Sovereign state United Kingdom Region South East England Admin HQ Dorking | Constituent country England Non-metropolitan county Surrey Area 258.3 km² | |
Status Non-metropolitan district Points of interest Polesden Lacey, Leith Hill, Gatwick Aviation Museum, St Martha's Hill, Box Hill - Surrey Destinations Dorking, Reigate, Horley, Leatherhead, Shere | ||
Mole Valley is a local government district in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Dorking.
Contents
- Map of Mole Valley District UK
- Towns
- Governance
- Party control
- Surrey Council Council
- History
- Demographics
- Environmental concerns
- Emergency services
- References
Map of Mole Valley District, UK
The two towns in the district are Dorking and Leatherhead. The largest villages are Ashtead, Fetcham and Great Bookham, in the northern third of the district. The rest of the district includes some of the Surrey Hills AONB, the middle of the district is dominated by the North Downs, including Polesden Lacey, Box Hill, Denbies Wine Estate (the largest vineyard in the country ) and parts of the Pilgrims' Way, the southern third includes Leith Hill and the Greensand Ridge. There are stations on the London–Worthing and Reading–Gatwick Airport railways, and in the northern third, a commuter stopping service from London–Guildford. Additionally the A24 road and the M25 motorway are the main thoroughfares.
Towns
Governance
Mole Valley District Council is elected by thirds: one-third of councillors are elected at each election, each serving four year terms; three years out of four having elections.
The council was however elected across all areas in 2000 after major boundary changes to the wards.
Although Mole Valley (UK Parliament constituency) has been Conservative for a long time, Mole Valley District Council has, with Independent/RA and Liberal Democrats, for long periods been under no overall control.
Party control
Surrey Council Council
Surrey County Council, elected every four years, obtains six representatives from this area:
History
The district, named after the River Mole, was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the urban districts of Dorking and Leatherhead and most of the Dorking and Horley Rural District.
Demographics
A Legatum Prosperity Index published by the Legatum Institute in October 2016 showed Mole Valley as the second most prosperous council area in the United Kingdom, after the nearby Borough of Waverley.
Environmental concerns
In May 2006, a report commissioned by British Gas showed that housing in Mole Valley produced the twentieth highest average carbon emissions in the country at 6,928 kg of carbon dioxide per dwelling.
In 2008 a group of residents got together and formed The Green Mole Forum [1] with the aim of promoting sustainable development in Mole Valley both by providing a hub to help residents, and to lobby the council to undertake more sustainable policies.
Emergency services
Mole Valley is served by these emergency services: