The Chipstead Residents Association
The Chipstead Residents Association (CRA) is a non-political voluntary organisation whose aim is to represent the residents of Chipstead by having healthy relationships with policymakers and ensuring we protect our village and its residents.
Acting as a resource for residents to discover the latest news, traffic, village events, major planning applications, local groups, and societies through a monthly newsletter.
Join the CRA
A widening membership of Chipstead residents on the CRA enables us to work together with one voice, and have greater impact on county and borough councils as well as the police and transport authorities for the benefit of the entire village.
We encourage Chipstead residents to join the CRA to support the work we do and contribute to future endeavours. If you would like to become a member, simply add your details using the following link. The membership subscription is a minimum of £10.00 p.a. which is paid via our payment partner, Go Cardless. When you sign up you will receive an email confirming the amount and frequency of the payments by direct debit.
If you need assistance with membership, please contact our General Secretary at secretarychipsteadra@gmail.com
CRA Mailing list
If you do not already, you may wish to receive CRA newsletters; please sign up to the mailing list using the link below. It is our policy to maintain strict confidentiality of email addresses. You do not have to be a paying member of the CRA to receive newsletters.
CRA AGM
The 2026 AGM was held on Thursday 30th April 2026. The 2025 Chair's report can be read below.
You can read the full minutes of the 2026 AGM by following this link - 2026 CRA AGM Minutes
CHAIR’S REVIEW 2025/26
The Chipstead Residents’ Association (CRA) has been actively managing local planning, road safety, and community engagement over the past year. Below is a summary of our key initiatives and developments.
Communication & Engagement
Quarterly Newsletters: Over the past year, we have delivered four quarterly newsletters, each achieving strong engagement in terms of open and click-through rates.
Growing Readership: Our active readership has grown to nearly 500 recipients (with approximately 550 total newsletter subscribers), helping us reach a broader cross-section of the village.
New FAQ Resource: We introduced a simplified CRA FAQ landing page on Google Sites to make it easier for both new and existing members to understand the association's role and how to get involved.
Digital & social media: The committee approved a professional newsletter platform (Mailer-lite).
Community Remembrance activity: The CRA was represented by laying a wreath at the war memorial on Remembrance Sunday. The RBL silhouettes were again positioned around the village along with many poppies put up around the village. Unfortunely one of these Tommies was stolen.
Planning & Local Governance
Golf Course Preservation: The CRA and CVPS are closely monitoring potential development on the Chipstead Golf Course (CGC) land. Following a meeting in March 2026, the CRA successfully advocated for the urgent appointment of a town planning consultant to lead formal objections against efforts to include CGC land in the emerging Local Development Plan. There will be a more in depth presentation later in the meeting.
Parish Council Formation: Treasurer Chris Taylor coordinated the CRA's response to consultations regarding a proposed Banstead Parish Council, which would provide statutory consultee status for local planning.
Unitary Authority Transition: We are tracking the shift toward a "Future Surrey" model, with new councils expected to formally replace the current borough system in April 2027.
Police Liaison & Road Safety
Local Incident Monitoring: Police Liaison Graham Garbis reviews weekly reports and provides onward reporting of local incidents, such as the recent capture of a vehicle theft gang in Chipstead (April 2026).
Community Resources: Residents are encouraged to register on the 'In The Know - Surrey' website for direct police bulletins and safety advice.
Off-Road Bike Nuisance: The CRA attended a major public meeting in September 2025 to address vandalism and illegal access by off-road bikes on local downs and heathland.
Community Speed watch: A volunteer-led program has launched on the High Road, with residents receiving police training to monitor speeds and provide data for enforcement.
20mph Speed Limit: Phase 1 is now active, featuring flashing warning signs triggered by speeding vehicles.
Community Environment & Infrastructure
Infrastructure Advocacy: We have raised concerns regarding the poor condition of Castle Road (potholes and broken bollards) and safety risks at Pigeonhouse Farm, White Hill.
Village Events: The CRA continues to support The Chipstead Village Flower Show and Fair, and the 115th Chipstead Village Flower Show and Fair scheduled for July 11th 2026.
School Parking: Residents on Hollymead Road secured a no-parking zone during school hours (8–9 am) to mitigate congestion caused by staff parking.
Organization & Finance
Financial Position: The association remains in a healthy standing with £13,000 in cash reserves, reflecting an income of £1,900 against £700 in expenses over the first eight months of the year.
Local Support: The CRA promotes grants from the Mary Stevens Foundation for residents needing educational assistance.
