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8 8 http://www.leatherheadresidents.org.uk In this Issue

P2 Chairman’s Message P5 Nower Wood Lottery Funding P2 Buses - 'All change please' P5 'Here Come the Cows' P3 Conservation P5 Art Club Exhibition P4 Transform Leatherhead P6 River Mole Nature Reserve P4 Planning & Development General P7 Sutton & East Water P8 Vintage Buses & Open Gardens Chairman's Message

Dear Member,

I have decided to start this Newsletter with some of the history of and current status information regarding Leach Grove Wood. Just over 100 years ago, the whole area now occupied by The Beeches, Poplar and Highlands Avenue, Leatherhead Hospital, Woodlands School, and Beech Holt was quite thickly wooded. A Mr. Leach owned it. Gradually, parcels were sold off and finally in about 1935 he made a gift of the current hospital grounds (containing the area now known as Leach Grove Wood) to Leatherhead Urban District Council. The gift was believed to stipulate medical use in perpetuity.

The exact size and details of Mr. Leach’s gift became lost to memory until efforts to ensure the remaining part of the wood was protected were made firstly in the 1980s when the then owners, SCC wanted to sell the land for housing, and then repeated in the last three years. Naturally, the current owners, NHS Property Services Ltd were keen to establish complete control over “their” land, whereas the surrounding population had got very used to the freedom and rusticity afforded by this unusual feature and did not want to lose their “rights” over it, accrued by time, so NHS Property Services Ltd. objected to the woods being registered as a village green.

This objection resulted in a public enquiry being held in Kingston and in the Leatherhead theatre where many of residents living near the woods gave evidence about how they used the wood. SCC decided to reject the inspector’s decision that one criterion had not been met, and so awarded village green status to the wood. This ensured the woods remained an open space for anyone who wished to play, walk or generally relax in it. However, NHS Property Services Ltd did not agree and they instigated a full Judicial Review in the High Court last month. As I write now, I do not know what the result will be.

What I would like to highlight to our members is the admirable effort and dogged determination shown by that small band of people, The Friends of Leach Grove Wood, who attended the various hearings (which lasted two to three days), who travelled both to Kingston and to at their own expense in order to spend hours listening to the rather technical arguments adduced by the lawyers and who also took the trouble to organize money-raising events because barristers do not (sadly) live on fresh air alone.

The Leatherhead Residents’ Association exists to help maintain the town as a small but active Surrey Hills community where we can all help in the solving of other people’s problems.

Caroline Brown.

BUSES (All change please!)

A new Bus Service will be introduced from 3 September 2016 21 – From to via Leatherhead & ; Monday to Saturday

The route is Kiln Lane, Sainsbury’s – Epsom – – Leatherhead – Headley – Boxhill – Station – A25 – Dorking – South Holmwood – Beare Green – – Charlwood – Ifield – Crawley

• In general, it will run every two hours from Epsom to Crawley via Dorking. • Replaces current services 26 and 516. • Same route as 516 from Epsom to Boxhill and Dorking. • One journey each way to/from Dorking Mondays to Fridays will also serve Strood Green and to replace service 29. 2 Norbury Park Demonstration on Conservation Progress Ranger, Andrea Neal, has proven to be quite efficient in the care, maintenance and supervision of volunteers to Norbury Park. The Summer visit to the site by the Norbury Park Liaison Group was interesting and informative.

WewereshownseverallocationsincludingPhoenixFields. Interestingly, this Summer a schedule of limited rental ofsomeofthegrasslandinPhoenixFieldswillbegin. Moneyreceived for the hire will be used to provide revenue for the management of the park. Only a small part of the field can be hired for activities, which include a meet for The Little Welly (an organisation designed to get children aged 4-10 out into the countryside) and a wedding later in the summer. The limits to the use will protect the hay that is grown there and the ground-nesting skylarks (nationally their numbers have halved since 1980). (Left) Andrea Neal points out the "living fence" that has been created by pleaching (cutting 3 fourths of the way through)andbendingandentwiningthelineof16yearold trees (mainly hawthorns) planted specifically for this purpose. They are then fixed into place with stakes and binders made from hazel limbs cut elsewhere in the park.

