Latest news with #Merstham
BBC News
01-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Surrey's housing plan will help 'build futures', councillor says
Plans to develop four council-owned sites into new housing which include accommodation for people with mental health needs, have been County Council says it proposals will help meet local housing needs in Merstham, Great Bookham, Cranleigh and Staines. A portion of the homes could be self-contained apartments where people with mental health needs would receive care and Mooney, the council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: "There are strong economic, health and community drivers for seeking to improve housing, accommodation and homes in Surrey." The final number of homes at each site, and the mix of general housing and supported accommodation, will be confirmed during the bidding the council predicted there would be about 20 to 30 homes per site, or about 100 in total. 'Building futures' All four sites – Chalkmead in Merstham, Keswick in Great Bookham, Longfield in Cranleigh, and Meadowside in Staines – have been assessed as suitable for housing based on access to local services, transport links and community facilities. A fifth site – Heathside, in Woking – is not being progressed at this stage, pending further consideration and January 2020, the council was supporting 1,621 people with mental health as their primary social care need, and by May 2025 that number had almost doubled to 3, said: "This initiative is not just about building homes, it's about building futures. "It's about ensuring some of our most vulnerable residents have access to safe, supported and sustainable accommodation, enabling them to live independently and thrive in their communities."
BBC News
13-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Merstham recreation ground's £3m revamp revealed
A Surrey park's £3m revamp including a new playground, parkour course and community orchard has been revealed. Merstham recreation ground's facilities also include a new cafe, pavilion, and outdoor project has been funded by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (RBBC), Surrey County Council, Community Infrastructure Levy funds, the National Lottery and the government's UK Shared Prosperity borough council says it hopes the pavilion, with a cafe kiosk, toilets and changing rooms, will become a new place to meet, as well as providing better facilities for sports teams. The council is still looking for an operator to take over the running of the worked with a specialist supplier to create the parkour course, which it said was the first in the borough, with a range of obstacles to run, jump, vault and climb deputy leader and executive member for place, planning and regulatory services, Rich Michalowski, says: "It's really exciting to see the plans we talked about with the community come to fruition."He said the new park had "something for everyone" and that designs were developed with input from residents, sports organisations and local groups at various stages along the way. Existing tennis courts and games areas were also refurbished, with new surfacing and resident Sue Reeves, said: "This revamp of the rec is going to be wonderful for Merstham. "All the new facilities will make the rec so inviting for users of all ages."The redesign is expected to reduce flooding in and around the rec with upgrades made to the water channel creating a gravel beach, meadows and wet planting. This will be fenced off for the first year to give the new plants the opportunity to establish themselves, the council says.
