Reigate News
The latest Reigate news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Horley High Street Car Park to Be Sold on Open Market
Horley's 86-space High Street car park is to be marketed for sale to the highest bidder, the option the council's own officers advised against.
More stories
Health
East Surrey Hospital Heart Unit Cuts Admissions Over 25%
East Surrey Hospital's new same-day heart unit sent almost 80 patients home within 24 hours in three weeks, cutting cardiology admissions by over 25%.
Reigate Hill
1,000 Ash Trees to Be Felled on Reigate Hill, Banstead Downs
About 1,000 diseased ash trees will be felled on Reigate Hill, Banstead Downs and three other commons from October, at a cost of £295,000. Expect path closures.
Redhill
Harlequin Redhill: No Reopening Date, Price Due 30 October
The council cannot give a reopening date for Redhill's Harlequin, shut since 2023. The builder's final price is due 30 October, with work from late November.
Reigate
Reigate Barclays Van Stops 23 October: Where to Bank Next
The Barclays van at Morrisons in Reigate makes its last visit on Friday 23 October. Here is what it does, and where Barclays customers can go after that date.
Reigate
Reigate Cadets Get Freedom of the Borough on 11 October
Four cadet units in Reigate, Redhill and Banstead get the borough's highest honour at Priory Park on Sunday 11 October, 1pm to 2pm. The public can go.
Reigate
Reigate Council Leader Faces No Confidence Vote on 1 Oct
A motion to remove Cllr Richard Biggs as leader of Reigate and Banstead council goes to full council on 1 October. No group has a majority.
Redhill
Horley Car Park to Be Sold, Redhill's Studied for Homes
Horley's 86-space High Street car park goes to open market sale; Redhill's 285-space Gloucester Road car park gets a study for council-owned affordable homes.
Council
Reigate Council This Week: No Confidence Vote, 35 Homes
Planning Committee on 30 September decides 35 homes in Merstham and a 64-bed Banstead care home; full council on 1 October votes on the leader.
Food hygiene
Horley Takeaway Rated 0 in Late Reigate Hygiene Ratings
Imperial Kitchen in Horley was rated 0 in August, and four more venues 1 or 2 over the summer. None was on the register when we first counted.
Horley
Horley Post Office Closes 3 October as Morrisons Shuts
Horley loses its post office on Saturday 3 October when Morrisons shuts its Victoria Square store. The nearest counter left is 0.8 miles away.
Horley
Horley Town Council Unveils Offices After £305,873 Grant
Horley Town Council's extended offices were unveiled on 18 September, paid for by a £305,873 developer-levy grant, with solar panels and a new kitchen.
Reigate
Reigate MP asks East Surrey to pause new town councils
Rebecca Paul has asked East Surrey's leader to hold off signing the Orders for the Redhill, Reigate and Banstead councils, over a £15 to £30 Band D precept.
Redhill
Three Arch Road, Redhill shuts for six days from 12 October
Surrey plans to shut Three Arch Road from the A23 to the East Surrey Hospital roundabout for six days from 12 October, on a diversion through 13 named roads.
Reigate
Reigate & Banstead house prices down £1,705 to £480,824
The borough average fell 0.4% in the year to July, and Tandridge has overtaken it again. Flats are down 2.7%; the first-time buyer average is £366,453.
Redhill
Redhill Aerodrome: 50% Back Homes Plan, 34.6% Oppose
Half of online respondents backed 2,250 homes at Redhill Aerodrome and 34.6% opposed. Around 600 email and paper responses are still to be counted.
Jobs
Reigate Claimant Count Hits 2,215, Highest Since 2022
2,215 people in Reigate & Banstead claimed in August, the most since February 2022. Claims are up 11% in a year, with over-50s up 24% and under-25s up 23%.
Redhill
Redhill Arts Takeover Lifted Belfry Visitors 35%
The Belfry says visitors rose 35% on the opening Saturday of Redhill Arts Takeover, its busiest day in six months. What the fourth festival brought to town.
