Claygate Village Association
March 2025
THE VILLAGE WITH SO MANY THINGS TO DO
Claygate is a uniquely special place where people come together through myriad clubs, societies and charities, helping others and having fun. There are so many opportunities for becoming involved that it can be hard to keep up with what's available.
This is why the Claygate Village Association is running another Get Involved Day on Saturday April 26, from 10.30am to 3pm at the Village Hall.
About 40 clubs, societies and charities will be there, proudly displaying what they do, hoping to attract new members and volunteers and ready to answer questions. There will be demonstrations and taster sessions, providing plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Please come along and perhaps discover something you had never thought about, and experience a new lease of life. Entrance is free. The CVA is looking forward to seeing you. https://www.claygatevillageassociation.org/
Registered Charity № 284181
Time for a New Interest?
YOUTH CLUB DRAMA VOLUNTEERING GARDENING LOCAL HISTORY SWIMMING TENNIS SINGING DOG TRAINING CRICKET SCOUTS FLOWER ARRANGING CRAFT BOWLS FOOTBALL
Come and see what’s available locally at
- Get Involved Day
- Saturday 26 April 10.30 - 3.00
- Claygate Village Hall
- Free Entry
More Information:
- 07913 657926,
- claygateresidents@gmail.com
VILLAGE ASSOCIATION FIXES DATE FOR OPEN GARDEN TRAIL
Original article in the March 2025 Courier:
The Claygate Village Association is holding its popular Open Garden Trail on Sunday 22nd June. Leaflets including a map, and listing which gardens will be open between 2pm and 5pm, will enable visitors to enjoy strolling around the village exploring varied gardens, meeting old friends and making new ones.
The success of the event depends on villagers generously welcoming visitors into their gardens. Whatever the size or style of garden, it will be of interest and garden owners taking part in past years have said how much they enjoyed the afternoon.
While there is no charge for visiting a garden, the CVA suggests that each garden has a donation box to gather contributions to the CVA; garden owners can also raise money for their own charities. Some owners also choose to serve refreshments to raise charity funds. Anyone interested in opening up their garden on 22nd June should contact linda@wellsandcompany.co.uk
Further information provided by Linda Wells on 5th May:
Eleven Claygate gardens, the local allotments and the HTC grounds will be open for visitors to enjoy. The CVA provide leaflets detailing the gardens with a map, many gardens serve refreshments. The event is free, donations to the CVA and charities chosen by garden owners are welcomed.
THE CVA PLANT SALE
The CVA’s annual plant sale raises funds to buy plants for the tubs in The Parade. This year’s sale will be held on Saturday May 10 from 10am to 12 noon at the entrance to Torrington Lodge car park. If you are splitting up plants in your garden or have spare seedlings we would be delighted to have them. Contact claygateresidents@gmail.com
October 2024
LINING UP MORE EVENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY
The Claygate Village Association is a non-political charity that has played a big part in events over the past year, especially following the proposal to build a supermarket in Torrington Lodge Car Park. Concerns from residents led it to raise a petition to gather opinions, which resulted in the proposal being withdrawn.
The Association then set up Claygate: The Way Forward and conducted a survey of the whole village to find out what residents really wanted, a report on which can be read at https://www.claygatevillageassociation.org/. Several working groups were formed from the Way Forward initiative and these have now been adopted by Claygate Parish Council to continue the work. See its update on pages 4 and 5.
The aim of the Association is to preserve and enhance the character and amenities of Claygate for the public benefit and over the years it has championed many causes. It is currently busy looking after the tubs in our shopping streets and organising community events.
CLAYGATE IN BLOOM
Volunteers have been busy again this summer watering the tubs that brighten the pavements in the village. Several of the containers are ageing, falling apart and need replacing. The CVA is grateful to Elmbridge Borough Councillor Mary Marshall, who has donated some of her councillor’s funds to provide seven new ones.
