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Good Morning Surrey,

Woking has just given an old church a £5.7 million new lease of life, complete with a youth centre, café and bookshop. It's quite a transformation, and rather more interesting than another announcement about a building getting a fresh coat of paint.

If you're passing through Woking, it might be worth popping in for a look. The café and bookshop have reopened, although the full programme of youth activities hasn't yet been confirmed. Have you visited since the redevelopment?

And with half-term upon us, there's every chance the household diary is already more complicated than the average council planning application.

In today’s edition…

Woking's £5.7m church redevelopment is complete, with new facilities.
Rail reform and proposed NHS changes face further scrutiny.
Three Surrey property candidates range from £325,000 to £875,000.
Winter road preparations and affordable grocery support across Surrey.
Half-term activities, Halloween events and an immersive murder mystery.
Weekend markets, an Earlswood restaurant and six local service businesses.

Let's Take a Look...

-- Prince Khurram.

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News

Woking church post £5.7m redevelopment reopening

Historical view of Christ Church in Jubilee Square, Woking

Christ Church, Woking. Mertbiol / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 1.0 (cropped/edited). Historical photograph.

Christ Church in Woking has completed its £5.7 million Gateway redevelopment, bringing a new youth and community centre alongside the reopening of its café and bookshop. The facilities were reported open by 21 October, marking a significant change for this town-centre landmark.

Investment: £5.7 million redevelopment project.
New facilities: Youth and community centre.
Reopened: Church café and bookshop.
What's next: A separate timetable of activities at the new centre has not yet been confirmed.

The redevelopment gives residents another community space in central Woking, with details of individual activities still to follow.

Click here: To read about the completed redevelopment and its new facilities

National headlines

Railways Bill continues through the House of Lords

Palace of Westminster. CivArmy / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped/edited).

The Railways Bill is scheduled for its seventh day of Grand Committee scrutiny today, Monday 26 October. Its proposals could eventually affect how rail services used by Surrey commuters are organised, although there is no immediate timetable or fare change arising from today's proceedings.

Click here: To follow the legislation and its progress through Parliament

Proposed NHS changes face further scrutiny

A health bill enters its House of Lords committee stage on Wednesday 28 October. Proposals include abolishing NHS England and Healthwatch and introducing a single patient record. These remain proposals, not changes already operating in Surrey's NHS services.

Click here: To understand the proposed reforms and their parliamentary progress

Properties of the Week

Home A: Under £350k

Bennetts Wood | Capel RH5 (View Property)
Location: Bennetts Wood, Capel, Dorking RH5
Description: A two-bedroom freehold house with one bathroom, approximately 635 sq ft and driveway parking. The property has non-standard Trusteel Mk2 steel construction, which may affect mortgage lending and buildings insurance. Buyers should obtain specific advice before proceeding. Price: Offers over £325,000.

Home B: £350k–£650k

Overlord Close | Camberley GU15 (View Property)
Location: Overlord Close, Camberley GU15
Description: A freehold end-of-terrace house with four bedrooms listed, described as three/four bedrooms, one bathroom and a garage. Sold through the Modern Method of Auction, with an additional reservation fee of 4.5% of the final price including VAT, subject to a £6,600 minimum, plus a £349 buyer pack fee. Buyers should review the full auction conditions. Price: Guide £450,000.

Home C: Above £650k

Irwin Road | Guildford GU2 (View Property)
Location: Irwin Road, Onslow Village, Guildford GU2
Description: A chain-free 1930s semi-detached freehold house offering four bedrooms, two bathrooms, approximately 1,286 sq ft and driveway parking. An option for households seeking additional space in Guildford, with the usual careful arithmetic required at this end of the market. Price: Guide £875,000.

County Updates

Surrey prepares its roads for winter gritting

Surrey's winter road preparations are under way, with gritting vehicles, priority routes and roadside grit bins forming part of the seasonal operation. This is routine winter readiness, rather than a warning that severe weather is expected this week.

38 vehicles: The reported winter gritting fleet.
Around 1,775 miles: Priority roads covered by the reported operations plan.
Around 1,700: Roadside grit bins across the county.
Practical point: Priority routes do not mean every residential street is routinely gritted.

These figures come from the published seasonal update and have not been independently audited.

Click here: To read the winter roads update and the council's preparations

Community Digest

A new community hub takes shape in Weybridge

Weybridge Community Centre is gradually reopening as Weybridge Junction, with plans to bring a range of community facilities and services together at Churchfield Place.

The Waste to Plate community shop is already operating and has no eligibility requirements. Other proposed facilities and activities are being introduced gradually, so it's worth checking what is actually available before making a special journey.

Click here: To see the community centre's opening update and available services

Banstead Pantry offers affordable grocery shopping

Banstead Pantry provides a membership-based grocery shopping service at 48 High Street, Banstead, SM7 2LX. It is available to eligible residents in the SM7, KT18 and KT20 postcode areas, with a fixed payment per shopping visit.

The organiser estimates that members can save money on groceries, although the value depends on what is available during each visit.

Click here: To check membership eligibility and shopping arrangements

Community connection and recovery support in Oxted

The local recovery and community-connection programme run by CC Way Through shares information about ongoing support and activities, including its memory café work.