The work was done by the Surrey Hedgelaying Group, trained and skilled volunteers, who do this traditional form of management for the love of it.

Andrea holds an example of Ash die back (below)

No one knows how Norbury Park will be affected by ash dieback. Some of the more mature trees may be strong enough to survive. What is known is that 60% of the trees at the park are ash. Lost many years ago, the elm trees were victims of Dutch Elm Disease. Today some elm trees come up as seedlings but become diseased before reaching full maturity.

There is nothing that can be done to protect the ash so it is a matter of wait and see what happens. Sycamores, a non-native tree, are often cut down to make space for the ash. Perhaps more sycamores will be left while other native species are found to take the place of the ash trees.

We were shown two areas where coppicing had taken place six months ago (left) and 18 months ago (right) so that we could see how growth had been stimulated in the coppiced area increasing biodiversity.

Note that a high net- like fence surrounds the area to protect the new growth from deer.

Branches that have been cut are left to provide habitat for insects and other small animals. Of course, they will soon decay and rot away.

In the meantime, the work of volunteers is of utmost importance. If you have a few hours to spend in the great outdoors,doingajobtopreserveawelllovedparkforthefuture please volunteer. Contact Andrea to volunteer. 07990 582 291 or email [email protected] Generally volunteers meet of the third Friday of the month. Cheryl Allen

3 Transform Leatherhead – The Journey - 'End of the Beginning'

Progress-InourSpringIssuewewroteaboutprogresstoStageTwoofthedevelopmentandconsultationprocess. Nodoubt most of our readers will have taken part in some or all the consultation stages and the level of consultation has been significantly high. Now we know the final outcome of these deliberations and the Planners and Officers have produced their Final Report for approval by District Council Executive.

Significant Purchases - As well as purchasing Claire& James Houses down bytheriver,MVDC havebeen activein purchasing the majority of the Swan Centre. Both these positive moves should unlock potential for realizing part of the Transform aims.

Involvement - The Leatherhead Residents’ Association has been involved in discussions throughout this process, not only through representation on the Community Reference Group but also at Resident Association meetings with senior executives of MVDC. We have expressed our approval of much of the work and direction of the planning process and are much heartened by the financial commitment that changes for the better will happen. However we naturally still do have some reservations and concerns.

Finance - With the uncertain outcome from the ‘Brexit’ decision in the country we wonder if the finance for these developments will be forthcoming from the government for the infrastructure alterations and from potential developers. That said, MVDC is already deeply committed as demonstrated by its two significant purchases.

Strategic Objectives – To enable Leatherhead to ‘raise its game’ to attract residents, commuters and visitors, we see four key strategic objectives which are in the hands of MVDC and SCC. Image. We consider that while the Transform process will inevitably expand the town, it should do so in a manner that, in scale and architectural form, is consistent with a small market-town. Roads. It is universally acknowledged that the Town has a major problem with both the capacity and the complexity of its road network. We believe that vehicular accessibility needs to be addressed very quickly before development options become too fixed. Parking. Parking is accepted as an existing major weakness, which will only be exacerbated by new development. Leatherhead is an important commuter town, which needs a substantial amount of convenient commuter parking. If, as planned, it has more shops and more central-area flats it is essential that there is adequate parking for the people who wish to use them. Infrastructure. Finally, if the town is to grow as proposed, it is essential that all of its infrastructure facilities are assessed as being adequate or are upgraded to be made adequate. This includes sewers; water supply; medical services; education facilities; flood control etc. etc. These are fundamentals, which needtobeuptostandardbeforeabrickofdevelopment is laid. We have been assured by the Officers of MVDC that all these keys to success are being actively addressed - Watch this space. John W Wilson

Planning and Development in General.

