“Health leaders also pledge more transport and parking, beds and services following public consultation.“
More information can be found at this link:
NB: Information correct at 3rd July 2020
The “Improving Healthcare Together 2020-2030 website is at https://improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk/
A plan to scrap Surrey County Council, Guildford Borough Council and the 10 other Borough and District councils in Surrey and combine them in a single unitary authority is being promoted by Tim Oliver (Con, Weybridge), leader of Surrey County Council. One opposition councillor claimed it was already a “done deal” following secret negotiations.
Re 20/00885/DEM | Prior Notification of the proposed demolition of buildings at Epsom General Hospital, including York House, Woodcote Lodge, Rowan House, Beacon Ward, the boiler house and ancillary buildings and structures, under Schedule 2, Part 11, Class B of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) | Epsom General Hospital Dorking Road Epsom Surrey KT18 7EG
The above application has been received by the Borough Council
The attachment below is a full programme for four nights of Freewheeler films being shown from Tuesday 14th – Friday 17th July, from 7pm on YouTube.
Each evening of films is followed by a Q & A Live on Facebook at about 8pm.
Freewheelers is working online at present and we thought a Film Festival would be a good way to use this freedom to show more people the great work we do, and they don’t have to travel to see it!
Full programme –
What are you passionate about? Perhaps it is providing opportunities for young people, caring for the environment or supporting local businesses to thrive. Whatever needs changing in your local neighbourhood, you could be just the person to do it by becoming a Councillor.
Surrey County Council elections are in May 2021.
Earlier this year Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) published its cross-party Climate Change Action Plan.
The plan can be found on the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council website and Woodcote Residents’ Society wants the council to be committed to reducing air pollution and improving the environment for all to benefit.
Public Health England shows the scale of the problem, we need to be serious if we intend to reduce air pollution.
Health matters: air pollution – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-matters-air-pollution/health-matters-air-pollution
21st January 2020 – Last night, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council agreed an ambitious plan to address the negative impact on the environment from activities undertaken within the borough by the council and others in the local community.
As part of the plan the council has adopted a 15 year target to become net carbon neutral.
Link to the announcement:- https://epsom-ewell.gov.uk/news/council-agrees-ambitious-climate-change-action-plan
Link to the Climate Change Action Plan:- https://democracy.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/documents/s15232/Climate%20Change%20Action%20Plan%20Annex%201.pdf
A strong and independent voice at Surrey County Council
If you care about local issues and you would like to change your community for the better, why not apply to become a local Residents’ Association County Councillor?
Surrey County Council provides services to almost 1.2 million people and we need local representatives who have a broad range of skills and life experience. to ensure that our community receives its fair share of the £1bn net revenue funding it spends annually to deliver vital services and resources.
Residents’ Association County Councillors at SCC are independent, but work together and currently form the largest opposition group on Surrey County Council. Together our Residents’ Association County Councillors ensure there is a local, strong, rational and independent voice at SCC in challenging the Council’s policies and proposals.
In October 2020 we will be selecting our candidates for the Surrey County Council (SCC) elections taking place in May 2021. Could you be one of them?
Whilst you do not need any special qualifications to be a councillor, the skills and knowledge gained through your professional, personal or community experience, along with your passion to make a difference will help you in your role.
Surrey County Councillors receive a basic annual allowance, and most meetings are held during the day. Your role within the council will determine how much time you spend on council duties.
If you are looking for a worthwhile and rewarding way to help your local neighbourhood, we would really like to hear from you. Please contact Fred Mowbray Chair Woodcote Residents Association by September 30th to find out more or go to:
As from Monday 1st June the Epsom Community Recycle Centre (The Tip) will be accepting a greater range of items. However they do warn that arrangements may be subject to change, so rather than listing the current arrangements, please check on their website before visiting The Tip (https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling/community-recycling-centres/changes-from-1-june-2020#june)
I have been informed by Guild Living (who are the developers for the Epsom Hospital land) that they are about to start some work on the site. Guild Living have not been granted planning permission for this development and I have checked with the Borough Council planning officer about this work. She tells me that Guild Living will be undertaking the removal of asbestos and undertaking site surveys to get a better idea of the overall ground conditions. We do not yet know when the planning application will come to Committee.
