, while local dance group Poptastic will perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller.

A fancy dress competition for all ages will take place at 4.30pm in the Swan Centre, with prizes for the best costume.

Councillor Kathryn Westwood, Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, said: “Halloween in Leatherhead promises to be lots of fun for the whole family. With the music, fun and games there will be a fantastic atmosphere. The event is a great way for us to reach our communities and encourage residents to support local businesses.”  

There will be a small charge for some of the competitions and games. For the safety of residents, the barrier to the High Street will remain closed until 6.30pm.

Cherkley Court Consultation Weekend

I understand that following the Consultation Weekend in July, Longshot Country Club Ltd is holding another presentation on Friday 14th October & Saturday 15th October at Cherkley Court from 10.00 am till 1.30 pm.

You are not expected to be there for 3½ hours. If you want to know the latest for Longshot's plans for the house and gardens, do look in.

Olympic Planting

 

Olympic Planting Colour Scheme 

 

Dear All

 

As many of you may know the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) have tight control over how the Games will look - including use of the Olympic logo, advertising along or close to the route and also how the route is dressed. Mole Valley District Council together with Surrey County Council and LOCOG are already thinking about this last aspect and have received printed guidance from LOCOG on the issue of route dressing. In it, there is guidance and ideas on planting for next year - how to get the right colours and which plants will do that so that any planting along the route is in line with the Olympic colours.

 

As it is the time of year when many gardeners are making plans for next year, it seems appropriate to forward this guidance now. Naturally it is most relevant to those of you who are on or near the Olympic Road Race route but I hope you will bear with me on this mass email.

 

I hope that this guidance is useful. It contains ideas on the relevant plants that will bring the right colours to your displays but they are not prescriptive and you may choose to use different plants. I would be most grateful if you could forward this on to any relevant clubs or associations that you may know of too.

 

Kind regards

 

Louise

 

Louise Bircher
Customer Service and Communications Manager
Mole Valley District Council

Circus Of The Orient Arrives In Leatherhead

EXCLUSIVE OFFER

For the first time, a spectacular, fun-packed world-class circus for all the family, the likes of which can only be seen by audiences in major cities - is coming to Leatherhead – for three days only!  The Big Top will be at Leatherhead Leisure Centre from Tuesday 25^th October until Thursday 27^th October 2011.

Featuring a galaxy of international circus stars from China, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, Romania and France, Circus Of The Orient, has been specifically designed to visit towns and locations normally considered beyond the reach of circuses of an international standard.  Yet its creators, Carol and Phillip Gandey say there will be no compromise in the size or quality of its world-class performance.

Leatherhead audiences can witness the amazing world famous Shaolin Wu Shu Warriors appearing by kind permission of the Abbott of the Shaolin Temple and the Chinese Ministry Of Culture. Blink and you could miss it, such are the lightening reactions of the greatest exponents of martial arts, they stretch the limits of human achievement in this dazzling new production where east meets west.

Other world class artist’s include the sensational springboard acrobatics from the amazing ‘Julio Troupe’, combined with supreme aerialists, ‘Trio Serik’, who will be on hanging straps high in the roof of the Big Top. The beautiful ‘Monalisa’ will provide an element of grace with her aerial showcase.

Encounter the unbelievable somersaults performed on Chinese poles and watch artists dice with death on the cloud swing trapeze, all whilst the spectacular Big Top is echoing with laughter from the antics of our crazy clowns ‘Duo Delbosq’.

HOW TO RECIEVE OFFER

This is your opportunity to receive an exclusive Buy One Adult Ticket And A Child Goes Free*. You can either call 0871 705 5507 (10ppm BT) and quote “Leatherhead KF” OR print this email and take to our Box Office on site at Leatherhead Leisure Centre, KT22 9BL, to book your tickets. Our Box Office is open from Tuesday 25^th October times of 12pm to 8pm.

Offer Valid:

·         Wednesday 26^th October show times of 2pm and 4.30pm.

