The hunt is on for a new "town centres manager" - a year after Epsom’s business development manager quit.

Epsom Council published an advert for the two-year role, which pays up to £45,000 a year, two weeks ago.

Although the advert makes no mention of Stoneleigh, a spokesman said the remit of the manager would be Epsom town centre, Ewell Village and Stoneleigh Broadway, with half of the role focusing on the process of establishing a Business Improvement District (BID) for Epsom.

A BID is an area in which a levy is charged on all businesses paying business rates.

The levy is used to develop projects which will benefit the businesses and can be set up the council, a person or company.

A proposal and business plan will need to be submitted to Epsom Council and businesses subject to the levy will then vote in a ballot on whether the scheme should go ahead.

FROM LAST YEAR: Speculation mounts over why Epsom town centre manager Adam Worley quit

An Epsom Council spokesman said it aims for the new town centres manager to be in a position to hold a ballot at the end of their two years in post.

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Traders in Ewell Village, above, have long said business is "dying"

The spokesman said interviews for the role were due to take place next month "if we get a strong list of applicants", with the aim of appointing somebody by late summer or early autumn.

Adam Worley, Epsom’s business development manager quit last May, after nine months in the role.

His position had been funded by the council and match-funded by The Ashley Centre.

At the time, one Epsom politician said perceptions of the independence of Mr Worley's role had dogged him.

Neil Dallen, then Residents' Association councillor for Epsom town, said: "We didn’t want Adam to be seen as a council officer but unfortunately some people saw him as that because he was employed and paid by us.

FROM LAST YEAR: 'Epsom needs to set up independent company to boost town centre'

"Because of the perception, Adam was constrained which must have been very frustrating for him."

But despite this, the new role will be funded entirely by Epsom Council.

Malcolm Blackmore, owner of Easy Buy Appliances in Cheam Road, Ewell, welcomed a replacement for Mr Worley, saying the BDM had "good ideas to build new businesses".

He said: "There has been a gap when Adam left. Things have got worse. More shops are shutting in Ewell Village.

"There’s even more of a need for someone to champion businesses.

"You only have to go down the high streets and see that businesses are dying.

"I don’t object to it being funded by the council. You could argue the businesses could pay for it but they are not there."

Your Local Guardian:

The remit of a new towns centre manager will also include Stoneleigh Broadway, above

David Beddows, The Ashley Centre’s general manager, said it was looking forward to working with a new manager.

He said: "This role is a vital link between a number of organisations and stakeholders who work together to maintain and develop Epsom as a vibrant and viable town.

"We are totally committed to the business improvement bid and will be assisting with this in any way we can."

Mr Beddows did not comment when asked on why The Ashley Centre would not be match-funding the role this time round.

Asked why Stoneleigh is not mentioned in the job advert, an Epsom Council spokesman added: "We want to encourage individuals with the right skills set to apply, who may well be unfamiliar with the borough, we didn’t want to confuse applicants.

"Stoneleigh Broadway is part of the role and the full details of the job will be discussed in depth with potential applicants."

The person will report to the council's place development and planning policy manager.

Last year, half of those who completed Epsom’s town centre survey - the first to be conducted since 2006 - believed it had deteriorated in the last two years.

50 per cent said they felt the town centre had gotten worse in the last two years, compared to 32 per cent in 2006. 

FROM LAST YEAR: Epsom 'worse than two years ago', says town centre survey

All of Epsom and Ewell's parliamentary candidates were asked what they thought about Epsom, Ewell and Stoneleigh having a new business-focused manager.

Conservative party candidate Chris Grayling said: “I'm in favour. 

"It is important to find someone new.

"The focus needs to be as much on the other centres as on Epsom - Stoneleigh and Ewell need support and smart development to sustain the businesses there.”

Your Local Guardian:

Neil Dallen and Adam Worley launching the Epsom town centre survey last year 

Liberal Democrat hopeful Stephen Gee said his party locally have believed for many years that the area needs an independent town centre manager - and "this has consistently been opposed by the Residents’ Association-run council".

He said: "We believe a key local election issue is that action is taken to revive the town centre, to attract new business, to support local businesses and to deal with traffic and parking issues associated with this. We therefore support in principle the appointment of this post.

“The key to getting long-term self funding support to revive Epsom is the setting up of a BID. 

"We wholeheartedly endorse the post and its aims and hopefully we will all be celebrating the regeneration of Epsom centre in years to come."

Susan McGrath, the Green party's candidate, added: “I am not sure the role being fully funded by the local council or carried out by the local council is the best way forward.  

"I would hope that a town centre manager would promote recycling, get rid of plastic bags, promote energy sustainability, community harmony and ethical consumerism."

To view the advert click here.

What should be the first task in their inbox on day one? Leave a comment below or email Hardeep Matharu on hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk.