The Planet Reigate Podcast
50: Our mile-by-mile 'A25-changes' explainer, making your own garden ornaments… and more
Fri, 23 Aug 2024
Episode 50 “Our mile-by-mile 'A25-changes' explainer, making your own garden ornaments… and more”For Saturday 24th August 202400:00 - What’s in this episode 08:00 - The Good Time Guide: Local places to go and things to do this weekend. 12:10 - GUEST: Lorraine from https://hedgesandhurdles.com/ about their outdoor experiences, workshops and courses using natural, sustainable materials at her picturesque barn near Leigh. 24:45 - The Planet Reigate area news (including at 25:00 – our mile-by-mile drive-thru of potential changes to the A25 between Reigate and Dorking). 47:45 - Planet Reigate area sport 48:32 - Planet Reigate Stars - thanking local heroes. This week from Redhill. 49:55 - The Good Time Guide: Local things to do and places to go this coming week. 56:05 - The 60-second Soundscape: this week the cheers and crunching of gears from CycloCross Reigate 2024.If you get value from The Planet Reigate Podcast, please give us value back in return; click here to support us with a small donation: www.buymeacoffee.com/theplanetreigatepodcast or share us with your colleagues. CREDITS:The seven-note Planet Reigate Theme is ©Peter StewartOther music www.Pond5.com:GTG - inspiringaudio Item ID: 116855857NEWS - ThomPie Item ID: 75456323STARS - jwsaudio Item ID: 073206386 SOUNDSCAPE PolkadotFlowersMusic Item ID: 136304431GUITAR - Frogard Item ID: 114324148DRAGON fx https://soundbible.com/ Listen: https://linktr.ee/PlanetReigatePodcastWeb: www.ThePlanetReigatePodcast.comFacebook: www.Facebook.com/ThePlanetReigatePodcastX (Twitter): https://twitter.com/PlanetReigateEmail: [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This is the Planet Reigate Podcast.
Hello Planeteers, this is Podcast Pete with the show exclusively, uniquely and proudly about RH1, 2 and 3. Welcome to episode 50. This is how we're reflecting and celebrating our love of life around here this week. Well, we're going to be spending some time in the local countryside speaking with Lorraine who will help you use plants and wood and reeds to create your own garden or indoor ornaments.
And big changes are set for the A25 between Reigate and Dorking. I've been down the road to report on what's likely to be happening and where. Also in the news this week, after that oil spill on the M25 roundabout, we look at some possible changes that are needed on the lanes there. A reminder of the plans for tower blocks at Redhill Station and how you can get your voice heard.
Congratulations to midwives at East Surrey Hospital, I'll tell you why. And also congratulations to students who performed on Main Street at Disneyland Paris. And I'll tell you why a local church had a film crew there this week and how you can get free hot drinks when you're out and about in the area this coming week as well.
Plus, of course, we have the good time guide of events across the area across the week ahead. Planet Rygate stars from Red Hill and our 60 second soundscape before we go at the end of the show. Well, you remember we reported on the cyclocross event in Priory Park in episode 46. This week, here, the cheers, the tears and the crunching of gears.
This is the Planet Rygate podcast with Peter Stewart.
First of all, let's welcome you to the show. Hello, thank you for joining me. Thank you for the loan of your ears. Thank you for the time that you've put aside. Maybe you're listening to us as you're doing the housework or the cleaning. Or maybe you're driving or commuting in your car, walking the dog, doing some other exercise, ferrying the kids around.
Or maybe you're relaxing with a cup of coffee or your breakfast on a weekend morning.
wherever you are whoever you are whatever you're doing welcome to the planet reigate podcast not just for reigate of course it's for the town of reigate and also the other towns and villages that are in the orbits of reigate chose reigate because well it's got the old town hall it's got the new town hall and uh it's kind of center of our area with buckland betchworth brockham
in one direction, and Redhill and Merstam in the other direction, and going south, we don't go very far north over the M25, because, you know, the trouble is, if you go too far north, you come across those dragons, but we go down to Chalwood and Outwood, and Lye, and down to... There's one of the dragons. And down to Hawley as well.
So, as I say, wherever you are, whoever you are, whatever you're doing, thank you for listening. And thank you so much indeed for listening over the last seven days. Last week was the second most downloaded week ever.
of our podcast, so thank you so much indeed, for showing your support, it's really appreciated, your support, your interest, it's fantastic to know that you're there, and you're, I was going to say tuning in, you don't really tune into a podcast, don't you, however you listen, whether it's clicking through, to one of the, what I call hot links, that we put out on social media, during the course of the week, or maybe you listen via our website, that's an easy way to do it as well, or maybe you're listening via,
your favourite podcast player. Or maybe you're watching the podcast on YouTube. Maybe it's through your telly. All sorts of different ways. However it is that you do it. Thank you so much. Also, I would like to say thank you to David who wrote to me during the course of the week.
He says, hi, they're just emailing you on your coverage of the Red Hill test route and the lack of signs, roads and lack of information. What a great and very important subject. I've been living around here for many years and And it doesn't seem to get any better. Well done to the driving instructor for reaching out. And let's hope to see some changes very soon. David, thanks for getting in touch.
Catherine bought me a coffee. She says, thanks very much indeed for the great coverage of the latest all about the Harlequin in Red Hill and much more in the borough as well. Yeah, absolutely. We know, don't we, about the Harlequin. We've reported on that over the last couple of three weeks.
