News
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council responds to decision on Local Government Reorganisation in Surrey
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) acknowledges the decision of Government to proceed with the creation of two new unitary councils, East Surrey and West Surrey.
While this is not the outcome the Council had hoped for, it will respect the decision and remain fully committed to working constructively with our partners across the county to ensure the best possible outcomes for our residents.
EEBC’s priority continues to be the delivery of high-quality local services without interruption, and it will continue to work collaboratively with neighbouring authorities and government bodies throughout the reorganisation process to make sure our residents continue to receive the reliable and responsive services they depend upon.
Throughout this transition, the Council is committed to being open and transparent and will ensure that residents are kept fully informed every step of the way as plans for the new East Surrey unitary council develop.
Councillor Hannah Dalton, Leader of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, said:
“Although this is not the decision we had hoped for, our focus now is on supporting the transition in a way that protects our residents’ interests and maintains the quality of local services.
“Epsom & Ewell has always prided itself on being a well-run, community-focused council, and that commitment remains unchanged.”
Statement from Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
We are proud of Epsom & Ewell’s communities and believe that our diversity makes us stronger.
Graffiti on our cultural buildings, streets and roundabouts is not a sign of pride—it’s a criminal act.
We all have a duty to call out racism and hatred whenever we see it. Epsom & Ewell Borough Council stands united against racism and hatred, and we will always do everything in our power to fight it.
Let us stand together as a community, to ensure that Epsom & Ewell remains a tolerant, inclusive, and welcoming borough.
On behalf of Councillor Hannah Dalton, Leader of the Council; Councillor Kate Chinn, Leader of Labour Group; Councillor James Lawrence, Leader of Liberal Democrat Group; Councillor Alex Coley, Leader of Independents Group; Councillor Bernie Muir, Leader of Conservative Group; and Jackie King, Chief Executive of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council publishes 2024/25 Annual Report
We have published our 2024/25 Annual Report, which is available on the council’s website: Epsom & Ewell Annual Report 2024/25 | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
The report highlights key achievements over the past year, including:
- setting a balanced budget for 2025/26
- allocating £331,966 to Neighbourhood CIL projects following bids from community groups and organisations, and £1,755,000 to three Strategic CIL projects
- determining over 90% of planning applications within the statutory timeframe, including 100% of all major or larger applications, and introducing a new fast-track planning service
- receiving a Green Flag Award for Epsom Common Local Nature Reserve for the eighteenth consecutive year; Nonsuch Park also received two South & South East in Bloom awards
- installing the council’s largest solar panel array to date on the roof of the Rainbow Leisure Centre in Epsom, and
- hosting an event to mark Suicide Prevention Day in partnership with local charities and organisations.
Jackie King, Chief Executive of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, said:
“I am proud to present Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s 2024/25 Annual Report which reflects the dedication and impact of our teams on the borough over the last financial year.
As always, our Councillors and workforce of more than 280 officers have provided exceptional service to around 80,000 residents and 3,700 businesses across the borough, despite significant financial challenges.
The report showcases excellent work from teams across the council — from our Waste Services team, who collected 99.9% of the borough’s bins on time in 2024/25, to the Planning Policy team who were recently awarded ‘Best Plan’ at the Royal Town Planning Institute’s South East Awards for Planning Excellence. It highlights the proactive work of our Countryside team, backed by volunteers and partners, in protecting and enriching the borough’s biodiverse and beautiful green spaces.
I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of everyone at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and I know we are in a good position to meet the challenges ahead.
I look forward to continuing to deliver the council’s new strategic priorities and working towards local government reorganisation – whilst continuing to provide the high-quality services our residents depend upon.”
Epsom & Ewell Business Awards 2025 are now open!
#EEBA2025
The Epsom & Ewell Business Awards celebrate the fantastic local businesses in Epsom & Ewell, with awards for the best small or independent business, retail business, pub, restaurant, business for customer service, commitment to the community, business for health and wellbeing, property and construction, best business for professional services and most sustainable or ‘green’ business.
- Nominations close at 11:59pm Wednesday 31 December 2025.
- Winners will be announced in March 2026.
We're running the awards in association with What's On In Epsom. Alongside the council, other sponsors are Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom Square, TWM Solicitors, North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT), Family Building Society, Go Epsom, Amber Group, AtkinsRéalis, Peacock & Co, University for the Creative Arts, and We Built Your Website Ltd.
Do you know of a local business that stands out? Why not nominate them today! Epsom & Ewell Business Awards - Epsom & Ewell Business Awards
Best of luck to all nominees.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Remembrance and Armistice Day activities 2025
We are proud to announce that Remembrance and Armistice Day memorial services, parades and activities will take place across the borough to honour those who have died in the service of their country and give thanks to those past and present who have served in the armed forces. Formal Acts of Remembrance will include the council’s annual Garden of Remembrance at Bourne Hall Park on 5 November, Remembrance Day wreath laying and procession on 10 November and an Armistice Day Service on 11 November.
Garden of Remembrance: Wednesday 5 November
On Wednesday 5 November at 10.30am, The Mayor of Epsom & Ewell, the Chief Executive of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and local schoolchildren will officially open the Garden of Remembrance. Children 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 will be open to the public until the end of November, giving people the opportunity to visit, and take time to reflect.
Remembrance Sunday: 9 November
At 9.30am the Mayor of Epsom & Ewell will lay two wreaths at the War Memorials in Ashley Road, Epsom. This will be followed by a Remembrance Day procession from the Army Reserve Centre at Welbeck Close and ending at St Mary’s Church, Ewell – followed by an Act of Remembrance service, wreath laying and a church service.
Armistice Day Service (11/11/11): Tuesday 11 November
Members of the public are invited to join a ceremony at the Clock Tower at 10.40am in Epsom Market Place. The Mayor, Chief Executive and elected Councillors will join the Royal British Legion, armed forces, veterans and local schools at the service which ends with observation of the nationwide Two Minute Silence at 11am.
Jackie King, Chief Executive of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, said: “In this moment of remembrance, we pause to honour the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. We remember with deep gratitude those who gave their lives in defence of our freedoms, and we honour those who continue to serve with courage and commitment. We will remember them.”
Other Remembrance Day activities
Large poppies, kindly donated by the Royal British Legion, are being placed in Epsom High Street, Ewell High Street and Stoneleigh Broadway alongside other poppies placed around the borough.
Events and activities also taking place will include:
- Bourne Hall Museum: World War I Walk on Saturday 8 November at 10am (free event)
The public can join Tim Richardson for a walk around Langley Vale First World War Centenary Wood. More information can be found here.
- Museum Kids club at Bourne Hall: Meet Captain Townsley on Saturday 8 November at 1pm to 2pm (£6.50)
Children can come along and hear about tales of the war and handle real equipment and uniform. More information can be found here.
For more information on our Remembrance Day activities - Remembrance in the borough of Epsom & Ewell | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
Approval of funding and partial funding for infrastructure projects to boost community connections, wellbeing, safety and greener travel
At its meeting on 25 September 2025, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee formally approved the allocation of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding that will support delivery of infrastructure projects across the borough over the next few years. Some projects are fully funded, and others have been awarded partial funding.
Projects that have had funding approved are aimed at helping to strengthen community connections, improve accessibility and safety routes and create a healthier, greener environment for everyone.
Up to £1,371,053 has been allocated to four Strategic CIL funding projects, and a total of £236,800 has been allocated to six Neighbourhood CIL projects following bids by community groups and organisations.
Strategic CIL helps fund larger projects that benefit the whole borough, such as school expansions, transport schemes and upgrades to sporting facilities. Neighbourhood CIL is used for smaller, local projects such as improving road safety, upgrading playgrounds or enhancing community spaces.
Neighbourhood CIL funding
Funding has been approved for the following six projects:
- The Library of Things – a permanent, secure storage shed in the borough to help establish a service where residents can borrow useful household items
- 3rd Epsom Scouts Community Building – renovations and rebuilding works to provide a modern accessible facility and increase the amount of young people interested in scouting, community groups in the borough can also use at an affordable rate.
- Cattle Arch/Under-Rail Tunnel project - energy-efficient lighting installed in a pedestrian tunnel in Dewsbury Gardens, Worcester Park, improving safety for residents who use it.
- Wheels for Epsom – providing a new and improved bike container for Wheels for All Epsom & Ewell, a cycling programme for children and adults that makes cycling more accessible e.g. for people with disabilities.
- Horton Country Park Path Restoration - continues a ten-year project, started in 2018, to restore and improve the pathways, making them more accessible to visitors.
- Linden Bridge School – Road Safety Outside School Scheme - improves pedestrian accessibility and safety for children and families crossing Grafton Road, as well as aiding traffic flow.
Strategic CIL funding
Funding has been approved for five projects:
- Ash Dieback Essential Safety Works and Treescape Restoration
- ANPR Surrey Police
- B284 Ruxley Lane, West Ewell, Epsom – Road Safety Scheme
- Parks recreation and play for young people and families
Councillor Neil Dallen, Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee, said:
“Our priority is to ensure that every pound of funding delivers real value for our residents. The Community Infrastructure Levy gives us a unique opportunity to invest in projects that will enhance our community today and for generations to come. The wellbeing of our community is at the heart of everything we do, and whether it’s the new sharing initiative to help residents save money or a range of safety and accessibility improvements, we are committed to making a meaningful difference and supporting the needs of everyone who lives here.”
More information about the allocation of the CIL, including the process, can be found here from page 31 - Strategy and Resources Committee papers, 25 September 2025
Air Quality Management Area in Ewell revoked after measures successfully reduce emissions
During October Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Environment Committee agreed to revoke the Ewell High Street Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), following a sustained and significant improvement in nitrogen dioxide levels recorded in Ewell High Street.
The AQMA was put in place in June 2007 after a section of Ewell High Street was found to exceed the nationally determined objective for nitrogen dioxide. The main source for these pollutants in the borough was identified as being due to road traffic.
In the intervening years, we have worked with the Highways Authority to deliver actions to combat congestion in the area, including: the disapplication of certain marked roadside parking bays during peak times, widening the carriageway and re-engineering the junction between the High Street and Cheam Road.
Councillor Liz Frost, Chair of the Environment Committee, said:
“It is fantastic news that air quality along Ewell High Street has improved sufficiently to warrant lifting the Air Quality Management Area designation. Reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions has been extremely important for the council as these can contribute to negative impacts on the environment and on our health.
“This revocation is a testament to the work of both Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and our partners in the area, as well as interventions that have taken place both regionally and nationally to tackle nitrogen dioxide emissions”
New community mural designed to combat anti-social behaviour is unveiled by the Police and Crime Commissioner
We are pleased to announce the unveiling of a new community mural in Ewell East tunnel by Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey.
The community project was organised by the Epsom & Ewell Community Safety Partnership’s Joint Action Group following incidences of anti-social behaviour, including robbery, in the alleyway. The council successfully applied for funding from the Office for Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Safety Fund, and work on the mural began in September.
The mural was designed and painted by Positive Arts in collaboration with Level 1 and 2 Art & Design students from Nescot. It features key elements from the college’s 70 year history including images from old prospectus covers, the Spirit of the Wind image from the old logo, the frieze from the original entrance, as well as local flora and fauna.
Councillor Shanice Goldman, Chair of the Crime and Disorder Committee, said:
“This community mural is a fantastic example of how multiple partners can work together for the betterment of the community. It is also a valuable step forward in combatting anti-social behaviour by rejuvenating an unloved, run down part of the borough and instilling a sense of pride and ownership of the area in the students.”
“The council has commissioned a number of murals across the borough as part of our Arts, Culture and Heritage Strategy over the past year, and these have already had a positive impact on reducing anti-social behaviour, such as reducing graffiti tagging. I hope this latest mural will achieve similar results.”
Sarah Jane Morgan, Art & Design Lecturer at Nescot said:
“The Art & Design team has been proud to collaborate on this vibrant community project. It’s been an incredible learning opportunity for our talented students to work alongside renowned artists from Positive Arts to create and bring to life a professional street art mural.
“They have enjoyed painting the mural which features iconic elements of Nescot and the college’s various curriculum areas. Thanks to Positive Arts for their expert guidance, and to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council for commissioning our students to work on this transformative project.”
Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey, said:
“It’s really important to me that residents in Surrey are safe in their communities, and that they feel safe too. The footpath between Nescot and the Ewell East Train Station was highlighted by residents as a location of concern, and I have meetings about this issue with partners including Surrey Police teams, college leaders and officers from British Transport Police.
“The beautiful mural aims to reclaim this public space, which is used by both students and residents. Improvements to lighting, police patrols and additional private security will also bolster community safety and crime prevention in the area.
“There are seven murals within Epsom and Ewell, each of which helps to foster pride in our communities. I’m delighted to have been able to contribute to the borough’s latest artwork.”
Julian Phethean from Positive Arts said:
“All of the students participated in the mural with passion and pride. They eagerly embraced the opportunity to learn new spray painting techniques and applied these skills effectively while working collaboratively.
“Throughout the project, they demonstrated a high level of creativity, motivation, and focus.”
Garden waste disruption
Due to staff sickness, we have been unable to collect some garden waste routes recently.
We'd like to apologise for the inconvenience this has caused. Our crews will return on your next collection date and collect any excess accrued in that time.
Please leave any excess in black sacks next to your garden waste bin.
Time to cash in your Child Trust Fund
Many young people aged 18–23 may have forgotten they have savings in a Child Trust Fund account. These accounts were set up by the government for children born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, with an initial deposit made into each account. The funds become available when the individual turns 18, and the average amount claimed is around £2,200 - yet hundreds of thousands of accounts remain unclaimed.
HMRC is encouraging young people to check if they have a CTF and claim their money. They don’t need to pay someone to do it, they can easily find their provider for free on Child Trust Fund: Find a Child Trust Fund - GOV.UK
Big Community Switch – to 100% renewable electricity with potential cost benefits
The Big Community Switch is a scheme designed to help people secure better deals on energy - you can switch to 100% renewable electricity and possibly save money on your energy bills by changing energy suppliers.
This scheme brings our community together to get better prices with 100% renewable energy suppliers. When enough people register, savings can be secured that might not be available to individuals alone. By registering, you can potentially save money and enjoy lower energy prices. Registering to receive an offer from a vetted provider is straightforward, and there’s no obligation to switch.
Deadline for registrations is 31 October 2025.
Register today at https://bigcommunityswitch.co.uk/
Jobs at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
We're recruiting.
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.
Our latest vacancies include:
The Epsom Playhouse, situated in Epsom town centre, is a receiving house comprising a 450-seat main auditorium and an 80-seat studio.
We are seeking a multi-skilled and experienced individual to provide technical services to ensure the successful presentation of a wide programme of professional and community performances. You will be responsible for rigging, operating, and de-rigging, lighting, sound, stage and AV equipment for rehearsals and performances, duty stage management, simple maintenance of equipment, and supervision of casual staff, visiting companies and community users.
Find out more about the role here: Playhouse Theatre Technician
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.
Flu and Covid Vaccinations Autumn/Winter 2025
Winter Ready Flu and Covid Vaccinations.
It’s that time of year again and winter is fast approaching. Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s winter vaccination campaign.
Getting the flu vaccine
Each year, flu can cause serious illness - especially in vulnerable groups. Getting vaccinated helps:
- Protect individuals at highest risk
- Reduce flu-related hospitalisations and severe illness
- Prevent transmission in the community
- Supports children and those in care homes
Flu strains change each year, so a new vaccine is needed annually. This year’s programme runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2026.
Who Can Get the Flu Vaccine?
From 1 September 2025, the following groups are eligible:
- Pregnant women
- Children aged 2 or 3 on 31 August 2025
- Children aged 6 months to under 18 in clinical at-risk groups
- All primary and secondary school children (Reception to Year 11)*
*School-aged children will mainly be vaccinated by the School Immunisation Service, though parents may request vaccination at the surgery if preferred.
From 1 October 2025 the following groups will also be eligible:
- All adults aged 65 and over
- Adults aged 18–64 in clinical risk groups
- Care home residents
- Carers and main care providers
- Close contacts of people who are immunocompromised
- Frontline health and social care workers
This winter toddlers aged 2-3 will also be able to get a flu vaccine at their local community pharmacy.
Housebound Patients and Care Homes
Flu vaccinations for housebound patients and those in care homes will be delivered by local GP Practices and Primary Care Networks.
Autumn Covid Vaccinations
Covid vaccination eligibility is different from the flu vaccine. Those who can get Covid vaccinations are the following:
- Adults aged 75 and over
- Individuals in a specific high-risk clinical group
- Residents in older adult care homes
What Happens Next – Booking an appointment
Some GP Practices will contact you directly if you are eligible to book an appointment at one of their flu clinics. If you are pregnant, you may be offered a vaccine by your maternity clinic.
From 1 October, flu vaccines will start being rolled out to anyone eligible, with people encouraged to book an appointment with a pharmacy or their GP via the NHS App online or by calling 119. After 1 October people will be able to use the pharmacy finder to find walk-in appointments.
If you're eligible for the winter COVID-19 vaccine, you can book an appointment online via the NHS App or by calling 119. You can also book a vaccination appointment for a child aged 5 years or over if they are eligible.
For more information about vaccinations, please visit Surrey Heartlands Vaccinations
Let’s stay healthy this winter. Get vaccinated. Protect yourself. Protect others.