River Mole Corridor Enhancements and Access Project
Introduction – what people asked for in the surveys.
When we began consulting local people about their opinion of our town, it was striking to see how consistently residents of all ages nominated the riverside as the best environmental feature of Leatherhead.
This was such a constant theme in the early surveys that we went into more detail in the later consultations, and we found great enthusiasm for improvements to the footpaths by the river, such as extending them, adding seats and signage, and possibly improving disabled access.
See page 48 of the Healthcheck Report.
The greatest proportion of those surveyed were keen to make the best use of the river and riverside, with footpaths and seating, but there was a minority of respondents who liked the river as it is, and were keen to preserve the environment, especially as most of it is a designated Local Nature Reserve.
Our subsequent planning has sought to find the best way to enable the community to make the most of the river, while retaining the special qualities of this important environment.
What’s there at the moment.
On the Leatherhead side you can walk downstream from the office blocks near the Running Horse, north beside the river, under a splendid railway bridge, and to Common Meadow. The path is narrow but has been improved; the meadow has considerable wildlife value.
On the Leatherhead side, leading upstream, you can walk from Bridge Court along to the Mansion Garden and pond, a popular path for families with young children, since there are almost always ducks there and sometimes swans. Mole Valley District Council has plans to restore the pond.
On the Fetcham side, there is only one path, leading upstream. It is steep at the beginning and crosses some muddy patches, but then passes a beautiful stretch of the river, with the weir and the islands, and leads past the Shell Bridge to the Thorncroft Bridge. From there you can continue up the lane and across fields and then under Young Street, making it possible to walk on into Norbury Park. This is the only safe route into the countryside from Leatherhead Town, since the By Pass and other roads make other routes dangerous.
Link to map of the area.
Although the footpaths mentioned above are all close to the town, and although we have a fair number of residents with restricted mobility, none of the paths mentioned above is easily wheelchair accessible.
Plans for an improved footpath
The stretch, which will be improved, runs from the Town Bridge to Thorncroft Bridge. The banks will be strengthened, unobtrusively, and the path will be resurfaced with material which will not be out of place in this beauty spot, but which will enable easy walking or passage with a buggy or a wheelchair. The steep slope at the Bridge Street entrance will be made more gradual. The entrance to the path at the Thorncroft end will be made easier to access.
We found, during our survey, that many people with disabilities had never been along this footpath. Either they did not know about it, or they could not park near enough and easily enough to be able to access it. We are therefore planning to introduce two spaces for disabled parking, beside the road to the Football Club, and make a new path from there, across the meadow, to join the riverside path.
Cyclists also would appreciate not having to risk cycling up or down Gimcrack Hill; this path will create an opportunity for them to travel safely from Thorncroft to the Leisure Centre, Fetcham and Cobham.
There are already two leaflets about the River to assist people find footpaths and features of interest; these are available at the Help Shop in the High Street. There are also a series of interpretation boards that are now quite old. As part of the project, a series of new interpretation boards will be erected to help people understand and appreciate the qualities of this stretch of the River Mole
Programme of work
Work to the existing trees close the Town Bridge to open the path has already begun. The plan is to complete the main work to the path between May and July this year. Parts of the path will be closed during this period.
There are a number of organisations involved in the project: Surrey County Council, Mole Valley District Council, Environment Agency, Lower Mole Countryside Management Project and Leatherhead and District Countryside Protection Society.
For further information on the project contact Rod Shaw on 01306 879247 or email rod.shaw@molevalley.gov.uk
Work at The Splash
If you were brought up in Leatherhead or Fetcham, you will probably have fond memories of visiting The Splash, a popular picnic spot at the end of River Lane, where it crosses the River Mole, to the north of the town. Following discussion with the Fetcham Residents Association, Mole Valley District Council, the Lower Mole project and a local landowner, work has been completed to enhance the area and make it more accessible for people who which to walk and enjoy the river at this point. The work was assisted by funding from the District Council, the Lower Mole Trust and the Leatherhead and District Protection Society and carried out by the District Council and the Lower Mole Project. Perhaps you would like to walk up there to take a look, and, later in the year, a picnic!
[Map showing location of the Splash]
Get in touch!
In Surrey, we know of very few paths into the Surrey countryside which are wheelchair accessible. If you know of any, please let us know via the Contact Page.