Leatherhead AHEAD - from the Archives
Joint Letter to Chief Exec SCC: joint policy for future action

Leatherhead & District Chamber of Commerce
Disability Action Group Leatherhead
Leatherhead AHEAD
Leatherhead & District Countryside Protection Society
Leatherhead Community Association

13th November 2002

Mr Paul Coen
Chief Executive SCC
County Hall
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 2DY

Dear Mr Coen,

A meeting was held at the Letherhead Institute on Wednesday 6th November 2002 which was attended by representatives of the key “stakeholder” groups in Leatherhead shown above.

The objective of the meeting was to evaluate the current situation pertaining in the Town, and agree a joint policy for future action which would be conveyed to appropriate personnel in both Surrey County and Mole Valley District Councils.

The following course of action for the Councils was unanimously agreed:

1. Consistent with previous advice from Roger Archer-Reeves, every effort must be made to ensure that shoppers can enjoy their Christmas shopping in relative peace. This will necessitate the acceleration of work on the new pavement, and the construction of a temporary surface in the area where the water feature was to be constructed.

2. The Councils to ensure that all contractor’s plant and equipment - including storage sheds and offices - are removed from the site, during the period when work stops before Christmas and the contractor returns to the site on 6th January 2003.

3. The Councils to stop all future work on the water feature, which none of the stakeholder groups want.

4. The Councils to instruct the contractor to take suitable action to construct a more permanent surface over the area where the water feature was to be constructed.

5. The Councils to address on a priority basis the problems in Leatherhead associated with the shortage of both long- and short-term parking facilities, and to take positive steps to resolve these problems.

6. The Councils to take the opportunity provided by the cessation of the work in the Town to re-consult with stakeholder groups and agree the best way forward in order to ensure rapid restoration of Leatherhead to being a lively, prosperous and attractive town in which to live, shop and work.

An early and considered response to these proposals would be much appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

This letter is also being sent to Mrs Heather Kerswell, Chief Executive MVDC