First of all, the background information, and that was in episode 48, and also the decision that was made by the council last week in episode 49 as well. I had a couple of mentions on that from various people on social media saying, yeah, you turned that round so quickly. Yeah, we're following the council meeting and turned that round and actually put out
episode a little earlier than usual last Thursday or the Thursday night of last week I should say and yeah I say Catherine bought me a coffee I've met Catherine a few times I don't remember us ever sharing a cup of coffee in real life but Catherine did it virtually and you can do the same thing as well particularly if you go to the web address I'm about to give you on your mobile phone
You can tap a couple of buttons and you can buy me a virtual coffee, which would be really appreciated.
Support us at buymeacoffee.com slash theplanetrygatepodcast.
It was Millie Bright's birthday this past week. England and Chelsea player, of course, and local resident, who was made Honorary Free Woman of the Borough of Rygate and Banstead back in April. So I messaged happy birthday from our social accounts this week and pleased to get a like from Millie herself. I must say, I was rather thrilled at that.
So if you're listening, Millie, I hope you had a good day. When is that free woman ceremony going to be? I must get on to the council and find out about that because it would be lovely to record a brief conversation with Millie. Yeah, about her football career, but more specifically about what she loves about living. in the best bit of Britain, in the planet Reigate area.
This week I did some more recordings for future editions of the show at various places on Reigate Heath, the golf course opposite the Flangeford Road cottages, two or three bits of information came out of that recording. On Church Street as well... Hmm, why was I talking about Reigate Heath on Church Street?
Plus, I went up Cronks Hill and just off Hooley Lane as well, and I recorded in Charlewood. I also went underground into a basement of a building in Reigate. Yeah, this building you have driven past a dozen, dozen times. And, yeah, putting that aside for, yeah, in several weeks' time, you'll hear more about that. Don't want to give too much away at the moment.
And if you want to know why I was in those places, as I say, keep listening over coming weeks. And I had a birthday meal. I know. Yeah, it was my birthday last week. I had a birthday meal at Yaprak. We've got a branch on Reigate High Street and also at the Pheasant in Buckland. I've got no affiliation with either of them, but both provided excellent meals, particularly taken with Yaprag.
It was the first time that I've been to one of their branches. And, of course, dining with family and close friends and new friends helped as well. So, yeah, that was my birthday treat. So a couple of birthday meals there. OK, that's about it as far as the postbag goes. Now let's move on to the Good Time Guide.
Things to do, places to go over this weekend across the Planet Reigate area, exclusively to the Planet Reigate podcast.
The Good Time Guide. Things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate podcast.
Yeah, and don't forget you can tune in to episodes 45 and 48 or download them or you'll find us on our website as well. Hear more great stories from some of the brightest stars in the area from the Reigate and Banstead Volunteer Awards, episode 45 and 48. We spoke to people there, the only media who were in attendance at those ceremonies at the Town Hall.
And if you want a mention seven days before an event, then get in touch with me. You can fill out the form you'll find on the Planet Rygate podcast, or you can get more mentions and early mentions to get those early ticket sales with one of our Planet Rygate supporters packages. Ask me for more information. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com. At the Archway Theatre in Hawley, this is ongoing.
August the 20th it all started, goes through until the 24th and then again on August the 28th and 31st. A musical review called The Rhythm of Life that will take you on a journey through existence, showcasing the universal human experience through various musical theatre songs, including hits from the best of Broadway and the West End as well.
I quote, our talented cast made up of children and adults will be singing their hearts out as they navigate the audience through the trials and tribulations of life from childhood, self-discovery, love, heartbreak. Oh, I've been there.
recently a self-doubt and loss and i'll bounce back this relatable family show will have you tapping your feet smiling and clapping but hold on someone say clapping yeah clapping possibly wiping a tear but most of all it'll leave you feeling nostalgic happy and uplifted Yeah, that is at the Archway Theatre in Crawley.
And I'm pleased to say that the Planet Reigate podcast is proud to be official media partner with the Archway Theatre in Hawley. For more information and booking details, go to archwaytheatre.com or phone 0333 666 3366. Also on Saturday, meet at Marjorie Wood National Trust Car Park for the East Surrey Walkers Group. That's a charge of £4, and that's for the parking there.
Then you walk across Bandstead Heath to Walton-on-the-Hill, back through Mogador. I always feel as though Mogador sounds as though it should be in Lord of the Rings. No styles, but liable to be particularly muddy. Circular walk, which is always handy, isn't it? It's one of those awkward ones where you go on a linear walk, which, as I say, can be quite awkward.
07967 002126.
Let's move on to Sunday. Ephemera Collage Club. It's a monthly event. It's a collage event. Get ready to dive into the world of creativity by learning the basics of collage making. We will run monthly events and this is an opportunity to socialise and get creative. Fake it till you make it, they say. No experience is needed.
all abilities are welcome materials and tools will be provided and a local artist will be hosting social collage events for the community of reigate and beyond eventbrite.co.uk and you want to go to um you want to search for collage workshop ephemera collage club it's a bit of a mouthful isn't it you'll make creative collages meet friends and socialize and network as well hey this is going to be easier
ephemera cc at gmail.com if you want some more information on that so that's places to go and things to do over this weekend i'll be back a little bit later on in the show with things to do and places to go over monday through to next saturday exclusively to the planet reigate podcast
From Reigate and Red Hill, Buckland, Betchwith and Brockham, great stories from places you love and people you know. This is the Planet Reigate podcast. .
