A number of current projects could significantly affect the volume of road traffic in the borough. These projects include:
Upper High Street HypermarketIn 2005, property company Helical Bar applied unsuccessfully for planning permission for a hypermarket in Epsom's Upper High Street.
Along with many local residents, our local (Conservative) MP and local Liberal Democrats, we had opposed the application. Supermarkets, like mobile phone masts and airports, are something that many people want to use but are not prepared to have on their doorstep.
We
objected in particular to the number of car-parking spaces proposed in this
application. Epsom already had high levels of traffic, resulting in congestion
as well as air and noise pollution. Building a supermarket with a large number
of car-parking spaces could only make these problems worse.
We also believed that the unattractive design and size of the proposed building were likely to make walking through this part of town a less pleasant experience and consequently lead to a lower number of local journeys being made on foot.
We noted that the site was served by a single bus route with an hourly service. This increased the likelihood that the majority of customers would come by car. We further noted that large delivery vehicles would not be able to make left turns into and out of the site or on the local road network. This constraint meant that they would have to make longer journeys than were strictly necessary, further increasing traffic congestion and noise and air pollution. We did, however, believe that there could be some value in building a smaller supermarket in this part of town, which local residents and workers could reach on foot, saving them a longer journey to a supermarket elsewhere.
We understand that the developer is now preparing an application for a smaller supermarket, which we shall evaluate primarily on the amount of car-parking proposed.
The Merton, Sutton and Mid-Surrey Clinical Service Strategy Partnership has proposed a strategy for providing clinical services in our area:
The
aim is to build a number of 'local care centres' - small community hospitals -
across the region, which will be developed and run by the Primary Care Trusts.
These local care centres will provide a range of services which have
traditionally only been available from the large general hospitals, Epsom and St
Helier. Each centre would be different, developed around the needs of each
community, but might include outpatients, day surgery, minor injuries units,
beds for rehabilitation, diagnostic services such as scanners, as well as a GP
surgery.
Once these centres are up and running, there will be less routine healthcare provided from the two general hospitals, allowing them to focus on specialist care for patients with more complex or severe medical problems, and dealing with emergencies.
Long-term, the proposals suggest that a new "critical care" hospital should be built which, together with the local care centres will provide the full range of hospital care in the future. However, this is likely to take between 7 to 10 years.
The five sites considered for the critical care hospital were:
Despite a lengthy (and expensive) public consultation exercise, which appeared to be leading to the choice of Sutton Hospital, the Secretary of State has decided that it shall be St Helier.
In the past, the National Health Service has contributed to the growth of road traffic by concentrating facilities at centralised sites, often at out-of-town locations. They have justified this policy on the grounds that a large population is needed to make full use of expensive facilities as well as provide experience for medical staff.
Ever since Epsom and St Helier Hospitals merged into one organizational entity, there has been the risk that one of these hospitals would close or reduce its range of services. This would inevitably lead to longer journeys for some patients and the likelihood of even greater volumes of road traffic.
The choice of St Helier or West Park for the site of the critical care hospital would inevitably lead to an increase in journeys by car. Neither of these sites is within convenient walking distance of a railway station.
In principle, the provision of some services at local health centres would reduce the need to travel to hospitals and thus reduce road traffic - and probably speed up treatment as well.
The development of a critical-care hospital could involve the preparation of a green travel plan to enable patients and staff to use sustainable forms of transport to travel to the hospital. It could also stimulate the provision of new walking, cycling and public transport links.
There is a proposal for a mixed development (residential / commercial) on this hospital site. A hotel and conference suite would be part of the development.
For more information, please ask to see the planning application at the reception desk of Epsom Town Hall.
On the other hand, motorised traffic in Christ Church Road and West Hill has already exceeded acceptable limits. We are very concerned that development of the site will lead to yet more traffic.
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? | Warning to Trees
Roundabouts can seriously damage your health! |
Surrey has been insisting on entrances from two roundabouts - one on Horton Lane and one on Christchurch Road. A study commissioned by the Borough Council suggested that one entrance from Horton Lane would be sufficient. The latest planning application in the spring of 2005 included only one point of access from Horton Lane, with an entrance for emergency vehicles from Christ Church Road.
A roundabout on Christchurch Road would have a detrimental effect on the adjoining open space. Epsom Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The Christ Church Road entrance to the site is also likely to encourage access by car from outside the borough.
Developments of this type can allow people to live nearer their work-place and can help to justify better local amenities. As a result, the need to travel can be reduced.
We generally welcome the applicant's proposals to improve walking, cycling and public transport links between the site and Epsom Town Centre. These include:
We have suggested two further improvements: