Public Meeting on Monday July 21 re Bookham Supermarket proposal

8.37.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 16th Jul 2008

Anne Howarth outside the shops at Grove Corner

The opinion survey carried out by Liberal Democrat Councillor Anne Howarth (see "Thumbs down to Lower Shott Supermarket" June 10 2008) has continued to reveal massive opposition to the idea first publicly announced in a statement by Conservative Councillor Janet Purkiss. A welcome initiative has been taken by Bookham Residents Association to call a public meeting at the Old Barn Hall, Church Road, Bookham at 8pm next Monday July 21. Members of the Council Executive will be present. A high turnout of local residents and traders is inevitable and searching questions will be asked. Clear answers will be expected.

On May 9 2008 Councillor Purkiss said talks with developers had taken place. She went on - "We have decided within the last couple of weeks to contact Mole Valley Housing Association to see whether they would be interested in participating in such a scheme. We have also scheduled a meeting for our Executive to decide whether this should be taken to the next stage.............This could be an excellent opportunity for local people and local businesses but these proposals are really in the very early stages".

In the Leatherhead Advertiser that week the developers (Blueland Bookham) were quoted as saying to the traders on the site that they had "made substantial progress in our discussions with the Council, which broadly supports what we are trying to achieve." It was this that convinced Anne Howarth that urgent action to determine public opinion was necessary.

Anne Howarth's survey (latest results - over 1700 replies with 98.5% against) seems to be causing concern in the District Council administration. The Council Executive meeting that was expected to discuss the issue on July 8 was cancelled and expressions like "developers jumping the gun" are now emanating from senior Conservative sources.