Local Resident
Appearances
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
One time I did it by myself.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
I thought it was very well structured in that it gave everybody the opportunity to say very honestly how they felt about the need for arts within Redhill and the surrounding community.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
I was interested in the questions. Personally, I used to use the Wallace Cinema and come down six or seven times in the year and it was convenient. I could get there in ten minutes and it was there. So that was the main use of the building.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
I've heard recently of groups having to go to East Grinstead and East Horsley to perform, but that's not really serving the local community.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
Just at a point where we've got new investment in the cinema and all the rest of it, we're watching the other part of Redhill essentially closed. That can't be any good for the town as a whole in terms of morale, local business and all the rest of it.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
The other thing I've lost is there was a yoga class that was happening. I joined about a year or so before it shut. And that's easy to get in and easy to get home for, for working people who come by train. So the... The access to the main line I think is the other big thing as to why as a venue it's important we have that.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
I can't see them trying to use another building somewhere as a question. That depends where it is. And then what else is there locally they could use?
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
A lot of money has recently been invested in new homes, affordable homes and flats in and around Redhill. Redhill has a really big community of people living within a few hundred metres of the town centre. And without this facility at the moment, it's sitting empty at night. That's not good for the town.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
The M25 is a barrier. I don't see people in Banstead socialising south of the motorway. It's one side or the other. But you get friends, and I drive the social things in Nutfield or Bletchley. They come here. They're still RH1. It's nearer. So you're looking at sort of five miles around the Harlequin and Redhill as to their catchment area, who will come.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
I've probably only done about five events in the theatre in the 20 years I've lived here, but it was a nice value for money evening out.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
We should be reopening the Harlequin as soon as possible because it provides a really, really essential local hub particularly for community arts groups, dance groups, people that sing, that sort of thing. But it also does bring in professional acts from the wider circuit to the centre of Redhill, so ideally we should be doing that.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
If there's one priority in the short to medium term it's to provide the ability for local groups to perform In Redhill.
The Planet Reigate Podcast
57: Your Harlequin 'drop-in' feedback, Betchworth’s Apple Day… and more
I think they have to prioritise investment to provide something in the short to medium term that enables performance to continue locally in the most fit-for-purpose possible facility that is either close to the centre of Redhill or within walking distance. Otherwise we're going to be letting local people down and that's what this is all about.