The planning application for a new Grandstand at Epsom Downs racecourse is due to be considered by the Planning Committee on Thursday 9th March. The proposal is for a new modern pavilion and grandstand structure, replacing four older buildings and complementing the Queens Stand built about 15 years ago. The new building would also contain conference facilities for use on non race days.
It had been hoped that the controversial planning application to develop part of Priest Hill for housing might be considered at the next meeting of the Planning Committee on 9 March, but this has had to be deferred until the Planners receive all the information they require.
The Developers have now submitted their revised application and the plans should now be available for inspection on request at the Town Hall and at Bourne Hall. The revised application number is 05/01263/FUL.
This weekend the Epsom & Ewell Liberal Democrats have announced that Julie Morris will be their candidate for the Town ward by-election. The date of this by-election is not yet known, but is expected to be in late March. Lindsey Fisk, the retiring councillor, said: "I'd like to introduce our excellent candidate to you: Julie Morris was a councillor for nearly six years until she lost her seat by three votes in 2003. She is an experienced campaigner and utterly dedicated to the needs of local residents and to the well-being of our borough.Town ward will do no better than to elect Julie to serve alongside my colleagues Colin Taylor and Charles Wood."
This year's round of Council Tax rises look like coming out at twice the inflation rate. Following last week's 5% rise by Surrey County Council, the Surrey Police Authority have now confirmed a 5.8% increase in their share of the total tax burden. Next week Epsom & Ewell Borough Council will be considering a recommended increase of 4.9%, which if approved will bring the overall tax rise for residents to almost 5.1% compared to last year. This is double the current inflation rate of around 2.5%.
Liberal Democrat campaigner Julie Morris is outraged that the service cuts proposed under Tory-controlled Surrey County Council's Business Delivery Review (BDR) include not only Ewell Court Library, but also the Yo-Yo "drop-in" centre for young people in Epsom town centre. She said: "I simply cannot believe they are considering this as an option. Youth services are already under-funded and they should be improving things rather than making cuts. Epsom town centre is already full of young people with nothing to do in the evenings. Do we want more on the streets bored, involved in misdemeanours and taking up police time?"
The Liberal Democrats are pressing for key worker housing initiatives to tackle the shortages of key workers such as teachers, social workers and youth workers, that adversely affect services to the public and increase costs to the Council, for example by increasing spending on agency staff. The shortages of key workers are worsened by the high property prices in the County.
After much pressure from the Lib Dems, the Tory chairman of the council's Transportation Select Committee agreed to call a special meeting on 19th September to comment on the proposed reduction of Sunday and evening services, due to be re-considered by the Executive on 30th September.
In December 2001, Surrey County Council's Planning and Regulatory Committee met to decide on three of the most controversial Planning Applications for many years - the 3 so-called "Energy from Waste" Incinerators in Redhill, Guildford and Capel, south of Dorking. The large attendance by the public was catered for by a video link to the sports hall.
Despite strong opposition from the Liberal Democrat group, the Conservative majority on Surrey County Council has forced through a sell off of Surrey school support services to warship makers Vosper Thornycroft.
The Liberal Democrats on Surrey County Council have successfully forced the Conservative administration to reconsider their decision to cut bus services from September, even though they refused to debate a Lib Dem motion before the summer holidays.
The Conservative Executive of Surrey County Council have decided to withdraw large numbers of evening and weekend bus services right across Surrey with effect from September 2003. This was agreed at their meeting on the 10th of June.
