The £150,000 refurbishment of the Preston Park Skatepark is now complete so riders can practice their tricks and skills in a purpose-built, social space. Exciting new obstacles, such as jump boxes, rails and quarter pipes, have been designed to challenge all abilities and there’s a separate warm up area, as well as seating for those who want to stay and watch the action. The new skatepark was funded by the Council’s Preston regeneration programme.

Have a question about the borough? If you live or work in Reigate & Banstead borough you can put your questions about local issues to Council Leader, Cllr Richard Biggs. The next Leader's Surgery is on Tuesday 22 August 2023. Email leadersurgery@reigate-banstead.gov.uk to book.

We are providing residents with access to a new wellbeing programme this autumn. Growing Health through Art and Creativity (GHAC) uses art and creativity to enhance quality of life and improve people's physical and mental health outcomes. We will be running creative classes at various locations throughout the borough, including a monthly art drop-in session every last Friday of the month at the Harlequin Theatre in Redhill. Access to GHAC is through referrals by GPs, social prescribers, community pharmacists, community development officers and charity partners. For further information contact arts@reigate-banstad.gov.uk

We are running a number of school holiday activities at various locations in the borough for children aged between eighteen months to 15 years. If your child is into Lego, Skateboarding, Parent and Toddler Yoga, Teen Yoga, Football, Tennis, Circus Skills, Animazing, Gymnastics, Circus Skills, Parkour and more, take a look at the holiday activities timetable on our website. There is a 50% discount if you have a looked after child, or are in receipt of benefits. 

A former Reigate councillor has been awarded with the title of Honorary Alderman by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. Mr Whinney was honoured for outstanding service to the borough, and for always speaking up for residents and making valuable contributions to the various committees he served on. During his tenure, he was an active member of the Employment Committee, the Licensing and Regulatory Sub-Committee, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and the Local Plan Scrutiny Review Panel. 

Do you have experience in managing parks and green spaces? We are looking for a Play & Projects Officer to manage and maintain our play spaces. We are also looking for among others, an Arboriculture Apprentice, a Welfare and Discharge Support Coordinator, Casual Cooks, Casual Drivers and Cleaners. If you are passionate, motivated and reliable, please get in touch.

Look out for an email, text or form from us soon asking you to check your electoral registration details and take action as soon as possible so that you can have your say in future elections. The annual canvass allows us to keep the electoral register up to date and invite people to register to vote if they aren’t already. With a number of elections taking place in 2024 (Borough elections, Police and Crime Commissioner elections, and potentially a parliamentary election), this is an important opportunity to make sure you can take part.

Surrey's favourite running festival Run Reigate will take place on Sunday 17 September at Priory Park. Applications are still open for those wishing to take part in the Half Marathon, 10K, 5K or the 1.1 mile Kids Race. Now in its tenth year, the event is a great day out for everyone with lots of activities including bars, music, food and family entertainment.

Harlequin Outdoors continues this month with Sense and Sensibility, Machamlear, and The Old Time Sailors the weekend of 15 August. Revellers have reported having a fantastic time at previous shows, and there is still time for you to be part of it all. Also still to come are Comedy at the Castle 2, Twelfth Night, and David Walliam's Bad Dad. Show times do vary so please check your tickets for further information and approximate running times.

Complete the online survey by 11 August to have your say on the review of the Redhill town centre Public Space Protection Order (PSPO). The PSPO aims to discourage anti-social behaviour in key public areas and gives police officers and the Council powers to intervene early and stop anti-social behaviour before it escalates. The current PSPO covers the pedestrianised shopping area and includes Memorial Park and the area around the railway pedestrian underpass. We are proposing to extend the area to include Clarendon Road car park where there have been reports of anti-social behaviour.

Active Surrey are looking for interested females to take part in a fully funded lifeguard course delivered by the Royal Life Saving Society UK. The free training is a great opportunity to learn a new skill and earn a good income and gain your NPLQ qualification. Applicants must be aged 16 years and above, able to jump/dive into deep water, swim 50m in less than 60 seconds, and swim continuously on their front and back in deep water. Dates and timings will be communicated later once Active Surrey has an idea about numbers. For more information, contact Laura White by email at: laura.white@surreycc.gov.uk

Young people aged 20 and under are now entitled to 50% off all adult bus fares across Surrey.  A new ‘LINK’ card has been developed by Surrey County Council which can be shown on any bus in Surrey to qualify for the discount on all single and return journeys. Journeys should start and/or end in Surrey and people in the qualifying age group must live in the county.

Merstham and Redhill residents are being encouraged to borrow free Health and Activity Trackers as part of a new collaborative project aimed at helping residents to take part in activities that will increase their physical activity levels. The trackers are available to borrow for six weeks with an opportunity to renew. They have a whole host of features including sleep and activity tracking, heart rate and stress monitoring, and PAI – personal activity intelligence metric which can help wearers manage their health status.