The Epsom Protection Society Newsletter 105 - Autumn 2005

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The Chairman's Commentary

Geoffrey Stone

       

A year ago I commented on the rising tide of applications for planning consent: that may have been an understatement. A number of major developments have been approved which will significantly change the centre of Epsom. Others have been refused and a number still to be decided or appealed have produced strong public reactions of which you will be aware. In each case the Society have commented as clearly and objectively as possible and tried to arrive at a balanced view reflecting how we saw the development fitting into the townscape and its effect on people. (Alan Baker deals with specifics in the following piece.) It is important in responding to these development proposals to have a view of the kind of town we should like Epsom to be in the foreseeable future. We attempted to do this in the Brief for the Local Development Framework, a copy of which was attached to the last Newsletter inviting members to let us know whether we had got it about right. We would welcome any views you may have on the vision and the Key Development Principles to add to those of members who have responded so far.

Meanwhile in the background the planning process conducted by the South East England Regional Assembly trundles on about which, you will remember, we were all supposed to be involved. How many of you were consulted? The first draft of the South East Plan has been completed and the aim is to submit the finished version to Government next spring. Once it has approval it will become a legal document that local authorities will have to follow ensuring that decisions on local planning applications do not conflict with the principles in the Plan. The key national planning role is performed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from which Edicts/Guidance documents continue to be issued.

Other views on future development have recently been provided by independent think tanks and pressure groups. For example, The Institute for Public Policy Research have published the report of the broadly-based and authoritative Commission on Sustainable Development in the South East. The report is primarily looking at how the South East can maintain its economic success whilst at the same time enhancing its environment and improving the quality of life of all of its citizens. It challenges the Government view of the need for a substantial increase in market house building over current levels but emphasises the essential need to improve the availability of affordable housing. It also underlines the need for investments in infrastructure, particularly public transport improvements.

Another contribution comes from the New Economics Foundation which reported on their survey of Clone Town Britain; this has received some publicity recently. It highlighted the increasing uniformity of our high streets and lack of diversity; the replacement of real local shops by chain and look-alike stores so that the distinctive character of town centres is being lost. Does that sound familiar? However, it is not easy to see how to reverse the trend unless resources and mechanisms are available. In our Brief to which I have referred, we spelt out that Epsom is weak in the range of attractive shops and that this must be addressed in planning terms.

You will gather from all this that there is no lack of bones to chew in considering planning the future of Epsom - the Society's ability to do so is not limitless but we will do our best.

Planning

Alan Baker

There seems to be no end to the potential for controversial applications and this group is no exception.

South Hatch Stables, Burgh Heath Road: The second application to build a reduced area of new stables and eight five-bedroom houses, all within the Green Belt, was refused by the Planning Committee in April and an appeal will be heard at a Public Inquiry early in August. You will recall that we raised no objection in principle to the siting of the new stables but objected strongly to the building of new commercial housing on the site of the existing stables fronting Burgh Heath Road. The Planning Committee accepted the officers' recommendation that this was inappropriate development in the Green Belt when they refused permission. We hope to make a statement at the Public Inquiry supporting the Council's decision.

40-58 Upper High Street: At the AGM I reported that developers proposing a new planning application had asked to present their plans to us. The application turned out to be for the large superstore, with four floors of parking over, that has created such a furore since. We have written a detailed letter and took the view that the Planning Committee should receive expert advice on the result on the town as a retail centre before making a decision. As a conclusion to my letter I said that "the site in Upper High Street is ripe for development and there is much merit in providing a supermarket in this location, but the size and bulk of the present proposal is a major cause for concern, particularly in relation to its architectural impact. Its effect on the vitality and viability of the town centre is by no means clear. The impact on the neighbouring residential area would be substantial and we remain to be convinced that the increased traffic would not cause unacceptable problems. In its present form we cannot support the application and do not think it should be granted planning permission without considerable modification." The application was received in April but has been under discussion and will not be ready to be reported until September. We are not at the moment aware of the result of the discussions. We still have the matter under consideration in light of a recent government Planning Statement on Planning in Town Centres.

Rosebery School, White Horse Drive: Another application causing much controversy. The school seeks permission for new sports facilities including a sports hall, swimming pool, tennis courts and an all weather sports pitch. We raised some objections to the possibility of annoyance being caused by noise and spillage of light from floodlights and I understand that amendments have now been made. Our main objection was to an associated outline application for permission for a developer to build 72 residential units on part of the sports land adjoining Meadow Court with access from Rosebank. As with South Hatch, they seek to justify this as an enabling development to pay for the work to the school, but we see no planning justification for this reasoning and it must treated on its merits. From that point of view we thought it an overdevelopment of pleasant green land which would cause undue traffic problems at Rosebank and West Street. This case is also under discussion and is likely to go to the September Planning Committee. The White Horse Hotel, Downs Hill Road: This application proposed the demolition of the hotel, the adjoining cottage and the adjoining house, 7 Downs Hill Road, and their replacement by 12 four-bedroom houses arranged as semi detached pairs along a service road at right angles to Downs Hill Road. We thought this would impoverish the street scene and would be at an excessive density. It was an example of using the Government's guide line as an excuse for overdevelopment in unsuitable locations. The Planning Committee were recommended to grant permission but refused nem. con.

Local Development Framework

Malcolm Boyd

Since the last Newsletter we have received two Regulation Documents for comment. The first of these, The Statement of Community Involvement, had already been sent to the Secretary of State and, as we had already commented on an earlier draft, we did not have anything further to add. The second document, entitled 'Core Strategy: Issues and Options', had much greater relevance for the Society and we made some comments as part of the consultation. The list of topics covered by this paper included Sustainability, Green Belt, Housing, Travel, Employment, Community/Recreational/Cultural facilities, Epsom Town Centre and Quality of Life. Each topic was itself subdivided into several issues and a variety of options were listed to address the issues. We made comments on Green Belt, Parking, Traffic and Housing, and argued that the topic 'Quality of Life' was so overarching that the view taken in the document was too narrow. It remains to be seen whether our comments will be addressed.

Provisiional Programme for the Heritage Open Days in 2006

Friday 9 September 2pm-5pm Epsom Town Hall and Borough Regalia.
Saturday 10 September
10am-lpm In Ewell Village: Glyn House, the Watch House, and St Michael's Church.
In Epsom: Stonehouse and the Cedars in Church Street and the Old Moat Barn in Horton Lane.
2pm-5pm In Ewell Village: St Mary's Church, the old church tower, Rectory Barn and Fitznells Manor House.
10am-5pm There will be an exhibition of the history of local buildings at Bourne Hall museum.
Sunday 11 September 10am-lpm Ashley Road Cemetery
The exhibition in the museum will be open this morning.
11am Walk from the Rifleman pub in East Street in connection with Sergeant Green.
2pm-5pm In Cheam: Nonsuch Mansion.
In Epsom: Epsom College Chapel, the Pumping Station/Boilerhouse in Horton Lane and Woodcote Green House.
3pm Walk in the Chalk Lane/ Woodcote Green area of Epsom.

Events

Joy Furness

Ian West's Walk on 26th June 2005 was a great success. The above photograph, taken by our chairman, shows Ian addressing the members from the steps of St Martin's Church at the start of the walk. He led us through the passage opposite the church, where he drew attention to the remains of an old gas lamp, into St Martin's Avenue. The walk took us to end of the road and back with Ian pointing out the various features and differences between the houses which are mostly late Victorian/Edwardian. Our numbers grew as interested residents joined the group. One member invited us into her garden to see the back of the house; this resulted in two of her neighbours doing the same. This was a rare treat; even Ian had never seen the backs of any of the houses. The different and distinctive designs of the houses especially the facades and porches and the decorative tiles used on roofs and facades, not forgetting the dragon on one roof, were fascinating. A big thank you to Ian for such an interesting afternoon. He has promised to do another walk next year - maybe in Ewell.

