A distinctive slice of Epsom’s high street history has surfaced for sale — the original “Ladies at Lester Bowden” shop sign, once proudly displayed beneath the old walkway of the famous Lester Bowden outfitters in the heart of town. The sign, around seven feet long and built to last, has survived in remarkably good condition thanks to its sheltered position and evokes the golden age of a business synonymous with Epsom’s racing tradition.
For generations, Lester Bowden was the name every jockey, trainer and racegoer in Surrey knew. Established in the early 20th century, the gentleman’s outfitters was famed for its bespoke tailoring and equestrian style — a cornerstone of Epsom’s identity as the home of The Derby. In later decades, as fashions evolved, the store expanded to include a dedicated ladies’ section: “Ladies at Lester Bowden,” which served as both a stylish boutique and a symbol of the business’s adaptability.
The building itself has a pedigree even older than the brand. Before Lester Bowden moved in, the site at the corner of the High Street and Spread Eagle Walk was home to one of Epsom’s most historic hostelries — The Spread Eagle Inn. For over two centuries, weary travellers, jockeys, and race patrons found food, drink, and lodging there. The Spread Eagle’s name became woven into Epsom’s folklore — a meeting place during Derby week and a landmark at the heart of town life. It even was home to the Epsom Magistrates during a Court refurbishment.
When Lester Bowden took over the premises in the mid-20th century, they carried forward the building’s long association with Epsom’s equestrian and social history. Its large, distinctive frontage, tailor’s fittings and wooden signage became part of the visual fabric of the High Street for decades — until the shop’s closure brought the end of an era.
Now, with this original shop sign up for sale, a tangible piece of that story is back in circulation. The seller describes it as “about seven feet long,” heavy, and needing two people to lift — a proper relic of a bygone retail age. Protected from the weather under the old walkway, it remains in fine condition and could easily be restored or displayed as an artefact of Epsom’s retail past.
For heritage enthusiasts, collectors, or anyone with affection for Epsom’s racing roots, this is a rare opportunity to own a genuine link to the town’s layered past — one that spans from coaching inns to couture.
Those interested in the sign can find details through this Gumtree ad, but the real story is larger: it’s a reminder that every piece of Epsom’s architecture tells a tale — and that sometimes, those tales are still for sale.
Epsom Station joins app helping visually impaired bus users
10 November 2025
Epsom Station has become one of eight new locations added to a Surrey County Council (SCC) scheme that uses an innovative app to help blind and partially sighted people travel more independently by bus and rail.
Seeing the way through technology
The Aira Explorer app connects users by video call to a trained visual interpreter who, using the smartphone’s camera, can describe surroundings, read timetables, or guide the traveller safely between a bus stop and nearby rail station. The service is free to use at designated Surrey locations thanks to SCC’s allocation from the Government’s Bus Service Improvement Fund.
Initially launched in June 2025 at Guildford, Redhill, Staines and Woking bus stations, the trial has now expanded to cover bus stops and interchanges serving Caterham, Dorking, Oxted, Leatherhead, Reigate, Horley, and Epsom Station and Clocktower.
Support for independent travel
Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth at Surrey County Council, said: “We’re keen to make bus travel accessible for everyone and hope this expansion will support people to travel confidently and independently. We’ve expanded this trial to cover more bus stops and rail interchanges to create better and joined-up journeys for people who are visually impaired.”
He added that the initiative forms part of a wider programme of investment in the county’s bus services, including £6.3 million for ultra-low and zero-emission community transport minibuses, £9 million in bus priority measures to keep services punctual, and £1.4 million to improve passenger information at bus stops.
Backing from rail and disability organisations
Carl Martin, Accessibility Lead at Govia Thameslink Railway, welcomed the expansion: “We’re really pleased to see the expansion of Aira to further bus stops, as it’s a vital step in making multimodal journeys more seamless for blind and visually impaired customers.”
Clare Burgess, Chief Executive of Sensory Services by Sight for Surrey, called the scheme “great news” for people living with sight or combined sight and hearing loss: “Travelling alone when you have a sensory impairment can be a daunting prospect, but having the Aira Explorer App at your fingertips makes independent travel so much easier and less stressful.”
Nikki Roberts, Chief Executive of the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, said: “It’s fantastic news that the Aira app coverage has now been extended to twelve locations in Surrey. The app will provide our visually impaired members the support they need to feel much more confident when travelling independently.”
A national first for Surrey
When the project began in summer 2025, Surrey County Council became the first local authority in the UK to introduce the app for bus users. It followed the success of a similar partnership between Aira.io and Govia Thameslink Railway to help visually impaired rail passengers navigate station environments.
The trial was originally launched to coincide with Better Transport Week, celebrating initiatives that help connect communities and improve access to public transport.
Ben Curtis from Campaign for Better Transport said at the time: “Good public transport networks help connect us to the people we love, the things we need and the places that matter. The new Aira app will help ensure that everyone can access and use the county’s buses, building a fairer future for everyone.”
Making travel more inclusive
The Aira Explorer scheme represents one part of Surrey County Council’s wider drive to make sustainable travel options more inclusive and reliable. For residents in Epsom and across the county, it means greater independence, safer journeys, and a more connected community.
More information about the service is available on Surrey County Council’s website.
Surrey residents are being invited to collect free trees later this month, as part of Surrey County Council’s drive to plant 1.2 million trees by 2030 – one for every resident.
A total of 4,000 native trees will be given away at community recycling centres (CRCs) around the county, including Leatherhead – the nearest collection point for Epsom and Ewell.
The giveaway will run from 9am to 4pm on Friday 28 November, Saturday 29 November, and Monday 1 December at seven CRCs: Chertsey, Cranleigh, Dorking, Earlswood, Leatherhead, Shepperton and Witley.
The closest to Epsom and Ewell is Randalls Road, Leatherhead, KT22 0BA. Tel: 01372 375 479
Each visitor can collect one free small or medium-sized native tree, such as crab apple or hazel, along with aftercare guidance. Trees should be planted within seven days of collection.
To manage demand and avoid disappointment, advance booking is essential. Residents can reserve a date and location online through Surrey County Council’s website.
Marisa Heath, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Our tree giveaways are always popular events, so it’s really important that anyone wishing to attend books in advance. By collecting a free tree, you will be helping us with our ambition to facilitate the planting of 1.2 million trees, one for every resident by 2030. Since our pledge in 2019, 768,332 trees have been planted and we couldn’t have done this without the ongoing support from schools, communities, businesses and residents, and of course the volunteers who have helped with the planting itself.”
She added: “Planting a tree in your garden not only helps us tackle the impact of climate change and improve biodiversity, but you will be part of a Surrey legacy.”
Trees help ease the effects of climate change by storing carbon, preventing flooding, and improving air quality and biodiversity. The county council’s Tree Strategy aims to ensure the “right tree is planted in the right place” and that young trees are properly cared for as they establish.
For more information or to book a collection slot, visit the Surrey County Council website or email trees@surreycc.gov.uk.
Hospitals serving Epsom, St Helier and St George’s are warning of a potentially severe flu season as national data reveals the number of deaths linked to the virus in England more than doubled last winter.
Figures from the UK Health Security Agency show 7,757 flu-related deaths were recorded in 2024–25, compared with 3,555 the previous year. Child deaths rose from 34 to 53 — a 56 per cent increase — while fewer people took up the offer of a flu vaccination.
Last winter, local hospitals faced intense pressure from flu alongside RSV, Covid and norovirus outbreaks, which closed wards and stretched Emergency Departments to capacity. With flu cases now rising again after the school half-term, health leaders fear a repeat.
Chief Nursing Officer for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier hospitals, Elaine Clancy, urged residents to act now. “Last flu season was particularly nasty and we’re very concerned that this year could be even worse – we’re preparing for a spike of flu onto our wards,” she said. “We see people dying every year from flu and sadly thousands more will likely this year. I strongly recommend booking your jab now, as it takes up to 14 days to fully kick in.”
Local mother Amy Clare, from Sutton, knows how dangerous flu can be. Her five-week-old son Jonah was rushed to Epsom Hospital’s Emergency Department with the virus in December 2022.
“What started as a fever quickly escalated,” said Amy. “When the doctor told us we’d be spending Christmas in hospital, I was devastated. But he was in the best place to get better. The care we received from the moment we walked into A&E was fantastic – the staff immediately knew something wasn’t right and were with us every step of the way.”
Jonah was discharged the day after Christmas but continued to receive daily treatment until the New Year. “The care Jonah received saved his life,” said Amy.
Pregnant women are strongly advised to have the flu jab at any stage of pregnancy. It protects both mother and baby, but uptake remains low — only around one in three expectant mothers in England were vaccinated last year.
Those eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination include: – everyone aged 65 and over – people under 65 with long-term health conditions such as diabetes or heart problems – children aged two and three, and all primary school children – some secondary school pupils (Years 7 to 11) – residents in care homes – carers and those receiving carer’s allowance – people living with someone who has a weakened immune system – frontline health and social care workers
Tracing the history of poor relief in Epsom and Ewell
10 November 2025
Residents and researchers in the borough now have enhanced access to a fascinating trove of historic records that shed light on how our local community dealt with poverty, welfare and social care from the early nineteenth century onward.
The system of poor relief in England underwent major changes in the 1800s. Under the “Old Poor Law” (before the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act) each parish vestry was responsible for caring for its poor, sick and destitute residents. After 1834, the “New Poor Law” created groupings of parishes into Poor Law Unions, each with a Board of Guardians and a central workhouse.
In Surrey, the Surrey History Centre holds an extensive guide to Poor Law records, including minute books of the county’s Poor Law Unions. For Epsom, the records of the Epsom Poor Law Union from 1836 to 1930 are now indexed and available for consultation.
The minute books of the Epsom Poor Law Union record meetings of the Board of Guardians, who decided whether applicants should receive relief, be admitted to the workhouse, or be “removed” to another parish. They note weekly expenditure, supply orders, the appointment of staff, and the conditions of inmates.
Poor Law records can also include examination papers, bastardy bonds, settlement certificates, removal orders, and workhouse admission and discharge registers. Together they provide a detailed picture of the social realities of life in Victorian and Edwardian Epsom.
Although today a relatively prosperous borough, Epsom’s history includes many households living on the edge of poverty. The Union’s records allow us to trace how local governance responded to hardship, how relief was funded, and how the population’s needs changed across a century.
Behind the official entries lie the human stories: the widowed mother seeking parish relief, the injured labourer, the orphan placed in a workhouse, or the itinerant worker removed from one parish to another. These records reveal the rhythms of ordinary lives and the community’s efforts to care for its own.
The Surrey History Centre’s page Poor Law records – minute books offers guidance and shows that indexes to the Epsom minutes (1836–1930) are now online.
Researchers should first consult the online indexes and then contact the Surrey History Centre to view the original volumes, which may require a visit or advance booking.
Tips for local researchers
Search by parish as well as by name – many cases are listed under the parish of settlement.
Note that “removal orders” might show a person being transferred between parishes.
Combine minute books with census or parish registers for a fuller picture of a family’s circumstances.
Compare relief volumes across decades to identify periods of local economic stress.
With the indexes now online, there is a fresh opportunity for local historians, schools and community groups to explore Epsom’s welfare legacy. Projects could include exhibitions of anonymised case studies, research into patterns of employment and hardship, or school activities exploring the social history of our borough.
The minute books of the Epsom Poor Law Union open a compelling window onto over a century of social welfare practice. By engaging with these records, we can better understand the changing nature of poverty, relief and governance in Epsom and Ewell – and recover the lives of those who, often in quiet dignity, sought help when times were hard.
If you make a discovery of local interest from these records, Epsom and Ewell Times would be pleased to hear from you.
For many more events and projects from the Surrey History Centre CLICK HERE
Epsom Methodist Church launches new Story Club and Warm Wednesdays
10 November 2025
Epsom Methodist Church (EMC) is organising two exciting ventures for local people and families this autumn.
First out of the blocks is a new Story Club for parents and toddlers that is now meeting every Monday morning at 11am in the community café at the Church in Ashley Road, Epsom. Christa Schoeni, an experienced children’s practitioner, is leading 30 minutes of reading, rhyme time and singing for children up to age five. Parents and carers are able to borrow books to read with their children during the week.
“Our aim is to foster a love of reading. With tablets and other electronic devices so commonplace today there is a risk that children miss out on the value of listening, sharing stories with their parents and having their imagination fired by imaginary worlds,” said Christa Schoeni.
And EMC’s Warm Wednesdays starts a new chapter in its life. For a fourth year the church is open every Wednesday starting on 5th November.
Robert Hill commented: “Every Wednesday we provide a warm space where people can come and chat, join in with quizzes and games, enjoy free teas and coffees and a lunchtime snack of hot soup and a roll. On the first Wednesday of every month we have an expert who comes and provides practical help and advice on reducing energy costs and dealing with gas and electricity bills. Surrey County Council has also provided us with some warm clothing and accessories to help stay warm over the winter months and we will be distributing these supplies to local residents.
