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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...

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 ...