TOGETHER WITH
Good Morning Surrey,
Hope you managed to get outside and enjoy yesterday’s sunshine. It may not have been quite coats-off weather, but after the grey slog of recent weeks, even a small glimpse of spring felt like Surrey showing off a bit.
This is the point in the week when Surrey tends to look both organised and slightly unconvinced by its own plans. The daffodils are trying, the coats are still hanging on, and most of us have at least one small domestic task that has somehow become a full administrative theme. Midweek usually needs less drama and more sorting out.
If the new on-demand bus service in Elmbridge might help you, it is probably worth trying it on a low-stakes journey first, the sort of errand where being ten minutes early or late is not a constitutional event. Tell us if you give it a go.
Now in today’s edition
Surrey Connect has now expanded into Elmbridge,
New smart meter repair rules, and why billing disputes may get shorter
April childcare guidance, plus warm hubs, food support and family help
Theatre, music and family picks for the next few days
Market dates, local jobs and four dependable directory names
Let’s take a look.
— Prince Khurram
News
Surrey Connect reaches Elmbridge
Elmbridge joined Surrey Connect on 16 February 2026, extending the county’s on-demand service into the borough. Surrey County Council says it is designed for places without a usable local bus, so I’d keep the wording broad and call it an Elmbridge expansion rather than get too clever with unverified stop-by-stop geography. Here are a few details:
The service runs Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm.
Saturday hours are 8am to 6pm.
Adult fares start from £2.
Surrey’s new council map is still moving toward the handover date
The wider Surrey reorganisation remains one of the bigger background changes to local life. Elmbridge’s own update says East Surrey will include Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge, with elections in May 2026 and the new authorities formally taking over on 1 April 2027. The same update repeats government’s commitment to a first £500 million tranche toward Woking’s debt.
National Headlines
Faulty smart meters will have a 90-day repair clock
The government says suppliers will now have no more than 90 days to fix faulty smart meters. For any Surrey household stuck between a blinking box and a disputed bill, that is a more useful deadline than a vague promise.
Suppliers could face regulatory action if they miss the deadline.
Some installation-failure cases can lead to £40 compensation.
Meters relying on 2G or 3G will need replacing before switch-off by 2033.
Click here: To read the full update and see the new rules
More dentists may be able to practise in the UK
The government says exam-capacity changes could allow more overseas-trained dentists to practise here. In Surrey, where NHS dental access remains one of those subjects people mention with a sigh, that is worth noting.
It could allow 2,400 more overseas-trained dentists annually by 2028/29.
Final LDS places are due to rise from 180 to 1,800 by 2028.
Another 50 domestic training places a year are due from 2027.
Tandridge opens a live consultation on HMO controls
Tandridge has launched consultation on an immediate Article 4 Direction covering Caterham Valley, Caterham on the Hill and Whyteleafe. The council says the direction is already in effect, the consultation closes on Monday 16 March 2026, and the move is aimed at issues including loss of family housing, parking congestion and pressure on amenities. That gives this one a proper weekly-news feel rather than the softer mood of a diary item.
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B A R U C C I Custom Tailors London
County Updates
Epsom and Ewell opens its 2026 Neighbourhood CIL round
Epsom and Ewell has opened the annual Neighbourhood CIL funding round, giving local groups a time-bounded chance to put infrastructure ideas forward. It is not glamorous, but these are often the pots that fund the useful things people end up relying on.
The round opened on 9 March 2026.
Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 17 May 2026.
The fund is for local infrastructure projects.
Community groups and eligible organisations can check the council guidance before applying.
Click here: To check eligibility and see how to apply
Supported independent living housing opens in Byfleet
Surrey County Council says its new supported independent living scheme in Byfleet opened on 3 March, marking the second of three developments in the county’s rollout of specialist housing for adults with disabilities; the first opened in Horley in October 2025, a Cobham site is due in the next few weeks, and the Byfleet scheme cost around £8 million, supports 16 residents, and will provide care through SeeAbility.
Parish councils agreed for Dorking, Box Hill and Westcott
Mole Valley has now moved this from “likely” to agreed, which is the key change: on 9 March the council signed off final recommendations to create new parish councils in Dorking, Box Hill and Westcott, with boundary changes also planned in Brockham and Headley; the changes will take effect on 1 Apr 2027, with first elections due in May 2027.
Community Digest
Childcare hours must stay genuinely free from 1 April
New Department for Education guidance for April says funded 15 and 30 hour childcare places must be genuinely free. That matters for parents trying to work out whether “optional” really means optional. Here’s how it works:
Providers cannot make mandatory charges part of funded hours.
Meals, nappies and activities must be optional.
Parents must be able to opt out of extras.
The guidance takes effect from 1 April 2026.
Household Support Fund help in Epsom and Ewell
Citizens Advice Epsom and Ewell says it is distributing the Household Support Fund on behalf of Surrey County Council through March 2026. Useful for households dealing with utilities, food, essential goods or crisis costs.