Future Events

Joy Furness

Annual Buffet Party, Friday 14th October 2005, 7.45 to l0pm

As usual the party will be held in the main hall of St Joseph's Church, St Margaret's Drive off the Dorking Road (behind the Haywain). Amongst our guests will be the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Councillor Jean Smith and her Mayoress and our MP Chris Grayling and his wife Susan. You are welcome to invite friends and guests as the numbers are not limited.

Please note that the doors will not open until 7.30pm because the Committee have to set up the room beforehand.

After supper our own member Dr Peter Christie will entertain us with his special type of humorous songs and music which he writes and composes himself. This is a return visit by popular request. He is a founder member of the Instant Sunshine Group which performed in their own show at the Epsom Playhouse earlier this year.

Third Series of Talks

The First Talk on Thursday 19th October 2005 at 8pm in the Myers Studio, Epsom Playhouse will be given by Brenda Lewis Historic Countryside Officer in the Planning and Countryside Division of Surrey County Council. She will talk about Historic Country House Gardens in Surrey with point of reference to those around Epsom.

Tickets are £3.00 each. Please apply on the application form with a cheque made payable to Epsom Protection Society and an SAE and send it to Joy Furness (address as above).

Dates for your diary A.G.M. : 27th April 2006.

Social Outing

Brian Gee

Last Outing: Our last outing in May to Salisbury and Wilton House was enjoyed by all who went and the weather was very kind to us.

New pickup points: Before giving details of future events, I would advise everyone that the pick up points for future Outings are being changed. The cost of Car Parking in Epsom, if a start is made from the Fire Station, adds to the cost of the day out. So for the next tour the start will be from the Car Park at Tattenham Corner which is a free Car Park at the moment and cars can be left all day at no cost. There will then be a pick up outside the Methodist Church in Ashley Road.

Next Outing - Monday, 26th September, 2005 - The Three Rivers Tour. The coach will leave the Car Park at Tattenham Corner at 8am. There will be a pick up at the Methodist Church in Ashley Road at 8.10am. We meet our Guide at East Bergholt just outside Colchester.

This is Constable Country and after coffee we start on a tour of what has been described as the most beautiful river estuaries in East Anglia: the Stour, the Orwell and the Deben. We follow the Stour to where it meets the Orwell and flows into the sea at Old Harwich. We stop for lunch at Manningtree, reputed to be England's smallest town. After lunch we head for the third of our rivers the Deben and a two hour Cruise - direction depending on the tide. During the Cruise afternoon tea will be served and there is also a Bar on board. As with all outings the weather does make a difference but the scenery on this tour is really lovely. There will not be a lot of walking.

Cost £35 (Includes Coach, Coffee, Tea on Boat, and all Tips).

Depending on traffic we should be back in Epsom 7.30 to 8pm.

Future outings

Thursday 8th December 2005 - The Big One at Christmas

After the success of the Christmas Lights Tour in 2003 I have had requests for a repeat. The coach will leave the Car Park at Tattenham Corner at 2pm and will pick up at the Methodist Church in Ashley Road at 2.10pm. We have a 30 minute break at the London Eye for tea and then a flight on the Eye at 4pm. (If it is a clear night this is one worth doing). From 4.30pm to 6.30pm we tour the Christmas Lights in London ending up at Greenwich where we board a boat for a journey up the Thames to Westminster (with commentary by the Skipper). The coach will meet us at Westminster and take us for a Fish and Chip supper.

Cost £45 (includes Coach, Flight on Eye, Tour of Lights, River Cruise, Supper and all Tips). But no drinks. Depending on traffic we should be back in Epsom between 11 and 11.30pm. Application form enclosed but see also note at end.

NOTE: Please send a separate cheque and SAE for each outing with the respective application form. I appreciate these are some time ahead we but must get the necessary reservations in, so please note that cheques for "The Three Rivers" will not be banked until early September and those for " The Big One at Christmas" will be banked in early December. No booking will be accepted unless accompanied by a cheque.

I look forward to seeing you on the Coach.

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

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

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