L.R.A. Bulletin for the end of June 2021
Dear Member(s),
I hope you are well (or reasonably so!) and I am sure you have your eyes firmly fixed on July 19th in the hope that this does not prove to be another false dawn.
Mole Valley District Council has informed me of several initiatives, some of which I feel may be of interest to you:
1. Tickets are now on sale (via internet or phone) for The Mole Valley Community Lottery. This weekly online lottery raises money for good causes and green initiatives in the District. Players have a chance of winning a £25,000 jackpot each week. Tickets start at £1 and the draw is held weekly on a Saturday evening, starting Saturday, 24 July. Other prizes include a Dorking Halls Family&Friends Membership and a Surrey Hills Enterprises shopping voucher. Half of the ticket money goes to a good cause of the player’s choice and 10% goes to a fund run by the Council which benefits climate change initiatives and the Environment Fund. To view the various “good causes” asking for help, and for further details about the Lottery, visit www.molevalleylottery.co.uk or phone 01306 310016
2. The District Council’s “Walk for Health” group walks have resumed across our District. This is a programme of fun, free and accessible weekly walks ideal for anyone looking to become more active and meet new people. It can also, if advised by a doctor, assist with recovery from the long-term effects of Covid. The walks last from 30 to 90 minutes, ideal for a wide variety of ability levels. There are weekly walks in Leatherhead, Dorking, North Holmwood, Buckland, Brockham and Bookham. The group is always looking for new volunteer Walk Leaders, so please get in touch if you are interested. Training, support and equipment is provided and walks can take place anywhere in the district. during the day or evening. For more information on the walks or to find out how to become a walk leader, visit www.molevalley.gov.uk/walkforhealth or email wellbeing@molevalley.gov.uk or call 01306 885001
3. Mole Valley Climate Emergency’s Hub is going ahead, and in Leatherhead this will be at the former Book Potato shop, in the Swan Centre in September and October. In a nutshell, this will be:
- A drop-in information centre for passers-by and interested people to relax, chat and find out more about what is happening in our world.
- Lasting for 9 weeks throughout September and October, 10-5 pm (or later, if evening meetings). Potentially a longer term presence.
- Each Thursday, Friday and Saturday
- And it will have displays, a workshop/talk area with coffee and biscuits etc.
Each week will have a theme with linked workshops, talks and activities such as plastic pollution, biodiversity, travel etc. This is also an opportunity for you to enlarge the membership of your own group and to publicise your aims and campaigns.
And now for other news concerned with Leatherhead:
1. The application for a very tall mobile phone mast on “The Circus” roundabout off By-Pass Road, has been turned down. We shall have to wait and see if an Appeal is submitted.
2. I am sure you will be pleased to know that the LRA made a donation to The North Leatherhead Community Hub.
3. We are organising a Litter Pick in Leatherhead on Sunday 25 July, starting at 2 p.m. and finishing in the Red House Gardens at 5.00 pm. At the end, there will be refreshments and a chance to meet up with old friends and acquaintances. Perhaps our regular Pickers could let me know which area they, personally, would intend to cover and also offer a couple of suggestions as to other littered areas which new volunteers could deal with. Our long-standing member, Dorothy Stapleton, has kindly agreed to organise the details of this, where to work and so on.
Finally, concerning the wooden planters in the High Street, some may be interested to know that I have written to the relevant person in the District Council for some indication of their budget for the upkeep and re-planting of the planters.. So far, I have learned only that Surrey Council was responsible for the installation, but someone also needs to actually carry out their proper maintenance
Following up on my email requests to lapsed members to renew their membership, we have had some success, but there still remain many who have not renewed. Could I, therefore, make another plea to those people to renew? It is easily done via the LRA website by entering www.leatherheadresidents.org.uk/contact
Finally, a reminder that our next Open Meeting will be on Monday, 2nd August at 7.30 in the Methodist Church in Church Road. Jenny Moore of B@titude and also of The Hub in North Leatherhead has kindly agreed to give us all an update on developments and hope in that area. Should the meeting prove impossible , due to continued restrictions, I will let you know well beforehand.
With all best wishes,
Caroline Brown (Chairman) 30:6:21
Telephone: 01372 813013 email: info@leatherheadresidents.org.uk
Registered Office: Fewston, St Nicholas Hill Leatherhead
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