Surrey Police have issued witness and information appeals for two serious stabbings by knives both taking place on 16th August 2022. The first in Horley at about 10.20pm and the second in Leatherhead at about 11.10pm. Epsom and Ewell Times reprints the Police appeals below:

Surrey Police.

We are appealing for witnesses after a man was stabbed in the chest in Horley last night (16 August).

Police were called after the victim, a man in his 20s, was found with a single stab wound on a grassed area near Roffey Close around 10.20pm.

The man was approached from behind and thrown from his bike to the ground by two men wearing balaclavas. He was then believed to have been dragged along the ground before being stabbed.

Two men were seen making off from the scene towards the recreation area near Sangers Walk shortly afterwards.

The victim was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

Enquiries are underway and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the attack, or who has any dashcam or doorbell camera footage or any other information, to come forward.

Detective Sergeant Lee Marks said: “We would like to reassure local residents that we are doing everything we can to identify those responsible and ensure they face the consequences of their actions.”

If you can help, please contact us straightaway quoting reference PR/45220087990 via contacts below

………………………….

We’re appealing for witnesses following a stabbing in Leatherhead yesterday (16 August).

Last night officers received a report that someone had been stabbed on Kingston Road, near to the junction with Cleeve Road and the footpath leading to Leatherhead train station. This assault occurred between 11pm and 11.15pm. The victim was taken to hospital with stab wounds to his hand and arm.

Officers cordoned off the area last night to conduct enquiries and this was taken down at 10.30am this morning.

Sergeant Elliott Hartley, of Mole Valley Specialist Neighbourhood Team, said: “I know that many local residents will have been concerned this morning after seeing the police scene on Kingston Road. We’re continuing to work hard to establish what happened last night and we’re asking anyone who was walking home from the train station around the time of the assault to please get in touch. The victim has been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.”

If you witnessed this assault, or have any information which could help our investigation, please contact us quoting PR/45220088010 via

•            Webchat on our website https://www.surrey.police.uk/

•            Our online reporting tool https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/

•            Calling us on 101

If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Bus drivers strike affecting the people of Epsom and Ewell. There are planned bus driver strikes during the 19th till the 20th of August. Passengers from west and south west London, as well as parts of Surrey will be impacted. The affected Epsom and Ewell bus routes will be; 470, 293, 406, 418 and 265.
166 may be affected as well, even though it has not been listed. The dispute is over the lack of pay rise in 2021, the 3% increase offer for 2022, cuts of pensions and lack of guarantee job security.
Affected bus routes:
470 – from Colliers Wood station to Epsom High street ,
293 – from London Road/ Morden station to Epsom Hospital,
406 – from Cromwell road bus station to Epsom hospital,
418 – from Cromwell road bus station to Epsom Station and
265 – from Putney Bridge station to Tolworth / King Charles road
166 – from Epsom hospital to West Croydon bus station, (even though it is not listed, it may be affected
as well)
More than 1600 bus drivers are going to be striking, as a result of the company’s (RATP) pay package offer, as it would amount to a wage cut in real terms due to the rising costs of living and inflation rate, which is at 11.8%. RATP offered bus drivers an increase of 3.6% in 2022 and promised a 4.2% increase next year, Unite the union and the company are yet to agree on a pay package which could satisfy both parties.
Unite General Secretary, Sharon Graham said: “RATP is fabulously wealthy and it can fully afford to pay our members a decent wage increase” as “Unite’s members play a crucial role in keeping London moving, and they are not going to accept seeing their pay constantly eroded”
The workers are employed by London United, which is subsidiary to RATP, a French owned company. And according to UNITE’S website, they turned-over £4.8 million in 2021, profiting of £174 million in the last year.
Catherine Guillouard, RATP’s chairwoman and CEO, during its meeting on the examined and approved RATP’s financial statements on the 30th of July 2021 said: “the Group’s half-year results show a clear increase in the first half of the year, with a €141m (+5.1%) growth in turnover and a €193m increase in the Group’s share of net profits, standing at €105m, despite the lingering negative impact of the health crisis”
Unite Regional Officer, Michelle Braveboy claimed: “this dispute is of the company’s own making, it can make a fair pay offer to its workers but has chosen not to, so it now faces the prospects of a highly disruptive strike action”
Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps had previously stated in regard to ongoing and planned strikes: “Unfortunately, it’s too late to call off today’s damaging strikes but I urge the RMT and indeed all unions to stop holding the country to ransom with the threat of further industrial action and get off picket lines and back around the negotiating table.”
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan gave the following statement when discussing TFL operations: “It’s no secret that we’re talking about [a matter of] days in relation to TfL’s ability to carry on operating the services it’s providing without the additional support from the government […] what’s important though is for TfL and department for transport officials to try and reach a resolution.”
The TFL has stated some of the routes from Surrey will not be operating during the 19th till the 20th, along with the no running of night buses, throughout these two days. Services will continue to be impacted in the morning of the 21st of August, however, from 08:00am, services will resume as normal.
Passengers wanting to travel to London might be affected as well as there are strike actions being held for other TFL services such as; the London overground, the Elisabeth line, the National rail service and the Tube, among others. The strike will also impact workers based at Hounslow, Hounslow Heath, Park Royal, Shepherd’s Bush, Fulwell, Stamford Brook and Tolworth depots.
TFL recommends to not make unnecessary journeys from the 18th until 08:00am on the 21st. Although ifone must, they are advised to plan in advance, allowing more time for making the journey. They also suggest people to either cycle or walk, if necessary journeys need to be made, as the buses and other TfL services that will be running are expected to be extremely busy.
TFL’s Chief Officer, Andy Lord stated: “walking and cycling is likely to be the best way to get around this action”.They have guaranteed that Santander cycles will be available across London, and teams will be sent out to ensure they are distributed at key locations according to demand. And they recommend citizens to use planning tools, such as; Journey Planner and TFL Go, to be updated in real time about the strike actions.
For the latest information about the strike action one can also go to TFL.gov.uk/strikes.
https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2022/august/london-bus-workers-to-take-strike-action-
in-pay-dispute/

https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2022/august/tfl-issues-travel-advice-for-customers-ahead-of-upcoming-strike-action-with-most-tfl-services-likely-to-be-disrupted

Sadiq’s quote: https://www.mylondon.news/news/zone-1-news/sadiq-khan-warns-every-london-
24722175

Epsom’s University for the Creative Arts (UCA) offers advice to degree seeking ‘A’ Level students. “With over two million jobs in the Creative Industries across the UK, choosing a degree in a creative subject is no longer just about following your passion – it’s a sound career choice” says Julian Henry, UCA’s Head of Student Recruitment.

“If you’re looking at courses in Clearing, choosing a creative degree, can help you develop the skills that employers of the future are looking for – innovation, problem-solving and collaboration. You might also be surprised by the types of creative courses on offer, such digital art, games design or even business degrees focused on creative thinking.”

For students thinking beyond a traditional degree and looking for a course that will let their imagination run free, the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Epsom offers its top tips for Clearing.

1. Don’t panic – just breathe! Take the time to think about what you want from your course and what you want to get from your university experience.
2. Focus on your strengths. Think about what you’re passionate aboutand the skills you have that are often undervalued in traditional subjects, like imagination, curiosity and open-mindedness.  
3. Keep an open mind and think outside the box. Want to pursue a creative career – then think creatively about what you study – you might be surprised by the range of creative courses on offer.
4. It’s not all about grades. It’s fine to change your mind about your what you want to study but do think about whether your qualifications and personal statement are still relevant. At UCA we consider more than just grades – we want to know about your creative potential.
5. Check out your options. Don’t wait until Clearing Day to start looking at universities and courses, ask questions online or sign-up to online events to find out more.
6. Think about what you need. Universities come in all shapes and sizes. At UCA we are focused on creating a personal, supportive and close-knitted communities.
7. Contact someone and ask questions. If you’re curious about a course, contact the university and ask questions. There’s no commitment and you might just learn something from the way they respond.

“When you choose to study a creative degree, you’ll be stepping into more than a games design studio, film set or architecture workshop – you’ll be stepping into a lifetime of learning, creating, and opportunities.”

A recent graduate from UCA Alex Rahneva enthuses.

“UCA gave me the opportunity to become more independent through self-work and be able to adapt to different circumstances. I think the key skill I’ve learnt for my future is the resilience to create independent work.
And the advice I would give to students would be, believe in your work and trust your talent. It might be very daunting to put yourself out there but at the end of the day, making connections is all about showcasing your work, your skills, and your creative ability to innovate. Industry experts recognise and value this above all else!

I’ve had plenty of opportunities at UCA to meet and network with people from the creative industries, including amazing networking opportunities with industry experts at Graduate Fashion Week. As well as opportunities to meet and network with companies like Meta/Facebook and USP (Unique Style Platform), having won awards sponsored by them at UCA’s Business School for the Creative Industries Industry Awards 2022. Both experiences have been eye-opening and gave me experience and guidance on how to make my way into the fast-paced and global creative industry.”

A Tadworth childminder who did not tell Ofsted about changes to the adults living in her house has been given an inadequate rating. Inspectors said the childminder had breached requirements resulting in “a significant impact on children’s safety and  overall welfare”.

The childminder’s details are not given in the report published this month by Ofsted.

Inspectors said suitability checks had not been completed on all household members because the regulator had not been informed of the changes to adults living there and therefore children were not safeguarded.

The report said: “Leadership and management are inadequate. The childminder has not identified breaches of the statutory requirements that have a significant impact on children’s safety and personal development.”

The inspection, which was carried out in February, rated the childminder inadequate overall and in the areas of “personal development” and “leadership and management”.

But the rating for “quality of education” and “behaviour and attitudes” were both good.

At the time of the inspection, there were six children on the roll.

Inspectors said the childminder was able to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and knew what steps to take to protect the children she cared for.

They said she refreshed her safeguarding knowledge regularly, had a secure understanding of wider safeguarding issues, and carried out regular risk assessments on her home.

The report said: “Children feel happy and are settled with the childminder, who takes the time to get to know them well.

“Children confidently move around the environment and show curiosity as they explore the resources and activities that have been set up for them.”

According to inspectors, the childminder focussed on supporting children’s emotional well-being, including looking at family photographs with the children to talk about what made them happy.

Inspectors said: “Parents are happy with the care and education that the childminder provides.

“They are complimentary about the care their children receive.”

At the previous inspection in 2015, the childminder met the standards required by inspectors.

Ofsted would not comment on individual inspections. The regulator reinspects inadequate providers within six months of the latest inspection.

28th July David King and Cynthea Blunden of the Epsom Common Association (ECA) represented Epsom & Ewell at the Green Flag Award ceremony in Lambeth Community Hall. This marked the sixteenth successive year that Epsom Common has received this award, which describes itself as “the international quality mark for parks and green spaces”.
Much of the Common is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Natural England consider all of this land to be in “favourable” condition. Taken together, these points suggest that Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, which owns and manages the Common, is successfully balancing the various and sometimes conflicting demands of a recreational open space and a nationally important nature reserve. The new flag will be flying over Stamford Green just as soon as the flagpole that blew down last winter is replaced.

At 176 hectare, Epsom Common is the largest Local Nature Reserve in Surrey, with habitats including: rough grassland, woodland with veteran oak pollards, remnants of heath, and several ponds. Management is guided by the Council’s One Hundred Year Plan: 2016 to 2116, which has been approved by Natural England. Clearly woodland containing trees aged five hundred years or more takes some time to reach maturity, but even grassland, consisting of short lived plants, takes many years to fully develop its potential range of plants and animals. So planning for the long term is essential.

The ECA was founded by local residents in 1974 to fight a proposed road across the Common. In 1979, in partnership with the Council, the ECA completed the restoration of Great Pond dam, recreating the mediaeval pond that had been drained in the Victorian era. Nowadays the ECA has a membership of around five hundred households, and works closely with the Council’s Countryside Team and the Lower Mole Partnership to protect and improve the Common. After two years with activity limited by the pandemic, the usual programme of events has resumed.

As well as their conservation work, by the end of this year ECA will have: distributed three newsletters; held two public meetings with guest speakers; and arranged several expert led guided walks, looking at birds, butterflies, etc. Every few years they also hold an “Epsom Common Day” on Stamford Green, most recently in 2019.

On Tuesday evenings in summer (until the end of August) the volunteers hand-pull bracken for a couple of
hours, to prevent selected areas of heath or grassland being smothered. Their labours are relieved by a break for homemade sparkling elderflower drink and chocolate brownies. During the autumn ECA will hold the three remaining conservation tasks of the year’s programme of eight. Each task runs for two days, usually the third Sunday of the month and the following Monday. The task programme is guided by the One Hundred Year Plan and agreed with the Council’s Countryside Team. The work typically involves removing scrub and small trees to maintain and improve areas of grass and heath; they have also planted a hazel coppice.

Why is all this management work desirable? Old photographs show that before the Second World War much of the Common was open, with small areas of woodland and some old trees, many of which are still alive. Much of the open land was ploughed for agriculture during and immediately after the war. This ceased around 1955, and most of the Common was then essentially left alone. By the 1980s the previously ploughed area had become an almost impenetrable mass of young trees. This uniformity of age, along with the absence of the animals such as: aurochs (the extinct large wild ancestor of domestic cattle), wild boar, beaver, etc., that once shaped woodland and kept it more open, resulted in a habitat that was neither particularly natural nor rich in variety of
plants or animals. On the Common, grassland and lowland heath were probably manmade habitats, arising from a combination of tree felling and grazing, but they support species not found in woodland. By careful management a mixture of grassland, heath, ponds and varied woodland, can be created and maintained, leading to a much greater range of plants and animals.

During the summer, three areas of the Common are grazed by cattle, this year a total of fourteen animals. The cattle graze the grass and heathland in a way that cannot be replicated by mowing. In recent years the Great Pasture has been extended to include an area of woodland, a habitat in which the cattle’s ancestors would have been at home. Today’s Belted Galloways and Dexters also appear happy to forage amongst the trees, particularly during hot weather. For their health the cattle must be checked every day, as are the fence lines and water troughs. Each week the ECA provides four of the daily checks; without their contribution it is unlikely that grazing could be continued.

Finally, ECA make excellent hardwood charcoal from logs harvested during conservation work. Last year, thanks to a grant from the Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy, they were able to take delivery of a modern charcoal retort. Compared with the conventional ring kilns used previously, the retort greatly reduces the smoke and increases the yield. The charcoal sales help finance ECA’s activities. Volunteers are not paid, but of course they do have to pay for tools, fuel, insurance, etc.

If you would like to find out more about ECA’s efforts to keep the Common special, please visit their
website: epsomcommon.org.uk or our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/EpsomCommonAssociation

They welcome new members, whether you wish to take part in conservation tasks or simply support their efforts through your membership.

See also press release from Epsom and Ewell Borough Council issued 12th August

Council Pride in Not Uncommon Green Flag

The new civic car leased by the Borough of Epsom and Ewell will be a plug-in hybrid vehicle, according to a recent decision by the Council’s Strategy and Resources Committee.

The current vehicle, a black 5-door 1.4 TSI Skoda Superb, is to be replaced with its hybrid version at an annual cost of £3,760, as the 5-year lease agreed in 2017 expired at the end of July and could not be extended. 

The option was welcomed unanimously by the members of the Committee, who discussed the choice in a brief debate, chaired by Cllr. Neil Dallen (RA Town Ward), before casting their vote.

The price for the new car will be covered adequately after the previous budget of £3,060 was uplifted by £700 in line with Consumer Price Index inflationary increases. The fresh sum, however, would not secure the lease of a full electric car that meets all the requirements of the Council.

Electric vehicles “are very expensive,” said EBBC’s Head of Corporate Assurance, who outlined the different available options to Councillors. “What we could afford is quite a small electric car”, which would not be comfortable for those sitting in the back seats.

Officers conducted market research to present a comprehensive list of alternatives to be considered. Along with the recommended model, the current vehicle could be replaced with the same petrol version for an annual cost of £3,650. This possibility, seen as the most disadvantageous, would not be consistent with the Council’s environmental commitment and might burn finances through the current ballooning oil prices. 

A greener and cheaper solution seemed to come with the Hyundai Kona, a subcompact SUV that would cost £2,736 annually, later dismissed for practicality reasons.

Only two, full-electric models were available for leasing. The Nissan Leaf would be within budget, at £3,084 per year, but would not overcome the constraints of smaller cars. Conversely, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 would be a bigger choice, but above the Council’s spending plan.

Doubts on the favoured option were voiced during the meeting, with Cllr. Alan Williamson (RA West Ewell Ward) worried that a more expensive and non-full-electric vehicle might harm the public image of EEBC.

“Being seen to be doing the right thing is as important as actually doing the right thing,” he said. The plug-in hybrid Skoda Superb “seems to compare negatively to the Nissan Leaf,” which would rather draw “some favour from residents.”

The mileage averagely carried out to chauffeur the Mayor and his Deputy when undertaking official duties is estimated to be around 3,000 miles per annum. Although the vehicle agreed by the Committee would still be partially dependant on refuelling, the relatively short distances travelled would allow to save more than £400 on oil every year, while being climate-friendly, according to projections published by the Council.

Along with the new civic car, members were asked to endorse the installation of a reserved charging point. This would attract a one-off cost of approximately £1,500.

Traditionally, the vehicle is meant for the sole use of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and would otherwise remain parked. Some wondered whether the car, and the charging point that is to be installed, could be employed as a common good at the community’s disposal.

“It does seem as a sort of asset” to use for other opportunities, said Cllr. Colin Keane (RA Nonsuch Ward). “Other people can use the charging point” once the Mayor’s car has moved away, echoed Cllr. David Gulland (Liberal Democrat College Ward), who showed disagreement with the recommendation of fitting the station within the garage.

McTaggart embraced Keane’s suggestion, but rejected the proposal coming from Gulland. “It is to do with the speed of how quickly this particular model has to be fully charged to then click into electric,” she said. “If someone was already using the charging point, you then could not recharge the vehicle.”

According to data published by Surrey County Council in 2017, the number of electric vehicles registered in the County topped 2,500. As the interest and awareness generated in recent years only raised, the current digit is certainly higher. 

As reported by Zap-Map, a leading platform for EV drivers throughout the UK, there are 14 charging stations available in Epsom and Ewell, but more spots might be needed in the area to satisfy the increasing demand.

In a recent consultation by Surrey County Council, residents were asked where they would like their charge points. An online map has been set up to pin favourite locations and leave a comment.

Ideally, charge points should be installed in zones where use would be high, where vehicles can be parked legally and safely, with enough pavement space, and where power supply can be easily accessed.

With the first 80 charge stations being put in place in Guildford, Spelthorne, Waverley and Woking boroughs, 52 spots have been already suggested within the area of Epsom and Ewell. 

Surrey County Council, which has just obtained £482,250 to fund the endeavour, will decide where to install a further 110 on-street points across six boroughs in the coming months.

“Surrey County Council has a role to ensure charge points are installed in the right locations so we can achieve a wide network that meets the needs of Surrey residents,” said Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy.

Related article: Yet more on ULEZ….

By Emily Coady Stemp Local Democracy Reporter: London’s proposed Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion would mean drivers trying to get to some popular landmarks in the capital’s border with Surrey would be liable for the £12.50 daily charge.

Transport for London’s (TfL) consultation on the extension of the area covered by the the ULEZ ended last month, and many Surrey councils have submitted their responses to the plans with hefty opposition.

The zone, which sees drivers of any vehicle not complying with minimum nitrogen dioxide emissions standards charged £12.50 per day to drive inside the area it covers, could be extended from August next year.

Elmbridge Borough Council called on TfL to delay the expansion to allow more analysis, while Tandridge District Council has asked that any scrappage scheme introduced for Londoners also be offered to Surrey residents.

The aim of the zone is to reduce nitrogen dioxide by around 30 per cent across London, and it currently covers all areas within the North and South Circular Roads.

The border shift would cover all London boroughs, adjacent to large parts of Surrey, and could impact on some family days out for drivers of certain cars.

Hampton Court Bridge to Bushy Park and Chessington World of Adventures affected

For example, drivers of cars which don’t meet the emissions standards, and who drive over Hampton Court Bridge to Bushy Park will be eligible to pay the fee.

TfL’s website says any money received from the ULEZ will be reinvested into transport such as cycleways, buses and the tube, and go towards improving London’s air quality.

