The Epsom and Ewell Talking Newspaper local audio news for the two weeks ending 12th October 2023 features awards, a commemoration, borough council news, an unexpected farewell and a French car rally.
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Horton Cemetery
This week we began with a story about a ceremony that took place on World Mental Health Day, 10th October, when the Friends of Horton were joined by local residents and the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell Councillor, Rob Geleit to remember the lives of 9000 patients buried between 1899 and 1955. The commemorative event was the outcome of the project “Out of Sight Out of Mind” with almost 1600 ceramic flowers planted in memorial. To find out more visit Horton Cemetery.
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council have been collaborating with residents and local organisations as illustrated by the various news items featured in this week’s news.
South and South east bloom awards
In some bloomin’ good news, dedicated local volunteers, the council and Go Epsom Business Improvement District received a number of awards for Nonsuch Park, Epsom Town Centre and Ewell Village at this year’s South & South East in Bloom awards. For the first time, Nonsuch Park picked up two awards, a prestigious Gold Award for Large Conservation Area and a Silver Gilt Award for Heritage Park.
Nonsuch park New digital guide
In other Nonsuch Park news, it has joined more than 250 world-wide cultural institutions in providing a new digital guide to the formal gardens on Bloomberg Connects, a free arts and culture app created by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The digital tour is the first of it’s kind adopted as part of Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Cultural Strategy. It makes Nonsuch Park accessible to people anytime, anywhere and will be updated throughout the year, adapting to the changing seasons. To find out more visit the EEBC’s digital guide to Nonsuch Park
Brightning up the Borough
As another part of their Cultural Strategy, the council collaborated with international graffiti artists from Positive Arts and school students from Glyn School who recently created a large scale community mural celebrating biodiversity within the borough. The artwork, on the site of the Upper High Street car park was funded through the Government’s Safer Streets initiative.
Environmental News
The council’s Climate Change Action Plan, which sets an ambitious target for council operations to be carbon neutral by 2035, was put into practice by installing 90 solar panels on the roof of Epsom Playhouse. The panels will generate a third of the Epsom Playhouse’s current electricity usage, saving more than 6.9 tonnes of carbon each year.
Ultra Low Emmission Zone
The council’s licensing and planning policy committee ruled that taxis in Epsom and Ewell will have to be ULEZ compliant in order to get a licence. From January 1, 2025 the council will not renew licences for diesel vehicles not meeting or exceeding Euro 5 emission standards. All licences will be given, providing taxis meet Petrol Euro 4 and Diesel Euro 6 standards, with some exceptions, on July 1st, 2026.
planning Department
The council’s Planning department have announced that have received official notification from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Rachel Maclean MP, that they are no longer under review for designation. The news follows improvements made by the department following a letter on performance levels from Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, in April.
Poole Road Pavilion CAPITAL PROJECT
The council’s Strategy and Resources Committee recently met to discuss the increase in the Poole Road Pavilion Capital Project. We have details of the discussion that took place that resulted in approval of the additional funding for the project but with the recommendation that an internal audit review of the procurement process takes place.
Lease reprieve for Langley Village Hall
Langley Vale Village Hall was under the threat of closure but due to the hard work of the Langley Vale Village Hall Association and local residents a new 10 year lease has been negotiated. The freeholder of the hall is THE GUILDFORD DIOCESAN BOARD OF FINANCE, a company limited by guarantee and not-for-profit.
Chris Grayling: “time for a change”
In a surprising announcement to the Epsom and Ewell Conservative Association Chris Grayling MP, told them he will not be seeking re-election at the next General Election due 2024 / January 2025 latest. He wrote: “after 22 years it is time for a change. The Association will now move ahead and select my successor as Conservative candidate.”
Future Events
Upcoming events over the next few weeks:
Epsom-Chantilly Car Rally planned
Epsom and Ewell Town Twinning Association is planning to hold a special car rally between the borough and twinned French town of Chantilly, a distance of around 270 miles, in May 2024. Applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, and if more than 50 cars are entered, a waiting list will be created. Participants will need to arrange their own cross-channel travel and accommodation in Chantilly, the Twinning Association can offer advice. Those interested in taking part are asked to email contact@epsomtwinning.com, with no obligation, no later than Friday, October 27 2023.
The Autumn season concludes there three world class Live Jazz concerts at the Epsom Conservative Club Epsom Jazz Club on the 7th November! For details and tickets visit Epsom Jazz Club.
Epsom Social Food Hall regular Wednesday Quiz 7pm to 9pm with many prizes as well as the jackpot rollover. Entry is £2 per person.
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More Contact Information for this week’s news stories
Sources
This fortnight’s news articles come from the Epsom and Ewell Times, Surrey Live and Borough insight
Community information is available from the websites: Surrey County Council and Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.
The Go Epsom website has the Epsom Going out Guide which features some of the events listed plus other events you may be interested in.
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