Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Leader of Mole Valley District Council, said: “Following the government’s announcement last night, England has returned to a national lockdown. The rules now in place closely resemble the tougher restrictions in place in March last year when the pandemic first struck.
“The last few weeks have been a particularly difficult period for everyone, with many of us spending the festive period away from loved ones. To follow that with a new national lockdown introduced at the start of 2021 is challenging further still, but this is all being done to help save lives and protect the NHS. Local lives are at risk. Surrey residents are in our hospitals right now, both battling to recover from this virus and those NHS staff working to save lives and ensure there is capacity available for others who need help.
“The introduction of this lockdown is being driven by the faster transmission of a new virus strain. We are asking that you take this, hopefully, ultimate lockdown very seriously. This includes not gathering in any outdoor spaces and the rules concerning exercise outside during the national lockdown have been updated accordingly.
“I appreciate we are all feeling fatigued by the number of changes to restrictions over the past ten months, but we must always remember our responsibilities to ourselves and each other and follow the rules. We must all continue to play our part by minimising the contact with one another to reduce hospital admissions in Surrey. There is light at the end of the tunnel in the form of the vaccines being rolled out at this very moment and there is a collective hope that this latest national lockdown forms part of a final push to beat this virus.
“From today, please ensure you stay at home and only go out where absolutely necessary to:
“The complete government guidance concerning this lockdown can be found on the GOV.UK website.
“This period of lockdown, which is set to be reviewed in mid-February will surely test our resolve but we have been through similar periods before and come out the other side. We will do so again, of that I am sure. Take care of yourselves and others by following the national lockdown rules. Please continue to stay safe.”
If you live in a Tier 4 area, you must follow the rules below from Sunday 20 December. This means that you cannot leave or be outside of the place you are living unless you have a reasonable excuse. You cannot meet other people indoors, including over the Christmas period, unless you live with them, or they are part of your support bubble. Outdoors, you can only meet one person from another household. These rules will not be relaxed for Christmas for Tier 4: you cannot form a Christmas Bubble in Tier 4.
Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Leader of Mole Valley District Council, said: “The government has confirmed that Mole Valley will move into the Very High Alert, Tier Three, on Saturday 19 December 2020.
“This is not the outcome anybody desired, but we must continue to remain vigilant. We cannot become complacent and risk the health of ourselves and others by not adhering to the rules we will need to follow.
“We must all keep doing what have now become the ‘basics’ in these extraordinary times, including wearing a face covering in most indoor public places (except were exemptions apply), maintaining a two meter distance from those you do not live with and working from home, where it is practical to do so. The new rules state we will not be able to meet socially indoors or in people’s gardens with anyone you do not live with, or is not in your support bubble, and a total of no more than six people can meet in eligible outdoor locations from this coming Saturday. These places include, parks; beaches; the countryside, outdoor playgrounds and gardens, including those of historical places.
“Many local shops will remain open in a COVID-secure manner. Tier 3 does mean that hospitality venues including restaurants and pubs must close once again, though takeaways will be available. Dorking Halls and other theatres in Mole Valley must also shut. Our parks and playgrounds are remaining open and you will also be able to enjoy the facilities at the Dorking Sports Centre and Leatherhead Leisure Centre, though some restrictions do apply. Community Recycling Centres stay open, as will libraries, and you can attend places of worship for communal prayer. A complete breakdown of the Tier 3 local restrictions can be read on the GOV.UK website.
Surrey County Council propose to make the above-mentioned Temporary Order under Section 14(1) and (7) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to: a) Prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of: i) B2033 Tot Hill, Headley that extends from its junction with B2033 Leech Lane, for a distance of 150m; ii) D314 Tot Hill Lane, Headley that extends from its junction with B2033 Leech Lane, for a distance of 150m; and iii) B2033 Leech Lane, Headley that extends from its junction with D314 Tot Hill Lane, to Crabtree Lane. b) Suspend “The Surrey County Council Tot Hill Lane (D314), Headley (Temporary Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2020” in its entirety. This Traffic Order is required to enable BT Openreach to access an overhead structure and to carry out telegraph pole renewal and/or cabling works.
These works are anticipated to be carried out between the hours of 9:30am and 3:30pm, within 1 day of the 12 month period of operation of this Temporary Order that commences on 30 December 2020. Advanced warning signs will be displayed and the temporary closure will only operate when the relevant traffic signs are displayed. Access for emergency services, residents, businesses, pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians will be maintained at all times. The vehicular diversion route will be via Leech Lane, Mill Way, Reigate Road, Bypass Road, Headley Road, Clay Lane and Church Lane.
In line with the latest government guidance, Dorking Halls will reopen on Thursday 3 December. There are lots of festive, socially distanced shows, world-class event screenings and new films on throughout the month.
Customer safety is the priority, and the Halls has comprehensive safety measures in place following the latest government guidelines.
Famed for bringing multiple characters to vivid life, Olivier Award-winner Guy Masterson performs Dickens’ classic festive fable A Christmas Carol on Saturday 5 December. This spellbinding show makes the perfect festive treat.
Swing into Christmas with Down for the Count Orchestra on Wednesday 9 December. They will perform the music of Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Nat ‘King’ Cole, Ella Fitzgerald and many more.
Cult hit event Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote comes to the Halls with an hilarious interactive screening of the classic Murder, She Wrote episode, A Christmas Secret on Thursday 10 December. Super-fan host Tim Benzie will lead lots of socially-distanced games, with prizes up for grabs.
