'The Square' in Caterham town centre is to get a facelift this summer, with a £108,000 upgrade funded by the South East England Development Agency, Surrey County Council, Tandridge District Council and the Parish Councils. The scheme will make the focal point of the Valley less cluttered whilst maintaining a high level of public safety.

Caterham is to see the first major improvements to the town since the completion of the ABC ('A Better Caterham') Healthcheck survey of the local population in June 2007. Since then, the ABC Group, which has since become the Caterham Community Partnership Ltd., ('CCP') has been working hard behind the scenes to gain access to funds and develop a plan to see improvements to the town centre, one of the key areas of concern highlighted by the results of the survey. The group has been working closely with Surrey County Council Highways department on the pilot scheme, which will involve removal of some of the railings in The Square, the installation of planters, resurfacing of the road and pavements and new street lighting.

Pamela Cosgrove and Nigel Wilkinson of CCP have been leading the project supported by Scott Coughlan at Tandridge District Council.

Pamela Cosgrove said: "It is nice to see something come to fruition that is so good for the community. Those who completed the ABC survey in 2007 may have thought that nothing would change as a result, but there have been a lot of people quietly working to address the issues raised in the survey. It is good that something is at last being done that is really quite exciting for the town."

Nigel Wilkinson commented: "CCP are fully committed to this project and are determined to make it a success. We are enjoying great support from all the authorities."

The main work will be completed by the end of the school holidays this summer with the street lighting scheduled to be installed next year. A presentation on the scheme will be dislayed in both Caterham libraries for two weeks from 13th February with questionnaires for people to fill in. Comments can also be left on the ABC website, www.caterhamabc.org.uk Another display will be on show at the ARC when it is reopened on Saturday 13th February.

Related Story: To view more images and to read an interview with local architect, Random Greenway, click here...