Dear Members

At last we seem to be enjoying some pleasant Spring weather and I really should be out working in the garden!   However, the last few weeks have been surprisingly busy on a number of fronts as follows:

The Local Plan:

Following MVDC’s decision to restart the Planning Inspector’s consideration of the current Draft Local Plan, the Inspector has sought the views of the established consultees as to the Main Modifications that are thought necessary to make the Plan compliant. The LRA has submitted a Representation, which in brief summary argues as follows:  

1. Although zero carbon rating is desirable for new buildings in the future, we feel that this should be achieved by “nationally proven technologies” rather than some of the more radical and unproven methods suggested.

2. We are concerned that the desire to increase the numbers of housing units could be at the cost of preserving our heritage assets.   More weight needs to be given to their protection.

3. Similarly, the push for housing units may lead to the construction of excessively tall buildings that will be completely at variance with the existing low-rise townscape.   More control over building height is required. 

4. We note that, so far, there is no indication of any future plans for either a Health Hub to provide medical services for the new residents that Transform will attract or for a replacement of the Fairfield Centre, should its relocation from the Swan Centre be required.   Accessible public transport is essential for both.

Transform Leatherhead:

At the February meeting between Residents and MVDC and their development partner, Kier, it was announced that there would be a series of consultation meetings at which Residents could express their views as to what they hope to see from the Project. I am pleased to say that the LRA has now been invited to those meetings, no doubt with a number of other stakeholders.  Dates to suit those involved are in the process of being organised and I will be reporting in future Bulletins on each meeting as they take place.

Planters:​

Moving now on to another, long awaited, improvement to our Town, by which I mean the improved landscaping and maintenance of the Plough Roundabout.    The daffodils and tulips planted some years ago are much appreciated, but there is a huge gap after they die down!   This now appears to be on the point of being solved as the project is on the agenda for CIL grants and various technical and administrative problems appear to have been resolved. Fingers crossed that we will see some action soon!

While on the subject of Planters, it is a relief to see those in the Town have been thinned out and planted up.   It is to be hoped that some colourful specimens have been included in the selection.

Mole Valley Safer Neighbourhood Team:

I have recently been informed that the policing of the whole of Mole Valley comes under one Inspector, Inspector James Green, whose email is james.green@surrey.police.uk. Leatherhead is dealt with by the “North Team” which comprises one Sergeant, three PCs and three PCSOs.  The officer dealing specifically with Leatherhead is PCSO 13930, Lou Lilly, whose email address is Lou.Lilly@surrey.police.uk.  

Our next meeting:

This will be on Monday 13th May 2024 in the Leatherhead Methodist Church at 7.30 pm as usual.  Our speaker will be David Stoves (whose wife is the secretary there) and he will be talking about his research into “Scams.”   Unfortunately, these are now part of everyday life, especially on the computer, and many people fall victim to them.   In fact, I have heard that more theft takes place nowadays via the internet than do with physical robbery.

From Dorking Climate Emergency:

On 30th April you are invited to the “Surrey Climate Commission AGM and Gathering” in the Leatherhead Institute at 7.30. Information on the Commission’s activities can be found on their web-site at www.surreyclimate.org.uk  This includes a new Surrey Climate e-Forum, an easy-to-use platform full of advice and tips on promoting your work.  You can also hear the results of the annual survey of groups working for the environment and the projects the Commission is about to launch.   Tickets: (free) available via Eventbrite for Tue 30 Apr 2024 at 19.00.

The Future of The LRA:

Could I ask you to look around your social circles and see if you can identify a future Chairman and a few of his/her friends?    Without being specific, many of us here are getting on a bit and it would be good for our Town to have some younger people on our team. They could then see “how the engine works“ and a seamless transition could take place in a year or so when some of the incumbents retire.

