Mole Valley

Mole Valley is a local government district in Surrey, England. The council that runs the district is based in the town of Dorking, with another town called Leatherhead. Some of the bigger villages in the area are Ashtead, Fetcham, and Great Bookham.

Much of Mole Valley is part of the beautiful Surrey Hills, which are known for their natural beauty and include parts of the North Downs and Greensand Ridge. Famous spots here include Leith Hill, Polesden Lacey, and Box Hill. The Denbies Wine Estate is the largest vineyard in the country and sits on the hills northwest of Dorking. The Pilgrims' Way footpath also runs through this area.

There are train stations connecting Mole Valley to places like Worthing, Reading, and Gatwick Airport. The A24 road and the M25 motorway are the main roads. Between 2011 and 2019, Mole Valley hosted parts of the London–Surrey Classic cycling tour, which helped prepare cyclists for the 2012 Olympic Games Road Races.

History

The Mole Valley district was created on 1 April 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972. It was formed from three older districts: Dorking and Horley Rural District, Dorking Urban District, and Leatherhead Urban District. The new district was named after the River Mole, which flows through the area.

In the future, the district will be abolished in April 2027. The area will then become part of the new unitary authority of East Surrey.

Governance

Mole Valley is a local government area in Surrey, England. The leaders of this area are called the Mole Valley District Council. Their office is in a town named Dorking. Another town in this area is Leatherhead. Some bigger villages include Ashtead, Fetcham, and Great Bookham.

Towns and parishes

Further information: List of civil parishes in Surrey

The area around Leatherhead, including Ashtead, Fetcham, Great Bookham, and Little Bookham, does not have a parish. Most of the area around Dorking also does not have a parish.

Other parts of the district have civil parishes, such as Abinger, Betchworth, Brockham, Buckland, Capel, Charlwood, Headley, Holmwood, Leigh, Mickleham, Newdigate, Ockley, and Wotton.

Demographics

A report from October 2016 said Mole Valley was the second most prosperous area in the United Kingdom, just after the nearby Borough of Waverley.

Churches graded II* or above

Emergency services

Mole Valley has several emergency services to help keep people safe. The area is covered by Surrey Police, with Dorking Police Station as the main station. There is also the South East Coast Ambulance Service, which has stations in North Holmwood and Leatherhead.

The Surrey Fire & Rescue Service operates fire stations in North Holmwood and Leatherhead. The district is also covered by SURSAR, Surrey Search & Rescue. Each town has a small NHS hospital for outpatients and rehabilitation, but they do not have emergency departments.

Freedom of the District

On 25 May 2010, DMRC Headley Court received a special honor known as the Freedom of the District.