Parking in Caterham

Following on from Harold Barrett's letter in the February edition of The Caterham and District Independent, in front of the Morrisons car park should be 27 spaces. There are currently 25, as specified in the Contract of Sale between Tandridge District Council and the developers in 1987. The responsibility for those 27 spaces passed to the Church Walk Centre owners who leased it to Morrisons and before them Safeways. It has been out of Council hands since 1987.

Those 27 spaces must be kept open to the public, contractually, free of charge, outside of the normal trading hours, and the yellow gate opened when the main car park is closed. The eight spaces that appear to be in the Soper Hall, are, in fact not, but can only be accessed via the Soper Hall, due to bollards on the car park side. This has created a free for all for illegal parkers, with no business or connection with the Soper Hall. There are also misleading signs, indicating that this area is a public car park, which it is not. Whilst sympathising with Mr Barrett on the specific night of Christmas Eve, we are extremely fortunate in Caterham that parking is generally widely available – and it's free, at least for the first three hours during the day, currently, and at night. Long may that be the case!

Graham Tapley, Chairman, Soper Hall Group.

Queen's Park access

I should like to congratulate Tandridge Council on their continuing support of Queen's Park in Caterhamon- the-Hill. The proposed improvements to the toddler play area look good especially as they are designed for children with different levels of capability. Sadly access to Queen's Park via Queen's Park Road is in my view dangerous due to appalling road surfaces. Surrey Highways Department say: 'Not our problem it's a Private Road'.

I say this is a popular park with children, elderly people, those with disabilities, dog walkers and sports enthusiasts struggling to use this road safely.

My letter is a challenge to Surrey Highways Dept. and Tandridge Parks Dept. to liaise and find a solution to make this park safe to access.

A worried Queen's Park user.