With all best wishes, 

Caroline (Brown)

Dear Members
I mentioned in last month’s bulletin the up-coming public meeting on 29th February, when our Council were to introduce their development partner for the Transform projects at Bull Hill and the Swan Centre (Kier). I know that a number of LRA directors were present, and I hope that a number of you, also, managed to attend. I think most attendees left a little disappointed, having hoped to see some visual indications of what is proposed, when all that was available were some visuals of other towns that the team had been involved with. However, the good news is that between now and the summer Kier are proposing to engage in a public consultation as to what residents would like to see from the project. Whilst most of you are probably in “consultation overload“, this may be your last chance to influence the effect that this radical project will have on our Town. The LRA will certainly make its views known and we commend you to do likewise. Whilst not part of Kier’s brief, the other part of the Transform project, Claire and James House, also progresses at long last. We are told that the existing buildings will be demolished by the owners (our Council) in September, with the aid of a Government grant. The Council’s development partner (yet to be revealed) will then proceed with construction thereafter. Whether they will build out the planning consent that the Council granted themselves or apply for another is currently unknown.

The other big news is that our Council have decided that they will proceed with the Inquiry into their draft Local Plan, which was paused at the end of 2022. In order to do this, the Inspector must consult on the modifications that were identified during the hearings as being necessary in order to make the plan sound. These can be found on-line at www.futuremolevalley.org or hard copies are available in the District’s libraries. There is much to read, some on district wide policies and some relating to specific development sites. Notable MM’s (Main Modifications) relevant to Leatherhead are shown in the table below. The LRA will be making a representation but individual responses from residents are valued and must be submitted by 23rd April.
MM4 Leatherhead Town Centre
MM71 Claire and James House
MM67 Land at Bull Hill
MM72 Land at Clare Crescent
MM68 The Swan Centre
MM73 The Railway Station
MM69 36-39 Randalls Road
MM89 Local Green Spaces

And now on to other matters: Don’t forget our Litter Pick on 14th April from 2 pm till 4 p.m. We will meet in the Randalls Road side of the car park opposite Oaks Close at 2 p.m., finish at 4 p.m. and will have a good supply of materials like bags and gloves. If it would be more convenient for you, do the litter pick earlier and just bring the full bag. Some members have already written to me about Common Meadow which was particularly bad with drinks bottles and tins but, in any case, they think they have “done” it for the time being. I have also noticed that the bottom of Gimcrack Hill and the alleys in the Town have got the same sort of items liberally spread around.

Mentioning the Town brings other things to mind!! In particular, the Planters, of course. As
promised, some 15 of them have been removed from the High Street and, hopefully, will brighten up the interior of the Swan Centre. However, some are placed under a roofed area and so it is difficult to see how they will get either light or water. Perhaps another location, seeking to cheer up their outside area, would like to make an offer for some of them??

The LRA has also been contacted by some residents who would like to see our membership spread more evenly across the Town. They call themselves “TLC 2030”. Some of these people have been instrumental in getting “The Hub” (located in the Kingston Road Rec.) up and running. The café there is warm and friendly and the chief caterer, Rachel, has a wonderful selection of cakes and buns etc. available to brighten anyone’s coffee morning. Also located there, but behind the café, are rooms with quality sewing machines available for hire by the hour and another dedicated to painting. There
are further plans for the premises, but decoration is needed.

And now a word about the Waterway Road mural. It is actually sited underneath that part of Waterway Road which carries the road across the River. I recently visited it to see how it was faring following its completion. I am delighted to report that although there is one tiny graffiti word in black on the outside of the arch, overall, it is in very good shape and particularly bright and interesting.

If you have received a hard copy of the March Bulletin with a Membership Renewal form attached, it is a polite reminder that your membership for 2024 is due for renewal.

2024 is likely to be a momentous year for our Town, with the final consultation on the Mole Valley District draft Local Plan in progress (the LRA appeared before the Inspector at the public hearings that took place in 2023) plus the appointed developer to the Transform Leatherhead project about to further consult Residents as to what they wish to see from the Project.

As a recognised, local consultee, the LRA will be party to both exercises and we hope you will support us in this, and our other work, by renewing your membership.

Two final matters. First, an apology for quoting the wrong day when I gave you the date for the Post Office scandal film. it is to be shown in our cinema on Thursday, 18th April (NOT Monday!) and, second, please don’t forget our next Members’ meeting which will be on Monday 13th May in the usual location and at the usual time. Our speaker will be talking about computer scams and how to deal with them.

