Airport expansion benefits a “small and wealthy subset of the British population” leaving the rest to deal with its environmental impact, according to a new report.

The paper, Losing Altitude the economics of air transport in Great Britain, was published just weeks before plans to double capacity at Gatwick were made public for the first time.

It argues that the “significant” environmental downsides that come with the growth in flight numbers is not matched by its economic benefit – and that data arguing otherwise is out-dated.

However, while it says overall tourism in the UK is harmed by increased aviation, Surrey and the south east benefit.

Gatwick Airport says a second runway would bring an extra £1billion to the south east and that its “detailed economic analysis is robust and is based on UK-specific data”.

It has submitted proposals to the Planning Inspector to add a permanent second runway to allow an extra 100,000 flights a year. A six-month enquiry is set to start later this year to determine the matter.

The report, by New Economics Foundation, read: “The Government continues to provide conditional support to air capacity growth on the, often tacit, basis that the economic upsides outweigh the negative impacts and future risks. “But, the economic assumptions that underpin this position favouring growth are dated and have not been reviewed for some years.

“Given the urgent and sizeable nature of the climate risk, it is imperative that the evidence, and relative balance, of the economic and environmental impacts of air transport growth are kept up to date and under constant review.”

The last comprehensive Government review of the economic impacts of air travel was in 2012 and the industry has “changed dramatically” since then, the report argues.

Growth in business travellers has effectively ceased and new passengers are “exclusively from the leisure market” – in particular, “growth has been driven by wealthy British residents rather than foreign tourists or those on lower incomes”. The pandemic, it says, accelerated the trend.

Welfare, jobs and wages, tourism.

It said the social benefits that access to international travel brings to UK residents can be vast but is “typically captured by a small and wealthy subset of the British population while, each year, around half of British residents do not fly at all. Furthermore, the welfare benefit must now be offset against welfare losses resulting from greater environmental damage; these are substantial”.

On job creation, it said that aviation “supports a large number of British jobs, but the amount of employment created by growth has been diminishing over time” and has now become “one of the poorest job creators in the economy per pound of revenue” – due to automation and efficiency savings.

It also found productivity growth failed to translate into increased wages; after inflation.

On tourism it said there are now two decades of evidence showing air transport does not help the UK domestic tourism industry with cash instead flowing overseas.

The exception to this is in Surrey, London and the wider south east, where the majority of foreign tourists visit.

Dr Alex Chapman, senior researcher at the New Economics Foundation (NEF), said: “For years, this government has let the air travel industry balloon in size, based on dangerously outdated claims that it is boosting the UK’s economy. The reality is declining business air travel, declining wages for air travel workers, declining job numbers, and declining domestic tourism spending in the UK.

“And that’s before you consider the rise in noise, air pollution and dangerous emissions driven by UK airports. So who exactly is benefiting from ever more air travel? You needn’t look much further than the highly paid executives, the private shareholders, and the wealthy minority of ultra-frequent flyers.”

Cait Hewitt, policy director at the Aviation Environment Federation, said: “The question of whether or not airports should expand is often assumed to be about balancing environmental harms against economic benefits. This new analysis suggests we should think again; while flying definitely causes harm in terms of noise and emissions, it’s uncertain if it actually brings any economic benefits.

“Obviously people benefit from going on holiday, but policies that support British tourism and leisure – rather than increasing travel abroad – would be good for the UK economy as well as the climate.”

A London Gatwick spokesperson said: “We are aware of the… report and its claims, however our detailed economic analysis is robust and is based on UK-specific data. Our analysis shows that the Northern Runway plans would deliver 14,000 new UK-based jobs and inject £1 billion into the economy of the south east every year.

“Our plans would also benefit many communities across the south east by providing new economic and business opportunities as well as benefits for tourism and international trade.
“We recognise the climate emergency and the need for the whole aviation industry to act to reach net zero by 2050.

“To that end, we accelerated our plans to achieve net zero for airport emissions, Scope 1 and 2, by 2030 and will invest over £250 million so that we achieve this 10 years ahead of our previous target. The government is also committed to work with airlines to ensure they meet a trajectory of reducing carbon emissions to get to net zero, 2050, through measures including airspace modernisation; sustainable aviation fuel, electric, hydrogen and hybrid aircraft and setting carbon budgets for airlines.”

Related Reports:

Gatwick expansion plans revealed

Gatwick to get 2nd runway?

Chance for Epsom and Ewell’s say on Heathrow flights

Bramshott House in Epsom’s Market Place is a late 17^th century, Grade II listed building that was built to provide accommodation for the rich and famous of the period who wanted to visit Epsom and its well to sample its famous waters.

Now better known as the premises of Caffe Nero, Bramshott House displays a plaque reminding coffee lovers that a very special royal visitor used to be invited back to the building by a woman for a coffee as long ago as 1670.

The woman in question had a lively personality that attracted many men, the most notable being a King.

Called “pretty, witty Nell” by Samuel Pepys who praised her performances as one of the first actresses on the English stage, Eleanor (“Nell”) Gwynne rose from humble beginnings to become best known for being the favourite mistress of King Charles II, with whom she would go on to have two sons.

Having previously been the mistress of Charles Hart and Charles Sackville, Nell jokingly called the King “her Charles the Third“.

The love affair between King Charles II and Nell Gwynne began in April 1668 when Nell was attending a performance at the theatre in Lincoln’s Inn Fields and caught the attention of the King who preferred to flirt with Nell than watch the play (King Charles II never made any attempt to keep the affair a secret).

Samuel Pepys knew Epsom well and confirmed in his diary entry for 14 July 1667 that Nell Gwynne was in residence at what we now call Bramshott House where she helped “keep a merry house”.  Nell lived in two little bay-windowed rooms overlooking the street, one of which was used as a bedroom and the other as a sitting room. 

When Nell Gwynne entertained King Charles II, the King’s court would stay in Epsom’s Assembly Rooms (now occupied by Wetherspoons).

King Charles II died on 6 February 1685, but whilst on his deathbed made known his deep affection for “pretty, witty Nell” when instructing his brother, James II, “let not poor Nelly starve”. 

Sadly, the two bay windows that Nell Gwynne used to look out of and the balcony she used to sit on, no longer form part of Bramshott House, but the plaques on the building and the King Charles II cast iron fire-back that that I purchased from The Princess Alice Hospice charity shop in Church Street in Epsom a few years ago help to remind us of a rags to royalty true-life story not unlike that of Cinderella that was acted out opposite the site of today’s Epsom’s Clock Tower by one of England’s earliest female actors.

Next time you order a coffee at Caffe Nero spare a thought for “pretty, witty Nell” who won the heart of a King, if not that of some unforgiving past historians. 

It’s almost A-Levels results day and at the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) in Epsom we know there are many students who haven’t decided what degree they want to undertake.

According to the government’s Creative Industries Sector Vision, the plan is to grow these industries by £50bn and support an extra million jobs by 2030, there is no better time for students to consider a degree in the creative industries, whether that’s the arts, business, or technology.

Creative degrees can open doors to careers not previously considered, provide adaptable and future-proofed skills employers are looking for, and in many cases, help young people discover more about themselves and build their confidence.

Sarah Clark, Pro Vice-Chancellor at UCA, has this advice to students and parents navigating the clearing process:

“You’ve got this – don’t panic. Take the time to think about what you want from your course, transferable skills, workplace experience, real-world knowledge and what you want from your university experience, an open-minded community, fun, opportunities to create, or feeling like a name not a number.

Unleash your creative potential. It’s fine to change your mind about what you want to study. At UCA, we consider more than just grades – we want to know about your passions, your personality, and creative interests.

Think bigger and keep an open mind. If you want to pursue a creative career you might be surprised by the range of creative courses on offer such as, Games Design, Modelmaking, Digital Fashion, Crafts, Virtual & Augmented Reality.

Start prepping now. Google universities and courses, arrange an in-person campus tour, follow their social media channels, and make a start on putting together a portfolio of work, just in case – UCA’s blog has some top tips on this.

Contact someone and ask questions. If you’re curious about a course, contact the university through their website or social channels and ask questions. There’s no commitment and you might just learn something from the way they respond. You might also want to get second opinions from your tutors, friends, and family.”

McKenna Marsden, a BA (Hons) Fashion graduate from UCA Epsom added: “UCA is one of the best fashion schools in the country, I loved the place. It gave me a sense of excitement, developed my garment construction and pattern-cutting skills, and tools to develop in my career – I couldn’t be happier with my experience here”.

When you choose to study a degree, you’ll be stepping into more than a games design studio, lecture theatre, print lab or architecture workshop – you’ll be stepping into a lifetime of learning and opportunities, so do your research and choose a course that speaks to you.

UCA.

Scouts from across Surrey, including Epsom and Ewell, arrived in South Korea for the 25^th World Scout Jamboree being held  from August 1^st – 12^th 2023. The Jamboree is a two-week event holding significant historical value as the first Jamboree dates back to 1920. Scouts from 150 countries across the globe come together once every four years to promote unity, community and togetherness.

This year the event is hosted in Gunsan-si, South Korea and it is the second time in the country as the 17th World Scout Jamboree was held in the country back in 1991. Festivities kicked off from August 1^st and will end on the 12^th. During this time, young scouts will bask in skill development, learn new skills, experience new cultures, and make international bonds with fellow scouts who may not share the same mother tongue but hold the same values as one another.

Those heading to the Jamboree will also have the amazing opportunity of exploring Seoul for three days and also embark on the popular Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) tour – where they will see the original demarcation line between North Korea and South Korea.

Scouts from Surrey and 5,000 other members across the UK, have joined over 40,000 scouts from almost every country in the world this year. Many Scouts spend years looking forward to this event as only Scouts ages 14- to 17 are eligible to apply for the Jamboree. Participants are selected two years ahead of the event so the Scouts can focus on their fundraising skills to fund their trip. Adults are also entitled to join the Jamboree as scoutmasters or event staff.

The Jamboree is a one in a lifetime opportunity for young scouts. These young people do not only gain practical skills but also make bonds for life, connected by one thing – Scouting.

As has been widely reported in the national media a heat-wave disrupted the Jamboree but still Epsom Scouts feel positive about the experience:

Ben, from Epsom & Ewell district, said: “Although the event was cut short I feel incredibly lucky that I got to experience a camp of that scale with that amount of diversity and culture and even though I am gutted the Jamboree experience is over I think the skills, memories and friends we have all gained from this once of a lifetime experience will stay with us forever.”

Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: ‘Scouts from all corners of the UK are travelling over 12 hours to South Korea for the 25^th World Scouts Jamboree. This year five thousand talented young people from the UK and 40 thousand from over 150 countries across the globe will come together to take on new adventures, make lifelong friendships and experience this once in a life time opportunity. This year is extra special, as it will mark the 100th anniversary of the Korean Scout, a milestone we will all be able to celebrate together at the 2023 World Jamboree.

‘The theme of the Jamboree this year is to “Draw your Dream”, representing our willingness to accept young people’s ideas and opinions, and create an opportunity for them to make their Jamboree dreams come true.

I’m so proud to be a part of a movement that puts young people first by helping almost half a million people develop skills for life.”

Neil Wibberley

On Tuesday 31st July a small group of Cuddington residents gathered at the lawn behind the GP surgery in Shadbolt Park to commemorate the tragic death of Cllr Rob Foote on July 31st 2021. Rob was a volunteer race Marshall based at Goodwood and he had volunteered to be a trackside race Marshall at Brands Hatch on that Saturday in 2021. Two cars collided on a bend and one was sent hurtling into Rob’s trackside hut. He was killed instantly. He had recently suffered the loss of his wife Rosemarie, after a long fight against cancer and he was slowly getting his life back together helping in the sport that he loved.

Rob was a ward councillor in Cuddington for 18 years and he and his wife were Mayor and Mayoress in 2014-15. The small ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor Cllr Steven Bridger and his wife Carol together with Cuddington ward councillors Kim Spickett and Phil Neale, RA Chair Wendy Leveridge, RA treasurer David Eames and many local residents.

The bench was donated by Rob’s family in Bristol.

_{Image from left to right – Brian Angus, former mayor and close friend of Rob & Rosie, Deputy Mayor Cllr Steven Bridger and Deputy Mayoress Carol Bridger, Cllr Phil Neale, David Eames-treasurer of Cuddington RA, Wendy Leveridge-chair of Cuddington RA, Cllr Kim Spickett, stand up image of Rosemarie Foote, Margaret Angus and stand up image of Rob Foote.}

Cllr Phil Neale welcomed the residents, friends and colleagues of Rob And Rosemarie Foote saying “ We thank the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress for representing the Borough at this event and to you all for attending this simple ceremony to mark the second anniversary of the tragic accident on Saturday 31st July 2021 when Rob was killed at Brands Hatch racing circuit whilst volunteering as a safety marshall at the trackside. The whole of the sport, that weekend, recognised the dedication and sacrifice that Rob had made for their sport and spontaneous donations totalled more than £60,000 which went to providing a safety minibus stationed at the Goodwood racing circuit, where Rob was a member of the Safety Marshalls’ Club.”

The memorial bench installed in Shadbolt Park by Epsom & Ewell BC was donated by the Rob’s sister, Sheree Foote, which along with a memorial oak tree planted last year will stand as a lasting symbol of the dedication and work that both Rob and Rosemarie gave to the borough in the eighteen years that he was a councillor and mayor and mayoress in 2014-15.

Epsom & Ewell 2-1 Horsham YMCA. Emirates F.A. Cup – Extra-Preliminary Round. Saturday 5th August 2023.

The James Scott era kicked off on Saturday as we opened up our fifth different ground share at Cobham’s Reg Madgwick Stadium with a narrow 2-1 win over Horsham YMCA in what was just the second ever competitive meeting between the clubs.

As is almost always the case with a new Manager, you see some new players on the field. However, today’s match also set a club record here as ten players made their debuts. We had nine new faces at the start of the match, equalling the record set in both 1945 and 1982 (if you exclude our first ever match of course!) and a tenth debutant, Sirak Negathas, would join the fray from the bench in the second half to set a new mark.

We have of course spent some time at Step Six in recent years, and as a result this was our first F.A. Cup fixture since losing 3-0 after extra time to Beckenham Town way back in the August of 2018, so it’s been a while, but we were fortunate that the game took place at all as a torrential downpour made the new artificial surface waterlogged as the players tried to warm up. It looked like the game would be called off, but the referee chose to wait for a while to see whether conditions would improve and at just around 3.00pm the rain relented. By 3.15 it was clear that the surface was going to be playable shortly and we kicked off at 3.30 on the dot! How nice to see a match official apply a bit of common sense, instead of going by the book, which would have forced us all to congregate there again on the Wednesday!

We finally got going under cloudy and leaden skies, but just like our final friendly on Tuesday against Corinthian Casuals we were a bit slow out of the blocks against a team that had already played two Southern Combination League matches and almost went behind in the third minute after a miscommunication between Zach Powell and our new keeper Harvey Keogh resulting in a back pass that was just creeping inside the post before Keogh recovered to claw the ball away.

Keogh looked like he was going to have a busy day as the visitors threatened again seconds later and he had to make a superb double save; first from a long range strike and then from the follow up from a narrow angle. We hadn’t really started and he then had to make a third save to tip a header wide from a Horsham YMCA free kick, all inside the opening ten minutes!

The match was taking place almost exclusively in our half and Keogh had to palm away another shot after one of our defenders Nick Inwugwu had been dispossessed, before the visitors finally took the lead in the 21st minute. A corner wasn’t fully cleared by our boys and Sekou Toure swivelled well and struck the ball back across everyone into the far corner from around 18 yards.

It was the least they deserved to this point, but we made some changes to our shape and started to look a little more competitive. Tommy Williams made some progress down the right and set up Jaan Stanley, who laid the ball into the path of Ade Batula, but the side footed strike was a weak one and was straight at Harrison Mott in the YMCA goal. Batula then had another chance from an angle which forced Mott into a more challenging save and from the loose ball Williams sent a deep ball in that was headed away from Ethan Nelson-Roberts at the last second.

Nelson-Roberts then picked up a booking for a reason completely unknown to me and new Club Captain Callum Wilson tried his luck from fully forty yards but the shot dribbled wide of the goal. Just as I was about to send out a half time tweet advising the deficit, we pulled out an equaliser somewhat against the run of play as Batula got away down the left flank, cut in and slotted the ball past Mott from about eight yards in the second minute of injury time with the visiting defence nowhere. This was even more impressive seeing as Batula had just received treatment after being on the wrong end of a solid, crunching but fair challenge from Danny White, following a bit of a hospital pass from Ash Snaddon our Assistant Manager!

In the end we played around five minutes of added time, for this and two other delays caused by injury to visiting players who had to be substituted off and a third YMCA substitution would be required just nine minutes into the second half, leaving them with none left, due to the limit of three in FA Cup ties.

As the second half progressed we found ourselves a little on the defensive and a sliced clearance from Keogh gave the opposition a good chance, but the attack was blocked out excellently by Inwugwu for a corner, although as a result of the challenge he was replaced a couple of minutes later by Ollie Thompson. However, in the 63rd minute we took the lead. Williams made good ground on the right wing and his low ball in was just reached by Tino Carpene who got his toe to the ball ahead of a defensive challenge just inside the box and won the penalty. It can’t have looked too clear for others as a couple of people asked for my view on it during and after the match, but I was certain and more importantly, so was the referee!

Stanley stepped up and scored his third penalty in three weeks, but his first official one for the club in the 64th minute to give us a 2-1 advantage that we would not let slip. The visitors pushed for an equaliser but they seemed to have run out of ideas and were restricted to a couple of long range efforts and a shot dragged across goal from twelve yards which really should have hit the target. We rarely looked in danger and might even have made it 3-1 after a great run down the right from substitute Negathas which ended with a pull back for Stanley, but he sent the chance just over the bar from ten yards out.

Fortunately the miss didn’t cost us and after nearly nine minutes of injury time the final whistle confirmed the victory which now gives us a home tie against Step Four Met Police in the Preliminary Round. It wasn’t the greatest of starts, but we grew into what became quite an enjoyable match and I’m just grateful that the game was played, even if it was the final tie to complete on this FA Cup Saturday!

Epsom & Ewell: Harvey Keogh, Tommy Williams, Ethan Nelson-Roberts, Zach Powell, Nick Inwugwu, Callum Wilson ©, Ade Batula, Ash Snaddon, Jaan Stanley, Chester Clothier, Tino Carpene

Subs: Ollie Thompson for Inwugwu (61), Rory Edwards for Snaddon (78), Sirak Negathas for Carpene (88)

Report Source: www.eefconline.co.uk

The first details of Gatwick’s multi-billion pound expansion plans – to double capacity and create a second Heathrow Airport in the south east – have emerged.

Gatwick originally submitted its bid to create a fully functioning two-runway airport to the planning inspector in July, as it pushes to increase annual capacity to 78 million passengers.

The plans have now been released to the public ahead of an expected six-month hearing due to begin at the end of the year.

The airport’s current annual capacity is 32.8million passengers. It wants to double that by building space for an extra 100,000 flights a year.

The project “would also include the development of supporting infrastructure and facilities to enable increased capacity at Gatwick airport to service 75 million passengers per year by 2038”.

The plans include:

Repositioning northern runway so both can be used together
Reconfigured taxiways
A new pier
Extensions to the north and south terminals
New hotel and office space
New car parks
Highways improvements

Opponents, including 10 neighbouring councils, and the Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), said they were “disappointed” the application is moving forward as they had raised “significant concerns about Gatwick’s approach towards engagement and consultation”.

A spokesperson for CAGNE said: “Time and time again, airports that seek expansion and growth during the climate emergency use the same straplines to convince the government that it will be good for the country and that everything else can be mitigated. “Gatwick seems to have done the same.”

They added: “The planet cannot afford this expansion. We are horrified that a government Planning Inspector would agree to a second runway when it impacts the wellbeing and house value of so many residents, as well as the planet.”

The group said it was preparing a “strong legal team” to put forward a case against expansion. “The broken record keeps spinning as far as Gatwick’s management are concerned. The Development Consent Order is a cheap way to significantly increase capacity, without having to pay for the infrastructure needed to support such vast growth”, the spokesperson said.

Final sign off will be decided by the  Secretary of State .

Tandridge District Council is a member of a consortium of 10 local councils in Surrey, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex, which have come together to ensure their interests are represented.

A joint statement read: “We are disappointed that the Planning Inspectorate has this week decided to “accept” Gatwick Airport Limited’s development consent order application for dual runway operations through the routine use of the existing northern runway for its detailed consideration and examination.

“We had raised significant concerns about Gatwick’s approach towards engagement and consultation with us and the wider local community and felt that further, more meaningful consultation should have taken place before the application was submitted.

“Now the application has been accepted, we will engage with the Planning Inspectorate with the many outstanding issues that are unresolved and without agreement across a wide range of issues. We believe this challenging situation will require significant resources from the local authorities to present its case on the many and varied environmental and economic impacts arising from the development and the associated growth of the airport.

“It is hoped that engagement and provision of information by( Gatwick) will improve as we approach examination to give confidence to all parties about the impacts of the proposals and enable the Secretary of State to make a robust decision.”

London Gatwick’s chief planning officer Tim Norwood, said: “In coming weeks, the airport will let residents and other stakeholders know how they can register their interest in taking part in the examination stage of the planning process, so they can submit comments and feedback on our important proposals.”

London Gatwick’s DCO application is available on the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

Those interested in finding out about CAGNE’ fundraising can visit www.cagne.org.

Crawley Borough Council, East Sussex County Council, Horsham District Council, Kent County Council, Mid Sussex District Council, Mole Valley District Council, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Surrey County Council, Tandridge District Council, West Sussex County Council form the coalition of councils.

Related reports:

Gatwick to get 2nd runway?

On 4 August 1972, the Ugandan dictator, General Idi Amin, ordered around 60,000 ethnic Asians to leave the country within 90 days. In the autumn and winter of 1972 to 1973, over 28,000 Ugandan Asians refugees who held British passports, arrived in the UK following their eviction, after hastily organised and often fraught journeys. Most left behind their entire wealth and worldly possessions.

The Home Office organised The Ugandan Resettlement Board (URB) to set up camps across the country in which to house in-coming refugees. The majority were billeted at large camps across the UK but one small temporary camp was located in Surrey, at Hobbs Barracks, near Lingfield.

In 2022, the ‘British Ugandan Asians at 50’ project marked the 50th anniversary of the expulsion of Asian communities from Uganda.

The Surrey History Centre has made the following appeal: “South Asian culture has made a significant impact on Britain and its rich and proud heritage has blended into the British way of life, contributing to the diversity of our nation. Celebrating South Asian Heritage Month (18 July to 17 August), provides an opportunity for us to discover, embrace and celebrate the history and identity of British South Asians. Find out more about the South Asian Heritage Month campaign.

This year’s theme ‘Stories to tell’ promotes the unique stories that make up South Asian communities, but it is also an opportunity to share your memories and preserve them in the archives at Surrey History Centre. Documenting South Asian presence in Surrey is key to making our heritage collections representative of all communities in the county. If you have stories or material which you can contribute, we’d be delighted to hear from you.“

You can read more about the history of the Surrey county wide support for the refugees and other initiatives of the Surrey History Centre HERE.

Surrey History Centre

_{Image: Refugees arriving at Stansted Airport 1972 cc National Education Network}

The popular adventure park off Horton Lane in Epsom known as Hobbledown has temporarily closed. This follows reports by the UK Health and Security Agency that three children who had visited the park had developed symptoms consistent with STEC (Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli)

Most E. coli strains do not cause disease, naturally living in the gut, but virulent strains can cause gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis and other conditions.

Nick De Candole, the owner, published a statement on the business’s website as follows:

“We have been informed by health authorities of a very small number of cases of an E. coli infection in individuals who recently visited the Park. After learning of this we immediately and voluntarily closed the Park as a precaution.

We are in close contact with Epsom & Ewell District Council Environmental Health team and also the UK Health Security Agency and co-operating fully with both on their respective investigations.

I have written to everyone who visited between 11 and 27 July to inform them of the situation and included with this a letter from the UKHSA with further information and guidance.

We are offering those who have booked to visit while we’re closed options to reschedule or a full refund, plus 50% off next visit.

I can assure everyone that the wellbeing of visitors to Hobbledown is our absolute priority and we do everything in our power to keep guests safe. We look forward to welcoming everyone back soon.”

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council advises “The symptoms of STEC , which include diarrhoea and stomach cramps, usually resolve themselves over a few days, but can occasionally lead to more serious outcomes. If you or someone in your family are showing symptoms of STEC, including bloody diarrhoea, and have visited the farm since 12 July, please contact NHS 111.”

Personal injury adviser Claire Glasgow of law firm Field Fisher explains why E.coli must be taken seriously. “Several children involved in past claims for damages for negligent exposure to the E.Coli O157 bacteria subsequently developed HUS (haemolytic uraemic syndrome). HUS can lead to very serious complications including high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney failure, diabetes, seizures, neurological damages, coma, and, in severe cases, brain damage.

“An additional concern for the families involved is the uncertainty of the impact of the infection on their children as they grow up. At the very least, they face regular and ongoing hospital tests and live under the stress of potential long-term health problems.”

In Surrey, almost half of our emissions come from transport, and about half of that is from private vehicles. So, reducing the emissions from the way we travel about, whether that’s by walking or cycling more, using public transport or switching to an electric car, can help to drastically reduce our carbon footprint.

Electric vehicles (EVs) produce no exhaust emissions, so are much cleaner than petrol or diesel cars. Approximately 40% of households in Surrey do not have access to a driveway at home, so innovative solutions are needed to encourage more people to switch to EVs.

