Mole Valley is a local government district in Surrey, England. Its council is based in Dorking. The other town in the district is Leatherhead. The largest villages are Ashtead, Fetcham and Great Bookham, in the northern third of the district. Most of the district is on the escarpments of or adjoins the Surrey Hills AONBThe North Downs are followed or parallelled by the Pilgrims' Way. There are stations on the London–Worthing and Reading–Gatwick Airport railways, and in the northern third, a commuter stopping-service pattern line, London–Guildford line. The A24 road and the M25 motorway are the main thoroughfares and relative to London the incidence of car ownership is high. The area hosts hill-focussed sub-laps of the London-Surrey Classic cycling tour each year.
Towns
Dorking
Leatherhead
Other settlements
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 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. Between May 2015 and May 2018, Mole Valley Liberal Democrats gained two council seats in by-elections, and one Conservative councillor defected to Beare Green Independent. The Liberal Democrats then made a net gain of one in May 2018, pushing the Council back into no overall control. However, Conservatives continued to control the administration with the support of the Independents, with three Ashtead Independents becoming members of the Cabinet. The overall composition established in May 2018 is 20 Conservatives, 14 Liberal Democrats, and 7 Independents. There are no Labour, UKIP or Green Party councillors.
, 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.
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 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:
Surrey Police. Dorking Police Station is the lead station in Mole Valley Division, Leatherhead Police Station is now closed.
South East Coast Ambulance Service The district has two Ambulance Stations – one in North Holmwood, and the other in Leatherhead.
Surrey Fire & Rescue Service, The district has two Fire Stations one in North Holmwood and the other in Leatherhead.
