A Good use of Public Funds ?

Following this article in the local press -

"Mole Valley council offices could be knocked down to build houses (Thursday, November 06, 2008, 07:00)"

Imagine then, opening Issue Seventeen of the MVNews "The Official Magazine of Mole Valley District Council" on page 5 to find an article describing the refurbishment of the Reception Area at MVDC Offices. The article states " We will continue to provide all the facilities our residents & customers are used to..".

Does this include "possibly" wasting public money in a recession?

Let's hope the possible new home for MVDC is Eco friendly (zero carbon etc) and a real show piece for the area's green credentials. Let's also hope that any new building on the Pippbrook site is also affordable & carbon neutral.

Police Clinic

Local Police Officers will be availble for you to speak to them at the Help Shop, Leatherhead on 26th November 2008 between 11:00-13:00

More Cold Calling

This time in Ashtead...

We live in Greville Park Road and five minutes ago we had a fellow ringing
our door bell cold calling offering the chance of a free draw for a Nissan
Micra.  He wanted us to give him our name, address, telephone number, which
we obviously refused to do.  When we said we were a 'No Cold Calling Area',
he assured us that he'd been in touch with Surrey Police and they were well
aware he was working in the area.

Have phoned Consumer Direct who have taken the details are contacting Surrey
Trading Standards.

Small print on Raffle Card

In addition to the main draw, cards will also be selected daily and the
holder invited to receive a gift for watching, along with your partner, a
demonstration of COMPLETE HOMECARE SYSTEM.  

(Source : ARA)

MVDC: Core Strategy (Proposed Submission)

Core Strategy (Proposed Submission) will be available within the following dates:

Start date: 14/11/08 00:01:00 GMT
End date: 09/01/09 16:00:00 GMT

You may view the event here:

http://molevalley-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal/cs/cspsd/csps

Cold Calling Update

There is a company calling door to door, presently in Dorking, but they may come north to Ashtead/Leatherhead. They are RJB Services Ltd and they offer a “free” raffle prize taking the householder’s name, address and phone number. The householder then receives a call to say they have won a free carpet shampoo session. When the representative calls round he cleans a small area of carpet and then tries to sell the householder an expensive Kirby vacuum cleaner and carpet shampoo machine costing £1,700!!!!

Further details of these selling practices are available on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirby_Company and it seems the methods have not changed.

(Source: ARA)

*** UPDATE From Surrey Trading Standards ******

We are aware of this business and are advising people to be cautious about accepting entry into the free raffle as we understand that this is likely to be followed up by an extensive sales pitch and an attempt to sell expensive vacuum cleaners.

We are requesting anyone who is contacted in this manner to make us aware by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

I hope this information is helpful.

Regards

Trading Standards Officer
Safer and Stronger Communities Team

Cash for Schools

Local schools have the chance to win a share of £12,000. The Cash for Schools campaign is sponsored by Fidelity International. A supplement will appear in the Leatherhead Advertiser week ending 14th November 2008. Voting forms will be in the supplement also.

"The competition offers schools the opportunity to win a share of £12,000 to help with a community project.

Sponsored by Fidelity International, all of the short-listed proposals will feature in a special supplement to be printed in November.

Readers will then have the chance to vote on the project they think should win a share of the cash." ( Source: http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk)

Does your school have a project ? Add it as a comment to this post.

Agenda for Meeting 3rd November

Open LRA meeting on 3th November 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Letherhead Institute

• Police Panel
• Minutes
• Matters Arising
• Climate Change: Speaker - Derek Smith from Green Mole Valley forum “Transition Towns/Mole Valley”
• Unilever – “Our Community Investment Policy”.
• Planning Consultation
• Officers Reports
• Future Programme
• AOB.

Looking for Something to Brighten up your Evening?

Support your local theatre. For more details take a look at the website : http://www.the-theatre.org/

Surrey Police Newsletter Oct 2008

Latest news from the Police for South Leatherhead:

http://www.leatherheadresidents.org.uk/Resources/Police/NHW_Oct_2008.pdf

North Leatherhead to follow soon.

