Welcome to the new website of Chelsham and Farleigh Parish Council. We hope you find it helpful but if there is anything you think we can 

improve, please tell us by contacting the Clerk directly or by using the contact facility on this website.

Those of us who live in Chelsham and Farleigh are very fortunate to live in such a rural area, barely fifteen miles from Central London. We have easy access to London and its satellite shopping areas and we have the village of Warlingham and the town of Oxted on our doorstep. Despite this, we can so easily walk directly into, and enjoy, the countryside around us.

We are one of the most rural parishes in Surrey, entirely comprised of Green Belt, with almost 1,500 hectares (or 3,700 acres) of countryside and fewer than 900 people in about 300 households. That means we have only one house for every 12 acres so this makes us one of the least densely populated areas in Surrey and the South East - and yet we have easy access to London when we wish.

We are also one of the older civil parishes in England, with a history dating back to the mid 1890s.

Against this background the parish council aims to conserve our rural way of life and the openness of the countryside, whilst recognising that we are a part of what some might describe as the dynamic hub of the South East. We encourage everyone to follow the Countryside Code.

What do we do? We spend considerable time, effort and money in looking after the open spaces, that are in our custody, to preserve and protect them for the future use of everyone. We are one of the steps in the planning process, which at times can come into conflict with the point made above and we work closely with Tandridge District Council in this regard. We keep a close eye on our road, bridleway and footpath networks and liaise with Surrey County Council to ensure that they are maintained in good condition and accessible for everyone's enjoyment and use and we help with community issues which recently have included such things as bus services and bus stops and Warlingham's public library.

We meet on the first Monday of each month, except bank holidays, when it is the following Monday, and August when there is no meeting. Public attendance is very welcome. Meetings are currently held in the hall behind St. Mary's Church.  If you have any questions or points you would like to make, please come along and see us or contact the Parish Clerk, Samantha Head.

We hope you find this website helpful and informative. Please let us know how you think it could be improved.

Best regards,

Jan Moore

Chairman