View source for Reigate and Banstead

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Coord|51.249|-0.160|display=title|region:GB_scale:100000}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See {{Infobox settlement}} for the full list of available fields -->
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| timezone                = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset              = 0
| timezone_DST            = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +1

<!-- Elements common to administrative division of this type (English two-tier district) -->
| settlement_type         = [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|Borough]] and [[non-metropolitan district]]
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Constituent country]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Non-metropolitan county]]
| subdivision_type4       = Status
| subdivision_type5       = Admin HQ
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[England]]
| subdivision_name4       = [[Non-metropolitan district]]
| government_type         = Non-metropolitan district council
| leader_title            = Leadership
| leader_title1           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| established_title1      = Incorporated
| population_density_km2  = auto
| blank1_name             = [[ONS coding system|ONS code]]
| blank2_name             = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|OS grid reference]]

<!-- Elements unique to this article -->
| official_name           = Borough of Reigate and Banstead
| image_skyline           = Reigate Town Centre - geograph.org.uk - 1042922.jpg
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = View over [[Reigate]] towards the [[North Downs]]
| image_shield            =
| shield_size             = 
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| motto                   = ''Never Wonne Ne Never Shall''
| image_map               = Reigate and Banstead UK locator map.svg
| mapsize                 = 150px
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Reigate and Banstead shown within Surrey
| subdivision_name2       = [[South East England]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Surrey]]
| subdivision_name5       = [[Reigate]]
| established_date1       = 1 April 1974
| governing_body          = Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
| leader_name1            = [[Chris Coghlan (politician)|Chris Coghlan]]<br/>[[Claire Coutinho]]<br/>[[Rebecca Paul (British politician)|Rebecca Paul]]
| area_total_km2          = 129.1
| area_rank               = {{English district area rank|GSS=E07000211}} [[List of English districts by area|(of {{English district total}})]]
Highest point  :  [[Reigate|Reigate Hill]]
| population_total        = {{English district population|GSS=E07000211}}
| population_as_of        = {{English statistics year}}
| population_rank         = {{English district rank|GSS=E07000211}} [[List of English districts by population|(of {{English district total}})]]
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021|id=E07000211|title=Reigate and Banstead Local Authority|access-date=5 January 2024}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 84.4% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 7.5% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 3.7% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 2.9% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 1.4% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     = 
 {{Collapsible list
 | 49.1% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 38.1% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 6% not stated
 | 3.1% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 2.4% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.5% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.4% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 0.2% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 0.2% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 }}  
| blank1_info             = 43UF (ONS)<br />E07000211 (GSS)
| blank2_info             = {{gbmappingsmall|TQ2840251646}} 
}}
'''Reigate and Banstead''' is a [[Non-metropolitan district|local government district]] with [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] in [[Surrey]], England. Its council is based in [[Reigate, Surrey|Reigate]] and the borough also includes the towns of [[Banstead]], [[Horley]] and [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]]. Parts of the borough are within the [[Surrey Hills AONB|Surrey Hills]], a designated [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]]. Northern parts of the borough, including Banstead, lie inside the [[M25 motorway]] which encircles [[London]].

The neighbouring districts are [[Tandridge District|Tandridge]], [[Crawley]], [[Mole Valley]], [[Epsom and Ewell]], [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]] and [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]], the latter two being [[London boroughs]].

==History==
The district was created on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]], covering the whole of two former districts and part of a third, which were all abolished at the same time:<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan District (Definition) Order 1972|year=1972|number=2039|access-date=17 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Charlwood and Horley Act 1974|year=1974|chapter=11|access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref>
*[[Banstead Urban District]]
*[[Dorking and Horley Rural District]] ([[Horley]] and [[Salfords and Sidlow]] parishes only, rest went to [[Mole Valley]] except area of [[Gatwick Airport]] which went to Crawley)
*[[Reigate]] [[Municipal Borough]] (which included Redhill)
The new district was named Reigate and Banstead after two of the former districts.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=551|access-date=3 January 2024}}</ref>

The district was awarded borough status from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of [[Mayors in England|mayor]].<ref>{{cite web |title=District Councils and Boroughs |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145 |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=4 December 2021 |date=28 March 1974}}</ref>

==Governance==
{{Infobox legislature
| name = Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
| background_color = 
| text_color = 
| native_name = 
| transcription_name = 
| legislature = 
| coa_pic = 
| coa_res = 
| logo_pic = Reigate and Banstead Borough Council logo.svg
| logo_res = 200px
| house_type = Non-metropolitan district
| body = 
| houses = 
| leader1_type = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]]
| leader1 = Rich Michalowski
| party1 = <br/>[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election1 = 22 May 2025<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 22 May 2025 |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=2271 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=31 May 2025}}</ref>
| leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]]
| leader2 = Richard Biggs
| party2 = <br/>[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| election2 = 25 May 2023
| leader3_type = [[Managing Director]]
| leader3 = Mari Roberts-Wood
| party3 = <!-- Non-political role -->
| election3 = July 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 30 July 2020 |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=1421 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref>
| members = 45 councillors
| structure1 = Reigate_and_Banstead_Borough_Council_2024.svg
| structure1_res = 250px
| political_groups1 = ;Administration (18)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] (18)
;Other parties (27)
: {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of England and Wales}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green]] (13)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]] (4)}}
: {{Color box|{{party color|Independent politician}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent politician|Independent]] (4)
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Residents Association}}|border=darkgray}} [[Residents Association|Tattenham & Preston Residents]] (3)}}
: {{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Residents Association}}|border=darkgray}} [[Residents Association|Nork Residents’ Association]] (3)}}
| committees1 = 
| joint_committees = 
| voting_system1 = [[Plurality voting system|First past the post]]
| first_election1 = [[1973 Reigate and Banstead Borough Council election|7 June 1973]]
| last_election1 = [[2024 Reigate and Banstead Borough Council election|2 May 2024]]
| session_room = Reigate Town Hall - geograph.org.uk - 630757.jpg
| meeting_place = [[Reigate Town Hall|Town Hall]], Castlefield Road, [[Reigate]], RH2{{nbsp}}0SH
| website = {{URL|www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk}}
| footnotes = 
}}

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council provides [[Non-metropolitan district|district-level]] services. [[Non-metropolitan county|County-level]] services are provided by [[Surrey County Council]], which is also based in Reigate, having its headquarters at [[Woodhatch Place, Reigate|Woodhatch Place]].<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=31 May 2023}}</ref> In the south of the borough are two [[civil parish]]es at Horley and [[Salfords and Sidlow]], which form a third tier of local government for their areas.<ref name=electionmaps>{{cite web |title=Election Maps |url=https://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/election-maps/gb/ |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

===Political control===
The council has been under [[no overall control]] since March 2024, being led by a [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] minority administration.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coady-Stemp |first1=Emily |last2=Fiehn |first2=Jack |title=Conservatives lose control of last borough council |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv2ye1ld8rpo |access-date=22 July 2024 |work=BBC News |date=8 March 2024}}</ref>

The first elections to the council were held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into effect on 1 April 1974. Political control of the council since 1974 has been as follows:<ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=26 November 2024 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Reigate & Banstead" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref name=change>{{cite web| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/43uf.stm | title = Reigate & Banstead | access-date = 2009-12-18 | publisher = [[BBC News Online]] | date=2008-04-19}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2|Party in control || Years
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 1974–1991
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 1991–2000
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || 2000–2024
|-
| {{Party name with colour|No overall control}} || 2024–present
|}

===Leadership===
The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Reigate and Banstead. Political leadership is instead provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 2003 have been:

{| class=wikitable
! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To
|-
| Joan Spiers<ref>{{cite news |title=Sad passing of Cllr Mrs Joan Spiers |url=https://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/news/article/88/sad_passing_of_cllr_mrs_joan_spiers |access-date=17 July 2022 |work=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |date=30 August 2016}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|2003 || align=right|17 May 2007
|-
| Lynne Hack<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 17 May 2007 |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=136&MeetingId=303&DF=17%2f05%2f2007&Ver=2 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|17 May 2007 || align=right|15 May 2008
|-
| Joan Spiers<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 15 May 2008 |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=136&MeetingId=311&DF=15%2f05%2f2008&Ver=2 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Harper |first1=Paul |title=Local elections 2014: Reigate & Banstead Borough Council |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/local-elections-2014-reigate--7153354 |access-date=11 January 2025 |work=Surrey Live |date=23 May 2014}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|15 May 2008 || align=right|Jun 2014
|-
| Vic Broad<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 12 June 2014 |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/CeListDocuments.aspx?CommitteeId=136&MeetingId=355&DF=12%2f06%2f2014&Ver=2 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Seymour |first1=Jenny |title=Reigate and Banstead council set for new leader and he's promised to be 'more approachable' |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/reigate-banstead-council-set-new-14671502 |access-date=11 January 2025 |work=Surrey Live |date=22 May 2018}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|12 Jun 2014 || align=right|24 May 2018
|-
| Mark Brunt<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 24 May 2018 |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=210 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council leader confirms retirement |url=http://www.susyradio.com/2023/02/09/reigate-and-banstead-borough-council-leader-confirms-retirement/ |access-date=11 January 2025 |work=Susy Radio |date=9 February 2023}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|24 May 2018 || align=right|May 2023
|-
| Richard Biggs<ref>{{cite web |title=Council minutes, 25 May 2023 |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=136&MId=2006 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=11 January 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Council Leader and Executive appointed at 50th anniversary at Annual Council meeting |url=https://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/news/article/472/mayor_deputy_mayor_council_leader_and_executive_appointed_at_50th_anniversary_at_annual_council_meeting |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=22 July 2024 |date=23 May 2024}}</ref> || {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}} || align=right|25 May 2023 || align=right|
|}

