A topic that has incensed everyone, I think. I own a shop in Dorking (don't want to say which one). Our takings are down 40% this year compared to last year, and have dropped off noticeable since the charges went up. I have seen the car parks with hardly any cars in them. What on EARTH are the councillors thinking of?
They are seriously jeopardising my livelihood and I resent it like hell!!
A very cheesed off shopkeeper!
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Last week I had published in the Dorking Advertiser on the letters page my personal observations regarding the Chamber of Commerce and the Town Centre Management.
ReplyDeleteOn Friday the President of the Chamber telephoned me and in the long conversation we had he advised me that the information I required was on the Chamber's and the Town Centre Managers website. He also informed me that there were over 2000 businesses in Dorking and that they were in a position to represent those businesses.
After looking at both the sites I was surprised to see the following which I have gleaned about the membership, at around 103/110 and retailers account for around 9/15 of the total.
Are the views of the businesses truly represented ?.
So to improve this situation more and more people should join the Chamber of Commerce or other organisations to make sure their views are heard.
Parts of each site are over 12 months old, giving information that is out dated i.e. the market information and the last president.
I once again go back to my original point that urgent action be taken to reduce the punitive car parking charges on people coming to our great town.
The snail’s pace taken by Mole Valley and Surrey County Councils in dealing with the demise and neglect of Dorking is appalling.
I understand that they have been talking for months about moving the market, we the public should be told of these plans, not have them sign, sealed and delivered to us.
I'm asking that a more proactive approach take's place to make the town environment more attractive to the people who live and work here before the tumbleweed starts blowing permanently through our town.
The road works taking place in an around our town be speeded up by using more staff to complete the work so the public are not inconvenienced any longer.
Leslie Gilbert
Not surprised by the negative comments of the residents of Dorking and the businesses who continue to try to trade in the town. For the last ten years, Dorking has gone from a reasonable town to the laughing stock of East Surrey. Dorking is old fashioned, very rundown, has no shops, restaurants are over hyped and very expensive and the pubs are full of drunken and drug crazed clickish thugs. So pleased I made the move to Reigate where we have a lovely park, great restaurants, a superb mix of shops and a community and local council which truly cares about the town. On the other hand Dorking is completely falling to pieces with huge swathes of empty shops, dodgy pavements, broken railings (some of which have broken for over six months!) and litter strewn streets. I would rather step foot in Redhill than venture into Dorking and that really sums up how much Dorking has fallen!!! Reigate Ron
ReplyDeleteWell said Leslie Gilbert, you're absolutely right! Personally I feel MVDC has, in particular, been absolutely woeful, the councillors appear to have zero interest in Dorking - but are prepared to work ahrd in the interests of Astead, Leatherhead, Bookham, Fetcham or indeed almost anywhere except Dorking. What on earth is the matter with them?
ReplyDeleteThese councillors, alone, can't revive the prospects for Dorking, but it would help if they looked as though they had a vestige of interest in the town.
Pepin
Just seen Councillor Ben Tatham (Conservative, Mickleham, Westhumble and Pixham) sniffing around the council offices at Pippbrook who was instrumental in hiking up the parking charges in April 2009 and introducing an evening charge of £1 in the Reigate Road council car park and the MVDC car park. No doubt, he has been saying that the new charges have been very successful in attracting people into the town, that business is booming in Dorking and the town is going from strength to strength. Would not surprise me if he decides to introduce a £1 evening car parking charge in every council car park in Dorking so that the High Street can be known as the 'gridlock capital of Surrey' because of all the selfish and inconsiderate parkers that cram into every crevice in the evenings!! The councillors who represent Mole Valley should be ashamed of themselves at they have turned Dorking into one big joke of a so-called town.
ReplyDeleteVery Annoyed Anthony
PLEASE TELL ALL YOURS FRIENDS ABOUT THIS SITE SO MORE PEOPLE CAN GET TO USE IT AND MAKE IT POPULAR
ReplyDeletePLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FIENDS TO START USING THIS SITE SO MORE AND MORE DO SO AND OUTDO THE LETTERS PAGES IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS
ReplyDeleteDorking is looking really run down. So I for my part have painted the railing in front of my shop and hung up a hanging basket... :)
ReplyDeleteShrewdSonja
What a woman - action when it's needed, well done ShrewdSonja, it's a pity some of those charged with helping to run the town seem unable to adopt positive intiatives such as this.
ReplyDeletePepin