Leatherhead HealthCheck
LEATHERHEAD Tomorrow was a community-driven project, set up under the Countryside Agency’s Market Town Healthcheck initiative, which set about finding answers to questions like these.
What would you like Leatherhead to be like in 5 years time?
How can we make it easier to visit the town centre?
What shops would you like?
What leisure and recreational facilities would you like?
How can we make the most of the River Mole?
During 2005, the project found out the extent to which the town and surrounding area satisfies the needs of the local community, where improvements could be made and what people would like the town to be like in the future.
The outcome was an Action Plan containing projects which the community feels will improve the area, prepared in a form which will enable us to work together and apply for funding from various agencies such as the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).
The project team comprised volunteers from across the community, local business and interest groups. The more the community is involved, the more successful this kind project is.
There were four main Working Groups:
The ECONOMY work group found out peoples' views on issues such as:
Are there sufficient jobs?
Is there enough childcare to support working parents?
What shops, restaurants and other town centre services would you like?
Should we be encouraging more tourism?
The TRANSPORT AND ACCESS group investigated issues such as:
What could be done to increase demand for public transport, to encourage people to leave their cars at home or what could make it easier to walk or cycle around town?
How accessible is the town to disabled people, and what car share and other schemes are available?
How easy it is to move around the town, what are the footpaths like? Are there sufficient cycle lanes, car park facilities, and where are there conflicts between pedestrians and motorists?
The SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY working group found out the community’s views on:
Crime prevention
Housing
Access to medical and other services
Access to community services such as services for the elderly
Leisure and recreational activities and cultural facilities
The ENVIRONMENT working group looked into issues such as:
What do you think of the appearance of the town, its street fittings and fixtures?
What are the distinctive features and landmarks of the area?
What opportunities are there to enhance the environment and the countryside around Leatherhead or to encourage greater access?
Click this link for more information on Market Town Health Checks