Agenda item

Consideration of Epsom Downs Racecourse’s request for permission for car parking on car parks known as Car Park 2 and 6, outside their current permitted usage.

The Conservators received a report seeking consideration of Epsom Downs Racecourse’s request for permission for car parking on car parks known as Car Park 2 and 6 on the Downs, outside their previously permitted usage.

Annex 2 to the report provided a map which identified Car Parks 2 and 6. The map showed that Car Park 2 had two sections, one of which was to the south of Ashley Road, the other was to the north of Ashley Road. The Conservators were informed that the Racecourse no longer wished to seek permission to use the section of Car Park 2 to the north of Ashley Road as an element of this application. The Conservators were therefore requested to only consider the use of Car Park 2 to the south of Ashley Road and Car Park 6 for the purposes of this application.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Consultation responses. The Conservators noted the responses received to the public consultation on the proposal, including submissions made via the internet based consultation form and separate correspondence from the Epsom Civic Society and British Horse Society. The Officers’ comments on the issues raised in the responses was also noted.

b)            Concerns of Racehorse trainers. Simon Dow informed the meeting that the use of the section of Car Park 2 to the South of Ashley Road could lead to potential difficulties and risk to racehorses travelling through the area to/from stables. The Conservators considered that if approval were to be granted to the Racecourse’s request, condition (ii) detailed on page 20 of the agenda could be amended to include a reference to racehorses in training.

c)            Circumstances for use of Car Parks 2 and 6. The Vice-Chairman informed the Conservators that the Racecourse would only make use of Car Parks 2 and 6 if its existing car park facility had reached capacity.

d)            Agreement of a management plan for use of Car Parks 2 and 6. The Conservators considered that if approval were to be granted to the Racecourse’s request, a management plan would be required as detailed in condition (iii) on page 20 of the agenda. This would be produced by the Racecourse and agreed with Officers of the Council.

e)            Controls on unauthorised usage. The Conservators were informed that a metal pole restricted access to Car Park 6 on dates on which it was not being used for authorised parking.

f)             Limit on level of usage. The Conservators considered that if approval were to be granted to the Racecourse’s request it should be limited to a maximum of 40 uses per year, with each use of each Car Park counting toward the total. This level was in line with the informal usage which the Racecourse had made of the areas over the past year.

g)            Length of approval period and review of decision. The Conservators considered that if approval were to be granted to the Racecourse’s request it should be for a period of one year, and reviewed prior to further approval being considered.

Following consideration, the Conservators resolved:

(1)          To approve Epsom Downs Racecourse’s application to use the areas identified on the Plan attached at Annex 2 to the report known as Car Park 2 (south of Ashley Road) and 6 for further cark parking use subject to the following conditions:

(i) limit the use of Car Park 2 (south of Ashley Road) and 6 jointly to no more than 40 days a year (which is exclusive of existing permitted user rights);

(ii) to identify and make available suitable paths to enable use for racehorses in training/hack riding/pedestrians to continue when Cark Park 2 (south of Ashley Road) and 6 are in use for an event falling within (i) above; 

(iii) the Racecourse produce an agreed management plan for the management of the car parks, which is then implemented, to ensure compliance with proposed conditions and restrictions, with the rights of inspection of such plan given to officers of the Council.

(iv) the approval granted is for one year.