Launch of domestic kerbside charging trials

On Thursday 15 June, Clean Air Day, we launched a trial of two domestic kerbside electric vehicle charging solutions for Surrey residents who do not have access to off-street parking. The trial, one of the first in the UK, will allow residents to choose from two options, either cable gullies or a Trojan AON charger. Both connect to the residents’ domestic energy supply, to allow home charging for EVs without the need for a driveway.

Both options are being introduced as part of a trial, with limited numbers of each available. We will use the trial to assess effectiveness and popularity, combined with feedback from residents who participate.

The two products being trialled are cable gullies and Trojan AON chargers. Cable gullies are channels installed in the pavement that can be used to safely trail an EV charging cable, whereas Trojan AON chargers are installed on the pavement near the kerb with a cable laid underneath the pavement connecting it directly to a property’s own electrical supply.

How can I take part?

Site selection for the cable gullies will take place in two stages. An initial survey will need to be completed to register interest and share location details. If the site is suitable, the electric vehicle team at Surrey County Council will contact applicants for a more detailed assessment. Site selection for the AON chargers will be determined by Trojan Energy. To read more information and apply, please visit the Electric vehicles and on street charge points web page.

What if I can’t take part in either trial?

These pilots are part of a suite of EV charging solutions that we are working on deploying across Surrey. We have recently appointed Connected Kerb to install thousands of public EV chargepoints over the next five years across the county that may provide a suitable alternative to you in the meantime. Read the press release about our contract with Connected Kerb to find out more about on-street chargepoint installations.

For more information visit the electric vehicles and on street chargepoint roll out web page.

Related Reports:

Let’s go Electric Epsom and Ewell

Council driving forward with electric chargers

Kerbing car pollution trial in Surrey

26,000 tonnes of recyclable waste can be found in Surrey’s rubbish

Research shows that many people feel like they are already recycling as much as they can. But according to data, over 26,000 tonnes of recyclable waste can be found in Surrey’s rubbish bins.

Categorised by material, that would look something like this…

• 9,096 tonnes of paper and card, equating to the weight of roughly 5,000 cars.
• 8,353 tonnes of plastic, equal to the weight of almost 1,500 elephants.
• 6,619 tonnes of glass, that’s approximately the weight of 9,500 cows.
• 2,268 tonnes of metal, equivalent to around the weight of 4,500 polar bears.

Why is this a big deal?

By recycling more you can help fight climate change as recycling generates less carbon dioxide than rubbish disposal. When the extra carbon dioxide from rubbish disposal enters the air it increases the greenhouse effect, raising the planet’s temperature to be warmer than it should be naturally.

If just over 26,000 tonnes of rubbish was recycled instead of going to disposal, we could save the equivalent of 42,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being released into the environment.

It costs less money to recycle than it does send rubbish for disposal, so recycling is good for the environment and for our pockets.

Win, win, with your recycling bin

This summer, please help the planet by recycling more. This includes:

• Letters, envelopes, paper, card, leaflets, catalogs, glossy brochures and magazines, junk mail, newspapers and cardboard.
• Food packaging such as plastic pots, tubs and trays.
• Plastic bottles used for shampoo, detergent, and cleaning products.
• Glass bottles and jars.
• Metal food tins for things like tuna, soup, fruit and pet food.

If you are unsure if a product you have can be recycled or not check the Surrey Recycles Search Tool for more information.

These small changes will make a big impact, not only to the planet but to local councils who can use the money saved for essential services for Surrey’s communities instead.

Find out more at the Surrey Environment Partnership web page.

Rethinking your waste and changing your habits can earn you prizes

Would you like to win prizes when you rethink your waste? Rethink Waste is up and running and rewards you when you help the planet by reducing your waste. You can collect points by completing weekly activities such as quizzes, making a pledge, or watching a short video. Points can be transferred into prizes!

The scheme launched last month and so far, residents have been focusing their efforts on getting as much material out of the rubbish bin as they can. Over the coming months, the scheme will focus on reducing waste when cleaning the house and cooking. After that, if you’ve signed up, you will learn about some of the tools that can be used to make sure we’re respecting the all-important waste hierarchy!

You can use your points in several ways. You can use them to donate money to charity or enter prize draws.

Rethink Waste is available for free and is exclusive to Surrey residents. It is being delivered by Surrey Environment Partnership, which is a partnership of all the councils in Surrey set up to deliver projects to reduce waste and increase recycling across the county.

If you’re not signed up already and want to earn points, sign up today on the Green Redeem website.

Related reports:

Recycling for food

Council elastic on plastic?

Reaching recyclables others cannot reach …..

On Monday 31st July we went to see Annie Get Your Gun at the Lavender Theatre – a recently erected outdoor space amongst lavender fields in Reigate Road, Epsom. A new venture for Mayfield Lavender.. the owners of the family-run lavender farm in Banstead. Fortunately, it was a lovely evening and the setting perfect. We were welcomed into the theatre after passing through the stunning shop with beautiful gifts including ‘lavender chocolate bars’ – outside one could buy drinks and enjoy delicious eats before the performance.

The show included celebrated stars from the music world – SuRie (represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song concert in 2018) as Anna, Charlie Mccullagh (Frank) and many other wonderful performers including three children.

We were enthralled by the magic of this open-air show, tapping our feet to the famous tunes including “no business like show business” and ‘Doin’ what comes natur’lly’.