The planned extended zone would also go down the A243 as far as the junction with Fairoak Lane and Rushett Lane, meaning Chessington World of Adventures would be included as well.

Hospital appointments could also see drivers charged, with St Helier and Royal Marsden hospitals both falling within the planned zone.

In Epsom and Ewell, eight out of the 13 wards in the borough will border the ULEZ and be directly affected by it.

A meeting of the borough council on July 28 agreed to respond to TfL asking for a longer consultation period, an extension of the scrappage scheme, and exempt routes allowing access to essential places and roads such as the A3, M25, A240 and the existing St Helier hospital in Sutton.

Councillor John Beckett, chair of environment and safe communities  committee, said: “We support the move to reduce high levels of air pollution, which the ULEZ scheme aims to achieve.

“However, owing to the acute economic pressure households and business are facing at this time, the scheme needs to consider the economic, social and mental health needs of all communities affected by this scheme, not just London boroughs.”

TFL page on proposed expansion: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/proposed-ulez-expansion-for-2023

Related articles:

More on Epsom and Ewell and Surrey and ULEZ

Council’s last minute opposition to ULEZ extension.

Driving to Sutton or Kingston in an old car could cost you £12.50 next year!

Hundreds of Surrey parents cannot afford a school uniform for their child, a councillor has claimed, as calls for an emergency summit dealing with the cost of living crisis were thrown out.

Liberal Democrat County Councillor Fiona White proposed a host of organisations draw up a joint countywide plan to alleviate residents’ financial pain, including Citizens Advice, food banks, trade unions, chambers of commerce and the legal advice charity Surrey Welfare Rights Unit. She said with energy prices more than doubling, inflation heading towards 11 per cent and the highest tax burden since the 1940s, people were struggling – and 450 people had been referred to a charity because they had no money left to buy their child’s school uniform.

Cllr Carla Morson (LD, Ash) warned the council they “could well be on the edge of a mental health crisis” unless they act, saying: “People in debt are considered to be three times more likely to have considered suicide”.

But the majority Conservative group said they were already doing what they could and one dubbed the Liberal Democrats’ motion “nonsense”. ‘We are putting more money into residents’ pockets’

Council leader Tim Oliver said the council’s Surrey Crisis Fund gives people at crisis point grants for energy bills, basic household goods or urgent repairs. He said: “I’m fully aware of the cost of living challenges. What we need to do is get more money into our residents’ pockets now and that is exactly what we are doing.”

Surrey County Council has launched an online health and welfare hub to provide residents with financial, health and general welfare information. Alongside this is a community helpline for residents who would rather talk through their situation, to which Cllr Oliver said the Job Centre referred one person who hadn’t eaten for five days.

The council was also providing £10,000 grants for cavity wall insulation, loft insulation or solar renewable technology, for those on a low income living in a hard-to-heat home, though the deadline for this has passed.

lt had also increased its match funding grants to the Community Foundation for Surrey, “invested £500,000 to find barriers faced by excluded groups to try and get them to enter the job market”, and dedicated a one per cent rise in this year’s council tax to mental health early intervention and prevention.

Cllr Oliver added that Surrey council had agreed staff on the lowest pay grade would get a 7.85 per cent increase, to £10.24 an hour, with the percentage increase dropping further up the pay scale and no increase for top earners. “These are practical things we are doing,” he said. “We can talk about the crisis forever, we can have summits, that is not what we should be doing.”

Cllr George Potter (LD, Guildford East) asked: “Are we really saying that there is nothing more that can be done by the county council? I’m happy to agree a great deal has been done, but to say that there’s nothing more we can accomplish by working with others – no new ideas – is absurd and obscene.”

He said from October the average household’s energy bill alone would rise to £270 a month, and Universal Credit for under-25s paid £260 a month for recipients to house, clothe and feed themselves as well.

‘You need to walk in those person’s shoes in order to really understand’

Cllr Liz Townsend (LD, Cranleigh & Ewhurst) told the leader: “I would say that you need to walk in those person’s shoes in order to really understand. Spare a thought for those people who really now cannot make ends meet, who are going around supermarkets comparing prices, having to put things back on the shelves, who are going to bed hungry.”

Cllr Bob Hughes (Con, Shere) said: “It sounds to me like posturing, as if somehow the Liberal Democrats are the only people with the answers, trying to give the impression they’re the only people who care about this. The upshot of this nonsense is a motion that would make the poor poorer in the long run.”

He said the Lib Dems had ignored the Government’s £15billion support for those most in need, which includes a household support fund for the country of £421million between April-September, given to local authorities to use at their discretion.

Surrey has used it to, for example, continue to provide food vouchers for schoolchildren in holidays and top up food banks, community fridges and food clubs. It is not something individuals can apply for directly.

The £15billion also includes a £650 payment for means-tested benefit recipients and a one-off £400 discount to be delivered by energy suppliers to households over six months from October.

Cllr White (Guildford West) said £400 was not going to cover the increased bills.

In May, Ofgem said a typical household would pay £800 more a year from October, so £2,800.

The government used this estimate when deciding how much financial support to offer households.

But now consultancy firm Cornwall Insight has said it’s more likely to be £3,244 – and to go up further in January to £3,363.

‘People are consumed with their debt, they cannot think of anything else’

Forty councillors voted against the emergency summit proposal (July 12th), while 19 were in favour.

Cllr Will Forster (LD, Woking South) said he thought councillors would regret voting it down and added: “To get everyone together across Surrey to share best practice would have been really helpful.”

Cllr Townsend said: “To call the details in the motion nonsense is fairly insulting. People are consumed with their debt, they cannot think of anything else.”

Among 12 members who abstained was Eber Kington (Residents’ Association, Ewell Court, Auriol & Cuddington) who said he didn’t like the issue being “a vehicle for making party political comments”.

The motion included a call on the Government to reduce VAT, reinstate the pensions triple lock so pensions would rise with inflation, and restore the cancelled £20 Universal Credit supplement.

Cllr Jonathan Hulley (Con, Foxhills, Thorpe & Virginia Water) said the One Surrey Growth Board, which is already set up, was tasked with addressing inequality.

Cllr White responded: “I didn’t see Citizens Advice on there, despite the fact that they, day after day are having to try and deal with and help people through these issues. All too often we hear politicians say, ‘We recognise there is a problem but we are already doing…’. I think the examples given show that what we are already doing is not enough. We have heard that people are becoming absolutely desperate. We are leaving people behind.”

Where to find or offer help:

Apply to the Surrey Crisis Fund for help with energy bills or basic household items like a fridge or washing machine: https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/community/surrey-crisis-fund

For help on where to turn for financial advice, Surrey County Council’s Community Helpline on 0300 200 1008 is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays): https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/health-and-welfare/support

Community Foundation for Surrey takes funding applications for projects to advance physical and mental health or to reduce disadvantage and increase access to services: https://www.cfsurrey.org.uk/applyforfunding/

More than 20 primary school places are being made available for autistic children in Surrey, with 12 from this September. A special educational needs (SEN) unit will be created at Epsom Primary and Nursery School, using existing classrooms.

The county’s existing specialist provision in state schools – over 3,700 places – is full and the council wants to reduce its reliance on the independent sector. The most common additional needs of Surrey children who need a specialist placement are autism and communication and interaction.

The SEN unit was approved on Monday (July 4) by Councillor Denise Turner-Stewart, cabinet member for education and learning, who said: “There was very good support for this proposal in the consultation. This contributes to our £139million capital investment programme providing new school places in our local community and also reduce the reliance on home to school transport. I’m very happy to approve this decision.”

Epsom is a £1.1m investment that will make 12 places available in September 2022 rising to its full capacity of 21 in September 2026. The 21 places will save the council £630,000 every year, by avoiding having to pay for the places at non-maintained independent schools. This will contribute to bringing down its multimillion pound dedicated schools grant deficit.

By 2030-31, the total number of Surrey pupils aged 4-19 with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) is forecast to be more than 2,500 higher than the 2020-21 total of around 11,000. The growing need for SEN places among primary pupils is expected to increase by 160 in the four years to 2024-25, when the council projects it will peak and then reduce.

Commissioning manager Jane Keenan said: “The most prevalent primary needs for pupils aged four to 11 who require a specialist school placement are autism and communication and interaction needs.”

Refurbishment will take place over the summer and Epsom’s SEN unit will open at the start of September in time for the new academic year.

Your new independent community news service is now officially recognised and regulated by The Independent Monitor for the Press. IMPRESS is an independent press regulator in the UK. It was the first to be recognised by the Press Recognition Panel. Unlike the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), IMPRESS is fully compliant with the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry. IMPRESS regulates over 200 titles, consisting of a variety of independent local, investigative and special interest news publications across the UK. No national newspaper has signed up to the new regulator; most continue to be members of the unrecognised IPSO. Its founder is Jonathan Heawood and its current Chief Executive is Ed Procter.

“IMPRESS is at the vanguard of a new, positive future for news publishers, ensuring quality independent journalism flourishes in a digital age. We help to build understanding and trust between journalists and the public – and provide the public with trusted sources of news.”

You can now be assured that the Team at Epsom and Ewell Times will continue to strive to meet the highest standards and that we are accountable to an outside body for our mistakes. Readers may lodge complaints to us in the first place and then to IMPRESS if the complaint is not resolved. Members of our own Team have protected “whistleblower rights” if they need to report a breach of standards.

Why not join our team of writers, photographers and contributors? You can give as big or as little as you like. We are all unpaid volunteers, filling the big gap that has grown in recent decades in quality local journalism.

A plan to mitigate some of the environmental impacts of sewage on the Hogsmill River, in West Ewell, was finally approved by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Thursday 21st July.

The scheme submitted by local charity South East Rivers Trust in May 2021, was granted by councillors after a 30-minute meeting of the Planning Committee, chaired by Cllr. Humphrey Reynolds (RA Ewell Ward). Cllr. Steven McCormick (RA Woodcote Ward) abstained from the vote.

The project will divert the Green Lanes Stream approximately 50m upstream from its current confluence with the Hogsmill River . The Stream will flow along a new winding channel through Chamber Mead meadow within the Hogsmill Local Nature Reserve, passing through a constructed sediment trap and wetlands, before entering back into the Hogsmill River approximately 200 metres further downstream from its original confluence. Up to 1,000 m2 of wetlands habitat will be created and the flow of the new channel will attenuate the sewage brought to the watercourse from road runoff, misconnections, and overflows from Epsom Storm Tanks.