At the last meeting of the local Residents’ Associations and Mole Valley officers, Chief Planning Officer Jack Straw gave a long talk on the pressures that the Government is putting on the Local Authorities. The push for new homes is influencing the government agenda. Last December came the ruling that starter homes must come in with a 20% discount. Government is trying to reduce the “Planning Shackles,” as they call it. There are to be “Red Zones” for immediate development, a register of brown field sites, a register of people who want to “self-build” and a register of Approved Providers empowered to write Building Regulations Approvals, instead of Council Officers. “Permitted Developments” are escalating.

ThebigproblemforMVisthatthereisnotenoughlandtofeedtheneed. Ourrequirednumbersaregoingtorisefromabout 180pa to nearly 400 for the next 20 years.

Our MV officers are working to produce another Local Plan and over the coming winter they will be seeking sites like those listed above. A preferred scheme will be drawn up in Summer 2017 forsubmissionintheSpringof2018. Sadly,Icansee many a battle ahead. Fran Barnby Smith 4 Nower Wood Granted £363,000 of Lottery Funds Last year we reported that the redevelopment of the educational facility at Nower Wood was on hold because the MV Council would not grant permission before the finance of the project was established.

In mid April Mark Pearson, Director of Countryside Management for , made the following announcement:

"Surrey Wildlife Trust have been awarded a grant of nearly £363,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the redevelopment of our flagship Nower Wood Education Centre. The new facility will enable the Trust to expand its programme of educational activities and will open up Nower Wood to new audiences, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. Work on the new building was due to start in May and it should be open to welcome its first students in the New Year. Members of the Norbury Park Liaison Group meet at the The rebuilding of the Educational Centre at Nower present Nower Wood Educational Centre. Woodisanambitionwe’veheldforovertenyearsand The age of the buildings and inadequate heating and we are over the moon that we’re so tantalisingly close plumbing have been problems that triggered the move to to it becoming a reality. We are making great rebuild several years ago. progress;butfundsarestillneededtoensureworkon the centre can be completed inside and out. So we would really appreciate it if you could share this amongst your groups and associations to spread the word and the good news and potentially attract some more donations."

The following link can be used for an online donation and to find out more about alternative ways to donate. https://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/how-you-can-help/make-a-donation

Here come the cows! Latest news on the moos! You may have already noticed one or two beautifully decorated, life sized cows dotted around Surrey; keep your eyes peeled because a lot more are about to be unleashed! The idea of Surrey Hills CowParade is that individuals, companies and schools will sponsor a life-size, fibreglass cow and either decorate it themselves or bring in an artist to do it, explains the spokesman for Surrey Hills Enterprises which is coordinating the project. The cows will then be displayed around the county before being herded to the inaugural Surrey Hills Food, Drink and Music Festival on Saturday, 3rd Sept. at Coverwood Farm in Ewhurst where they will be auctioned off and the proceeds split between the sponsor’s chosen charity and the Surrey Hills Trust Fund.

OriginallyborninSwitzerlandin1998,CowParadehassinceseenmorethan 3,000 cows decorated by more than 5,000 artists across the world.

The Rainbow Trust Cow has been grazing in the Swan Centre - did you feed it? Caroline Brown

Leatherhead Art Club Autumn Exhibition - will be held in the Old Chapel at St. John's School. It will feature a varied selection of members' paintings in a wide range of subjects and styles, both traditional and contemporary. All art works will be for sale and admission is free. The exhibition will run from Saturday, 22nd October to Sunday, 30th October from 10.00am to 4.00pm daily Jenny Harris 5 The River Mole Nature Reserve - FoRML’s latest news July 2016

The ‘Friends of River Mole Leatherhead’ (FoRML) has been going for two years. Volunteers help Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) monitor and manage the nature reserve which stretches from meadows to Thorncroft Bridge in Leatherhead and includes the two islands nearest to the Town Bridge. The ‘River Mole Working Group’ meets three times a year at Pippbrook with representatives from various interested parties and organisations.

