Certainly lots of people about and I think general opinion is very positive. I was told that there are 2 more cafes opening, one next to Starbucks and one at the bottom of St. Martins walk - absolutely no comment to that though!!! Shrewd Sonja
Made it briefly to the gala night on Thursday night. The town was thronged full of people and the general feedback was very positive from the people who attended and the retailers. As in the past, there was a certain undesirable element who were keen to disrupt the activities through underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. There was also places where it was very hard to walk on the pavements thanks to the large groups of youngsters blocking the pavements who were sometimes making a nuisance of themselves. All in all though, I had a lovely time and I even did quite a bit of my Christmas shopping on Thursday night. Wish that late night shopping took place every Thursday night in December. As for Sonja's comment I have noticed the new cafe/coffee shop that is opening soon in the former Hair & Graces unit. Quite bizarre considering the Flavour has recently gone on the market. Had a quick peek at Martin Brown's window this afternoon - Mitchell Fabrics, Flavour and the ex-Jane Elliot's unit are all under offer. Just wondering, is Sandra Grant still the town centre manager? Also heard that the Ceylon Tavern which burnt down this time last year in South Street is looking take the empty unit next door and open up as a larger restaurant under the new name of Baltic. It is awaiting a decision from Mole Valley.
Just to add that it seemed very positive all round; lots of people, good atmosphere though I could only observe St M's Walk, being rooted to my stall outside Saffron. Of course the whole occasion benefitted from (sound like an estate agent there) perfect weather for it.
Sandra Grant is certainly keeping a low profile - have not heard about what she is up to for months. No doubt that there will be some pictures of her at the gala night in the Advertiser this week. Throughly enjoyed gala night this year. Well done to all the retailers in Dorking who got involved and the Christmas lights added to the occasion. Even though I am waddling around with a 2nd baby on the way, I thought that the gala night was very good natured and was enjoyed by all. Jo
Tried starting a new thread as I am getting throughly pissed off with Mole Valley District Council doing things behind our backs!!! Surrey Advertiser: Friday 18 December
Council site set to be mega food store
Dorking is one step closer to gaining a large supermarket on the outskirts of the town, after council bosses agreed to the joint sale of land this week. At a meeting on Tuesday, Mole Valley executives agreed to selling the council owned Curtis Road depot site and surrounding areas, as part of a joint venture, to Blueland (MV) LLP, a retail developer which buys land to then sell on to supermarkets.
Read more in the Surrey Advertiser website. As a resident of Dorking, why are we not being consulted? What about the retailers on the High, South and West Streets? How about a traffic study of Vincent Lane, Station Road, Ashcombe Road and the Westcott Road? Schools are nearby and a lot of the roads are clearly residential roads, how do they feel about this? This out of town supermarket will be the death knell for the town of Dorking and will have serious repercussions for the viability of the town centre. It looks like the Conservatives are all in favour of this whilst the Liberal Democrats are against these proposals.
I am not against a larger supermarket in Dorking, as the Sainsburys must rank as worst customer service and food provision in the UK, it is the location which is all wrong, wrong and wrong. If the supermarket gets approval, no doubt it will have free parking and the main hub of the town will die. I am disgusted that Mole Valley would even consider these proposals, as the roads are clogged most of the time and they do not have a care in the world for the retailers who are trying damn hard to earn a living in our town.
MOLE VALLEY = (BIG) BUSINESS & LARGE OUT OF TOWN SUPERMARKETS RULES OK!
I hope that everyone had a great christmas. The people of Dorking have a chance in 2010 to change the coucillors who have badly let down the town. I read in The Dorking Advertiser that 30 plus staff are to go at Pippbrook to cut costs. I wonder how many senior officers will go. Lets move a little and ask why all the pavements and roads around Pippbrook were gritted yet the carparks and pavements in the high ,south and west streets did not see any urgent treatment ???? !!!! I hope that the number of people I saw fall over on the icy areas and told about by people are not to badly injured and bruised and they could at least enjoy there Christmas. Business would have been better if MVDC had realised that Christmas is one of the most important periods in the retail calander. May I wish everyone a Prosperous New Year(I bet coucillors award themselves a FAT pay rise).
Certainly lots of people about and I think general opinion is very positive.
ReplyDeleteI was told that there are 2 more cafes opening, one next to Starbucks and one at the bottom of St. Martins walk - absolutely no comment to that though!!!
Shrewd Sonja
Made it briefly to the gala night on Thursday night. The town was thronged full of people and the general feedback was very positive from the people who attended and the retailers. As in the past, there was a certain undesirable element who were keen to disrupt the activities through underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. There was also places where it was very hard to walk on the pavements thanks to the large groups of youngsters blocking the pavements who were sometimes making a nuisance of themselves. All in all though, I had a lovely time and I even did quite a bit of my Christmas shopping on Thursday night. Wish that late night shopping took place every Thursday night in December. As for Sonja's comment I have noticed the new cafe/coffee shop that is opening soon in the former Hair & Graces unit. Quite bizarre considering the Flavour has recently gone on the market. Had a quick peek at Martin Brown's window this afternoon - Mitchell Fabrics, Flavour and the ex-Jane Elliot's unit are all under offer. Just wondering, is Sandra Grant still the town centre manager? Also heard that the Ceylon Tavern which burnt down this time last year in South Street is looking take the empty unit next door and open up as a larger restaurant under the new name of Baltic. It is awaiting a decision from Mole Valley.
ReplyDeleteCricketers Chris
Cricketers Chris...Sandra Grant is still the town centre manager.
ReplyDeletePepin
Just to add that it seemed very positive all round; lots of people, good atmosphere though I could only observe St M's Walk, being rooted to my stall outside Saffron. Of course the whole occasion benefitted from (sound like an estate agent there) perfect weather for it.
ReplyDeleteSandra Grant is certainly keeping a low profile - have not heard about what she is up to for months. No doubt that there will be some pictures of her at the gala night in the Advertiser this week. Throughly enjoyed gala night this year. Well done to all the retailers in Dorking who got involved and the Christmas lights added to the occasion. Even though I am waddling around with a 2nd baby on the way, I thought that the gala night was very good natured and was enjoyed by all. Jo
ReplyDeleteTried starting a new thread as I am getting throughly pissed off with Mole Valley District Council doing things behind our backs!!! Surrey Advertiser: Friday 18 December
ReplyDeleteCouncil site set to be mega food store
Dorking is one step closer to gaining a large supermarket on the outskirts of the town, after council bosses agreed to the joint sale of land this week.
At a meeting on Tuesday, Mole Valley executives agreed to selling the council owned Curtis Road depot site and surrounding areas, as part of a joint venture, to Blueland (MV) LLP, a retail developer which buys land to then sell on to supermarkets.
Read more in the Surrey Advertiser website. As a resident of Dorking, why are we not being consulted? What about the retailers on the High, South and West Streets? How about a traffic study of Vincent Lane, Station Road, Ashcombe Road and the Westcott Road? Schools are nearby and a lot of the roads are clearly residential roads, how do they feel about this? This out of town supermarket will be the death knell for the town of Dorking and will have serious repercussions for the viability of the town centre. It looks like the Conservatives are all in favour of this whilst the Liberal Democrats are against these proposals.
I am not against a larger supermarket in Dorking, as the Sainsburys must rank as worst customer service and food provision in the UK, it is the location which is all wrong, wrong and wrong. If the supermarket gets approval, no doubt it will have free parking and the main hub of the town will die. I am disgusted that Mole Valley would even consider these proposals, as the roads are clogged most of the time and they do not have a care in the world for the retailers who are trying damn hard to earn a living in our town.
MOLE VALLEY = (BIG) BUSINESS & LARGE OUT OF TOWN SUPERMARKETS RULES OK!
I hope that everyone had a great christmas.
ReplyDeleteThe people of Dorking have a chance in 2010 to change the coucillors who have badly let down the town.
I read in The Dorking Advertiser that 30 plus staff are to go at Pippbrook to cut costs.
I wonder how many senior officers will go.
Lets move a little and ask why all the pavements and roads around Pippbrook were gritted yet the carparks and pavements in the high ,south and west streets did not see any urgent treatment ???? !!!!
I hope that the number of people I saw fall over on the icy areas and told about by people are not to badly injured and bruised and they could at least enjoy there Christmas.
Business would have been better if MVDC had realised that Christmas is one of the most important periods in the retail calander.
May I wish everyone a Prosperous New Year(I bet coucillors award themselves a FAT pay rise).
Leslie Gilbert