Improvements in 2024
2024 was a very busy for the KRA with new leadership, new roles and new initiatives to improve our village and work cooperatively with other village groups.
The KRA managed to secure a grant from Surrey County Council with the assistance of Rebecca Paul, now our MP.
With this grant we acquired:
- An additional planter outside Pets Corner which has enhanced the beauty of the shopping parade
- A Chitter Chatter bench was installed outside the Village Hall, encouraging people to sit and chat
- New litter-picking equipment for children and a trolley for less able-bodied volunteers enables us to widen our volunteer circle
- The initial purchase of the Village Christmas lights
Other funding includes:
- The KRA kindly provided a new all-weather storage box for litter-picking equipment and gardening tools for the volunteer groups
- Total Security Systems (TSS), of Waterhouse Lane, provided us with new hi vis vests in time for the Big November Village clean-up
- Reigate and Banstead County Council approved a new grant to install the admired Memorial Bench outside Kingswood’s St Andrews Church
The highlight of the Village’s year surely was the Christmas lighting event where Kingswood came alive. A towering Christmas tree, donated by the KRA, was installed outside the Village Hall. The Village children made Christmas wishes to put on the tree and a competition for the Christmas Star was organised. Twinkling lights lit up the shops all along Waterhouse Lane and Rebecca Paul, MP, was the guest of honour at the switching on of the Christmas lights on 30th November.
The KRA (some dressed as elves!) provided the adults with mulled wine and mince pies with chocolates and soft drinks for the children. In all, it was a wonderful start to the Christmas festivities and we hope we’ll be able to continue in 2025, finances depending.
A big thank you to the Kingswood Gardeners, led by Sarah Wilson, who continue to look after the planters and the gardens around Kingswood Station and to the numerous Litter Pickers for keeping our Village so tidy.
A huge thank you to the KRA and all the volunteers and helpers who are quietly working away in the background making 2024 our most successful and impactful year yet.
Plans for more community-driven projects, such as improving our public spaces, supporting our local businesses and organising exciting events already well advanced for 2025.
Watch this space for more news in the June 2025 Edition!
Chantal Cox (Village Improvement & Preservation Coordinator)