·         Thursday 27^th October show times of 2pm and 4.30pm

(*Offer valid on all seats except Rear Tier and valid to all Wednesday and Thursday performances, Subject to availability)

For more information on Circus Of The Orient please go to www.circusoftheorient.com

Open Committee MeetingMonday, 3rd OctoberLeatherhead Institute 7.30pm – 9.00pm

Agenda
 
1. Apologies for absence
 
2. Notice of Matters for Any Other Business
 
3. Minutes of Meeting on 5th September.
 
4. Matters Arising,from the minutes which are not on the agenda below.
 
5. Correspondence
 
6. Autumn Newsletter
 
7. Reports from sub-committees:
    Membership
    Environment
    Planning
    Highways
 
8. Reports from other meetings:
    Leatherhead Highways Forum 30th August.
    Leatherhead & District Forum 15th September
    BLeAF 23rd September
    The Green Mole Forum
    Transition Bookham
 
9. Any Other Business (as agreed under Item 2)
 
(The Committee meeting will be preceded by a South Leatherhead Police Panel meeting at 6.45 pm)

Open Committee MeetingMonday, 5th SeptemberLeatherhead Institute 7.30pm – 9.00pm

1. Apologies for absence

2. Notice of Matters for Any Other Business

3. Minutes of Meeting on 1st August

4. Matters Arising,from the minutes which are not on the agenda below.

5. Correspondence

6. Reports from sub-committees and from other meetings.
    Membership
    Environment
    Planning
    Highways
    Other meetings:
      Leatherhead Highways Forum 30th August.

7. Any Other Business (as agreed under Item 2)

Police warn residents to be wary of bank card scam

Police warn residents to be wary of bank card scam

Surrey Police is warning residents about an emerging scam in which fraudsters use false pretences to try and get people’s bank cards.

The scam works by the victim initially receiving a phone call, or number of phone calls, from someone claiming to be from their bank. The caller checks the victim’s details, including asking for their pin number, then informs them that they need a new bank card. The victim is advised that someone will be visiting them shortly to collect their old card. A person, dressed to look like a courier, then arrives at the door to take the card.

Detective Sergeant Vicki Morris, who is investigating these incidents, said: "It is important that residents are aware of the tactics used by con-artists. This scam works due to the two pronged approach of first calling the victim on the phone and then visiting their property. If someone turned up at your door and asked you to hand over your bank cards, you would most likely be wary and refuse, but having someone call beforehand to warn you that a ‘courier’ will be coming can make it seem more legitimate.

"I would urge householders never to give out bank details or other personal information over the phone whatever the reason behind the request. Banks would never operate in this way either by phoning or turning up out of the blue. They would write to customers and would expect them to cut up cards personally when they expired.

"This is a worrying scam which is clearly being aimed at the most vulnerable members of our community. I would urge families, friends and carers to explain to others who may be at risk what they should do to protect themselves. If at anytime a resident feels suspicious they should contact Surrey Police as soon as possible."

Anyone with any information about either of these incidents is asked to call Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference MV/11/3469. Alternatively, information can be passed to Crimestoppers, anonymously and free of charge, by calling 0800 555 111.

Grab a compost bin for only £10!

Following on from an earlier post :

Grab a compost bin for only £10!

What: Surrey Waste Partnership’s home composting team will take their roadshow to Leatherhead Leisure Centre car park where they will be selling compost bins at the bargain price of just £10. Pick up step-by-step guides and trouble-shooting advice for free too, from our composting experts. When: Thursday 25th August, 11.00am to 16.00pm

Context: Home composting is an essential part of Surrey’s waste minimisation campaign and has an important role to play in achieving a reduction in the amount of garden and food waste that is disposed of. Out of a total 514,000 tonnes of household waste currently produced in Surrey each year, it's estimated that around a third could be composted which would save the county an estimated £10 million in green waste disposal costs each year. Visit www.surreywastepartnership.org.uk.

Ride The Route 4 September 2011

Ride the Route Sportive 4 September 2011
Information sheet
August 2011

Introduction
Ride the Route (RTR) is a non-competitive participation cycle ride taking place on 4 September 2011 for experienced cyclists. The route follows a 65 mile circuit based on the 2012 Olympic Road Race route within Surrey only.


Frequently asked questions
Q. Is this a cycle race like the London-Surrey Cycle Classic?
No, RTR is a Sportive (sometimes called a cycle-sportive), it is not a race. Cyclists take part in this ride at their leisure. Many other Sportives take place within Surrey every year.


Q. When did you start planning this event?
We started looking at organising this event in February 2011


Q. What is the exact route?
We do not give out details of the exact route until the day. This is to allow for any safety or emergency diversions.