Children can meet Santa safely at The Socially Distanced Santa Show on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December. Join him on a journey to the North Pole with Jingleberry the Elf, Rudolph the Rapping Reindeer and Frosty the Singing Snowman. Perfect for 2-6 year olds, and every child gets a Christmas present.
A variety of world-class productions from the likes of the National Theatre, the Royal Ballet, the Metropolitan Opera and the Bolshoi Ballet will be screened throughout December.
The Halls continues to show all the latest films seven days a week. New releases include festive films A Christmas Gift From Bob and The Loss Adjuster. Tickets cost just £8, and £7 for Friends.
The cafe will be open and serving drinks, snacks, sweets and popcorn.
Cabinet Member for Leisure, Councillor David Draper said: “The Dorking Halls team can’t wait to welcome you back, and have been busy putting up lots of brilliant Christmas decorations. They’ve also entered the venue into the Hello Dorking Christmas Window Competition. Do come and have a look at their sparkly gift voucher-themed display.
“We are heartened by all the support we’ve been receiving from our community, and the many positive comments we’ve had on our safety measures.
“If you have a theatre or film-loving friend, you can treat them to a voucher as a Christmas present. Or you could buy them membership to our Friends scheme, which gives you four free cinema tickets, priority booking on live shows, discounted cinema tickets and lots more benefits.”
Find out more at dorkinghalls.co.uk
Councillor Stephen Cooksey, Leader of Mole Valley District Council, said: “The government has confirmed that when the national lockdown ends on 2 December, Mole Valley will move into Tier Two. This is the High Alert. Whilst everyone in Mole Valley have played their part and we had hoped to be a Tier 1 area, we have joined many areas across the country in the mid-tier. This new tier system has been strengthened in comparison to the previous occasion we were in local lockdown. This has been done to prevent a return to growing infections.
“We must remain vigilant. This tier has strict rules and we must follow them. The advice of ‘Hands, Face, Space remains. If the infection rate in the district rises, we could be moved up to the next tier and risk the rules imposed on us tightening. If you travel to a Tier 1 area, you will still need to follow the tier rules for Tier 2 while you are there. Everyone has been advised not to travel to a Tier 3 area wherever possible.
“We must all keep doing what have now become the ‘basics’ in these extraordinary times, including wearing a face covering in most indoor public spaces (except where exemptions apply), maintain social distancing wherever appropriate and working from home where it is practical to do so. The new rules state that we must not socialise with anyone you do not live with or in your support bubble indoors, and socialising in a group of more than six people anywhere outside is not allowed.
“It was confirmed on Monday this week that, across the country, many local businesses could reopen in a COVID-secure manner from 2 December. As a Tier 2 area, restaurants can reopen to provide table service, but pubs and bars can only open if operating as a restaurant. Dorking Halls, alongside other theatres in Mole Valley, is able to reopen, and can stay open beyond 11pm to conclude performances that have started beyond 10pm. Of real significance is the news that attending outdoor and indoor events, including spectator sports and business events, is once again allowed, though restrictions on numbers do apply.
“You can also once again enjoy the facilities at the Dorking Sports Centre and Leatherhead Leisure Centre as these facilities can reopen the doors too. Community Recycling Centres will be remaining open and you can once again attend places of worship for communal prayer. The complete breakdown of the Tier Two local restrictions can be read on the GOV.UK website.
“The government have also now announced rules for those who make the personal choice to spend their Christmas with friends and family from other households. Between the 23 and 27 December, up to three households can form a ‘bubble’ to meet at home during this five day period. If you do choose to see others at this time, please do so responsibly and follow the guidance in place. Further guidance is available”.
Mole Valley businesses that have had to temporarily close or have been negatively impacted during the second national lockdown can apply for a grant to help support them through this period. Two types of grants from the government are available.
Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) will again be administering government grants, having paid £19,375,500 from the government’s Business Grant Funding Scheme to over 1,500 local businesses from April to September 2020. Two types of grant will be made available to help support those businesses in the district that have closed or negatively impacted during England’s national lockdown, due to finish on 2 December 2020. Please visit https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/businessgrants to check the eligibility criteria, when applications need to submitted by and how to apply for either grant.
The Local Restrictions Support Grant is a single grant to cover the four-week lockdown period and is for eligible businesses with a rateable value. Businesses can find out if they have been mandated to close by visiting the GOV.UK website. The rate of payment is for properties with a rateable value of:
Businesses that do not qualify for the Local Restrictions Support Grant may be eligible to apply for a discretionary grant; the Additional Restrictions Grant. This grant scheme is aimed at businesses in the supply chain to those businesses who have had to close, and for local businesses that do not have a rateable value – most commonly those people who run a business from their home address. More information is available on MVDC’s website www.molevalley.gov.uk/businessgrants, by emailing businessgrants@molevalley.gov.uk or ringing 01306 885001.
Councillor Clayton Wellman, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy, said: “We understand the impact that lockdown is having on businesses in Mole Valley and have been working to establish these new grants schemes as soon as we could. We have emailed every business who received a grant last time to let them know more support is available and encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to look into the grants that are available. We want to get the money out to businesses as soon as we can. We are carrying out weekly payments on the main grants scheme and have a deadline of midday on 7 December for the Discretionary scheme, which will ensure payments are made before Christmas.”
