THE LEATHERHEAD RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION For me, August, the traditional holiday month came and went very quickly, with only a long weekend away. But looking at last month’s contribution to the Local, it seems that I gave all our news in that. What should have been the centre of news for this month, namely the Leatherhead Highways Forum will not take place until after the press deadline has passed. But one piece of news that we are celebrating is that the County Council have listened to the various cries, and have decided to abandon their plans to charge for on-street parking. Thank you SCC. Looking to the future, there are many matters which deserve our attention – not just the LRA, but all of us. The Boundary Commission has suggested that the area of Leatherhead on the outside of the bypass, (the A24) should be removed from the County Electoral Division of Leatherhead and Fetcham East, and added to the Division of Dorking Hills. Whilst I have heard little from the residents affected, it does seem to be a crazy idea prompted only by numbers. It has little relevance to the geography of the area or the nature of the residential problems and amenities. By this I mean that those who live in the affected area, consider that their civic life centres on the Town of Leatherhead and not the rural area which stretches to the West Sussex border. I know that there are some common issues between the 2 divisions, such as Norbury Park, but in the main it is a question of chalk and cheese, town and country, etc. So the LRA are writing to the Commissioners and inviting them to visit the area and meet the people. Recently I met someone who was brought up in Leatherhead and who now lives in Wimbledon, but who still visits the Town quite frequently. She told me how she remembered the busy High Street, and
the congestion. Now she sees it as a pleasant area but lacking in people. I pointed out that it has far more life than it had 10 years ago. Progress seems to be a double edged sword. But in our discussion on the comparisons of life then and now, we quickly drifted into the national changes in retailing and service provision. These changes are not just local, but extend to most of the smaller towns throughout the country. In recent years there has been an upsurge of petrol filling stations offering a wider range of goods throughout longer opening hours. This has now developed into the provision of late night café services. Out on the main roads this can be seen as a great boon to long distance lorry drivers and motorists. But when this happens in the middle of town, what effect will it have on local trade? I don’t know the answer. But I do know that when these local petrol stations began to sell newspapers it had a devastating effect on the neighbouring newsagents. The Government’s Draft Planning Framework has created a furore in some circles, but having read it, why this outcry I am not sure. Far from opening up a developers’ licence to build anywhere, it emphasises the need for local plans to control development through local policies. It provides a mechanism for Neighbourhood organisations, such as Parish Councils and Residents Associations to get policies adopted which reflect the nature of the areas’ needs. It continues to provide the national policies of Green Belts for designation of open land between built-up areas, and the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to protect the countryside. What it does mean though is that local organisations are to have a greater say in policy making – but not in decision making. Hubert Carr, Chairman
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