Dear Members
I hope you are well and adjusting to our new colder and gloomier climate! But soon it will be time to look at bright and shiny winter decorations. (Notice: I did not say “our Christmas decorations” – I will reserve those words for the November Bulletin!)
The first thing on the LRA calendar is our AGM in just over a week’s time, on Monday the 27th October (The Papers for the meeting are all on the LRA website under the section headed “Documents”). It will be quite a momentous day for us: four Directors require Member approval to their re-appointment or appointment; I will retire as Chairman and Hilary Porter will retire as a Director and there will be an announcement as to my replacement(s) as Chairman. We will also have a speaker to entertain/inform you after the formal proceedings. The Meeting will take place in the usual venue of the Methodist Church at the usual time of 7.30pm.
There is still no news as to the Planning Application in respect of Transform Leatherhead that the Leret Partnership promised for this Autumn, but if one is lodged between now and the 27th, we will endeavour to explain and debate its content at the AGM. However, it may be necessary to convene an emergency meeting after the 27th to do justice to the subject.
Some of you may have attended the M.V. Council Meeting on Tuesday, or read about it on-line, when the Transform Leatherhead project was mentioned. It was gratifying to hear Councillor Slater spell out the apparently astonishing unfairness between the amount promised for the second phase of the refurbishment of Dorking Halls (£14-15million from Council funds i.e. Residents’ Council Tax) and the way Leatherhead’s renewed Swan Centre is to be financed (£7million from the sale of our park, The Red House Grounds). As I am sure most of you know, the loss of this Park is being bitterly opposed by many, many Residents.
While on this subject, please do not forget the “Gofundme” crowd-funding being carried out by the “Save Bull Hill” action-group to raise money to pay for a consultant Planner to scrutinise and submit a representation in respect of the Planning Application, when it is lodged by the developers. You will find the Gofundme.com link on the Save Bull Hill website.
One of our members has anonymously given us some money as a donation to the Save Bull Hill funds. This money has indeed been passed on.
As if a fundamental remodelling of our Town is not enough for residents to deal with, we now also have to consider the complete restructuring of local government in our County. Should our District Councils be wound up and their functions taken over by restructured County Councils and should Surrey be divided into two or three of these? Then, might there be a democratic representation shortfall that necessitates the formation of Parish or Town Councils, where they do not already exist? Various pros and cons are relatively easy to identify, but whether they suggest that the proposal is worthwhile or not is much less easy to conclude.
At a much more local level, but effective in its way, is our regular Litter Pick. I am hoping to have that on Sunday 2nd November and will confirm either at the meeting on 27th or in a general email. It will take the usual form: I will sit in or out of the car in the northern parking area of Bull Hill, next to the hedge, from 2pm. So, our volunteers can bring their bag(s) of rubbish and it can be organised into one pile to be picked up by M.V. the next day. Don’t forget that MV gives us £1 for each bag gathered up to 30 bags. If the weather is obliging, we usually stop for a cup of tea and a little chat at the end.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at our A.G.M. on the 27th.
With best wishes
Caroline Brown (Chairman)
Please note that our local Leatherhead Art Club is holding its annual exhibition in the old chapel at St. John’s School from 18th October to 26th October. You will be amazed at the talent hidden away in our houses and flats!