News
Find out what's happening across the wards of Epsom and Ewell
Proposed development on Mead School land
A meeting was held in St Mary's Church Hall in The Avenue, Worcester Park on Thursday 5 June 2008 regarding a proposed building development on land in Cuddington Avenue previously occupied by The Mead School. The meeting was hosted by Cuddington Residents' Association.
The land was formerly owned by Surrey County Council but the County Council has sold the land to a property developer, Fairview Homes, and a building development is being proposed. Although no planning application has been submitted yet, it is understood that the current proposal is for 49 flats varying in height between two, two and a half, and three storeys, in two separate blocks, with a total of 30 parking spaces and that an application will be submitted in June 2008.
More than 100 residents attended the meeting with the hope of hearing comments from representatives of Fairview Homes and being able to express their own views. They were very disappointed as the meeting descended into near farce. The Project Manager from Fairview Homes became incapable of completing a sentence either in his own presentation or in answering questions.
Cuddington RA has lodged a strong complaint with Fairview Homes and it is hoped that a meeting involving the Residents' Associations and Fairview Homes will take place shortly.
Further information about this disturbing occurrence is available on the Stoneleigh and Auriol Residents' Association website: www.stoneleighandauriol.co.uk.
Agreement to 125-year lease for Nonsuch Park
On 25 March 2008 Surrey County Council agreed to give a lease for 125 years on Nonsuch Park and Mansion House to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and the London Borough of Sutton jointly. This is the latest stage in the battle to save Nonsuch Park. More information on this saga can be found on the Stoneleigh and Auriol RA section of this website, or on their own website www.stoneleighandauriol.co.uk
The recent history started on 27 February 2007 when Conservative-controlled Surrey County Council's Executive Committee met to vote on their own proposal to dispose of the historic Mansion House and to relocate the Nonsuch Museum elsewhere. More than 300 residents from Epsom & Ewell and Sutton boroughs attended the meeting to protest at the County Council's plans.
Since then the Residents’ Associations have been fighting for the management of the Park and Mansion House to be returned to the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee (which has managed the Park for the last 70 years) and for safeguarding the future of Nonsuch Park and Mansion House for the use and enjoyment of residents and visitors for the years to come. In June it was reported in the local press that Surrey County Council had called in Bidwells, a firm of commercial estate agents - heightening fears that Surrey County Council intended to press ahead with plans to dispose of the Mansion House for commercial development. In August Bidwells presented a report to Surrey County Council, which was discussed with the two borough councils. The report outlines various options, including converting the Mansion House into a block of offices or a five star hotel or residential apartments.
On 28 September 2007, Surrey County Council issued a press release saying that, "... The county council has decided to offer a long lease to the borough councils for the whole park, the mansion and its associated buildings. The lease would be conditional upon arrangements being put in place that would guarantee the maintenance and integrity of the house, continued public access to the whole park and public parts of the mansion house and its associated buildings."
At a public meeting on 8 October residents turned out in force and made their views clearly known. The message to Surrey County Council was simply "return the management of the Park to the Joint Management Committee, subject to a lease with conditions which are reasonable and realistic, and do it quickly". This is now happening but it has taken six months even from the time when Surrey County Council issued the press release.
Lavendou Stables Development Plans
Plans for the redevelopment of the Durdans and Lavandou Stables have been submitted to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council. Now is the time to make representations about these plans. Full information and contact points for representations are given on the Woodcote page of this website.
Preliminary plans for the redevelopment were displayed at the Town Hall from 25 January 2008. This gave residents the opportunity to see the nature of the scheme being proposed.
A public meeting was held on 28 February which was attended by representatives of the Woodcote (Epsom) Residents' Society. There is a special article about the issues surrounding this proposed development and actions instigated by the Society's Councillors in the Society's Spring 2008 Newsletter, which can be accessed through the Woodcote page of this website.
The planning applications relating to this development are shown on the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Planning Department website and were listed in their issue number 1729 dated 28 March 2008. Both give full details of how representations to the Planning Department can be made.
In order for the Residents' Society to represent the views of residents, it is important for everyone who has views to express to be in touch with the W(E)RS chairman, Rob Blackwell, whose contact details are shown on the Woodcote page of this website.
Continued success in local elections
The Residents Associations have controlled Epsom and Ewell Borough Council for the past 70 years. On Thursday 3 May 2007, the electors of the Borough again showed their faith in the RA ethos by voting for the RA Councillors to retain control of the Council for another four years.
There are 38 seats on the Council and the RAs now have 25 seats (including three independents), with the balance made up of 11 Lib Dems and 2 Conservatives. This is a resounding demonstration of the trust put in the RA concept by the voters of this Borough, which is one of the few in the country to be controlled by RA Councillors.
Dame Annis Barn application refused
The Dame Annis Barn planning application was refused unanimously by the members of the planning committee.
College Ward Residents Association mounted a vigorous campaign to stop development on the Dame Annis Barn and 18 Burgh Heath Road site.
This issue is of prime importance to all Residents Associations as it seriously questioned the entire concept of a Conservation Area, of which there are 21 throughout the Borough. Granting planning permission would have created an inability for the Council to refuse similar applications on other Conservation Areas in the Borough.
Although the Dame Annis Barn application was refused, it is expected that other applications will be made so we must maintain our fight to protect our heritage.
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