Dear Members
I hope you have all been able to enjoy and appreciate the mostly wonderful weather we have been having over the last few months. It still seems incredible to me that there is serious talk of water shortages and even drought.
On a more optimistic note, on a short walk from Church Street into High Street a couple of days ago I saw signs of Leatherhead that really should boost our confidence in our Town. My walk started at about 2pm outside Waitrose and the first thing I noticed was a conspicuous lack of litter. My eye was then caught by an impressive amount of scaffolding on the building above McDonalds and Prezzo. One of the workmen told me that all the windows were going to be replaced and some of the interior accommodation was going to be re-furbished. As I turned round, the next view contained a re-incarnation of our old Fruit and Vegetable stall! Behind it, even the ever-closed night club had its lights on and palm trees and pink blossom trees were visible.
The entrance to the Swan Centre was decorated by two very shiny, quite large foreign cars (apologies for not knowing their make) which, to judge by the cameras, were of great interest to some of the men gazing at them. Further in, there was a girl demonstrating how to create large, multiple bubbles using a fishing net. Some of our former stall holders were also there, selling socks and snacks.
But the real highlight of the afternoon was the little stall just outside Victoria London and Sainsbury’s. This stall was equipped with adapted barrels for tables and seats and it was offering anyone who came along a free bowl of strawberries and cream! And they were delicious …… no hint of any unripe sharpness!
Someone in the Swan Centre must have really put their thinking caps on to create this delightful attraction and they should be congratulated.
My next item is called “Love Where You Live” and concerns a generous offer of some 20,000 bulbs from Squires. They would like to hear from Community Groups (like the LRA) and they would expect such groups to plant the bulbs themselves. The groups are expected to be within a five miles radius of their 17 Centres and must not be commercial or private organisations. They anticipate that each group would receive a minimum of 320 bulbs that would cover about 5 sq.m. Applications should be made by someone representing the group and be involved in it. Do let me know if you or your organisation would be interested in applying.
My next announcement concerns Monday 25th August, in the Fortyfoot Recreation Ground, from 12.00 midday to 4.00pm. This is a Community Fun Day organised by the Leatherhead Lions, which I am sure most of you will recognize. There will be various stalls, and free bus services to and from North Leatherhead, Ashtead, Fetcham and Bookham.
The Leatherhead bus is roughly once an hour from Woodbridge, Tesco (starting at 11.56, then 12.56, then 13.56 and the last at 14.56). Of course, there is also a bus back again! The Leatherhead bus has been sponsored by the Leatherhead Residents’ Association.
Once in the Park, there are promises of ‘Fun and Games’, ‘Entertainment’, ‘Refreshments’ and a Dog Show. The Dog Show was particularly good fun last year!
Before I finish, I must add that the LRA and the Save Bull Hill group have agreed to work together to influence whatever is proposed for the enormous development being planned for the Red House Gardens, as and when the final iteration is made public in a Planning Application (expected in September). Whilst we appreciate the necessity of providing new housing in the Town and the desirability of some of the profit being used to improve the Swan Centre, in our view the volume of development shown in the consultation proposals was just too much for the site and our Town to bear!
So, I will leave you mulling over that and hope to see you next Monday.
With all best wishes
Caroline (Brown)
Chair of the Leatherhead Residents’ Association.