My name's Lorraine Ellery Matthews and our business is called Hedges and Hurdles, Country Skills and Crafts.
We're just off Flanchford Road and what can we see ahead of us?
We can see quite far ahead into the distance here and it's a beautiful day today. We've got some lovely blue skies. We can see the hills of the North Downs. We can see farmland reaching quite far ahead of us. We're just surrounded by green trees.
Birds in the trees and the sun coming out, which is a lovely morning. And turning around, we've got an old pig barn, you reckon, that is now your place of work.
We're on the Tarrington estate, which is a huge site, but the tenant farmers nearby, in fact, my neighbour tenant farmer, informed me that this was actually where his grandmother used to keep the pigs. And you can see that because we've got a walled garden area as well as quite a large barn area.
So, what have we got? I can certainly see various things that you've made. These are kind of garden displays and ornamental displays.
We've got some gorgeous colours here, particularly that big pile of willow leaning against the wall here.
This is almost golden, isn't it?
It is.
It's ready gold.
It looks so fiery, doesn't it? And this particular willow is just a common willow that's been grown locally, in fact, just five minutes up the road. in somebody's garden that contacted me last year and informed me they had this willow and they knew that I created lots of plant supports with common willow like this, a sort of a Vimalaris, you should say.
Is this willow as well? This is quite intricate, isn't it? So the way this is grown naturally, I would guess, is quite kind of curly.
Yes, and we call it a curly willow. This is from our tree in our own garden. And we pollard it and use this gorgeous curly willow for decorative purposes. So it's great in our Christmas wreaths. And at this time of year, people are using it in the trellises that we make.
So trellises, and you're bending and you're shaping to make various different things. What can we see around us? What else?
So over to the right here in this very long trough, I've stood all different types of willow. There's three different stages of willow. So you have green willow, which is freshly cut, which is what we've just looked at here. And we have semi-green where the saps come out of the willow. It's still supple, still able to weave with it. And then we have brown willow.
And these are the brown willow bundles that I buy in from the Somerset Plains. So this is a cultivated willow. It's what... specialist basket weavers use for weaving because I also do basket willow crafts. I make sculptures like the duck for example.
Yeah these are fantastic aren't they? So these are ducks kind of more than life-size but only just a little bit.
Well actually this particular duck is life-size because it's based on a Cayuga duck which is an effervescent colour duck which we have on the Burley Estate where I also have another studio. Fantastic.
And you've got another one over here with a long tail. It's more kind of pheasant-ish, is it?
Yeah, this is a pheasant. So I was going to run a duck workshop for a group, and they said that they were very much into pheasant shooting, and they bred pheasants. So they said, can we make pheasants? And we did.
And I've just knocked my head on something else which is hanging from one of the rafters, a love heart.
It's a very popular one, particularly with our hen parties. It's something that can be done in a couple of hours and you can continually build on it and you can also plant it up as well.
And what are you joining these different ends with? Is that willow as well or is that basic string or what is it?
We don't really use string. The only time we use any other materials is probably for our obelisks just to secure the tops. We use like a wire tie. But for the hearts, we're just using willow. So in that bucket over there, you can see I've got some green willow. And this is what we've been using to create the knots on the peony cloche. And this is actually a living willow.
So I wouldn't use living willow for basket making because baskets shrink if you use living willow. But for these peony cloches... You can benefit from the colour, which is really nice.
Let's move over. That heart incident we just talked about was about, what, about a foot high. And we've got another heart over here, which is about a metre high, which is huge. And that's quite dramatic as well. That's something slightly different. That's a different kind of weaving, isn't it?
So that's using birch. And actually that very large heart, it was more for a wedding fair, in fact. And that's actually made onto a soft steel frame.
Okay, so over to these peony cloches. Now, cloche, I know, is the cover you put over food when it moves from, say, the kitchen to a table. So I'm guessing that this is the same kind of similar idea.
This is the plant equivalent. Yeah, yeah. We call it a peony cloche because it was designed to support peonies, for peonies to go through it. It's the perfect height and diameter and shape. And in fact, if you look down in it, I think it looks very tulip-like. It's very architectural.
Yes, with that kind of bulbous kind of head, yeah.
And back to what I was saying before, with the living willow, I'm using this to create the knots to hold certain areas of the design together. In fact, that's called a god's eye, so it's a specific weave. that's used just to secure something in place.
So we also have the very large obelisk, but we also have something similar, which is a cylindrical support for those plants, the tall ones, to then hang over the sides. So the obelisk here, gosh, how tall would you say that is?
Gosh, that's nine or ten feet, surely, to the top. I'm six foot two.
And the willow's probably been slightly trimmed as well. So people have choices to the height. They have to measure how much room they've got in their car or on their car, obviously, before they make a decision. But they can always trim down these tapered ends.
And these will look spectacular in your garden, even if you're not training flowers and plants around them.
No, I mean, they're very architectural, but they do look lovely with sweet peas, clematis, even your runner beans and French beans growing up them. And I use them for that purpose in my own garden.
And you're running courses to teach people how to make all of these?
Yes, so I specialise in the willow craft and we run courses throughout the year. Paul, my husband, is the hedge layer and he runs courses for hedge laying and drottle hurdle making. throughout the coppicing season, which is October through to the end of March. It creates a runway for animals, somewhere for them to be protected.
