Winter 2004/5 Newsletter

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Welcome to the winter edition of West Ewell and Ruxley Residents' Association's magazine. It has been a busy time for this committee and its councillors. I would like to start by paying tribute to the members of this Association for the dedication and passion that they all display in striving to make our wards better places to live in. Their commitment and tireless campaigning never fail to impress me and I believe that they serve you, their fellow residents, admirably.

Currently we are building links with the local police in order to ensure that resources are wisely spent and that they are addressing the relevant needs of this area.

We have been analysing the proposals for the Kiln Lane Link; our concerns, and those of many of you, are detailed in this newsletter.

We also feel it is important to fully investigate all aspects of local healthcare issues and the ramifications of possible hospital site closures. Once again this association is working hard to ensure questions are asked and local authorities are held accountable on issues that affect us all.

We are lucky enough to have the support of our many road stewards, but there is always room for further volunteers and I would be delighted to see some new faces on this committee. Councillor Jan Mason has written a report of the funding she has distributed over the last year, which is one example of the influence that this committee can have on making improvements to our wards.

As my predecessors have done before me, I would like to take this opportunity to urge all of you to ask yourself whether you feel you are the sort of person who cares enough to do something...

The achievements and wins gained by WERRA are too long to list here. However, they can only be built upon with the support and involvement of as many residents as possible. Once again I would ask, do you care enough to do something? I would suspect, if you are reading this, you probably do.

If you feel you can help in any way, please contact the Secretary or one of our other committee members

Steve Yates

If you have any problems you would like to report to Epsom & Ewell Borough Council, please ring the Contact Centre on 01372 732000 or e-mail at

As well as keeping committee members and Councillors updated with minutes of the monthly meetings I have also been writing letters on their behalf. These have included asking for comment from Surrey CC Local Transportation Service on the effects of the Highway Maintenance (road re-surfacing) carried out in Ruxley Lane in August/September that resulted in much confusion and frustration due to poor signage. In their prompt response the Engineer acknowledged that the public relations on these works had admittedly been poor and that they "apologised for the exceptional problem caused by our contractors with this scheme".

I have also responded to a letter from SCC asking for comment on the introduction of Decriminalised Parking. This will see the appointment of parking attendants to deal with people who contravene parking legislation. In my reply I identified ward members' concerns about cars being parked on pavements. This is illegal, causes obstruction and danger to pedestrians, and can impair drivers' view of the road.

The Kiln Lane Link is now approaching the next phase of its proposed development. Following the Kiln Lane Exhibition in July I asked for a breakdown of the number of people attending from our two wards and their response to the questionnaire. This showed 161 in favour and 21 opposed to the link. Although this is a large percentage in favour, your RA Committee still have serious concerns about the overall impact this development will have locally and intend to bring this to the attention of the County Highways and the Borough Planning committee through our RA Councillors and members. If you also have strong feelings about this proposed development I would be pleased to hear from you.

After test drilling was carried out early one Saturday morning in August on the Gadesden Road garage site I wrote to Roseberry Housing Association about their intentions. In their reply they confirm their hopes to "re-develop the site to provide much needed affordable housing for local people". They also intend "that adequate parking for the new housing will be provided on the site adjacent to the new houses and flats. We are also aiming to provide additional parking in the streets around the site" and "subject to consultation and the receipt of all the required approval we aim to start works on site in February 2005". No planning application has yet been submitted but your Committee and RA councillors will be closely monitoring the situation.

Copies of all the letters referred to above can be obtained from me on request.

If you would like to address the committee on any local issue then please do contact me. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of most months in the Webber Hall alongside All Saints Church, Fulford/Church Road, West Ewell at 7.30pm. Or, of course, any of your local R.A. Councillors will be pleased to speak to you at any time.

Gill Smitheram

The highway network within Clarendon Park is now complete with the exception of a few remedial measures that the developer is aware of and is planning to carry out in the near future. This will include an entry treatment at both entrances. The draft adoption agreement covering the highway aspect of this site is under discussion with the developers and should be completed early in the new year. Formal adoption will follow shortly after.

