Woodcote (Epsom) Residents Society

WERS is pleased to have received a helpful car park update from Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. They have also confirmed that trust Managing Director, James Blyth, has agreed to speak at our Autumn Open Meeting – details to follow shortly.

We understand that plans for the multi-storey car park are not going to progress on the short term.

Instead, the hospital is looking at potential upgrades and maintenance to the current Epsom Hospital car park while they review different design options and potential improvements before a formal design phase later in 2024.

They are re-looking in particular at:

Legal requirements including the need for wider bays to make access earlier for blue-badge parkers

Exploring ways to make car parking as sustainable and future-proof as possible including adding additional electronic vehicle bays and ways to support staff travel schemes

Further traffic modelling to confirm the projected parking needs once the new Specialist Emergency Care Hospital is opened in Sutton by 2030.

More to follow shortly on improvements over the past year, the findings of a new condition survey currently underway and plans for a new five-year estates strategy.

The demolition works are due to be completed in July. Demolition of the walls to Woodcote Lodge (the former nurses’ quarters) is due to start on 12 February. To avoid major dust and noise problems we understand that there is not to be any crushing of masonry on site.

We expect to be able to post a more detailed update on the expected works activity programme after the next site meeting on 26 February 2024.

This is an important opportunity to influence the outcome. It only takes 5 minutes to complete the four questions in the survey which is open until 30 January 2024.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey sets out the vision of the new Chief Constable for Surrey Police for the next two years. She believes the plan will significantly boost the service provided but requires an annual increase of between £10 and £13 for an average property. An increase of less than £10 a year by an average property would include cuts in staff numbers.

Dear Residents  

Today is the beginning of the week before Christmas and I would like to send you best wishes for Christmas and the New Year

It’s also a chance to update you on some important local issues and to give you advance notice of our Annual General Meeting at the Haywain Brewers Fayre on Dorking Road Epsom on 11 March 2024 at 7.30pm.  I hope you will come and offer your support for what we do. The AGM is an important opportunity to hear what is going on in our area, what is planned and to contribute your thoughts on how we can help to improve where we live. More details of the meeting to follow in the New Year.

The Society is here to help make sure local voices are heard and influence local decision making but to do that we need to hear from you about the problems and issues affecting you.  We function entirely through the efforts of a few volunteers and we are always pleased when members get in touch. If you would like to find out more about what we do please visit our website and if you have any queries complete the ‘Contact us’ form on the web site or e-mail me at mumford806@btinternet.com . The benefit to you and your family and to other residents of getting involved can be significant. You will be warmly welcomed.

Finally, I would like to give a warm welcome to our new residents and urge everyone to support the Society in 2024 by renewing your annual membership in January. It is very easy to pay on the website or by bank transfer. Without your subscriptions we cannot produce these newsletters, maintain our website, or support local residents with local issues. In addition if you have a local business it makes sense to advertise in our quarterly newsletter which goes to 2,500 residents in Woodcote & Langley Vale.  Rates can be found on our website or by emailing info@woodcoteepsomresidentssociety.org

John Mumford, Chair

For those that don’t know me, I have lived and worked on Langley Bottom Farm since 1983 when I started working as an apprentice tractor driver.  We have seen many changes over the last forty years, the greatest of which was when the Woodland Trust purchased the majority of the land and planted what had been a working farm with trees. We have subsequently worked extremely closely with the Woodland Trust and graze our flock of herdwick ewes on their ‘open spaces’ as part of their conservation policy.

As well as the sheep, we are also arable farmers. We grow 107 acres at Langley Bottom Farm, along with a further 350 acres at Perrotts Farm, Burgh Heath. In order to minimise the build-up of disease and weeds and to maximise yields we rotate different crops around the entire acreage. Last year we grew field beans at Langley Bottom Farm, which were sold as a protein source for pet foods. Field beans naturally collect nitrogen from the atmosphere and fix it into the soil for the following crop. Nitrogen is an essential element for plant growth. This year we are growing wheat, which was sown in September, will be harvested next August and hopefully sold for bread making.  The arable side of the business calms down in November, but work starts for our rams, Reggie and Ralph. They will be visiting the ewes and hopefully in mid-April we will see the arrival of next years lambs. Over to you boys!!!!!

The Council has recently adopted a new Arts, Heritage and Culture Strategy – the first of its kind. Epsom & Ewell is certainly not short of cultural history and boasts over 400 listed buildings and this strategy will celebrate these assets.  A Digital Heritage App is already live!  and can be downloaded from the free Bloomberg Connects app. You will be able to access information about points of interest and history whilst walking around Nonsuch Park, with more tours to be added One Community Wall Mural Project is already complete and the artwork can be seen on an empty council building in the Upper High Street.  If you would like to more about the Arts, Heritage and Culture Strategy please go to: