Residents have raised concerns over plans to build sheltered housing with 24-hour care on part of playing fields in Ewell.

Despite worries over traffic and loss of sports facilities, attendees at a public meeting this month also recognised the need for elderly accommodation.

Nonprofit organisation Nonsuch Abbeyfield wants to create a 60-unit development on 2.5 acres of the 11-acre playing fields in Old Schools Lane and revamp the remaining site.

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Chairman Graham Walker said: "We will definitely listen. There's two major issues, one is around the traffic around Old Schools Lane.

"We are very keen to look at that and see what we can do to make more acceptable and positive to them and for ourselves. The other major issue was concerns around loss of sports facilities.

"We believe we do have positive answers to all of that and planned improvements to sport fields that will mean it is in a better condition for the community. We will now make some changes to what we have planned."

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Margaret Angus, administrator at Nonsuch Abbeyfield, said about 30 people came to drop-in sessions and about 40 attended a presentation at Bourne Hall on November 6.

Ms Angus said: "It was a constructive conversation. There was a reasonable balance. People can understand there’s a need for such accommodation locally but as with any site there are always pros and cons."

Councillor Clive Woodbridge, who attended the meeting, said: "It’s a delicate balance. There’s no debate that in Epsom and Ewell there’s an increasing number of elderly people.

"We are all living longer and we need suitable accommodation for us as we reach a certain age. On the other hand we are not over endowed with good quality sports facilities."

Coun Woodbridge said people had concerns about losing some of the pitches and the creation of traffic on the single access road.

But he said: "It’s been a well-thought-out scheme that tries to offset the loss of part of the playing fields by improving and enhancing the playing fields that remain.

"They showed every sign they would take on board the concerns and come back with a modified scheme."

The proposed £13m development includes sheltered accommodation with care on site, with communal dining and recreation areas.

At the same time it would sort out the drainage and subsidence problems on the playing fields and replace the current pavilion. The company intends to submit plans for the development to the council within the next three months.

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