Epsom and Ewell Talking Newspaper audio local news for the two weeks ending 20th July 2023 features the RNIB Campaign against ticket office closures, a report on Epsom and Ewell Borough Council’s finances, why we have the Greenest borough and the opening of the Lavender Theatre.
To listen to this week’s audio press Play
Epsom and Ewell Borough Council News
This week’s local news begins with a full report of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council‘s finances discussed at the Strategy and Resources Committee meeting that took place on the 13th July.
Surrey County Council News
Surrey County Council has submitted two sets of plans for short-stay centres to increase the number of overnight respite places for carers. The plans are to build two sets of eight en-suite bedrooms for short-break accommodation – one in Woking and the other replacing The Squirrels, in the Horseshoe, Bolters Lane in Banstead.
In other SCC news, a new Surrey Link initiative has been launched to discount travel for under 20 year olds to allow them to travel half-price on all buses in Surrey to encourage more people to use public transport and reduce car journeys.
Environmental News
In good news, a Utility Bidder report concluded that Epsom and Ewell is the Greenest local authority in the UK, according to most recent data.
In less environmentally friendly news, an Environment Agency report delivering a daming verdict that Thames Water is joint last among the country’s “very disappointing” water and sewerage companies. The Agency came to its conclusion after measuring the performance of nine companies operating in England.
Surrey Police News
Surrey’s Police and Crime Commissioner Lisa Townsend claimed the MET have being trying to “poach” the county’s police but said that Surrey has more police officers than ever before in a meeting of the Police and Crime panel in June.
HIghflyers!
We also have some aeronautical highlights with how Auriel celebrated her 80th birthday by jumping from a plane to raise money for St Raphaels Hospice Cheam, with the Go Sky Dive Team. And how Aunty Pam, now aged 73, who has worked for them for 20 years says if you want to join the Easyjet team just Go For It! Easyjet confirmed they welcome people of all ages to Come Onboard!
What’s On!
the Lavender Theatre
As reported in a previous edition of the EETN, the Lavender 250-seat open air theatre is now open for an annual season of plays and musicals.
The inaugural season is open with Irving Berlin’s classic musical ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, original book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields as revised by Peter Stone, with new direction and choreography by Simon Hardwick (‘My Fair Lady’).
The site also has a coffee bar, shop, and a full service glasshouse restaurant and comes highly recommended by your EETN website manager. The theatre is located at 139 Reigate Road, Epsom KT17 3D
Tickets for the inaugural season are on sale until Saturday 5th August at lavendertheatre.com.
Swaili House Association QUIZ
To be included in the next edition of our audio news
The Swail House Association for the visually impaired are holding a quiz night on Friday 8th Sept 2023 email swailhouseassociation@gmail.com
Listen for full details of these other news stories including why, after two decades, locals of Boxhill can no longer enjoy a fish and chips supper on Friday nights, why Chessington World of Adventures wants to become Surrey’s Disneyland and how Give Vision headsets can help visually impaired people enjoy live events.
Please remember to share the EETN with anyone you know who is blind or partially sighted.
Contact for this week’s stories
Tickets for the inaugural season are on sale today at lavendertheatre.com.
St Raphael’s Hospice donation visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/auriel
To apply for a new Link Card for the under 20s visit Surrey Link
The ticket office closure public consultation has been extended until 1st September to submit your views you can visit London Travelwatc or RNIB Campaign or email swr.consultation@londontravelwatch.org.uk
To find out more about the headsets tested successfully by the visually impaired at Wimbledon, for use at live events visit the website Give Vision
Sources
This fortnight’s news articles come from the Epsom and Ewell Times including some provided to them by the Local Democracy Reporting Service of the BBC, Leatherhead Living, Surrey Live, Surrey Comet, The Guardian, RNIB and London Travelwatch
Community information is available from the websites: Surrey County Council, Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and Epsom and Ewell Families.
The local news is just one of three sections of the Epsom and Ewell as described on the About Us page.