With all best wishes for a happy and warm Easter,
Caroline Brown (Chairman).

Dear Members

Well, another month has passed by, the days are getting longer and the first shoots are appearing on bushes and trees.   Hooray, Spring is rapidly coming up on us!

You will have noticed the recent sad loss of “The Englishman’s Castle” from their shop in Church Street.   In order to widen the range of occupiers who might lease the vacant property, the owners (Hague Investments), have submitted a planning application to broaden the permitted uses to include commercial, business, services and restaurant/takeaway. It would appear that no decision on the application has yet been made. 

On Sunday, 14 April between 2 and 4pm we will be having our biannual Litter Pick.   This will be centred on the car park in Leatherhead adjoining Randalls Road and lying between the Station and the Red House Grounds.   My (black) car with grey picnic table will be parked next to the hedge.    Many members will have their own “favoured” litter picking area but don’t be shy of trying out another.    Julia Jarrett is in charge of the day and if you have any questions, do Message her on 07866 210645.   As you probably know, we have a good stock of picker sticks and black bags.   We just need the volunteers!    Don’t forget the town itself, its alleyways and, even, the new planters.

Regarding the Planters, I have (sort of) got used to their size but not their sheer number.   However, I have been assured by Councillor Vyvyan-Robinson that 15 are going to be moved into the Swan Centre.    So, the next concern will centre on whether the plants will get enough light and water.    We have been assured of a “Maintenance Budget” but only time will tell if it is adequate.

We are still awaiting some bright and interesting landscaping on the Plough Roundabout and I went to a meeting on this very subject on 2nd February with Cllr’s Tim Hall and Vyvyan-Robinson, Bahram Assadi from Surrey C.C., a representative from “Rainbow Gardening” and Mr. Grant Way, proprietor of the Plough Inn.  It would seem that all the legal hurdles have been overcome and all that is now required is a time slot ……!    It also seems that another long-awaited town improvement, the repair of the Clock on the High Street, is continuing to make progress, albeit slowly!

I am sure that 29 February is being awaited with considerable anxiety by many Leatherhead Residents.   In the Theatre, from 7pm till 9pm, the latest Development Plans for “Transform Leatherhead” will be on display and representatives from our Council and their development partner (Kier) will be present to explain their proposals and to answer resident’s questions thereon.  For people who are fairly new to Leatherhead, there is a lot of information online on the “Transform Leatherhead” website: https://transformleatherhead.com/

As some of you may have noticed, the LRA website is being gradually re-vamped.    We are trying to eliminate repetition, generally bring it up-to-date and to improve its visual appeal.   We hope to also reveal a new LRA logo, which will be more adaptable to online usage.   We are very indebted to LRA member, Mrs. Carol Webster for this work.

And now two dates to put into the diary:   The first is a regular LRA meeting in the Methodist Church in Leatherhead on Monday, 13 May at 7.30pm.  Our speaker for the evening will be Mr. David Stoves who will give a talk on “Scams”, how they work and the dangers they represent.   David did a training course with Buckinghamshire and Surrey Training Standards which qualifies him to speak about this blight on the computer age. 

The other date is Thursday 18 April when a talk on the inside story of the Post Office scandal will be shown at our Leatherhead Theatre in Church Street.   Nick Wallis – series consultant on the ITV Drama – will expertly chronicle the very latest twists and turns of the whole affair on this one-of-a-kind tour. It will be a more detailed and in-depth study of what we all saw on our televisions a month or so ago and one of the unfortunate victims, Seema Misra, will also be there.

With my best wishes to everyone,

Caroline (Brown) Chairman …… for another 10 months only!  

Dear Members,

I do hope you were all equipped to deal with the recent sudden onset of cold weather.  On the night of our Quiz, Monday 15th January 2024, our car was frozen solid on the inside and needed 15 minutes of determined defrosting before it was driveable.  

