Agenda item

The Committee is asked to note the current situation on issues raised previously.

The Committee received and noted a report providing updates on matters raised previously. The following items were noted:

a)            Car parking for events. The Council’s Head of Legal and Democratic Services provided the Committee with a summary of the legal situation regarding car parking on the land adjacent to the Derby Arms Public House which was designated as a Hack Area upon the Signed Map for the Epsom and Walton Downs Regulation Act 1984 (the Act), and coloured with yellow-hatching in the Deposited Map for the same Act.

The Committee was informed that there were provisions within the Act to enable the area to be utilised by the Racecourse for parking for racing events. The Act did not provide specific provisions to enable parking on the area for non-racing related events, but the Committee was informed that this did not mean that such use could not be permitted.

The Committee was informed that use of the area for car parking could be permitted by the Council if the use related to Section 17.2 of the Act, or by the Conservators under Byelaw 2(i)(f) for other uses.

The Epsom Downs Riders Protection Society representative requested that in future, requests for the use of the area for car parking be considered via the appropriate procedure prior to it taking place.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services informed the Committee that due to the location of the area (being adjacent to Derby Stables Road, Downs Road and the B290) not being ideal as a Hack Area, it could be argued that the impact of its occasional use for car parking had not been significant. 

b)            Dog control. The Committee received an update on dog control on the Downs, following the Conservators’ agreement that all dogs should be held on a lead whilst on the Downs prior to noon, daily. The Streetcare Manager informed the meeting that the new arrangements were working well.

Following a question from a representative, the Committee was informed that dogs were requested to be held on a lead prior to noon on Sundays (on which Training hours finished at 9.30am) to enable a more concise, simple to understand message to be made.

c)            Surface of Walton Road – satisfaction of Highways Authority to works. The Committee noted that the Highways Authority was satisfied with the works.

d)            Fixed-point photography for the Downs. The Committee noted that Officers hoped that a local camera club would be willing to undertake the photography.

e)            Access to Tattenham Corner Road crossing for pedestrians walking from Tattenham Corner Station. The Committee noted the comments of the Highways Authority, and that the recent works to reverse the railings, undertaken by the Racecourse had significantly improved access.

f)             Cars advertised for sale on the Downs. The Woodcote Residents’ Association representative reported that cars containing ‘for sale’ signs were being parked on the Downs. It was further reported that there appeared to be a number of vehicles being parked on the Downs all day for the sole purpose of advertising. The Woodcote Resident’s Association representative asked whether any action could be taken to restrict these activities from happening. It was noted that the Downs Manager would discuss the matter with the Council’s Planning Enforcement Officer.

g)            Hack Sand Track. The Epsom Downs Riders Protection Society representative noted that the Conservators had been due to receive a report regarding the Hack Sand Track at the foot of Walton Downs at their two most recent meetings, but that in both cases, the report had been postponed, and was now due for their meeting on 15 June 2016. The representative enquired whether the Hack Rider representatives could be involved in its content, due to the time which had elapsed since they had last held a meeting with officers regarding the matter.

The Chairman informed the Committee that the report had been delayed due to the volume of workload faced by Officers.

h)           Post Derby clean-up – number of skips utilised. The Epsom Civic Society representative informed the Committee that she had received enquiries from local residents as to whether less skips had been utilised for the 2015 Derby clean-up. Simon Durrant informed the Committee that these comments had been noted.