===Composition===
Following the [[2024 Reigate and Banstead Borough Council election|2024 election]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Reigate and Banstead |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=reigate_and_banstead |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref> and subsequent changes of allegiance up to May 2025, the composition of the council was:<ref name=Thorncliffe>{{cite web |title=Reigate and Banstead |url=https://www.localcouncils.co.uk/councils/?council=reigate_and_banstead |website=Local Councils |publisher=Thorncliffe |access-date=31 May 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=2| Party
! Councillors
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Conservative Party (UK)}}
| align=center|18
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Green Party of England and Wales}}
| align=center|13
|-
| {{Party color cell|Residents Association}} || Nork Residents' Association
| align=center|3
|-
| {{Party color cell|Residents Association}} || Tattenham Corner and Preston Residents' Association
| align=center|3
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}}
| align=center|4
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}}
| align=center|2
|-
| {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}}
| align=center|2
|-
! colspan=2|Total
! align=center|45
|}
The two residents' associations and one of the two independent councillors sit together as a group.<ref>{{cite web |title=Your councillors by party |url=https://reigate-banstead.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?FN=PARTY&VW=LIST&PIC=0 |website=Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> The next election is due in May 2026.<ref name=Thorncliffe/>

===Elections===
{{also|Reigate and Banstead Borough Council elections}}
Since the last boundary changes in 2019 the council has comprised 45 [[councillor]]s representing 15 [[Wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing three councillors. Elections are held three years out of every four, with a third of the council (one councillor for each ward) being elected each time for a four-year term of office. [[Surrey County Council elections]] are held in the fourth year of the cycle when there are no borough council elections.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Reigate and Banstead (Electoral Changes) Order 2019|year=2019|number=125|access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref>

===Premises===
The council is based at [[Reigate Town Hall]] on Castlefield Road, which had been completed in 1901 for the old Reigate Borough Council.<ref name=listed>{{NHLE|desc=Town Hall|num=1260489|accessdate=27 December 2020}}</ref>

==Geography==
The northern third of the borough is on the [[North Downs]] or its upper slopes.  Commanding viewpoints exist in several locations in this area with the southern aspects of [[Colley Hill]] and [[Reigate|Reigate Hill]] noteworthy enough to have had a major memorial and a picnic area with large café respectively. Historically much of this third was named ''Walton Heath'' and ''Banstead Heath''.

The softer [[Greensand Ridge]] which is parallel to the south breaks up in the middle of the borough, forming the [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]] basin and various mounds around [[Reigate]] before continuing in both directions at higher elevations, see the [[Greensand Way]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gridreferencefinder.com/|title=Grid Reference Finder|website=gridreferencefinder.com}}</ref>  The [[River Mole|Mole]] forms a section of the western border of the borough down to Wonham Mill at the western extreme of Flanchford in the Reigate [[post town]], itself at a millpond at the foot of the wooded ''Snag Brook'' a tributary which rises near the [[A25 road|A25 Dorking Road]].<ref name=osm>{{Cite web|url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/|title=OpenStreetMap|website=OpenStreetMap}}</ref> Much of the borough is [[Metropolitan Green Belt]].

There are significant areas of forest and heath management, including five reserves within the national wildlife trust scheme: see [[Surrey Wildlife Trust]].

==Settlements and parishes==
[[File:Banstead Church - geograph.org.uk - 1159947.jpg|thumb|[[Banstead]] parish church]]
[[File:Station Road, Redhill - geograph.org.uk - 877505.jpg|thumb|Town centre of [[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]]]]
{{also|List of civil parishes in Surrey}}
There are only two civil parishes in the borough, being Horley, and Salfords and Sidlow. The parish council for Horley has declared its parish to be a town, allowing it to take the style "town council".<ref>{{cite web |title=Horley Town Council |url=https://www.horleysurrey-tc.gov.uk/ |access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref> The pre-1974 borough of Reigate and urban district of Banstead form an [[unparished area]].<ref name=electionmaps/>

