Back to Blog

Admissions to the Howard of Effingham School - Good News!

The BRA is pleased to advise our residents that after many years of campaigning against the current tie break of  "those living closest to the nearest alternative school (regardless of available places)" that from September 2024 the tie break for admissions to the Howard of Effingham will be based on those living closest to the school rather than the current model.BRA would like to thank the team of residents who campaigned, since 2008, for fairer admissions criteria for the Bookhams' child...

Local Plan - Statement from MVDC

I want to take this opportunity to provide an update on the progress of our Local Plan, Future Mole Valley.Following our request to remove green belt sites from our draft Plan, the Inspector has contacted us today (Friday 17 February) and her response can be found in full on our Future Mole Valley website. (Or via the link below). As the timing of this news comes just prior to the publication of my statement, we will be in a position to set out our plans in more detail once officers and Members ...

MVDC Pause Local Plan Process

The BRA has been advised by Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) that following announcements from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on changes to the national planning system and Green Belt that MVDC have decided to pause the examination of the Local Plan. When we have any further information we will circulate it to residents. For the full briefing from MVDC and the Government, please see below. Peter Seaward BRA Chairman...

Howard of Effingham admissions criteria - proposed change for entry in September 2024

Consultation period Friday 25th November 2022 to Friday13th January 2023 It is being proposed in the consultation that the Howard of Effingham Admissions criteria in relation to the “within catchment” tie break should there be oversubscription of places be changed from “priority will be given to children who live furthest from their nearest alternative school, regardless of whether or not a place could have been gained at that school” to “priority will be given to children who live clo...

BRA and Surrey County Council teams have been hard at work!

Planted on the 22nd November, this lovely avenue of nine flowering cherry trees by the Lower Road Rec! These, along with the five planted in Spring, will look beautiful next year and every year after! Well done to Frances Fancourt and her Tree Warden team and for SCC for funding and for making this happen - a great result! The avenue was originally visualised as a QEII Jubilee avenue, but now it could be as a QEII memorial. Read more: Bookham Blue Hearts Wildflower Verges ...

Local Government Boundary Commission - Complaint - MVDC Boundary Review

Following on from our request to Sir Paul Beresford, our MP, and his response to raise an Early Day Motion, the BRA has written to Lynn Ingram, Director of Finance & Resources of the Local Boundary Commission for England and Wales,(LGBC) with a formal complaint about proposals for the Mole Valley District Council Boundary Review.  Our complaint is based on the LGBC's proposals not meeting its statutory requirements, and we request appropriate remedial action by the LGBC You m...

Support Available for Households Struggling with Rising Cost of Living

Councillor Bridget Kendrick, Deputy Leader for Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) and Cabinet Member for Finance said: “The Chancellor unveiled the autumn budget and confirmed the UK is officially in a recession on Thursday 17 November. It is clear, given the level of measures outlined, that the squeeze on household budgets will be getting tighter still for the foreseeable future. We know that many of our residents are worried about the rising prices and the cost of living crisis, but there a...

Local Government Boundary Commission - Early Day Motion

You may have read in the BRA Autumn 2022 Newsletter, that has been/is being delivered to all households in Bookham, about our concerns regarding the bizarre proposals by the Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) following its review of Mole Valley's ward boundaries. The BRA has raised this issue with our MP, Sir Paul Beresford, who has agreed with our concerns. The parliamentary process restricts what can be done, but Sir Paul has agreed to put down an Early Day Motion asking that the Ord...

BRA Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) applications

The BRA has submitted the following applications to MVDC for Community Infrastructure Funding: Project Status Power to St Nicolas Church lych-gate for public events  Completed Planters for Bookham High St and associated planting Completed Safety netting - Chrystie Recreation Ground In progress Replacement of skate park with BMX track at Lower Road Recreation Ground In progress Out door gym at Lower Road Recreation Ground In progress ...

Shopping areas get a green uplift!

Frances Fancourt On 11th October a number of new plants arrived in our central shopping areas. These include a planter each at Lower Shott and Church Road, four planters in the High Street, plus renovated beds along the A246 and in the High Street. It is many years since the beds beside the benches in the High Street were planted up. Organized by the Bookham Residents’ Association and in a new collaboration with the Bookham Butterflies WI, these beds have been replanted and will be maintained ...

£11.9m to Help Surrey Residents Cut their Energy Bills

People living in hard-to-heat homes and on lower incomes could receive grants between £10,000 and £25,000 to improve insulation and install renewable technology; helping to save energy, reduce emissions and combat rising energy prices. Improvement measures include loft insulation, cavity and external wall insulation, underfloor insulation and renewables, such as solar electricity panels. Funding totalling £11.9m has been awarded through central Government to Surrey County Council (SCC), leadi...

Horsley, Bookham & Leatherhead Riding for the Disabled

Horsley, Bookham & Leatherhead RDA (reg charity number 1170049) are delighted to announce the opening of our new fully accessible, all weather riding centre at Badgers Farm, Effingham. Over the past two years we have been fundraising so we could ‘Raise the Roof’ and create our new home. On the 9th August 2021 we broke ground and the first digger was on site. Over the next 8 months we watched as the amazing builders from FORMA slowly excavated the ground, dug huge foundations, poured ple...