The new tubs have been delivered, but replacing them is time-consuming. It involves removing the plants and soil and the bricks that are below the soil, and then putting everything back into the new tub. The whole operation takes about an hour and is easier with three people. Anyone who could spare an hour to help replace one is asked to email claygateresidents@gmail.com
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
Many residents remember the inaugural community celebration of Christmas in December 1995. It was bitterly cold and a large crowd had gathered to watch the lights being turned on. A temporary stage had been erected at the station end of The Parade and when the compère introduced Sir Cliff Richard a huge cheer went up. And then, as he sang “Mistletoe and Wine”, it began to snow! It was quite magical.
Sir Cliff opened the celebrations (without snow) for a few more years while he had an office in Hare Lane. And then, for more than 10 years, a succession of other celebrities did the honours, including Elaine Page, Bernie Nolan and Ronnie Wood. Today, the Association asks local youngsters to be the switch-on celebrities.
The event itself has now grown to take over the whole Parade with a stage, live music, school choirs, community stalls, carol singing, street entertainment, food and drink, a children’s ride, Father Christmas and fireworks. And most shops stay open. There will be a bigger stage this year and the Association is grateful for grants from Surrey County Council, via Councillor Mark Sugden, and Claygate Parish Council. So come and celebrate our vibrant community and begin the festive season in The Parade at 4pm on Saturday 30th November.
Again, help is needed from anyone who could spare the time to be a marshal and assist with safety, crowd control and setting up —even for just an hour. It can make a big difference. To volunteer or find out more, please email: claygateresidents@gmail.com
NEXT YEAR
In 2025, the Association plans to organise a Get Involved Day in April, at which local organisations explain their work and invite residents to join them, and an Open Gardens event, which gives villagers an opportunity to see some of the spectacular gardens in Claygate, in June.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Association’s AGM will be held on Thursday November 14 at 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Church Hall. After the business, guest speakers will report on various community activities. There is a great deal going on, so do come and hear about it and perhaps become inspired to get involved—the Association relies on volunteers and works with other village organisations and local councils to make things happen. All residents of Claygate are automatically members and suggestions and offers of help are always very welcome. Visit https://www.claygatevillageassociation.org/
March 2024
EVERY RESIDENT ASKED FOR VIEW OF THE FUTURE
Village Association launches biggest ever survey of people’s opinions in Claygate
The largest ever survey of residents’ opinions is launched by the Claygate Village Association this week, giving everyone “an unprecedented opportunity to have a say about the future of the village”, says Caroline Cartwright, who chairs the CVA.
The CVA exists to preserve and strengthen the character and amenities of Claygate. It has fought off many unwanted developments in the past and responded again last year when Elmbridge Borough Council tried to push through a redevelopment in the heart of the village without local consultation. The resulting campaign was called “Claygate Can Do Better” and Elmbridge backed down in the face of the surge of indignation from residents.
Elmbridge agreed to undertake a wider community engagement exercise and as part of this, the CVA is to survey Claygate’s residents and present the borough council with a thoroughly researched report.
The original campaign group was re-named “Claygate: The Way Forward” and officially launched at an open meeting of more than 200 people in November. More than 90 people signed up to working groups focused on various aspects of the village: shops; parking and transport; housing; recreation; well-being; and the environment. Ideas from these working groups have been incorporated into the village survey questionnaire, which has been designed by local volunteers with expertise in this field.
The results will form an integral part of a report which captures Claygate people’s vision for their village. It will be presented to an open village meeting in late May before submission to Elmbridge and will inform the Borough Council's consultation exercise, to be carried out later in the year.
For ease, the survey is being made accessible by a QR code on this page—and to be displayed around the village. Hold your phone camera over the square and click on the link that shows on the screen. This will take you to the survey. You can also use this link: claygatevillageassociation.org/survey to access the survey. It will also be available via the CVA’s website and social media, and by email if you are signed up. It will take about 10 minutes and there’s a prize on offer for one lucky respondent!
For those who do not have digital access, hard copies of the survey will be available in some Claygate shops, and volunteers will visit the Community Centre and Parade to help people complete it.
“I think a nerve has been touched,” says Steve Wells, a CVA trustee. “Now all can benefit from what feels like a unique initiative in citizen power and influence in Elmbridge.” The CVA is ready to hear your voice. Let it know what you want for Claygate! Scan the QR code to begin.