We get lots of small mammals in the hedges, the birds nesting in the hedges, but also what's really important as well is the fact that a hedge will sequester so much carbon, and that's not just in the hedge itself, it's also in the subsoil and the root system below the ground. So it's a very important heritage skill that needs to be passed on to the next generation.
And that's what we're really all about. Yeah, these traditional crafts and so on. Absolutely, yeah. So with me, with my willow craft, Paul with his hedge laying, we have a whole team of individuals that come and support us for any group activities that we do as well. And they all have their own specialities as well and skill sets.
I'm just watching a couple of, I don't know what they are. Are they little wagtails or something up in the trees with the long tails, the black and white ones? Can you see up there? It's beautiful to be out in the countryside. What's your background then, Lorraine? What got you interested in these kind of traditional country crafts?
My background was working in the scholarly publishing industry, in fact, for many years. I'd been in the corporate world for quite a long time. But when I met Paul, things did change. I still carried on travelling and working, but I started getting quite jealous, actually, of him. Him being outside. Yeah, and outside. And I'd reached a stage where I was ready for a change, to be honest.
I was travelling all over the world. I covered Asia Pacific, the Americas. Yeah, I was doing a lot of travelling. And I have a family as well, so it was nice to finally be able to slow down, yes, and look at what else I could do.
And I wasn't quite sure initially, but I did make a change and I decided that that was going to start by supporting Paul in the business and creating the business as it is today. And through that process, I then got involved.
in going around collecting materials that he was discarding and that started with the hazel and making wreaths for Christmas and one thing led to another and now I have a whole range, over 30 different types of workshops that I offer and continuing to learn from Paul as well as learning from other specialists in the industry.
Shall I tell you what happened then when you were telling that story? I was watching you.
You lit up. When you were talking about your previous job, you were looking away into the distance. You weren't making eye contact. And then when you started talking about this, your face lit up. You smiled. You looked at me and you were really...
infused so you're you're yeah you really picked up on that well for me that's what it's all about and this is what i love and i i did strive to think well what skill set have i got to bring and i thought well i've always loved bringing people together so even in my previous industry i was the one that you know arranged the parties and the get togethers and and everything and i love training people as well so it's all been about bringing people together and being in the outdoors has always been there as well we have dogs so we're
Paul and I always walk the dogs and that's how we got to know each other. And so, yeah, we both share that love of nature and gardening. And I just love bringing people to one of our locations like this and sharing this gorgeous view and chatting and, yeah, just being real.
And what kind of people are coming to your classes?
Anyone from 19 to 85, I mean, it really is a wide range. Yeah, there are predominantly a lot of middle-aged women like myself that want to come and do things like the Willow sculptures, where they want to sit and just take time themselves, where they want time out. Is it kind of mindfulness to actually get your, I was going to say get your hands dirty.
I'm guessing you don't get terribly dirty, but you're making something with your hands. You're seeing something develop in front of your own eyes that you've just learned how to do.
Yes, this is very much a mindful activity. Willowcraft really gives you an opportunity to focus on what you're doing and actually forget everything else. And I get that comment a lot from my customers, my clients. A lot of them say how nice it is to be in the outdoors. Many will be people that spend their time in the office and just really need to detox and get away from their day-to-day life.
We have a lot of people that are retired that come along and...
looking at learning new skills and they also have the time then to go and put those into actually when they get home so we get a lot of gardeners as well particularly with the plant sports they want to then go and be able to make them for their clients and make their clients gardens look even more attractive but in general it's more about an experience that people just want to have some me time or gift that me time to another member of their family or friends
And what is their reaction when they leave at the end of the session?
Lots of smiles. Lots of smiles, lots of people feeling very proud of what they've achieved. Lots of them commenting to say they never thought they would achieve and walk away with a finished creation. Yeah, a piece of artwork in many instances.
Really enjoyed meeting up with Lorraine and hearing more about her business. Hedges and Hurdles is what you need to look up there, just south of Reigate, as she was saying, and some really intricate designs and some more basic ones as well. If you're a starter, Hedges and Hurdles is the website that you want to be searching for. Lorraine, thanks very much indeed for your time a few weeks ago.
This is the Planet Reigate podcast. And we celebrate local heroes with our weekly Planet Reigate Star Awards in a few minutes' time. But first of all, let's tell you about a few things which have been happening over the last seven days or so.
Well, the A25 route from Dorking to Reigate has been identified by the Road Safety Foundation as being one of the worst A road routes for the number of fatal and serious injuries per vehicle kilometre travelled. Now Surrey County Council have been awarded £1.8 million by the Department for Transport to improve road safety infrastructure along the route.
So that covers around about five and a half miles of the A25, Rygate Road, Buckland Road and West Street roads. between Reigate and Dorking, or the other way round, isn't it? It's West Street, Buckland Road, Reigate Road. Now, previously, we spoke about the improvements, which include proposals to make West Street safer for all road users, so drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
What they want to do there is introduce segregated cycle lanes and zebra crossings. Now, at the same time as those proposed works, They're going to be resurfacing the entire West Street between Flangeford Road and the High Street. Now, a slight addition to that, the existing pedestrian island may be adjusted to make it easier for pedestrians and allow cyclists who want to cycle around.
to Priory Park from Park Lane. Yeah, you're imagining all of this to do so from that changed pedestrian island. But there are some more changes as well that they want to make. So going from Reigate all the way over to Dorking. Well, with their plans in hand, I've been down that road and can now tell you what they want to do and where.