The development at Livingstone Park (former Horton Hospital) is continuing, with approximately 20 properties occupied. Construction along the remaining section of Long Grove Road and the new road along the back of Brettgrave commenced in spring this year and is due for completion in December 2004.

The highway works to dual the section of Chessington Road from Ruxley Lane to Hook Road was opened to traffic on 18th October and there will be an extensive landscaping scheme in the 2004/2005 planting season.

I am very pleased that Surrey Council has agreed to send a mobile library to Cox Lane Centre from 3pm until 3:20pm on alternate Wednesday afternoons. I put forward the idea two years ago as I know that it is sometimes difficult for our residents to walk to Ewell Court Library. If it is successful, SCC have said that they will consider extending the stop at the Centre. I am pleased we also retain the Collier Close stop, which we all fought so hard to keep several years ago. Please use it or we could lose it. Further details will follow of the proposed after-school stop at Southfields Park. The Library Service will also seek views on the most accessible place to serve Waters edge residents. The new vehicle is 8.1 metres long and 2.3 metres wide, and has a powered lift for wheelchair users. It carries over 2,000 items for adults and children - novels and information books, large print and spoken word on cassette. Customers may request up to two books per visit, free of charge, if they are not immediately available on the vehicle but are in the stock of Surrey County Council Libraries. The service is free. Library Manager Cohn Fisher welcomes new members. Documentary proof of address is needed to join the library.

Make a note of the dates of its visits to Cox Lane from 3pm to 3.20pm on these Wednesday afternoons in the New Year: 12th January, 26th January, 9th February, 23th February, 9th March, 23th March.

I am pleased to report that some of the roads I submitted - Cox Lane , Chessington Road , Riverholme Drive and Meadowview Road - have been resurfaced. Amis Avenue , Derek Avenue , Larkspur Way and Fulford Road have been patched. For the year 2005/6 I have submitted Danetree, Fulford, Longmead, Chesterfield, Belfield and Sefton Roads and Larkspur Way , Amis Avenue , Derek Avenue and Sunnymede Avenue for resurfacing. Bids are decided at County Hall, so we must wait to see if we are successful.  

The new surgery is nearly complete and will make a tremendous difference to the delivery of health care to the residents of Ruxley. I am due to meet officers of the Borough Council and Primary Care Trust to discuss how to spend the £5000 I have contributed from my members' allowance towards landscaping the car park, which will hopefully cover the cost of a new lamp column.

County members on Surrey's Local Committee in Epsom and Ewell have formally recommended that any critical care hospital planned for the restructured Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust should be sited centrally in the area - in the borough of Epsom and Ewell. The recommendation comes in response to the NHS consultation exercise, which identifies five possible locations for a new hospital, three of them in Epsom and Ewell. As Local Committee chairman, Jan Mason pointed out that the Trust area went out into Surrey as far as Fetcham, and that a critical care hospital in the geographical centre would be the most accessible for all those it served.

Your Councillors have been attending meetings and have debated and considered the Borough's response, and your RA Committee strongly defends the retention of A&E and full maternity services within the borough.

This consultation ended on the 30th November and we hope you all took the opportunity of submitting your views by the closing date. A report on the consultation will be produced in December and the decision-making process will start in January with the preferred option site being named in the Spring of 2005.

Thanks to our Road Stewards who petitioned door to door as part of the Save Epsom General Hospital campaign.

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Leisure Development Team, together with local youth concerns, have submitted a bid for a part-time 3-year post of Community football coach, to work mostly in the Longmead area. Jan Mason has contributed £300 from her member's allowance to the cost of this post.

Carol Jay - Clive Smitheram - Jean Steer

A cross-over has been installed at the junction of First Avenue and Green Lanes to enable wheelchair users and mothers with buggies to cross the road in safety. This is also very helpful for our elderly residents who found the kerb too high and can easily trip. Please ensure that cars are not parked across this area and allow free access at all times.

There are lots of scams being operated at present, with text messages stating you have won a prize, or asking you to ring a number urgently. You are advised to be very careful before responding. These calls can cost £10 per minute. There are also bank frauds where a person calls saying they are doing a security check and asking for details of your bank account. BANKS DO NOT RING AND ASK FOR INFORMATION - THEY ALREADY HAVE ALL YOUR DETAILS.

