About Leatherhead and Mole Valley
Leatherhead
The Leatherhead district in Surrey is made up of the town centre itself and the villages of Ashtead, Fetcham and Bookham.
Leatherhead has about 9,000 inhabitants and a selection of shops, activities and events. It is centrally placed and ideally located for visits to the nearby Surrey Hills, where paths and guided walking routes quickly lead from town centre to open countryside.
It has good transport links being close to Junction 9 of the M25 which gives easy access to Heathrow and Gatwick airport. The main line station has a regular service to London Victoria or Waterloo, Dorking or Horsham, Bookham, Guildford.
Leatherhead has its own purpose built theatre which is not only a theatre but a centre for arts and entertainment. It also has a large Leisure Centre on the edge of the town which caters for those who are searching for more physical challenges.
The origins of Leatherhead appear to be Anglo-Saxon. A market serving the developing agricultural economy developed at this crossroads and in 1248 Henry III granted to Leatherhead a weekly market and annual fair. The town survived an extensive fire in 1392, when the town was largely rebuilt. In common with many similar medieval towns it had a market house and set of stocks, probably located at the junction of Bridge Street, North Street and High Street.
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Mole Valley
Introduction
Mole Valley lies at the heart of Surrey, mid-way between London and the Sussex coast. It has a population of approximately 85,000 people. The majority of the district’s population live in the main towns and villages of the district, the largest of which are Dorking and Leatherhead.
Mole Valley’s countryside is extensive, accounting for more than 90% of the district’s area. It contains a host of very attractive villages and hamlets. Large parts are included within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Mole Valley District Council
Mole Valley District Council is based on Dorking and lead by a Chairman. The Chairman is a civic role and is usually elected in May at the Annual Council meeting, serving until the same meeting the following year. The role is similar to a Mayor in that he or she is the first representative of the district. The role is ceremonial and the Chairman has no decision-making powers unlike the role of an elected Mayor, which exists in some parts of the UK.
On 21 May 2024, Councillor Elizabeth Daly was elected as Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2024-25.
The District of Mole Valley comprises 13 wards (click here to view map) and 39 Councillors. The smaller wards are represented by one councillor, whilst the larger ones are represented by two and sometimes three.
The Parliamentary Constituencies
The towns of Leatherhead and the surrounding district are situated in one of two parliamentary consituencies – Epsom & Ewell and Dorking & Horley.