Update from Southern Monday pm : “It is currently unclear as to what is causing the outage, we hope to know more from the response team who are carrying out investigations on site as we speak”
📢 Please be aware that the station lighting at Leatherhead is still being investigated, response teams are currently onsite/within the local area to rectify the issue.
Response Sunday evening from Southern “We’re working with the local electricity suppliers to ensure that the station is returned to a mains electricity supply as quickly as possible. We don’t have an estimate time of when this will be fixed.”
When the power outage has been an issue after dark, trains are running fast from Dorking / Boxhill (or Bookham) to Ashtead and can’t stop at Leatherhead.
⚠️NEW: Reduced service at #Leatherhead expected until the end of the day
A fundamental mixed use redesign of the central area within the one-way system is now under contract rather than just ideas – some 10/12 years after it was first mooted.
In turn it would fund improvements to Swan Centre which would not be commercially viable to fund separately.
If you missed the late February meeting at the Theatre about changes in parts of central Leatherhead you can now watch or scroll through the 2 hours briefing. Click here to replay or visit https://youtu.be/o7v7qVF4FGk
Over 220 YouTube views as at 30 March, in addition to 300 who watched the live stream and 200 in person at the Theatre.
Further detailed engagement on designs for Bull Hill and Swan Centre is expected aftere the May local election, by the Leret Partnership (joint venture between MVDC and Kier Property, with TP Bennett retained as architects), ahead of a planning application later in the year.
Playback on YouTube of 29 February 2024 Forum meeting at the Theatre in Leatherhead is now online with full captioning and can be scrolled through to Q&A at the end as well as the detailed presentations by councillors and Joint Venture representatives (developer and architect) and some MVDC officers.
A little later than originally planned (due to some lengthy caption editing), but the full recording of the 2024 Transform Leatherhead Forum is now available via our website: https://t.co/EPyUQa1L1fpic.twitter.com/CrCAdvikBm
— Transform Leatherhead (@Transformleath1) March 12, 2024
Two of the slides covered current High Street issues – but the presentation was about much more than that.
The Transform Leatherhead Forum featured external speakers from joint venture partner Kier Property and lead architects TP Bennett. These were not just consultants to advise, but the actual developer of the proposal to be built.
What is the Leret Partnership – Joint Venture ?
The MVDC joint venture agreement with Kier Property was signed in October 2023, and both sides have made their first financial investment payments into the partnership. A team of professional specialists has been appointed to begin work on the first stages of the redevelopment.
Ground surveys on the two sites, Bull Hill and the Swan Centre, started in early December – you may have seen some of the surveyors out and about with various pieces of kit. Markings and traffic survey cameras also.
Bull Hill – note the height of the nearby Randalls Way development of over 200 rental apartments already under construction. The blocks proposed. by The Leret Partnership might be expected to be similar?
The first stage of public engagement will start in spring 2024, with an outline planning application targeted for submission later in the year.
Extracts from the business plan by Kier – this is a project document rather than part of the public engagement and more user friendly information can be expected:
The riverside enhancements including Claire and James House site is another project within the TL branding but not part of the Leret Joint Venture.Awaiting demolition for a Government backed brownfield development – housing possibly a retirement developer ? The demolition contract needs to be in place this month to secure the Government grant. September is the target date for demolition. There is already planning permission in place to build on the site, but the new / latest developer may want to amend that although the ground floor will not be residential, and the historic environmnt around the pub would still need to be impacted for any significant changes. But the principle of using this site has been agreed – with some significant costs in the long process to secure a developer.
Thakeham has their own webpage and targeted Facebook advertising which enables quick email to support the development. They point out the status of Mole Valley as the fourth least affordable place to live in the UK. The development would provide significant funding to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) that would be allocated 20% to the neighbourhood in Bookham/north Mole Valley and the remainder to the MVDC strategic CIL allocation.
3. Hookwood, in Charlwood Parish on the edge of Horley and Gatwick. An appeal by Rydon Homes on a 446 home Green Belt site on Reigate Road. This was refused by MVDC in 2023 on the basis of the current 2000 Local Plan policies on Green Belt but also on highways and other grounds. But it is now included in the draft Local Plan, though MVDC may no longer be defending the appeal on the Green Belt reason for refusal.
Alternatively, real-time weekly lists of applications registered or decided are also available.
