During this period of lockdown, food bank donations have decreased while demand for donations has reached record levels. Throughout this time of hardship more and more people have found themselves relying on food banks to support themselves and their families, but as money gets tighter, fewer people have been able to do donate resulting in a crisis at food banks.

Green councillor for Earlswood and Whitebushes, Ruth Ritter

Green councillor for Redhill East, Sue Sinden

Green councillors Sue Sinden (Redhill East) and Ruth Ritter (Earslwood and Whitebushes) have stepped up with others to support Reigate and Banstead’s call for donations to the central food bank at The Harlequin. By setting up collection boxes in their gardens, it allowed people who were less mobile/higher risk to donate without having to travel into Redhill town centre.

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1. Hope for the Future’s Webinar Series

The webinar series from Hope for the Future brings together the views of environmental, climate, health and social experts on the impacts of COVID-19. The series covers how we can move forward with an environmental perspective; the role of UK politicians in recovering from the crisis; and the alternatives to COP26 climate talks following its postponement. It encourages interaction from those participating and provides a space where your questions can be answered by experts. The live shows are free to participate in and will continue through to July.

The series is available live on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/hope-for-the-future-17742422623. If you cannot make the live broadcast, it is recorded and available on their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHF4s9laXn3sgn7RVN3yh9A

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New cycle lanes on London’s Park Lane. Source: Redhillandreigatelife.co.uk

As part of the coronavirus emergency response, central government has made money available for local authorities to make changes to the road network to make it easier for people to walk and cycle.

East Surrey Green Party consulted our members and local cycling campaigners and sustainable travel champions and pulled together a set of recommendations of how this could be done in Reigate & Banstead.

We have submitted this to Surrey County Council.  Green County Councillor Jonathan Essex will work with council officers and others to push for these improvements to be made.

Link to submission: http://redhillgreens.org.uk/downloads/cycling-and-walking-proposals-to-scc-3june20.pdf

The Longmead building – a handsome Edwardian school in Redhill Town Centre is threatened with imminent demolition – despite being acknowledged as of historic importance and structurally sound.

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Newly elected Cllr Essex in May 2010

Ten years ago this week, Jonathan Essex was elected as Redhill’s first ever Green Councillor – and the first to be elected on a Green ticket in Surrey.

Since then he’s worked tirelessly to bring about positive changes in Redhill and beyond – and has proved a strong and principled independent voice on the local and County Councils.

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We are in uncertain times as the Covid-19 pandemic escalates in our country and round the world. We don’t yet know the extent of the impacts it will have, but we do know they will be devastating, with great loss of life and difficulties for people, businesses and communities across every sector of our society. Many people are anxious and afraid.

Our Councillors will do all they can to support our communities, working with the Council and the voluntary sector, in line with official advice.

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At the Council’s budget-setting meeting on 13 February 2020, I called on the Council to set targets for new genuinely affordable homes for rent, to provide stronger support across all our communities to address the impacts of austerity, and to commit to real urgency in addressing climate change.

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Crispin Blunt was re-elected as MP for Reigate last week and has published an Election Statement setting out his priorities for the new term.

We are disappointed to see no mention of the climate emergency, and no commitment to addressing poverty, beyond urging support for local charities to take the strain.

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Thank you to everyone who voted Green in the recent General Election. You can read the local results here

Three public hustings give you a chance to hear from all the candidates seeking your vote in the general election.

Godstone hustings
30 November, 4pm
The White Hart Barn, behind the White Hart Inn, High Street, Godstone RH9 8BT

Whyteleafe hustings
Monday 2 December, 7.30pm
St Luke’s Church. Whyteleafe, CR3 0AA.

Tatsfield hustings
Wednesday 4 December, 7.30pm
The WI Hall, Paynesfield Road, Tatsfield, TN16 2AT

Caterham hustings – with a focus on education
Thursday 5 December, 6-7pm
Sunnydown School 152 Whyteleafe Rd, Caterham CR3 5ED

Read about the Green candidate, Joseph Booton