Online links to Surrey Police in this post

Leatherhead Fire Station Charity 10k - 9th November 2008

The Leatherhead 10k takes place on Sunday 9th November 2008 at 10am.

Entry Fee: £12 pre-entered, £20 on the day.

In aid of :

• Help for Heroes
• Oliver Fisher Special Care Baby Unit
• Fire Services Charity

For further information:

Tel: 01372-372226

"Make a Difference" Tour - 2008

The Leatherhead Residents Association takes to the streets this week to promote it's activities & recruit new Members. The more members the Association has, the greater it's voice in local affairs.

Committee members will be manning a publicity stall in the Swan Centre, Leatherhead on Thursday & Saturday this week (16th & 18th October).

If you would like to join or talk to the Association about it's work or raise a concern about a local issue, then pay a visit to the stand. The Association is always looking for members to assist the Committee in it's work & so if you have a skill to offer then please let them know.

If want to join but cannot attend either of these dates, a membership form can be downloaded for the LRA website or you can pick up a form from the library.

Epsom Road - New Signs - waste of public money?

The more eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed some new signs affixed to lamp post on both sides of Epsom Road. If you haven't it's no surprise. For those of you that have not seen them because they are way above eye-line then here is a picture.

There has been no new restriction imposed on this stretch of road and so the signs are about as useful as a chocolate fireguard. Motorist are still free to park there; they are apparently doing nothing illegal. The signs are not that visible from the drivers seat & so one has to question the purpose of them.

How much money was wasted on these signs ?

**** UPDATE **** (added by Webmaster)

Local press coverage can be found here :

http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/news/Useless-Leatherhead-signs-politely-ask-parking/article-399184-detail/article.html

Poor Illumination on Linden Pitt Path

The Linden Pitt Path connects St. Johns Close via a footbridge over the M25 to Ottaways in Ashtead. The Leatherhead end of the bridge has very poor lighting at night. This puts pedestrians at risk of injury because of the proximity of steps leading down to road level. The LRA has been asked to bring this concern to the attention of SCC Highways

Chairman's Diary October 2008

• 10th World Mental Health Day Lhd Lsr.Centre Mental Health in the Workplace.
• 11th Night Hostel Charity collection
• 13th Leatherhead Festival committee
• 14th AGM SAVI (Surrey Assoc. for Visually Impaired)
• 16th & 18th LRA publicity barrow in the Swan Centre.
• 21st Surrey 50+
• 22nd NHS Co-design.
• 23rd Surrey LINk - launch celebration in Woking HGWells centre.
• 23rd Homeopathic Group (Christchurch URC)
• 24th Leatherhead Chamber of Commerce ? Quiz Night in aid of Lhd Town Festivities.
• 26th NHS co-design
• 28th Help the Aged
• 30th Surrey Coalition AGM Lhd Lsr. Centre
• 31st Leatherhead Town Halloween Festival.

Reports when attendance is possible will be included in the newsletter.

Matters Arising from October Meeting

• Confirmation was given at the October LRA meeting(attended by local councillors) that the obstruction in front of Lidl bus stop is to be removed.

• The parking situation continues in Epsom Road, but we were reassured that the notices which are to be attached to the lamp posts requesting drivers not to park are ready and waiting to be attached - unfortunately there are very few lamp posts located on the North West side of the road.

• The police agreed to continue to monitor the problems of cars mounting the pavement at the Knoll roundabout, with an actually police presence when possible. Councillors agreed to go back to the Highways Department and press for a temporary measure of bollards to increase safety until Highways formulate their plans for this area of concern.

• Making allowances for forward thinking we are about to find an increase in road congestion due to the opening of the new headquarters for 1400 employees of Unilever n Leatherhead there will be need to re-assess the traffic flow situation. Assurance has been given of flexible working hours, car share and bus transport schemes in place with workers being obliged to book their parking space in advance, when coming to work by car. The LRA will be watching the situation. Our County Councillor gave an assurance that there are long term plans for re-construction of the Knoll Roundabout. But this is no solution for the immediate problem of seriously endangered pedestrians.