We also understand an enforcement case on 49-51 High Street Leatherhead (the long vacant shop opposite Wetherspoons) is progressing towards the magistrates court. The site has long had permission for redevelopment but the enforcement issue is the appearance of the property in the meantime.
Comment on a Planning Application
If you wish to comment on a planning application that has yet to be decided, you can find more details at Comment on a Planning Application
The new financial year sees some changes to Non Emergency Patient Transport Services to local hospitals including Epsom. The service is commissioned by the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Health and Care Partnership.
ERS Transition Limited trading as EMED Group announced as the new provider of two Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services in Surrey Heartlands.
NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board is pleased to announce that ERS Transition Limited, trading as EMED Group has been appointed to provide two Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services (NEPTS) contracts for the patients of Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System. This marks the conclusion of a robust, competitive, procurement process initiated in April 2023 and the appointment of a new contract provider for these services from April 2024.
The current NEPTS contracts expire at midnight on 31st March 2024. The new provider will then immediately become responsible for looking after the non-emergency patient transport needs of the eligible Surrey Heartlands population with the formal contracts starting on 1st April 2024. These contracts are for a term of five years, and both have an option to extend once for up to a further five years. Transition arrangements have commenced with the two current providers to ensure this deadline is met. All parties are committed to keeping patients, staff, healthcare providers and stakeholders fully informed along the mobilisation journey to service launch.
Five new infrastructure schemes that will deliver over £6.95 million of improvements for Surrey residents, have been given the green light by Surrey’s Cabinet today (26 March 2024).
Projects include village improvements, a new cycling and walking route and two flood alleviation schemes. The five capital projects are:
Godalming to Guildford cycle and walking corridor (Phase 1)
A new 7km long cycling and walking route between Guildford and Godalming which will provide a continuous, safer travel route for both pedestrians and cyclists.
Flood alleviation schemes – Reigate and Smallfield
The Reigate Flood Alleviation Scheme will provide property flood resilience measures for 84 properties that have historically flooded or are at high risk from future flooding. Flood resilience measures such as flood doors, removeable flood barriers, non-return valves, and air brick covers will be installed to minimise the impacts of flooding and protect local communities
175 high-risk Smallfield properties will also have property flood resilience measures provided, along with a flood storage area that will reduce high water levels through the village.
Kings Road, Shalford Improvements
This project is looking to support more sustainable travel to Shalford’s local shops, encourage greater use of local businesses and create pleasant outdoor space in the village
To achieve this, the project is looking at changing the road layout, widening pavements, moving the existing car parking and creating more cycle parking
Early engagement with people living around Kings Road is due to start in April.
The Street, Compton, Highway & Public Realm Improvements
In Compton, measures to slow traffic and other ways to enhance the village and public areas are under consideration – such as village gateways, improved biodiversity, and walking and cycling improvements
An engagement event was held in early March where residents highlighted what they would like to see changed in the village. Those responses are now being reviewed.
£2.10 million of the funding will come from Surrey County Council, with the rest coming from external funding sources including developer contributions – such as the Community Infrastructure Levy.
The five schemes are part of The Surrey Infrastructure Plan which has been in place since February 2021 to help prioritise investment in infrastructure which supports sustainable economic growth and caters for the needs of Surrey’s businesses and communities.
Natalie Bramhall, Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure said, “This is about the council investing in Surrey – to improve the lives of our residents now and in the future.
“Since Surrey’s Infrastructure Plan was agreed in 2021, the county council has been able to progress a number of projects to improve the county’s infrastructure. These include the improvements to the Black Dog junction on the A308 in Staines, and upcoming town and village improvements in Weybridge, Farnham, Tongham and Horley.
“These five schemes will deliver significant, tangible improvements for our communities including those who have experienced the devastating impacts of flooding and our residents in Surrey villages where road safety is a concern.”
More information is available in the Cabinet paper available here.
Chancellor of the Exchequer and South West Surrey MP Jeremy Hunt commented
“I am thrilled to learn Farncombe and Godalming have been successful in achieving £3.2m of government funding to improve safety and connectivity on the Farncombe and Catteshall stretch of the 7km Guildford-Godalming Greenway network.
