Council improves village centres

Five village centres in Surrey are to have pavements resurfaced, better disabled and pedestrian access and more recycling facilities.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council is to spend £170,000 at two centres at Woodhatch and others in Tadworth, Woodmansterne and Walton-on-the Hill.

Street furniture will also be replaced and unnecessary signs removed.

It is part of a scheme to improve 15 village centres across the borough over three years.

Civic pride

Six schemes in Chipstead, Tadworth, Woodhatch and Meadvale have already been completed and two schemes in Horley are to get under way soon.

The village and shopping parade scheme is tied in with the council's Love Where You Live civic pride campaign, launched at Redhill Carnival on Saturday.

"The aim of this campaign is to raise awareness and involve those who live and work in the borough in keeping our environment clean," said Councillor Julian Ellacott.

"There are lots of ways to get involved - from remembering not to drop litter, through reporting full litter bins to organising a community litter-pick."