Residents' now have the option of paying subcriptions electronically. If you prefer this payment method please sign up to pay either by Direct Debit or one off instant payment using the QR Code in the Bulletin or on the envelope provided. Alternatively go to the 'Membership' page on our website at www.nonsuchra.org.
2024-03-19
Following the announcement from Michael Gove (Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) on 19th December, the highly anticipated revised NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) is finally published, which cemented that housing targets are 'advisory' - not mandatory. It is also clearly stated that a local authority's Green Belt boundaries do not need to be changed to meet its housing target.
This is fantastic news for Epsom and Ewell.
Last February EEBC published its draft Local Plan for 2022 to 2040. This included proposals to cover very significant areas of the Borough's Green Belt - at Horton Farm, Hook Road Arena, and Ewell East Station - with housing estates. It defended these proposals on the grounds that it had to demonstrate that it was doing it all could to meet the Government's housing targets.
This justification is no longer possible. It is now evident that, if the Council were to continue with its proposals to build on the Green Belt, this would be because it has decided to do so voluntarily and sacrifice our most important open spaces, which the recent public consultation on the draft plan showed are highly valued by the vast majority of the Borough's residents.
The Epsom and Ewell Green Belt Group, together with the Surrey Branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is calling on the Council and its Councillors to instruct the planning officers to republish its Local Plan within the next few weeks, removing all green belt sites, reducing the housing target to a rational approximately 3,500 homes for the Plan period, and focusing on developing all available brownfield sites.
Issued by The Epsom and Ewell Green Belt Group and CPRE Surrey.
Residents can email councillors and planning officers and request that Greenbelt is not included in the site allocation before their meeting on 10th Jan 2024. (Public not invited)
https://epsomgreenbelt.org/who-to-object/
2024-01-07
The Council has introduced a 'Playing out Scheme' which will enable streets (not main roads or bus routes) to be closed to traffic for up to three hours at a time to allow children to play safely in the streets. The scheme was approved at the Community & Wellbeing Committee on 10 October 2023 and will launch in December 2023.
Playing Out is a not-for-profit organisation set up by parents in 2009, to activate street play across the UK. The term Play Street is now being used interchangeably with Playing Out, to refer to the movement of resident-led temporary road closures to allow children to play out in the street where they live.
Residents who are interested in taking part in the scheme should start talking to their neighbours to get agreement and organise volunteeers who would be responsible for the manning the road closure points and carry out a risk assessment (much like the road closures for street parties).
The Council will help in liasing with Surrey Highways, providing guidance and a point of contact to help residents plan, provide guidance on how to get a road closure and signpost to the 'Playing Out' website where there is information and guidance such as risk assessment templates and volunteer training videos.
The webpages on the Council's website will launch in December 2023 and it is felt the scheme will help support the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of children and the community by creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone to play in and by fostering a much needed sense of neighbourliness.
2023-11-14
At the Extraodinary Council Meeting on 24 October 2023, the Local Plan was 'un paused' so work on it can continue. There are a set of workshops planned for all Members to input site selection, spatial strategy, work policy development and an affordable housing briefing.
A Key item of concern remains the inclusion of sites which are in the green belt.
Things must move fast in order to meet the July 2025 submission date under the current government timescale. If agreement is reached on site Surrey County Council then has a transport assessment to complete which will take between 9-12 months. The work continues developing and refining the next version, Regulation 19, which will go to public consultation and will need to be brought to Full Council.
Full Council will decide whether to submit the plan to the Planning Inspector or not. There are several check points for residents and members before the plan is submitted for inspection. Even when it is submitted there are options to change as in the case of Mole Valley and Spelthorne Councils. This Local Plan is the responsibility of all Members, and they all have input into the plan.There are several unknowns, and the Council may even end up pausing again if the level of uncertainty from central government gets too great or it does not make cost effective sense to progress on the current path.
While this work is going on, the sites are discussed - this is the time to submit any information to your Ward Councillor. There are many parts that are included in this work, one being the 'Evidence Base' this includes infrastructure:- Transport (local roads, bus services, rail, walking & cycling, electric vehicle charging. Utilities and Physical Infrastructure, Social and Community, Emergency Services, Green Infrastructure & Recreation.
For example, the studies recommend that all current facilities in the Borough should be retained. Some of the future demand for facilities could be met through enhancement to existing facilities but there is currently identfied shortfalls in the provision of football pitches, particularly 3G pitches, cricket, rugby and lacrosse pitches. There is also a current need for additional sports hall provision. These shortfalls will be exacerbated by future population growth. It is important to note that because a site is put forward for inclusion it does not mean it will be in the final Local Plan or indeed be sold/put out for development, there is also a planning process involved which has many parts. It is important that the views of residents are included while understanding that these discussions are just that.
2023-11-12
Borough Election Thursday 4 May 2023
Results for Nonsuch Ward Residents Association candidates
Christine Howells 962 votes 19% Elected
Robert Leach 875 votes 17% Elected
Shanice Goldman 829 votes 16% Elected
2023-05-07
At an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on 22/3/2023 featuring CPRE Surrey, Epsom Civic Society and Resident Association Councillors the Council voted 20-4 to pause the Local Plan until new Government planning reforms are published.
2023-03-24
Councillor surgeries
This is an opportunity for residents to meet with their councillors and a representative from Nonsuch RA to discuss specific queries or make general enquiries from those new to the area or anyone who wishes to find out more about the area and meet new residents.
The meetings take place in The Hub, St Paul's church, Howell 10am -11 each 2nd Tuesday of the month.
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2022-04-06
Next Resident's meeting Thursday April 25 2024 at the Rugby Club,Cuddington Court, Rugby Lane, Sutton SM2 7NF commencing at 8pm all welcome.
The election of the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Surrey will take place on Thursday 2nd May. The PCC is responsible for holding the Chief Constable and Surrey Police to account on the public's behalf. They oversee how crime is tackled in Surrey and aim to make sure that Surrey Police provide a good service.
Residents will be able vote with a valid photo ID at the polling station.
2021-02-08
There is a new group started by Nonsuch Residents Association within the local “nextdoor” website in order to facilitate our communications arrangements - please go to: https://nextdoor.co.uk/g/gb1f77nav/ and apply - it is a private group for NRA members - existing and prospective.
2020-03-23