It’s been reported that American Mink are running riot on Britains Waterways including areas of Surrey.

Environmentalists say the animals can kill hundreds of native species every year and local anglers have been asked to help eradicate them.

Members of the Dorking and District Angling Society will be acting as eyes and ears along a stretch of the River Mole to protect water voles, swans and herons.

If anyone spots an American Mink, they pass on the location to the Waterlife Recovery Trust who will then take suitable action.

The tennis courts at the Memorial Park in Redhill have now been completely refurbished.

Cllr Nadean Moses, Executive Member for Greenspaces, joined Alexander and Harry, from Boom Tennis, at Memorial Park in Redhill. She said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to refurbish our tennis courts across the borough and think they look very smart.

“I hope that more people are inspired by these new-look courts, as well as the sunshine, to come and enjoy playing tennis or Pickleball. We might even have a future homegrown Wimbledon star in the borough!”

Tennis and Pickleball sessions across the borough are included in the council’s school holiday activity programme this summer, although spaces are booking up fast. You can see what’s available and book at www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/school-holidays

In total, the council has upgraded 14 tennis courts at Howard Close, Lady Neville Park, Memorial Park, Priory Park, Tattenham Way Recreation Ground and Woodmansterne Recreation Ground.

The makeover included new fencing, as well as court surfacing, posts, nets and line marking.  Pickleball lines have also been marked out on the courts at Priory Park, Memorial Park and Lady Neville Park.

All the council’s tennis courts, including those at Merstham Rec and the courts managed by Horley Town Council at Horley Recreation Ground, are free to use and there is no need to book. You can find out more about tennis court locations and other activities in the council’s parks using our Parks Directory.

The tennis court refurbishment programme was funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy (a charge that local authorities can set on new development to help fund infrastructure, facilities and services in the area).

A multi-agency operation has been attempting to crack down on the rogue parking operators around Gatwick Airport.

In one search, West Sussex Trading Standards and police found 150 vehicles next to a scrapyard, with cars parked bumper to bumper, despite their owners having been told it was “premium parking”.

Other holidaymakers have returned home to find companies have simply left their vehicles at the airport short stay, where they picked up a fine.

Oliver Bedford, director of airport access, marketing and commercial products at Gatwick Airport, said: “ the airport was working with Trading Standards and police to crack down on the rogue operators”

Firefighters from West Sussex are urging people to stay safe outdoors as wildfire fears mount during the UK’s third heatwave of the year.

An amber heat-health alert has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency for the South East and will be in place until sunday.

Wildfire fears have mounted during the extreme heat, with temperatures well above 30C for multiple days this year.

If you discover a fire move to a safe place and call 999 immediately.

Residents, organisations and local community groups within Reigate and Banstead  Borough Council are being encouraged to submit bids for a share of money raised from new developments to spend on projects to improve their local area.

Previous successful schemes have ranged from improving a community hall or sports pavilion, to installing planters in local shopping parades, or upgrading walking and cycling routes to local shops and schools.

The money comes from Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge on developments collected by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to contribute towards facilities and services needed to support them.

While most of the money is used to fund essential infrastructure and facilities – like schools, healthcare and transport – a proportion, known as the CIL Local Fund, is made available to spend on smaller local projects in the neighbourhoods where development has been built.

Since the Council launched its CIL scheme in 2016, it has collected over £3.4 million Local Fund developer contributions and allocated over £3 million to over 230 projects.

Final chance to apply

This is the last time that Reigate & Banstead Borough Council will run this funding process. From April 2027, the Council will be dissolved and replaced by the new East Surrey Council, which will be responsible for delivering local infrastructure projects across the geographic areas of Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge.

Cllr Kate Fairhurst, Executive Member for Place, Planning and Regulatory Services, explains: “Our CIL Local Fund gives communities an opportunity to influence how money we collect from developers is spent to improve and enhance the facilities and services in their neighbourhood, making sure that we all feel the benefits that new development can bring.

“We are proud that the Fund has already helped to deliver a huge range of successful local projects to improve the quality of life for residents across the borough and make a meaningful difference to communities.

“With only two more opportunities for this Council to assess bids for the Local Fund, in autumn and winter, this is a final call to submit your ideas for a share of the fund. So, if you have a project that needs funding to make it a reality, be sure to apply.”

Bids will be assessed by a panel of councillors and officers against the Council’s CIL spending priorities, which were set following previous community feedback, subject to available funds.

More information

For all the information and to submit a bid visit the Local Fund webpage.

If you need a paper application form, please contact the Planning Policy team at [email protected] or call 01737 276 178.