FLOODING has been a major issue recently with large debris getting into the river, riparian (land) owners are responsible for clearing anything that could cause blockages. The (EA) have had a lot of budget cuts recently plus schedules are often interrupted to attend emergencies, however they have removed fallen trees particularly between the islands and weirs. The silt build-up at the ends of the two islands nearest to Town Bridge, gradually encroaching on the arches is due to be removed,weexpect this workwill bedonesoon.

LITTER BINS are being replaced with locked metal ones with a small top opening to keep out the rain and wildlife. On the Leatherhead side of Town Bridge towards Common Meadow are two new bins and we are waiting for two newonesattheTownBridge,theexactpositionandtype,hopefullybigger,tobedecided.Onthesouthsidethree new bins have been installed.

The bench opposite the first weir has been repaired and because of bank erosion moved away from the river edge. With the contractor’s cutting down of the nettles and all the EA work clearing the trees and debris it is well worth sitting on the repaired bench to enjoy the view of the river through to Mansion Gardens where substantial work has also been done to repair the bank erosion. The view from the two benches at the Leatherhead end of the footpath looking towards Town Bridge has also been improved with trees and overgrowth cut back, and it will be even better once the de-silting has been done.

A PHANTOM HORSE has in the last few months regularly left droppings on the footpath from Thorncroft Bridge. This is a designated footpath with a hard surface designed for pushchairs , wheel chair users, elderly, cyclists and walkers often smartly dressed on their way to work. Alan Thornhill reports each ‘event’ to MVDC who arranges at tax payers expense to have it cleared up. MVDC have also paid to put up a ‘no horses’ sign. We don’t like horse poo any more than we like dog poo fouling the footpath!

GRASS CUTTING - this year the new landscape maintenance contractors are employed directly by MVDC. The regime we have all agreed will maximise the areas for wildlife to flourish whilst providing mown paths for access tobenchesandtwolargeclosecutareaseachsideoftheriver.Wearehopefulthatwiththisnew‘meadow’cutting regime it will allow plants like Small Teazle to grow and spread.

HIMALAYAN BALSAM. Last year a major amount of scrub and tree clearance carried out on Blue Bird island inevitably meant this year there was a profusion of Himalayan Balsam(HB). In July FoRML organised a couple of HB clearing days on Blue Bird Island, JohnHoltontheownerferriedpeopleoverfromthebottomofhis garden. It is quite a treat to see Leatherhead from the river, particularly the gardens of the properties on Church Street/ Dorkingroadwhichareonasteephilldroppingdowntotheriver. Someofthegardensarebeautifullyplantedterraceswhileothers are left for the wildlife to enjoy. I was very fortunate to help HB clearingoftheriverbanksfromacanoe,welauncheditjustbelow Intrepid Carolines in Thorncroft bridge and after HB pulling we gently paddled the safe hands of John Holton downstream to Fetcham Splash enjoying the fabulous views across Common Meadows and the cooler darker stretch beyond. (cont. P7) 6 (cont) It was a memorable trip and I feel lucky to have experienced the riverMolesocloseup,andjoyofjoyson a rare sunny day in June with no rain showers!

‘River Mole Discovery Day’ Sunday 25TH SEPTEMBER 2016, 12-4pm, Leatherhead To celebrate this year’s World Rivers Day, Mole Valley District Council is hosting a ‘River Mole Discovery Day’ included will be demonstrations of ‘kick sampling’, dawn Bird Walk and dusk Bat Walk, plus activities for kids and information from a variety of local groups. So put the date in your diary now!

ANDFINALLY…FoRMLwouldliketosayahugepublicthankyoutoTonyWynn,theParksandLandscapesofficer at MVDC, and award him our ‘Mole Star of the Year 2016’ for his consistent help in response to our calls, his immediate ‘on the ground’ response has made it very worthwhile volunteering, monitoring and reporting issues. Caroline Cardew-Smith

Sutton and East Surrey Waters Reports on Five Year Plan

The local water company, Sutton and East Surrey Water (SESW) has been successfully serving the area for 150 years. During the last 3 years they have introduced their 5 year plan and kept us informed of how they are meeting their targets. For this purpose, they have regularly invited customers or representatives of customers to early morning meetings to present their progress reports. They also have a Customer Scrutiny Panel made up of volunteers to give feedback on how they are performing.

