Leatherhead AHEAD - our first Press Release, 18 March 2002

Leatherhead - AHEAD
Moving our town forward together
11 St Mary’s Road
Leatherhead, Surrey. KT22 8HB
Phone (01372) 378604
leatherheadahead @ aol.com

RATEPAYERS REVOLT
COUNCIL MISREPRESENTATION
ACTION GROUP FORMED TO STOP THE TOWN CENTRE PROJECT

• Leatherhead began life as a crossroads town.
• When it was pedestrianised in 1982, the crossroads was closed and Leatherhead’s arteries were blocked.
• Leatherhead has been dying ever since. The council has ignored continuing protests from the traders and others.
• The council proposes to spend £600,000 on Phase 2 of the town regeneration plan for a water feature to enhance the town centre and encourage shoppers. With this in place, there would be no chance of re-opening the vital crossroads.
• Many, many residents were not aware that an exhibition was held in October 1999, and there was a lot of opposition from those who did attend, particularly about the water feature. The Phase 2 scheme had clearly been shelved when the Town Report 2000 was produced as the plan showed they intended opening the link between North Street and Church Street. This would not have been possible with the water feature in place.
• The only way to revive Leatherhead is to open the crossroads and provide essential short-term drop-in parking in the centre of the town. Bridge Street and High Street should be one-way W to E allowing this essential short-term drop-in parking all up the right hand side of these streets.