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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 been replaced and the sign is back in place.If only our request to MVDC to provide power to illuminate the sign could be implemented as quickly. (no action for three years now...)Les HuettBRA Communications...

MVDC Councillors vote to un-pause Local Plan Examination

On 25 January 2024 Mole Valley Council voted to un-pause its Local Plan and inform the HM Government Inspector to continue with the draft Local Plan examination which will include all Green Belt sites. This means a majority of Councillors voted to sacrifice the Green Belt sites in the Plan for development. An option to remove the Green Belt sites in the Plan was available, but they chose not to. You can watch a recording of the meeting online at: https://molevalley.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcas...

Is this our last chance to save our Green Belt? MVDC Local Plan - Extraordinary Council Meeting 25th January, 7.00pm.

You may recall that in December 2022 MVDC requested examination of the Local Plan by the Inspector to be paused due to changes in the Government's National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). After nearly a year, in December 2023 the Government issued new legislation.In this legislation Government has stated that Local Plans that are in the final stages of examination should continue using the previous examination legislation and the new NPPF should only be used for new Local Plans. This puts...

Bookham's Green Belt and the MVDC Local Plan

Extraordinary MVDC Councillors meeting 25th Jan at 7.00 pm. View onlineOn 5th January 2024 the Leader of MVDC, Cllr Stephen Cooksey, issued a statement about the future of the Local Plan (statement below for reference).Since the statement was made, the BRA understands the Council is to hold an Extraordinary Council Meeting on 25th January at 7.00 pm to decide what the next steps should be for the MVDC Local Plan.   The BRA has asked Local Councillors to listen to resident's views,...

Michael Anderson

BRA President, Peter Seaward reports:It is with great sadness that we wish to inform residents that well known village community supporter Michael Anderson passed away just before Christmas 2023. Michael was a wonderful and very long serving friend of all of us here in Bookham. For many years he a was Liberal Councillor for Bookham, and during that time was also a Leader of Mole Valley District Council. He became a member of the BRA Committee and collaborated with us all for well over 20 years. ...

Is Bookham a safe place to live? Inspector James Green of Surrey Police provides confirmation that it is.

Following on from some disturbing serious offences in the village recently, the BRA was approached by Surrey Police asking for assistance in communicating with the local community to allay concerns that residents may have. This is something the BRA is more than happy to facilitate and on 25th October a public meeting open to all residents was held at Bookham Baptist Church.BRA’s Geraldine Brassett reports:This proactive approach by Surrey police was positively received and residents were ...

Not sure who to report a street cleaning request or pothole to? BRA Launches a Quick Link Service Request Portal

Not sure who to report a street cleaning request or overhanging branches or a pothole to? Our Councils have multiple responsibilities and it is often a challenge to find out which Council and Council department is responsible for what. To help residents make a service request the Bookhams Residents’ Association (BRA) have set up a Quick Links reporting  and service request portal which take you directly to relevant council department and reporting forms in  one click.We all know how ...

Fetcham & Bookham Repair Cafe

St Mary’s Church Fetcham, and Bookham and Horsley Rotary Clubare working together to create and support a monthly FaB (Fetcham and Bookham) Repair Cafe. This will take place in St Mary's church hall, off The Ridgeway and their target launch date is Saturday 3rd February 2024.At the Repair Café you’ll find expert volunteers with repair skills in allkinds of fields that may include clothes, electrical appliances, bicycles, woodwork, IT, toys, etc.If you are interested in helping in some way: ...

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 DIY waste that can now be taken to Community Re-cycling Centres. For example you can now recycle all brands of coffee cups at Coast Coffee.Click on the button below to find out what and where you can recycle!...

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 and members, and other local groups alike.  His knowledge of the Bookhams and the North of Mole Valley, as well as his list of contacts is encyclopaedic.  He is also a skilled and determined ‘arranger’ – which explains why I’m standing here now!Peter’s retirement marks the end of an e...

Mole Valley District Council Urges Action in Response to Bank Closures

Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) asked residents and businesses to share their views regarding bank closures in the district, via a survey. The survey received a total of 2,148 responses and the next step is to submit a community request to LINK for banking hubs in Mole Valley.  The responses to the survey were a mix of online and handwritten submissions from across the district, from residents, businesses and employees, and were overwhelmingly in support of banking hubs. Many resid...

Surrey Police - Mole Valley District Policing 22/23. BRA AGM Presentation

Slides from Inspector James Green at the BRA AGM on 9th August 2023...

Pat Morrish (1931 - 2023)

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Pat Morrish. Pat will be most remembered for his arrangements of the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies at St Nicolas Church and the following walk by the Bookham scout groups to the Friendship Tree in Eastwick Park Avenue for the laying of wreaths. In addition, Pat was a valued supporter of the BRA and was a Road Steward for many years. Our condolences go Pat’s family and friends....