Q. How many riders will be taking part?
We will have a clearer idea 7 days prior to the event but currently we expect a maximum of 500.
Ride Estimated Timing:
Riders leave East Molesey
Between 6:00 – 8:00
Ride Box Hill
From 07:00 – 12:00
Riders return to East Molesey
Between 10:00 – 14:30


Q. Which roads will be closed?
RTR takes place on open roads, no roads are closed.


Q. What has been done to minimise disruption to other road users?
We have picked an early Sunday morning start when most people take a more relaxed approach to their day. The date has been changed to ensure a gap between the London-Surrey Classic and RTR. The riders set off in staggered waves rather than all in one go.


Q. Have you been in touch with the National Trust?
Yes we have permission to use their private road.


Q. How many barriers will line the route?
We will not be using barriers on open public roads, these are not needed.


Q. Why has there been a delay in getting information out to areas where the ride passes?
We have had to wait to ensure both the safety procedures and date was confirmed otherwise the information we supplied may have been incorrect.


Q. How many spectators will be on the route?
We do not expect any spectators on the route, as this is not a race.


Q. Is it open to anyone?
Due to the nature of the route and the need to ensure safety we stipulate that those entering are experienced cyclists (not beginners) and 18 years of age or over.


Q. What safety measures are in place?
Safety is of paramount importance to us. We have been working with the Police, National Trust and Local Authorities and they are fully satisfied with our safety measures. The route has been fully risk assessed and we have gone above and beyond the government guidance for this type of event. This includes:
• Sign posted route
• First Aid and Paramedic support
• Two ambulances in attendance
• Static marshals
• Moto marshals
• Mechanical support
• Ride doctor


Q. What will you be doing to stop riders causing blockages and riding in groups spanning the road?
Riders will be given printed information to ensure they respect other road users and reminded that they must ride in accordance with the Highway Code. They will also be briefed before they set off to ensure they have received this information both in written and verbal format. We will highlight the more challenging parts of the route.
We will have static marshals and members of the National Escort Group (Moto marshals) that will help regulate the riders.


Q. When will the signage go up?
We will be using temporary signage. This will be in place before the ride starts and will be removed in sequence after the last rider has left the start point.


Q. The riders have timing chips surely you are encouraging them to race?
Not at all, it is essential we can identify riders in case of an accident and that we know that they have set off and returned to the start/finish point. In addition we have marshals who will be instructing riders to slow their speed at certain points if necessary.


Q. How are you helping areas that already see an increase in cyclists?
Anyone can legally ride a bike on an open road. Ride the Route offers a safe regulated platform for those who may already be thinking about following this route. 84% of current cyclists signed up to ride are local to the areas this ride passes.


Q. Who do I get in touch with if I have a question?
This event is organised by Active Surrey. Active Surrey is the Sport England funded strategic lead sports development agency for Surrey (hosted by Surrey County Council).
Please email info@ridetheroute.com or active.surrey@surreycc.gov.uk
Tel. 01483 518944

Surrey CC Composting Event

From the comms department at Surrey Council Council:

"Our composting team are holding a bargain bin sale 25th August in Leatherhead (£10 only!)"

No more details at the moment.

Watch out, watch out - Mrs Wu is about!

I've just got back from holiday and find I have a letter from a Mrs. Grace Wu, who describes herself as a private investment banker. She tells me that somone with my surname instructed her to lodge $21 Million in some Chinese bank to be used for an investment in some business or other; and these funds were invested and have increased in value.

Several years later the Bank reported to her that the funds remained untouched and when she investigated further it turned out that the investor had only gone and got himself killed in a hiking accident in mainland China. Not only that - he died intestate and now Mrs. Wu wants to do a deal with me so that she and I can share these unclaimed million of dollars!!

Wahoooo!! I'm in the money - I'm in the money!!

Well, no, not exactly. She tells me that to save her getting into trouble all of this must remain confidential and I mustn't tell anyone about it - not even you who are reading this.

But I am telling you this because it is a scam. If you get such a letter, do NOT reply to it! Once she (if, indeed, it is a she at all) has your bank details you will be cleaned out of all the money in your bank account.

A quick look on the Internet will soon reveal many people with "the same surname" as you, and you and you have also invested $21 Million in some Chinese bank and died intestate, having died in a hiking accident in Mainland China (obviously a dangerous place to go hiking!).