Well, first of all, they want to put in average speed cameras to enforce the 40 mile an hour speed limit between here at the Black Horse pub through to the Watermill pub. There are also plans for what they call high containment curbs around the Reigate bends where I am now. They're similar to the ones you may have seen near the Buckland bends.
You may not even have noticed them, but it's where the curbs are much higher than standard curbs and they're designed to keep a vehicle on the road. And that means that the safety barriers on the Reigate bends will be removed as part of the scheme. Now, you may have seen those safety barriers. You move from Rygate and Banstead Borough Council area to Mole Valley District Council area.
So just ahead of the Squires Garden Centre on the left-hand side. And more of those high containment curbs a little bit further on down the A25 as the road goes over the River Mole near Castle Gardens. And the planners say that should help cut the risk of any car leaving the road and ending up in the river.
I'm now standing at the Betchworth roundabout, and what you'll realise as a driver is moving from Rygate to this roundabout, and then from here to Dorking, various parts of the A25 have different markings in the middle of the road. Sometimes there are hatchings, and sometimes there are solid white lines.
Well, as you know as a driver, if it's a solid white line in the middle of the road, it means you can't cross it, so no overtaking. Hatchings work in a similar way. They... give the driver a feel that the road is less wide.
And so it reduces the risk of a car overtaking another one, particularly on one of those stretches of road where you can see a little bit further ahead, but also on stretches of the road like the Reigate bends and also the Buckland bends, where it is really dangerous to do so.
What the plans want to do is to make everything a little bit more uniform and to have more white line central hatching markings to be done from Reigate to Betchworth and from Betchworth all the way through to Dorking. And that will, they say, cut the risk of drivers trying those dangerous overtakes. Well, I'm still here at the Betchworth roundabout.
And just before I turned on my recorder, there was a near miss on the roundabout, which is ironic because that's the next thing that I wanted to talk about. Because another idea is to make improvements to the road markings here on this roundabout, including the lane arrows to more clearly show what lane a driver needs to be in when approaching it.
it's particularly coming from Dorking to Rygate which is what I think is the problem because of course you can go left up Pebble Hill you can go straight ahead to Rygate or turn right down Station Road if you were going to the Garden Centre and so on I know one of my passengers has always been keen quite rightly to gently remind me to be in the right hand lane when coming into town from Dorking
There's so many traffic islands, aren't there, from Reigate all the way through to Dorking on the A25, and a lot of them are in various states of design and indeed disrepair as well. So while all this work is going on that I'm talking to you about, they're also going to be ripping out a lot of those pedestrian traffic islands and replacing them and making them safer and more obvious.
Well, I've just pulled in just past the Brockham Lane junction. So picture the scene as you're turning in and out of Brockham Lane, going perhaps down to the village or coming up from the village and you want to turn left to Dorking or more particularly right to Rygate. That is a really nasty, tricky, awful, awkward junction, isn't it?
So what they want to do is to reduce the width of the A25 here, which planners say will make that turn safer and will make it easier to join the traffic already driving towards Reigate. And they'll put in a better pedestrian crossing here as well. Well, as you know, the Planet Reigate area is Reigate, Redhill and Merston, Buckland, Betchworth and Brockham.
I am, though, just going to be coming outside of the Planet Reigate area for a few moments because there's two more changes that I think you might be interested in and I want to tell you about them. So I'm just coming up to... the watermill pub on the right-hand side. So along this stretch, there are central hashes in the middle of the road. So they're going to be staying.
They're going to upgrade the pedestrian island that I'm just passing. Then, of course, as you come into Dorking, on the right-hand side, there is the cemetery. And then on the left-hand side, there's that really awkward turning in and out of the mini baby Tesco's. So let's just pull in here. And I don't know whether you know, it's just past Punchbowl Lane.
It's really awkward, partly because it's a tight turning. You've got people coming from different directions. It's also because you go straight into the car park, which kind of makes sense, but there are cars parked almost immediately afterwards. you come in and also of course it is the travel lodge here as well. It's a really awkward place to turn into and out of, let alone park as well.
So what they're going to be doing is looking at that whole junction and trying to find out whether there isn't a better and safer way of negotiating it all. But that's not all. One more thing to tell you about, and this could make another big difference to your journey if you're going to be commuting to Dorking.
Now, I've just got to try and reverse out of this small car park, make sure I don't hit the van, and then negotiate trying to leave the car park as well...
So finally, just before I return you to the studio, one more proposed change that planners would like to make to this stretch of the A25, and that is to reduce the speed limit from the Watermill pub on the right-hand side, past the Cemetery and the Tesco Express, all the way up to the Cockerell roundabout. just before you enter Dorking Town Centre itself. But that's not all.
They also want to reduce it from 40 to 30, going left at the Cockerell Roundabout, up the hill. And that is not all either. They also want to change it from 40 to 30, going right at the Cockerell Roundabout, where I am sitting now, past the petrol station and the Morrisons Daily on the left-hand side, down as far as the train station... and Ashcombe School. So quite a few changes there.
What do you make of those? Can you welcome them or are there some that you think oh no that's going to be a big problem? Certainly there is going to be a big problem as they do all those changes.
They make the changes to the road signage, they put in those different traffic islands, they do the extra curbing and so on and also narrowing the road as I mentioned up there just before you turn left down to Brockham. So what do you reckon? I'd love to hear from you. Get in touch with me. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com.