A History of the Bookhams

A history of the Bookhams produced by Ali Kelman of the Leatherhead and District History Society....

Local Government Boundary Commission Report

The Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) has published its final recommendations report for Mole Valley District Council. The full recommendations may be read in the report below. Bookham and Fetcham are covered on page 13 and 14 of the report. Both Bookhams Residents' Assocation and Fetch Residents' Association, our local Councillors and a number of residents, following the BRA's request, submitted comments to the LGBC and in the report LGBC's reponse to these are noted.  Bookham wi...

Hanging Baskets in the High Street

Peter Seaward - BRA ChairmanMany may have noticed that the hanging baskets in the High Street could be in better condition. Of course, the weather has not helped but we (BRA) had problems with the watering. We think this is now resolved thanks to many of the Traders stepping up to use the watering system we provided.  The baskets in Church Road with the planter look excellent thanks to Mrs Casselden who waters and cares for these as does the basket in Lower Shott which Mr Jefferys look...

Electric Vehicle Charging Points in Bookham Car Parks

Les Huett BRA Communications A recent enquiry has been received on the capacity of electric vehicle charging points that are due to be installed in Bookham car parks. We raised the question with Cllr Clayton Wellman, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy and Security, and he gave us this reply: "They will be chargers that should deliver an 80% + charge within 3 hours. The time limit on the bays will be 3 hrs (as per our standard short stay bays). An hour with what is proposed for Boo...

Noticeboard Administrator Needed

We have five noticeboards to be updated with new village notices and typically this will be weekly.  The boards are all around the village so an element of walking is required between the sites. It would suit two people working together and you can even take your dog for a walk! If you're interested, please get in touch via our contact page below or call us on 0300 030 9890....

BRA AGM - Michael Coughlin Presentation

At the AGM on 13th July, Michael Coughlin/Jane Last Executive Director/Head of Communities and Engagement, Surrey County Council gave a presentation on the role and responsibilities of local government and what this entails in Surrey and how they engage with District councils. In our case Mole Valley District Council.Slides from the presentation are available to download below. ...

Please Water Your Young Trees!

Frances Fancourt - BRA Tree Warden Please water your young trees through this hot spell. Saplings and young trees planted in the past 1 - 3 years are really struggling to find water in this parched soil. They are also losing moisture through their leaves at a greater rate than usual. In this heat they need watering every 1 or 2 days. Pop outside and give them a big drink of water now. The Tree Wardens gave away trees at Village Day in 2021 and these trees are particularly vulnerable right now be...

SCC issues new Transport Plan

Surrey’s ten-year Transport plan which includes measures for reducing the 41% of carbon emissions currently generated by transport, was approved by Councillors at their Full Council meeting today (12 July 2022). The plan prioritises measures to support people to get around Surrey easily and sustainably including increasing the number of walking and cycling routes, providing more charging points and parking for electric vehicles, charging for transport use and introducing car clubs, as well as ...

Surrey Police - HMIC Inspection Report

In May when I wrote to you with my quarterly Commitments update, I mentioned that we had recently been inspected by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS, or HMIC for short). The HMIC regularly inspects every Police Force in the UK, acting as an independent body to ensure that we are efficient and effective in the service we offer to our communities. These inspections are known as Police Effectiveness, Efficiency and Legitimacy (PEEL) assessments and to...

Update on MVDC Local Plan

Christine Milstead reports The Examination of the Mole Valley Local Plan is underway.  It is divided into three Stages and began with Stage 1 on the 22nd June 2022 which examined the Plan’s Legal & Procedural Requirements; has the Plan been prepared with due regard to the appropriate legislation, procedures and regulations. The Inspector, Ms R Barrett, has subsequently announced that the Examination can proceed to Stage 2, provided additional studies to assess the Plan’s impacts on the ...

Mole Valley District Council Local Government Boundary Review.

Please note: the opportunity for residents to submit comments to the consultation has now closed. This post is for information only.The Ward boundaries in all Local Government areas are reviewed as population and circumstances change. Mole Valley Ward boundaries were last reviewed in the late 90’s. The Local Government Boundary Commission (LGBC) has concluded its review of MVDC and has published its recommendations. For Bookham and Fetcham instead of the present four wards, three are now propo...

Bookham's Platinum Jubilee Litter Pick

Bookham Litter Pickers celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee after collecting 17 bags of litter on Sunday 5th of June. Well done team!...

BRA Chairman - Peter Seaward receives Mole Valley Chairman's Certificate

Peter Seaward - Chairman of the Bookhams Residents' Association has been awarded the Mole Valley Chairman's Certificate for promoting Community Cohesion.  The citation reads: "Peter has been chair of the Bookham Residents Association for over fifteen years. He has led the association through the Bookham Neighbourhood Plan, the current draft local plan consultation and he has actively been involved with the Bookham Youth and Community Centre.However he is involved in so many more ways. ...