Ashtead - Village Community or Dormitory Town?

Ashtead at Easter asks what sort of community is Ashtead? Local residents give their views

"Please drive carefully through our village" say the signs along the A24. Clever psychology, that.

Villages are undisturbed, sleepy places where everyone takes time to know everyone else. You wouldn't want to disrupt the tranquility of a village, would you? So you drive through more gently. That's the theory anyway.

Motorists cutting out from London's suburban sprawl might be forgiven for sniggering at the "village" label. Ashtead has a population of over fourteen thousand, and is cradled by Britain's busiest motorway. Many Ashtead commuters barely see the place from one weekend to the next. There may be lots of trees, but Ashtead is the size of many a town.

Yet residents cling to the village label. Many still see Ashtead as a close-knit community, with a character worth preserving.

Mrs Coton, of Chaffers Mead, moved to Ashtead two and a half years ago. "I'd lived in various places before Ashtead, so I certainly wasn't a 'native'! My husband and I were drawn to Ashtead partly because of the sense of community.

"Although Ashtead isn't really a village, I think it still retains a separate village 'identity', and with that, for me, comes a sense of belonging."

Community spirit doesn't just happen. Gwen Gale, of Broadhurst, has lived in Ashtead since 1940. Gwen feels a strong sense of belonging because of the friendships she has built and maintained.

But she thinks that building community is harder these days: "People are more pressurised. It is especially hard for young couples to put down roots when often they both have to work hard. They don't have as much time to invest in the local community as we did." Gwen wonders if Ashtead's community spirit will ultimately disappear.

Colin Johnson, chairman of the Ashtead Residents' Association, has also noted that a lot of community input comes from older people. "We would certainly like more input from younger people, and that is true of many Ashtead societies," he says.

Times are changing. The rise and rise of the car is one factor. As people are more mobile, they have more choice in who to see, and what to do. Those who don't have ready access to transport, however, become more isolated.

There is certainly no shortage of interest groups and societies in Ashtead - there are probably around fifty. Such groups can be a supportive community to their members.

But interest groups tend to be full of the like-minded! It is harder to build a broader community, which includes very different people.

Recently, a new home in Ashtead was proposed for people with learning difficulties. Residents objected as there is already a similar such home nearby. This raises a tricky question: what kind of community do we want for Ashtead, and whom do we want in it?

The answer depends largely on our reactions to such situations and involves some serious thought about our own prejudices. Will we only respond to those who are like ourselves? Or should we welcome all, regardless of appearance, culture or faith?

Surely a true community must be there for "all sorts"? Ashtead will only be as much a community as we make it.

Views of a Blunt Northener

Vicky Watts interviews Jon Burns, a former local 'bobby' who is now a youth worker for St George and St Giles churches. He has lived in Ashtead for 5 years, but is originally from Yarm, Teeside.

V: Do you think there is a North/South divide?

J: Yes, but it's more to do with cultural differences than wealth.

V: What were your impressions of Ashtead?

J: I thought "It thinks it's a village, but it isn't!" I was also surprised that such a peaceful place exists inside the M25.

V: How does Ashtead compare with your home town?

J: Ashtead is of a similar size to Yarm. I didn't find people here as friendly at first, although they're just as kind once you get to know them. Ashtead is much wealthier; the houses are bigger and there are more private schools.

V: What do you feel about the community spirit of Ashtead?

J: I don't feel that there is as much of a community spirit here as up North. It takes a long time to get to know people. You don't feel a part of Ashtead unless you lived here a while, or are involved in the community in some way. Ashtead's biggest attraction for me is the church community.

V: What do you think of Ashtead now?

J: I love it! Because of my work for the church, I know most of the young people here, which is great.

Could You be Ashtead's Longest Resident?

Have you lived in Ashtead for ages? We'd like to hear from you. We're looking for the person longest resident in Ashtead. If you think it could be you, please write and tell us when you moved to (or were born into) the village.

Note that we want the longest continuous resident. If you moved away and then returned, it only counts from when you returned!

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