Chris Grayling

Upper High Street, November 2009

Chris has already expressed grave concerns at the latest scheme for this part of the town centre, and is due to meet residents living near the site of the proposed development very shortly. "I opposed the last application for Upper High Street," says Chris, "and this latest scheme seems to me to have many of the same drawbacks. My fear is that it will add to the considerable congestion problems we already have in Epsom, and that it is on a scale quite out of character with the rest of the town. Whether or not it goes ahead is entirely in the hands of the borough council, who own the car park on Upper High Street. My hope is that they will reject the application."

Remembering Police hero, June 2009

"Ninety years after one of the most dramatic events in Epsom's history, local MP Chris Grayling has unveiled a plaque in memory of Police Sergeant Thomas Green, who was killed defending the town's Police Station from hundreds of Canadian soldiers in the Epsom Riot of June 1919. "I suspect that few people living in Epsom now know about what was clearly a significant moment in the town's past, as well as a tragedy for Sergeant Green's family," says Chris. "It is absolutely right that, ninety years on, we mark the event in this way.

The Durdans, March 2009

Local MP Chris Grayling has warned of a tough battle ahead to save the historic racing stables at the Durdans from redevelopment, after the owner Lord Halifax indicated that he is actively considering an appeal against the recent Council decision to block the plans...more about threat to Epsom's historic stables.

Ashtead Tesco Campaign, Feburary 2009

Chris has met local campaigners arguing for the proposed Tesco in Ashtead to be reduced in size. They have now collected 5,000 signatures on a petition against the current plans. Chris says the current proposal is too big. "I support the idea of a new store on the site. It does no one any favours having it stand empty. But the current proposal is just too big for the area. I want Tesco to go away and come back with something smaller," he says.

Ticket Offices Saved, January 2009

South West Trains have confirmed that they have been forced to abandon their plans to close the booking office at Stoneleigh and West Ewell stations at weekends - a plan which was strongly opposed by Chris as local MP. Although there will still be a slight reduction in opening hours, the cutbacks will much less drastic than was feared originally. "I am very pleased that South West Trains have been forced to abandon these plans", says Chris. "I think that an unmanned station is often a magnet for antisocial behaviour, and given the trouble around Stoneleigh station in particular in recent years, leaving it unmanned just made no sense at all."

New Durdans petition presented to Council ahead of key meeting

Chris has joined local horse enthusiasts and heritage experts in presenting a new petition to the Borough Council ahead of the planning meeting which will consider whether to allow the Earl of Halifax to redevelop the historic Durdans stables in Chalk Lane. "This plan must absolutely not go ahead," he said.

Safer roads in Worcester Park

Discussing road safety concerns with Grafton Road residents

Chris is working with residents in Worcester Park who are worried about road safety near their homes - particularly at the junction of Grafton Road and Cromwell Road. "People living in this part of Worcester Park tell me there have been a number of accidents there recently," says Chris "and they are concerned that there may be a very serious incident soon unless steps are taken to improve things now." Chris has asked Surrey County Council's highways team to carry out a traffic survey to gauge the scale of the problem.

Keep our Ticket Offices open

Epsom and Ewell MP Chris Grayling has criticised the decision by South West Trains to reduce station opening hours at weekends. Under the company's recently published proposals, ticket office opening hours at West Ewell and Stoneleigh station will be sharply reduced on Saturdays, and the offices will be closed all day on Sundays.

"I am extremely disappointed by what South West Trains are proposing," says Chris. "The new opening hours are a significant reduction in the level of service available to passengers." Chris is particularly concerned that the closures will worsen antisocial behaviour at the stations, as presence of a manned ticket office has been an important reassurance for station users, and for local residents living nearby.

"These plans are the inevitable result of SWT's decision to make a ludicrous overbid for their franchise," he says. "It was widely predicted that services to passengers would be cut back as a result - and now our worst fears are being realised. I will be pressing the company to rethink its plans."

Competition Commission referral

Chris has asked the Competition Commission to investigate the proposal by supermarket giant Tesco to open a branch in Ashtead Village. The company already has two other supermarkets in the area. "I have absolutely nothing against Tesco," says Chris, "but I'm not sure it is in the public interest for any one retailer to be able to dominate an area quite so emphatically. I think it would be better if there was real competition and consumer choice for Ashtead's shoppers, and have asked the Competition Commission to look into the issue."

Save the Lavandou Stables

Local MP Chris Grayling has presented a petition to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, signed by large numbers of local residents opposing the redevelopment of the historic Lavandou stables at the Durdans in Epsom. "No one in Epsom wants to see this site, so important to our racing heritage, redeveloped for other purposes," says Chris. Chris has sent an open letter to the Earl of Halifax, the owner of the site, urging that the Lavandou stables be preserved for the racing industry. You can read a copy of the letter here.

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.

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?

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.

