Not only can you watch online all Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and Council committee meetings live, you can also catch up on those you miss on the Council’s YouTube channel.

The live online links can be found by navigating the pages of the Council website starting HERE. You will also find on those pages the agenda and background papers and minutes.

Not forgetting that the public gallery is always open for personal observation of proceedings.

Whatever grumbles you may have about your local Council it cannot be denied that its decision making is open to public inspection.

There are times when committees go into closed session and the Epsom and Ewell Times has challenged some of the secrecy. But at least you will be aware when they have gone into secret session and can challenge such decisions through the Freedom of Information Act.

The Epsom and Ewell Times champions accountability, transparency and democracy. The provision by the Council of windows for the public to its business, using today’s technologies, is to be praised.

In a world in which authoritarianism and autocracy are gaining ground it is vital at all levels of British society that we value the liberties we have. We can demonstrate how much we do so by living our democratic ideals daily, not merely paying lip-service to them at periodic elections.

Differences of view held passionately can give rise to personal antagonism but where debates are conducted fairly, mutual personal respect should prevail. Democracy leads to better decision making and can be fun. The alternatives will never be fun for anyone.

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s transparency through public video recording is in itself a significant contribution to maintaining a higher quality of respectful debate.

Born on 18 September 1879, Lady Sybil Myra Caroline Grant (nee Primrose) was the daughter of Lord Rosebery, the Epsom resident and Liberal Prime Minister from 1894 to 1895 and Hannah de Rothschild.  

Lady Sybil married a regular soldier, Sir Charles John Cecil Grant of the Grant’s whisky family on 28 March 1903, at Christ Church, Epsom Common where the Rosebery family worshipped.

She was a successful writer, ceramic designer, artist and breeder of horses and rare dogs who inherited The Durdans in Chalk Lane, Epsom upon the death of her father in 1929 and made it her home.

During the First World War, she contributed to the Princess Mary’s Gift Book which was a book of collected illustrated stories written by leading authors of the time such as J M Barrie, A Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling.  The book was sold to help raise money for the war effort.

After WW1 Lady Grant raised money for disabled servicemen through a series of activities which included organising a fete each year at The Durdans. There her pottery (and that crafted by disabled soldiers) was sold for the disabled soldiers’ benefit.

The banding wheel used to decorate ceramics shown in the photo dates to circa 1950 and came from Jo’s Household Clearances in Ewell with a receipt signed on behalf of Lady Sybil Grant for land rented out to an Epsom racehorse trainer.

Lady Sybil Grant was a passionate campaigner and sought to champion the underdog. In 1937, a new set of by-laws were (presumably) promulgated by the newly chartered Epsom Council. (The Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators was created in 1984.) The regulations prohibited gypsy caravans from being sited on Epsom Downs. Lady Grant then provided gypsies with a field on her own land where they were legally permitted to stay for Derby week.  

In June 1938 the Epsom gypsies decorated Lady Grant’s grandstand box with 700 artificial flowers to show their gratitude, an act that highlighted the close bond of friendship that had developed between the parties. Sybil in later life spent much of her time in a caravan as she grew increasingly eccentric prior to her death on 25 February 1955.

My research suggests that the banding wheel once belonged to the multi-talented Lady Sybil Grant who spent a full and active life devoted to helping others less fortunate than herself.   

After her death, among other things, a collection of maps of Epsom were lodged with the National Library of Scotland; no doubt on account of the family’s various ties of an hereditary, electoral and property nature to Scotland   

Perhaps Lady Sybil Grant deserves greater recognition than she currently receives.

The Satisfied Eye International Film Festival wrapped up its 4th edition with a bang on Sunday, closing out this year’s event with a thrilling taiko drumming performance.

Festival founder Chris Hastings told us: “We’d wanted to end on a high note and we couldn’t have hoped for a better festival.  Having shifted from the delayed Picturehouse in Epsom, we had no idea whether or not Ewell and Bourne Hall would embrace indie cinema but this has been our most successful season ever.*  The venue and the community really pulled together to support us. There was a buzz about this year’s event which made it something truly special.”

One audience member noted “I’m no film buff, I just enjoy a good film and the quality here was really exceptional.  I will be thinking about the films I saw for days to come.”

In addition to a packed programme of short films, feature films, documentaries and animation, audiences came in large numbers to meet Johnny 5 from Short Circuit, ED209 from Robocop, get a photo in the Back to the Future DeLorean and take their seat in the Iron Throne, while Spiderman thrilled the children who had arrived for free animation screenings.  

Following three days of World, European and UK premieres and a host of Oscar winners and nominees, the festival wrapped up with a stunning live show by Aber Taiko and Gongming which literally made the ground vibrate! Followed by a sold-out workshop attended by many of the audience, one participant declared that the event was “absolutely epic, the best thing to ever happen in Ewell, I can’t wait for next year”!

The full list of the festival’s award winners will be announced this week with details available at www.satisfiedeye.com for those attendees eager to discover if their favourite film walked away with any prizes.

*Previous highest box office for SEIFF  88% (in 2019) compared to 92% ticket sales for this 4th season.

The Epsom and Ewell Times was very happy to have sponsored this great community event in our Borough

Back in 1978 two patients in Epsom District Hospital were having a discussion about music. It turned out that they were both DJs and between them they decided to launch Epsom District Hospital Radio. It took a couple of years to acquire funding, equipment and support but in 1981 the station broadcast its first programmes.

Over the ensuing years the station has grown in both size and reputation, continuing to entertain and amuse the patients as well as hosting events such as school fetes, the Dorking Big Weekend, the Epsom Common Day and the Epsom and Ewell Community Fayre.

2023 marks the 45th anniversary of the station and is a landmark year. Surrey’s finest and fastest growing hospital radio station will now be broadcasting on the internet. Thanks to generous donations from Epsom and Ewell Times, Kane Construction, 3ti and the on-going support of Epsom Rotary Club, from Wednesday 31st May you will be able to listen to Epsom Hospital Radio wherever you are in the UK. The online launch at 8pm begins with a guest appearance by Epsom Rotary, one of the sponsors of EHR Online.

Epsom Hospital Radio’s President Trevor Leonard, who recently celebrated 40 years as a member, is thrilled by the latest development. “This is a pivotal moment in the 45 year history of Epsom Hospital Radio as we will now able to more actively engage with our wider local community, while still ensuring the patients of Epsom Hospital remain absolutely at the heart of everything we do.

“As well as the superb efforts of our current Station Manager, Chief Engineer, Management Team and members who have made internet broadcasting possible, this major development is also accredited to all those who have volunteered at Epsom Hospital Radio throughout the years and in doing so, helped to lay the foundations for us to take this major step forward today”.

Current Station Manager Ian Daggett said it reflected the station’s desire to progress over the last couple of years. “It’s a small step in the world of broadcasting, but for Epsom Hospital Radio it’s a giant leap. Being on the internet is something we’ve wanted to do for quite a while and we’re really looking forward to reaching out to the people of Epsom and Ewell and the surrounding areas”.

If you want to tune in to Epsom Hospital Radio, a click to listen link is now available on the homepage, which is

www.epsomhospitalradio.org.uk

You will be able to enjoy Epsom Hospital Radio playing your favourite hits from across the decades, alongside an eclectic mix of themed programs from classical to comedy, country to rock, specialist music genres, interviews with local people and the occasional celebrity as well.

You can also request a song for a patient in the hospital or a listener anywhere via the request line which is 01372 735999 or via email studio@epsomhospitalradio.org.uk

Epsom and Ewell Times is proud to have been a part in the fulfilment of one of our volunteer citizen journalist’s ambition to work as a reporter. Ellie Ames, who has reported on Council and planning matters for the Epsom and Ewell Times over the last year, has recently secured a position with LocalGov, the UK’s largest dedicated local government news website.

Ellie graduated from Durham University with 1st class honours in English literature followed by a masters in literary linguistics from Nottingham.

We congratulate Ellie on her appointment and wish her a successful career.

The Epsom and Ewell Times has given opportunities to students of journalism to write for us. Ellie Ames’ experience establishes how being published by our news service can boost a budding writer’s career prospects.

If you wish to write for Epsom and Ewell Times do please get in touch.

The 4th Satisfied Eye International Film Festival (26th to 28th May) has opened its doors in Bourne Hall Ewell.

There was a sense of anticipation in the air as people gathered to celebrate and enjoy the best of what cinema has to offer, and there was a feeling of camaraderie among the festival-goers.

One of the visitors who were at previous festivals shared with us that he returned as he wanted to see more different films, styles and types. The festival started with the people’s choice selection. Two films from France, “A Travers”, a very touching story about a couple who needs to terminate the pregnancy in the seventh month and “The Censor or Dreams”. “An Irish Goodbye”, this year’s Oscar winner, tells us a story about two brothers who reunite after their mother’s death and another Oscar nominee, White Eye, from Israel, where a man finds his stolen bike and struggles to remain human.

“The buzz has been very special, we haven’t seen it before and long may it last”, shared with us  Chris Hastings, the founder of SEIFF. 

Among great films, you can enjoy sitting on a Game of Thrones Throne, letting  Johnny5 Replica chase you around The Flying Sauce Cafe. 