The sad thing about these scam letters (and emails) is that these criminals work on the numbers game - if they send out enough of this drivel there will always be some gullible soul out there that will be taken in and will lose their hard earned cash to these vermin. Don't let it be you - and please warn your friends about this.

Parking on the Olympic Cycling Route

The County Council will be actively putting flyers on all cars parked along the cycle route on 31 July and 7 August as advanced warning that the London-Surrey Cycle classic will be coming through and that vehicles parked on the route on Sunday 14 August will be towed.

Designing Out crime

Public Consultation 22^nd July to 2^nd September 2011.

Surrey Police is working with Mole Valley District Council to produce a planning guide on Designing out Crime.

Designing out Crime will be a practical guide for developers, householders and anyone else with an interest in new development.

The aim is to help people understand how to design new development in ways that will reduce opportunities for crime and anti-social behaviour. As a result, new developments should feel safe, helping to reduce the fear of crime.

The guidelines will cover issues such as designing security measures in a way that is sympathetic to the surroundings, laying out development so that it doesn’t create hiding places or escape routes for criminals, and fostering a sense of pride and ownership within new streets and public spaces, so that residents feel secure.

Members of the public and other interested parties are invited to read and comment on Designing out Crime.

A draft version will be available from 22^nd July, on the Council’s website at www.molevalley.gov.uk/ldf

Copies will also be available for public inspection at:

• The Council Offices at Pippbrook, Dorking
• Libraries in the District
• The Help Shop in Leatherhead

Olympic Test Event Final Drop-In Session

Dear All

This is just a reminder that the final drop-in session for the Olympic Cycle race test event on Sunday 14 August is happening this Friday - 29th July at Park House in Leatherhead. The session runs from 3pm to 8pm and is an opportunity for anyone to pop in and ask questions about road closures, crowd management, footpaths, access or whatever is of interest/concern to residents and/or businesses. Representatives from the District Council (me!), the County Council, Transport for London and LOCOG should be there.

Please do encourage as many people as possible to come in and ask any questions they may have. For those who cannot make it, Surrey County Council have a dedicated website for the Olympic Games at www.gosurrey.info which contains a wealth of information and there is some more generic information, including information on how to volunteer for next year's races, on the District Council website. Please follow this link:

www.molevalley.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=10638

These pages will be updated and added to as we move forward towards the main events next year.

Kind regards

Louise Bircher
Customer Service and Communications Manager
Mole Valley District Council
Tel: 01306 879155

Open Committee Meeting Monday, 1st August Leatherhead Institute 7.30pm – 9.00pm

Agenda

1. Apologies for absence

2. Notice of Matters for Any Other Business

3. Minutes of Meeting on 4th July

4. Matters Arising from the Minutes which are not on the agenda below.

5. Correspondence

6. Reports from sub-committees and from other meetings.
    Membership
    Environment
    Planning
    Highways
   Other meetings

7. Publicity on the LRA website & blog

8. Any Other Business (as agreed under Item 2)

(The meeting will be preceded by the South Leatherhead Police Panel Meeting at 6.45 pm)

Your Buses, Your Say…Surrey Bus Review Phase 3

Surrey County Council will shortly be consulting on bus service changes in Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Waverley and some services in Guildford. This will be phase 3 of the County Councils 3-year Bus Review Programme, which started in 2010.

We will run a three-month public consultation from 1 November 2011 to 31 January 2012 for your comments on the proposals that we put forward. Comments from the actual bus users form an important part of the process and will assist us in designing the revised network. We would therefore like to hear your comments and views.

Feedback from the consultation process and the costs of the revised services will then be included in a proposal that will be submitted to Surrey County Council's cabinet, who will make the final decision. Changes to services will take effect in September 2012.

From 1st November 2011 details about the proposals to bus services, how to feed your comments in to the review and further information about the review process will be available at www.surreycc.gov.uk/busreview. This website will also have details on the consultation sessions that will be held locally to discuss the proposals and listen to your individual views and suggestions.

Tickets for Zig-Zag

Dear All

This is to let you know that Mole Valley District Council has been allocated 460 tickets for residents to watch the London-Surrey Cycle Classic from the coveted zig-zag area on Box Hill. We will be allocating a small number to Headley Court and the rest will be available for residents to apply for through a competition.

