The Epsom Protection Society Newsletter 100 - Summer 2004

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The Chairman's Commentary

Geoffrey Stone

       

The 45th AGM on 22nd April was well attended. Pressure of Council business prevented Nicholas Ide, Chief Planning Officer, from talking on the future of Epsom and in his place John Hampton kindly gave an absorbing talk on the Roman tile works and villa on Ashtead Common.

During last year we began to take the actions adopted following our look at the Society's future course. A new membership brochure defines our purpose, what we do and how we are looking to the future as well as protecting the heritage. It has been well received - even the Civic Trust congratulated us and asked for further copies. With the help of Piers Nicholson of Internetworks it is now on our web site and the membership application form can be downloaded and used by people wishing to join. The brochure has been the principal instrument of a campaign to raise awareness of the Society and to increase membership. That campaign is gathering momentum and in the recent weeks new houses on the estates off Horton Lane have been given leaflets. Public exhibitions have been successfully mounted and we have more in prospect. We shall be progressively updating our display material - no mean task.

Our core activity, the consideration of planning applications and issues involving conservation and trees, has been heavy. The Society has the reputation of offering responsible views on these issues and I should like to thank Alan Baker, Malcolm Boyd, John Hampton and Mike Ford for their part in helping to establish that reputation. In relation to the development of

West Park, members will have seen recent press reports of a proposal that it should be the site of the new critical care hospital. There is considerable and continuing debate about the future of Epsom Hospital at this time and it is difficult to foresee the outcome. Formally, a planning application for West Park is awaited in response to the approved Development Brief.

We continue to be concerned about the fabric of the town and specifically about a number of undesirable features I have mentioned in the past. How pleasing therefore, after years of pressing for refurbishment of the Clock Tower, to be present at a photocall with the Mayor to mark the completion of the work - even the clock was working! I like to think that the invitation was in a sense a recognition of the Society's continued interest in improving the town. On the Downs we welcomed the plans for the much needed refurbishment of the Rubbing House near the racecourse. Although tree planting remains to be done the extended building which retains the historic features is a success and sits well in the environment. The public talks were also well received with almost capacity audiences and the aim is to begin another series in the autumn; we are hoping one talk will be given by Nicholas Ide.

As you will know, Mike Ford and Roy Hobson have both resigned from the Committee and we offered our thanks and good wishes to them at the AGM. Whilst all other committee members were re-appointed, we did not seek to fill the two vacancies at this time. Although your Committee is in urgent need of strengthening, there has been no response to my appeals. Help is needed particularly in two areas of expertise; we would like to have the benefit of architectural advice and, separately, help in our ability to project the activities of the Society to a wider audience. May I repeat my appeal.

Sadly, as many of you will know, Tom Dethridge's wife Eileen died recently. She became a close friend of many members when she supported Tom in his work for the Society and during his chairmanship. Many of his colleagues attended the service of remembrance and we expressed our sympathy to Tom when he came to the AGM. We remember her with affection.

In conclusion, I must mention two forthcoming events at which the Society will be represented. We shall have a stand at Epsom Common Day, which will take place at Stamford Green on Sunday, 25th July 2004. We shall also have a stand at the Ashley Centre Exhibition on Saturday 7th August. We shall welcome our members and every one else at the stands and shall hope that our presence will provide an encouragement to joining the Society. We shall also be grateful for volunteers to man the stand for an hour or two on these occasions.

Planning

Alan Baker

As usual, applications continue to pour in. The following are a selection of the more important ones on which we have given observations. For the period under review, many of them are ongoing, with a considerable number of refusals being taken to appeal.

Heather Lodge, 1 Chalk Lane: This saga rolls on and an appeal has been made against the refusal of planning permission for the demolition of the existing bungalow and for the erection of a single storey dwelling. This was an application made last summer, previous to the one recently refused. We have written to the Inspectorate confirming our opposition.

31 High Street, Epsom: This shop, adjoining the footpath to the Town Hall car park, has been empty since vacated by Going Places. It is in a quite reasonable retail location. We have therefore objected to a proposal to change the use to another amusement centre which we consider totally unacceptable. Compared with such a use the earlier proposal for a public house would seem almost acceptable, and with that we should have had a greatly improved access to the car park.

25 Alexandra Road: Another ongoing saga. The refusal of permission for the latest application - for a block of ten flats - is now the subject of an appeal at an informal hearing in September. We shall be confirming our objection.

Site of Epsom Downs School, Grosvenor Road: It is disappointing that a revised scheme for this land, submitted following the refusal of the present applicant's earlier proposal, has changed very little and we felt unable to support it. There would still be two houses at the rear of the site, which we feel excessive. In the meantime, the first version has been appealed, and we have confirmed our objection.

38-40, South Street: A revised application has been made for the redevelopment of the two detached houses opposite Rosebery Park. The block of 12 flats now proposed is less prominent than the earlier design but is still overbearing and unsuitable for this location and we shall be objecting.

Craig Eran, Ashdown Road: Another appeal - this time against refusal of the previously reported proposal to replace this bungalow with two houses - and we have again confirmed our objection.

Hollywood Lodge

Malcolm Boyd

Hollywood Lodge is the imposing former residence, latterly a health care home for elderly patients, but now lying vacant in its own grounds on the corner of Horton Lane and Christchurch Road running out of Epsom towards Malden Rushett.

The Society's interest in Hollywood Lodge is two-fold. First, we were concerned about the security of empty buildings on the West Park Hospital site of which Hollywood Lodge is one. We wrote to the company responsible for security on the site and received a reassuring reply saying that empty buildings were boarded up and made wind and water proof. However, a few weeks later we learnt that adult thieves had removed lead from the roof of the house, but were disturbed before the spoiI could be removed from the site. Following this serious lapse in security we made further representations and we are now satisfied that the property has been made more secure and the roof has again been made weatherproof.

Secondly, the Society is concerned about preserving what is good about the past and we consider that Hollywood Lodge has sufficient architectural and historical interest to merit statutory listing. We believe that the origin of the house is Georgian, although significant alterations were subsequently made. Former owners include the Hon. Louisa Browning, sister of Lord Baltimore, and Mr Henry Willis, a prominent Epsom businessman. Photographs of the exterior and interior of the house were taken by lan West, a member of the Society and a prominent local architectural historian. Internally, there is an excellent staircase of unusual and exceptional quality. These photographs along with additional historical information kindly supplied by Jeremy Harte of Bourne Hall Museum have been sent to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport who will consult with English Heritage and we will await their verdict with interest.

Civic Pride

Malcolm Boyd

From time to time your Committee takes issue with those responsible for some of the less attractive aspects of our town. Sometimes we are successful with these interventions, but at other times less so. We have had little success so far in rectifying the parlous state of some of the pavements in the town. We had much greater success in pressing the owners for improvements to various aspects of the appearance of the Derby and Oaks Squares that should be showpieces of Epsom. We can also claim with others some credit for the very pleasing refurbishment of the iconic Clock Tower. For some considerable time we have been pressing the management of the Ashley Centre to smarten up what was the rear entrance of W.H. Smith in Ashley Road. We are pleased to see that the unsightly graffiti there has now been painted over and moreover we understand that agreement has been reached with the Council that any future graffiti can be smartly removed.

Membership

Ishbel Kenward

First, thank you to all those members who volunteered to deliver the leaflet drop to the new houses off Horton Lane. By the time you read this they should all be delivered - I will keep you informed of the response. Thanks also to those members who have paid their Subs. and especially to those who have given donations. A reminder for those who have not yet paid - subscriptions are due by the end of June at the latest - £2 per individual, £3 per household. If you have not yet paid and you were out when he/she called, your Road Rep. should have put a note in with this Newsletter giving a reminder of his/her address.

Events

Joy Furness

Talks: The Architecture and Countryside of Surrey. The last lecture of this series was given by Dr Nigel Barker. It was of his usual high standard and very well attended. It is planned to hold a similar series of lectures later this year and early in 2005.

FUTURE EVENTS
Sunday, 18th July 2004, 2.30pm Ian West's Annual Walk. Please note the change of date. The walk will be in the Woodcote area. We will meet outside The Ladas pub at the junction of Chalk Lane and Woodcote Road and start the walk at 2.30pm. There will an opportunity to go inside at least one house in Chalk Lane. Do come along and share Ian's local knowledge.

Friday, 8th October 2004 Buffet Supper.

Social Outings

Brian Gee

Last Outing - The Waterloo Experience
A very good day was had by all who went on the above outing but it was disappointing that more members had not applied.

Next Outing - Thursday, 1st July 2004 - Shakespeare's Globe and Lambeth Palace
08.45 hrs start from the Car Park opposite the Fire Station in Church Street, Epsom. Our tour of The Globe is booked for 10.15 hrs so hopefully, subject to traffic, there will be time for a quick coffee before the tour starts. After the guided tour, spend as long as you like in the Exhibition and take lunch in one of the many places along the Embankment. Or bring a picnic and sit on the Embankment watching the world go by. After lunch take the Coach to Lambeth Palace, home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, for a guided tour. (One of our members, David Faulkner, who is an accredited Guide at the Palace, has volunteered to take us round). Leave between 16.00 and 16.30 hrs and hope to be back in Epsom approximately 18.00 hrs.
Cost £25. ( Includes Coach, all Entry Fees, and Tips) Does NOT include any food or drink.

Epsom Protection Society Website: www.epsomprotectionsociety.co.uk

Editor: Paul Fifoot Zebrato, Lynwood Avenue Epsom KT18 7LR

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