Mole Valley: Fit 2 Supply Workshops - 15 October 2008

Local residents with businesses in the area may be interested in the Fit 2 Supply event. This is a very worthwhile event if you wish to put yourselves forward for opportunities during the Olympic run up. There are an estimated 15,000 opportunities being offered through CompeteFor, who will be matching buyers and suppliers in London 2012 Supply chains.

The local workshop is at the Dorking Halls on the 15^th October – click on the images for more details.

Agenda for Meeting on Monday, 6th October

Open LRA meeting on 6th October 2008 at 7 p.m. at the Letherhead Institute

• Police Report
• Local Concerns
• Minutes
• Matters Arising
• Planning
• Ashtead & Leatherhead Forum - report
• Town Centre Forum - report
• Hopper Buses
• Big Tidy & Every Action Counts
• AOB

Mobility Scooter - accident waiting too happen?

A resident, who has a mobility scooter, has reported a possible conflict between pedestrians & scooters. The location is the is bus shelter in front of Lidl supermarket, Station Road.

The advertising boards at the end of the shelter can unsight pedestrians from approaching mobility scooters. There is little room for manoeuvre because of Give Way sign that has been placed close to the shelter.

Surrey County Council has been informed of the possibility of an accident happening. Should the Residents Association look into this matter ?

October 2008 Mole Valley District Council LDF Newsletter

The Newsletter can be viewed on the Councils website at http://www.molevalley.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4979

If you have any queries regarding the newsletter please contact the Planning Policy Department on ldf@molevalley.gov.uk or phone on 01306 879281.

FETCHAM RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

http://surreycommunity.info/fetchamresidentsassociation/

Since 1932 the Residents Association has sought to protect the interests of the residents of Fetcham in a variety of ways. Originally established as a Ratepayers Association, it has diversified into many aspects of local affairs that include Planning, Highways, Recreation, Aircraft, Schools, Police Panels and Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

The history of the Association is illustrated by many major issues where developers and public utilities have sought to blanket our open spaces with buildings or to significantly interfere with our local road system but, with the support of our District Councillors, we have obtained the best compromise and have earned the respect of local authorities as being a voice of the majority.

We can look back with pride at the successful resistance to the original route of the motorway through the village and the subsequent development of the 'Fetcham Gap' on sympathetic lines; the preservation of the Millpond and the water meadow; the support to the refusal to develop Wisley Airfield as a commercial airport and the countless times that we have managed to restrict density of development to reasonable levels. This has often entailed representation at Public Inquiries.

However, we must constantly be vigilant as we are in a vulnerable position on the edge of the Green Belt and bounded by some of the most attractive woodland and Downs in South East England. Each year brings a new challenge and it is through the Association that householders are alerted to factors that may affect their peace and well-being.

An Executive Committee manages the Association and meets monthly to discuss matters of current interest. The decisions and recommendations are reported to General Meetings in March and October when "open house" exists for all residents to come and discuss their problems. All members of committee serve on a voluntary basis and may come from a wide variety of occupations including the legal profession, commerce, engineering and education.

Prior to the Committee meetings, on a bi-monthly basis the Association hosts the useful Fetcham Police Neighbourhood Panel where residents may raise issues of concern and put questions directly to our local officers who attend to present their report on Police activity during the previous period.

Membership of the Residents Association is open to all residents of the village of Fetcham for a modest subscription from each household and the greater the number of members, the stronger the representation. A twice-yearly Newsletter reports on the work of the Executive Committee and also serves to announce General Meetings and speakers that are invited to address the audience on matters of topical interest and concern. A team of Road Stewards supports the Committee in providing more direct contact with the members in their area, and by distributing the Newsletters and collecting annual subscriptions.

The Fetcham Residents Association is a non-political organisation whose main interest is to represent and further the interests of the residents of the village. It maintains close contact with the Councillors elected by the village to serve on the Mole Valley District and the Surrey County Councils, all of whom regularly attend both the Committee and General Meetings to better represent the views of the residents expressed via the Association.

To enquire about membership of the Association or of the Executive Committee or to ask any questions please contact the Hon. Secretary Mrs P Harrison on 01372 373313