River Mole Project Funding Bid

This page describes the project funding bid as submitted in 2007.

Purpose of the Project

To undertake works that will encourage access to and enjoyment of the riverside path within the River Mole Local nature Reserve.

Background

The riverside walk is a popular local walking route that has a strategic importance as far as access from the town centre to the peripheral countryside is concerned. The character of the riverside is one that featured strongly in the Leatherhead healthcheck report. The report indicated that his is one of the most loved and valued parts of the centre of Leatherhead.

The riverside has recently been designated as a local nature reserve and contains good bird populations, flora (including a nationally rare plant), good fish stocks and insect species. The fact that this good habitat is so close to the commercial centre of Leatherhead is one of its remarkable features.

There was a desire, however, expressed in the healthcheck, to make access and enjoyment of the riverside more appealing to local people and visitors to the town. In particular, there is scope to upgrade the surface of the path and to design the route so that it is accessible to disabled people and cyclists.

Healthcheck References

Objective 5: to preserve and enhance the riverside environment and the wider countryside; to improve access to it and further to develop links between town and countryside and to promote it to visitors.

Action EN1: to investigate how to allow and encourage active and passive recreational use of the river and river banks whilst safeguarding the unique environmental characteristics of the river.

Action EN1: to improve access for all to the countryside immediately around the town and to promote Leatherhead to visitors as gateway to the Surrey Hills.

Action EN3: to protect areas of beauty and wildlife value and to promote high standards of countryside management

What is proposed?

The list of elements of the project is as follows:

Upgrade the footpath and provide a surface on a stretch of the route where no surface exists. The path will design out steps and changes in level that are difficult for a wheelchair or pushchair to negotiate. The surface will make walking easier during the winter when the ground is wet. The path will be widened to provide a shared surface for walkers and cyclists. A surface (fibredeck) has been chosen to provide a finish suitable to the natural surroundings of the riverside, but durable.
New fingerposts to direct users along the various route and linking path and to give confidence to users.
Replacement interpretation boards outlining the features of the river and providing a plan of the route
New countryside furniture, particularly seats and benches, to allow users opportunity to rest and to take in the views
Landscaping scheme adjacent to the riverside path
The removal of an ugly and prominent electricity substation.
Provision of disabled parking and a route from this to the riverside path.
A feasibility study to investigate the cost and implications of upgrading the river weir

Project Partners

Leatherhead Trust (£15,000)
Surrey County Council Rights of Way (£24,000)
Surrey Urban Biodiversity Action Plan funding (£1,000)
Private Section Funding – section 106 (£6,000)
Lower Mole Countryside Management Project (staff time and expertise)
Mole Valley District Council (Project management, staff time for design work and revenue funding, mobility survey of riverside path - £1,000)
Healthcheck Volunteers - survey of countryside furniture
Environment Agency – staff time and advice and £8,000 for feasibility study

Project Plan

January/February/March 2007

1. Generate project ideas for the landscaping of the town bridge and the Throncroft Bridge ends of the walk;
2. Receive report from Jan Welsman of Seeability covering recommendations for visually impaired people;
3. Liase with the developers of the former Seeboard site on the implementation of the landscaping proposals, the installation of the downstream end of the path and the removal of the substation;
4. Undertake tree survey and plan any remedial works;
5. Agree locations for seating;
6. Survey fingerposts and compile schedule of new and replacement fingerposts
7. Agree specification and alignment of the new path with Surrey County Council Rights of Way;
8. Firm up design of the planting;
9. Convene working group with designers to produce content for the interpretation panels.

March/April/May

1. Produce final set of plans and proposals;
2. Consultation on proposals including local residents, Town Centre Forum; River Mole Working Group and Mole Valley Access Group;
3. Issue press releases to publicise project and encourage responses to consultation;
4. Amend proposals in the light of consultation responses and contact respondents;
5. Apply for permission from Environment Agency;
6. Appoint contractor for the installation of path;
7. Order countryside furniture;
8. Complete the design brief for the interpretation boards and commission designers;
9. Order plans and shrubs for soft landscaping.

June/July/August

1. Construct footpath;
2. Install countryside furniture
3. Install fingerposts
4. Mark out disabled parking spaces

November/December

1. Undertake soft landscaping

Costings

Soft Landscaping and tree works £6,000
Footpath Surfacing based on an estimate of £30 per linear metre: 600 linear metres £18,000
Additional footpath surfacing from disabled parking £115 metres at £30 per metre: £3450
Marking out disabled parking spaces £500
Remedial works at either end of path to facilitate cyclists and disabled users £6000
Street Furniture £5,600 for 4 benches, 2 picnic tables and 6 litter bins , including installation, supplied by Norbury Park Sawmills VAT reclaimable
Weir Feasibility Study £8,000
Fingerposts based on 5 posts at £70 each including installation by Lower Mole Project £350 No VAT
Interpretation Boards incorporating the design and printing of 4 panels £1190
Installation of panels by Lower Mole Project £240

Project Costs: £ 49,330
Contingency (10%) £ 5,000
Total Project budget £54,300

Project Budget: £55,000