“I hope it will become like the Garden of Eden,” said Cllr. David Gulland (Liberal Democrat College Ward) during the meeting.

According to the application, sediment and contaminants would be trapped, and a level of treatment would be provided to the polluted water in three different forms. A biological treatment would naturally occur with the uptake of aquatic plants and metabolism; a chemical treatment would act on pollutants with the employment of dissolved nutrients, such as nitrate and phosphate; and a final treatment would be carried out physically, harnessing the decrease of flow velocities caused by the sediment trap, to settle sediments and pollutants via gravity.

In addition to the creation of the new channel, a 12-metre bridge was proposed to let pedestrians, including wheelchair users and cyclists, reach the stepping stones from the south of Chamber Mead.

”It’s a very welcome improvement to reducing and mitigating the impact of pollutants entering the chalk stream river and the discharges of sewage,” said Cllr. Kate Chinn (Labour Court Ward).

Pollution has long been a scourge for a river that is internationally recognised as one of the only 200 chalk streams on Earth, and its chemical concentrations even led the Environment Agency to issue a ‘fail’ status in 2017. Warning signs have been put up advising people not to attend the area.

After the application was submitted, 527 letters of notification were sent to neighbouring properties to advertise the plan. As of July 2022, more than 35 letters of support have been received. Nevertheless, one of the recipients manifested their objection, as pollution “should be addressed at source.”

Despite the worthy purposes of the plan and the actual benefits this could achieve, failures at Epsom and Manor Drive Storm Tanks, Hogsmill A Wastewater and Cso At St. James’s Road stewer storms – all managed by the private utility company Thames Water – appear to be the real problem.

In 2021, a total of 159 hours of untreated sewage contaminated the river across 47 incidents, according to data published by The Rivers Trust.

“We support the scheme to reduce the impact of some of the pollution, however it will only do this on a fraction of the pollution coming into the channel,” said Mark Todd, local entrepreneur and member of Epsom and Ewell Labour Party, whose petition asking the company to stop the pollution has recently topped a thousand signatures. “Thames Water must, must, must stop overflowing so much sewage deliberately into the streams for wildlife to survive and for the streams to be safe for kids.”

In a letter sent to the company and reviewed by Epsom and Ewell Times, the signatories of the petition demand that Thames Water upgrade their “inadequate infrastructure,” as “local residents and community groups are very concerned about what is going on and are very disappointed.”

Along with coliforms, raw sewage discharge from the sewage network is seen as one of the two “major issues to tackle,” according to a joint opinion piece from Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, Jonson Cox, Ofwat chair, and Emma Howard Boyd, Environment Agency chair, released in June 2022. “The principal public health responsibility for ensuring human faeces and viable human faecal bacteria do not get into waterways people might use recreationally, rest squarely with the water companies and their directors.”

A spokesperson from Thames Water, although acknowledging the risks of pollution, seemed to disagree. “We certainly can’t do it on our own,” they said.

A vulnerable 84-year-old man had his electric bike stolen by a callous thief when he left it parked outside the BP petrol station on Dorking Road, Epsom on Sunday 17th July.

The victim left the bike worth £2,800 with two bags hanging on it outside the petrol station at around 8.20pm and came out at 8.35pm to find it had gone.

The suspect has been described as a White male wearing a matching grey camo hoodie and bottoms with a yellow high vis vest over the top with the word ‘FEELY’ on the back. He was also wearing grey trainers and holding a black sports bag.

If you have any dashcam footage or information which could help, please contact Surrey Police quoting crime reference number PR/45220076573 via:

•             Webchat  surrey.police.uk

•             Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/

•             Calling 101

If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. 

A Section 35 dispersal order is in place over nearly all of Epsom Common until 5.54pm today Monday 18 July.

The Dispersal Order covers the areas of the Epsom and Ashtead Commons within the A243, Christchurch Road, Craddocks Avenue and Dorking Road. It was authorised by Acting Insp Will Cottee following reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. See map below.

The Dispersal Order gives officers the power to ask a group of two or more people to leave the dispersal area if they are committing anti-social behaviour, or if a constable believes they may, or are likely to, cause a nuisance to someone else.

Surrey Police urge members of the public to continue reporting any incidents of anti-social behaviour through private message on social media or on their website https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/asb/asb/report-antisocial-behaviour/.

Epsom and Ewell Times is waiting for Surrey Police to provide further details of the behaviour that has led to this restriction over such a large area. This report will be updated when received.

The Ashley Centre’s new pop up art gallery has extended it’s stay until 31st July – plus the show, which is now open daily, has also added work by four new artists. Situated opposite Moka cafe in the main concourse, the Pop Up Gallery now displays work by a dozen west London and Surrey based artists.

With a mixture of styles from traditional landscape, abstract pieces through figure painting, to technicolour animals and graffiti style urban street art, there is something for everyone ! And with prices starting at only £20, this summer is a great time to start your original art collection.

Landscape painter Jane Scofield joins Dilys Foster and Di Phelps Lester: all inspired by the natural world , they produce colourful atmospheric landscapes in acrylic and mixed media. Stephen Doak works in cut paper and collage as well as painting mid century inspired coloured abstracts. 