There aren't many pubs like The Anchor in Bookham!

Following a donation by the Anchor Pub to the BRA, we found out more about the amazing fund raising that has been undertaken by this local pub which has a true community spirit.Tony Mann, an Anchor regular, organises the quiz nights, manages the funds raised, distributing to and  liaising with beneficiaries whilst  keeping the regulars informed of how the funds are being used. He told us more about this community success story.The Anchor pub in Bookham has raised money for local good c...

SWR Ticket Office Closures Consultation (Now closed)

The BRA is very worried to hear that Bookham Railway Station's Ticket Office is one of those scheduled by South Western Railway (SWR) for closure.The proposed closure would make life much harder for anyone who relies on the Ticket Office's services.  That could include you, or someone you care about - those who are vulnerable, have specific needs, are not comfortable or able to use electronic technology, or have a disability.Without Railway Staff on the station the opportunities for an...

408 Bus Service Timetable from 24th July 2023

Falcon Buses: Route 408 will no longer run between Leatherhead, Bookham and Effingham. All journeys will now run to Cobham, offering an improved hourly daytime frequency between Epsom and Cobham.New timetable with most journeys running at different times to now - please check before travelling. 408 | Falcon Bus (falconbuses.co.uk)...

MVDC Cabinet agree in principle to "Bump Park" funding for Lower Road Rec

Les Huett - BRA CommunicationsA presentation was given to Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) by the BRA team of Peter Seaward and Richard Moyse in May 2023 requesting funding for a new Bookham Bump Park for skateboards, scooters and BMX bikes at the Lower Road Rec. The funding for this was requested to be sourced from the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy*. This request was refused by MVDC. However, at a subsequent MVDC Cabinet meeting on 20th June the request was reconsidered and a f...

BRA Newsletter - June 2023

Please note due to an unforeseen circumstance with our arrangements for this year's AGM we are having to reschedule to the 9th August. This means the date in the print version of this Newsletter of 19th July is incorrect, Our apologies.The June 2023 Newsletter has just been published and the print edition is being circulated to all households in Great and Little Bookham.Our great team of volunteers will be delivering the Newsletter and in some roads collecting annual subscriptions of £5.00...

BRA installs Coronation Tree Bench at Lower Shott

6th May 2023 will go down in history as the day King Charles III was crowned. To mark this great occasion we have installed a Coronation Tree Bench around a hawthorn tree at Lower Shott, near the Bookham sign. We do hope that you will enjoy sitting on it!Mole Valley District Council funded the bench from a special Coronation Fund available to all Parishes and Residents Associations in Mole Valley....

MVDC Newsletter

Latest News from Mole Valley District Council. (external link)...

Revised SWR Timetable from 21st May in the Mole Valley area

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Update: Even more good news! £2.00 bus fare cap on 479 and 408 routes extended again

Update: 17th May: The Government has extend the £2.00 single fare price cap to 30th October 2023 and then capped at £2.50 until November 2024Falcon Buses,who run the 479 and 408 services, are part of the three month fare cap subsidy from Government announced on 19th December to operate from January to March 2023. Fares are capped at £2.00 per journey.The bookable on demand Mole Valley Connect service has recently increased its service area to the whole of the Mole Valley. Also introduced is a...

A sad day for Bookham

Today, Friday 12th May, Frances Fancourt our Tree Warden, presented a bouquet of flowers to Mr and Mrs Casselden as a thank you for their long service to Bookham's feet, and to thank them for caring for the hanging baskets and planters in Church Road. They retire at the end of June after over 50 years of service.Also on Friday morning it was the funeral of Mrs Brackenbury. Mrs Brackenbury,  long time former owner and shopkeeper of Brackenbury's of one of Bookham's best loved shops...

First Sunday in the month Litter Pick

On the first Sunday in the month Bookham residents meet at Lower Shott car park at 11.00 am to give Bookham a tidy up. Under the direction of BRA Litter Pick Co-ordinators, Margaret Lawson and Michael Hebert, the team spread out and spend on average 90 minutes litter picking. The Litter Pick was initiated by Margaret in 2016 as part of the Clean for the Queen campaign and has been running ever since.If you would like to help, you would be very welcome. All safety equipment, tools and bags are pr...

Watering guidelines for newly planted trees around the village

Frances Fancourt: Environment and BRA Tree WardenIn Bookham the BRA Tree Wardens were busy during the 2022-2023 tree planting season. These young trees now need watering and if a tree has been planted in your verge recently please can you spend a few minutes watering.Each newly planted tree should be given 5-10 litres (1-2 watering cans) of water twice a week, or every other day during a dry spell/drought All trees should be kept weed/grass free If there has been at least one day of he...