FOCUS Newsletter Feedback
The January 2016 issue of FOCUS has been distributed in and around Epsom. There's been good feedback but one correspondent, choosing to remain anonymous, makes the local team rather sad.
"You're fighting a losing battle apropos Epsom. Station Approach is an eye sore. Traffic is out of control. Queues all day. Shops not inspiring - estate agents, charity shops and coffee shops. Even Waterstones bailed out. Property built any and everywhere. Closure of The Wells a tragedy. Not a dedicated police station. Save your energy"
It's one view but this correspondent is not alone in feeling that Epsom town has lost it's way in recent years. Our comment is that this is largely due to a lack of vision and poor planning (particularly when it comes to Station Approach) by our RA controlled borough council. But isn't this every reason to fight on? And one aspect which the borough council is not responsible for is which shops go where - it does not own any shops, nor does it own the Ashley Centre, so has little say in who can rent them unless a "change of use" is planned.
Moving on to a current scenario.
The borough council does have a reasonably up to date Development Brief for the vacant "Tesco" site in Upper High Street. This site has been sold on by Tesco and is, allegedly, scheduled for housing and housing entirely. This Development Brief for Upper High Street, says the council wants a medium-sized food store together with housing. A food store here was designed to help regenerate the fortunes of Upper High Street by bringing shoppers in, with plenty of car parking available.
The old dairy site in Alexandra Road has been earmarked by the borough council for housing and housing alone. These dwellings form part of the council's target to provide housing in the borough. The council has to meet targets for new homes which are set by central government. In March, the Planning Committee will have to decide whether or not it will allow a food store on the Alexandra Road site (the Aldi store, which is the subject of a current planning application) with just 6 flats, when actually it's own policy says that it wants a food store just down the road on the Upper High Street site! Planning laws are complex and reasons for refusing a planning application should be robust and sustainable if a planning applicant decides to Appeal ( so that government ends up making the decision) against a refusal.
Will the borough council stick to its own policies : food store and lots of housing in Upper High Street, housing and just that on the old dairy site? Will these policies be strong and robust enough, given than Aldi have come first to the table? Or will the council capitulate so that we end up with a food store in Alexandra Road and not in Upper High Street? We will see.