At the most recent consultation we were told that they are over half way through the current 5 year plan and beginning to set their new goals. It was with great pleasure that SESW managing director, Anthony Ferrar, presented an account of how the water company has performed. Time after time the figures show that the company was on target or had performed better than targeted.

The company had hoped to provide 5000 households with a Water Support Tariff to give a helping hand to those who could not afford their water bill. They reached their target 2 months early and have continued to add to the number (presently5,686areonWaterTariffsupport). Perhapsbecauseofthistariff,baddebtislessthanonepercentofturnover.

In our area, water usage is the highest in the UK. It is a goal of the company to eventually have a totally metered water supply. Already 6,333 meters have been installed in this 5 year plan. Anyone who would like a water meter can opt to have one installed for free. The general rule is that if there are less people in a home than the number of bedrooms the household would benefit financially from the installation of a meter.

Nothing is perfect but our water is almost perfect. However, an area where there has been a need for improvement was staffing and training when answering questions. There had been a failure in the area of providing adequate responds to customer inquiries. Additional staff members are now fully trained in this area.

2017 will Bring Competition for Business Customers - By April 2017, all non household customers will be able to select their water supplier. The opening of the market will happen in stages with the creation of SES Business Water by August 2016. By November sewerage services will be billed separately by Thames Water. At this time all residential customers will continue to be billed on behalf of Thames Water.

One can only imagine the challenge this major change will bring to SESW. Our ability to choose our water supplier cannot be that far off. The meeting was one day before the EU Referendum. The timely question was asked, 'how will leaving or remaining in the EU affect the water company?" Fortunately, the answer was, "we do not think we will be affected at all by the result of the referendum."

Free Offer - While they last, get your FREE Water Efficiency Products from Sutton and East Surrey Water. Photos, descriptions, and ordering instructions are available at: https://www.savewatersavemoney.co.uk/suttoneastsurrey/free-water-saving-products Cheryl Allen

7 Vintage Bus Running Day and Leatherhead Open Gardens 12 June

For a brief moment in time, Green Line Buses once more travelled the streets of Leatherhead and area. Thanks to the Amersham and District Motorbus Society, whose bus running day centred at Randalls Road Car Park, local people could board and ride buses which recreated Green Line Bus routes from the past.

The LRA was delighted to have the use of buses which travelled to 5 outlying gardens as part of the Leatherhead Open Gardens. This created a totally new route which was designated as Leatherhead Gardens 416B. The new route appealed to bus enthusiast as well as Open Garden ticket holders.

Afurther8gardenswereopentothepublicforonedayonly. Organisers and participants were very pleased with the variety of gardens; widely differing in plant choices, size and design. We are grateful to those who were willing to share the lovely space around their homes.

In addition to the Randalls Road Transportation Hub, frequent stops were made at the St Mary's and St. Nicholas Church where teas were served all afternoon. Having been decorated for a weekend wedding, the church was at its loveliest. A sincere thank you goes to all who served food and supplied baked goods. Raffle prizes were much appreciated also.

This year the weather has been a challenge even to professional gardeners as they prepared for major shows such as Chelsea. It seemed even more of a challenge to local open garden owners. A warm December followed by several cold snaps resulted in some plants blooming either too early or late. A further complication has been the "lovely" rain that has benefited the gardens but also brought out the weeds, snails and slugs. In spite of all of this, abundant floral displays were available on the day.

Speaking of the weather, June 12 was very rainy until midday. This definitely affected the attendance. However, many people were undaunted and braved the showers. As a result we were able to make a profit of £849 which was divided equally between the Friends of the Parish Church and the Environment Committee of the LRA.

All of this happened on the Queen's official 90th birthday. Keeping with the party theme Byron Place and one additional garden were bedecked with bunting. All in all, the event was a special way to spend a very special day.

We will be looking for gardens to open in the future. If you think that you would like to participate please contact [email protected] Cheryl Allen

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