Dorking DNA
An interesting and surprising site about Dorking, it sets out to find the identity of the town and invites local residents input in to what they want Dorking to be and develop an action plan to improve the state of our town. It is professional looking site with some good photography. You can also download their printed brochure and detailed worksheets which show they are serious about what they are doing.
http://www.dorkingdna.org
posted by The Cockerel @ 12:01 AM
4 Comments:
Yes Dorking DNA looks like an interesting site, however forgive me for being thick, I dont quite know what the ultimate aim of it is?
I guess it is a focus group that is trying to secure funding from local government to specify where the money should be spent in Dorking. We all know that Dorking has been neglected for years at the expense of Leatherhead. Whilst Dorking is a much nicer town in terms of shops, restaurants, pubs, character and ambiance, Leatherhead still keeps getting money ploughed into it!
I think the ultimate aim is that Dorking gets its fair share of money for improvements to the infrastructure ie. roads, pavements etc. and will try to get the public to focus on the issues that affect us all ie. education, crime, youth facilities, traffic congestion etc.
Hopefully Dorking DNA will get quite a bit of money allocated to it and that it will be utilised wisely rather than squandered like it is by Mole Valley District Council.
Dorking certainly NEEDS ACTION! I spoke to a few of the shopkeepers this afternoon who stated that trading conditions year on year are getting worse in the town. The rents keep on going up and the residents would rather shop in Guildford, Epsom and Kingston. The traffic congestion thanks to ill-advised and timed road works are adding to their misery. I know Dorking Town Centre Management have tried to promote the town but ultimately Mole Valley should do something to promote the town to the rest of Surrey.
Dorking is in grave danger of dying a horrible death. Even though some of retail units are under offer, there seems to be a wave of shops and restaurants disappearing or 'going under' at the moment. For a Saturday, Dorking was very quiet and the atmosphere was very pessimistic. It is time for Dorking DNA, Dorking Town Centre Management, the local councillors, Chamber of Commerce and Mole Valley to sit down and consult the local people, the shopkeepers, landlords of pubs, restaurant managers, MD's / CEO's of companies in the area and thrash out a plan that will preserve Dorking's unique shopping experience and also bring it into the 21st Century.
I hate to be a pessimist but i just feel like Dorking DNA is going to achieve nothing for the town, or if they do it will be too little too late, things need to be done right now.
1. Tackle anti social behavior
2. Clean up and modernise paving
3. Encourage more INDEPENDENT shops
4. Offer free parking
5. Organise local carnivals, festivals etc.
There are plenty of things that should be done but will be neglected.
Post a Comment
<< Home