As Epsom and Ewell Times reported  27th May 2022, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council announced the departure of its Chief Executive Officer, Kathryn Beldon, “following her decision that this is the time for a new chapter in [my] life.”  Yet, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request submitted by Epsom and Ewell Times for disclosure of the former CEO’s resignation letter the Council has responded: “We are unable to comply with your request as the Council did not receive a letter of resignation from Kathryn Beldon. The reason for her leaving was stated in the previous press release, which can be accessed on the EEBC website using the following link:
Epsom and Ewell Chief Executive | Epsom and Ewell Borough Council (epsom-ewell.gov.uk)“

Tonight 7.30pm onward (Monday 4th July2022) in the Council Chamber, Town Hall The Parade Epsom, the Council is due to debate the recruitment of a new Chief Executive and no doubt the circumstances of the departure of the previous one will be discussed. However, as we reported 28th June 2022 the meetings may be held in private as first the Strategy and Resources Committee (7.30pm) and then the Full Council (@8.30pm) will determine if the press and public should be excluded on either the ground of the privacy of an individual outweighing the public interest in the matter or to keep Council finances secret.

Surrey County Council’s lowest paid staff are set to receive a pay boost after unions and council officers agreed a proportionate pay offer that sees pay increases on a sliding scale.

The offer will give people at the lowest pay grade a 7.85% increase and will exceed the UK Living Wage Foundations National Living Wage with a minimum hourly pay rate of £10.24ph.

The percentage increase drops further up the scales, with those earning the most receiving no increase.

Surrey Pay is subject to local agreement and negotiations between the Council and recognised trade unions (Unison & GMB). Negotiations this year focused on the sharp increases in costs of living, with the final offer reflecting the council’s stated ambition of No One Left Behind – helping those who need us most.

The offer is targeted at lower earners who are inevitably struggling most with the costs of living increases, hence the graduated nature of the pay uplift.

Leader of Surrey County Council Cllr Tim Oliver (Conservative) said: “I’m pleased that a strong pay offer has been agreed, one that particularly protects our lowest paid staff.

“We know that the cost of living is proving a challenge for many, but as a council it is our absolute priority to ensure no one is left behind, and that includes our staff. This offer reflects that.

“It is also in recognition of the excellent services staff continued to provide under difficult conditions during the pandemic, which we are all grateful for.”

Pre-season Friendly Saturday 2nd July 2022. Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk. Reporter: Richard Lambert

New era kicks off with narrow defeat. The artificial surface at Kings College in Guildford was the place to be to witness the opening match of the Anthony Jupp and Liam Giles era, although rather disappointingly out of our regular supporters, only two Committee members, plus myself and my boy Nathan were there to witness it in an attendance of 15.

Pre-season friendlies are not for everyone though and of course many players take the field who will never make the first team squad, so maybe some supporters aren’t that concerned! Obviously, due to the time of the season with many players not signed up and the recent departures of Luke Miller and Tommy Smith, I won’t be releasing any names here, except to say that many players were away this week and that out of the twenty-two players present, of whom twenty had a run out, there were only three players on the field who finished the season with us. There were also two former Epsom players on show.

Pre-season friendlies are not for everyone though and of course many players take the field who will never make the first team squad, so maybe some supporters aren’t that concerned! Obviously, due to the time of the season with many players not signed up and the recent departures of Luke Miller and Tommy Smith, I won’t be releasing any names here, except to say that many players were away this week and that out of the twenty-two players present, of whom twenty had a run out, there were only three players on the field who finished the season with us. There were also two former Epsom players on show.

The half time whistle blew immediately after the restart, and both teams changed a number of personnel and in our case, the formation too. This bore fruit within 35 seconds as a smart strike from the left about fifteen yards out put us back on level terms. We then hit the face of the bar with a shot from the left before another shot took a slight deflection and came back off the Farnham post.

Unfortunately a foul just inside the penalty area gave our opponents a spot kick which was converted in the 73rd minute and then two minutes after we had hit the post once again in the 87th minute, Farnham scored a third goal with a fine finish into the top corner from just inside the box.

This third goal was a little harsh on our team, but in the 91st minute we did get a second of our own when our earlier scorer latched on to a fine pass, held off his man and steered the ball under the keeper from an angle about ten yards out for his second of the match. It was the least we deserved, having also hit their woodwork on three occasions during that period!

As always at this stage of the season the performance is more important than the result, but with so many players absent it is hard to say much more than the scoreline was about fair, largely due to Farnham holding a greater balance of play in the first half. Suffice to say our new Management seemed happy enough with the way things went and that’s all that really matters at this point. We move on to meet another Step Five team when we visit Hassocks next Saturday.