A planning application has been validated for the redevelopment of 2 Pine Hill as 2 blocks of flats. Please see
Ref. No: 20/00593/OUT | Received date: Tue 28 Apr 2020 | Status: Pending Consideration | Case Type: Planning Application
There have been several people reporting tics recently and we are at the stage when Oak Processionary
Moth (OPM) will be a problem. For more information about Lyme disease from tics and OMP, useful website are –
While on the topic of our great open spaces, we would ask you to please ensure that you take your rubbish home with you when you are out. Litter appears to be a national problem at the moment, with our parks and open spaces overrun with it. All three of your Woodcote Ward Councillors and also Conservators, and we have been spending many hours up on the Downs helping to litter pick in the mornings. If you would like to join us, let us know and we can get the information to you. The amounts of litter are staggering. The Downs are used by all age groups for many reasons. We meet so many responsible people there just enjoying this wonderful facility, such a pity when it is spoilt by others. We would be grateful if you could mention the problems we are having with litter to all in your families and just remind them to preferably take their rubbish home or at least put it all back in their carrier bags and leave it in or next to the bins. Please also remember that BBQs are not permitted anywhere on the Downs.
With the easing of lockdown, please keep up to date with what facilities are open by looking at the website, www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/coronavirus
The following application has been received by the Borough Council –
Ref. No: 20/00593/OUT | Received date: Tue 28 Apr 2020 | Status: Pending Consideration | Case Type: Planning Application
This is a further update on local matters. The Covid-19 page on the Council website (https://epsom-ewell.gov.uk/coronavirus) is updated frequently, as are social media feeds and the YouTube channel. Please do look at these for the latest information on services etc.
Waste & Recycling
The Weekly kerbside collections and Garden waste services are operating as normal, although timings may vary slightly. The bulk waste service is also available.
SCC’s Community Re-cycling Centre (the tip) is open 9-6, seven days a week. It is currently only accepting garden waste and bagged refuse (black bags)
Cemetery
The cemetery remains open 9-3 on Saturdays and Sundays for those wishing to visit graves. During the week burials are taking place in line with Government Guidance
Market
The Thursday and Saturday markets are taking place, with limited numbers of stall holders. Measures are in place to facilitate social distancing while queueing. The market gives residents access to fresh fruit and vegetables
Local Businesses
For those running a business in the borough, the Council is providing information and support during the Covid-19 pandemic. Please see https://epsom-ewell.gov.uk/business/doing-business-epsom-and-ewell
Hospital
Many of you will have attended events and or completed questionnaires during the consultation on the future of our local hospitals earlier this year. Improving Healthcare Together 2020 to 2030 (IHT) has published the findings of the consultation. Go to www.improvinghealthcaretogether.org.uk/next-steps-for-specialist-emergency-care-hospital-consultation/ to find out more. The two Clinical Commissioning Groups’ (South West London and Surrey Heartlands) Governing Bodies will meet on Friday 3 July 2020 to consider feedback from the consultation and all the evidence alongside a decision-making business case.
The Downs
The pubic car parks were closed on the advice of the police and under emergency powers in March. With the fine weather and the relaxation of the Government restrictions on driving to take exercise, there have been unprecedented numbers of people driving to the Downs. Many have been parking dangerously, blocking the cycle lanes and damaging the grass verges. The Downs is in private ownership and is managed by the Conservators under an act of Parliament. Duties of the Conservators include preserving the Downs in their natural state of beauty and ensuring that racehorse training (which takes place in the mornings) is not interfered with.
The car parks could not be re-opened without a meeting of the Conservators to decide this. Therefore reports were written and a virtual meeting of the Conservators took place on the evening of 22nd May when the Conservators decided to open all of the car parks managed by the Borough Council apart from the Top Car Park. The car parks therefore opened on 23rd May. Conservators also passed a motion to delegate authority to the Clerk to the Conservators to open or close the Council managed car parks on behalf of the Conservators in cases of emergency or urgency.
If you are visiting the Downs, they are still likely to be very busy, so social distancing may be an issue. We would encourage you to visit in the afternoons (or after 9.30 on Sundays) to avoid possible conflict with the race horse training.
Anti-social behaviour
It is sad to hear reports of an increase in anti-social behaviour. If you come across such instances, please do report them to the police – if they don’t know what is happening and where, they can’t act. They also need to know the scale of the problems so that they have evidence of the resources they need. As your Councillors, please would you also let us know about these incidents so that we can log them and discuss priority areas for patrols or other actions with the police.
Communication Survey
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has launched a short communications survey designed to help it communicate better with their residents. The survey can be found at www.epsom- .gov.uk/survey and is open till Friday 3rd July.