Settlements and suburbs in the borough include:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/land-planning-and-development/interactive-map|title=Surrey interactive map|first=County Hall|last=Surrey County Council|website=www.surreycc.gov.uk}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Banstead]]
*[[Burgh Heath]]
*[[Chipstead, Surrey|Chipstead]]
*[[Earlswood]]
*[[Epsom Downs]] (part){{efn|Despite the name, the built-up part of Epsom Downs around [[Epsom Downs railway station]] is in Reigate and Banstead, and not in the borough of [[Epsom and Ewell]].}}
*[[Gatton, Surrey|Gatton]]
*[[Hooley]]
*[[Horley]]
*[[Kingswood, Surrey|Kingswood]]
*[[Lower Kingswood]]
*[[Margery]]
*[[Meadvale]]
*[[Merstham]]
*[[Mogador, Surrey|Mogador]]
*[[Netherne-on-the-Hill]]
*[[Nork, Surrey|Nork]] 
*[[Redhill, Surrey|Redhill]]
*[[Reigate]]
*[[Salfords]] 
*[[Sidlow]]
*[[Tadworth]]
*[[Tattenham Corner]]
*[[Walton-on-the-Hill]]
*[[Whitebushes]]
*[[Woodhatch]]
*[[Woodmansterne]]
{{div col end}}

==Economy==
The economy is diverse, with a strong local service sector, [[City of London|city workers]] as most locations are easily within the [[London Commuter Belt]], trades, a developed public/education sector and several farms concentrated towards [[crop|cereal and root vegetable]] [[agriculture]].  There is an extent of [[woodland]] [[forestry|management]]. Several employers with an international renown are found in force in and around the two most commercial towns centres of Reigate and Redhill: including [[Willis Towers Watson]], [[Just Group plc|Just]], [[Kimberly Clark]], [[Travelers Group]] (insurance), [[AXA Insurance]] breakdown, [[Black & Veatch]] and [[Esure]]. [[Pfizer UK]] headquarters is by the [[M25 motorway]] in [[Walton-on-the-Hill]].<ref name=osm/> Notably [[Sutton and East Surrey Water]] is headquartered in Redhill and [[SGN (company)|SGN]] in Horley.  A choice of hotels exists in and around [[Horley]] including its adjacent neighbourhood, sometimes named independently by businesses and residents, ''Hookwood'', on the east and north outskirts of [[Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick Airport]] respectively.

In the late 20th century the airline [[Dan-Air]] had its head office in the Newman House in [[Horley]],<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 25–31 March 1992 [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1992/1992%20-%200773.html?search=%22Dan-Air%22 75].</ref> and [[Air Europe]] had its head office in [[Reigate]].<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 26 July 1980. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1980/1980%20-%201893.html?search=%22Air%20Europe%22 274]. "Head Office: Europe House, Bancroft Road, Reigate, Surrey, Great Britain."</ref>

==Transport==
===Roads===
The '''[[M25 motorway]]''' passes from the middle of the east of the borough to just south of the [[tripoint]] with [[Epsom and Ewell]] and [[Mole Valley]] and has two junctions, one for the '''[[M23 motorway]]''' that passes through the eastern side of the borough north–south and starts in the northeast of the borough, the other at Reigate Hill.  The A23 road from London splits into the ongoing A23 from the south and the M23 at [[Hooley]].

The [[A217 road]] is a second [[London]] road starting in [[Reigate]] via [[Banstead]] and [[Sutton, London|Sutton]] and on to London.  Two traditional, mostly up to county distance alternatives [[etymology|inspired the names]] of the north–south/east-west motorway: the [[Vale of Holmesdale|low]] [[A25 road|A25]]  between [[Godstone]]/[[Guildford]] and the [[A23 road|A23]], the latter being used for the [[London to Brighton events]].

===Rail===
[[File:Horley Railway Station - geograph.org.uk - 4153710.jpg|thumb|[[Horley railway station]] on the [[Brighton Main Line]]]]
The main train operator in the borough is [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]], with other services being operated by [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Thameslink]] and [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]. Through routes are the [[North Downs Line]] and the more heavily used [[London to Brighton line]] that has several operators plus several branch service routes operating to London (the destination in the borough of one such service is [[Reigate]]). Although these are the main railways for long and short-distance travel, two branch lines cut through lower parts of the [[North Downs]] plateau in the north (to Tattenham Corner via Kingswood and to Epsom Downs via Banstead, all four stations being in the borough).