Also going to be posting that item on our social media accounts as well. So perhaps drop a line there. And as I say, we'd love to hear about what your thoughts are on the changes there, proposed changes at this stage on the A25 all the way from essentially the Black Horse all the way up to the Cockerel Roundabout in Dorking.
This is the Planet Rygate podcast and of course there was a fuel spill on the M25 Rygate Road roundabout, excuse me, Rygate Hill roundabout, wasn't there? When was that? Kind of a week last Wednesday, wasn't it? And that got me thinking about the road layout there as well. I mean, obviously it would have delayed a lot of people, but at least the road kind of got resurfaced.
At least I think it did. Certainly would have had a good sweep up. Now, Robin wrote on social, quote, the whole junction needs to be redesigned, but included in the scope, the junction with Gatton Bottom Road and Ray Lane. That is so difficult. And, you know, the number of times you and I have realised
Gone in both directions, both coming up Reigate Hill, past the top of Ray Lane and going down as well. Coming out of that National Trust car park at the top there at Reigate Hill. Perhaps you're going left, perhaps you're turning around. Some people turn around and they shoot down to Gatton Bottom, turn around almost immediately, come back up. That is so difficult.
People trying to cut across those two lanes of traffic as people are coming off the roundabout and so on. You can't see very much over to the left-hand side people coming up the hill. Possibly they've got a bit of a welly on them to move them up around the corner under the bridge and so on. And also on the roundabout itself. Robin goes on, considering it's three lanes...
This does need to be widened, even if just to allow vehicles to fit in their designated lanes, particularly commercial vehicles, buses and coaches. I would also say that due to the congestion into Reigate, that consideration be given to a longer period.
exit slip road on the anti-clockwise carriageway of the m25 the anti-clockwise right okay so you're coming uh from the guildford direction yeah that's not a very long slip road is it it's short it's quite steep as well going up there so maybe if it was longer and wider i'm more cars would fit on there, so then you'd have fewer cars actually on the roundabout itself.
And certainly, as I sometimes do, coming to town from the Banstead direction, yeah, those lanes are quite... quite tight, aren't they? They're quite narrow.
Then Robin continues, the only issue with also potentially installing an M25 junction 928 to A217 northbound slip will be how to accommodate this with Marjory Lane, but allowing traffic making this left turn to use a filter lane, which could help, as I say, yeah, with the tailpacks, absolutely. Jocelyn wrote, I hope when they resurface, they'll take the opportunity to install two lanes.
The present three, this is what we're just talking about, but she's saying don't widen them, just reduce them. The present three are too narrow for many people. I'm tired of people who can't or won't keep their vehicle within one lane. And the southbound stretch of the roundabout is ambiguous as well.
Too many times I've been in the lane to turn right onto the M25 and had to take evasive action as cars in the middle lane also turn right, although the lane markings are... in my humble opinion, quite clear.
It's ambiguous, it's not very well marked, the lanes are too narrow, and you don't quite know where you're going, and if you're going from south to north, so you're going up Rygate Hill, you're joining the M25 roundabout, you're not turning left onto the M25 to go in Guildford direction, but perhaps you're going back down the road to to Banstead.
Again, as you might expect, those lanes are quite narrow as well. And sometimes it's almost worth... I don't know whether I should be admitting to this, but often what I do is straddle the lanes because I don't want my wing mirror clipped because otherwise cars tearing round... I've not been horned so far from other drivers, but, yeah, what do you reckon? But also I think there are some...
There are some little pavements there as well, aren't there? Yeah, for pedestrians, I'm not quite sure why they would be there, but I'm pretty sure I'm right in saying there is a little kind of pavement area. Perhaps they can be got rid of and widen those lanes by a foot or two, each one. Anyway... Again, would love to know what you think.
Hopefully these ideas I've put into your mind, you're picturing the scene as I speak. And I'm sure you've got ideas. I'm sure you've got anecdotes and experiences on both the A25 and also the Reigate Hill roundabout there over the top of the M25 as well. Would love to hear from you. Get in touch. Hello at theplanetreigatepodcast.com. Okay, a couple of other stories.
The planning application for two tower blocks on the Redhill train station car park has been resubmitted. That happened on the 19th of August. I looked into it. It's happened now 11 times. They keep being sent back to make changes to their application. They keep resubmitting them.
You can read the application and you can make your comments on that via planning.rygate-banstead.gov.uk and add your voice to the 1,881s there so far. People are getting quite aerated about it, both pros and cons.
I've taken a look and it is for, quote, just to remind you, a phased redevelopment of up to 255 residential dwellings in two buildings ranging from 10 to 15 storeys and 7 to 14 storeys, associated car parking and cycle parking, the partial demolition, refurbishment and extension to the existing station entrance building,
demolition of vacant buildings and associated with the station and replacement surface station car and cycle parking and taxi drop-off with a refurbished and extended station entrance so again as always say for more information get in touch with me and i'll put you in touch with that planning application if you can't find it
Congratulations to Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Health Inclusion Midwifery people at East Surrey Hospital because they're up for the Royal College of Midwives Excellence in Midwifery for Public Health Award. The project was born out of a need to better serve the local asylum hotels and Afghan resettlement accommodation, the trust says. Tina Hetherington is the chief nurse at the trust.
She said, quote, This recognition is proof of the incredible work our maternity team has done to ensure that all women, regardless of their background, get the care and support they deserve. The service was created after gathering data on the maternity outcomes of women seeking asylum and conducting focus groups.