Russian born Yulia Robinson favours bright colours and pieces often featuring beautiful birds in dreamlike landscapes . Raph Thomas is a young artists who has produced a whole animal kingdom of technicolour animals. If there isn’t your favourite animal in his portfolio, he takes commissions.

Luis Alvarez and Emma Champion both use texts and captions in their work . Though in very different styles, art lovers with a taste for text can find a message for their walls here.

Since opening at the Ashley Centre, Kate Winskill‘s iconic Battersea Power Station print  works have proved really popular , whilst she has also added new  figurative paintings to the show.

Younger customers have been drawn to Lauren Mavromatis’ powerful autobiographical digital drawings, whilst songwriter and artist Rory Thomas infuses his paintings and prints with lyrics from his songs. And if music is a major feature in your life, check out Emelia Jacks’ Dancing on Paper monochrome series of prints and paintings inspired by specific songs.

Prices are affordable too, with prints from £20 and originals from £45 , so there has never been a better time to look for something to brighten up your home. And you don’t have to wait until the end of the show to collect your purchase , as sold art is replaced daily .

The gallery is staffed by the artists, so you can find out more about how they work. They all undertake commissions, so if you are looking for a bespoke artwork, come and see what they can offer.

Big paintings are delivered free locally and prints can be posted on customer’s behalf as gifts.

Want to see work in your own home? Home visits around Epsom with selected artworks can be booked by appointment with the artists.
Open daily 10.30 – 5.30pm and Sundays 10.30-4.30pm until 31st July 2022

For further information, visit www.arthousegalleries.live or email winskill.kate@gmail.com

Epsom and Ewell Times’ purpose gets a leading endorsement. Today’s Times newspaper (established 1785) has published a leading article headed “The demise of regional news reporting is bad for democracy and bad for communities”. The article states: “Local news is the lifeblood of local democracy and indeed of democracy itself. If people cannot have confidence that those in local councils, courts and public services whose actions impinge directly on their everyday life are being scrutinised and properly held to account, why should they trust those remote figures who wield power in the centre? A society without rigorous local news is a society vulnerable to corruption, disenchantment, isolation and conspiracy theories….”

UK HEATWAVE: THAMES WATER URGES HOUSEHOLDS TO CONTROL THEIR WATER USAGE.

• Thames Water is urging residents to control their water usage and limit consumption around the home.
• Households are being advised to take shorter showers and limit use of the garden hose in a bid to reduce water usage.

With temperatures set to rise to record levels this week, Thames Water is urging residents to control their water usage and limit consumption around the home where possible.

Prolonged spells of hot weather increase the demand for water, putting a strain on the network and accelerating the draw on rivers, underground aquifers, and water stored in reservoirs.

Thames Water is offering advice to households on how to limit their water usage and help to prevent any future shortages. This includes simple routine changes such as taking shorter showers, reducing use of the garden hose and turning taps off when brushing your teeth.

Research released today by Thames Water and YouGov reveals that rising temperatures and its effect on the supply of water is an issue causing concern among adults in England. Over three quarters (76%) think it’s possible parts of England will experience water shortages in the next 20 to 30 years.

It’s changing the way they think about water too; more than a third (38%) say they would be motivated to use less water to protect rivers and the environment, while almost as many would cut back to make sure there’s enough water available for future generations (35%) or to help avoid a drought (31%).

Andrew Tucker, Water Demand Reduction Manager at Thames Water, said: “During spells of hot weather, water usage can often rocket, with hoses and sprinklers watering gardens and paddling pools filled. That makes it even more important to be mindful of water usage to ensure there’s enough to go around for everyone.”

“While we’re not currently expecting to introduce restrictions on water use this summer, it’s important that households remain responsible with their usage and help us to limit the pressure on our resources.”

• Take shorter showers. On average, a shower uses around 10 litres of water a minute. That means a 10-minute shower can use 100 litres of water. If a family of four reduced their shower time by just one minute, they could save up to £45 on metered water bills and a further £52 on energy bills every year.

• Swap your hose for a watering can. You can keep your plants happy and still save water by swapping the garden hose or sprinkler for a watering can. A sprinkler can us as much water in half an hour as the average family of four uses in a whole day. Using a watering can in your garden could save up to 4,050 litres a year, that’s equivalent to more than 50 full bathtubs.

• Don’t water when the sun’s out. Avoid watering plants when the sun’s out and temperatures are high to help minimise the amount of water evaporating. Water early in the morning if you can as evening watering encourages the slugs and snails to come out at night.

• Turn off the taps while you brush your teeth. A running tap uses on average 6-8 litres of water a minute. That’s over 14 pints straight down the drain – so an easy change to make a big difference is turning off the taps while brushing.

• Fix leaky loos and dripping taps. Leaky loos are usually caused by a faulty flush valve or fill valve inside your cistern tank. A leaky loo can waste an average of around 400 litres of water a day. That’s equal to five full bathtubs or around £350 a year.

• Go the full load. Wait until you have a full load before running the dishwasher or washing machine. This will not only save on the amount of water you use, but it’ll lower your energy use – helping you reduce your bills.

Households can also find a free water saving calculator on the Thames Water website where they can work out how much water and energy they are using and receive tailored advice on how to save.