An image of Horley Town Council's logo.

Horley Town Council
Your Horley

February 2021

eNewsletter

In this edition.........

News from Reigate & Banstead on town centre changes, jobs scheme and the launch of a jobs website; National Greyhound Centre nears completion; Sad passing of Gordon McGinty; Horley Photographic Competition; YMCA at Old Fire Station; Gatwick Airport drop off charge; Surrey Heartlands COVID vaccination programme; Scam Alerts; Sports Award for Brian Wilson; Polling Stations will be open this May; Census 2021; help from Smiths Charity; Pound the Pavements for Sight For Surrey and finally upcoming meeting dates
Council Saddened by Death of Former Mayor

Town Award holder and former Town Councillor and Mayor Gordon McGinty passed away on 14 January 2021 at the age of 90. Gordon lived in Horley for all of his married life, serving as a Town Councillor for Horley for over 10 years, and was chosen by his fellow councillors to serve as Town Mayor of Horley in 1982/83 and 1987. 

Gordon was a valued member of the Horley community. In addition to being a town councillor, he was a school governor at Court Lodge Comprehensive, joining the steering group of governors who oversaw the creation of the new Horley secondary school in 1989. When Oakwood School opened, he served as a senior governor as well as Vice-Chairman of the governors, in addition to which he remained a governor for Court Lodge Infant School. He was given a Horley Town Award in 2004, in recognition of all his efforts as governor and role model to children. The citation reads that Gordon McGinty 'gives his time generously, is unselfish in any advice he offers and has been in every sense of the phrase “a real friend of Oakwood”'.

Our condolences go to his daughters and other family members.
Horley 2020 Photographic Competition

We were fortunate to have some truly wonderful entries into the photographic competition to show how local residents have been using the outdoor spaces in Horley during the 2020 Pandemic. To see a full list of the winners and their superb photographs click here but below is a small snippet of the 16+ category winners. 
National Greyhound Centre Nears Completion
The National Greyhound Homing Centre is fast approaching completion and we are all very excited to reach the day we can welcome our first greyhounds into their ‘half-way house’ and all our lovely visitors, who will be looking to offer them their forever home.

Although the centre is not yet complete or open, we are still very much welcoming volunteers who wish to support our greyhounds and can start doing so right away.  If you are interested in offering your skills, knowledge or experience to help fundraise for the National Greyhound Homing Centre, please email charlotte.ford@greyhoundtrust.org.uk.

The Trust is also running an art competition see news item for details 
YMCA East Surrey signs five-year lease to run the Horley Family and Youth Centre

YMCA East Surrey signed a five-year lease in January to take over the Horley Family and Youth Centre in Albert Road, Horley on behalf of Surrey County Council.  The main purpose of the YMCA’s involvement will be to create a ‘one stop shop’ for children, young people and their families in the heart of the Horley community.  For more information, please view their website. 
Gatwick Introduces Drop Off Car charge

Gatwick to implement charging for vehicles using its North Terminal forecourt from 8 March 2021
  • Free drop off or pick up will be available at the airport’s long stay car park.
  • The new revenue stream will provide further protection for jobs at the airport.
  • Initiative will help deter a car-led recovery alongside reduction in traffic congestion and emissions at Gatwick and the surrounding areas.
  • Blue badge holders will be exempt from the charge by registering their details
  • The charge will be £5 for 10 minutes, and £1 for each additional minute up to 20 minutes. The maximum charge will be £25 and the maximum length of stay 30 mins.
Delivering Change in Horley Town Centre

There are four interrelated projects that together form a comprehensive programme of investment in the town centre:

1. Refurbishing the subway between the High Street and Station Approach
2. Public realm improvements to the High Street
3. Installation of pay-on-exit car parking at the Victoria Road Car Park and Central Car Park
4. Redeveloping the High Street Car Park to provide new homes.

To read about the latest developments on the project see the latest new here
New Initiative to boost Youth Employment launched

A new initiative, funded by the Department of Work and Pensions and developed in partnership by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council and Tandridge District Council, will launch on 1 March to help target the significant increase in unemployment among 18-24 year olds across East Surrey since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The new ‘East Surrey Youth Hub’ aims to support the hundreds of young residents claiming Universal Credit in the area, providing access to a wide range of coaching, mentoring and soft skills development, tailored to meet their career aspirations. To find out more click here
Council launches jobs website with local employers

1st February saw the launch of a new employment website developed by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council in collaboration with the borough’s major employers. Launching at a critical time for residents who may be looking for a job, a career change, or wishing to work closer to home, the website is dedicated to mapping out the local employment landscape and employment opportunities.

Residents using the website - Reigate & Banstead Works - will find information about the key sectors and industries in the borough, the major employers and where they are located, the wide range of jobs available locally, as well as a search tool to find the latest, live vacancies. 
The Reigate & Banstead Works website is now live at www.rb-works.co.uk
Reigate & Banstead Sports Awards 2021 celebrates inspirational winners and outstanding achievements

Brian Wilson from Horley Bowls Club was selected as this year's winner in the Community Club Champion category. On winning the award Brian said, 'To have been nominated for this award by our club committee is very, very flattering, to have been chosen as the Community Club Champion of the Year was an incredible surprise. Thank you all so much!”

You can watch a video of the virtual awards evening - held on 25 February – detailing the other winners and showing why they won on the RBBC YouTube channel.
Pound the Pavements for Sight For Surrey

Did you miss out on a place for this year’s London marathon again? If so, do not fear, Sight for Surrey has 4 places up for grabs at this year’s virtual race on Sunday 3rd October 2021, when 50,000 runners will have the chance to be part of the biggest marathon ever staged anywhere in the world!
To find out more go to the story on our news page
How Will You Vote?
  • In Person at a Polling Station
  • By Post - We will send you a postal voting pack so you can complete your ballot paper at home and return it by post. Apply by 5pm on 20 April.
  • By proxy - appointing a person to vote on your behalf at your polling station. The deadline to apply is 5pm on 27 April
For information on applying for postal and proxy votes click here
Surrey Heartlands CCG was formed on 1 April 2020 following the merger of four previous CCGs in Surrey; East Surrey, Guildford and Waverley, North West Surrey and Surrey Downs CCGs and are responsible for the local COVID vaccination programme.

Frontline health and care workers living or working in Surrey Heartlands who have not yet received an invitation to book a vaccine through their employer, can also contact them directly here 

If you have any queries about the COVID programme then have a look at their FAQs

Dates for your diary...

19:30
19:30
19:30

19:30
19:30
02 March
16 March
23 March
30 March
20 April
Virtual Full Council Meeting
Virtual Planning Committee Meeting
Virtual Leisure Committee Meeting
Virtual Finance Committee Meeting
Virtual Planning Committee Meeting
We have a Facebook page that shows what's on locally. Click on the link to follow us