The number of people experiencing mental illness has risen in recent years.

The global pandemic, increased living costs and technological change are among the pressures affecting mental health. They are not the only causes, but changing ways of life are playing a part.

Stigma can make mental health problems worse by delaying or preventing treatment. Open conversations, and easy access to reliable information, are vital.

Mind provides a useful guide to different mental health problems and symptoms here:

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems

For young people under 18:

https://www.mind.org.uk/for-young-people/introduction-to-mental-health/types-of-mental-health-problems

Epsom also has a particular mental health history. The former psychiatric institutions known as the Epsom Cluster, once based in the Horton area, contributed to stigma around mental illness.

As London expanded during the Industrial Revolution, hospitals struggled to cope and some institutions were moved outside the city. The Friends of Horton Cemetery are now working to de-stigmatise mental illness by revealing the lives of 9,000 patients buried between 1899 and 1955 in the abandoned cemetery in Epsom.

More information: www.hortoncemetery.org

Conditions such as anxiety and depression can interfere with everyday life, physical health and emotional wellbeing. With one in four people in the UK experiencing a mental health problem each year, it is important that local resources are easy to find.

The Epsom and Ewell Times has compiled the following local information for those seeking help, or for family members and friends supporting someone they care about. This list is not comprehensive, but is intended as a starting point.

Love Me Love My Mind

Love Me Love My Mind is a registered grassroots charity based in Epsom. It aims to foster better understanding of mental health and to provide support for people who are struggling.

The charity runs drop-in services at St Barnabas Church, Temple Road.

On Mondays from 4pm to 6.30pm, anyone struggling is welcome to drop in for a conversation.

Between March and November, the charity also runs a “Warm Welcome Space” on Mondays from 1pm to 7pm, offering tea, a hot meal and arts and crafts.

Every Tuesday from 1pm to 3pm, it hosts “Men’s Pitstop”, a confidential peer-to-peer support space for men.

On Saturdays from 11am and Sundays from 12pm, it runs a Kids’ Art & Craft Workshop at Metropolis Epsom, Epsom Square.

These drop-in services offer refreshments, activities, community and confidential conversation for those who may feel isolated by mental health difficulties.

More information: https://www.lovemelovemymind.org.uk

Horizon

Horizon is a Surrey community mental health and learning disabilities service hub. It opened in July 2021 and offers assessments and treatment for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Its aim is to support people towards self-management and independence.

Horizon is based at:

28 Upper High Street
Epsom
Surrey
KT17 4QJ

It is around a 7–10 minute walk from Epsom railway station.

Teams based at the hub include:

Early Intervention in Psychosis
Mind Matters
Community Mental Health Recovery Service — Epsom
Community Mental Health Team for Older People — Mid Surrey
i-Access East
Perinatal Mental Health Service — South West
ASD and ADHD Service — Surrey

Horizon accepts self-referrals, as well as referrals from GPs, IAPT talking therapy providers and social services.

More information:

https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/our-services/mental-health/community-services/CMHRSepsom

Mary Frances Trust

Since 1994, Mary Frances Trust has specialised in mental health support for Surrey residents.

The non-profit organisation is based at:

23 The Crescent
Leatherhead
KT22 8DY

Its services include one-to-one support, wellbeing courses and physical activities. Its website also provides blog articles and further information on specific mental health issues.

Mary Frances Trust states:

“Anyone over the age of 16 living in the Mole Valley, Epsom & Ewell, Banstead, Elmbridge areas of Surrey and experiencing any form of mental or emotional health issues can access our services.”

More information:

https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Crisis support:

https://www.maryfrancestrust.org.uk/crisis-support

Safe Haven: Epsom

The Epsom Safe Haven is a drop-in service for people experiencing a mental health crisis, as well as those looking for general mental health support.

It is located at:

Brickfield Centre
Portland Place
Epsom
KT17 1DL

Safe Haven works in partnership with Mary Frances Trust and Surrey and Sussex ICB.

For those in crisis, the centre is open from 6pm to 11pm, 365 days a year.

Those looking for general mental health support can drop in between 6pm and 7pm daily.

A virtual Safe Haven also offers crisis support between 6pm and 11pm:

https://nhs.vc/sabp/safe-haven-Epsom

Safe Haven says it offers “a supportive environment for any adult in crisis during a time of need and when there may be no-one else around to provide it.”

The service is self-referral, meaning anyone in need of support can use it.