Food support routes in Reigate and Banstead
Reigate and Banstead’s cost of living page remains a useful one-stop route into local food support, with current guidance gathered in one place.
Cobham Area Foodbank
Cobham Area Foodbank remains a practical route for local help, with its distribution centre open on Tuesdays at Cobham United Church.
Events
Family & Kids
Trails and Tales, Green Eggs and Ham | Fri 13 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: Gatton Park, Reigate
Description: Friday morning session from 10am to 11.30am for ages 2 to 4, mixing story time and outdoor wandering. Price: £7.50 per child. Booking is essential.
Theatre & Performances
Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged | Wed 11 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: Epsom Playhouse, Epsom
Description: A fast and knowingly chaotic sprint through the lot, on Wednesday at 7.30pm. Venue guidance says ages 12+, and tickets start from £27.50.
Music & Gigs
Genesis Connected | Fri 13 March (Info/Tickets)
Location: Epsom Playhouse, Epsom
Description: Tribute night on Friday at 7.30pm, with the double-drums setup very much part of the pitch. Price: from £29.50.
Markets
Epsom Market | Thu and Sat
Location: Gatton Park, Reigate
Description: Friday morning session from 10am to 11.30am for ages 2 to 4, mixing story time and outdoor wandering. Price: £7.50 per child. Booking is essential.
Click here: To confirm market days, opening times and trader details
Dorking Market | Fri
Location: St Martin’s Walk car park, Dorking
Description: Friday market, 8.30am to 2pm, with fruit, veg, flowers, fish, cheese, meat and olives.
Click here: To confirm date, opening times and stall details
Redhill Market | Thu to Sat
Location: Redhill High Street, Redhill
Description: Redhill Market runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Handy to have a few chances built into the week.
Click here: To confirm date, opening times and stall details
Eat & Drink
Greek and Turkish Wine Tasting
Greek and Turkish Wine Tasting
Location: 38 Church Street, Reigate
Description: Thursday evening tasting from 7.30pm to 9.30pm, with eight wines and food pairings. Price: £30.
Click here: To see details and book your place
Denbies – Mother’s Day sparkling rosé afternoon tea
Location: Denbies Wine Estate
Description: Special Mother’s Day afternoon tea with sparkling rosé, served on Sunday 15 March 2026. Expect tiered stands, vineyard views and a set price of around £43 per adult.
Click here: To see the menu and reserve a table
Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea with Live Music | Brooklands Hotel
Location: Brooklands Hotel, Weybridge
Description: Sunday Mother’s Day afternoon tea with live music, priced at £36.95 per person, with children half price.
Click here: To see details and make a booking
Local Jobs
Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Frailty – East Surrey Hospital
Location: Redhill
Description: Permanent full-time Band 8a role at East Surrey Hospital, posted on 4 March and closing on 15 March. Salary sits at £55,690 to £62,682 plus high-cost allowance.
Click here: To read the full job description and apply online
Driver Chargehand – Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Location: Earlswood Depot, Redhill
Description: Full-time 45 hour role at Earlswood Depot, with one permanent and one fixed-term post available. Salary is £36,693.75 to £39,183.75, and applications close on 11 March.
Click here: To read the full job description and apply online
Planning Enforcement Officer – Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
Location: Epsom, hybrid
Description: Hybrid enforcement role based in Epsom, with salary from £41,954 to £49,177. Applications close on 22 March, with interviews due the week commencing 30 March.
Click here: To read the full job description and apply online
Scrub Nurse – Epsom Hospital
Location: Epsom
Description: Permanent Band 6 theatre role at Epsom Hospital, 37.5 hours a week, with on-call and internal rotation. Applications close on 15 March.
Click here: To read the full job description and apply online
Directory – Trusted by Surrey
Gastrax
Location: Epsom and wider Surrey
Description: Boiler repair, gas and plumbing services across the local patch, with the site saying the firm has served the area for more than 18 years.
Click here: To see contact details and request a quote
Hazelden
Location: Redhill
Description: Device repair and IT support from 91 Brighton Road, Redhill, open Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm. The site also notes more than 10 years of experience and a 1 year warranty.
Click here: To see contact details and request a quote
Tom Fox Bespoke Tailoring
Location: Reigate
Description: Bespoke suits, shirts, formalwear and sixth-form suits from a High Street base in Reigate.
Click here: To see contact details and book an appointment
Moonflower Florist
Location: Cobham
Description: Independent florist on Anyards Road, Cobham, open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am to 5.30pm. The site also offers same-day delivery for qualifying orders placed by 12pm.
Click here: To see contact details and place an order
And finally,
By this point in the week, you are probably juggling the practical stuff and keeping one eye on the weekend. Hopefully this gave you a useful steer for the days ahead. And on Friday, we’ll be back with more reasons to look out for Surrey, from weekend events and markets to food and drink picks that help you make a plan before Saturday arrives. If you spot something we should have on our radar, just hit reply.
Thank you for reading. See you on Friday.