I can honestly say it was one of our best evenings out! Huge congratulations to Director Simon Hardwick and his team.

Tickets are still available until the show ends on Saturday 5th August!

On sale today at lavendertheatre.com.

As locals we hope that this innovative exciting venture will continue – another jewel for our area.

Related reports:

New Epsom theatre very open for business

Schools across the county are having their outdated end-of-life gas boilers replaced with new solar heating systems to help combat “skyrocketing” energy prices.

The £6million project is split between time-sensitive Government cash coupled with Surrey County Council’s “greener futures” fund which it says will be “effectively repaid’ via £1.6m in overall savings from cheaper fuel bills – or through reduced energy tariffs to schools.

The work will be carried out over the summer and is scheduled to be completed before the start of the new school year. This is not only to minimise disruption but also because the Government contracts are time-bound, meaning if it is not used, the cash is lost.

Surrey County Council’s greener futures strategy says evidence that climate change is real is beyond doubt and its effects are already being felt.

It says an increase in man-made greenhouse gases will impact on the “health, wellbeing and finances of Surrey’s residents, businesses, landscapes and biodiversity for many years to come” and as such, the county intends “to play its part by reducing its dependency on fossil fuels”.

The Tuesday, July 25, environment meeting heard from lead councillor Marisa Heath who said one of the chosen schools told her they were “absolutely thrilled because they’ve got skyrocketing energy prices and can’t even get the temperature right”. She said: “They’re really excited that we’re working with them on this. It’s a great program proposal. We need to move it on as we’ve been successful in getting government money.”

The first set of schools to benefit from the new heating panels are: Beauclerc Infant School, in Sunbury, Kingswood Primary School, in Lower Kingswood, St Peters Centre, in Englefield Green, Worplesdon Primary School, in Worplesdon, and Park Mead Primary School, in Cranleigh.

_{Image – example of school with solar panels cc ZSM}

Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing and East Surrey MP Claire Coutinho visited High Ashurst Outdoor Education Centre on Monday 31 July.

High Ashurst is one of Surrey’s Outdoor Learning & Development centres and is home to one of the county’s ‘Club4’ camps. Funded by the Department for Education (DfE), Club4 is Surrey’s response to the Government’s national Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) programme which provides support for families whose children are on benefits related free school meals during the longer school holidays.

The Club4 programme covers six weeks of the summer holidays and offers a wide spread of camps in local communities, weighted to those areas of the county likely to see the highest demand. During the summer holidays alone, just under 40,000 places are being made available across 160 locations. The Club4 programme is run by Active Surrey on behalf of the council.

During her visit to High Ashurst, a regional champion for the South East in the national HAF 2023 awards, the Minister observed some of the activities taking place, talked to a number of the children and staff and took part in a woodland craft and skills session.

Claire Coutinho, Minister for Children, Families and Wellbeing and MP for East Surrey said: “The Holiday Activities and Food Programme plays a really important role in filling that gap between terms and providing childcare and food provision over the holidays.

“It’s been really great to see everything that Surrey Outdoor Learning & Development is providing children with over the holidays and how they are teaching our children valuable skills while making sure they are having fun over the holidays.”

Clare Curran, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Education & Learning said: “We know that school holidays can be difficult times for families who struggle financially, so I’m pleased that we are able to provide free holiday activities and food club places for those who need them throughout the summer holidays.

“We’re delighted that the Minister has chosen to visit one of the 160+ HAF locations in Surrey. Places at camps like the one at High Ashurst help keep children safe, occupied and fed during the school holidays, and make a real difference to the happiness and health of families who wouldn’t otherwise have access to holiday activity camps.

“This offer is particularly invaluable during the ongoing cost of living crisis, which we know represents a huge challenge for families, and aligns with our guiding principle that no one in Surrey is left behind.”

Lil Duggan, Managing Director of Active Surrey, said: “More than 50% of children in Surrey are missing NHS guidelines to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. The nutritious meals and physical activities provided at Club4 camps are vital in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of young people who need it most.

“The camps can even improve school attendance for some children: keeping them engaged during the long break helps them build social skills and make new friends.”

The Club4 programme makes up part of the council’s offer to families in need this summer, with the council also having agreed to continue funding Free School Meals for eligible children during the school holiday. More information on that is available here

For more information on ‘Club4’ please visit: https://www.activesurrey.com/community/club4

For more information on the Government’s national Holiday Activities & Food Programme please visit: national Holiday Activities & Food programme

For more information on High Ashurst Outdoor Education Centre please visit: https://www.surreyoutdoorlearning.uk/centres/high-ashurst

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is pleased to announce that the Epsom & Ewell Employment Hub is expanding its service to help all residents who are looking for work.

The Hub is a free employment and skills service, designed to help residents plan their next steps. Since the service launched in December 2021, the Hub has focused on those aged 16-24 in receipt of Universal Credit and has supported more than 600 young people. The team will now be able to help people of all ages in Epsom & Ewell find lasting work, including those who are refugees and people with additional needs.

The dedicated team at the Hub mentor residents who are looking for work, offering friendly support and advice on all aspects of job searching as well as helping them overcome barriers to employment. This includes holding workshops to develop interview skills, build CVs and improve interpersonal skills, as well as liaising with local employers to offer apprenticeships and work placements. The team hold regular job fairs where local employers and job seekers are matched.