The Committee continues to need more support from the village. Please consider whether you can volunteer to organise a quiz night, put together a day for Litter Picking, Act as Road Steward mentor.
A previous resident of Chipstead Vivien Rhys-Davies once said
“One thing is certain. If we get slack and forget to fight for the things we have won with so many battles the village will become just another suburb of Croydon or London. Our greatest treasure is our village life together, and long may we keep it as a place full of beauty, friendliness and kindness”.
Learn more about our incredible history here
https://chipsteadvillage.org/chipstead-home-guard/2026/04/07/vivien-rhys-davids/
Get in touch if you can offer just a few hours a month
Catherine Tulley
More about the CRA
The CRA is managed by a Committee of up to 15 members who attend monthly meetings. Three ward councillors from the Borough of Reigate and Banstead, and one councillor from the Surrey County Council regularly attend these meetings. The Committee includes a number of professionals from disciplines such as town and country planning, highway planning, financial services, architecture and engineering, who are able to offer expert opinion. The committee is thus well structured to provide an effective voice on behalf of Chipstead when making representations to local authorities, utilities, transport operators, service providers, property developers and other organisations which operate locally.
In order to keep abreast of local developments and opinion, the CRA regularly invites representatives from local organisations such as the Police, local businesses, sports clubs and churches to the monthly meetings. This provides an excellent opportunity for these organisations to present their opinions, hear the views of the committee and agree appropriate action. The CRA also works closely with the Chipstead Village Preservation Society (CVPS), a registered charity, whose distinct yet complementary objectives are:
To protect, preserve and enhance for the benefit of the public generally, and especially for the inhabitants of Chipstead, land and buildings of beauty or historic interest and amenities (including the Peter Aubertin Hall) in, or in the vicinity of, Chipstead, and to promote such protection, preservation and enhancement.
The village is fortunate to have the CVPS which does have substantial funds available for providing vital financial support to many village organisations and valuable funding to preserve village infrastructure, so long as the purposes to which they are put are consistent with the CVPS's charitable status and purposes.
Law and Order
The CRA maintains a close relationship with the Surrey Police force. The Surrey Police regularly exchange security information with the CRA about crime in the neighbourhood, and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) attend some of the monthly CRA meetings. Security information received is disseminated to members via the confidential Emailing system.
The CRA also support the national Neighbourhood Watch scheme, and Neighbourhood Watch officers receive security information from the Surrey Police via Email and bulletins. The Surrey Police also organise regular 'beat panel' meetings in the PA Hall where residents are invited to meet the police and discuss security issues.
Communications
Good communication with Chipstead residents is an important part of village life. To achieve this aim, the CRA and CVPS have jointly developed this website to disseminate topical information and collect local opinion. The CRA has also set up a confidential Emailing system which is used to distribute monthly Newsletters to Chipstead residents. These Newsletters provide current news and information on village events, planning issues, security information, etc. Join the email distribution list for the newsletter here.
St Margaret's Church publishes a monthly magazine which includes many excellent articles of local interest. The 'Voice of Chipstead' is a quarterly magazine with topical articles and information on local businesses. The CVPS has erected notice boards at strategic points around the parish for use by village organisations.
A history of the CRA
The CRA was formed in 1945 as a non-political and non-sectarian organisation, with the following objectives stated in the published Rule Book:
- To secure the good and economical government of the district
- To support the policy of the Green Belt, and in particular to promote the preservation and development of local rural beauty, including roads and footpaths, open spaces, trees, buildings, etc.
- To watch all questions coming before the local authorities and other bodies affecting the district or the residents.
- To consider the public services affecting the district or the residents, such as railways, police, education, power, etc, and take such action as may be thought necessary.
- To consider the road safety in the district.
- To meet from time to time as necessary to consider matters of concern to the Association.
- To act generally in the interests of the inhabitants of the district.
The above rules provide the CRA with a unique mandate to represent villagers' views, made possible by virtue of the fact that the overwhelming majority of residents are members of the Association. The CRA is funded entirely by residents' annual subscriptions.
Major developments on adjacent land can have a significant and permanent impact on the quality of life in the village, and one of the most important CRA activities has been a vigorous involvement in all major public enquires directly affecting the village. In this regard, it is essential that the CRA be truly representative of the aspirations of all Chipstead residents, and is in a position to submit evidence to enquiries that cannot be easily dismissed as minority interest. The CRA therefore strongly encourages all Chipstead residents to become members, and perhaps offer time and skills towards the committee's valuable work.