A new, permanent Banking Hub is set to open this summer in Dorking

The current temporary banking hub, which has been available at Mole Valley District Council’s Pippbrook offices for the past 14 months, will soon be relocated to a new, permanent home in Dorking Town Centre. Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect access to cash across the UK, is fitting out a former bank branch, with a view to the hub opening its doors to customers of the major banks in the coming months.

Banking hubs are introduced in areas where bank branches have been closed to ensure customers can still carry out essential day-to day transactions, such as paying in cash and cheques, withdrawing cash, paying utility bills or topping up gas and electricity at convenient high street locations. These hubs also offer an opportunity for customers to talk to a community banker from their bank in a private space about in-depth or more complex issues.

Having seen all bank branches in Dorking close in recent times, Mole Valley District Council (MVDC) has been at the centre of calls for improved banking services in Dorking and Leatherhead. Despite a concerted effort by MVDC, the outcome of an appeal in 2025 supported LINK’s view that Leatherhead does not currently meet the criteria for a banking hub. An automated deposit service was installed on North Street instead.

While the search for a permanent home was ongoing, a temporary hub has been available for customers of the major banks in MVDC’s Pippbrook offices in Dorking since March last year. Until the new banking hub opens on the site formerly occupied by Natwest Bank (14 High Street, Dorking, RH4 1AX), customers can still visit the temporary provision during the working week, 9am to 5pm. The banking hub has a counter service where customers can access services whenever the hub is open. Community bankers are also available on the following days:
Monday: HSBC

Tuesday: Barclays

Wednesday: Santander

Thursday: NatWest

Friday: Lloyds

 

Ahead of the banking hub opening on the high street, Cash Access UK has planned an information drop-in at Dorking’s Friday Market in St Martin’s Walk on 12 June 2026 from 8am to 2pm, where representatives will be available to answer any questions residents may have.

Vanessa Robinson, Regional Manager (London & Southeast) at Cash Access UK, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing a permanent banking hub to Dorking High Street. The hub will play a key role in providing access to cash and everyday banking services for the local community. We would like to thank the team at MVDC’s Pippbrook offices for hosting the temporary hub while work on the new premises is completed. We will keep the community updated on our progress and look forward to opening the permanent hub soon.”

Councillor Paula Keay, MVDC’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy, said: “It is very pleasing that the search for a permanent home for a Banking hub in the centre of Dorking High Steet has concluded. Not only will customers of major banks soon be able to access services specific to their own bank in a convenient high street location, but the future of a former prominent vacant unit in the town has also been secured for the long term. Mole Valley ranks among the lowest areas in the country for access to cash, with very limited ATM provision and we know that residents and businesses in the north of the district also want a banking hub to be established in Leatherhead. However, for now, there is a single banking hub available to everybody in Mole Valley.”

Tandridge District Council has been granted a final injunction against unauthorised development on land at Hill View Manor Park, also known as Highview, at Beech Farm Road in Warlingham.

The judge ordered that the land should be cleared of static caravans and restored to its original state with the exception of four gypsy and traveller pitches which obtained planning permission in 2019.

The High Court orders were granted against 25 named defendants. The time allowed for compliance varies from three months to one day.

The judge stated the defendants had committed “clear and flagrant” breaches of planning rules and that council officers had been “careful and measured in their testimony.”

His judgement went on to say: “An important matter in this case is the need to enforce planning control and to recognise the benefit that the appropriate and firm exercise of such control provides to the community as a whole. That is particularly so here because I have found that the breach is persistent and flagrant. Enforcement and Stop notices have been ineffective.”

Catherine Sayer, Leader of the Council, said: “This unauthorised development has been a long running problem for the local community and this judgement is very welcome. Council officers have put a large amount of time and effort into dealing with the case, in often very difficult circumstances, and I was pleased to see the judge recognised that and found that some of the defendants had deliberately put obstacles in the way of the attempts by officers to obtain information and had obstructed their inquiries.”

Active Surrey, in collaboration with Surrey County Council (SCC), SUEZ and partners, is celebrating a major milestone as the Surrey Bike Bank reaches its 1,000th refurbished bike gifted to residents across the county.

