THE community action group responsible for decorating Dorking town centre with floral baskets has extended its "flower power" theme to the hoarding surrounding the Waitrose redevelopment site in South Street.
Working with Dorking Town Management, Waitrose and their main contractors Carters, the Friends of Dorking have spruced up what was previously a plain white hoarding with some colourful new designs.
The designs were unveiled on Friday morning in a bid to brighten the street and ensure shoppers are enticed beyond the building site to the shops and restaurants further along the street.
Group member Liz Fuller, co-owner of South Street business SC Fuller, said: "The hoarding has been a bit of a psychological barrier for pedestrians, now with the colourful floral graphics and huge arrows promoting the shops along the street, we hope that more people will venture up and beyond the Waitrose site.
"Many people don't realise that we have free one-hour parking along most of the street, ideal for 'pop and shop' visits."
The newly decorated hoardings were unveiled by Mole Valley chairman David Sharland, Dorkers the town's cockerel mascot, and representatives from Friends of Dorking, Waitrose and Carters, the main contractors for the Waitrose redevelopment.
Mr Sharland said: "This is a great example of the town community working hand in hand with a major supermarket and their contractors to give a real visual lift to the site, helping to promote all the other independent traders based in South Street."
Waitrose manager Sunil Pamnani added: "We are very pleased to be working with the Friends of Dorking and Dorking Town Management to achieve this.
"It's a very innovative but simple way to liven up and make use of the hoarding whilst our shop is redeveloped."
