Welcome to the Borough's Mayor for 2022/2023

Councillor Clive Woodbridge was officially recognised as the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell for this year at the Council's annual Mayor Making ceremony at Bourne Hall, Ewell on Monday 16 May.

As Mayor for the year 2022/2023, Clive will have a full diary from day one with a number of civic events planned through the year including visits to residents, community and sports groups, as well as representing the Borough’s residents at formal Platinum Jubilee activities.

On becoming Mayor, Clive said, "It is a real honour to be chosen by my peers to be Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, a borough that has been my home for more than 40 years.  I’m really looking forward to using this time as an opportunity to highlight the many individuals and groups who do so much to make this a very special place, where people care for one another and take great pride in where they live. I hope to visit as many residents and local organisations as possible in my term of office and showcase what a truly wonderful community this is."

Clive has been a councillor representing the residents of Ewell since 2007. Over the past 15 years he has fulfilled a number of different roles at Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, including being Chair of both the Leisure and Planning committees. Clive has also played a leading role nationally within the Local Government Association (LGA) and is currently Deputy Chair of its Safer and Stronger Communities Board, having recently been Deputy Leader of the LGA Independent Group. During his time as Mayor, he has to remain politically neutral.

Community roles have included being a Governor at two local schools. For a number of years, he has served on the committees of the 2nd Ewell Rainsters scout group and the Ewell Parochial Trust and he is active within the local Town-Twinning Association.

For 40 years Clive has been a freelance technical journalist, specialising in shipping and ports and is a recognised contributor to many different international trade publications.

He has also been head judge for the British Curry Awards since its inception.

Born in High Wycombe in 1958, Clive attended Wycombe Royal Grammar School, Warwick University and London School of Economics. He moved to Ewell in 1982, marrying Mary in 1985, and brought up three boys.  

Clive is a keen West Ham supporter and season ticket holder, which, he says, has over the years has brought him pain and pleasure in fairly equal measure.

During his Mayoral year Clive will aim to raise awareness of, and funds for seven charities, all of which have a connection to causes close to his and Mary’s heart. These are:

• Epsom & Ewell Foodbank
• Shine Cancer Support
• Epsom Sports Club
• Cardiac Risk in the Young
• Racing Welfare
• Bliss
• JDRF Diabetes Research

Active Citizen Award

Each year the the council formally recognises a member of the Epsom and Ewell community, who goes above and beyond in a voluntary and/or campaigning capacity.

The Active Citizen award is within the incumbent Mayor's gift. The individual is permanently recorded on a special citation within the Town Hall and receives a medal at an evening reception honouring volunteers from across the borough.

This year, the Mayor has selected Anne McEntee to receive the recognition.

Almost as soon as moving to Epsom in 1986, Anne became part of the local community through St Joseph's Church in Epsom where her late husband, Tom, was a very popular reader. Unfortunately, Tom died in 2015 due to a brain tumour and since then Anne has worked tirelessly raising money to help fund research into better outcomes for this awful disease.

Anne has organised a fundraiser each year for Brain Tumour Research Wear a Hat Day and also raises funds by selling garden plants and flowers for Wear a Hat Day With Flowers.  She has also raised funds through having a Grey Ribbon tattoo on her wrist, shaving her hair off and dyeing it pink, abseiling down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth and taking part in a virtual walk from Land’s End to John O'Groats and back.

Afternoon Tea with Music & Fizz in Anne's Garden has raised much needed funds for Princess Alice Hospice prior to Covid.  She hopes to revive that tradition later this summer.

Anne, together with Alex and Kathy, intends to undertake a skydive for some significant birthdays next year

She is also involved with a social group called Carpe Diem, who organise walks and social events. This group grew out of a bereavement group at Princess Alice Hospice and has allowed members to socialise and share with others who 'get it' in a safe and understanding environment.

Anne is a proud founder member of the 'Strong Women's Club' where women can meet, talk and support one another.

Like so many, she found herself confined to barracks during lockdown and used her time to hone her computer skills by linking with others in similar circumstances on Zoom and Facetime to try to ease the isolation of so many who were cut off from friends and family.

Anne is one of those people who knows someone you know, is always happy to help and if she can't, she will find someone who can. She always says she is simply the facilitator and the real heroes are the wonderful friends and family without whom none of her ideas would ever see the light of day.

Picture credit: What's On In Epsom

Council opening times over the Jubilee Weekend

The majority of our services will operate as normal over the extended Jubilee holiday weekend but there are some changes.

You can contact us via our website and via our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) - these are monitored during normal Town Hall opening hours.

In emergencies, we can be contacted on 01372 732000 - this service operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Ashley Road Cemetery

• The cemetery will be closed on Derby Day (Saturday 4 June) and will be open as normal on the Thursday, Friday and Sunday for visitors over the Jubilee weekend

Bourne Hall

• Thursday 2 June - closed
• Friday 3 June - closed
• Saturday 4 June - open 9.30am - 5pm
• Sunday 5 June – closed (church open as normal)
• Monday 6 June - closed as normal
• Tuesday 7 June - open as normal

Car parks
Hook Road car park

• Thursday 2 June - closed
• Friday 3 June - closed
• Saturday 4 June - open as normal
• Sunday 5 June – closed
• Monday 6 June - open as normal

All other car parks will remain open during the Jubilee weekend period

Community and Wellbeing Centre (lunch club and services for the elderly)

• Thursday 2 June - closed
• Friday 3 June - closed
• Saturday 4 June -closed
• Sunday 5 June – closed
• Monday 6 June –open as normal

Meals at home

• Wednesday 1 June – service as normal
• Thursday 2 June - closed
• Friday 3 June - closed
• Saturday 4 June -closed
• Sunday 5 June – closed
• Monday 6 June –service as normal

Note: Frozen meals can be provided in advance for when hot meal deliveries do not take place - these need to be booked in advance.

Nature reserves

Local nature reserves operate normal opening hours across the weekend. 

Parks

Parks are open as normal across the weekend.

Shopping service

Last deliveries are Wednesday 1 June and resume on Monday 6 June.

Telecare/Community Alarm

Monitoring Centre operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year.

Administration, enquiries and repair service:

• Thursday 2 June - closed
• Friday 3 June - closed
• Saturday 4 June - closed
• Sunday 5 June – closed
• Monday 6 June –service as normal

Town Hall

• Thursday 2 June - closed
• Friday 3 June - closed
• Saturday 4 June -closed
• Sunday 5 June – closed
• Monday 6 June – open as normal

Transport from home

• Wednesday 1 June - service as normal
• Thursday 2 June - closed
• Friday 3 June - closed
• Saturday 4 June - closed
• Sunday 5 June - closed
• Monday 6 June - service as normal

 

 

Waste and Recycling collections

We will be collecting waste and recycling as normal over the Jubilee bank holidays.

As there are likely to be many more cars parked on the roads, please park to allow our vehicles to access individual streets.

Where roads are closed for street parties on the Thursday and Friday, collections will be disrupted - for details please see our website www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/recycling collection times for other areas may be impacted.

If your neighbourhood is having a street party, please be aware that we cannot offer additional rubbish collections. Please share your party refuse and recycling across the bins and containers of the households taking part. These will then be collected on your normal collection days. 

Save food, money and the planet

Feeling the pinch of the cost-of-living crisis? If you’re looking for savings, then why not start in the kitchen? It’s estimated that a staggering one in five bags of food shopping goes to waste each week. Across Surrey that adds up to a substantial amount of food and money that is going to waste every day.

As the amount of food that is thrown away continues to grow, it’s important to think about the impact this is having on our planet. Now is the time to act and own your impact.

Small changes really can make a big difference. Whether it’s popping your apples in the fridge to make them last longer or using your favourite mug to measure out one serving of pasta, you can save yourself money and help the planet with our top tips.

1. Plan shops and meals in advance – try using an app to help make sure you only buy what you need.
2. Store your food right – keep your food fresher for longer by finding out the best ways to store it.
3. Know your portions – avoid cooking too much by measuring out the correct serving sizes.

