Tuesday 16 December, 2025

By David Grantham

News in brief

The planning inquiry into the redevelopment of Redhill station, to include 255 flats, has concluded its hearings. A decision on whether Reigate & Banstead was right to refuse the plans, or that developer Solum should get the go-ahead, is awaited. More from Local Democracy Reporter Emily Dalton here (Abre numa nova janela).

Father Christmas is making his annual tour of local roads, raising money for good causes. Redhill & Reigate Round Table’s schedule is here (Abre numa nova janela), while Redhill Redstone Rotary’s dates are here (Abre numa nova janela).

Nominations are open for the Reigate & Banstead Sports Awards 2026. There are 12 categories, “recognising people of all ages and abilities, whether they are taking part or motivating others to train”. The deadline for nominations is 12 January 2026, in respect of the period 1 January to 31 December 2025. An awards ceremony will be held at Reigate Manor hotel in March. More details, including how to nominate someone and sponsorship opportunities, are here (Abre numa nova janela).

Planning bid for High Street shopfront

A retrospective planning application has been submitted for the new shopfront that’s been installed at the former Holland & Barrett shop at 68 High Street.

A heritage statement submitted in support of the application (Abre numa nova janela) says the design of the shopfront should be acceptable, adding: “Numerous properties within the street feature a large amount of glazing and is a common feature.

“The central positioning of the door would create a traditional shop front appearance that would be in keeping with the more historic character of the conservation area”.

The application, by Yash & Yansh Khosti, is due to be decided by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council by 6 January.

The shop is currently empty.

Contactless comes to Reigate

Contactless payments arrived at Reigate station on Sunday, 14 December, allowing bank cards and devices to be used at the ticket gates.

It’s not capable of accepting Oyster cards (unlike Redhill), and isn’t available for anyone wanting to rely on a discount railcard (or travel first class).

In a linked development, “simpler” fares were brought in at Reigate on 7 December.

Changes have included the removal of super off-peaks, and what tickets can be used when.

Journeys can be checked on the the National Rail journey planner (Abre numa nova janela), and Southern has more information on the changes here (Abre numa nova janela).

Amended bin dates for all residents this Christmas

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council says there will be changes to all residents’ bin collections this Christmas, between 25 December and 10 January, as there will be no collections on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.

Residents will see their bin collections delayed by one to three days during that period.

Garden waste collections will be suspended from Christmas Day, before the service resumes on Thursday 8 January.

More from the council here (Abre numa nova janela), including options for Christmas trees.

Town turns out for Christmas lights

Reigate Business Guild’s Christmas Fayre proved popular once again on 29 November, as crowds turned out to enjoy entertainment, food & drink, and gift stalls, before the switch-on of the town’s Christmas lights.

The Guild posted on Facebook (Abre numa nova janela): “Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for another fantastic Christmas Fayre. We had a great time sharing our unique town with everyone and spreading some festive cheer. Reigate will now be lit up for Christmas and it wouldn’t be possible without your support.

“We are also grateful to all of our incredible sponsors this year including Society, Downs Law, Brian Gale Surveyors, Simple Floors, 3D Financial planning, Murray Designs, Kutchenhaus, Fairalls, J&J Franks & Stone.”

Facial recognition cameras come to Surrey

Surrey Police now have the shared use of two live facial recognition vans from the Home Office.

On their first deployment, in Redhill on 13 November (Abre numa nova janela), police received five positive alerts, including a man who was then arrested on suspicion of breaching his sexual risk order. Another man was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting (later de-arrested following enquiries). Other stops were made to ensure sexual harm prevention and stalking protection orders were being complied with.

Police have acknowledged that there are concerns about the technology. Among safeguards, a pre-determined watch list is used, with images of anyone not on that list “deleted immediately”.

Surrey Police have also said that historical issues over gender and ethnicity bias have been greatly reduced as technology has developed, and that national testing of the algorithm shows no statistical bias.

However, councillors in Woking, where the system has also been used, want the use of the cameras halted until a full consultation has taken place.

Earlier this month a Woking Borough Council scrutiny meeting heard that the 13 November Redhill operation scanned the faces of over 8,000 people, 99.9% of whom were not arrested.

