News
Prepare to give your views when the Draft Local Plan Consultation launches
Epsom & Ewell’s Local Plan will set the vision and framework for future development in the borough. Our public consultation on the Draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) goes live on Wednesday 1 February and runs for six weeks.
It focuses on supporting businesses, creating jobs, infrastructure improvements, environmental protection and leisure development, alongside sites for new homes including affordable accommodation.
It is really important that these big decisions are informed by those who live, work, visit, shop or study in Epsom & Ewell. Responses we receive through the consultation will be critical in shaping the Local Plan and development in the borough up to 2040.
You can find out more about why it’s so important we progress with our Local Plan, and how you can have your say, at https://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/residents/planning/planning-policy/epsom-and-ewell-local-plan/emerging-new-local-plan.
Once the consultation is live, you will be able to comment on the Draft Local Plan via our website. There will also be information and the opportunity to respond in local libraries. If you want to find out more about the Local Plan, there are local community events being organised and more information will be on our website.
New Chief Executive recommended for Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
Jackie King is set to become the new Chief Executive of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, subject to ratification by Full Council on Tuesday 14 February. Jackie has been recommended for the position following a robust and competitive recruitment process.
Jackie joined Epsom & Ewell Council (EEBC) in September 2021 as Director of Corporate Resources and has been in the position of interim Chief Executive since July 2022.
Jackie has had an extensive career across the public and private sector and prior to joining EEBC was Acting Chief Executive at Tandridge District Council. She also spent eight years at Surrey Police in various People, Change and Transformation roles as well as roles relating to performance and risk in global financial institutions.
Cllr Hannah Dalton, Chair of the Residents’ Association Majority Group, said: "We are very pleased to be recommending the appointment of Jackie King as the new Chief Executive of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council. Through the rigorous recruitment process undertaken, Jackie demonstrated that she is a strong and effective leader with the drive and vision to take EEBC forward.
Jackie has the support of Councillors, staff and partners in leading the delivery of our agreed priorities and in helping our communities to face the significant challenges that lie ahead in these tough times.
Jackie has been with the Council as our Director of Corporate Services for 18 months and I have every confidence that, with her at the helm as our Chief Executive, we will make strong progress in the years ahead and deliver the change that Councillors are looking for and that our residents expect."
Jackie King said: “I am delighted to be recommended for this position as EEBC’s next Chief Executive. As a long-term resident of the borough I am so proud of what we have to offer here, and am looking forward to working with colleagues, Councillors, partners and residents to support the borough to grow and thrive.
The last few years have been challenging for us all in many ways and from my time here at the Council I know how committed and ambitious everyone is to really make a difference and deliver the best services we can for our communities, businesses, and visitors.”
Epsom & Ewell residents need photo ID to vote at elections in May
For the first time, residents in Epsom & Ewell will need to show photographic ID to vote at this year’s local elections. Residents are being urged to make sure they are ready to vote in May by checking they have an accepted form of ID.
Accepted forms of ID include:
- A UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport
- A UK, EEA or Commonwealth drivers’ licence
- Some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card.
Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.
Anyone who does not have one of the accepted forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID online at voter-authority-certificate.service.gov.uk or by completing a paper form.
The full list of accepted ID is available on the Electoral Commission’s website, along with more information about the new requirement and details of how to apply for the free ID, at electoralcommission.org.uk/voterID.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council implements a Public Space Protection Order to combat nitrous oxide use
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has brought in a Public Space Protection Order following a consultation with residents about psychoactive substance abuse in the Borough’s open spaces.
The Order covers psychoactive substances not otherwise fully controlled by national legislation. The most significant example of this is currently nitrous oxide, known as laughing gas, which is typically used in the catering industry and supplied in small metallic cannisters or larger pressurised tanks.
A Public Space Protection Order makes it an offence to use or be in possession of these types of substances on public land. It will be in place two years initially and signs are being placed in hotspots around the Borough, including all parks, over the coming month.
Any person who fails to comply with this order without a reasonable excuse will have their material confiscated and risk a Fixed Penalty Notice of £100 or a fine in court of £1,000. This will be enforced by both the police and the Council’s enforcement teams.
Councillor John Beckett, Chair of the Environment and Safe Communities Committee, said, “We have seen a considerable increase in the use of nitrous oxide cannisters in the Borough. There are real concerns from residents about the risks of this drug and the gateway effect to other dangerous substances.
“We want to alleviate the impacts of this drug by highlighting the adverse effects and provide a safe community for all residents in Epsom & Ewell.
“This public space protection order will provide powers to the police and our enforcement teams to issue fixed penalty notices in the event of a breach. We know our residents feel strongly about this issue and we thank them for their responses to our consultation.”
If residents are concerned about the presence of psychoactive substances in the Borough, they may report them via https://epsom-ewell.gov.uk/residents/online-forms?field_form_category_value=Report.
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council to mark Holocaust Memorial Day
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will carry out a number of activities to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday 27 January.
Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember the six million Jews murdered during the Holocaust, the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution and those killed in the more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.
The Council will light up the clocktower in Epsom Market Place in purple in memory of the victims of the Holocaust and genocide worldwide.
The Mayor, Councillor Clive Woodbridge, will give a speech which will be available to view on the Council’s YouTube channel from Friday - Video of Mayor Woodbridge's speech about Holocaust Memorial Day..
An exhibition will take place at Bourne Hall, Ewell, looking at the history of the Holocaust and linking it to local stories from the Borough. Visitors will be able to place LED candles on the shrine as a mark of respect.
Virtual candles can also be lit by visiting www.illuminatethepast.org.
To learn more about the Holocaust and genocide, please visit www.hmd.org.uk.
Cost of Living Support
The cost of living increases this winter are worrying for many people. There are a number of initiatives offering people support across the borough.
You can find information on how Epsom & Ewell are supporting residents during this time on our website: Cost of living support in Epsom & Ewell
There is now a network of Warm Hubs available across Surrey for residents to pop-in, get warm and meet others with an opportunity to get free energy saving advice too. Locations and opening times of Warm Hubs across the county can be found here: surreycc.gov.uk/warmhubs
If you are worrying about money, take a look at this leaflet: Leaflet: Worrying About Money? (this is a link to download a PDF file).
We talked to Robert Hill, one of the people behind 'Warm Wednesdays' at Epsom Methodist Church, an initiative offering warmth, food and hot drinks and entertainment to people for free this winter.
How long have you lived in the Epsom & Ewell area?
I came to live in Epsom in 1978. We loved living and bringing up our family in the town - we witnessed the building of the Ashley Centre, the Playhouse, the Rainbow Centre and the Odeon - facilities that we take for granted now. For eight years I served as a borough councillor for Court Ward. In 2019 I moved to Leatherhead to make it easier to visit and spend time with my wife, Beth, who had a rare form of an early onset dementia and needed residential care. However, much of my life still revolves around Epsom.
How did you come up with the idea for Warm Wednesdays?
I began thinking about Warm Spaces when I heard Martin Lewis, the money advice expert, talking about the difficulties that many people are going to face this winter keeping warm and paying their energy bills, especially as food costs as well heating costs are rising fast. At the same time the national media was reporting on the idea of creating warm spaces where people could go to keep warm. I talked with some friends and our Minister about the idea of Epsom Methodist Church offering a warm space and they encouraged me to explore the idea. As a town centre church we see it as part of our mission to open up our premises and enable the community to use our facilities. The concept of Warm Wednesdays took off from that point!
Could you tell us more about what you're aiming to achieve with Warm Wednesdays?
We're aiming to:
- Create a Warm Wednesdays programme where one day a week people can come and stay as long as they like between 9am and 6pm and enjoy our hospitality throughout the day. In the morning there will be free hot drinks, free soup and a buttered roll at lunch time and an after-school club for families (including a teatime hot meal).
- Create a band of volunteers to deliver the service we are offering.
- Liaise with other churches in the borough and with Surrey County Council with the aim of creating a network of warm places that people can go to across the week.
Whether you want to drop in, book a teatime meal for the family or offer to help here are more details about Warm Wednesdays at Epsom Methodist Church on our website: Epsom Methodist Church/Warm Wednesdays
Help your business thrive by completing our 2023 Business Survey
Calling all business owners – whether home or High Street based, corporate or sole trader - we want to hear how we can best support you to thrive and grow.
We are asking you to take just 10 minutes to complete the 2023 East Surrey Business Survey to help the East Surrey Economic Development Initiative (the four East Surrey councils of Epsom & Ewell, Mole Valley, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge) examine the current local business landscape and identify key needs to support growth.
By completing this survey businesses can help the East Surrey local councils get a better understanding of growth challenges, skills and employment needs, and business support requirements.
The survey is open to any business based in the area and will take just 10 minutes to complete. Visit www.eastsurreybusinesssurvey.co.uk(link is external) to find out more and complete the survey.
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service want to hear your views
Surrey Fire and Rescue Service are seeking your views on the risks which you believe are present in the county.
The survey takes no more than five minutes to complete and will ask what you think or feel about the service they provide, how it could improve and what risks you are most concerned about. The survey is open to all residents as well as those visiting, working, and travelling through Surrey, to provide their feedback.
The feedback will be a vital element of planning for the service's next Community Risk Management Plan, which sets out the risks in Surrey and how the service plans on meeting or mitigating them.
The responses will be analysed and considered when preparing a proposed service plan, which is due to go out for full consultation in the Winter 2024. Highlights from the responses will be fed back to residents in a future article.
This is the first survey of its kind in Surrey, so don't miss your opportunity to make sure your views are heard on the Fire Survey web page.
The survey closes Tuesday 31 January 2023.
Own Your Impact: Food Waste Recycling
What you do with your food waste can make a huge difference to your environmental impact. The best way to help the planet is to reduce the amount of food waste you produce and recycle what is left.
It’s easier than you think to own your impact in 2023. With free weekly food waste collections throughout Surrey, all you need to do is place your leftovers in your food caddy and we will do the rest.
Once your food waste recycling is collected it’s taken to an anaerobic digestion facility. Here, food waste is broken down to produce biogas, which is collected and used to generate electricity.
If you are in need of a food caddy, contact your local council today. And remember you can keep your caddy fresh by lining it with a plastic bag. Simply use shopping bags, pedal bin liners or even bread bags.
Surrey Environment Partnership Chair Marisa Heath said: “Too much food is still going to waste and so I would like to remind residents that all food waste can be recycled in Surrey and encourage them to take advantage of their free weekly collection. Every resident can make a difference to the planet in 2023 if they simply caddy what they can’t eat. Please don’t put it in your black bin.”
For more information on food waste recycling as well as tips and recipes to help you reduce your food waste, visit surreyep.org.uk.
Help with illness this winter
Look after yourself
Winter illnesses such as colds, sore throats and upset stomachs can easily be treated at home. Many medicines are available from your local pharmacy - with no GP appointment or prescription needed – and help with prescription costs is available if you need it.
It’s also a good idea, if you can, to have a well-stocked medicine cabinet ready for when you need it - with pain relief (paracetamol), cough and sore throat remedies and other over-the counter medicines.
Finding the right information and support
Many people live with conditions or disabilities which mean they need a little extra support in their everyday lives. Often people don’t know where to turn in the event of a health or care crisis for themselves or for a loved one.
The Surrey Information Point (SIP) website includes a wealth of useful information and details of local trusted networks and organisations to help you and your loved ones live healthy, happy and independent lives.
It includes details of help with shopping and cooking, emotional support and befriending services, home care agencies to help with everyday things like getting out of bed and washing, community transport, useful equipment to help with living at home, support for carers and groups and services for various health conditions including diabetes, dementia and cancer.
So if you, or someone you know, needs some extra help after a hospital stay or an illness or they’re just not able to do all the things they once could do themselves there’s some great options in the community where you live.
If you’re not confident online, ask friends or family, health and care professionals, charities or staff in your local library to show you where you can access the support you need.
Get advice from your local pharmacy
Your local pharmacist can also offer advice and guidance on the best treatment for you – no appointment is needed. And they can also advise if they think you need to see a GP.
Pharmacists are available on every high street and in supermarkets, with many open evenings and weekends. Search nhs.uk to find a pharmacy near you.
