By Guy Martin
January 06, 2012
TESCO is set to submit plans for a smaller store in Ashtead after failing to solve parking issues with the site to allow it to build a larger supermarket.
The company was given permission to build a 750sq-m store in The Street in 2010 by a government planning inspector despite opposition to the size from villagers, some 6,000 of whom signed petitions.
But the inspector laid down a condition for parking problems in the area to be resolved first. He ruled that building could not start until Mole Valley District Council had found a new venue for 74 long-term spaces currently in the Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall car park, behind the proposed supermarket.
Those spaces would be needed for shoppers but longer-term parking is also required for people using the hall and other facilities in the village.
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This is Surrey Today
Monday, December 26, 2011
TESCO has unveiled plans for a smaller store in Ashtead than originally intended, following concerted action by campaigners.
On Tuesday, the supermarket giant announced fresh proposals for a store on empty land it owns at 53 to 57, The Street.
Campaigners opposed two previous plans on the site but Tesco won planning permission for a 750 square metre store following a public inquiry last August.
However, permission was granted on condition that 74 long-term parking spaces at Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall (APMH) were relocated by Mole Valley District Council to allow 181 short-stay parking spaces at the store.
After lobbying by Ashtead Residents’ Association and campaign group Save Our Village Environment (SAVE), the council said it would not move spaces without a mandate from residents.
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March 22, 2011 by Chris Townsend
At today’s Surrey County Council meeting, 2 motions were put forward – one by the Independent/RA group and one by the Liberal Democrat group – asking that the Council debate the issue of On-Street Parking charges as proposed by the Conservative Administration. Both motions were refused that debate by all Conservative Councillors present – voting being 46 against the motions with 23 for the motions.
The Tory Administration claimed that consultation was ongoing and now was not the time for a debate. Any ideas on the best way forward to implement these charges would be considered for each Borough/District. It was pointed out that over 30,000 signatures had now been received through various petitions across the whole of Surrey stating their opposition to what is being proposed…
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Left to Right - Jackie Quinn, Judy Smale, Cllr. Chris Hunt, Gillian Russell & Richard Elphick with the KAMF petition, March 28th 2011 plus other Ashtead traders. Pictures by Kenn Jordan
By Cllr Chris Hunt | cllr.hunt@molevalley.gov.uk
Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition – 3,917 as of yesterday. That is more people than replied to the Tesco questionnaire I think!
By lobbying and with constructive ideas, and backing up the arguments with the sheer strength of public feeling in Ashtead, we have already got a concession from Surrey County Council – they say they will allow the first half hour parking FREE. As the spaces are currently available for free parking for half an hour anyway, that is a good first concession. We are now seeking the financial details to see whether with 30 mins free anyway whether it will be viable to install any meters in Ashtead.
One of the idea I have suggested is that SCC have several floors of a multi-storey car park in Kingston, which they use for their council officers during the week and are available for shoppers at weekends. If those spaces were available for shoppers – or council employees – at the standard hourly rate there (C£2 per hour; it is central Kingston!) then the County could generate lots of money and not put at risk any local businesses. Await their response….but hope this shows we are not just protesting, but trying to help them solve the problem.
Thank you to all shopkeepers who hosted the petition, and of course to SAVE and all residents who have signed it – fantastic, thanks.
Chris Hunt
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This is Surrey Today
By Lauren Everitt Lauren.Everitt@EssnMedia.co.uk TOWNS and villages are standing united in their campaign against new charges for on-street parking.
Surrey County Council wants to introduce meters for short-term parking spaces at ten locations across Mole Valley by November.
But more than 1,800 people have already signed a county-wide petition against the plans.
District Councillor Caroline Salmon, who owns The Wow Gallery in Dorking, set up the online petition.
She said: “Anyone who doesn’t want to pay 70p or 50p per half hour for currently free one-hour parking places and who believes, like I do, that this proposal will seriously effect the vitality and viability of our towns and villages, should sign the petition as soon as possible.
“This impacts on Wow, but also in every High Street across Surrey, and it will impact negatively on trade.”
Separate petitions are also running at shops in Ashtead and Bookham.
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Surrey Today
By Sam Blackledge Sam.Blackledge@Essnmedia.Co.Uk 
PARKING PROBLEMS: Councillors Chris Reynolds, Chris Hunt and James Friend with SAVE members Gillian Russell and Judy Smale
CHARGING for on-street parking in Ashtead would drive shoppers out of the village, according to campaigners.
Last month the Advertiser reported on county council proposals to introduce pay and display machines on ten streets in Mole Valley.
About 3,500 short term spaces have been identified, including 60 in Ashtead, which could now cost £1 an hour. Read More…
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Surrey Today
Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 08:00
By Sam Blackledge Sam.Blackledge@Essnmedia.Co.Uk 
Pay and display meters could be introduced to streets in Dorking, Leatherhead, Bookham and Ashtead
MOTORISTS could soon be forced to pay up to £1.40 an hour for on-street parking.
Under plans set out by Surrey County Council, ten streets in Mole Valley will see pay and display machines installed by November. Read More…
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This is Surrey Today
Friday, January 21, 2011, 08:00 By Sam Blackledge Sam.blackledge@Essnmedia.co.uk 
SUPERSTORE SHOWDOWN: The four potential sites for a new supermaket by dorkingad on Flickr
CONCERNED campaigners have called on the people of Dorking to fight plans for a supermarket outside the town centre.
Last week the Advertiser reported on a council deal that could see a new Morrisons store open on the Station Road/Curtis Road depot site.
Dorking SOS, a campaign group which opposes supermarket expansion, is preparing to re-launch in reaction to the latest announcement.
Founding member Rob Sedgwick said the group would look to match the efforts of Save Our Village Environment in Ashtead Read More…
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