Newsletter - Sat 1 Apr, 2023
Plan to reopen Reigate and Redhill park cafes before the summer holidays, but no date set
The borough council is hoping to get the cafes in Reigate's Priory Park and Redhill's Memorial Park open in time for the summer holidays, but this is dependent on terms being agreed with tenants and the length of their fit-out works.
For Priory Park, the council hopes to make an announcement this month on an interim mobile operator which will serve hot and cold food until then, but that's looking less hopeful at Memorial Park.
More on the plans, and Banstead's Lady Neville Recreation Ground in the fuller write-up here (Opens in a new window).
Council confident on subsidy-free future for the Harlequin, despite looming competition from The Light
Improved financial performance at the Harlequin theatre and cinema in Redhill means that the borough council believes it is on course to end its subsidy of the venue by the 2025-26 financial year.
That's thought to still be achievable even though The Light will opens its six-screen cinema early this summer at the Rise, the council’s nearby commercial development in Marketfield Way.
The council's view is that while the Light will bring increased competition for cinema customers, the Rise development will build the wider night-time and leisure economy in Redhill, benefiting the Harlequin.
Five years ago council tax payers were subsidising the Harlequin, which the council owns, to the tune of £700,000 a year, but the forecast subsidy for the financial year that's just finished is now down to £250,000.
More on plans at the Harlequin and the diversification that's been happening, in the article here (Opens in a new window).
Clarks to open in Reigate
Clarks, the shoemaker, is to open at 47A High Street, Reigate, where Joules, and before that Jigsaw, used to be, according to a poster in the window.
"Opening spring 2023", the poster says.
Surrey County Council leader speaks of his focus on brain tumour research
Surrey County Council’s leader said his focus “for the rest of his life” will be fulfilling a promise made to his daughter before she died to fundraise for brain tumour research.
Emily Oliver was 21 when she died, 18 months after being diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma, and after seeking medical advice “from across the world”.
Her father, county council leader Cllr Tim Oliver, said the fund the family set up (Opens in a new window) for her 21st birthday was now nearing £150,000 but vowed to continue to raise awareness and money.
The full article from Emily Coady-Stemp, Local Democracy Reporter Service, is here (Opens in a new window).
Pedestrian dies following Banstead collision in early March: police still keen to hear from witnesses
Police have said that a female pedestrian has died after being involved in a road traffic collision involving two cars on the A217 (Brighton Road) in Banstead earlier this month.
The incident happened at around 4.50pm on Tuesday 7 March, when a blue Vauxhall Zafira and a black Audi A5 were heading south from Belmont Rise roundabout towards the traffic lights at Fir Tree road.
The pedestrian's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Police are repeating their previous appeal for witnesses to the collision, including anyone who has dashcam footage of either vehicle. Details of how to get in touch with them are here (Opens in a new window).
Recent publishing delays
From the editor: the last week or so has been difficult in getting newsletters out on time, the first serious setback since moving to twice-weekly newsletters in late February. I’m hoping that things will return to normal now and have looked at how things are scheduled, in order to achieve that. Thank you for your patience. As ever, I’d welcome any feedback on any aspect of the site, positive or negative: e-mail here (Opens in a new window). David Grantham