Need urgent advice? – try NHS 111 online or call 24/7
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and are unsure what to do.
To get help from NHS 111, you can: Go online to nhs.uk (for anyone age 5 years and over), call 111 or go to the NHS App if you have it and go to ‘advice’.
NHS111 will ask questions about your symptoms and give you advice, linking you in with local services (like out of hours GP services, pharmacies, emergency dental appointments and walk-in centres as needed).
In an emergency or life-threatening situation people should always call 999 or go to A&E.
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 Jobs
Performance & Risk Officer
The focus of this role will be to contribute to the delivery of good corporate governance, supporting the timely collation of data, preparing reports on performance management, preparing statistical information / data and summaries, researching for potential initiatives, and working on key corporate projects to support data driven decisions.
Closing date: 30 January 2023
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.
What's On
What's on in Epsom & Ewell
There's lots happening in Epsom and Ewell over the next few weeks.
For the full events list, take a look at the events page on the Epsom & Ewell Borough Council website.
Horton Country Park History
Take a walk with a member of the Countryside Team to discover Horton Country Park's past. Meet at the Information Centre at 1pm.
Where: Horton Country Park Local Nature Reserve, Horton Lane, Epsom KT19 8PL
When: Sunday 5 February, 1pm-3pm
Price: £5.00 per adult/£2.50 per child
Find out more about the Horton Country Park History event here.
Florence Nightingale & Her Work in Nursing and Health Reforms
Florence Nightingale will visit Ewell after returning from her nursing duties in the Crimea. Meet her and discover her life story, hear about her famous lamp-carrying while at the Scutari Hospital and her later campaigns for nursing and health reforms in England.
Where: Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell KT17 1UF
When: Saturday 11 February, 1pm-2.30pm
Price: £5 per child
Find out more about the Florence Nightingale & Her Work in Nursing and Health Reforms event here.
Cave Painting
Discover how and why these paintings were created. Then by flickering light try to create your own cave painting in our very own 'caves'.
Where: Bourne Hall Museum, Spring Street, Ewell KT17 1UF
When: Wednesday 15 February, 11am-3pm
Price: £5 per child
Find out more about the Cave Painting event here.
Epsom and Ewell markets
Regular markets in Epsom marketplace take place on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday plus special markets are held on most Sundays.
For information on the weekly markets at Epsom Marketplace see: www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/market
Farmer's Market - Epsom Marketplace
This market usually takes place on the first Sunday of the month from 9.30am-1.30pm.
Find out more at www.surreymarkets.co.uk/event/epsom-market/
Artisan Market - Ewell Village
First Saturday of the month, from 10am-3pm.
This artisan market in The Grove in Ewell Village takes place on the first Saturday of the month. Come along to see a gorgeous selection of wooden children's toys, handmade jewellery, local honey and jams and lots more.
Cash in the Wardrobe - Bourne Hall
A new market for pre-loved and vintage clothes and accessories is launching on Saturday 18 February. This market will be every third Saturday of the month, from 9am-3pm.
Explore Epsom and Ewell
Get closer to nature and enjoy the outdoors with our various guided walks. Explore local nature reserves, discover your borough's history and boost your health and wellbeing too.
Visit the walks page on our website to discover a range of walks that take place across Epsom and Ewell.
ECA supports the preservation and protection of Epsom Common local nature reserve and site of special scientific interest. ECA works in partnership with the Council, the Lower Mole Countryside Management Project and English Nature to contribute to the long term management and conservation of the Common.
Nature walks
ECA organise a number of walks on the Common each year which are led by local natural history experts. The subjects that are usually covered each year include birds in early spring, wildflowers, butterflies, invertebrates particularly bush crickets, bats and fungi. For more info on their Summer Walks Programme see: Epsom Common Nature Walks
The EcoVols
If you care about the Common and enjoy its wildlife and beauty why not join the ECOVOLS, the volunteer group of the ECA. EcoVols carry out a variety of conservation projects on the Common throughout the year in association with English Nature, the Council and the Lower Mole Countryside Management Project. You don’t need any special skills or experience just your enthusiasm and time! For more info and the 2020 EcoVols programme see: Conservation on Epsom Common
