Borough

Your magazine from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council Autumn 2012

Plus

Find out more insideFocus on food

Win a Cullenders hamperLooking back on a summer of celebrations

We are happy to provide information in other languages, large print, braille or on audio tape. Please contact our Help Line 01737 276000 if you would like this service

Borough News is the official magazine of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. It is also available on our website: www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/boroughnews

To advertise in Borough News please contact communications@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Advertisements do not imply endorsement by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council of any goods or services. © Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.

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The easiest way to communicate with the Council and access various services is via our website. Help Shop Online is available 24 hours a day at

2 www.reigate-banstead.gov.ukHelp and advice

Visit us: For information on the location and opening hours of any of our six Help Shops located around the borough visit www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/helpshops

Write to us: Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate RH2 0SH

other useful contactsRaven Housing TrustTel: 01737 272 400 Email: raven@ravenht.org.uk www.ravenht.org.ukCitizens Advice Bureau Tel: 08444 111 444www.reigate-bansteadcabx.org.uk

Surrey County Council Tel: 03456 009 009 Minicom: 020 8541 9698 SMS: 07527 182 861Email: contact.centre@surreycc.gov.uk www.surreycc.gov.uk

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Email us: customer.services@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

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Report it Tell us about problems ranging from abandoned vehicles to faulty car park ticket machines.

www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/hso/

Contents

Contents

3www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk

WelcomeFrom Cllr Joan Spiers, Leader of reigate & Banstead Borough Council

Hello, and welcome to the autumn edition of Borough News.

Firstly, thank you for using our new recycling and refuse service to recycle

more from home, appreciating that the new service won’t reach some properties until next summer.

The theme of this issue is food. In the first fortnight of food recycling in Horley we collected 28 tonnes of food waste. By using the new service, you helped divert this from landfill and with landfill tax at £64-a-tonne – that’s a lot of money saved!

Recycling as much as we can saves us all money but reducing the waste we produce in the first place is even better. We’re encouraging everyone to rethink their rubbish, reduce the rubbish they create and recycle more of what remains.

Inside there’s a special feature on the hidden treasures in the North of the borough. Interesting attractions including historic sights, beautiful green spaces and great places to eat and shop await visitors.

Summer 2012 was truly one to remember. We look back on the highlights including the wonderful Jubilee celebrations, the Olympic Torch passing through the borough and the Tour of Britain starting at Priory Park. These national events definitely put our little bit of Surrey on the map. Until next time, enjoy reading this issue.

Northern highlights - page 10

Olympic Torch Relay - page 13

Jubilee fireworks - page 13

8 107

4 News Looking for a trader you can trust?

5 News Triple award win for our Horley Leisure Centre

6 We are listening Get involved and voice your opinion!

7 get on the property ladder Have you got a property to rent?

8 Focus on food From food hygiene to reducing your food waste

10 Northern highlights Take a trip to the north of the borough and visit Banstead, Nork, Tadworth and Chipstead

11 rethinking your rubbish Find out more about your recycled rubbish

12 Fun for the young How to become more active

13 What a summer What a fantastic and exciting summer we've had!

14 What's on This autumn and winter season packed with things to do

get on the property ladder

Win a cheese and wine hamper

Northern highlights

www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk4 News

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Schools go for gold

Last chance for FrEE cavity wall and loft insulation

Looking for a trader you can trust?

Newserstham Primary and Epsom Downs Primary Schools are the first in the UK to achieve Gold Sustrans Bike It Marks for successfully

creating a cycling culture in their schools.

“This is a fantastic achievement”, said borough Bike It officer, Gayle Amorowson, “especially considering that when Merstham Primary joined Bike It five years ago, just 9% of children regularly cycled to school. Thanks to dedicated staff, children and parents, it’s now 31%, and at Epsom Downs Primary over half the pupils (57%) now regularly cycle to school.”

Gold schools must demonstrate a sustainable culture of cycling, provide cycle training, have trained staff to run a cycling club and hold regular events to promote cycling. Cycling must also be included in the school’s curriculum and plans. Gayle works with 34 Bike It schools across the borough.

f you are looking to make home

improvements this autumn you can find reliable local traders through Surrey’s Buy with Confidence scheme.

The scheme, run by Surrey County Council Trading Standards, allows you to choose from a huge range of businesses, from plumbers to gardeners, who have been vetted and approved

by Trading Standards Officers. Many will

consider smaller jobs for £75 and under.

For more information visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/buywithconfidence or call the Citizens Advice

consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06.

ime is running out to get your home insulated for free and save up to £300 a year on your energy bills. It’s free to all homeowners

or private tenants (with landlord’s permission), subject to survey and property size.

The current subsidy scheme will be replaced at the end of this year by the Government’s Green Deal - a loan scheme attached to the property and paid off by energy bill savings. Contact Action Surrey, for a free, no-obligation property survey.

Tel: 0800 783 2503, email enquiries@actionsurrey.orgwww.actionsurrey.org

in brief...■ Subscribe to Borough e-newsGet our e-newsletter, delivered direct to your inbox. Visit our website www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk

■ Flood warnings on FacebookThe Environment Agency has launched a free Facebook application to provide easier access to flood warning information and alerts. Go to facebook.com, search for ‘FloodAlerts’ and ‘like’ the app.

■ ‘Working Together’ is an Environment Agency consultation to help achieve the highest possible standards in our water environment for people and wildlife. To take part visit https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/portal/ho/wfd/working/together2012. To request a printed copy call 01707 632315.

■ Cycle SMARTCycle SMART aims to encourage cyclists and motorists to be aware of each other and cycle and drive safely. For details and road safety tips visit: www.drivesmartsurrey.org.uk

■ Changes to council tax benefitCouncil tax benefit will be abolished in April 2013 and we will get £700,000 less from government to spend on council tax support, so some claimants may have to pay more towards their council tax. Pensioners and vulnerable people will be protected. We want to hear your views, even if you don’t receive benefit. Take part at www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk or 01737 276497.

Newswww.reigate-banstead.gov.uk 5

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omposting is a perfect solution for dealing with garden and food waste.

Visit www.surreywastepartnership.org.uk or call 0844 571 4444 for tips on how to get started.

For seasonal composting advice, answers to common queries, latest news and to win great prizes sign up to Surrey County Council’s free monthly e-newsletter getcomposting@surreycc.gov.uk

CompostingYoung Workers Scheme

f you run a local business please help young people get a foot on the employment ladder by creating a Young Worker Scheme

similar to ours, offering six month paid employment plus support, advice, learning and development to unemployed 18-24 year olds in the borough. Enthusiastic young people keen to learn, impress and network benefit the local economy as they emerge onto the job market confident, skilled and experienced after their placements.

Our third and largest intake of 46 new Young Workers have taken up six-month roles in over twenty areas, including Customer Services, The Harlequin Theatre, Parks & Countryside, Cemeteries, Licensing, Waste & Recycling, Housing Support, Benefit Support and IT. Any businesses interested in learning more please contact Simon Bland or Steve Bevan on 01737 276000.

Independence for you, peace of mind for your family

elecare is a 24-hour service using simple equipment to help potentially vulnerable people live independently in their homes for

longer. The basic kit consists of a Telecare unit and a pendant for the user to wear. When activated the alarm alerts a 24-hour care service. A range of additional sensors and devices are also available.

The service, provided by a partnership of Surrey councils, includes a free 12 week trial (subject to conditions) followed by a weekly charge, typically a few pounds a week. For details visit www.surreytelecare.com, call 0800 1956035 or text 07976 843825.

New intake of Young Workers with Council Leader, Mrs Spiers and Councillor Mrs Mill

Triple award win for new horley Leisure Centre

orley Leisure Centre has won three prestigious industry awards:

• a ‘Silver’ Green Apple Award for its positive contribution to the built environment

• the Community Benefit award at the Institution of Civil Engineers Engineering Excellence Awards

• a Local Authority Building Control (LABC) Building Excellence Award for best small commercial building

The centre was also a finalist in the LABC’s Best Sustainability in Design category.

Awards judges were particularly impressed with the building’s architecture, its sustainable construction and its almost carbon neutral operation.

Drop in to find out about volunteeringWant to volunteer but not sure what to do or where to start? The Volunteer Centre can help by matching your skills and interests with local volunteering opportunities. To find out more, come along to their drop in sessions at Banstead and Horley Help Shops or Merstham Community Facility.

For dates and times visit the Volunteer Centre website: www.reigateandbansteadvolunteercentre.org or tel: 01737 762115.

www.reigate-banstead.gov.ukLocal democracy6

Comment Click Chat

Communityfocus

We’re all ears

We run consultations on a whole range of subjects, from changes to recycling and refuse services, to improvements at your local playground.

All our consultations are posted on Twitter so you don’t have to keep checking what is coming up, let us do the work. Follow us on @reigatebanstead.

How to help shape your borough in five minutes

• FollowusonTwittertobekeptuptodatewithconsultations

• Lookupyourcouncilloronourwebsiteanddropthemanemail

• Commentonaplanningapplicationonline

Your local councillor can raise issues on your behalf. They may also run regular surgeries where you can chat face to face.

If you do have the time, did you know you can ask a question at full Council meetings?

There is a brand new election coming up for Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner in November. If you’ve been wrestling with children all day you’ll want to use our easy online electoral registration process. This allows you to confirm your details in a couple of clicks, if nothing has changed.

About the Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner The new Commissioner (elected November 15) will set the police budget and the strategy for cutting crime. They will also hold the Chief Constable to account.

Please don’t lose your vote for this and other elections, if you need any help contact our Help Line on 01737 276000.

You can find out more about all these ways to shape your borough on our website www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk. So there’s nothing to stop you telling us your views. We’re all ears.

There are all sorts of ways you can make your voice heard in between elections to help shape our borough. After a day’s commuting you might not want to spend the evening at a Council meeting but having your say might be easier than you think.

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Housing www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk 7

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orriane Rathborn, the manager of a local nursery had dreamt of owning her own home but wondered how

she would ever afford it. Thanks to the HomeBuy shared ownership scheme, she is now the proud owner of a new two bedroom flat in Reigate.

“I’m over the moon to have my own home”, said Lorraine. “I never thought I’d be able to afford a property like this on my own. The process was fairly quick and easy too and there was always someone on hand to give advice and guide me through the process.”

Lorraine applied online to join the HomeBuy register earlier this year and picked up the keys to her flat in July. She has a

manageable mortgage and pays below market rent on the share owned by the housing association.

Catalyst Housing Group is the Surrey agent for HomeBuy, a government initiative aimed at helping first time buyers.

For more information and available properties visit www.catalysthomebuy.co.uk or call 0845 601 7729.

Get on the property ladder – help for first time buyersHouse prices in Reigate and Banstead are amongst the highest in the UK, making it difficult for first time buyers to get on to that first step of the property ladder.

Calling landlords...property to rent?

o you have a property to rent out or are you are a landlord

looking for your next tenant? If so, the YMCA’s NextStep scheme can help you.

Next Step works with the Council and landlords to help families in need of housing into private rented accommodation, by providing a deposit guarantee.

The scheme has many advantages:

• it is free of charge

• NextStep manage the process of filling vacancies with tenants they work with. They manage all the paperwork needed to start and maintain a tenancy (except gas safety and EPC certificates)

• all applicants undergo an assessment and NextStep provide references

• they administer tenants’ claims for housing benefit, including dealing with queries

• the scheme provides financial security through a six-month guarantee bond, whilst NextStep work with tenants to help them save their own deposit

• they also provide advice on landlord and tenancy matters to help the tenancy run smoothly

For more information visit www.ymcaredhill.com or call 01737 378482.

“I’ve been a landlord for over 25 years. In recent years I have established a very positive working relationship with NextStep and they’ve found me some fantastic clients. They provide excellent advice and support on both landlord and tenant matters. I would definitely recommend NextStep to other prospective landlords.”

“The process through NextStep was brilliant – it was efficient and really quick. This place has given me a home and I can be a mum. They are a great support.”

The Council works with developers and housing associations to provide new affordable homes for sale and rent.

Did you know?

Tom – Horley landlord

Fiona – new tenant

www.reigate-banstead.gov.ukRecycling & waste8

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Cleanandgreen

Focus on foodreduce your food waste

hen it comes to food waste, reducing what’s produced is best. Local residents and the couple

behind the borough’s popular delicatessen chain Cullenders, Marc and Joelle, have joined forces with us to encourage people to cut down on their food waste.

Here’s Marc’s handy tip for using leftover bananas:Banana Smoothie

Fruit is easy to forget at home, but don’t bin brown soft bananas. In the shop I whizz up:• 1 brown banana • a handful of ice• 300ml of milk (try soya – it’s delicious)• a tablespoon of syrup, • a small handful of oats• a tablespoon of peanut butter (optional but worth it!)Blend until smooth.

Win a Cullenders Cheese & Wine hamperFor a chance to win a hamper, tell us your best tip for reducing food waste. Email your entry to: boroughnews@reigate-banstead.gov.uk Don’t forget to include your name and phone number. Closing date for entries: Wednesday 31 October 2012

Prize: Cullenders Cheese & Wine hamper.Terms & conditions: Entrants must be 18 or over and residents of the borough of Reigate & Banstead. One entry per person. No purchase necessary. All entries must be received by 5pm Wednesday 31 October 2012. By entering the competition entrants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions and to take part in publicity connected with the competition. Entries will be judged by a panel of judges. The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The winner will be notified by 28 November 2012.

TIPS to waste less food• Keep your fridge below

8 degrees C.

• Use your freezer – freeze food in individual portions, carefully wrapped. Defrost only what you need.

• Understand food dates, ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ labels

• Plan your meals; check what you’ve got, write your shopping list and only buy what you need.

Visit www.lovefoodsurrey.com for more details.

how to use your food waste caddyPut food waste to good use with your new recycling service*. Use your silver kitchen caddy to collect food waste, empty it regularly into the outdoor green food container, lock this by lifting its handle and leave out for collection every week. Your food waste then goes into making fertiliser.

Don’t forget to compost the banana skin or put it in your food waste caddy.

* in homes with individual wheeled refuse bins currently; rolling out to other homes from 2013

Disposing of food waste? You can use newspaper or cornstarch liners (available from shops or online) to line both your kitchen and outdoor food caddies. This will help keep them clean and help our crews who collect the food waste. Please don’t use plastic or biodegradable plastic bags as, unlike newspaper, these do not rot down when the food waste is composted.

Please reduce food waste to save money and help keep the pressure on council tax down.

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Recycling & wastewww.reigate-banstead.gov.uk 9

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Safeand

healthy

Lisa Wareham

ollow Environmental Health Officer and star of the BBC’s Food

Inspectors programme Lisa Wareham’s ‘4 Cs’:

• Cleaning: clean kitchen surfaces and wash hands and utensils before and after preparing food.

• Cooking: follow cooking and temperature instructions carefully. Food should be piping hot and meat cooked right through.

• Cross contamination: always keep raw and ready-to-eat foods apart. Wash your hands between handling each; use separate chopping boards for both.

• Chilling: keep your fridge below 8 degrees. Cool hot food quickly.

f you want to eat out knowing that you will have healthy,

nutritious meal options available, help is at hand through the ‘Eat Out, Eat Well’ awards. Bestowed on caterers who help customers make healthy eating choices, the award takes into account types of food, cooking methods and how the meals are promoted.

Nine restaurants across Reigate and Banstead are already accredited, with most other food

Eat out with confidence

orough residents should be reassured: food hygiene levels in the 700+ local businesses inspected by the

Council as part of the national Food Hygiene Rating Scheme are high. Nearly 90% have five or four star (very good/good) ratings. Our inspectors will work with the tiny percentage with poor two, one or zero star ratings (indicating different amounts of improvements needed) to raise their food hygiene standards. Prosecution is our last resort if businesses don’t take their responsibilities seriously and continue to endanger peoples’ health through shoddy food hygiene practices.

Find out if the restaurants, pubs, supermarkets, cafés and take-aways you use have good food hygiene by checking the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme sticker on their doors. Or look online at www.ratings.food.gov.uk

Keep food safe

Eat out, Eat Welloutlets, including take-aways and workplace canteens eligible to apply. Council Food & Safety team leader Katie Jackson explains: "The Eat Out, Eat Well Award rewards caterers offering healthy choices and a balance of taste and nutrition on their menu to give healthier meal options for all the family”.

www.reigate-banstead.gov.ukBorough focus10

CommunityfocusNorthern

highlightsBanstead, Tadworth, Nork and Chipstead are just a few of the many villages located in the north of our borough around which you will find a host of hidden treasures to sample and explore. Here are just a few tempting highlights.

are several independent shops such as the Banstead Fruiterers, JJ Snuggs the jewellers and also the very fine Ibis Bookshop.

Things to seeJust seconds away from Banstead High Street is the recently refurbished Lady Neville Pavilion and recreation ground which will appeal to all with its new cafe, multi use games area and bowling club. For historians St Margaret's Church, Chipstead is one of the most picturesque in the area. While to the west is the pretty village of Walton on the Hill complete with its chocolate-box Mere Pond on the edge of the heath.

All of this and more right on our doorstep.

out and aboutPick up or download a leaflet and follow the way-marked Town and Down circular walk which takes in two of our most historic sites: Nork Park and Banstead Downs. Every year Nork Park holds a vibrant outdoor music festival in July and the Countryside Day at nearby Banstead Woods in September is recognised as a great day out for all the family.

Cafe cultureCafe connoisseurs are spoiled for choice; in Banstead Village Edibles is a delightful deli and popular cafe ideal for enjoying a quick coffee, a leisurely lunch or tranquil afternoon tea. They also specialise in unique food hampers and gift baskets.

Alternatively you might venture over to Tadworth where The Chalet is described as "a small but perfectly formed independent bakery" where you can relax with friends and stock up on homemade bread, freshly baked croissants and an array of delicious finger-licking cakes.

retail therapyBanstead village has a charming old-fashioned high street with only a few major chains and a genuinely friendly atmosphere. As well as the recently rebuilt Waitrose supermarket, there

Cleanandgreen

Recycling & wastewww.reigate-banstead.gov.uk 11

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Recycling roadshow

New recycling vehicle

rethinking Your rubbish

Up to 45,000 homes across the borough can now recycle more of their rubbish with our new recycling and refuse service.

Where does it all go?Two questions we are often asked are:

• How can my rubbish be recycled if most of it goes into one bin and what happens to it?

Once sorted:

• Paper/card are pulped, dried and made into paper and card products

• Mixed plastics become new plastic items e.g. bottles, yoghurt pots and piping

• Cans and tins are made into new ones• Glass is sorted by colour, melted and

made into new bottles and jars• Food waste is turned into soil improver.

Less goes to landfill now that our new recycling service is operating.

ith 80% of typical bin contents suitable for recycling, the new

service makes it easy to do so from home using a combination of mixed recycling wheeled bins, food waste containers and paper/cardboard recycling boxes.

Here’s a snapshot of early results. In the first four weeks of the new service we collected and diverted from landfill:

• 57.5 tonnes of food waste

• 77.96 tonnes of mixed recycling

• Residual waste fell to 294.22 tonnes, compared to 452 tonnes for the same period last year.

• Landfill tax of some £10,000 was saved as a tax of £64 a tonne is levied for each tonne sent to landfill.

Thank you to everyone using the new service – you’re helping keep rubbish out of landfill and helping save money for the council and residents.

We are now working on designing bespoke recycling solutions for the borough’s remaining 12,000 homes (including those with communal bin areas, flats above commercial premises and those using black council sacks for refuse). These should be introduced from summer 2013 onwards.

orley family Danny and Ali Kilborn and children Abigail and Ollie, are

one of the first households to have the new service and welcome it. Ali said: “Doing more for the environment and getting our children into the recycling habit early is exciting. And we can recycle more materials now”.

“The mixed recycling bin makes life much easier, especially knowing what we put in is automatically sorted at the recycling plant. Although initially unsure about the indoor food caddy, its working well”, said Danny.

As a family, the Kilborns see the new service helping the environment and educating the young so that future generations see recycling as the norm. As Ali says: “we’ve rethought our rubbish and we’re surprised by how much more recycling we’re doing”.

Keep up to date and visit: www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/recyclemore

Follow us on Twitter at: Twitter.com/reigatebansteadFind us on Facebook.

Don’t forget our recycling centres can help you to recycle what you can’t from your home. Visit our website for their location details.

www.reigate-banstead.gov.ukLeisure12 Safeand

healthy

harlequin Arts WeekMon 15 – Sat 20 October 2012

A week full of activities for young people to showcase their performing and visual arts talents; following a £1m refurbishment of The Harlequin Theatre. The week has been jointly organised by the Arts Council and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council.

Hobgoblin Theatre Company WorkshopMon 15 October, 5pm-6.15pmTickets: £3Love drama? 7-11 years old? Come and join us at Hobgoblin Youth Theatre for a drama workshop as part of Harlequin Arts Week. Develop your acting skills, play games, meet some new friends and have fun working with professional actors. Hobgoblin Youth Theatre run weekly drama youth theatres in Redhill and Reigate. This event will be held in The Waller Cinema at the Harlequin.

Born to PerformFriday 19 October, 7.30pm Tickets: £7, Concs £5Starmakerz Theatre School, Charisma Singers and Reigate School perform a variety of dance and musical theatre numbers from top West End shows including Sister Act and Billy Elliot.

Reigate Photographic Society 2012 ExhibitionThu 18 - Sat 20 October, Upper Foyer, The Harlequin Theatre.

Harlequin Arts Week Gala EveningSat 20 October, 7.30pm Tickets: £5Featuring Orbit Shed, Banstead Arts Festival Society, Bastet School of Dancing, Star Steppers Performing Arts, Vocal Dimension, CARISMA Performing Arts.

For full programme details and bookings please visit www.harlequintheatre.co.uk or call the box office 01737 276500

Sport makers are people who help family and friends get more active. You can organise a game of cricket in the park, start a running group or even help with local sport events – it's up to you. You must be 16 years or over to join.

To become a Sport Maker sign up FREE at www.sportmakers.co.uk and book a workshop. Sport Makers is an official Olympic and Paralympics legacy programme delivered in Surrey

Why not become a Sport Maker and get more active!

by Active Surrey. You can:

• learn about the programme

• look for local sport activities

• get the Sport Makers resources and a FREE Adidas kit

• you could win prizes such as iPad 2, sport shop vouchers and more

• meet former Olympic and Paralympic athletes who support the programme.

Fun for the young Youth CouncilGet involved and join the Youth Council, which meets on the second Tuesday of every month – anyone aged 13-19 who lives or goes to school in the borough is eligible to join. For more information, please contact Catherine Gibson on 01737 276000 or email catherine.gibson@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Weekly basketball sessions now running at Horley Leisure CentreFriday 6pm - 7.30pm for 10-14 year olds,7.30pm - 9pm for 14+ including adults, £3 weekly.Beginners welcome for more information contact Catherine Gibson on 01737 276000 or email catherine.gibson@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

Dance classesLana Avis, Star 4 a Night choreographer, is now running weekly classes at Donyngs Leisure Centre studio on Friday evenings. Classes for all ages 5+ to adults. For more information contact lana.avis@hotmail.com

Are you a teenager 16 years or over?

Jubilee & Olympicswww.reigate-banstead.gov.uk 13

Communityfocus

What a summer of celebrations we've had. With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee at the beginning of June, followed by the Olympic Torch Relay in July and the Tour of Britain cycling event in September, this has been a joyful season of magical and historic moments to remember.

Wow, what a summer!

Jubilee – bunting, bangs and beaconsThe extended bank holiday weekend saw a variety of festivities across the borough including dozens of bunting decked street parties, a Diamond Jubilee Funday in Redhill and a Jubilation Street Party in Reigate’s Priory Park. The celebrations peaked with the lighting of the beacon and a spectacular fireworks display in Priory Park.

The best in community spiritThe Jubilee festivities brought out the best in community spirit as residents came together to host street parties, barbecues and games. “We all had a brilliant day; the weather was very kind to us.” said Elaine Atkins who told us about her street's party. “We closed the road from 9am-5pm and friends and neighbours came out and we all had lunch together. As you can see our community spirit is alive and well in Tadworth”

olympic Torch relayThe sun shone and the streets of Redhill and Reigate were packed with well wishers on Friday 20 July. It seemed that everyone wanted a glimpse of the glittering 2012 torch as it passed through our borough. An estimated 35,000 people lined the route which was marshalled by around 175 volunteers from local groups and the council. Adrian Pointer, owner of Simply Sports in Reigate High Street said, “It was an inspirational day which brought the whole community together. We had great fun when Wenlock made a special visit into our shop.”

The Tour of BritainTo cap off our carnival season, we have just witnessed over 100 of the world’s greatest cyclists set off on the decisive final stage of The Tour of Britain from our own stunning Priory Park. What a magnificent sight and a great opportunity to showcase some of our local sports and community performers.

Jubilee fun

Fireworks in Priory Park Firework Beacon

Olympic Torch Relay handover

www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk14 What's on

If you would like to publicise your events, please email boroughnews@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

What’s onAutumn and winter are fast approaching – why not come and enjoy activities around the borough

Sleepwalk – A walk under the stars

Saturday, 29 September

Priory Park, ReigateStart time: 10pm A 10-mile charity walk from Priory Park, Reigate around Reigate and Redhill to raise money for The Children’s Trust, Tadworth which provides specialist care for some of the UK’s most severely disabled children and children with an acquired brain injury.Book your place now at www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/sleepwalk

Autumn ramble Week gatton Park

Mon 22 – Fri 26 October

Daily tours around the park and gardens to see the autumn colours. Meet at the lynch gate of St Andrews Church.Tours daily at 1pm Cost £401737 649 068

gatton ghost Stories

Sunday 28 October

A guided tour around ghostly Gatton Park to hear spooky stories to scare your socks off! All children must be accompanied by an adult. First tour for younger children – it will get spookier the later you come.Tours start at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm: Cost £5 Gatton Park 01737 649 068

Surrey history Centre

Thursday 15 November

Surrey War Hospitals, Woking. An illustrated talk by Lawrence Spring.

Christmas fair at the Children’s Trust, Tadworth

Saturday, 24 November

Tadworth court, Tadworth12 noon – 4pm. Entry £2.50 for adults. Children free. A great afternoon of entertainment for all the family, including plenty of activities for children, lots of stalls selling a variety of merchandise, ideal for those Christmas gifts. For further information, please visit: www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/christmasfair

St Marks church

Thursday 17 January

Reigate, Alma RoadPresented by his daughter Valerie Jones. London Recollections from the early life of Bert Long, who made this recording for the Museum of London Oral History Department at the age of 88 years. It covers his childhood and teenage years in Westminster, and deals with subjects such as the General Strike and the great flood of the River Thames.Further information contact Rosemary Creasey 01737 771502

reigate & District Family history group

St Mark's Church Hall, Reigate, Alma Road. 8pm on the third Thursday for 6 months through the year. Members are free visitors £2Further information contact Rosemary Creasey 01737 771502

WIN a family ticket for this year’s pantomime

Cinderella at The harlequin Theatre & Cinema

Question: What long running ITV daytime show, does Andrea McLean co-present?

To enter, simply email your answer to harlequin@reigate.banstead.gov.uk Write your name, address and telephone number. Closing date Friday 2 November 2012.

17 November - 24 December

Artists homes and studios. Free. For the first time Surrey artists are hosting Art for Christmas, running from mid November until Christmas Eve. Open to all the family where the public can visit artists and makers in their own homes and studios viewing delightful work and sourcing unique pieces of creativity. www.surreyopenstudios.org.uk For further information contact: 01483 519285

Top: Screenprint by Helen Locke, artist based in Farnham

Far left: Ceramic figure by Jean Tolovsky based in Worplesdon

Left: Winter scene, painting by Janice Windle, artist based in Guildford

Surrey Artists open Studios presents Art for Christmas

What's onwww.reigate-banstead.gov.uk 15

Harlequin highlightsThe Harlequin Theatre & Cinema is the perfect destination to head for this autumn and winter season. There is a great line up of events, shows and film releases.

Toyah – The Changeling Resurrection tourSaturday 27 october at 8pmTickets: £18.00With material not performed in thirty years, this is a true celebration and re-interpretation of Toyah’s finest albums alongside hit singles.

Sid’s showSaturday 10 November at 11am & 2pmTickets: Adults £12, Children £10, Family (4) £40Sid Sloane, everyone’s favourite presenter from BBC CBeebies brings his fantastic new show, full of plenty of poems, songs, magic and fun to The Harlequin.

CinderellaFriday 14 December 2012 – Sunday 6 January 2013Tickets: From £11.00Starring Loose Women’s Andrea McClean and Danny Boys (Any Dream Will Do), this classic rags to riches fairy tale is brought to life this Christmas at The Harlequin.

For further information on What’s On at The Harlequin, please call the Box Office on 01737 276500 or visit www.harlequintheatre.co.uk