MP calls for mast law changes

Local MP Chris Grayling has called for greater local controls over the siting of mobile phone masts, and for local councils to be allowed to take into account health issues when agreeing sites for masts. "I am fed up with insensitive applications for masts in this area," he said more about MP calls for mast law changes

MP backs residents over development pressures

Residents should not be under siege from developers with projects that contradict local plan guidelines more MP backs residents over development pressures

MP calls for divorce as NHS looks to St Helier

Local MP Chris Grayling has called for a split between Epsom and St Helier hospitals as the NHS's review of hospital services looks increasingly likely to recommend the building of two new hospitals at St Helier and the downgrading of Epsom more about MP calls for divorce as NHS looks to St Helier

Hospital Action Day takes petition past 10,000

The total number of people backing the Epsom Hospital Campaign has passed 10,000, following an Action Day held at locations across the area on Saturday 29th May. Teams of supporters collected signatures for the campaign petition at Sainsbury's in Kiln Lane, Asda in Burgh Heath, in Epsom Town Centre and at Ashtead Village Day. In total the effort collected nearly 2,000 extra names more about Hospital Action Day takes petition past 10,000

Epsom Hospital Campaign

There have been a number of major developments on the future of Epsom Hospital. A decision on the future of the hospital is now expected in the Summer. Local MP Chris Grayling is planning a series of public meetings on the issue. More details will be published here shortly.

For details of what is happening, please see the Epsom Hospital section of this website.

Central Railway Campaign Success

The Government has yielded to pressure from local MPs and Pressure Groups and rejected the controversial Central Railway project. The scheme - to build a £10 billion rail freight line from the Channel Tunnel to Liverpool - was due to run along the edge of Ashtead and in a long tunnel underneath the Downs. But the Government accepted the argument that the project was not financially viable, and said it would not allow the company promoting the scheme to move ahead with it more about Central Railway Campaign Success

Post Office Closure Confirmed

Despite a local campaign that won the support of most residents on the Wells Estate, the Post Office has decided to press ahead with its controversial closure plan for the local sub-post office on the estate. The move leaves Epsom with no surviving sub-post office, and will put even more pressure on the Main Post Office in the centre of Epsom more about Post Office closure confirmed

TRUST CHANGES PRESERVE SERVICES AT EPSOM

The Epsom and St Helier Trust has put forward a revised set of proposals for Epsom Hospital which tackle the operational problems it has faced without changing the structure of services at Epsom. The plan involves changes to the way the hospital provides cover for night time staff, but retains the full 24 hour emergency service at Epsom. In addition, the Trust is to relocate the out-of-hours GP service to Epsom Hospital to provide extra support for patients who come to the A&E Department with less serious problems more about Trust changes preserve services at Epsom

Hospital Campaign Relaunched with Major New Proposal

On Monday 14th July Chris published details of a new proposal that he has put to the NHS which would lead to the construction of a 700 bed hospital on the Epsom Hospital site. The plan would, he estimated, cost £150 million less than the likely £250 million cost of building a totally new hospital at St Helier or Sutton.

"I am convinced that Epsom offers the NHS the best value for money - and the best way of ensuring that it has enough money to pay for new services for patients in community hospitals and GP surgeries.

Details of the proposals are included in the Epsom Hospital Update section on this site.

Trade Justice Lobby

Chris has held a further set of meetings with members of the local Trade Justice Movement. The Movement held a national series of events on June 27th to raise awareness of trade issues affecting developing countries more about Trade Justice Lobby

Local MP supports volunteers week

The first week in June was volunteers week in the Epsom and Ewell area - and Chris has been visiting a variety of local organisations to find out about their work and support them in their attempts to secure new volunteers. He also took part in the judging of a photographic competition organised by the Leatherhead Advertiser and the Mid-Surrey Council for Voluntary Service to find the photograph that best reflected the spirit of volunteering in the area more about Local MP supports volunteers week

Hospital Cluster sites sold

The Government is in the final stages of negotiating the sale of all the remaining redundant NHS sites on the Epsom Cluster to a consortium of Banks. The sale includes St Ebba's. West Park, Horton Farm and the proposed retail centre on the Horton Hospital site. News of the sale has come out of the blue, although negotiations have been going on for some months more about Hospital Cluster sites sold

Durdans application expected

Agents to Lord Halifax, owner of the historical riding stables adjoining the Durdans in Epsom are expected to lodge a planning application for the site shortly. In a recent letter to Chris, Lord Halifax's agent David Lord confirmed that he is exploring development options, and he is reported to be considering a plan to turn the listed indoor riding school into offices more about Durdans application expected

Fears grow of more Post Office closures

As many as half a dozen local post offices could close in the next year as a result of nationwide plans to close up to 3,000 sub-post offices. Already one local office, on the Preston Hawe estate, has been closed, and the Post Office in the Spar store in Manor Green Road in Epsom may also close. There have also been rumours that other local post offices are under consideration for closure more about fears grow of more Post Office closures