Newsletter - Fri 14 Feb, 2025

By David Grantham

Flats: revised plans have been put forward to convert a Reigate office block into 20 flats, after a previous application was rejected over parking concerns. More below.

Democracy delayed: this May’s county council elections have been cancelled, generating mixed political reactions. Polls are instead expected to take place in 2026 for a new unitary authority for our area, to go fully live in 2027, replacing the functions of both the borough council and the county council. More below.

Shoplifting: a 30 year-old man of no fixed address who stole £330 worth of Ted Baker make-up bags from Boots in Reigate on 14 December, and items from three other Surrey businesses, has been sentenced to 8 weeks’ imprisonment and a fine at Guildford Crown Court. A suspended sentence from a previous shoplifting conviction was also activated, meaning a total of 22 weeks in custody (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

Oscar Wilde: the Archway Theatre (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) in Horley is putting on a production of The Importance of Being Earnest later this month, 19 Feb - 1 Mar. “Full of fabulous characters, witty dialogue, hilarious farce and a smouldering, restrained sexiness, this will be a production not to be missed.”

Earlswood Farmers Market has expanded to include more stalls and is now at a new location - Sea Cadets HQ in Hooley Lane - at 10am - 2pm on the last Sunday of every month (so the next one is Sun 23 Feb). It’s organised by Eco Earlswood (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

Closed: The crossroads at the junction of Nutley Lane, Yorke Road and Beaufort Road are currently closed due to a void in the carriageway which Surrey County Council’s contractors, Kingsway, are working on. Surrey’s roadworks map (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) currently shows that a permit for the works is in place until 4pm on Monday (17 Feb).

History: the county council’s Surrey History Centre in Woking is holding an open day (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) on Saturday 8 March offering “a unique opportunity to explore the fascinating collections, resources, and behind-the-scenes work that bring Surrey's history to life.”

Firearms: Surrey Police are joining other forces nationwide in an amnesty, running to 28 Feb (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre), in which people can hand in certain Turkish-made top-venting blank firers (TVBFs), which are illegal to own as they have been found to be “readily convertible” into real weapons.

Apprentices: Surrey County Council is reminding small and medium-sized businesses that they can apply to get fully funded support (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) for apprenticeships.

New flats plan for office block, following earlier refusal