The Trust said the project had created a safe space for women who'd experienced significant trauma, while midwives found the service supported their ability to deliver women-centred care, especially when looking after women seeking asylum. The awards are regarded as one of the highest accolades within the field and they actually take place in October.
You can read more about that on the BBC website. Also, some more congratulations are in order. 36 students from Stagecoach Performing Arts in Redhill and Reigate, and also Dorking as well, performed in the illustrious Dance the Dream event, to thousands of guests lining the iconic Main Street at the world-famous Disneyland Park in Paris recently.
More than 1,000 people from 28 Stagecoach Performing Arts schools attended the event today. And next year's promises to be even bigger, they tell me. The Dance the Dream event provides the students with the chance to come together, showcase their talents overseas while building on their creativity and courage for life skills that will benefit them both on and off the stage.
And the local stagecoach principal, Sarah Martin, said, quote, We were delighted to return to Disneyland Paris to perform in Dance the Dream. It was such an amazing opportunity for our students to enjoy all the magic that Disney has to offer, but also perform in spectacular venues to their friends and family and thousands of families visiting Disney.
Our students worked so hard in their rehearsals and they couldn't wait to take the stage as well. So congratulations to those people at East Surrey Hospital and with Stagecoach as well. On Thursday, Sir Matthew Redhill, did you see a bit of activity around there? Did you see some people with cameras? Did you see some big trucks?
Well, it was being let out to a film company from nine in the morning through to eight at night to shoot a wedding scene as part of a film which is going to be called The Hira Monthly. I don't know any more about it. I've tried to do a little bit of research. I couldn't find any more details. Sometimes they have a working title, don't they?
And then the actual film comes out with a completely different title. It may not be around for a year or more. It may be shown... maybe at the light, maybe shown at the Everyman Theatre, I don't know, maybe going, as they used to say, straight to DVD. So we may not hear about it again, but it's called The Hire. Look out for that. They were shooting inside the church.
Also exterior shots of the front of the church as well. Also one more item to tell you about this week, and it's regarding Merstam Library, who we featured last week with their Rhyme Time, didn't we? Did you know that free hot drinks are available Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm at the Merstam Hub pop-up for a cuppa and a chat and a browse and a break, the Merstam Community Facility.
So free hot drinks Monday to Friday between 10am and 2pm at the Merstam Hub.
The Belfry Shopping Centre, Redhill.
I'm Peter Stewart and we have so much more in our archived shows for example in episode 34 here from members of South Nutfield Choral Society Pat and Emma and Colin and Sue yeah I remember that so well the story goes I was just I'd done my main interviews and I was just leaving the church they'd gone back into their rehearsal room and I was just putting my coat on and
and sorting things out and getting the car keys ready and so on because it was it was dark it was night it was winter time when I was recording it and just about to open the the door leaving the area and heard a voice behind me oh excuse me and and a lady came running after me saying I'd like to pass on my story please about what the South Nutfield Choral Society has done for me and my husband and
So that interview comes in two parts, yeah? It's with Pat and Emma and Colin and Sue, and also a little bit later on, and it was a really moving story that I heard a little bit later on that evening, and it comes a little bit later on in episode 34. And if you're wondering how do I find episode 34, then I better bring you all of my contact details.
Email hello at theplanetreigatepodcast.com Find out more at theplanetreigatepodcast.com Leave a text or voice message on WhatsApp 07917 874572 and leave a review on your favorite podcast app. Support us at buymeacoffee.com slash theplanetreigatepodcast
OK, we've got the sports news in a few moments' time, plus we've got Planet Reigate stars. And before we go, at the end of the show, I'll bring you some of the sounds from the cyclocross Reigate event, which was a couple of weeks ago. Not forgetting, sandwiched in amongst all of that, our Good Time Guide Part 2 from Monday to Saturday this coming week.
But first of all, a quick look at sports news. And I'm very much indebted to Stuart Holmes for passing on the information. Kind of our sports reporter this week. Thanks, Stuart. The draw for the Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round saw Merstham FC and Redhill FC and South Park FC all drawn. to play away from home in the next round. Games to be played on the 31st of August.
So Merstham will play Stenning Town, who Merstham beat 1-0 in their opening league game. Red Hill travel to Sussex as well to face a tough trip to Isthmian League Hastings FC. And finally, South Park FC travel to Bracknell Town of the Southern League One. As I say, thanks very much indeed to Stuart Holmes for passing that on.
Planet Reigate stars, thanking local heroes who are out of this world.
And don't forget, if you would like to boost coverage or attendance for your event, talk to us about our media partner package. Hello, at theplanetreigatepodcast.com. To Red Hill this week, and spotted on social, quote, I just want to post a very good reason to love Red Hill.
I recently experienced the unexpected kindness of strangers after several frustrating last-minute train cancellations from London Bridge to Redhill at 11 o'clock at night. I was with work colleagues heading to Three Bridges who were kindly offering me a place to stay. This generous offer was overheard by a fellow passenger named Kate.
Kate then offered me a lift home since her husband was coming to pick her up in Purley. Thanks to Kate and her husband Alistair, I made it safely back to Redhill. Their kindness and thoughtfulness turned a stressful situation into a heartwarming experience. A heartfelt thanks to you, Kate and Alistair, for your incredible generosity.
Your actions are a testament to the wonderful community spirit that makes Redhill such a special place. And that's why this week we are giving our Planet Reigate star Sprinkle of Stardust to Kate and Alistair.
The Good Time Guide, things to do and places to go on the Planet Reigate podcast.