In response to Woking councillors’ concerns, police told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (Abre numa nova janela) that they “meticulously” planned the rollout of the technology to ensure its use is appropriate, proportionate, and transparent, and that they engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, and published information and policies on their website.

When the initiative was launched (Abre numa nova janela), Surrey’s Police & Crime Commissioner, Lisa Townsend, said the police must have every tool at their disposal to track down criminals, adding: “I do understand that people may have concerns which is why it is important that the debate on policing technology reflects the facts, the safeguards in place and the clear benefits to public safety.

“These vans will be used proportionately and it is important to stress that law-abiding members of the Surrey public going about their daily business have nothing to fear by their use.

“The cameras will help our policing teams identify and detain those on a pre-determined watchlist such as violent criminals and sex offenders.”

Council parks win gold

The borough’s three most visited parks – Priory Park, Memorial Park and Lady Neville Park - were all awarded gold in this year’s South & South East in Bloom competition.

Cleanliness and accessibility, as well as facilities such as cafes, outdoor gym equipment and play areas impressed the judges, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council said (Abre numa nova janela).

Sustainable planting schemes that attract pollinators, and a move to replace annual bedding plants with longer-lasting perennials, were praised.

“The new mural at Memorial Park, the scooter zone at Lady Neville Park and the newly planted arboretum at Priory Park all received a special mention,” said the council.

Countryside areas at Reigate Heath, Earlswood Common and Tanyard Meadows also received gold, recognising commitment to sustainability and biodiversity. Judges complimented maintenance, proactive control of littering and dog-fouling, and work of staff and volunteers to manage natural habits, “including the use of barley straw at Earlswood Lakes to control algae, habitat restoration projects at Reigate Heath and Himalayan balsam removal at Tanyard Meadows”.

Redstone Cemetery was once again also awarded gold, while Reigate’s Garden of Remembrance and Castle Grounds each retained Silver Gilt. Thoughtful planting at these sites, helping nature, were noted.

With seven of the nine greenspaces achieving gold, this is the borough council’s best year at the awards.

Executive menber Cllr Nadean Moses has thanked both the council’s Greenspaces team and volunteers for their work.

Studio plan in Lesbourne Road

A former hairdressers at 35 Lesbourne Road could become a one-bedroom studio flat under plans submitted to Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.

The application (Abre numa nova janela), by premises owner Nordic Estates, is being put forward under national permitted development rules created to make it easier to switch vacant commercial space to residential use, and limiting the factors that councils are allowed to take into account.

Nordic’s design statement (Abre numa nova janela) says that looking at those factors, there is no basis for objection “having regard to transport and highways, contamination, flooding, external appearance and natural light and space standard[s]”.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is due to decide the application by 6 January.

Nordic Estates had previously applied to turn the shop into a food takeaway but in September this was rejected (Abre numa nova janela) by the council, because of a lack of information on efforts to market the site for retail use, how the vitality and viability of the area would be enhanced, and how residents and road safety would be affected.

Local Greens welcome deputy leader

Rachel Millward, deputy leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, visited Reigate on 29 November to meet party members and councillors.

She spoke to party supporters about their activities, successes and plans, before visiting Merstham to knock on doors and meet residents.

Millward spoke of the national growth of Green Party membership, adding: “We know how effective Greens in this area can be. We have demonstrated that we can win at a local level. We can and must be an even bigger force in British politics, especially now that local government reorganisation is happening.”

National swim success for school

Four Year 8 boys from The Hawthorns School, Bletchingley, won gold in the 4 x 50 medley relay and bronze in the 4 x 50 freestyle relay at the ESSA Secondary Schools Championship finals, held in November in Birmingham.

The championship is a national final, the largest and longest-running of its kind, with qualification determined by fastest times in regional divisions.

Headmaster Adrian Floyd said: “Competing as a prep school against hundreds of larger secondary schools across the country, the boys showed remarkable grit and determination to secure their place among the best.

“To emerge as double national medallists is a splendid accomplishment, one that fills everyone at The Hawthorns with immense pride.”

More from the school about the event here (Abre numa nova janela).

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