Residents Share Views on Proposed Surrey Town Revamps

The public has been offering feedback on proposals to revitalize two communities in Surrey. Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) has put forward plans for modifications in Great and Little Bookham, along with Dorking town centre. The council stated that these plans are focused on enhancing streets and public areas, encouraging more individuals to walk and cycle, and identifying new uses for unoccupied structures. Margaret Cooksey, the councillor responsible for the initiative, informed BBC Surrey that “we really want to know what people want their town to be in the future.” Both residents and business owners have discussed the scheme with BBC Radio Surrey. “It’s a lovely high street, I don’t think it needs much development,” commented one local. Bruce van der Byl-Knoefel, who operates Chantecleer Antiques in Dorking, concurred, stating: “If things aren’t broken don’t fix them.” Nevertheless, he acknowledged that “broadly speaking everyone has been impacted by online commerce” and stressed the importance of creating community spaces to help draw people back to the high street. Several individuals told the BBC they believe changes such as improved traffic control measures, increased parking, and cycle paths would significantly benefit the community. Conversely, some expressed concerns that MVDC was misusing funds and that the proposals lacked coherence. In response, Ms Cooksey clarified that they were “not using council tax funding at all… not wasting our residents’ money in the way that might have been mentioned.” Following the public consultation period, the proposals are scheduled to be presented again to councillors in early 2025.