As often seems to be the case, a major announcement was made just before Christmas when the Government finally put forward its new NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework). As was indicated when this was first mooted a year ago, it allows councils some latitude in how many houses they must provide for in new Local Plans and if meeting Government targets would involve building on Green Belt land. Hoping to take advantage of this was precisely why our Council paused the consideration of its Plan at that time.   Unfortunately, as finally drafted, the new NPPF provides that councils who are well progressed through the Local Plan process cannot complete their plans using the new NPPF. They must adhere to the provisions of the old NPPF.  Our Council, therefore, had to decide whether to reactivate the Inquiry into its current draft Plan, or, 1) to attempt to modify it by removing two contentious sites or, 2) to withdraw the Plan and redraft another.   In the event the latter option was removed when Government prohibited withdrawal of the current Plan.  It was also considered that withdrawing two major sites at such a late stage of the Plan’s consideration would be so fundamental as to strike at the validity of the current Plan.  Accordingly, at a meeting on Thursday 25th January 2024 our Council decided to proceed with the current draft by asking the Inspector to resume her consideration of it.

 I am sure Gatwick Airport’s desire for another runway will not have escaped you.  A very large, wide-spread consultation on this is being mounted.  However, Leatherhead is well north of Gatwick and it is believed that our plane noise mostly comes from high flying aircraft going to or coming from Heathrow.  If this is confirmed this may be one issue that is not of significant concern to our Town.

The project to landscape the Plough Roundabout, which now has finance, permission and a proposed meeting date with the construction and maintenance company, has just been told that a new contract regarding planters, seating and notices is about to be signed by Surrey Council and so we must now hope that this does not delay the project beyond the time when the finance offer expires, meaning we would have to start all over again.   

I am informed that finance has now been made available for the access improvements at our Station where, we understand, a new bridge and two lifts will bring access between the two platforms up to modern standards.  The work is apparently to be complete by 2025.

We have a new Police Commissioner, Timothy de Meyer.  We already have two extra police officers, one for North Mole Valley and one for the South, which, of course, includes Dorking.   At a recent meeting, we were informed about a number of successful police initiatives which have resulted in a number of arrests.  Surprisingly, we also heard about the efficacy of rubbish bins being adorned with stickers with large eyes painted on them!   Apparently, this does deter casual burglars and shop lifters.  The stickers are available at local Police Offices.

As you will have noticed, after much campaigning on our part to have the dilapidated planters in the High Street renewed, we do seem to have been given a somewhat over-generous supply of very large planters. When I questioned their size, I was informed that they are deep to ensure that the soil does not dry out in the summer months.   Notwithstanding the logic of this explanation the overall reaction I have received from residents I have spoken to has been uniformly negative and clearly our Council has had the same response because it has now been announced that the numbers will be reduced and the positioning improved.   The surplus planters will be relocated to other areas in the Town. Planting will take place at the end of February 2024, and it has been confirmed that our Council have a budget for the all-important maintenance.   I have suggested that our Council might also consider staining the timber a pale green colour, to reduce the visual impact that the planters make and to tone with their contents.

Still connected to our desire for our environment to look pleasant and cared for, a new guest came on to the recent meeting between Residents’ Associations and Mole Valley Council.   This was Ms. Emily Ayres whose special interest is Community Gardens and other Environmental Projects.   She felt that many of our social activities like Litter Picking, pond clearance, tree planting and even watering could be eligible for some money from the Shared Prosperity Fund.   When I complained about the state of many of our verges near main roads, she asked for a list and promised to look into the situation.  (So please let me know of any that you know about).

With apologies for this Bulletin being a bit late.  I had wanted to include the result of the meeting about our Local Plan, para. 2 above.  It is hoped that our next meeting will be in April or May.  Some details need to be worked out first.  But, meanwhile, please do continue to look around for a new Chairman as I would like a rest next year!

With all best wishes,

Caroline Brown

(Chairman of the Leatherhead Residents’ Association)

NOTICE FROM OUR TREASURER:

“Please do not renew your membership for 2024 until you receive a reminder from the Treasurer.   This reminder will either be an email or a hard copy of the membership renewal form attached to the January Bulletin.   This will avoid memberships being renewed prematurely.”