The Surrey Bike Bank is a free refurbished bike scheme designed to make cycling more accessible for people who do not own or use a bike. By redistributing bikes to those who need them most, the programme is helping residents unlock active travel opportunities, improve their health, and connect more easily with education, employment and community services.

Marisa Heath, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Surrey County Council, said: “We have supported this project by refurbishing the bike workshop where pre-loved bikes can be repaired and given a new lease of life.

1,000 residents will benefit from this brilliant scheme which will also prevent all these bikes going to landfill. This is a fantastic achievement and testament to working collaboratively with our partners.”

Transforming lives across Surrey communities

Since launching, the scheme has delivered bikes across all districts and boroughs in Surrey, with the highest numbers distributed in Waverley, Spelthorne, Woking, Guildford, Surrey Heath and Reigate & Banstead, which have all received over 100 bikes each.

The programme supports a wide range of residents, including:

• Refugees and asylum seekers
• Looked after children
• Domestic abuse survivors
• Low-income households and lower socio-economic groups
• People living with long-term health conditions

Around 60% of bikes have been given to adults and 40% to children and young people, to help entire families become more active together.

Lawrie Baker, Head of Active Communities at Active Surrey, said:
“Reaching 1,000 bikes is a fantastic milestone and a testament to what can be achieved when communities, partners and organisations come together. Surrey Bike Bank is about much more than bikes. It’s about creating opportunity for active travel, improving health, and making sure everyone has the chance to cycle regardless of their circumstances.”

A circular economy approach with real impact

The Surrey Bike Bank is built on a strong sustainability ethos, working with partners to rescue bikes that would otherwise go to waste and give them a new purpose in local communities.

A key partnership for the Surrey Bike Bank is with HMP Ford in West Sussex and SUEZ – which runs Surrey’s community recycling centres (CRCs). It is here that residents can drop repairable bikes which are then taken to HMP Ford by SUEZ.

Approximately 20 bikes per week are refurbished by inmates under professional supervision, which are then distributed to Surrey residents through Active Surrey.

This initiative not only saves bikes from going to waste but also supports skills development and rehabilitation opportunities for prisoners.

Gareth Swain, Regional Manager at SUEZ said:

“Our partnership with HMP Ford has been integral to the support we have been able to give on this project. Re-use is the best thing we can do with our waste not only to preserve natural resources but also to benefit local communities and projects like this.”

Community contributions have also been central to success. Bike donation drives have taken place in schools and community groups, alongside “Dr Bike” repair events where residents can donate their unwanted bikes to the scheme.

In schools delivering Bikeability training in disadvantaged areas, children who complete Level 2 cycling training can receive a free bike, helmet, light and lock. The long-term effects of this have dramatically helped remove cost barriers and embed cycling habits for life.

Supporting healthier lifestyles and a greener future

By providing free bikes, the programme helps residents:

• Save money on travel
• Increase physical activity and improve mental wellbeing
• Reduce carbon emissions through more sustainable transport
• Build stronger community connections

The initiative aligns with key sustainability principles by supporting improvements in transport, waste reduction, access and equality, and community engagement.

Natalie Bramhall, Cabinet Member for Property, Waste and Infrastructure, Surrey County Council, said:
“This initiative shows how innovative partnerships and circular economy thinking can deliver real benefits for residents. By repurposing bikes and getting them to those who need them most, we are supporting healthier lives while reducing waste and protecting the environment.”

Get involved

Residents, organisations and businesses are encouraged to support the scheme by donating unwanted bikes or attending local collection drives and events.

To find out more, www.activesurrey.com/Your-community/Surrey-Bike-Bank.

Staff at a prison in Banstead were called to more than a dozen serious medical incidents in a single day, relating to drugs.

A report from the Independent Monitoring Board found that prison staff at HMP High Down faced 13 “code blue” incidents, where prisoners had collapsed or suffered serious breathing difficulties, in one day last year.

A separate report released last week, focusing on HMP High Down found 49% of prisoners surveyed thought it was “easy” to get hold of drugs at the prison, down slightly from 56% in 2024.

Prisons minister Lord James Timpson said “positive improvements” have been made but “more needs to be done” to improve.