Constituency News
The Future of the Durdans
Chris has written to the Earl of Halifax, owner of the historic Lavandou racing stables alongside the Durdans, to express the widespread concern in the town at the impending application for the development of the site. Speaking at a public meeting in February at Epsom and Ewell Town Hall, Chris made clear that he is very concerned at the threat to the future of this historic site. "It is very important that this important site is preserved for the racing industry," he says, "especially as there have been offers to buy the site as a racing stable in recent years. The Durdans racing stables must not be allowed to become another lost part of our local heritage."
MP opposes redevelopment of The White House
Epsom and Ewell MP Chris Grayling is supporting local residents opposing the redevelopment of the White House, a much loved local landmark in Salisbury Road in Worcester Park. Epsom and Ewell Borough Council rejected an application to demolish the only thatched building in the borough back in 2005, but now a fresh application has been made to redevelop the site as flats. "We all thought that the White House had been saved," says Chris. "There is no support locally for this site to be redeveloped, and both Epsom and Ewell Council and the Planning Inspectorate have rejected proposals to demolish this building in the past. It seems wrong that, despite all the borough's efforts to preserve this historic local site, it should be under threat once again."
Antisocial behaviour in Langley Vale
Chris has met local residents and police to discuss the appropriate response to a recent spate of antisocial behaviour in Langley Vale. Following a number of arrests, they have agreed to meet again in March to review the situation.
Mansion's future secured after MP's intervention
Chris has brokered a solution to the future of Nonsuch Mansion which will secure
public access to the building for the future. Under the agreement, Surrey County
Council will offer Epsom and Ewell and Sutton Councils a 125-year lease on the
Mansion and the Park, with a requirement that public access to the building
should continue more about the future of Nonsuch Mansion.
Good news on the hospital sites
Chris has been in touch with the new developers of the Epsom Hospital Cluster and is delighted by their confirmation that plans for a local centre on the Horton site will now go ahead as soon as possible more about good news on the hospital sites
MP puts pressure on Government agency over missing shop.
Chris has held discussions with officials from English Partnerships, the Government agency handling the sale of the remaining hospital sites in Epsom, to try to speed up the process of getting a small shop built to serve the new communities there more about MP puts pressure on Government agency over missing shop
MP leads protests against train seats "rip-out"
Chris has met senior managers at Stagecoach Rail, who run South West Trains, to protest about plans to continue ripping out seats on commuter trains to create extra standing room in the rush hour. "More and more people are standing on their daily commute into work. Given the rises in ticket prices, it's just not good enough," he says.
Fight against Parsons Mead Development
Chris is working with local councillors to try to ensure that the owners of Parsons Mead school sell the site for educational purposes and not redevelopment. "I think the decision to close the school was hugely unfair on parents and pupils. But now the challenge is to ensure that the site doesn't just become another redevelopment area."
THOUSANDS MARCH IN SUPPORT OF EPSOM HOSPITAL
"I was completely blown away by the scale of the turnout," Chris said
afterwards. "I hope that this time the NHS gets the message about how
strongly we all feel about our local hospital." more about thousands march in support of epsom hospital
Push for lower fares
Chris has met Southern, the rail company which operates from the Epsom area into Victoria, to try to get Ewell East and Epsom moved into Zone 6, which will reduce fares for local people more about push for lower fares
A shop for the hospital sites?
Chris has met representatives of English Partnerships, the Government agency responsible for the sale of the remaining hospital sites, to discuss plans for a small shop to serve the new developments at Manor Park, Livingstone Park and Clarendon Park more about a shop for hospital sites?
Parsons Mead School
Chris has joined local parents and councillors in resisting plans to develop the Parsons Mead school site in Ashtead more about Parsons Mead School
Upper High Street
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has decided not to back plans for a new hypermarket at Upper High Street in Epsom town centre - a decision warmly welcomed by Chris. "I am delighted that the council has decided not to back this plan, which I think would have caused a lot of damage to other businesses in the town centre, as well as adding to Epsom's congestion problems," says Chris. "I hope this will now be an end to the matter, and that developers will not prolong the uncertainty for Epsom residents by appealing against the decision."
Upper High Street
Chris welcomes the news that the plans for a major supermarket development on Upper High Street in Epsom have been dropped for the time being. "Many local people felt that the scale of the proposed scheme was far too big for the size and location of the site," says Chris. "Let us hope that the revised scheme will be more suited to a town centre like Epsom."
MP backs residents over development pressures
Local
MP Chris Grayling is increasingly concerned at the number
of inappropriate planning applications being made for sites
all over the constituency more about MP backs residents over development pressures
Tackling antisocial behaviour
Sadly, even pleasant areas like Epsom and Ewell have their share of troublemakers and antisocial behaviour. Chris is in regular contact with Surrey Police, and is always happy to pass on feedback from local people about worrying incidents. There have been particular problems recently in Stoneleigh Broadway and Vale Road, and Chris has been in discussion with local officers to try to sort out the difficulties.