“Every Wednesday afternoon from 3.30 our warm space becomes an after-school club with craft activities for children and parents and a chance for older children and adults to hone their table tennis skills. We end our day with everyone enjoying a hot meal together cooked by a great team of volunteers.
“As a town centre church, we see it as our role and mission to serve the local community. We love having hundreds of people coming through our doors each day. We hope that Warm Wednesdays will provide a place not just to be warm and get help with staying warm, but a place where warmth also means friendship and a generous welcome.”
The Government has confirmed plans to abolish Surrey’s two-tier system of local government and replace it with two single-tier unitary councils — East Surrey and West Surrey — in what … Read More
Barney Cohen (1897–1970) By his nephew, Andy Strowman There is a very quiet cemetery in London — East Ham Jewish Cemetery. You may be the only visitor there apart from … Read More
Sutton & Epsom 22 Beckenham 19. Saturday 25th October. This fixture is rapidly gaining a reputation for fabulous finishes. Two seasons ago the visitors triumphed 42-41 on a sweltering afternoon … Read More
£3.1 Million Sports Hub Proposal at Gibraltar Recreation Ground Rejected amid Transparency and Planning Concerns Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee (S&R) rejected a proposal to spend … Read More
Surrey residents and their families can now benefit from a simple new online tool to help them be prepared for the costs of care, if they become less able. Many … Read More
Epsom & Ewell, Saturday 25th October 2025 — Visitors to Nonsuch Park can now enjoy a journey through the Solar System thanks to the successful launch of the Nonsuch Park … Read More
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is proud to announce that Remembrance and Armistice Day memorial services, parades and activities will take place across the borough to honour those who have … Read More
The long-established Epsom Common Club remains closed but not forgotten, as a handful of volunteers continue restoration work and urge fellow members to help decide whether a partnership proposal could … Read More
Surrey County Council has announced the creation of almost 500 new specialist school places for children and young people with additional needs and disabilities during the 2025/26 academic year. The … Read More
The garage that keeps Surrey’s fire engines safe and running is “no longer fit for purpose”, according to a new report Surrey County Council has admitted that the Surrey Fire … Read More
The “behemoth” that is Dorking Halls has been labelled a “black hole” that sucks in all resources around it after an additional £3.34million in maintenance work was approved. The new … Read More
A number of Epsom & Ewell Harriers travelled to the beautiful island of Madeira for the European Masters Athletics Championships and returned with a big haul of medals. In total, … Read More
The Government has launched a review of the Airports National Policy Statement (ANPS), which sets out the policy framework for major airport expansion. The key points: Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander … Read More
Epsom and Ewell to Go East in Surrey shake-up
10 November 2025
The Government has confirmed plans to abolish Surrey’s two-tier system of local government and replace it with two single-tier unitary councils — East Surrey and West Surrey — in what is being described as the biggest reform of local administration in the county for half a century.
A letter from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Steve Reed MP, sent to Surrey’s council leaders on 28 October 2025, confirmed the decision to proceed with the two-unitary model, subject to Parliamentary approval. The change will dissolve Surrey County Council and its eleven borough and district councils, creating two large authorities responsible for all local services.
Under the plan, Epsom & Ewell will join Elmbridge, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, and Tandridge to form the new East Surrey Unitary Authority. The remainder of the county — Guildford, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking — will form West Surrey. Each authority will be responsible for everything from waste and planning to adult social care, highways and schools.
Elections for the new shadow councils are expected in May 2026, with the new authorities assuming full powers from 1 April 2027, once the required Structural Changes Order has been approved by Parliament.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Epsom & Ewell Borough Council (EEBC) said it “acknowledges the decision of Government to proceed with the creation of two new unitary councils” and pledged to work constructively to secure the best outcomes for residents.
Council Leader Hannah Dalton (RA Stoneleigh) 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.”
EEBC said it would continue working closely with neighbouring councils and government officials and would “keep residents fully informed every step of the way” as plans for the new East Surrey authority take shape.
Three local Liberal Democrat MPs — Helen Maguire (Epsom & Ewell), Chris Coghlan (Dorking & Horley) and Monica Harding (Esher & Walton) — issued a joint statement describing the reorganisation as “an important moment of clarity for Surrey after years of uncertainty and financial mismanagement under the Conservatives”.
Helen Maguire MP said she welcomed the new chapter for Surrey, particularly the confirmation that local elections will now proceed: “I am pleased that Surrey is entering a new chapter with the introduction of these unitary authorities, and it is right that the local elections will now go ahead, especially after the delays. The Liberal Democrats have always championed decisions being made closer to the people they affect. We will continue to press the Government to give East Surrey Council the funding and freedom it needs to do its job effectively.”
Her colleague Chris Coghlan MP said he welcomed “the end to Tory mismanagement of Surrey County Council” and added that it was “entirely inappropriate that [the County Council] has such influence over the new structure,” citing its record on special educational needs and disabilities.
Monica Harding MP said Elmbridge residents should not be “expected to shoulder the debt of the failing Tory-run councils elsewhere in Surrey,” adding: “It’s high time residents get the chance to vote out failed Surrey leadership and replace them with those who will deliver for our transport systems, our adult social care, and our schools.”
The MPs said that while they support the simplification of Surrey’s structures, there remain serious concerns about how much control Surrey County Council will retain during the transition process. They called for full public consultation and financial transparency throughout.
In his letter to Surrey leaders, Secretary of State Steve Reed MP said the decision to proceed with two new unitary councils was driven by the need for financial sustainability. Across Surrey’s existing councils, total debt is estimated at £5 billion, led by the bankruptcy of Woking Borough Council.
He wrote: “In particular, I believe [two unitaries] performs better against the criterion of whether the councils are the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. My view is that the two-unitary proposal is more likely to be financially sustainable.”
He confirmed a Government commitment to repay £500 million of Woking’s debt in 2026–27 — calling it a “significant and unprecedented commitment” necessary to give the new system a clean start.
Surrey County Council Leader Tim Oliver (Conservative) welcomed the decision, calling it “good news for Surrey residents and businesses. We welcome the Government’s direction to create two new unitary councils for Surrey from April 2027 – East Surrey and West Surrey,” he said. “Reorganisation and devolution are huge opportunities, and this is good news for Surrey residents and businesses. As expected, there will be elections to the new unitary councils in May 2026. This reform will unlock huge benefits for Surrey, with more powers held closer to communities, stronger local decision-making and turbo-charged economic growth for the region.”
Oliver added that he was “absolutely clear that, throughout this process, our vital work supporting residents will continue – services will be delivered and we will still be here for those who need us most.”
Currently, Surrey County Council runs roads, social care and education, while borough and district councils handle bins, planning, housing and leisure. Under the new model, residents will deal with one council instead of two, which ministers say will make services more efficient and reduce duplication.
Officials have confirmed that council tax rates across the new areas are likely to be “harmonised” over time, though details are yet to be finalised. The Government says the reorganisation will save money and improve accountability, but critics warn that merging larger and indebted authorities could make councils more remote and financially fragile.
For Epsom & Ewell — which has existed as an independent borough since 1937 — the coming eighteen months will bring detailed negotiations over staffing, budgets and boundaries as the East Surrey authority takes shape.
If Parliament approves the necessary legislation early next year, the new structure will come into force on 1 April 2027, marking the end of Surrey’s 12 existing councils and the beginning of a new era in local government.
Image: Map illustrating proposed East and West Surrey unitary boundaries. Epsom & Ewell joins Elmbridge, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge in East Surrey. Source: Surrey County Council. Credit SCC
Many more…. search local government reorganisation
A former Epsom Long Grove Hospital patient remembered for his pacifism
10 November 2025
Barney Cohen (1897–1970)
By his nephew, Andy Strowman
There is a very quiet cemetery in London — East Ham Jewish Cemetery. You may be the only visitor there apart from the grave workers. Among the rows of stones lies one marked Barnett Cohen — the only one there by that name.
Barney, as the family called him, was born in 1897 in Whitechapel. His parents were Milka (Millie) and Hershel (Harris) Cohen, and the family lived at 17 Milward Street, behind the London Hospital. His brothers were Jack and David, his sisters Rachel and Rose. The same house later became my home too, long before I was born.
Barney grew up in hard times. Like so many of his generation, he left school at fourteen and joined the garment trade. He was gentle by nature, a man who never said a bad word about anyone. I think he lacked confidence — something I have inherited too.
When the Second World War broke out, he enlisted. But when faced with the prospect of killing, he refused. He simply could not harm another human being. For that courage — for it was courage — he was punished. He was placed in the guardhouse and later imprisoned in Wormwood Scrubs as a conscientious objector.
In prison he suffered terribly. His weight fell to five and a half stone. My grandmother Millie, desperate to save him, sought help from her sisters in North London. Together, they visited a government office, and — as the old East End saying goes — the brown envelope changed hands. Only then was he released.
A retired officer once told me what those conditions were like: “You wouldn’t have liked it in there. Tiny cells, no space, noise all night — shouting, banging, threats. We only stepped in if someone started hitting you.”
Barney came out of prison changed. He was nervous, forever scratching, anxious about his work. If he worked beside his brother Jack, he was always asking, “Is this all right?”
When I was sixteen, my mother told me that Uncle Barney had endured six sessions of electro-convulsive therapy at Long Grove Hospital in Epsom — the same hospital that later held Ronnie Kray. Long Grove closed in 1992, but its shadow remains.
Yet Barney was no shadow. Despite his suffering, he radiated kindness. He loved to make people laugh, performing little magic tricks that delighted us as children. Once, when I was about eight, he came to visit us during his lunch break from the Ellis and Goldstein factory. While he talked to my mother, I quietly bolted the front door so he couldn’t leave. My mother struggled with the latch and he burst out laughing — a moment of warmth I have never forgotten.
He married Dolly, and my mother, then fourteen, was his bridesmaid. Life was not easy for them. Poverty, mental illness, and misunderstanding strain any family, and in those days help was scarce and sympathy rarer still.
Barney once told a story about visiting London Zoo on a Sunday in his best suit. A commotion broke out near the monkey cage; he joined the crowd, only for one of the monkeys to run off and return — to spit a mouthful of water all over his suit. The crowd roared with laughter, and so did Barney. That was his nature — to laugh even when the joke was on him.
He died in 1970, still working, collapsing at his workplace at Ellis and Goldstein in Aldgate. His brother Jack said simply, “He always lacked confidence. If I was sewing beside him, he kept asking, ‘Is this all right?’”
Barney’s life was not easy. He came from poverty, fought private battles with fear and illness, and faced the cruelty of others with quiet dignity. But he also gave laughter, love, and gentleness to those around him.
His was the untold story of so many — the sensitive souls caught in the machinery of war, poverty, and misunderstanding. He suffered because he refused to harm others. That is a kind of heroism that seldom earns medals.
When I think of Uncle Barney, I see not weakness but light — the quiet strength of a man who never stopped being kind, no matter what the world did to him.
I dedicate these words to him, and to all who, like him, struggled to fit into life yet gave it more compassion than it ever gave them.
Andy Strowman
Image: Barney at son’s wedding. Barney on right.
You can read many stories of former patients of the cluster of Epsom psychiatric hospitals on the website of The Friends of Horton Cemetery
Ewell’s Sporting Ambition for Gibraltar Rec Hits the Rocks
10 November 2025
£3.1 Million Sports Hub Proposal at Gibraltar Recreation Ground Rejected amid Transparency and Planning Concerns
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee (S&R) rejected a proposal to spend £3.1 million of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds on transforming Gibraltar Recreation Ground (GRG) in Ewell into a “Centre of Sporting Excellence” at its meeting on 25 September 2025.
The plan, fully recommended by the CIL Member Working Group (CIL MWG), would have created a multi-sport community hub featuring new and refurbished pitches, floodlit courts, a pavilion extension, solar panels, CCTV, and improved access. The project was recorded in committee papers with an overall criteria score of 8/10 and a best-value score of 2/3.
What Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Is and How It Works
Community Infrastructure Levy is a national charge on new developments designed to fund infrastructure supporting local growth, such as schools, roads, and leisure facilities. In Epsom and Ewell, receipts are divided approximately into:
70–80% Strategic CIL for borough-wide projects
15–25% Neighbourhood CIL for community-level schemes
5% for administration
As of September 2025, the Council reported £6.086 million unallocated Strategic CIL and £1.138 million Neighbourhood CIL.
A Closed Decision-Making Process
The CIL Members Working Group is composed of Councillors. It evaluates and recommends spending of millions, meets privately without publishing minutes or allowing public or press attendance. The group comprises Councillors Neil Dallen (Chair) (RA Town) , Alex Coley (Independent – Ruxley) , Liz Frost (RA Woodcote and Langley), James Lawrence (LibDem College), Rob Geleit (Labour – Court), Phil Neale (RA Cuddington), Kieran Persand (Conservative Horton), Alan Williamson (RA West Ewell), and Clive Woodbridge (RA Ewell Village). Only summary scoring and recommendations appear in the Strategy & Resources Committee meeting documents, limiting transparency about debates, votes, and possible conflicts of interest.