Council
Reigate, Redhill and Banstead Get Town Councils in 2027
Three new councils for Reigate, Redhill and Banstead were approved on 14 September. They start on 1 April 2027 and could add £15 to £30 a year to Band D bills.
Council
East Surrey Council HQ Will Be Woodhatch Place, Reigate
Woodhatch Place in Reigate beat Esher's civic centre to be East Surrey Council's HQ from April 2027, despite £2.75m running costs, over double Esher's £1.1m.
Redhill
Harlequin Theatre Redhill: Roof Replacement Plans Submitted
The council has applied to replace the Harlequin's RAAC-hit roof. Comments close 2 October, councillors decide, and building could start in November.
Planning
Kingswood Legal & General: 299 Homes Approved
Councillors granted the derelict Legal & General site 299 homes on 9 September. The legal agreement must be signed by 29 January 2027 or permission is refused.
Planning
Reigate Planning: No Call-In Under 10 Homes From 31 Oct
From 31 October, officers must decide every Reigate & Banstead application under 10 homes, whatever the objections. The committee also drops to 13 members.
Schools
Beacon School Banstead Meets Ofsted Standard in 5 Areas
Ofsted rates The Beacon School at the expected standard in five of six areas, four years after an inadequate judgement. Attendance needs attention.
Planning
Reigate Local Plan 2044: Have Your Say by 26 October
The first consultation on the borough's new Local Plan is open until 5pm on 26 October. The council writing it is abolished in April 2027, before adoption.
Redhill
Redhill Memorial Park: £290,595 for Play Area and Gym
A second allocation of £162,343 will expand the Memorial Park playground, including equipment for children with additional needs. Total for the park: £290,595.
Food hygiene
Reigate & Banstead food hygiene: all 9 August checks got 5
All nine borough venues inspected in August scored 5, from East Surrey Hospital to Waitrose Horley. It was also the lightest inspection month in 20 months.
Police
Surrey Police merger: 80% of 3,430 surveyed say no
Eight in ten of the 3,430 residents who answered the Commissioner's survey oppose merging Surrey Police. The Government's review still has not named a number.
Planning
Kingswood L&G Site: 299 Homes, No Affordable Housing
Officers back 299 homes and a health club at the derelict Legal & General HQ in Kingswood, with no affordable housing at all. Councillors decide on Wednesday.
Planning
Banstead Betting Shop: Plan for an Education Centre
The former William Hill at 88 High Street would become an education centre under plans lodged this week. Comments close on 24 September, decision by 27 October.
Council
East Surrey Council: Who Runs What From April 2027
Waste contracts and the coroner would be run from West Surrey under the service split going to scrutiny on Wednesday. Bin crews and library counters stay east.
Merstham
Merstham FC 3G Pitch Clears Last Condition, Due October
The council signed off the final planning condition on Merstham FC's 3G pitch on 2 September. The £500,000 build is due to finish in October, with home games at Sevenoaks until then.
Reigate
Reigate Heritage Open Days: 9 Free Sites, 12 to 19 Sept
Nine buildings in Reigate and Banstead open free on 12, 13 and 19 September. Seven need no booking. The Town Hall tour is capped at 30 and booking shuts on 11 September.
Horley
Horley Car Parks: Free First Hour From 21 September
An hour's free parking replaces 20 free minutes at all three of Horley's council car parks from 21 September, scrapping first-hour charges of £1.40 to £1.80.
Banstead
Banstead Speed Limits: 1964 and 1965 Orders Set to Go
Surrey would scrap Banstead's 1960s 40mph limits and add 20mph streets there and around Dovers Green in Reigate. Comments close 24 and 25 September.
Reigate
Reigate & Banstead Polling Stations: 2,743 Could Move
Six polling places would change under council proposals, moving 2,743 voters. One Reigate street's walk goes from 5 minutes to 18. Comments close 7 September.
Redhill
Garibaldi Redhill: Community Buys Pub Freehold, 7 August
Redhill's Garibaldi is community-owned outright. The freehold at 29 Mill Street changed hands on 7 August 2026, paid for with a bank mortgage and grants.
