A memorial garden commemorating a historic water tower has been treated with "no respect" after being trampled by developers.

Councillors Dan Stevens and Sheila Carlson were appalled to see that one side of the garden, situated within the Livingstone Park development on the site of the old Horton hospital in Epsom, had been flattened after being driven over by heavy machinery.

The garden marks the spot of where the 12-storey water tower used to stand, which was removed last year after blighting the lives of residents. 

The garden contains a plaque displaying information about Horton Hospital, one of the mental institutions that was part of the Epsom Cluster, and the significance of the water tower - "a sign of the hospital's self-sufficiency and and a local landmark for more than a century".

Coun Stevens said that as part of remedial works to the Livingstone Park development, a number of wooden fences are being replaced by brick walls, but that work on the fence bordering the garden has caused "insensitive" damage.

He said: "The garden is located where the Horton water tower used to be.  One of the conditions for its demolition was that there would be a monument put there to remember the water tower and a plaque to display some information about Horton Hospital.

"The work to replace the fences with walls has been going on for a while and we’ve known about it, but the issue arises from the fact that the land is owned by London and Quadrant Housing Association (L&Q) and I don’t know whether the company who has paid for the work to be done, Persimmon Homes, knows this.

"We have had complaints from residents that they have driven over areas of the garden space. 

"Horton Hospital has a significance for Epsom and Ewell and, as someone who had relatives who used to work in the hospital, it seems insensitive that a company has gone in and treated a community memorial garden with no respect - potentially without notifying the owners of the land."

L&Q was only made aware of the situation when contacted by the Epsom Guardian.

A spokeswoman said: "L&Q has been made aware of the damage to the landscaped area near the memorial plaque and we will carry out an investigation to resolve the damage as soon as possible."

Persimmon Homes was contacted for comment but have yet to respond.