Open Chamber Debate Highlights
Chair Councillor Neil Dallen reminded members that the Gibraltar project still required an additional £500,000 in revenue funding to be considered later and that planning permission was needed before any construction.
Councillor James Lawrence opposed allocating £3.1 million now, citing concerns over capacity and linkage to the Local Plan: “This… is the one item that there was a bit of disagreement in the member working group on… Because we had identified… Hook Road Arena would be where we provide a centre of sporting excellence, that was always our plan… This bid kind of came a little bit out of the blue… I happen to not like this bid. I think it’s a lot of money… although [Gibraltar Rec] is in need of upgrading, that would only cost about six or 700k rather than 3.1 million.”
He warned about risking depletion of Strategic CIL funds: “If we vote for [Gibraltar Rec]… we’ll have about 1.6 million left in a strategic CIL fund… it would lower our ability if we need to support Hook Road Arena… particularly because the one in Hook Road Arena will at least be near some big Local Plan development. This… will not be near new developments.”
Councillor Kate Chinn (Labour Court) questioned duplication and timing: “I was quite shocked when I saw this… all of a sudden, we’re going to have two super sport sites… I think it should wait until the… Hook Road Arena is decided… I’m thinking 3.1 million… Suddenly here, in the face of the local government reorganization… I’m suspicious of the motivations.”
On whether GRG would compete with Hook Road Arena, Councillor Dallen said: “It’s not an either or… Hook Road Arena… will develop… and Gibraltar Rec can be done in parallel with that, or in advance of that, or behind that… I’m not sure they’d be competing. I think they would be complementary… we’re very short of sporting facilities, and the more we can get, I think the better.”
Councillor John Beckett (RA Auriol) asked: “Will Gibraltar Rec be up and running before Hook Road Arena?” Councillor Dallen responded: “I personally believe it will be… long before anything at Hook Road happens.”
Planning officials highlighted that Hook Road Arena is expected beyond the first five years of the Local Plan period, projecting delivery from 2030 onwards.
Governance and Potential Conflicts
Concerns emerged about spending nearly half of the remaining Strategic CIL on a single site and whether Gibraltar Rec aligns with CIL’s statutory purpose, which emphasises investment near new developments. The Chair disclosed a personal interest in local scouting just before S&R approved a separate £50,000 Neighbourhood CIL grant to the 3rd Epsom Scouts for a community building rebuild. This expenditure was approved without discussion with Cllr Dallen remaining in the Chair.
The vote on the Gibraltar Recreation Ground Sporting Excellence project was one vote for, two votes against, two abstentions and the Chair not voting.
Cllr Clive Woodbridge (RA Ewell Village), a keen supporter of the Gibraltar Rec. project, told the Epsom and Ewell Times; “Naturally I was disappointed by the decision, although I accept that the bid did require a large sum of money to be allocated. However I do believe it would have provided a fantastic legacy project for the Borough, addressing for example the shortage of football and cricket pitches, as identified in the Local Plan’s Playing Pitch strategy, while providing some exciting new facilities, such as a public Padel court to meet demand for this increasingly popular sport. I am confident also that it would have leveraged in external grant funding from sporting bodies. Hopefully we can now discuss within the council how to address some of the concerns raised during the S&R committee meeting with a view towards potentially resubmitting a new, and possibly revised bid, sometime next year. The project certainly continues to enjoy my full support, so I will persevere!”
What Happens to the £3.1 Million?
With the recommendation declined, the £3.1 million remains in the Council’s Strategic CIL pot, increasing the unallocated balance to about £4.7 million. The funds remain ring-fenced for infrastructure under the Council’s CIL Spending Protocol. However, the handling of interest accrued on unspent CIL balances is not disclosed.
Calls for Greater Transparency and Clarity
The controversy highlights debates about whether a private councillors working group should steer multi-million-pound spending without greater public scrutiny. Residents lack access to debates, detailed scoring, or councillor voting records, limiting accountability on how priorities are balanced or conflicts managed.
The broader question remains: should CIL funding follow the locations of new development closely, or should it support borough-wide projects deemed strategically important?
For now, the “Centre of Sporting Excellence” at Gibraltar Recreation Ground remains stuck between a rock and a hard place.
