Bookhams Residents' Association

Working for Bookham since 1926



Your Residents' Association

The Bookhams Residents’ Association (BRA) is a voluntary membership organisation that is open to all residents and is independent of all political parties. 

The purpose of the BRA is to provide a consultative link between residents with councillors, public authorities and utility services.

The BRA also co-ordinates voluntary services such as  litter picking, Tree Wardens, High Street Christmas lights and hanging baskets. 

If you would like to join the team and help to keep Bookham a village for all to enjoy please get in touch.

Note: The BRA is not directly involved with the cultural and entertainment life of the village. These are provided by our colleagues at the Bookham Community Association at the Old Barn Hall.

More about the BRA...

Preston Farm planning application

Site officially known as: Land north of Lower Road and west of Little Bookham Street. Planning Application MO/2024/0096

Update: November 2024

Revision to Design & Access Statement Addendum.

The BRA Planning team have reviewed the Addendum and identified these changes:

  • The relocation of the Gypsy & Traveller Pitches and the Community Building and its car park. 

  • Updated access arrangements including the removal of vehicular access from Water Lane. 

  • The relocation of the Local Equipment Area of Play & the SANG car park.

  • Reconfiguration of residential land parcels and updated building heights, as shown on the Amended Parameter Plans. 

Apart from the Design & Access Statement Addendum new documents include:

  • An amended SANG circular route. 

  • An amended Illustrative Masterplan. 

  • A Heritage Impact Assessment. 

  • Some additional Ecology Information. 

  • A Chalk Streams Rebuttal. 

  • Plus, Addenda to the Landscape & Visual Assessment; the Green Belt Statement; the Planning Statement; the Arboricultural Impact Assessment; and the Flood Risk Assessment

Summary of the addendum is available here and BRA response.  

Councillors approve MVDC Local Plan

18th October

On 15 October 2024 Mole Valley District Council voted to adopt its new Local Plan by 28 votes in favour, 5 against, and 1 abstention.  Although a number of Bookham's local Councillors asked questions and commented positively on issues residents are concerned about, Those present voted in favour of the Plan.  
There is an argument that having a current Local Plan is better for a district council as a whole, than not having one, and there is truth in that.  However, back in June the BRA told the Council and the Government appointed Planning Inspector that we wanted a "Fair Deal for Bookham".  That included the Bookhams taking their fair share of new building (through redevelopment and infilling) but saying a clear NO to inappropriate development in the wrong places, and especially not in the Green Belt. 

The "deal" that has subsequently been imposed on the Bookhams is not, in our opinion,  "fair ", and the Local Plan remains unsound. 

What happened to Bookham's issues about over-development, and inadequate infrastructure, and the deep concerns about:  traffic generation and highway safety;  not removing land from the Green Belt; and, increasing the risk from flooding and surface water?  

Well the short answer is, sadly, that the Bookham's feedback was largely disregarded by the Council and the Inspector.

The Council has been instructed by the Inspector to review the Plan again in three years time. So we won't have long before consultations start all over again. Next time, against what we have been told, will be even greater Government housing targets. 

New Bookham Youth & Community Centre: Will it be finally built? Some good news!

Update: November 2024

The BYCA and BRA have been working together and with MVDC and SCC to get the new, and long overdue, Youth Centre built in Bookham.  We promised to provide updates to keep Residents in touch with developments, and we now have three pieces of encouraging news.

1) Surrey County Council which is funding the building of the Centre, has completed the design stage of the project with input from the BYCA, the Bookham Youth Project (BYP) and the BRA. 

2) Back in May 2021 MVDC granted Outline Planning approval to SCC to build the new Centre on a corner of the Lower Rd recreation ground. Sadly, various delays meant that approval expired. However SCC’s Officers tell us that they will be seeking planning permission for the new Youth Centre between autumn and spring 2025. Yet another disappointing delay which we urge SCC to quickly resolve. 

3) The new single floor Centre will still be situated on the Lower Rd Recreation Ground. MVDC, which owns the land, has worked with SCC to agree terms of a lease. The BYCA will manage the new Centre, as it did with the old centre, on a sub-lease from SCC at a peppercorn rent. We are hoping that the new centre will be completed by the end of 2025 or early 2026.

And there is yet more good news… new Community Youth worker appointed

“LYP are delighted to welcome Lucy Hicks our new Community Youth Worker for Bookham. She will be providing youth services for all young people in Bookham. 

Days since planning permission was originally granted on 21st May 2021

Days since planning permission was granted:

Latest BRA and community news

Oak Processionary Moth (OPM) - Apply by 30th January to participate in a pilot scheme

Happy New Year and welcome to the first oak processionary moth (OPM) update of 2025.  We're pleased to welcome Dr Edward Straw to the OPM team as the new Programme Manager. Edward is taking overRead more

Village Centre Christmas Lights

The village centre lights are now adding to the festive season and our thanks go the following traders and public bodies for supporting this BRA initiative: Ada's Delicatessen Blakes of BookhamRead more

November 2024 BRA Newsletter

The BRA November 2024 Newsletter has been published and the print version will be distributed to all households in Bookham by our team of volunteer Road Stewards. In this edition our lead articlesRead more

David Smith receives BRA recognition award

Well known former owner of Wishing Well in the High Street, David Smith, has received a BRA Contribution Award. David was presented with his award by Simon Edge, BRA Chairman. At the AGM in JulyRead more

Bookham remembers its fallen

On a quiet sunny autumn Monday morning at the 11th hour of the 11th day Bookham residents remembered the fallen at St Nicolas ChurchRead more

BRA Concerns over HMG Inspector's Local Plan Report

The Government Inspector has completed her report on the Future Mole Valley Local plan and on October 15th MVDC will meet to decide on whether it will adopt the Plan incorporating the 92 majorRead more

Hedgerow planting at the Tithe Barn: Tree Warden news

BRA Tree Warden, Frances Fancourt reports On Sunday 4th February the 1st Fetcham Scouts and the 1st Fetcham Cubs joined the Bookham Tree Wardens to plant a hedgerow at the Tithe Barn in LittleRead more

Free street trees on your verge!