Planning
Sandcross Lane Reigate: 235 Homes, Decision by 7 Oct
Miller Homes has filed the detailed design for 235 houses off Sandcross Lane. The council logged 18 objections and no support, and must decide by 7 October.
Planning
Sidlow Green Belt: 9 Self-Build Homes, Say by 11 Sept
Up to nine self-build homes are proposed on Green Belt land at Lower Duxhurst Farm, Sidlow. Comments close 11 September, and a decision is due by 24 September.
Schools
Reigate GCSE Results 2026: Four Schools Report Best Ever
Reigate Grammar put nearly half of all grades at 9 and St Bede's reached 92% in English and maths. Four borough schools reported records, four published nothing.
What's On
Fire Service Open Day in Reigate Today, 11am to 3pm
Surrey Fire and Rescue opens Woodhatch Place today, 11am to 3pm, with a quieter 10am hour. No booking needed, no dogs, and about 400 parking spaces.
Redhill
Redhill Aerodrome: the 2,250-Home Green Belt Plan
Tandridge wants 2,250 homes, two schools and a health facility on the 236-hectare airfield east of Redhill. What the documents say, and what the site scored.
Housing
Reigate House Prices Up 0.4% While Surrey's Fell 1.2%
The average Reigate & Banstead home sold for £480,481 in June. It was one of only five Surrey districts out of 11 where prices rose over the year. Next-door Tandridge fell 5.6%.
Jobs
Reigate Claimant Count: Over-50s Up 27% in a Year
2,180 people in Reigate & Banstead claimed unemployment-related benefits in July. Almost all of the year's rise is over-50s, up 26.7%, and under-25s, up 24.2%. The 25 to 49 group barely moved.
Redhill
Reigate & Banstead HMO Article 4: Say by 24 September
Small house shares would need planning permission from 30 July 2027. Licensed 5 to 6 person HMOs here are up 400% since 2019. Comments close 24 September.
Schools
Reigate & Banstead Ofsted 2026: Every School's Grades
Eight borough schools now have Ofsted report cards. All met safeguarding; Oakwood in Horley needs attention in five of six areas. Every grade in one grid.
Reigate
Reigate Dog Rules Review: Every Banned Park, £80 Fines
The borough is reviewing its dog control orders until 27 September. The £80 fine, the four-dog limit, and every park where dogs are banned or must be on a lead.
Reigate
Reigate A Level Results 2026: 94% A*-B at the Grammar
Reigate Grammar reported 94% of grades at A*-B, Reigate College 84.5% at A*-C. Every figure the borough's sixth forms published, plus the 20 August review deadline.
Reigate
The Cage Reigate: Noise Notice Appeal Ends 25 August
The Cage has until 25 August to appeal the noise abatement notice served on 5 August. What the notice actually says, and why its music licence could not stop it.
Redhill
Redhill chewing gum clean-up: £12,141 grant, work this month
A £12,141.86 Chewing Gum Task Force grant pays for a deep clean of Redhill's pedestrian shopping streets this month, then Bin Your Gum signs on lampposts.
Redhill
Redhill bubble tea firm Pearl Shake moves to wind up
Pearl Shake Ltd, registered at the Redhill unit housing the Mooboo bubble tea bar, has called a creditors' meeting for 14 August to enter voluntary liquidation.
Jobs
Unemployment benefit claims in Reigate & Banstead hit 2,190 in June, the highest in over a year
2,190 people in Reigate & Banstead were claiming unemployment-related benefits in June 2026, the ONS claimant count shows. That is 2.2% of working-age residents, up 165 on a year earlier and the highest monthly figure in the past 13 months.
Food hygiene
Reigate & Banstead food hygiene ratings, July 2026: 14 top scores, with two restaurants rated 'good'
16 Reigate & Banstead food businesses were rated in July 2026. 14 scored the top mark of 5, from Priory Park's cafe to the Gatwick Cambridge Hotel. Parkside in Reigate and the Firehouse at the Blue Ball in Walton on the Hill each took a 4.