The Streetcare Service has been running since April 2003. This has resulted in a number of improvements:­

Faster rectification of defects (e.g. removal of abandoned cars, replacement of litterbins etc.)

More vigorous attacks on anti social behaviour (our Rangers are now accredited as Police Support Officers)

Higher standards of removal of benches, signs, street nameplates etc. Implementation of planned renewal programmes for parks

Removal of reported graffiti

It is important that residents inform the if they see any defects that need attention (01372 732000).

You will have noticed that several roads in the West Ewell Ward have now been resurfaced and similar works are planned for the future. This has made a considerable difference, not only to the appearance of the road, but also, due to the material used on the roads, noise levels have been reduced. Broken and dislodged kerbstones have been repaired, which has enhanced the roads considerably.

During the new planting season some trees will be planted, which we hope will discourage those who park vehicles on kerbs and grass verges from doing so in the future. Councillors have been contacted by concerned residents regarding parking on kerbs and grass verges and the resulting damage. The Council is actively pursuing drivers who cause this type of damage and will recover costs of reinstatement and repaIrs.

There continues to be a problem with the theft of wheelie bins in the Borough. During the last 18 months 200 bins have been reported stolen. In order to make bins less attractive to thieves, police are asking residents to mark their bins with their house name or number, so that it is clearly visible. This would also help our operatives.

Where are these bins going and what are they being used for? If you have any information please contact either our Contact Centre 01372 732000 (e-mail on ) or contact PC lane Bellingham on 01372 845520.

We are hoping to arrange for a group of local school children to visit a landfill site shortly. The aim is to show children what happens to their waste and encourage them to play their part in recycling more. (We will report on this visit in the next Newsletter). A useful website to look at is www.recycle-more.co.uk - designed as a one-stop recycling centre, here you will find help and advice on all aspects of recycling at home, at school and in the workplace.

Nine million nappies are thrown away every week in the UK and 90% of these end up in landfill sites. Re-usable nappies are growing in popularity again and there are growing networks of 'real nappy' suppliers and laundry schemes around the country.

To find one near you contact the UK Nappy Line on 01983401959 or visit the website www.nappyline.org.uk

We have managed to extend the running of this service (7.30-2 am Friday and Saturday) until January. The return fare is £3 and it now stops in Longmead and Kingston Roads.

There are three Youth Development Service Centres in the Borough, all offering something to 13-19 year olds. The Edge is a new purpose-built centre on Watersedge with street dance, football and art sessions as well as pool, table tennis and fussball in the social centre. Lintons Lane Youth Centre offers a wide range of arts activities including dance, drama, filmmaking and music, and also offers the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, a pre-divers course, Basics of Baby sitting, KT17 magazine (a great opportunity for budding journalists) and Yell - the Epsom & Ewell Youth Forum.

YoYo in South Street has a drop-in coffee bar, pool table, TV, video, music, internet, playstation, and magazines. Starbucks offers 30% off drinks for 13-17 s on Fridays 7-10pm, with live music, DJ and comedy nights. All are staffed by SCC youth workers and offer opportunities to take part in projects, trips, performances and more. Call 01372 722644 to speak to the Youth Work Team or to leave a message.

Beat (Neighbourhood Specialist) Officers

If your call to the police is to report a crime while it is being committed, please use the 999 system. If you have information, or want advice, the new Surrey Police number is 0845 1252222, and PC James Green, collar no. 3118 is your local officer for West Ewell, PC Graham Lightfoot for Ruxley.

Ruxley Neighbourhood Specialist Officer

I have been with Surrey Police since 1999 and have worked at a number of police stations prior to arriving at Epsom in January 2001, where I qualified as a Detective Constable. I returned to uniform this July, taking on the new challenge of being a Neighbourhood Specialist Officer (NSO). NSOs work in a particular neighbourhood according to the local needs of that area. Our aim is to be locally known and knowledgeable, identify key local problems and be seen to make a difference.

The two areas that I am responsible for as NSO are Ruxley and Ewell Court Wards. I work closely in this role with PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) Kay "Dolly" Weeden. Kay has worked with Surrey Police for four years and has worked as a detention and station officer prior to becoming a PCSO in May 2004.