And don't forget to get in touch if you want something to do with voice or audio production and you think I could be the person maybe to do that for you, to be the producer, to be the voice, or maybe to host something, get in touch with me. It's Peter Stewart. Hello at theplanetrygatepodcast.com. Thanks very much indeed for everyone who has sent in their events, sent in their what's-ons.
As you might imagine, things are a little quiet this end of the summer because so many people are away. We've kind of had, haven't we,
the fares and the fates and things like that and we haven't started with the september the start of the new kind of school year and then we head up to to bonfires and things like that don't we so it's a bit quiet actually so we're actually going to be starting straight off on wednesday
Yeah, Wednesday the 28th of August, the Harlequin Theatre and Cinema, they say join us, won't you, for a Midsummer Night's Dream at 7 o'clock in Reigate Castle Grounds. We'll play host to an evening of summer theatre for you to enjoy. And if you want some more tickets, then check out the Harlequin Theatre website.
Also, on Thursday 29th August, they say Chamber House Winds is presenting Peter and the Wolf of Reigate Castleground, Prokofiev's classic children's story, arranged for and performed by the brilliantly named Chamber House Winds Group for children and families to enjoy. Again, details harlequintheatre.co.uk, happening Thursday 5.30 in the afternoon.
And also on Thursday, slightly earlier for this one, 1 o'clock, as you might expect a slightly earlier time, for the Teddy Bears Picnic. Also in the Reigate Castle grounds, Paddington has various misadventures while attending his first concert. Tickets available at harlequintheatre.co.uk. You can also order a picnic, which includes... Now, I'm a bit thrown by this, Harlequin. Yeah?
Think about it. What is wrong with this children's picnic for the Paddington event? There's a small sausage roll. There's a pot of mixed raisins and white chocolate drops. There's a gingerbread teddy bear. There's a carton of organic fruit juice with a straw, all wrapped up in a Chalk Hills box. And there's a sandwich as well. Yeah, it's a Paddington event. Yeah?
So it's going to be a marmalade sandwich, isn't it? No. It's a cheese sandwich. What? What? I'm speechless. Which is not a good thing for a podcast presenter to be, guys. And all dance abilities. Send 9 to 15 years old. They've got a dance class in Redhill. Yeah, for all mobilities and abilities. No pressure or expectations to follow routines or movements.
You can copy the routines or express yourself through your own movements. free parking on site and so on and yeah this is happening Friday the 30th of August 3 to 8 years old 145 to 230 9 to 15 years old 230 to 315 limited spaces available so It's one of those awkward bookwhen.com websites. So as I always say, for more information, get in touch with me and I'll put you in touch with them.
Saturday, the 31st of August. August is nearly finished, guys. This is really quite upsetting, isn't it? There's a footstep summer school. Just squeezing in for the end of summer, Saturday 31st, Sunday 1st of September at Sandcross School, 9.30 till 3.
Join us for musical theatre, lyrical, jazz and creative classes with qualified dance teachers from the Footsteps dance team for performers aged 6 to 15. Short performance on the last day, £40 a day, £75 for both days. Contact footsteps.dance at hotmail.com for more information on that. There's an open day at Ray Park Fire Station in Reigate. Yeah, so it is Ray Park.
They did change it and now it's been changed back again. Saturday, August the 31st, Croydon Road, Reigate RH2. You know where that is. Also come along to our Cromwell Walk Gardening Together session on Saturday 31st, 2 till 4. In addition to improving the Cromwell Walk Garden area, we're going to be awarding prizes to winners and runners-up of our Cromwell in Colour competition.
refreshments and all gardening equipment we provided please wear appropriate clothing bring your own picnic sounds good fun there come on board to sing captain noah and his floating zoo august 31st 2 30 10 pounds which will include music and refreshments uh It's another come-and-sing afternoon at Betchworth Village Hall, going to be led by Alison Cooper. Ian Stone and Vicky Hodge is conducting.
You can reserve your place. Contact Alison at cooper.alison8, digit 8, at gmail.com for that one. If you like your dance, returning for another year, Matthew Bourne's New Adventures are bringing...
doorstep duets to communities across the southeast as part of their 2024 tour they're going to be visiting reigate library on saturday 31st with two performances one at 10 and one at 11 doorstep duets offers a free opportunities for communities to enjoy a world-class performance in their local neighbourhood, making the joy and wonder of dance more accessible to everyone.
This year's performance, called Hum, has been created by choreographer and movement director Anjali Mehra, with original music by Luke Brady. Bring your friends and family to join us for a free dance performance celebrating the small acts of kindness that have the power to bring people together together. No need to book. You just pop in. Where? It's Reigate Library. Saturday the 31st.
Performances at 10 and another one at 11.
The 60 Second Soundscape. Local natural sounds uninterrupted.
Thank you very much. In slightly longer than 60 seconds, hear the cheers, the tears and the crunching of gears from Cyclocross Reigate 2024.
Okay, you're all here. Good evening. My name's Stuart. I'm your chief commissaire tonight. You've all been round the course. Your race is going to be 40 minutes. After the first two laps, we will work out how many laps there are to go, display them on the lap board by the finish line, which is just there. So with one lap to go, we'll ring a bell. You get the finish line flag.
Well done Henry!
Well done, well done.
Come on, Epsom.
Come on, Jasper! Come on, mate!
Come on, Jay!
The Planet Reigate podcast was produced and presented by Peter Stewart.