BRA Environment and Tree Warden - Frances Fancourt reports: It is now possible to apply for a street tree to be planted on your verge for FREE. As Surrey County Council (SCC) want to plant 1.2Read more

Village sign storm damage repaired

Following storm damage to the the village sign in January the BRA team, lead by Geoff Tranter, have leapt in to action with local contractors and the broken post supporting the village sign has beenRead more

Fetcham & Bookham Repair Cafe

St Mary’s Church Fetcham, and Bookham and Horsley Rotary Club are working together to create and support a monthly FaB (Fetcham and Bookham) Repair Cafe. This will take place in St Mary's church haRead more

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle around Bookham service updated

The search tool developed by the BRA on behalf of Plastic Free Bookham  allowing you to find what and where you can can recycle has been updated with the latest recycling guidelines including DIYRead more

After 20 years Peter Seaward retires as BRA Chairman

I’ve known Peter since 2016.  I very quickly saw what an untiring force for good Peter is across the Bookhams; and how respected he and the BRA was, and still is, by MVDC and SCC officers andRead more

Latest Local Authority & Transport news

Joint Statement from the Leaders of Surrey District and Borough Councils

On 7th January the Leaders of the 11 Surrey District & Borough Councils and Leader of Surrey County Council met to discuss the English Devolution White Paper and what this would mean for theRead more

Latest news for Bookham Businesses

Keep up to date with the business community via the MVDC Spotlight fortnightly newsletter. Read more

Surrey Highways - road works in Mole Valley and Guildford (updated weekly)

Click on the images below for direct link to roadworks in the Mole Valley area and Guildford areas. On the SCC page scroll down for completed and utility works.Read more

Lower Shott public toilets closed for refurbishment work

Following on from a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) application by the BRA, the public toilets at Lower Shott are being refurbished. In addition to the refurbishment a fresh water drinking tap wiRead more

Preston Farm - Design and Access Statement Addendum: revised November 2024

If any resident wishes to view and/or comment on the revisions, they may do so on the MVDC Planning portal: MVDC Planning Application for MO/2024/0096.   We understand that the formal closing dateRead more

MVDC Winter Info Hub

MVDC have a Winter Hub page with helpful information on council services available to residents. Click on the link below for more details Winter Info Hub - Mole Valley District Council  Read more

Bin collection date changes over Christmas and New Year 2024-25

Garden waste subscribers can recycle their real Christmas trees in their kerbside collection. We kindly ask you remove all decorations and lights, chop it up into smaller pieces and place in yourRead more

Planning applications in Bookham: (rolling eight weeks)

Each week MVDC publish planning applications that have been registered across the district. Click on the button below to  see an extract of the applications made in Bookham. You may comment onRead more

Statement on the Financial Position of Mole Valley District Council

Following a publication of a report by BBC News on 14th November on the financial position of Mole Valley District Council we have received the following statement from MVDC's CommunicationsRead more

MVDC Bookham High Street Master Plan. Update 25th Oct. Consultation now closed.

Following the launch of the MVDC Master Plan on 24th October the MVDC online Consultation Portal is now closed. To access the consultation portal, please click here or on the image belowRead more

Publication of HMG Inspector's report in to the Mole Valley Local Plan 2020 - 2039

The Planning Inspector examining the Mole Valley Local Plan 2020-2039 has published her report (in accordance with the Section 20(8) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004, as amended) andRead more

New dates announced to help shape Leatherhead’s future (Bookham - 11th September)

FAQs Webinar event recordingRead more

Community Events Calendar

To find an event, click on a button and select a filter. 

Do you have an event?

If you have a Bookham community event you wish to publicise, please complete the form below and we'll add it to the online Events Calendar. We cannot guarantee we can publicise all events or any last minute changes but we'll do our best!

If this is an event that you would like to post on our BRA Village Noticeboards, click here for more details  

Quick Link Service Requests and Reporting

Not sure who to report a street cleaning request or overhanging branches or a pothole to or seen something suspicious on your video door bell?

Our Councils have multiple responsibilities and it is often a challenge to find out which Council and Council department or organisation is responsible for what. To help residents make a service request or report, just on click on the relevant button below which will take you directly to the relevant council department and reporting forms. Also included in the portal are the National Trust, Surrey Police Suspicious Activity, Surrey Wildlife Trust and emergency flooding.

Emergency Flooding - who to contact:

  • River flooding: Environment Agency (24 hour Floodline): 0345 988 118 

  • Road Flooding: Surrey CC Highways: 0300 200 1003

  • Sewer Flooding. Thames Water: 0800 316 9800

  • Assistance to buy essential items (criteria apply): Citizen’s Advice Bureau: 08444 111 444

Power Cuts During Storms

Do you, or someone you know, need extra support during power cuts?

The power company has confirmed that they will provide free welfare services to customers who need extra support. To register for Priority Services support please call 105 or  0800 028 4581.

 

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