Peter Stewart

In episode 53, reaction from the Harlequin support group's Ali Bond. In episode 57, the reaction of people leaving the first arts and culture consultation event run by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, which focused, of course, on the Harlequin. And in special additional episodes, which we've called episode 64B, you can hear part of the council meeting from November 2024.

In episode 53, reaction from the Harlequin support group's Ali Bond. In episode 57, the reaction of people leaving the first arts and culture consultation event run by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, which focused, of course, on the Harlequin. And in special additional episodes, which we've called episode 64B, you can hear part of the council meeting from November 2024.

in which the public and councillors questioned the council leader about the Harlequin. And in episode 64C, hear the questions posed to council leader Richard Biggs at a public event run by the Reigate and Redhill Society on December 4th last year. So that's episodes 48 and 49, 53 and 57, and 64B and 64C as well of the Planet Reigate podcast.

in which the public and councillors questioned the council leader about the Harlequin. And in episode 64C, hear the questions posed to council leader Richard Biggs at a public event run by the Reigate and Redhill Society on December 4th last year. So that's episodes 48 and 49, 53 and 57, and 64B and 64C as well of the Planet Reigate podcast.

OK, let's take a look at a few other news stories around the area, around at the moment. Local elections could be postponed for a year. Surrey County Council Leader Tim Oliver is going to send a letter to the government asking whether the local elections, which were due to happen in May, across Surrey can be held in 2026 instead. This is really unusual.

OK, let's take a look at a few other news stories around the area, around at the moment. Local elections could be postponed for a year. Surrey County Council Leader Tim Oliver is going to send a letter to the government asking whether the local elections, which were due to happen in May, across Surrey can be held in 2026 instead. This is really unusual.

The council says that'll give them more time to put together plans for a major reorganisation of local government in the region. So what's the background behind this? I mentioned it a couple of three weeks ago that there could be changes, including local councils like Rygate and Banstead being shut down.

The council says that'll give them more time to put together plans for a major reorganisation of local government in the region. So what's the background behind this? I mentioned it a couple of three weeks ago that there could be changes, including local councils like Rygate and Banstead being shut down.

to have perhaps a wider local council, say for Tandridge and Rygade and Banstead and Epsom and Ewell, all three borough district councils together, or simply have one tier of local government, which would be Surrey County Council, and all those local councils would be disbanded, not just locally here in East Surrey, but elsewhere across the county as well. So...

to have perhaps a wider local council, say for Tandridge and Rygade and Banstead and Epsom and Ewell, all three borough district councils together, or simply have one tier of local government, which would be Surrey County Council, and all those local councils would be disbanded, not just locally here in East Surrey, but elsewhere across the county as well. So...

The County Council wants more time to pull plans together for that and think the elections, and so changes of councillors, could make things a little bit more difficult.

The County Council wants more time to pull plans together for that and think the elections, and so changes of councillors, could make things a little bit more difficult.

But the proposed postponement of the elections is being opposed by the leaders of Surrey's 11 district and borough councils, which is interesting because Surrey is Conservative-led and so is Reigate and Banstead, as well as several MPs and other councillors as well. More on this on the BBC website.

But the proposed postponement of the elections is being opposed by the leaders of Surrey's 11 district and borough councils, which is interesting because Surrey is Conservative-led and so is Reigate and Banstead, as well as several MPs and other councillors as well. More on this on the BBC website.

plans to build a solar farm near Lye that could power more than 5,000 local homes, have met opposition from a nearby school. You can probably work out what that school is. So a company wants to put panels on a 17-hectare site in Little Flanchford Farm, and they've put in a planning application to Mole Valley District Council, because it's just over the border there.

plans to build a solar farm near Lye that could power more than 5,000 local homes, have met opposition from a nearby school. You can probably work out what that school is. So a company wants to put panels on a 17-hectare site in Little Flanchford Farm, and they've put in a planning application to Mole Valley District Council, because it's just over the border there.

And this solar farm would have a 40-year lifespan and after that the land would be returned to a natural state. But Moon Hall School, that's a specialist school for dyslexic children, said pupil drop-off and collection times could really be disrupted. There are also concerns over increased risk to flooding and local wildlife as well.

And this solar farm would have a 40-year lifespan and after that the land would be returned to a natural state. But Moon Hall School, that's a specialist school for dyslexic children, said pupil drop-off and collection times could really be disrupted. There are also concerns over increased risk to flooding and local wildlife as well.

And the developers say the project could enhance biodiversity and the public rights-of-way across the land would be retained. According to the developers, the clean energy created by the farm would remove over 4000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If approved, the construction is expected to take up to eight months to complete. More on the BBC website.

And the developers say the project could enhance biodiversity and the public rights-of-way across the land would be retained. According to the developers, the clean energy created by the farm would remove over 4000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. If approved, the construction is expected to take up to eight months to complete. More on the BBC website.