==Twinning==
The borough is [[sister city|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Eschweiler]] in [[North Rhine-Westphalia]], Germany<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/public/Community_Living/Town_Twinning/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011090544/http://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/public/Community_Living/Town_Twinning/|url-status=dead|title=Reigate & Banstead twinning info|archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> since 1985
*{{flagicon|France}} [[Brunoy]] in [[Essonne]], France since 1991

==Coat of arms==
The [[coat of arms]] is a combination of the elements of the Reigate shield, the device of Banstead and symbols of the parishes of Horley and Salfords and Sidlow.<ref name="Mayor">{{cite web|title=Role of the Mayor|url=http://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/info/20322/mayor/551/role_of_the_mayor|publisher=Reigate & Banstead Council|access-date=29 December 2016}}</ref>

The [[Shield (heraldry)|shield]] has a background of blue and yellow chequers taken from the arms of the de Warenne family. [[William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey|William de Warenne]] accompanied William the Conqueror from Normandy and was the first [[Earl of Surrey]] and the builder of [[Reigate Castle]]. Against this pattern is the Reigate Castle Gate and [[oak]] tree.<ref name="Mayor"/>

The top of the shield has a black background as in the original Reigate arms but on which is a gold woolpack between two sprigs of oak. The woolpack or woolsack refers to the former importance of sheep rearing and wool production in Banstead. The oak sprigs represent the two parishes of Horley and Salfords and Sidlow.<ref name="Mayor"/>

Above the shield is a [[Helmet (heraldry)|helmet]] with a wreath and draped cloth also in the blue and gold of the de Warennes. On top of the helmet is a pilgrim referring to the ancient route along the escarpment of the [[North Downs]] by Banstead and Reigate, the [[Pilgrims Way]].<ref name="Mayor"/>

On either side of the shield is a white lion and a white horse. The lion comes from the arms of the de Mowbray family who were briefly Lords of the Manor of Banstead in the 12th century. The horse refers to the tradition of horse racing on [[Banstead Downs]] in the 17th century and immortalised in the [[Epsom Oaks|Oaks]] race of [[Epsom Derby]] Friday. On the necks of the animals are wreaths again in the blue and yellow. On the shoulders are roundels of blue and white waves indicating the [[River Mole]] in Horley and Sidlow.<ref name="Mayor"/>

The roundel on the lion has a tanner's (or flaying) knife, the emblem of [[Bartholomew the Apostle|St Bartholomew]], the patron of Horley, who is said to have been flayed or skinned before he was crucified. The roundel on the shoulder of the horse has a [[Willow|sallow]] leaf, a reference to Salfords, which is derived from Sallow Ford. The Sallow tree is commonly known as Pussy Willow.<ref name="Mayor"/>

The motto "Never Wonne ne never shall" is taken from an ancient couplet and refers to the defeat of the Danes by King [[Alfred the Great|Alfred]] in a battle in the Vale of Holmesdale in the 9th century, now remembered in the name Battlebridge. Reigate Castle has also been known as Holmesdale Castle. A translation is "Never conquered nor never shall".<ref name="Mayor"/>

==Freedom of the Borough==
The following people and military units have received the [[Freedom of the City|Freedom of the Borough]] of Reigate and Banstead.

===Individuals===
* Ernest A. Crowe (1988)<ref name=Aldermen_and_Freemen>{{cite web |title= Aldermen and Freemen |date= 17 September 2020 |publisher= Reigate and Banstead Borough Council |url= https://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/info/20044/your_council/1152/aldermen_and_freemen |access-date= 19 April 2023 }}</ref>
* Norman C. Smith (1995)<ref name=Aldermen_and_Freemen/>
* Dr. Michael "Mike" Ormerod (2007)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/tributes-paid-after-former-reigate-23869575 |title=Tributes paid after former Reigate and Banstead council leader dies: 'Amazing man and great friend'  |last=Seymour |first=Jenny |date=5 May 2022 |website=Surrey Live |publisher= |access-date=6 May 2022 |quote=}}</ref>

===Organisations===
* The [[Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment]] (2011)<ref name=Aldermen_and_Freemen/><ref>{{cite news |date= 21 June 2011 |title= 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales Royal Regiment to march through Reigate  |work= Sutton & Croydon Guardian |url= https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/9096382.2nd-battalion-princess-of-wales-royal-regiment-to-march-through-reigate/ |access-date= 19 April 2023  }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Surrey}}
*[[List of places of worship in Reigate and Banstead]]
*[[Reigate Town Hall]]

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=n}}  
'''References'''
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.reigate-banstead.gov.uk/ Reigate and Banstead Borough Council]
* [http://www.reigateweb.co.uk/ The Reigate Web]

{{Surrey}}
{{SE_England}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Non-metropolitan districts of Surrey]]
[[Category:Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership]]
[[Category:Reigate]]
[[Category:Boroughs in England]]