A recent safety inspection confirmed significant damage to the electrical and lighting system, meaning the council has had no choice but to switch off all lighting until repairs can be completed. 

The car park, located underneath the 3G sports pitches at the rear of Woking Leisure Centre, will close at 4.30pm daily. Daytime access remains unaffected. Alternative arrangements have been offered to regular users, including access to the former coach car park for events and activities. 

This year’s special guest, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More-Molyneux, had the honour of lighting up the borough’s biggest Christmas tree alongside the Mayor of Woking, Cllr Amanda Boote; Leader of Woking Borough Council, Cllr Ann-Marie Barker; representatives from sponsors, Woking Asian Business Forum, Boz’ Fruit and Veg, as well as Santa Claus with the Woking Rotary Club sleigh.

Celebrations began with a performance from Woking Rock Choir, who paused at 5pm for the big moment before continuing their seasonal set.

On Thursday 20 November, Council Leader, Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, hosted an online briefing for residents to share the latest updates on Local Government Reorganisation and what it means for the borough. 

Watch the full recording below.

The programme is designed to strengthen community ownership and ensure the long-term sustainability of these much-valued facilities.

Most sites are moving towards lease agreements, with several clubs already signing Heads of Terms and others finalising negotiations or developing business cases. This marks a major step forward in creating stronger community connections and safeguarding these facilities. 

Between Thursday 25 December 2025 and Saturday 10 January 2026, the day your waste and recycling is collected will temporarily change to allow crews time off during the festive period. 

Please check the table below to find out which day to present your bins. Please place them at the edge of your property by 6am on your new collection day. 

From today (24 November), a hand-drawn illustration of a strong, empowered female will start appearing across Woking, carrying a simple message for those affected by domestic abuse: help is available.

This powerful image, released by Woking Borough Council and its partners, supports the global campaign to end gender-based violence, which runs annually from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).

An independent structural engineer advised Woking Borough Council to immediately close the bridge on Friday 14 November until further notice to ensure public safety.

The second pedestrian bridge within the park remains open and continues to provide crossing access for visitors.

Public safety is our main priority, but we recognise this may cause inconvenience for some activities and users. 

The extent of the repairs and the associated costs are not yet known at this stage. Further updates will be provided once the full structural report has been received.

This year, a secret celebrity guest will have the honour of lighting up the borough’s biggest Christmas tree alongside Santa Claus and the Woking Rotary Club sleigh. 

Celebrations begin at 4:30pm with a performance from Woking Rock Choir, who will pause at 5pm for the big moment, before continuing their seasonal set.  

Visitors can also enjoy a bustling Christmas market, packed with gifts, food and other festive delights. 

A neighbourhood forum is a community-led group that can be formally designated by the council to create a neighbourhood plan or order for a specific area where there is not a town or parish council. 

Designation lasts for 5 years, and the council has received applications for redesignation from Hook Heath, Hoe Valley and Pyrford Neighbourhood Forums. 

The applicants must show their forum continues to meet the conditions for designation, which are outlined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and that it is representative of the community. 

Woking is the business heart of Surrey and the council is pleased to be supporting and presenting at this important event for the town.

Woking Means Business, presented by Woking Chamber of Commerce, is the longest running business expo in Surrey. 

This year, for the first time, it is based at the new Hilton Woking, showcase their extensive conference facilities. The event is also sponsored by the Hilton.

Led by the Leader of Woking Borough Council, Cllr Ann-Marie Barker, the briefings will provide an overview of the decision and its implications for Woking, as well as the government’s intention to provide debt relief totalling £500 million in 2026/27 to support repayment of council debt. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with senior council officers and councillors.

The briefing sessions will be held on the following dates:

The government has announced a significant step forward in Woking Borough Council’s financial recovery, along with changes to the structure of local government in Surrey.

As part of its decision to move forward with the creation of two new unitary councils in Surrey, the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has acknowledged that the scale of Woking’s financial challenges cannot be managed locally in full.