Newsletter - Tue 25 Apr, 2023

Prezzo closes in Redhill

Prezzo's branch at 33, London Road, Redhill, has shut.

It's one of 46 locations nationwide being closed by the Italian food and drink chain, as it looks to focus on its better-performing sites.

The announcement to the Redhill staff was made on Monday: the branch did not open that day and will remain closed. Staff are now going into a consultation process.

Speaking about the national closure programme, Dean Challenger, chief executive of Prezzo, said he was proud of the way colleagues had responded to the challenges of the last three years in the country's high streets, "but the reality is that the cost-of-living crisis, the changing face of the high street and soaring inflation has made it impossible to keep all our restaurants operating profitably.

"That is why we have made the difficult decision to close 46 sites where the post-Covid recovery has proved harder than we had hoped."

He added that the company would work to find roles in alternative Prezzo restaurants for staff affected.

Cost rises in the "past year" highlighted by the chain, across the country, include a "more than doubling" of utility bills, and rises in ingredients including pizza sauce at + 28% and spaghetti at +40%.

Ninety-seven Prezzo branches remain.

As for Reigate, the town lost its Prezzo in July 2018 (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) (the site is now the ground floor of Nando's).

Inglis Memorial to-do list: finish repairs, clean graffiti

Work continues at the Inglis Memorial on Colley Hill, normally a convenient place to rest during a walk, and to enjoy a fine view from the North Downs.

The stone structure, donated to the borough in 1909 by Lt Col Sir Robert William Inglis, was closed by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council in early June last year to protect people from mosaic tiles falling off the decorated blue and gold ceiling.

A council spokesperson said last week that a specialist has now carried out preliminary repairs to the ceiling, and is due to complete the work "early this summer".

In the meantime, the project has seen some unauthorised removals of the 'Heras' fencing, but the council says it has "quickly replaced" missing parts.

However, graffiti has now appeared for the first time since the closure, on the lower part of the monument.

"The Inglis Memorial on Colley Hill is a historic landmark and we are disappointed that anyone would seek to vandalise it," the spokesperson said.

"Once the ceiling repairs have been completed, we will be employing a stonework graffiti remover to deal with the graffiti issue after which we will remove the Heras fencing and reopen the memorial for public use," they added.

The Light opening date revealed

A number of news outlets are reporting that the Light, the cinema chain going into the Rise (the borough council's development in Marketfield Way, Redhill), will open on Friday 16 June.

As previously reported, besides the six-screen cinema, other attractions will include a bowling alley and mini-golf.

Among the articles giving the latest about the opening is website Celluloid Junkie (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

Image: an earlier picture of the Rise, supplied by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council

Friday evening lights failure adds to roadwork pain on Reigate Hill, but all done now

UK Power Networks has now completed work that, last week, closed a lane of Reigate Hill (the A217), by the Yew Tree pub, just up from the Esso garage.

Temporary traffic lights caused tailbacks up and down the hill, the town's main link to the M25.

Things took a more difficult turn on Friday evening (21 April) when the lights on the downward side of the hill failed, with the up-the-hill set of lights stuck on red.

Delay, confusion and hooting of horns followed, including from those trying to travel up round the bend and keen to warn any oncoming down traffic.

Asked about the work and what happened on Friday evening, a UK Power Networks spokesperson said on Monday:

"Engineers have completed essential network repairs on Reigate Hill, Reigate, and removed the roadworks today ([Monday] 24 April).

"Temporary traffic lights were required to maintain safe pedestrian access while our team excavated and repaired an underground cable fault from [Wednesday] 19 April.

"Following a reported fault on the lights at 6.48pm on Friday (21 April) we attended as quickly as possible to fix them by approximately 8.30pm.

"We apologise for any traffic disruption and safety is our top priority as a company."

Sports Festival and YMCA Fun Run

This coming Sunday (30 April) two annual events are taking place in Priory Park, organised by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and YMCA East Surrey.

The Sports Festival offers free taster sessions with local sports clubs, alongside displays from them and local dance groups, and other activities.

Also in the park, the YMCA Fun Run consists of two courses of 1 mile (juniors and adults) and 5 miles (adults, which also takes in local lanes). The YMCA runs are ticketed, with proceeds going to support the charity's work with young people in the borough.

Details of the Sports Festival and the Fun Run (including booking details for the two YMCA courses) are on a YMCA webpage (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

Earlswood Farmers Market

Also happening this Sunday (30 April), the monthly Earlwood Farmers Market is at the Marquis of Granby, in Hooley Lane, Redhill, at a slightly earlier time than usual, 9am - 1pm. There's more on the event page here (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

Minor edit 26 Apr 2023: “Festival of Sport” has been changed to “Sports Festival”