Objective 1: Town Centre - projects

This page details individual project ideas for this Objective, resulting from the Leatherhead Tomorrow activity, summarises the status, and links to fuller project descriptions where available. Click on the links in the right hand column for fuller project descriptions and progress reports.

Key: Planning: work is in hand on detailed project planning in order to submit bids for funding; Funding: project funding is being sought; In Work: funding has been obtained, and work is in progress; Complete: project is complete; Revisit: this project may be amended or incorporated into another heading; NLA: no longer applicable or not now being addressed.

OBJECTIVE 1: To review and implement a Town Centre improvement plan which encourages economic vitality and prosperity whilst safeguarding the needs of the residents, visitors and the environment.

V1	TO REVIEW THE MANY USES OF THE HIGH STREET IN ORDER TO PLAN FOR ITS VARIED FUNCTIONS AND USES AND THEN IMPLEMENT AGREED PROPOSALS. The aim is to satisfy the needs of all users as far as possible, as well as improve the attractiveness and safety of the High Street. Key areas of concern gained from the community consultations will be taken into consideration in the review and recommendations.
V1.1	Access for Cars and Lorries: • The times at which cars and delivery lorries will be allowed to enter / leave the High Street, use of barriers • The times at which cars will be allowed to park in the High Street • Where parking will be permitted • Speed limits • Signage	Planning
V1.2	Access for those with reduced mobility: • To reduce the unpredictability for the elderly, disabled, blind and parents with young children • To make the current surface of the High Street level throughout	Planning
V1.3	To improve the attractiveness of the area both physically and aesthetically in order to celebrate the centre of the town. This will involve the coordinated provision of: • Seating, lighting, litter bins, cycle racks • Planting schemes, sculptures • Sign boards, finger posts • Improved shop fronts, displays and facades • Improved maintenance of the surface of the High Street	Planning
V1.4	To improve the social role of the High Street by: • Creating a central focal point for the town • Making it an attractive interesting place for children and their parents to visit and for visitors	Planning
V1.5	To review such Economic Considerations as : • Loading/unloading at the market • Improving footfall in the town shops and market (See EC1)	Planning
V1.6	Implement the recommendations from the above review	Planning
V2	TO REVITALISE THE THEATRE ENTRANCE AND ADJACENT CHURCH STREET AREA
V2.1	Consult and work with the community to develop imaginative designs for revitalising the Theatre entrance and the area in front of the building as an attractive focal point for the town, linked with the High Street.	Revisit
V2.2	Support The Theatre development and promotion.	Planning
EC1	TO IMPROVE THE RETAIL PROVISION IN LEATHERHEAD TOWN CENTRE
EC1.1	Establish a working group comprising the commercial landlords, the MV Business Development Manager, Leatherhead Town Centre Manager and the Chamber of Commerce to ensure that the shops and services in the town centre are appropriate to the requirements of residents and visitors.
EC1.2	Establish a working group comprising MVDC Planning Department, Councillors and representatives of the town (as listed in project EC1.1) to examine the feasibility of amending the existing planning regulations to limit the number of charity shops in the town centre.
EC1.3	Install roofs over the open areas of the Swan Centre
EC1.4	Establish outlets for locally produced food within the town centre, via the markets or existing retail unit.
EC1.5	Expand the Farmers’ Market and the twice weekly High Street Market.
EC1.6	In conjunction with the working groups defined in EC1.1 and EC1.3, investigate and implement ways of improving the competitive edge of the town in comparison with neighbouring towns.