We both look forward to meeting and working closely with our local residents and fulfilling our aims.

PC Graham Lightfoot

Neighbourhood Policing

The Neighbourhood police officer, PC James Green, has regular meetings with residents at his surgery held at NESCOT. His area covers West Ewell, Court, Nonsuch and Ewell wards. Your Councillor Jean Steer attends these meetings and is happy to pass on concerns. On this subject, the police would like to see the reintroduction of Neighbourhood Watch and would like to hear from anyone who would be willing to set one up in their road.

Community Speed Watch

PC John Fruen at Epsom Police Station is looking for volunteers who would like to be involved in the new Community Speed Watch Programme, where members of the public will be trained to monitor traffic speeds on local roads using equipment supplied by Surrey Police. If you would like to know more, contact him on 08451252222 ext. 7579.

Epsom has a new Borough Inspector named Ailsa Quinlan. We send our best wishes to the outgoing Inspector Andrew Adams.

Derek Phillips - Jan Mason - John Lucas

Planning

Planning permission for ten houses in Ruxley Close has been refused by the Planning Committee. Your Association formally objected to this inappropriate development in an unmade-up and unadopted road.

Mole Court/end of Holman Road

Both of these areas have benefited from work carried out by the Council. This was as a result of a bid put in by your Councillors in 2002. Residents will benefit from extra parking and an area where children can play.

Cox Lane/Epsom & Ewell High Puffin Crossing

A detailed design is being drawn up at present and it is hoped that the crossing will be in place in January.

This website continues to develop, as time progresses we will build an archive of past newsletter issues so that we, and you, can see if we've achieved what we promised! The site contains an archive of our AGM minutes from 1970, and I hope that minutes from the 1960s will be available soon.

In order for the website to develop further I would be interested to have your feedback on a number of questions. What would you want to see on the website? Have we provided the information that you would like to see? Would you be interested in some local history? What about links to other businesses or organization?

The most important question is; would you like to maintain the website? This is a job that I have been doing since the summer and I have been limited by time and by having only fairly basic skills in this area. I would love to pass the baton to someone who has the creative flair and technical ability to develop the site into a much more exciting, and therefore more widely used resource.

If you can help please email me at

We urgently need someone to take over the job of visiting local businesses to arrange advertising in the newsletter (3 issues a year). Archie, who has done this for longer than we can remember, has decided to call it a day, but would welcome a volunteer for him to introduce to the advertisers before he goes. Please or call her on 020 8224 9226 to find out more.

We also need an assistant for the Road Steward Co-ordinator, and, as always, collectors of subscriptions and deliverers of newsletters. Again, there are three busy times of year for these jobs, at the spring, summer and Christmas issues. Contact Helen Worwood if you can help on 020 8294 1622

WERRA Road Stewards - ensuring you get to hear about local issues

Since the last newsletter, I have gained a lot of offers of help. We have swapped a few road stewards around, some people have moved out of the area and others have moved in; others still are in the process of moving and may not be with us by the time the Spring Newsletter comes around.

If, like me, you believe that "many hands make light work" and you live in or very close to one of the roads listed below, and can spare a few hours a year to deliver a few newsletters - then please give me a call. I'm happy to discuss what's involved.

Helen Worwood

West Ewell

Kingsmead Close (24)
Limecroft Close (28 Homes)
Plough Road (44 Homes)

Ruxley

Hartford Road (26 Homes)
Iris Road (35 Homes)
Kelvin Close (30 Homes)
Pemberley Chase (49 Homes)
Pemberly Close (20 Homes)
Pemberly House (12 Homes)
Larkspur Way (93 Homes)
Amis Avenue (104 Homes)
Collier Close (78 Homes)
Ruxley Close (17 Homes)
Ruxley Mews (16 Homes)
Ruxley Court (12 Homes)
Ash Court (42 Homes)
Carnforth Close (34 Homes)
Fendell Road (55 Homes)
Holman Road (61 Homes)
Kingfisher Court (4 Homes)
Longford Court (18 Homes)
Millais Way (16 Homes)
Wandle Court (30 Homes)
Watersedge (40 Homes)
Chessington Rd (Nos 374 - 476a) (55 Homes)