Roads and rubbish on voters' minds ahead of local elections
BBCPeople attending a community hub in Banstead have said that potholes, roadworks and a lack of youth services are among the issues concerning them, ahead of the local elections.
On 7 May, voters will decide which councillors they want to represent them on the new unitary council in East Surrey.
It is one of two authorities being created in Surrey, as part of the first major decision on local government reorganisation in England.
The charity Good Company runs pantries in Epsom and Banstead, which include providing access to affordable food.
Mark Bishop from Banstead said "the state of the roads" was his main concern.
"The potholes have become really bad and unfortunately wrecked an alloy on my car which was very expensive," he added.
"I understand that the money isn't there for the parties to put in, but there are some really damaging ones and there just seems to be a glut of them at the moment."
Chris Clay, who visited the pantry to collect supplies for a friend from Ukraine, also described the potholes as "appalling" and said that people fly-tipping in the countryside is a problem.
"I back onto the (South) Downs…I do object to (people) dumping their building stuff at the back of my garden," she said.
She added that emergency utility roadworks "muck up the system phenomenally" and that she is worried about a lack of youth services.
"My father used to be the district youth officer for Reigate and Banstead a hundred years ago, and I think he'd be rolling in his grave to know there's hardly anything available for youngsters," she said.
Debbie McLeod, from Banstead Village, said she has just started volunteering at the pantry after her retirement because she wanted to give "something back to the community where I've lived for many years."
She added that she is concerned about the changes to local government, which will see Surrey County Council and 11 borough and district councils, including Reigate and Banstead, being abolished in 2027.
"I am concerned as we transition away from our individual authorities as to how that's going to work as we become East Surrey council," she said.
"I think getting people to engage with the election is going to be the hardest thing."
The East Surrey Council will have 72 seats up for election in 36 wards, while West Surrey will have 90 seats for 45 wards.
A total of 831 candidates are standing across the county.
Elected councillors are due to serve for five years until May 2031
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