To discover more tips and leftover recipes, visit www.surreyep.org.uk 

Epsom & Walton Downs joint investment infrastructure project updates

Picnic benches and new boards have been installed as part of the joint investment to enhance Epsom & Walton Downs for all. All part of the ongoing work to make visiting even better, as reported in the last issue of eBorough Insight. The work is part funded by The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development grant secured by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council and boosted by funding from The Jockey Club and Epsom & Walton Downs Conservators.

The cattle are back on Epsom Common

If you're visiting Epsom Common local nature reserve you may spot the cattle grazing in each of the grazed areas: Horton Heath, Great Pasture and Rye Meadow.

Each summer we host a herd of cattle as part of the annual grazing project in cooperation with the Epsom Common Association, the Lower Mole Partnership and Natural England. This years' herd, a mixture of Dexter and Galloways, arrived last week. The grazing project helps manage and restore wood pasture (a priority habitat) on the Common.

Grazing was re-introduced in 1997 and this season there will be 15 animals in three grazed areas from May until the autumn. The project is carefully monitored by the council’s countryside team and Natural England under the guidance of the Common’s management plan. For more information please see our website. 

In order to ensure the welfare of the cattle, the animals are checked on a daily basis. Daily inspections are also undertaken to ensure that the electric fencing and water supply in the grazing area is in good working order and that the cattle's mineral licks are in place.

Please look after our grazing areas so they remain special places for wildlife by only walking across them, keeping dogs under close control and do not light fires anywhere on site.

Did you know? Prolonged spells of dry weather make it very easy for wildfires to start, please: 
- Do not light fires
- Dispose of cigarettes correctly – don’t drop them!
- Take litter home with you. Discarded items such as glass bottles can start a fire.
Remember, disposable BBQs are not permitted in all our parks and nature reserves due to their fire risk. Please pack a picnic instead.
If you see a fire in our parks and nature reserves, please report it immediately by calling 999.

Pictured: Galloway on Horton Heath grazed area on Epsom Common local nature reserve.

Matt Monro plaque unveiled

On 17 May a plaque was officially unveiled at the home of Matt Monro at 14 Ruxley Lane, Ewell by his son Matt Monro Jr. Epsom Male Voice Choir performed a selection of songs before the plaque was unveiled by Matt Monro Jr.

Matt Monro, the Man with the Golden Voice, was one of the most popular singers during the 1960s and 1970s. Born Terence Edward Parsons, he took a stage name suggested by the pianist Winifred Atwell. Early success in the 1950s had evaporated by the end of the decade when he was holding down jobs including road sweeper, bus driver and milkman – he worked for Unigate out of their depo in Ruxley Lane.

His main bus route (enlivened, towards the end of the trip, by a serenade for customers) was in London but he also drove the 408 on the Kingston route. In 1960 he recorded a song for Peter Sellers produced by George Martin, with whom he had a lifelong friendship, and by 1961 he was named Top International Act by Billboard. The following year he sang the title song for From Russia with Love. In 1965 he made the first recording of Yesterday, the most recorded song of all time, given to him by Paul McCartney as it was more his type than a Beatles song. The next year he recorded Born Free which became his signature song. He continued singing and touring almost up to his death in 1985 of liver cancer.

Information and picture supplied by Bourne Hall Museum. 

Council meetings

The following meetings of the Council will be held over the next month:

• Licensing and Planning Policy Committee - Thursday, 26 May, 7.30pm
• Standards and Constitution Committee - Tuesday, 7 June, 7.30pm
• Audit and Scrutiny Committee - Tuesday, 14 June, 7.30pm
• Planning Committee - Thursday, 16 June, 7.30pm
• Nonsuch Park Joint Management Committee - Monday, 20 June, 10am
• Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators - Monday, 20 June, 6pm
• Licensing and Planning Policy Committee - Tuesday, 21 June, 7.30pm
• Financial Policy Panel - Thursday, 23 June, 6pm

The agendas and details on how to view the council meetings will be published seven days before the relevant meeting on the website links above.