More information:

https://www.sabp.nhs.uk/our-services/mental-health/safe-havens

Alcoholics Anonymous

For those struggling with alcohol addiction, there are several Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in and around Epsom and Ewell.

Many meetings operate on a first come, first served basis, and sessions vary from one hour to one and a half hours.

Monday, 8pm
St Joseph’s Catholic Church
St Margaret’s Drive
KT18 7JQ

Friday, 1pm
St Martin’s Church Hall
Church Street
KT17 4PX

Friday, 6.30pm
All Saints Church meeting room
KT19 9QZ

Saturday, 8pm
St Martin’s Church
Church Street
KT17 4PX

Saturday, 10am
Epsom Methodist Church
11–13 Ashley Road
KT18 5AQ

Mindworks Surrey

Mindworks Surrey is a service for children and young people’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Its services are delivered by a range of alliance partners and support children, young people, parents, carers, and organisations working with children.

Some services can be accessed directly, while others require a GP referral.

More information:

https://www.mindworks-surrey.org

The River Hogsmill and the Green Lanes Stream are becoming no go areas for dogs and humans. Residents are calling for private utility company Thames Water to act on sewage polluted water courses in the heart of the Borough of Epsom and Ewell. Local activist Mark Todd states: “Thames Water should not be using the Green Lanes Stream and the Hogsmill River in Epsom & Ewell and Kingston Boroughs, as open sewers. The Hogsmill is one of only 200 chalk streams in the world and used to be teeming with wildlife, yet it is now so polluted barely any fish live in it.”

“The rivers are delicate streams and cannot accommodate sewage overflows. The pollution affects Epsom, Ewell, Tolworth, Surbiton and Kingston. It then enters the Thames affecting London and the Thames Estuary. The sewage is killing the rivers: destroying wildlife, poisoning animals, and makes it unsafe for kids or animals to play in them. Some local residents who live by the river say it now stinks. In 2021, the South East Rivers Trust calculated that a total of 159 hours of sewage went into the rivers across 47 incidents. That is one incident per week. The causes of the discharges are faulty sensors by Green Lanes Stream; insufficiently large sewage tanks at Manor Rd, Ewell; and comms failures at the outdated Hogsmill A Waste-water Works in Kingston.”

Mark has established a petition to put more pressure on Thames Water to stop the issues at source by investing some of its profits in upgrading the sewage infrastructure in the area. See Petition HERE

In response to Epsom and Ewell Times, a Thames Water spokesperson said: “Our aim will always be to try and do the right thing for our rivers and for the communities who love and value them. We regard all discharges of untreated sewage as unacceptable and will work with the government, Ofwat and the Environment Agency to accelerate work to stop them being necessary and are determined to be transparent. We recently launched our river health commitments which includes a 50% reduction in the total annual duration of spills across London and the Thames Valley by 2030, and within that an 80% reduction in sensitive catchments.

“In addition, the Thames Tideway Tunnel, which is the third phase of a comprehensive environmental improvement programme of the tidal Thames for our customers and river users, is due for completion in 2024. The tunnel is a total investment of more than £4 billion that will deliver a huge reduction in the discharges to the tidal River Thames in London, and further improve overall health of the river.

“We have a long way to go – and we certainly can’t do it on our own – but the ambition is clear.”

Ewell Village has entered Britain in Bloom – a national competition which seeks to use flowers and greenery to transform communities. Judges will visit the village on the morning of Tuesday 5th July 2022.
This competition entry is part of a broader effort to rejuvenate the village. Making Ewell high street and surrounding areas more attractive through flowers and planting is just one thing that the community, businesses, groups, organisations and community leaders have been working on to improve our local area.

For Ewell Village in Bloom, volunteers have been working on:

• revitalising the memorial garden outside Sainsbury’s
• getting The Grove cleared up and grass re-seeded
• cleaning up the High Street and Bourne Hall park – with monthly volunteers meeting at 10am on the 4th Sunday of every month
• planting in Bourne Hall park
• getting ready for a yarn bomb attack of crochet flowers in the village for judging day!

Everyone in the Ewell are can take part! The big idea is that if everyone did something small to take a bare area of their property frontage to make it more beautiful, then collectively we can make a big difference. This may be as simple as putting a pot on your doorstep, adding a hanging basket or putting a summer wreath on your front door.

Once one person in the road does it, other people copy, and the momentum starts to build. They would love people to send their before and after photos to Ewellvillage@outlook.com. The Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Cllr Clive Woodridge will judge the best road overall.
For more information, please contact Alison Price at Ewellvillage@outlook.com.