The competition goes live tomorrow at approximately 12 noon (possibly slightly earlier). It will be online at www.mole-valley.gov.uk and hard copy forms will be available at the Leatherhead HelpShop and Pippbrook reception. Terms and Conditions apply. The closing date is 12 noon on 27 July, after which time winners will be picked from all correct entries, where Terms and Conditions have been agreed to and contact details supplied.

Please encourage your residents to apply, as long as they are willing to commit to coming and recognise that it is a long walk from the station or a car park to the zig-zag area!

Kind regards

Louise


Louise Bircher
Customer Service and Communications Manager
Mole Valley District Council
Tel: 01306 879155
www.molevalley.gov.uk

Proposed Road Works for the Olympic Cycle Route

Dear All

We have received this alert from Surrey County Council regarding Highways work connected to the Olympic Test Event on 14 August 2011 and the Olympic Cycle Race on 28 and 29 July 2012. Please note items 4 and 5 which fall under Mole Valley.

Surrey County Council is hosting Olympic Cycle Events in 2012 with one of these events being the Men's/Women s Cycle Road Race (28/29 July 2012).   Ahead of this event there is a Test Event for the Cycle Road Race (known as the London-Surrey Cycle Classic), which is to be held on 14 August 2011.

To allow cyclists to safely negotiate the Road Race course the race organisers (LOCOG – London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) require the removal of various elements of highway infrastructure (islands etc).  

These are to be removed and replaced with a temporary feature (such as water filled barriers or white lining) for a short 1-2 week period which can removed immediately before the Test Event. Following the Test Event and before the main 2012 Road Race a semi-permanent replacement feature will be installed (such as rubberised kerbing or white lining). This will again be removed before the 2012 event, following which a permanent replacement feature will be installed.

These works have been discussed and agreed with Surrey Police and the County’s Safety Audit Team. Similar works are also to be undertaken in the areas of London through which the race passes.

The funding for highway works associated with the Olympics is separate from Surrey County Council Highways budgets and has no impact on the availability of funding for highway schemes/initiatives across the county or any individual local committee area.

Officers have been working with LOCOG to minimise the extent of the works, which have now been identified and are being passed to the county’s contractor (May Gurney and Skansa) to progress.  

The works listed below are those identified for the Test Event, further works may be identified for the 2012 Road Race event following assessment of the Test Event.

The purpose of writing is to inform you of the locations, reasons and timescales for these works.

The works listed below are to be undertaken in July 2011 with advance electrical works commencing in late June 2011. All of the works are planned to be completed by the 31 July (2 weeks before the Test Event).  

Works will be carried out off peak during the working day to minimise traffic disruption and inconvenience to residents. Vehicular and pedestrian access to residential and business premises will be maintained at all times and local residents will be informed of the works as for all of the county’s highway works.

List of works and locations

1.        Oatlands Drive, Weybridge -  Remove/replace all small existing build outs on existing cycle lane (the central refuge islands can remain). With a fast moving peloton of riders there is not enough road space for competitors to negotiate the street furniture and therefore the build outs need to be removed.

2.        Oatlands Drive junction with Queens Road, Weybridge - Remove/replace section of central splitter island in Queens Road. To allow the competitors to enter Hanger Hill without having to negotiate a sharp turn the central island will have a section removed. This will allow riders to turn from Oatlands Drive into Queens Road and line up with Hanger Hill safely.

3.        Parvis Road junction with Brooklands Road – Remove lane splitter island on A245 Parvis Road and replace with road markings. The riders will be travelling at high speed into the junction, due to the camber of the A245 and the location of raised kerbs on the south side of the junction, the riders will take the racing line through the junction and removal of the splitter island is needed.

4.        A24 junction with A25 Deepdene Roundabout – Remove/replace part of the splitter island on south west side at junction. This is required to assist with the Traffic Management for the event and  allow vehicles to manoeuvre around the roundabout and minimise a full road closure at this junction.

5.        Leret Way, Leatherhead – Remove/replace central pedestrian refuge island. The riders will be travelling at high speed by this stage of the race. The riders would not have time to safely split around the island and then be in the correct position to make the turn into Bull Hill.

If you have any queries or would like any additional information please email london2012@surreycc.gov.uk with the subject heading Highway Works Enquiry.

 

Louise Bircher
Customer Service and Communications Manager
Mole Valley District Council
Tel: 01306 879155
www.molevalley.gov.uk