Recent programme updates include an October open morning and an earlier memory café story. These are past activities, rather than sessions being advertised for this week. The programme's updates are a useful starting point for finding contacts and ongoing support.

Click here: To read programme updates and find community support information

Events

Family & Kids

The Grand Prix Mystery | 26–30 Oct (Info/Tickets)
Location: Brooklands Museum, Weybridge
Description: A half-term detective activity with mystery scenes at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm around the museum. Runs Monday to Friday. Standard museum admission applies, with children's tickets from £10.70. Best not to leave the detective work until Saturday.

Halloween Family Day | 28 Oct (Info/Tickets)
Location: The Lightbox, Woking
Description: Halloween craft activities with drop-in sessions from 10.30am–12.30pm and 2–4pm. Pay What You Wish, by donation. A useful indoor option if the weather has other plans.

Halloween Crafty Caper | 30 Oct (Info/Tickets)
Location: Pippbrook House, Dorking
Description: Free Halloween craft sessions for children aged 2–11, starting at 10am, 11am and noon. Each lasts an hour, and children must be accompanied. Advance booking is essential, even though the activity is free.

Spooky Plants Half-Term | 24 Oct–1 Nov (Info/Tickets)
Location: RHS Garden Wisley, Wisley
Description: A seasonal programme of Halloween-themed garden activities, with some additional sessions requiring separate booking. Online garden admission during 26–30 October is £19 for adults and £6 for children aged 5–16. Check availability before travelling.

Halloween Family Disco and Crafts | 31 Oct (Info/Tickets)
Location: The Horton, Epsom
Description: A Halloween family disco and craft activities from 4–5.30pm. Recommended for ages 4 and over, with small-parts restrictions for some activities. Tickets are £14 for one adult and child, £9 for an additional adult and £8 for an additional child. Under-18-months go free. Advance booking essential.

Halloween Half-Term Crazy Golf | 26–30 Oct (Info/Tickets)
Location: Mulligans, 2 North Street, Guildford
Description: A Halloween family offer with crazy golf, a drink and a treat for children. The promotional redemption window is 10am–2pm, separate from general venue opening hours. Price is £35 for a qualifying family of four, or £12.50 under the individual offer. Check eligibility before booking.

Halloween at the Museum | 31 Oct (Info/Tickets)
Location: Museum of Farnham, Farnham
Description: Seasonal crafts, potion making and storytelling for children aged 3 and over. Sessions run 10.30am–12.30pm and 1.30–3.30pm. Tickets are £6 per child, with accompanying adults free.

Outdoors

Off Road Day | 1 Nov (Info/Tickets)
Location: Brooklands Museum, Weybridge
Description: Displays of Land Rovers, Jeeps, military vehicles and other off-road machines, with course demonstrations at Mercedes-Benz World. Runs 10am–4pm and is included with standard museum admission. One for anyone who considers a muddy field an invitation rather than an inconvenience.

Theatre & Performances

Vampirology | 30 Oct (Info/Tickets)
Location: Pippbrook House, Dorking
Description: Dr Kathryn Harkup explores vampire folklore and the science behind horror's most famous fiend. Starts at 7.30pm, lasts approximately one hour and is suitable for ages 16 and over. Tickets are £13, or £11 for Friends of Dorking Halls.

A Brew to a Kill | 24 Oct–15 Nov (Info/Tickets)
Location: Hogs Back Brewery, Tongham
Description: An immersive 1954 murder mystery from Guildford Shakespeare Company, with audiences exploring the brewery and questioning suspects. Suitable for ages 8 and over. Tickets are £35 for adults and £18.50 for under-16s. A brewery visit with rather more suspicious behaviour than usual.

Special Events

Midnight Manor Overnight Experience | 31 Oct–1 Nov (Info/Tickets)
Location: West Horsley Place, West Horsley
Description: An adults-only Halloween overnight experience from 6pm Saturday to 9am Sunday, featuring after-dark house tours, a silent disco, dinner and breakfast. Tickets are £135 per person. Ages 18 and over only. Bring your own sleeping mat and sleeping bag, and check accessibility arrangements before booking.

Markets

Epsom Farmers' Market | 1 Nov (Details)
Location: Epsom Market Square, Epsom
Description: The monthly first-Sunday farmers' market runs 9.30am–1.30pm, offering food and produce stalls in the town centre. This is separate from the artisan market at Bourne Hall. A decent Sunday stop for stocking the kitchen.

Shere Village Art and Craft Fair | 1 Nov (Details)
Location: Shere Village Hall, Shere GU5 9HE
Description: A village art and craft fair featuring handmade items and free public entry. A quieter option for a Sunday wander, with the village itself providing a pleasant backdrop.

Eat & Drink

Nala by Joshua Tree | Indian & Keralan Cuisine (Details)
Location: 30 Common Road, Earlswood, Redhill RH1 6HJ
Description: Open since 29 August, this restaurant and pub serves Indian and Keralan cuisine in Earlswood. An option for those looking beyond their usual takeaway rotation, although direct booking arrangements and a complete current menu have not been independently established. Check the service before travelling.

🌳Woking completes £5.7m church redevelopment