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| Mole Valley (UK Parliament constituency) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mole Valley |
| Parliament | uk |
| Map1 | MoleValley2007 |
| Year | 1983 |
| Type | County |
| Elects howmany | One |
| Previous | Dorking, Reigate, Guildford |
| Electorate | 72,345 |
| Mp | Sir Paul Beresford |
| Party | Conservative Party (UK) |
| Region | England |
| County | Surrey |
| Towns | Dorking, Leatherhead, Ashtead |
Mole Valley (UK Parliament constituency) is a parliamentary constituency in Surrey, England, represented in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament. Created for the 1983 general election, it encompasses suburban and rural settlements in the Mole Valley district, incorporating parts of Surrey Heath, Epsom and Ewell, and Guildford local authority areas. The constituency combines commuter belt communities with market towns and greenbelt countryside, linking transport nodes and cultural sites.
The constituency was established under the boundary changes carried out following the Local Government Act 1972 and the subsequent periodic review by the Boundary Commission for England that reported ahead of the 1983 general election. Its creation involved transfers from the historical constituencies of Dorking, Reigate, and Guildford. Throughout the late 20th century, the seat's electoral history reflected the national contests between the Conservative Party (UK), Liberal Democrats (UK), Labour Party (UK), and occasional contenders from the Green Party of England and Wales and UK Independence Party. The constituency's past MPs and campaigns intersected with national political events such as the premierships of Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, and Theresa May. Periodic reviews by the Boundary Commission for England have adjusted ward composition in line with shifts in population and local government warding.
At creation, Mole Valley drew together wards from the boroughs of Mole Valley, the borough of Epsom and Ewell, and parts of the borough of Guildford and the district of Reigate and Banstead. Principal population centres include Dorking, Leatherhead, Ashtead, Bookham, Fetcham, Great Bookham, Westcott, and villages such as Headley, Holmwood, Beare Green, and Capel. The constituency lies within the ceremonial county of Surrey, bordered by constituencies such as Guildford, Reigate, Epsom and Ewell, and Surrey Heath. Much of the area falls in the Mole Valley district administrative area and includes parts of the Surrey Hills AONB, with greenbelt protections and local planning authorities such as Mole Valley District Council, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, and Guildford Borough Council influencing development.
The constituency's population profile reflects commuter demographics tied to London, with rail connections to London Waterloo and London Victoria serving stations on lines run by operators such as South Western Railway and Southern. Local employment hubs include service sectors in towns like Leatherhead and retail centres at Dorking Halls and markets in Ashtead, alongside light industry and business parks near Leatherhead North and technology firms engaging with Research Park environments. Economic activity is influenced by proximity to Heathrow Airport, transport corridors including the A24 road, A3, and the M25 motorway, and by leisure and tourism associated with sites like Box Hill, Denbies Wine Estate, and the Dorking Halls cultural venue. Housing tenure skews towards owner-occupation with higher-than-average house prices relative to national figures; local authorities maintain planning policies to manage balance between development and conservation in areas including Surrey Hills AONB and greenbelt land protected under statutes influenced by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
Since its creation, representation has alternated among MPs aligned with the Conservative Party (UK), and periods of competitive challenges from the Liberal Democrats (UK) and Labour Party (UK). The constituency has been represented by figures active in parliamentary committees and all-party groups, engaging with legislation including debates on Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 implications and local transport patronage tied to franchises like South Western Railway franchise. Constituency offices interface with county-level institutions such as Surrey County Council and local NHS bodies like Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust over health provision in hospitals like Dorking Community Hospital and services at Kingston Hospital and Epsom Hospital. MPs have participated in national bodies including the House of Commons Select Committees and liaised with ministers in departments like the Department for Transport (UK) and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.
Electoral contests in Mole Valley have mirrored national trends in elections including the 1983 landslide, the 1997 general election landslide for the Labour Party (UK), the 2010 coalition formation involving the Conservative Party (UK) and Liberal Democrats (UK), and the 2019 general election won by the Conservatives under Boris Johnson. Turnout levels have varied in line with national participation in elections regulated by the Electoral Commission (United Kingdom). Local results feature candidates from parties such as Green Party of England and Wales, UK Independence Party, Reform UK, and independent localists; vote shares have been influenced by tactical voting patterns seen in constituencies across South East England.
Prominent campaign themes include debates over housing development near Box Hill and in greenbelt areas, transport improvements on corridors like the A24 road and services on lines serving Dorking railway station and Leatherhead railway station, and health and social care provision coordinated with National Health Service bodies. Local activism has engaged organisations such as Surrey Wildlife Trust, Friends of the Earth, and civic groups campaigning on planning appeals to the Planning Inspectorate (England and Wales). Issues around flood risk from waterways including the River Mole and conservation efforts at Polesden Lacey and Ranmore Common have featured in parish and borough council debates, involving bodies such as Mole Valley District Council, Leatherhead Town Council, and Dorking Town Council.
Key landmarks include Box Hill, Denbies Wine Estate, Polesden Lacey, Leith Hill, and cultural sites like Dorking Halls. Rail infrastructure serving the constituency includes stations on the North Downs Line, services to London Waterloo and London Victoria, and connections via Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport. Major road arteries include the A24 road, A25, A3, and proximity to the M25 motorway. Recreational venues include the Surrey Hills AONB trails, cycling routes on Box Hill used in the 2012 Summer Olympics, and equestrian facilities linked to regional events such as those organised by British Eventing and local golf clubs like Headley Heath Golf Club.
Category:Parliamentary constituencies in Surrey Category:Constituencies established in 1983