This means delivery of 2.2 km of footway/cycleway improvements on the A3100, plus a new 0.3 km off-road path through Broadwater Park, 11 new crossings (eight of which are signalised) as well as 3.7km of road, cycling and walking improvements along local quiet streets, including traffic calming.
Connectivity will be improved and new and significantly widened shared footpath and segregated cycle tracks are to be constructed. The improvements will enhance connections to Farncombe train station and Godalming town centre with new green routes. Importantly for local school children the scheme also provides improved access to Broadwater School and Godalming Junior School.
At New Pond Road roundabout – the site of 3 recent collisions involving cyclists – there will be new controlled crossings. In addition, pedestrian crossings along the A3100 will improve safety and where possible the walking /cycle route will be segregated away from the road.
This is fantastic news for Godalming and Farncombe residents and school children.”
From a very local perspective in Mole Valley, and Leatherhead theprojects beginning to work their way up the priority list do include similar options for the north Leatherhead to Epsom via lower Ashtead and Craddocks Avenue – subject to design and public engagement across the full route.
Local Cycling Walking Improvement Plans stage 2 assessment part funded by MVDC which would inform any funding bid to DfT (Active Travel) – medium term; priorities are Bookham- Leatherhead Station and north Leatherhead to Epsom via lower Ashtead (secondary school travel corridor)
M25 Junction 9 /A243 study with National Highways on potential improvements (potentially required through the Local Plan and as a condition of any new development off the A24 in Ashtead. (long term)
😲Top image summer 2023, bottom – today 🙌 Overgrowing vegetation cleared. Needs resurfacing but thanks to whoever actioned this. A243 near Leatherhead Golf Club (Mole Valley District). You wonder how many other paths are currently in the "before" state, nationwide. pic.twitter.com/NzebxkHo3M
— Jitensha Oni @jitensha_oni@mastodon.online (@jitensha_oni) March 19, 2024
ONLY 4 DAYS TO GO UNTIL OUR FIRST PUBLIC RUNNING OF THE YEAR!
As you can see we are very busy preparing our fleet ready for Good Friday 29th March.
Trains running 11am – 4pm. Entry to the grounds is FREE and all rides are STILL(!) £2.00 each per person. Make the full use of our smashing multi buy discount tickets: 6 tickets for £10! Under 2’s go free. Yes that’s right, here at the SSME we remain dedicated to fighting inflation on your behalf as an affordable local attraction!
All tickets are available from the signal box ticket office area. There is no advanced booking. We take cash or card except American Express.
Don’t forget we also have our Easter special event which includes:
A Easter egg trail & competition
Face painting
Craft activities
Do inquire from our designated stand on the day
On the day there will be tea, coffee, and cold drinks plus a selection of snacks available in our amenity block.
We are hoping for our meadow car park field to dry out sufficiently before the day, we will keep you posted. However should the worst befall please do make use of the nearby local car parks. Do check their terms and conditions. For more info please visit: www.ssme.co.uk
So do come along for the day, morning or afternoon out at our brilliant little railway and enjoy a miniature train ride and celebrate your easter with style. Please do share with your family, friends & neighbours and we look forward to welcoming you all to our railway
Surrey Cyber Security Cluster and Mole Valley Employment and Skills Hub are excited to present the Community Digital Careers Fair in Leatherhead town centre.
Community Digital Careers Fair
Join us for the Community Digital Careers Fair, a fantastic opportunity for all ages to explore exciting career paths in the digital world! Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a job seeker, or simply curious about the digital industry, this event is perfect for you.
Date: Friday 12th April 2024
Time: 11:00 – 14:00
Location: Mole Valley Employment & Skills Hub, Swan Centre, KT22 8AH Leatherhead
At this free-to-attend in-person event, you’ll have the chance to connect with industry professionals, attend insightful workshops, and gain valuable insights into various digital careers. Discover the latest trends, technologies, and skills that are shaping the digital landscape.
Our diverse range of exhibitors will provide you with the information and resources you need to kickstart your digital careers in different sectors, such as healthcare, space and cyber security.
The Community Digital Careers Fair is part of the Surre Cyber Security Cluster’s Inspire Surreyprogramme which aims to inspire everyone, regardless of their gender, background and age, to pursue a career in digital occupations.
Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn, and explore the world of digital careers. Grab your tickets now and join us at the Community Digital Careers Fair!
Leatherhead Living 