Bourne Hall to run Festival of Arts and Sustainability

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council are pleased to announce Bourne Hall’s Festival of Arts and Sustainability will be taking place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 May, 10am-4pm.

The free event promises fun for all the family, with a wide variety of environmentally-friendly and nature-based activities, entertainment, eco-friendly shopping and live music.

Creative Minds will be running art workshops to turn old plastic bottles into bird feeders and painting CDs for an art installation along the pond railings. Anyone willing to donate old plastic bottle and CDs for the workshop, should do so at Bourne Hall reception in the week before the festival.

The festival will also see the launch of the Seed Hunters trail, an interactive walk to teach about the plants and trees at Bourne Hall. The trail will guide visitors through the park, hunting for clues and marking off points of interest on the map provided.

Other activities include a sustainable craft market with practical demonstrations. The Flying Saucer Café will be serving a range of delicious food and drink.

Cllr Clive Woodbridge, Chair of the council’s Community and Wellbeing Committee, said, “I’m very pleased to see the popular festival at Bourne Hall has returned for another year. It’s a wonderful way to bring the whole community together with creative and informative activities.

“This year’s theme is arts and sustainability, and I think the festival is a brilliant way to raise awareness of important environmental issues in a fun, family-friendly way. We look forward to seeing lots of members of our community at the event.”

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council launches consultation into commercial dog walking at Nonsuch Park

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will launch a six-week consultation on commercial dog walking in Nonsuch Park from Monday 29 April.

The consultation was commissioned by Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee following concerns raised by visitors about the increase in dog walkers with multiple dogs in the park.

Ahead of implementing any measures to control commercial dog walking, the Committee is keen to consult with the public and stakeholders about this issue to help inform any future decisions. 

Officers from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will also be at Nonsuch Park on the following dates and times to answer any questions the public may have:

• 29/04/2024 - Cheam Gate, 8:30am-10:30am
• 15/05/2024 - London Road Gate, 10:30am-12:30pm  
• 22/05/2024 - Sparrow Farm Road Gate, 12:30pm-2:30pm.

Councillor Julian Freeman, Chair of the Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee, said: “We are aware that Nonsuch Park is hugely popular with dog walkers and while most dog walkers are responsible, concerns have been raised about the growth of commercial walkers with multiple dogs. 

“It is important that as many people as possible engage with the consultation, so the Committee can understand park visitors’ thoughts, concerns and suggestions about dog control and commercial dog walking. Their input will help us make informed decisions that balance the needs of both dog walkers and the broader park community.”

The consultation survey is available on the Epsom & Ewell consultations webpage - Consultations | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (epsom-ewell.gov.uk).

The survey will close on 3 June 2023.

Epsom & Ewell invites bids for neighbourhood CIL funding for local infrastructure projects

Epsom & Ewell invites bids for neighbourhood CIL funding for local infrastructure projects

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is inviting community groups and organisations to bid for neighbourhood funds raised by the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), to deliver projects that will support new development and benefit Epsom & Ewell residents across the borough. Bidding opened on 7 May for six weeks, closing on 18 June.

The CIL raises funds from developers in recognition that new development creates pressure on local infrastructure. It is spent on the provision, improvement, replacement, operation, or maintenance of local infrastructure. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has invested more than £210,000 from the 2022/23 Neighbourhood CIL Fund in community infrastructure projects including:

• Replacing playground equipment in Rosebery Park and Alexandra Recreation Ground
• Repairing pathways in Nonsuch Park to ensure they are safe and accessible
• Upcoming works to support biodiversity and improve visitor experience, including an additional new bench, at Stamford Green Pond.

Councillor Steven McCormick, Chair of the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee, said “I strongly urge local community groups and organisations to take this opportunity to bid for funds for community projects and initiatives that can improve quality of life for residents in Epsom & Ewell.

The Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy Fund offers us the chance to deliver projects that have a real impact on our communities, for example enhancing access to the countryside, improving accessibility and facilities in our parks and open spaces, improving health and safety for example by installing public water fountains, and more.”

The bidding process is designed to be as clear as possible. Information on the process can be found in section 6 of the CIL Spending Protocol.

Bids will be shortlisted using the criteria set out in section 7 of the CIL Spending Protocol.  Shortlisted bids will be presented to the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee for approval and, for any spend over £50,000, then to the Strategy and Resources Committee.

More information about the Neighbourhood CIL Fund can be found here: epsom-ewell.gov.uk/neighbourhood-cil

Innovative boxing programme champions young people in Epsom & Ewell

A new local boxing programme, led by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and delivered by Epsom Boxing Academy, saw its first cohort graduate in March. 14 students, referred by local schools, were enrolled on the course. Graduating students were awarded an England Boxing Bronze Award which was complimented with an AQA Empire Fighting Chance Award in nutrition and health.

The structured boxing programme aimed to help young people build confidence, self-discipline, and resilience as well as improving self-esteem and supporting positive mental health.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Committee, said; “I was honoured to attend the graduation of the Epsom & Ewell Community Boxing Scheme.

“Boxing is a fantastic way to keep fit, but it has also been shown to aid in the development of life skills including self-discipline, mental strength and control, and personal responsibility; as well as helping manage feelings of aggression. Boxing also provides invaluable opportunities for students to connect with positive mentors.

“We know that community schemes like this one are a fantastic way to tackle inclusion in sport whilst promoting positive outcomes for young people in our borough. I look forward to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council spearheading more initiatives like this one in the future.”

Joe Harding, Boxing Coach and founder of Epsom Boxing Academy, added; “The scheme was a great chance to create and deliver a programme specifically for our community in Epsom & Ewell. 

We saw an unbelievable change in the students over the weeks as they developed and demonstrated boxing techniques, learnt about the human body, and about food labels and nutrition.

Life coaching and mentoring helped students’ progress in terms of their self-confidence, personal discipline, and punctuality. We were able to provide a safe space and an environment for the young people to express themselves. The results were outstanding. We were extremely proud to be part of such a great project.” 

The Community Boxing Scheme is part of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s wider strategy to improve the wellbeing of residents through activity; and reduce barriers to sports and leisure participation for those who may not otherwise have access to facilities. It follows on from a successful swimming programme, delivered in partnership with leisure operator and social enterprise GLL and made possible by an award from Sport England funded by the National Lottery.

80th Anniversary of D-Day Landings Beacon Lighting

On Thursday 6 June, from 7pm - 9.30pm, Epsom will be marking the anniversary of D-Day by lighting a beacon in commemoration. This year it will be 80 years since the D-Day invasion of Normandy by the Allied forces that marked the beginning of the end of World War Two.

Visit Epsom Downs, where you can purchase fish and chips and enjoy entertainment from 7pm, gather at the beacon at 8.45pm, watch the ceremony at 9pm, at 9.10pm listen to the Lone Piper and at 9.15pm see the beacon being lit.

For more information, take a look at the event listing on our website.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council launches ‘My Soul Gallery’ exhibition in partnership with Creative Minds and Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network

Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network and Epsom & Ewell Borough Council have worked in partnership to deliver weekly art sessions for adults and children from the borough’s refugee community. These sessions were put in place to provide an outlet for creativity, as well as many opportunities to share conversation with like-minded individuals within the borough. The programme has resulted in an exhibition which is a colourful and thought-provoking presentation of participants’ talent and achievements. Creative Minds is a social enterprise and nationwide community of artists who deliver fun, therapeutic and engaging art sessions to people of all ages in venues across the country.

Each week the Creative Minds artists guided participants through different methods of artistic expression.                                       
Jessica Brooks, Refugee Network Manager at Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network said,

“The art teachers had a really person-centred approach to the sessions, and encouraged the participants to use their imaginations and express their feelings through the artwork they created. This gave participants the opportunity to reflect on emotions in a calm and safe setting, while also exploring many different art mediums with a great range of resources available.”

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Committee at the council said,

“Epsom & Ewell Refugee Network do an excellent job in building up a strong circle of support for those who are often trying to move away from upsetting experiences towards a more positive future. It was my pleasure to support these art sessions, in which artists from Creative Minds created an inclusive and nurturing environment which allowed participants to not only learn new skills but build self-worth”.

Georgiana Dacombe, an artist from Creative Minds, added,

“Being creative with art allows you to be part of the bigger picture and still remain yourself in ways that are dynamic, positive, revelatory and uplifting. It's what we can do together that is so inspiring, that defines us in the way that war can't. We love what the group have created and hope you will too.”

Funding for the project came from the council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage and Community Development departments through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Homes for Ukraine scheme. This project supports the council’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy and its
commitment to nurturing creative talent and to creating a thriving and inclusive creative and cultural outreach programme within the borough. It also continues to support the work of the Community Development Team.

You can visit ‘My Soul Gallery’ at Bourne Hall, Ewell and The Town Hall, Epsom, free of charge, from 1 to 31 May 2024.

Free boiler upgrade

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, in partnership with Action Surrey, will shortly be launching a free boiler upgrade scheme for residents who meet the following criteria:

Help us make your property someone’s home

Do you have a property to let?

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council are currently looking to take on 3 and 4 bedroom properties under its Private Sector Leasing (PSL) scheme.

The council operates a very successful PSL scheme that allows us to help local families in housing need whilst reducing the risks and hassle of renting for landlords. Under the PSL scheme: -

• The council lease and manage your property for a period of three to five years
• You receive a guaranteed rent, paid 6 months advance
• No void periods or costs
• We manage your property and let it to local people in housing need
• We carry out minor repairs up to the value of £500 per year
• At the end of the agreement, we return the property to you in the same condition (minus fair wear and tear) as when the agreement started.

The benefits for landlords are: 

• The council manage your property
• A single point of contact within the council
• No inventory costs and regular property inspections
• Right to Rent checks carried by the council
• No need to register deposits with TDP schemes
• No letting agent or management fees
• Routine and major repairs can be undertaken on landlords’ behalf for a fee.

There are also benefits for families and the local community. Local families benefit as we are able to provide good quality, temporary housing in the local area. The community sees empty properties brought back into use.

At the moment, alternative accommodation is often located out of the borough. This can be disruptive to home life, work and school at an already stressful time for families. 

The council has had great success with our Private Sector Leasing scheme, and we are currently looking to expand the scheme. We are especially looking to take on more 3 and 4 bedroom family properties.

If you are interested in working with us, please contact housing@epsom-ewell.gov.uk.

For full details of the scheme and a landlords information pack, please visit https://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/residents/housing/do-you-have-property-let/private-sector-leasing-scheme.

MMR vaccine: Be wise and immunise

Cases of measles are rising across England, including among children. It's an infection that spreads very easily and for some people can cause serious problems. The uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination programme in the UK has fallen to the lowest level in a decade, including across Surrey. There is a high risk that outbreaks of measles will be seen in unvaccinated individuals and communities in Surrey over the coming months.

There's no specific medical treatment for measles, so it's important to get vaccinated as it's the best protection against measles. Two doses of the MMR vaccine give 99% protection against measles.

Children are offered a vaccine free on the NHS at 12-months-old and then a second dose when they turn 3-years-and-4-months-old, but it is never too late to catch up. The MMR vaccine is free on the NHS, whatever your age. If anyone has missed one or both doses of the MMR vaccine, contact your GP practice to book an appointment.

Find out more on the NHS website.

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. 

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.