Please check the schedule below; there are a lot of Oscar-nominated films on Saturday and Sunday to be seen.

Find out more about the tickets here: 

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/satisfiedeyeinternationalfilmfestival

Reporter – Romana Sustar is a multilingual freelance journalist, University Language Tutor, accomplished marketer and owner of Epsom Digital Ltd., a local digital marketing agency.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romanasustar/

The High Court has today (26 May 2023) announced it will allow further grounds for challenge as part of a Judicial Review by a coalition of councils into the proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

At today’s hearing, the coalition comprising the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Hillingdon and Harrow, along with Surrey County Council was successful in its appeal, getting two additional grounds for challenge – out of three previously refused in April – added to the Judicial Review.

Those were:

• unfair and unlawful consultation in relation to expected compliance rates in outer London
• scrappage scheme – irrationality due to uncertainty and inadequate consultation.

On 12 April 2023 the High Court granted permission for the coalition to challenge the legality of Transport for London (TfL) and the Mayor of London’s plans to expand the ULEZ to outer London from August 2023.  

The permission then was granted on the following grounds:

• failure to comply with relevant statutory requirements 
• whether the Mayor properly considered the previous “buffer zone” approach as a material consideration in relation to the scrappage scheme.

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Growth at Surrey County Council said: “Today’s decision is another step forward in our legal challenge to the Mayor of London, as we continue to highlight the significant financial and social impacts expansion of the ULEZ scheme would have on many of our residents and businesses.

“Our consultation response back in July 2022 clearly highlighted that the Mayor’s decision not to include Surrey residents in any scrappage scheme was unacceptable, and proposed a number of other recommendations to help mitigate the impacts of the expansion. Our concerns have still not been addressed by The Mayor, forcing these legal proceedings to have the voice of our residents heard.

“We remain committed to delivering a greener future, but it must be done in a practical and sustainable way. We will now await the findings of the Judicial Review in July.”

Related reports:

Many Surrey motorists will be paying the ULEZ charge.

ULEZ Court battle looming

Surrey Council’s ULEZ talks ongoing with TfL

Can you beat the ULEZ charge?

Will Me’lud halt ULEZ expansion to Epsom borders?

A sign of no signs to come on ULEZ?

ULEZ will come to Epsom and Ewell borders

Junior doctor strikes at a Surrey NHS trust is feared to become ‘monthly’ with ‘a lot less willingness’ from people to cover gaps in maintaining levels of service.

The Royal Surrey NHS foundation board meeting took place on Thursday, May 25, and almost immediately the issue of striking doctors came to the fore with staff retention and breaches of patient confidentiality also featuring prominently. 

Front and centre though was the dispute over pay and conditions between the Government and junior doctors. Royal Surrey CEO Louise Stead said, with three days of industrial action already announced for June, the trust “would be going into overdrive to plan for that” but said it would be more difficult as there would be “a lot less willingness” from people to cover any gaps – a problem that would only increase “as this goes on”.

She told the meeting it was increasingly likely that there would be “strikes every month until there is a resolution”, adding “this will be very difficult”. Trust chairperson Joss Bigmore said the “whole situation was becoming “increasingly frustrating on the hard working people”. He told the meeting: “Until they find a resolution to this its just going to get worse and worse.

He said: “It was galling to see the health secretary canvassing during the election when the junior doctors were on strike”, before adding “We have managed incredibly well so far but it won’t last. We really need to find a resolution to this.”

Junior doctors in England are planning a new  72-hour walkout in June as talks with the government once again broke down. The walkout will start at 7am on Wednesday, June 14, and run until Saturday, June 17 with the British Medical Union labelling the government’s 5 per cent pay offer as not “credible”.

Among the other items discussed during the morning meeting were the increase in the number of healthcare infections being detected across the hospital, in line with the rest of the UK since coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jacqui Tingle, the director of nursing and midwifery, said that while there had been a nationwide pattern for infectious diseases to rise as a whole, Royal Surrey had specific recorded a “spike” in c-difficile cases. 

The meeting also heard about the on-going issues with recruitment, which had played a role in the three month increase in complaints received from patients.

On IT,  she spoke to the “significant rise” in patient data breaches  – 248 from 90 reported last year, which she said was due to the implementation of a new electronic patient record system though these are said to be in decline,

What has been happening, she said, was the new system pulled patient data from a central hub rather than the most up-to-date local lists resulting, in some cases, in confidential medical letters being sent to the wrong address.

Related reports:

Surrey doctors to go on strike?

Image: Royal Surrey Hospital Trust Board (Chris Caulfield)

Baronet Sir Rupert Mackeson, a former soldier, London banker and a passionate horse racing author, who loves Epsom, talked to the Epsom and Ewell Times’s Romana Sustar.

