Leatherhead AHEAD - The Whitelegg Report

4 July 2002 Professor Whitelegg was commissioned in May 2002 to advise on the way forward for Leatherhead town centre. The commission included instructions to carry out site visits, meet local groups and key stakeholders, assimilate the background material, chair a public meeting on 19th June and produce a short report setting out the key issues, taking into account all views and suggesting ways forward.

" The key issues have been very well summarised by the group "Leatherhead Ahead" in their presentations and in discussion with Professor Whitelegg on the 19th June. The issues are: the decline of retailing and concerns about the closure of shops and restaurants, the inadequacy of current parking arrangements to satisfy and support retail demand and the lack of adequate access for car-borne shoppers and visitors to the High St. The construction of the "water feature" at the bottom of High St has very clearly acted as a stimulant and a focal point for all these issues and has generated, what by national standards is a significant campaign of opposition to the water feature .... "

Please look at this report and our reply to it, which includes Professor Whitelegg's response.