Agenda item

This report draws the attention of the Conservators to a request from the Epsom Downs Racecourse for permission to park cars on land in front of the Derby Arms public house at times when events are being held at the Racecourse.

The Conservators received a report presenting a request from Epsom Downs Racecourse for permission to park cars on land in front of the Derby Arms public house at times when events were being held at the Racecourse. The following matters were considered:

a)            Ecological matters. The Lower Mole Countryside Management Service representative informed the Conservators that he did not have any ecological concerns with regard to the proposal.

b)            Purpose of request. Simon Durrant informed the Conservators that the area identified in the proposal had been used for overflow car parking for events held at Epsom Downs Racecourse for a number of years, but that direct consent had not been sought from the Conservators. This application had been submitted to the Conservators to seek such consent, and regularise the arrangements.

c)            Level of usage of area. Simon Durrant informed the Conservators that the number of occasions on which the area had been used for parking had increased in 2016, as it had been used whilst roofing works to the Duchesses’ Stand were underway. Following completion of those works, it had returned to its previous level of use. Simon Durrant informed the Conservators that he could not confirm on how many occasions the area was used for parking each year, but that this could be recorded in future.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services informed the Conservators that if they wished to grant consent for use of the area for parking, they could also place restrictions on this consent, including a limit on the number of occasions per year.

d)            Use of alternative areas. Following questions from the Chairman and other members of the Conservators, Simon Durrant informed the meeting that Epsom Downs Racecourse utilised the area instead of alternatives (including the piece of land adjacent to Tattenham Corner Road & the race track which was referred to as car park 15 during racedays), as it had better drainage and provided a more pleasant customer experience.

e)            Visual impact. Concerns were expressed by members of the Conservators that use of the area for parking could adversely impact on the visual appearance of the area and landscape. Simon Durrant informed the Conservators that the Racecourse had no intention of turning the area into a permanent car park, but wished to continue to use it when necessary for event overflow parking.

f)             Access to the area for vehicles. Simon Durrant informed the Conservators that a barrier was located at the entrance to the area, which restricted access by vehicles. This was opened and manned during times at which parking on the area took place. The barrier did not impede access for pedestrians or horse riders.

g)            Designation as a Hack Area and Hack Ride. The area was designated as an area for hack riding by the Epsom and Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984, and the Conservators noted that consultation with Hack Rider representatives should be included within any consultations undertaken with regard to the proposal.

h)            Public Consultation. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services advised the Conservators that public consultation on the proposal should be undertaken prior to consent being granted, should the Conservators be minded to approve it. It was suggested that this could include writing directly to the Epsom and Walton Downs Consultative Committee (including Hack Rider Representatives), Local Residents’ Associations and Ward Councillors, and placing information on the Borough Council’s website and e-Borough Insight magazine.

Following consideration, the Conservators:

(1)          Agreed in principle to the request from Epsom Downs Racecourse for consent to use the area identified within the report for parking at times in addition to those already permitted.

(2)          Agreed that public consultation on the request submitted by Epsom Downs Racecourse should be undertaken prior to a full decision being taken upon it, and that the wording and scope of this consultation would be circulated to all Members of the Conservators by the Council’s Head of Legal and Democratic Services prior to its publication.