Monday 4th July 2022 Epsom and Ewell Borough Council will deliberate in secret on the recruitment of a new Chief Executive. This follows the sudden departure earlier this month of Kathryn Beldon from the top local government post, reported by Epsom and Ewell Times.

Firstly, the powerful Strategy and Resources Committee will meet, followed by the full Council. Both will vote on a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meetings. The resolutions infer that it would not be in the public interest for the public to know information “relating to an individual” or “relating to the finances” (of the Council).

Epsom and Ewell Times assume that press and public will be excluded from the debates on the resolutions to exclude them!

Jo Harrop is one of 4 nominees for the prestigious annual Parliamentary jazz award for vocalist of the year 2022.
Epsom’s own Nigel Price, the UK’s foremost guitarist and founder of the UK wide jazz club supporting Grassroots Jazz , has been nominated for the annual award for services to jazz.
The winners will be announced at PizzaExpress Live, Holborn, London on Tuesday 5th July.
Both nominees will play in Epsom on Thursday 7th July at 7.30pm at the Epsom Jazz Club in The Oaks Room in the Conservative Club, Church Street, Epsom.
You can book your tickets for Epsom Jazz Club 7th July for a great evening of jazz.

Surrey Police are appealing for help to identify this man, who they believe may be able to help with their investigation into a residential burglary in Epsom on Sunday, 26 June. 

The burglary took place on Linden Place in Epsom at around 12:50am. During the burglary, a coat was stolen.

Surrey Police believe the man seen in these CCTV images may be able to help with their investigation.

If you recognise him, or have any other information that could assist with their enquiries, please contact Surrey Police quoting PR/ 45220067795 via:

• Webchat on https://surrey.police.uk/
• Online https://www.surrey.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/
• Calling 101

If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 11

Some key findings of the Public Interest News Foundation include:

• Most independent news publishers cover a broad range of news topics within a tightly defined local place. The smaller the area covered, the smaller the revenue.  ​
• The staff at independent publishers are not yet representative of the UK population, with women and ethnic minorities underrepresented. More than half of publishers say they’re making efforts to serve diverse audiences. ​
• Independent publishers make a big difference to the communities they serve – and to democracy. Publishers say they increase civic engagement, increase public debate and inspire more people to be involved in public life, among other things.  
• Publishers face significant challenges around revenue, staffing, costs and the social media giants. 

​Amid rising demand for high quality local news, publishers have high hopes for the future. They see opportunities to build trust with communities that feel far from economic or political power.  

Click HERE to read the FULL REPORT

Epsom and Ewell Times is your news service. Contributors, subscribers and advertisers, our doors are open. Remember we are not-for-profit. No salaries and no fees are paid.

Epsom Choral Society (ECS), which is celebrating its Centenary this year, put on a spirited
performance at its “Songs from the Shows” concert on Saturday 25th June at St Andrews Church in
Cheam.

The choir has traditionally concentrated on lighter repertoire for its summer concert and this year it
caught the mood with a programme of medleys from famous musicals such as Porgy and Bess, Guys
and Dolls and Oklahoma! Les Misérables received particularly enthusiastic applause. The evening
was enhanced by two soloists from the Epsom Light Opera Company: Lian Downes, who performed
‘Meadowlark’ from The Baker’s Wife and James Turnbull, who sang ‘Empty Chairs at Empty Tables’
from Les Misérables. The evening came together under the expert baton of Musical Director Julian
Collings with a band which, despite being much reduced by the rail strike, provided all the rhythm
and colour needed for a great evening.

The final concert in the choir’s Centenary Season will be Handel’s Messiah at Epsom Playhouse on
Saturday 3rd December, and ECS would love to see you there. What better way to celebrate 100
years of singing? Visit their website HERE

On Thursday 7th July 2022 voters in the Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Ward of West Ewell have the opportunity to vote for the candidate who will take the seat held for many years by the late Cllr Clive Smitheram of the Residents’ Association.

The candidates are Marion Morrison (Liberal Democrat), Kieran Persand (Conservative Party), Mark Todd (Labour Party) and Alan Williamson (Residents’ Association).

Q and As You can read the candidates’ answers to Epsom and Ewell Times’ questions HERE

HUSTINGS

Epsom and Ewell Times is holding an election hustings that three of the four candidates will attend. Alan Williamson (Residents Association), who works in the financial services sector, has advised that he is working that evening and cannot attend. The hustings will start at 7 pm on Monday 4th July at All Saints Church, 7 Church Rd, West Ewell, Ewell, Epsom KT19 9QY and will last one hour.

Attendance in person is encouraged but you may participate online if you register in advance HERE