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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 ...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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. ...

Village Sign Restored

We are pleased that announce that the Village Sign has been restored to its former glory at Lower Shott. Thanks go to Peter Seaward - BRA Chairman in arranging for a new sign to be made following a mounting bracket failure of the previous one and to David Belsham and his team for erecting the new one. The next stage is to see if we can arrange for illumination of the sign.    ...

National Trust Tree Planting in Surrey

The National Trust fights against climate change Climate Change is affecting our heritage. The National Trust manages properties and places all over the country and is taking action to fight against climate change and protect our heritage into the future. James Brown, National Trust Archaeologist for London & South-East Region, and newly elected to the Society’s Council, has also shared a link to the Historic Environment Forum where climate change and other issues are discussed. And, thanks to...

Step into Mole Valley...

...and discover over 20 incredible walks in and around the Surrey Hills....

Simplified Parking Permits to be introduced by MVDC with special traders permit for Bookham

Simplified Parking Permits Coming Soon to Mole Valley Residents Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) are introducing a new, simplified structure for off-street parking permits across the district, reducing 14 available options to 4. Residents can choose from Gold, Silver, Bronze and Concessionary permits. The new scheme is being introduced to create a transparent and equitable approach. It will remove anomalies that meant near neighbours had vastly different off-street permit prices and it will r...

SCC's Keswick Care Home to Close

Following Surrey County Council's Cabinet meeting on 22nd February a decision was taken to close the Keswick care home in Bookham along with seven others. There is a suggestion that the site could be used for new adult care facilities and a commitment that the closure would not be sudden....

MVDC Boundary Commission Review delayed

Message from Mole Valley District CouncilAs I am sure you will be aware, we had been expecting the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) to be publishing its draft recommendations for Mole Valley tomorrow (1st March). However, we have been advised that, along with a small number of other Councils, the LGBCE Board did not have sufficient time to consider the draft recommendations for Mole Valley at its February meeting and these have been deferred to March. As a result the LGB...

Streetsafe - a new initiative from Surrey Police

Message from Surrey Police StreetSafe is a pilot service for anyone to anonymously tell us about public places where you have felt or feel unsafe, because of environmental issues, eg street lighting, abandoned buildings or vandalism and/or because of some behaviours, eg being followed or verbally abused.Please note: 'StreetSafe' is not for reporting crime or incidents.If something has happened to you or someone you know (including in public spaces online) you can call us on 101 or...

Hurrah – at Last - The Garstons Triangle Takes Shape!

Some two years ago we all feared that the triangle might be lost to development, posing a threat to Village Day and Bookham’s public outdoor events. Through the combined action of local residents, the Bookhams Residents’ Association (BRA), the Bookham Community Association (BCA), and liaising with both Surrey and Mole Valley Councils, we have now secured this area as a public space complete with benches and plantings.Just before Christmas two benches were fixed onto concrete bases, adding to...

BRA Representation to MVDC on the Draft Mole Valley Local Plan 2020-2037.

On 5th November the BRA submitted their formal representation to Mole Valley District Council Draft Local Plan - Regulation 19. The Document has been prepared on behalf of the BRA by Brian Madge Ltd - Planning Consultants.  The BRA are opposed to the development of the Green Belt as detailed in the report Executive Summary and Conclusions This representation is submitted on behalf of Bookhams Resident’s Association (BRA) and focuses upon the Draft Mole Valley Local Plan (as published for...

Surrey County Council approves £2.5 million funding for new Bookham Youth and Community Centre

Images above show a Computer Generated Image (CGI) of the new centre. This is not the final design and is for illustrative purposes only. At the meeting of the Surrey County Council Cabinet held on 23rd February, SCC approved the funding of £2.5M for the construction of a new shared-use building to replace the old Bookham Youth Centre on Lower Road. The new development at the Lower Road Rec has been designed to accommodate various community uses such as the Bookham Colts – yout...

Peter Seaward Receives Lavender Caterings’ “You’re Amazing Award”

Congratulations to Peter Seaward who wins Lavender Caterings’ “You’re Amazing” Award. Melanie Williams from Lavender Catering has awarded Peter Seaward, BRA Chairman, with her “You’re Amazing” award treat box this week. Melanie says “Peter and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure our village keeps going through all these lockdowns. BRA have supported our retailers, helped with grants for local businesses, flooding and environmental issues. We dropped off a ver...

The Garstons Triangle – MVDC Grants Asset of Community Value

In 2020 following a campaign by local people working in conjunction with the Bookham Community Association (BCA) and the Bookhams Residents’ Association (BRA) a joint appeal was made to Bookham residents requesting support to help safeguard the Garstons by having the parcel of land known as the Garstons Triangle as an Asset of Community Value. (Click here to read more in the 2020 Archive)We are pleased to announce that on 17th February 2021 the nomination to have the land at The Garstons ...