Ashtead Residents’ Association has been working for Ashtead since 1945.

We operate through a Standing Committee, which meets on the second Monday of each month.   We are always open to welcoming new committee members to help with the work that we do or to bring new skills or interests that would allow us to expand the areas of work that we cover, some of which are outlined below.  Please contact the Secretary if you would like to learn more, with no commitment.

From the relatively small village that it was in 1945, Ashtead has grown into 10 distinct character areas as defined by Mole Valley Council’s Built-Up Areas Character Appraisal for Ashtead.   ARA seeks to preserve each character area by reviewing all of Ashtead’s Planning Applications and writing letters of representation to Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) as appropriate.  We also pay close attention to the environmental implications of all planning applications to ensure that the ecology of the village is not compromised.

We maintain a good working relationship with Network Rail and with both of the rail companies operating through Ashtead Station. We work in partnership with them on station issues, including car parking facilities and level crossing maintenance closures. 

We liaise with Surrey County Council (SCC) on highways issues and attend the Ashtead Highways Forum three times a year to press for improvements to roads, pavements and parking.

We work closely with Ashtead’s eight Independent Councillors, who are invited to attend the first half of our monthly meetings to report on Council matters and initiatives and to address key issues that we may want to raise with them. 

We maintain a close working relationship with the Residents’ Associations in Bookham, Fetcham and Leatherhead and with them attend bi-monthly meetings with MVDC Officers where we not only raise our individual local concerns but also present a united front on issues that affect all four of us here in the very north of Mole Valley.

Ashtead Residents’ Association (ARA) is independent of all political parties; we act solely in the interests of Ashtead and its residents without allegiance to, or at the behest of, any other body.  The level of our membership determines the weight of our voice when making representation on behalf of residents to statutory bodies such as MVDC and SCC as well as third-party service providers including transport and utility companies so do please sign up to membership of the Association through the link on our Home page.