Modernising Horley Community Centre - public engagement feedback (Sept 2025)

To support Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s project, Modernising Horley Community Centre, the Council wanted to understand the views of the local community and existing users of Horley Community Centre on the centre. The Council also wanted to hear about people’s views on the types of spaces, facilities and activities the centre should provide.

The aim of this engagement was to ensure the views of the local community influence and feed into the future design of the building and also future activities.

How we engaged

We ran two surveys (online with paper copies available at Horley Community Centre). One survey was open to the public, while the second targeted existing groups and hirers using the centre’s spaces, allowing for a coordinated response on behalf of each group or organisation.

The public survey was promoted through social media, posters and through partner organisations to ask people about the Centre, their views of Horley Community Centre, and the types of spaces, facilities and activities they would like the centre to provide.

Printed postcards with a three-question survey were also available for people to complete at Horley Community Centre, Horley Family Centre and Horley Library.

The survey and postcard submissions were open from 11 July to 10 August 2025, and could be returned by freepost, handed in at Horley Community Centre and the survey could be completed online.

We held two public drop-in sessions for members of the public to find out more about the Modernising Horley Community Centre project. Exhibition boards and existing and proposed floor plans were on display and Officers were present to talk through the information and respond to any questions.

We held engagement workshops with stakeholder groups including staff and volunteers, groups and hirers, Horley Community Centre Management Committee, Horley Town Council and Horley Partnership groups.

In total, between 170 - 210 people participated in the consultation. This included approximately 90 - 125 attendees at the public and stakeholder engagement workshops, along with 72 survey participants and 12 postcard respondents.

This report discusses the feedback received in public drop-in events and stakeholder workshops. The results from the survey(s) and postcards are summarised in a separate report.

Public engagement

Drop-in events were held on 22 and 26 July 2025 for members of the public to find out more about the Modernising Horley Community Centre project. Exhibition boards and existing and proposed floor plans were on display and Officers were present to talk through the information and respond to any questions.

To reach a wider range of people, we held events at two different times. The first took place on a weekday afternoon and evening, and the second on a weekend morning. Both were held at Horley Community Centre, with officers outside the building during the weekend event to encourage passers-by to stop and talk. Each event was attended by between 10 and 20 people.

Feedback from public engagement

General feedback:

• One person would not change anything about the building commenting that everyone has been very good to them at the centre.
• The building is in a good location being close to the town centre.
• The building does not look like a place you can explore.
• Individuals were very supportive of plans for modernising Horley Community Centre.
• The brickwork of the building should be in-keeping and complimentary of other surrounding buildings and commented building render may be costly to maintain.

Rooms and spaces:

• The downstairs restaurant and connected rooms are not used enough currently.
• The centre would benefit from a health room/chiropractor room on the ground floor.
• The current building is a bit dark inside and office-like. Opening up the ground floor area, providing more seating, tables and chairs like other centres or a concourse was suggested.
• Having the eye clinic at the centre is useful.
• The provision of a stage in the multipurpose hall is required.

Café and catering options:

• Alternative options should be considered if the upstairs café is removed, replacement options discussed included a trolley service or the installation of hot and cold vending machines
• The Centre would benefit from an improved kitchen space upstairs.
• 12-noon can be too early for lunch and the need to pre-book can be a barrier; would prefer more flexible mealtimes, more sittings, and the option to drop in without booking.
• The cook is great, and the food is great value.
• Suggested flexible times for lunch with more flexible menu choices.

Accessibility:

• The centre’s defibrillator is located in the reception area, which is locked and secured with a shutter outside of core staff and volunteer hours from 3pm. This was identified as a safety risk, as the defibrillator is not accessible during out-of-hours sessions in the event of an emergency.
• All rooms in the centre should be made accessible to people with disabilities.
• Currently, access is not permitted to the centre on small mobility scooters.
• There is insufficient outside cover to leave mobility scooters / wheelchairs.
• Mobility scooter / wheelchair users cannot use the hairdressers, lunch club or toilet [due to the existing building layout].
• It is difficult to get a wheelchair and carer in the lift (and the lift is always breaking down – see below lift section).
• The two sets of front doors are difficult to operate for wheelchair / mobility scooter users.
• The disabled toilets are not big enough for wheelchair / mobility scooter users to manoeuvrer in the space easily.

Lift:

• Often breaks down with reports of individuals being stuck in the lift.
• The current size of lift is restrictive to wheelchair access.

Temperature control and ventilation:

• Challenges with temperature control, especially on the first floor, becoming too hot.
• Poor ventilation throughout the current building.
• Roof and window insulation should be considered to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Interim venue during construction closure:

• For many members their club is the only time they get out to talk to other people and some have been members for 25+ years.
• Temporary venues must be accessible for users with nearby parking and bus stops.
• Attendees were keen to learn about the alternative arrangements and venue options being offered to hirers during the Centre’s closure.

Audience and programming:

• The centre should broaden its outreach to widen its audience.
• Not aware of the current activities on offer at the centre.
• One man expressed interest in joining activities at the centre but queried if there was a programme of activities for men.
• A potential hirer expressed interest in a self-contained unit or space within the future building.
• Language classes would be a good addition.
• It was suggested that rooms could be hired with access to the kitchen included, or that the kitchen could be hired separately.
• Suggested that space at the centre could be used as a test site for a social enterprise