Epsom set to win £3m Government funding for town centre improvements

Last summer, Surrey County Council (SCC), in partnership with Epsom Council, made a bid for a £2.7m project to Coast to Capital, the local enterprise partnership (LEP) which Epsom is part of.

The £2.7m - consisting of £2.1m from the LEP, £200,000 from Epsom Council, £252,000 from SCC and £88,000 from local developer contributions - would be used for major road improvements in the town centre including making South Street two-way to stop traffic heading towards Ashtead having to travel through the High Street.

Although, the councils are still waiting on approval for the money, Mark Berry, head of planning at Epsom Council, told the Epsom Guardian the LEP has indicated that the scheme will secure the money.

If it goes ahead, the road proposals will implement some key elements of Plan E - Epsom Council’s town centre action plan which was published in 2011 and sets out the council’s vision for the area.

The road changes would aim to reduce congestion through the town centre and boost its economic vitality by making it easier for shoppers and workers to get to the town centre and move around, as well as providing an attractive business environment and creating jobs.

In the last fortnight, Epsom Council has also been awarded £200,000 by the LEP, which it is match-funding with another £200,000, for "public realm improvements" covering the enhancement of the town centre’s visual appearance through a spruce up of aspects such as its street furniture.

Both projects would be implemented at the same time and form part of improvements which could start by the end of this year and be completed by 2017-18.

Proposals for both schemes will be put out to public consultation shortly.

Mr Berry, who said the road changes have undergone "extensive modelling" by SCC, said: "If a potential investor can see this level of investment being made it has real economic benefits.

"The whole economic prosperity of the town will be lifted."

An SCC spokesman said: "It currently takes around 10 minutes to travel through the town centre from one side to the other and it is estimated that journey times will improve by 1-2 minutes by making the following improvements while making the town centre a more attractive place for both shoppers and workers to get to and move around in."

The changes include:

Changing South Street to two-way to provide an alternative route away from the town without having to use the one-way system

Changing the junction of South Street, West Street and High Street (West) to provide a right turn into South Street

Changing the junction at South Street and Ashley Avenue to allow cars to go southbound towards Dorking Road and providing full pedestrian crossing facilities

Changing the ‘Spread Eagle’ junctions and putting traffic lights at the right turn from the High Street to Ashley Road

Making walking easier by having better signing and widened footways at the Spread Eagle junction

Improving cycling facilities at key locations including Derby Square and the Parade

Reviewing the traffic lights system to improve traffic signal coordination and operational efficiencies  

Enhancing CCTV to improve personal safety, reduce crime and help respond to congestion after accidents

Upgrading electronic car park information systems to provide better information to drivers

Providing better facilities for buses to make it easier for them to wait, reach stops and manoeuvre into traffic and improving bus shelters

Epsom borough councillor Neil Dallen, who represents town ward, said: "The idea is fantastic.

"It’s likely to improve travel times which in turn improves the town as a place to come to because people see the traffic jams as a deterrent for coming here.

"For business in the town it’s good.

"It’s win, win, win."

Epsom borough councillor and Surrey county councillor Eber Kington, who sits on SCC’s local Epsom and Ewell committee, said the improvements would amount to "wholesale regeneration of the town".

He said: "It’s good for the business community and leading companies are supportive of the plans.

"Epsom and Ewell will always have lots of cars in the town centre but this will improve the atmosphere and reduce pollution so it’s got it’s green aspect too."

Coun Kington said it is projected that 635 new homes and 616 new jobs will be created as part of Epsom's Plan E, part of which these projects would implement. 

But Surrey county councillor Tina Mountain, who represents Epsom town, does not believe that making South Street two-way will result in any major improvements and that it will cause traffic congestion for people heading into Ashtead.

She said: "I honestly feel that people coming from Woodcote and College, people I represent, are going to be delayed.

"With the five per cent reduction of the traffic going through [the town] I don’t think it’s going to have a significant effect on Epsom.

"People in this district should be consulted and not just be told what’s going to happen."

Coun Mountain said she would like to see the market square area pedestrianised so "we could have a proper market and really make it a feature of Epsom".

"I just want Epsom to become the beautiful market town it used to be and I don’t see how making South Street two-way is going to improve the town centre," Coun Mountain added.

MP Chris Grayling said he had not yet studied the plans in detail but added: "I am in favour of improvements for the town centre and they have to be the right changes.

"There is a debate going on about the changes to South Street and whether it’s the right thing to do."

An SCC spokesman added: "More details on the proposals will be available for residents and businesses shortly.

"A series of information events is also planned to answer any questions you may have.

"Subject to the final approvals it is hoped work can start later this year."

What do you think of the proposals?

Leave a comment below or contact Hardeep Matharu by calling 020 8722 6346 or emailing hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.