“I joined the Army just before my nineteenth birthday in 1960 and spent four years in the Buffs. On leaving university, I converted my TA commission into a regular one and transferred to the Royal Horse Guards. In the autumn of 1966, I was posted to the Mounted Squadron stationed in London. Alas, soon afterwards, when on duty riding a black horse, I had an accident and broke my back. As a result, I now have great mobility problems and have to use a Zimmer frame.” says Mackeson.

However, his passion for horse riding didn’t stop after the accident; he found a way to stay in touch with the sport as an author and trader. Since early 1983 he has been involved with sporting books, paintings and prints.

Despite the accident, he had the great honour of escorting Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on several state occasions, including her Birthday Parade and the State Opening of Parliament, often as Escort Commander – the senior mounted officer from the mounted regiment called “the Field Officer in Brigade Waiting”. 

“One may wonder how I carried out these duties, having broken my back. Luckily it was low down, and I had a corset with a metal back, which allowed me to carry out my mounted duties,” explains Rupert.

In 1997 when three Jockey Club courses, Epsom, Sandown and Kempton, wanted more trade stands, he answered the call and traded on all three, averaging 50-60 days a year. Traders in those days got the security of tenure (protected tenant status) after a year or two, as they often had to start in poor positions and get better ones as other traders retired or died. That’s how racecourses, county shows and equitation events like Badminton filled their inferior trade positions.

“Usually, everything regarding trade stands was done verbally on Jockey Club racecourses. Still, as Sandown wanted us there as often as possible, they sent out contracts to emphasise the rent reductions advantage of coming frequently,” explains Rupert.

However, times have changed for traders with our lives embracing the digital age, and the effect of the financial crisis didn’t leave anything untouched. The Jockey Club leadership transformed the layout, and the infrastructure changed. 

Rupert Mackeson believed he was a protected tenant under the verbal agreement from 1997. In February 2023, he received an email from the Jockey Club saying that he could not trade in his usual position as they had other plans for Area 3, so they offered him a stand on The Hill. 

However, for an older disabled person, who needs a Zimmer frame to walk, the new location on The Hill  would present a challenge. The bitter feeling of not getting his permanent location at the Jockey Club made him feel unwelcome,  disappointed and left behind.

The Jockey Club spokesman explained that despite trying to find an alternative solution, the previous locations  are no longer available because of planned improvements.

The Jockey Club has been around for nearly 300 years, no doubt facing many difficult decisions as the world changes around them. They are not alone in this challenge. 

After speaking with Rupert, I wonder if we forgot that some values from the past are valuable. He is a reminder that the sands of time only run in one direction and the importance of considering our older selves when taking difficult decisions to move our companies forward.

Rupert Mackeson books:

•  Great Racing Gambles and Frauds
• Flat Racing Scams and Scandals (Metro Publishing, 2004) ISBN 978-1-84358-042-3
• Bet Like a Man (Eye Ltd, Bridgnorth, 2001) ISBN 1-903070-13-9

Tickets for this year’s Epsom Derby festival Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd June are available on The Jockey Club website

About Romy:

Romana Sustar is a multilingual freelance journalist, University Language Tutor, accomplished marketer and owner of Epsom Digital Ltd., a local digital marketing agency.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romanasustar/

Post script:

This year he will not be at Epsom. He is, however, having a major exhibition of Piggott, Oaks and Derby memorabilia, including unique materials from Friday 16th of June till Tuesday the 27th excluding Sundays, 10am to 4 pm -at Weston Super Frames, 17 Locking Road, Weston Super Mare BS23 3BY

Today we have published a report about the case of a Reigate resident’s rights to be moved away from nuisance neighbours.

Why should she move? Why do the rights of the nuisance neighbours to stay trump the rights of their victim to remain and quietly enjoy her residence?

Is it because it is easier and less expensive for the authorities to shift the innocent than it is to move the guilty?

The report recounts the failure of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council to do either. The Local Government Ombudsman, who investigated the victim’s complaint, does not address the powers of the police or the Council or the social housing landlord to tackle the nuisance neighbours. The latter having powers to apply to a court for an eviction of the anti-social neighbours (if also their landlord).

The complaint of the victim was limited to her claim that the Council had failed to deal with her request for re-housing in an appropriate way. Hence the Ombudsman’s investigation was carried out within the narrow tramlines of a re-housing application process.

The wider context of all the issues raised by this case are not addressed. E.g., the impact on the neighbourhood or a future resident taking the victim’s place, of the nuisance neighbours remaining. The responsibilities of the Council , her landlord and the police, to use their powers to inhibit the nuisance. Those powers ranging from warnings and anti-social behaviour orders to evictions.