Remembrance in Epsom & Ewell

Wednesday 8 November: Bourne Hall Garden of Remembrance, Ewell

At 11am on Wednesday 8 November the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell and local schoolchildren will open the annual Garden of Remembrance at Bourne Hall Park. Schools will perform songs and poems and place poppy tokens to honour and remember all those who have died in the service of their country. The Garden of Remembrance will be open to visitors until 30 November.

Saturday 11 November: Ceremony at Market Place, Epsom

Members of the public are invited to join the Mayor and the Royal British Legion, Armed Forces and Veterans for a short ceremony at the Clock Tower in the Market Place, Epsom. This will be followed by a two-minute silence at 11am.

Sunday 12 November: Procession from Army Reserve Centre to St Mary's Church, Ewell

At 9.30am the Mayor will lay two wreaths at the War Memorial in Ashley Road, Epsom. At 10:30am the Remembrance Day procession will take place beginning at the Army Reserve Centre at Welbeck Close and ending at St Mary’s Church in Ewell. This will be followed by an Act of Remembrance service, wreath laying and a church service. At 10:45am the Deputy Mayor will attend a Remembrance Day service at St Martin of Tours Church, Epsom.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s planning department no longer under review for designation

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have received official notification from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean MP, that their planning department is no longer under review for designation.

In April 2023 the council, along with nine other local authorities, received a letter from Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, which stated that due to the performance levels of the council on planning applications during October 2020 and September 2022, designating the council was under consideration.

The council had been fully aware of this historic issue relating to performance over that period, which was a result of Covid and capacity-related issues. Having acknowledged the issues, the council took swift decisive action to address them, securing additional staffing resourcing within the department as well as investing in IT and improved ways of working. 

As a result of the council’s actions, service levels and performance on planning applications improved rapidly and significantly. Since early 2022, the council has continued to determine at least 90% of planning applications within the statutory timescale target, compared to the government threshold of 70%:

• Apr-Jun 2022 – 95%
• Jul-Sep 2022 – 91%
• Oct-Dec 2022 – 95%
• Jan-Mar 2023 – 96%
• Apr-Jun 2023 – 95%.
• Jul-Sept 2023 – 90%

Jackie King, Chief Executive of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, said:

 “We are very pleased that the Secretary of State has recognised the issues the council faced were historic and temporary in nature, and that the council has worked very hard to take significant proactive steps to address and improve them, resulting in our Planning Department far exceeding national targets over the past five consecutive quarters. We have a strong and stable team and systems in place and are very confident that we will continue to provide a high level of service, over and above what is expected, into the future.”

Epsom, Ewell and Nonsuch Park triumph at the South & South East In Bloom Awards

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, Go Epsom Business Improvement District, and dedicated volunteers from across the borough were delighted to pick up a number of awards for Nonsuch Park, Epsom Town Centre and Ewell Village at this year’s South & South East in Bloom awards.

For the first time, Nonsuch Park picked up two awards, a prestigious Gold Award for Large Conservation Area and a Silver Gilt Award for Heritage Park. 

Judge Peter Holman, who is also Chairman of the South & South East in Bloom scheme, praised the efforts of the Nonsuch Voles Volunteering Group, and Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Operational Services and Countryside Team, who all work together for the overall benefit of the park.

Mr Holman said, “Woodland management, planting new trees and beds, and uncovering and restoring horticultural features all add value. Since my last visit, it’s good to see progress and the natural areas of the park are an excellent example of what can be achieved to benefit wildlife.”

Ewell Village kept its Silver Award status in the Large Village of the Year category and was congratulated on the efforts of the community volunteers who help maintain the Gertrude Longhurst Memorial Garden and Bourne Hall Park.

The council’s work at Bourne Hall was also praised. The judges said, “With its historic grounds, Bourne Hall showed noticeable improvements to the area at the rear of the building, which now forms an outdoor extension to the café area. It is understood that planting to soften its appearance is planned along with a new children's play area. Adjacent to the pond, a new pollinators bed has been successfully planted and looked attractive.

“The Wheatsheaf public house was pleasing to see and welcoming. Also of note was the work at Gertie's garden.”

Epsom Town Centre entered the Business Improvement District category and retained its Silver Award status. The judges noted the planting schemes in Rosebery Park, the ‘Pocket Park’ in South Street and the new planters outside TK Maxx, they were also impressed with the murals around the Town Centre and the Lidl Living Wall in Upper High Street.

Councillor John Beckett, Chair of the Environment Committee, said “I am pleased to see the hard work and dedication of the council, Go Epsom, businesses, residents and volunteers has been formally recognised at this year’s South & South East in Bloom awards.

“Maintaining our standards by winning Silver Awards in Ewell Village and Epsom Town Centre again and improving on last year’s awards tally by winning Gold and Silver Gilt for Nonsuch Park is a brilliant achievement.

“Plans are already being put in place for the borough to take part in Bloom next year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who is committed to ensuring our borough is the best it can be for the local community, visitors and wildlife all year round.”

Karen Pengelly, BID Manager at Go Epsom said, “Epsom is a lovely town, and the introduction of planters, murals and general greenery are welcome additions to our street scene. Visitors and local workers have commented on how much they appreciate the efforts of everyone involved in making Epsom look even better. Onwards and upwards for 2024 – there’s always more to do!”

Half price bus fares for under 20s in Surrey

Young people aged 20 and under are now entitled to 50% off all adult bus fares across Surrey.

Surrey County Council have created a new ‘LINK' card which can be shown on any bus in Surrey to qualify for the discount on all single and return journeys. You can apply at www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreylink.

Journeys should start and/or end in Surrey and people in the qualifying age group must live in the county.

More information is available at www.surreycc.gov.uk/surreylink

The Dementia Hub is here to help

Managing dementia can be a challenge. 

In Epsom & Ewell, support is available. 

The Dementia Hub, situated in Sefton Road in Epsom, offers specialist respite daycare for people living with memory loss and dementia. It offers a safe, friendly environment where clients can enjoy activities, social interaction and develop skills to improve their quality of life.

The Dementia Hub is part of the Community & Wellbeing Centre, a support hub which offers social and recreational activities for over 55s. The Community & Wellbeing Centre also provides services including assisted bathing, a community alarm service, foot clinic, meals at home, a shopping service and transport from home. 

People who are interested in finding out more about the Dementia Hub or who’d like to book a free assessment can call 01372 727583 or visit: www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/dementia-hub.

Home Upgrade Grant

As the weather becomes colder and the days darker, you may be starting to think about energy costs again. 

Making your home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly is a great opportunity to reduce energy bills and do your bit for the environment and reduce your carbon footprint.

What funding is available?

More than £12m of Government funding is now available, via the Home Upgrade Grant scheme, for Surrey residents to make their homes more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. 

Who is eligible?

If your home is not heated by gas you might be eligible for this grant. Anyone living in hard to heat homes and on lower incomes could receive up to £38,000 to fund measures that; improve a range of insulation including wall, loft and underfloor; install solar PV, solar thermal and air source heat pumps and ensure ventilation meets the industry standards.

Your property must have an EPC rating of D-G, the primary form of heating must not be mains gas and you will need to meet the financial eligibility criteria. Funding is limited and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Find out more

For more information and to check if you’re eligible for the grant, visit the Action Surrey website or call 0800 783 2503.

Help for landlords

If you’re a private landlord, your tenant might be eligible for the funding. You can also check The Domestic Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) Regulations Guidance for Landlords web page for details on updated requirements.

Surrey Energy Advice

Online Energy Advice Tool to help you save money

Surrey County Council have created a new online Energy Advice Tool. The tool asks a series of short questions and depending on the answers will offer tailored information on grants, support and advice, and non-financial help on a range of topics including:

• Find free or part-funded schemes to make you home more energy efficient
• Signpost to debt relief grants
• Where to find additional services such as clothes and food banks
• Fuel vouchers

Other support:

Welfare Hub

Surrey County Council have pulled together financial, health and welfare information on their website to ensure you find what support is on offer in the country. For more information, visit the Welfare Hub.

Cost of Living Support

Visit Epsom & Ewell Borough Council's Cost of Living Support webpage for more support and advice.

Jobs at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council

Our small but ambitious authority offers you the opportunity to become involved in a wide range of varied and interesting work. That, together with an enviable array of staff benefits and a rewarding and challenging career, is our unique offer to you.

If you have the passion and the drive to make a real difference, we really want to hear from you. View a list of all current vacancies at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council here.

Featured vacancies

Benefit Officer 

Are you an ambitious benefits professional looking for a new challenge? For the right person, this is an exciting opportunity to join a small and dynamic in house team, where you will get involved in all aspects of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

At Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, we are passionate about maintaining an inclusive workplace for all that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from all sections of our community particularly from underrepresented backgrounds, including BAME, LGBTQ+ and those with hidden or visible disabilities.

We are committed to ensuring all our staff – regardless of gender, age, religion, sexuality, ethnicity or disability – can thrive and succeed whilst working with us.