Claygate Village Association (CVA) is poised to launch the deepest consultation on villagers’ needs and priorities in memory. Starting in February, CVA will begin a mass survey, the data from which will then be used by our working groups to create realistic and creative ideas for Claygate’s future – ideas that will then feed into our submission to Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) on the long term vision for the village.
The survey will be available on our website, via QR codes in the Claygate Courier and in emails, and in hard copy form from a number of Claygate shops. Please complete the survey, tell your friends and neighbours, and encourage them to complete the survey as well. The more data we can collect, the higher quality will be our insights into Claygate’s needs.
Defending and strengthening the things that make Claygate special
There has been an amazing response from Claygate residents who see CVA’s initiatives as providing an opportunity for the village to have its say. EBC has reflected on the sentiment aroused by its lack of consultation last year over the Torrington Lodge Car Park redevelopment plan, and has invited CVA to collect Claygate’s own views of the future we want for our village. It’s now up to us to rise to that challenge.
At the heart of the CVA effort, over 100 Claygate residents are now involved with our working groups on shops/traders, parking and transport, housing, leisure and recreation, health and wellbeing, and the environment. These groups meet regularly, and have revealed a heart-warming willingness to contribute expertise, energy and experience – as well as some brilliant people! – for the overall benefit of the village.
Your village needs you
The working groups will continue to generate and refine ideas over the next few weeks, and their reports will then be analysed as a group, prioritised, cut and diced to identify some overall conclusions about Claygate’s way forward. This work will provide a coherent long term vision, while also recognising key immediate issues such as the question marks hanging over our Community Centre*. We still welcome more contributions to this effort – if you or your friends or neighbours would like to be involved, please contact us
*PPlease follow this link for the latest updates on the changes to the opening hours of the Elmbridge Centres for the Community EBC News
What happens then
We plan to present the overall report and ideas to a mass meeting of Claygate residents, similar to the one at Holy Trinity which launched CVA’s initiative. All the input from residents will then be reflected in our final report to EBC, which will form the basis of the Council’s formal consultation process which is expected to take place after the local elections in May.
Everyone's a member
CVA is a charity and, by our constitution, every Claygate resident is a member of CVA. This positions CVA perfectly to gather and channel the views of Claygate residents to EBC and others. As CVA Trustee Steve Wells said, “This is an exciting example of people taking the initiative for planning the future of their community, and doing all they can to ensure a great village environment, social, physical and economic, for future generations. Claygate leads, others may care to follow!”