The expansion of services at the Hub has been made possible following a change in funding; the Hub will now be funded by Epsom & Ewell Borough Council from the UK Prosperity Fund. The council continues to lead on the project with Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership. Both organisations work with a steering group of partners, including NESCOT, Go Epsom and Coast to Capital.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Committee, said “The Epsom & Ewell Employment Hub is an incredible resource for our community and the team there are already doing a fantastic job supporting young people to find employment.  It is great news that they will now be able to help even more people in the borough find meaningful and lasting work.”

Kevin Delf, from Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership, said “The employment market can be daunting. The team at the Hub can now ensure that all residents who are looking for employment are given the skills and support they need to succeed.”

Anna, a previous Employment Hub client, said “The workshops at the Hub helped me improve my body language and build my confidence, as well as giving me useful interview tips. Thanks to the support provided by the Hub, I was successful in my application for a new role.” Read Anna’s case study at the end of this release.

The Hub has relationships with charities including the Workers Educational Association, National Careers Advice, Multiply (Maths & English), Step Forward YMCA, Mary Francis Trust and Work Stress Solutions.

The Hub assists local businesses with their recruitment needs, connecting employers with local residents who are actively searching for their next move. Local business owners who would like to be involved should email:epsomandewellhub@surreyllp.org.uk

The Hub is open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm and is based in Global House in the Ashley Centre, in Epsom town centre.

Case Studies:

Anna

Originally from Ukraine, achieved both a degree and a master’s degree in food technology in Ukraine, and had experience in sales management. Anna was looking for employment and Epsom Jobcentre Plus referred her to the Epsom & Ewell Employment Hub for support. The Hub worked with Anna to prepare her for interviews, which were very different from those she had experienced in Ukraine.

The team also helped encourage Anna, who was simultaneously working to improve her English with the Epsom Refugee Network. Anna attended workshops at the Epsom & Ewell Employment Hub to help her manage nerves and improve her interview skills.

Anna said: “The Employment Hub workshops, hosted with Nescot performing arts, taught me techniques to improve my body language and build my confidence, as well as voice projection exercises and useful interview tips.

Thanks to the support provided by the Epsom & Ewell Employment Hub, I was successful in my application for a new role a few weeks later. In Epsom & Ewell I feel I have been supported and welcomed, and I’m looking forward to continuing to live and work here.”

Lily

A graphic design graduate, was referred to the Epsom & Ewell Employment Hub during the summer. She was receiving Universal Credit after struggling to find employment after graduating.

The Epsom & Ewell Employment Hub worked with Lily to prepare her for an intern interview. The team supported Lily to find ways to deal with the emotional ups and downs of job seeking and to remain resilient and motivated throughout the process.

Although Lily was not successful on that occasion, the team were able to continue to support her as she continued to network and apply for roles. A few weeks later, Lily successfully obtained a role with a London agency as a creative designer.

Lily said: “I felt that the Hub was a great support in aiding with my anxieties and keeping up my motivation when applying for jobs and going to interviews, and the ways I could reflect on my rejections.”

 Related reports:

Council will get a Youth Hub

Local £1200 per job matching service to continue, unquestioned by Council…

A young Epsom couple will be making a large donation to charity after the miniature vase they purchased in an Epsom charity shop for £2.50 sold this weekend at auction for £6300.

The beautiful black Japanese cloisonne 4-inch-high vase by Namikawa Yasuyuki, featuring a cockerel, hen and chicks was created during the late 19^th century. The same technique was used to create the taller red vase shown, which I purchased from the Debra charity shop in Ewell Village a few years ago.

Whilst charity shops, like Debra in Ewell and the one in Epsom the young couple visited, are always on the lookout for Asian treasures, due to the profitable Chinese and Japanese antique markets, work of the quality of Yasuyuki rarely finds its way onto the bric-a-brac shelves of charity shops; so it is not difficult to understand how the fine detailed cloisonne work was overlooked and perhaps mistaken for a transfer print. Note how different the red Debra charity shop Japanese cloisonne vase looks to the young Epsom couple’s find.     

Cloisonne is the technique of creating designs on metal vessels with coloured glass paste which is placed within enclosures made of copper or bronze wires attached to the vessel. Then the vessel is fired in a kiln at a temperature of about 800C. 

Although there were markings on the base of the black cloisonne vase, it would have taken an expert to understand the significance of these, which is why the young Epsom couple contacted Canterbury Auction Galleries who succeeded in selling the much sought after vase today. The auction house had sold a larger vase by Yasuyuki for £29,000 in April 2019.

The Epsom couple that found the Yasuyuki cloisonne vase have generously pledged to make a large donation to the Epsom charity shop they purchased the vase from.

The finders intend to treat themselves to a well-deserved holiday with the remaining sale proceeds.

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DEBRA was established in 1978 by Phyllis Hilton, whose daughter Debra had epidermolysis bullosa (EB), as the world’s first patient support group for people living with EB. Epidermolysis bullosa is the name for a group of painful genetic skin conditions that cause the skin to become very fragile and tear or blister at the slightest touch.

The local branch can be found at 78 High St, Ewell, Epsom KT17 1RE

Top photo background image: cc. Remi Mathis (auction illustration, not the real one).